Her nurse taped the last pad of gauze in place. “We want to be extra careful you don’t get an infection.” She took the chart from the end of her bed. “Let’s see, not including today, you’ve been here six weeks.”
“I never would have guessed that long. Time sure flies when you’re having fun.”
Nurse Debbie stepped out into the hall and returned pushing a wheelchair. “You’re chariot awaits, my dear.”
Becca offered a weak smile, not exactly thrilled with having to use one of those contraptions. She’d only been allowed to put weight on her leg a few days ago. Resignedly and with the aid of her nurse, she shuffled alongside her bed and plunked herself down in the seat. The simple task left her breathless.
Her nurse laughed light-heartedly. “Don’t you worry. You’ll be starting physical therapy soon and will be good as new in no time at all.”
Becca took slow, measured breaths on the way down the barren hallway. Nurse Debbie took the elevator down to the main floor and followed an arrow marked: Courtyard.
She shielded her eyes from the sun as they crossed the threshold to the outdoors. The sweet aroma of freshly cut grass and rose bushes in full bloom filled her senses. She tilted her head back and revelled in the sun’s warmth on her face. “This was an excellent idea.”
“I think so, too.”
Becca’s eyes flew open. Her chair was spun around to face Randy, who kneeled down to her level. His lips twisted in the same lopsided grin that had first attracted her to him.
“Randy.” She choked on his name and cleared her throat noisily in a futile attempt to mask her emotions. “I don’t.... I mean, I’m sorry.”
Randy pressed a finger to her lips. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I can’t tell you how good it is to see you, and how happy I am Jacob called me this morning.
Emotion clouded his expressive brown eyes.
She couldn’t have stopped the tears if she tried. “I’m very happy you came.”
He gathered her in his arms. “I’ve missed you, Becca.” He nuzzled her neck, sending tiny impulses across her skin.
She manoeuvred awkwardly from the wheelchair. Randy, always so perceptive, lifted her from the chair and onto his lap. She laid her head against his chest, happy to feel the connection between them renewed.
Randy was first to pull away. “I have something I want to show you.”
Becca noted the devilish glint in his eyes and narrowed her gaze suspiciously. “What are you up to?”
He stood with her cradled in his arms and set her back down in the wheelchair so gently she wondered if he thought she might break. He guided her through the courtyard and around the side of the building.
Her jaw dropped as the sight unfolded before her. Sunshine glinted off the chrome of a midnight blue trike, the passenger bench padded in leather. “Is this for real?”
He smiled and nodded. “Yup, Doc gave me permission to take you on a short ride as long as we are careful to keep your burns covered. He scooped her out of the chair and set her on the warm leather seat. “That is, if you’re up to it.”
She smiled lovingly at him. “I don’t know why you’re doing this for me. Not after the way I treated you.”
Randy put a finger under her chin and raised it so she had to look into his eyes. “I love you, Becca. No matter how hard you try to push me away, I’m going to be here for you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a long, drugging kiss.
He let her go, leaving her breathless. “Are you going to take me for a ride or do you just want to make out right here?”
“That’s pretty tempting, but I don’t want to get on your doc’s bad side. He picked up a helmet from behind her and handed it over. His hung from the handlebars. Randy retrieved a blanket from beside her and laid it across her lap.
“Is this really necessary? It’s hardly weather to be snuggling under a blankie.”
“Just humor me, will you?”
Randy hiked his leg over and straddled the bike, bringing it to life with the turn of a key. She closed her eyes, and placed her hands flat on the seat, revelling in the familiar rumble beneath them.
“Are you ready?” Randy called back to her.
Becca gave him a thumbs up in his mirror. Overcome with emotion, she wiped the tears from her eyes as he rode away from the hospital toward the lakeside.
She titled her face upward to welcome the sun’s kiss to her cheeks, the magic in the gentle breeze swirling around her. The ride proved more healing than any doctor’s prescription.
Randy kept an eye on her in the mirrors. It warmed his heart to see her eyes closed and a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. He’d taken a gamble she’d be receptive to his offer. Since she had her own bike for years, he imagined she looked to her ride for comfort during times of crisis.
As much as he treasured this time with her, a dark cloud still lingered above him. It was time she knew the truth. Only then could they move on with their lives together.
He picked a nice spot by the lake to spread out the blanket and settle Becca with her back against a shade tree. He grabbed a couple bottles of water from the bike, sat beside her, and then took a long drink.
She put a hand on his leg. “What’s wrong?”
“Randy,” Becca cupped the side of his face. Concern lined her brow. “Something’s wrong. I see it in your eyes.”
He sighed and took her hand away, kissing her open palm before resting it on her lap. “I’m trying to tell you something you need to know.”
“Please, Randy, you’re scaring me.”
“I know we agreed not to talk about that day, but there’s something we haven’t told you.”
He clasped her hand in his, briefly shut his eyes, and nodded definitively. “He’s alive.”
Her eyes grew big. “Who’s alive?”
“Danny. He suffered burns over eighty percent of his body. Nobody thought he’d survive.”
Panic seized her as she looked in every possible direction. “Where is he?”Her breaths came too quickly and she gasped for air.
“You have nothing to worry about. He’s in the Langford Asylum for the Criminally Insane. That place is locked up tighter than Alcatraz. He’ll never be a free man.”
“Have you seen him? How do you know for sure?” Her cheeks stained pink and she narrowed her gaze on him. “Didn’t you think I had a right to know long before now?”
Randy noted the fire building in her eyes. “At first they didn’t even tell me. They were sure he’d died. It wasn’t until he was being transferred to the Asylum.... I’m sorry Becca. Maybe I should’ve told you, but you were in so much pain. I just couldn’t bring myself to add to it.”
“Are you telling me he was in the same hospital with me and not one person let me in on it?” She used the tree as leverage to try and stand.
Randy jumped to her aid, taking hold of one arm to help her up. “Aw, come on, Becca. We were only thinking of the shape you were in. We didn’t want to add to your trauma. Please don’t be angry with me.”
“I’m not sure who I’m angry with. All I know is that the maniac, who almost killed Jacob and me, the same maniac who sewed eight mouths shut, one of which I was forced to watch, was just down the fucking hall from me and nobody breathed a word of it.”
Randy tried to pull her into his arms but she wanted no part of it and shrugged his hand away. “Just take me back to the hospital. All of a sudden I don’t feel very well.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Becca hated asking Randy for some space, but she needed time to digest his news. Now, for the third night in a row, she woke drenched in sweat, an image of Danny at the end of her bed with sewing needle in hand all too
