back suddenly. “I just thought you should know that. You shouldn’t be frightened.”
I wasn’t. This woman—I assumed she was a nurse—was as comforting as my own mother.
And that made me wonder where my parents were. “Are my mom and dad here?” I croaked, still trying to find my voice.
“Your dad was here all night, too, and he just left a little while ago to collect your mother at the airport. They’ll be back shortly.” She smoothed the sheet at the foot of the bed. “That medicine should be kicking in by now. Why don’t you rest until your family arrives?”
“I don’t want to be unconscious again—I want to see them…” I protested weakly.
“What I gave you was only a mild pain med. It won’t knock you out; it will just let you sleep naturally. You need that now.” She stroked my foot softly. “Go to sleep…”
My mother’s voice awakened me next. It wasn’t her spoken words; it was the soft hysteria of her thoughts.
My baby, so vulnerable lying there in that bed… oh, her poor neck… shouldn’t have gone away. It wouldn’t have happened…
I pulled myself up out of the bliss of sleep and opened my eyes. “Mom?”
“Tasmyn!” Gentle hands touched my cheeks, and I could hear the tears in her voice.
“Mom, it’s okay. I’m all right. And it’s not your fault. Don’t think that.”
She laughed through her sniffles. “Someone’s cheating.”
I blinked. “Sorry. S’hard to block when my head doesn’t feel like my own.”
“That’s fine. I was just teasing you.”
I could focus on both of them now. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you worry. I’m sorry I got hurt. And that you had to cut your trip short, Mom.”
She ran her hand up and down my arm in comfort. “Don’t worry about that now. We’ll talk when you’re feeling better. Just rest for now.”
I gazed around the room, searching. “Where’s Michael? The nurse said he was okay—that he was here.”
My father answered this time. “He is—both fine and here. He’s down the hall with his parents. They very thoughtfully gave us some time alone with you, but I imagine that Michael is anxious to get back in here. Should I step out and call him?”
I didn’t want to hurt my parents’ feelings, but my need to see Michael was overpowering. I nodded carefully, and my father moved through the door.
“Don’t be alarmed when you see Michael’s face—he’s got stitches, but it looks worse than it is,” my mother assured me.
But nothing could have prepared me for the flood of feeling when Michael walked into my room. His face was the least of my concerns. Instead I focused on his eyes, and at last I felt whole again.
He moved to the side of my bed and took my hand. “Hi,” he breathed. Oh my God, Tasmyn, I didn’t know… I thought… I was so scared. You were so still and so white… I have never been so frightened in my life…
I smiled up at him. “I’m here,” I said. “You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
My parents exchanged knowing looks and slipped from the room. Michael heaved a huge sigh and dropped onto the bed next to me, still clutching my hand.
“I can’t even begin to tell you… I thought, when you went limp on me there in the woods… I thought you were gone. I’ve never seen anyone just… slip away like that.”
“Sorry,” I whispered. I tried to say more, but my throat was dry again. “Water, please?”
“Oh, sure.” He jumped up and found the cup of water the nurse had poured earlier. “Here you go.”
I drank deeply, appreciating the liquid, and then tested my voice again. “Thanks. That’s much better.”
“Yeah, they had you on oxygen for a while, so you’re probably pretty dried out.”
I nodded. “Are you really all right?” I brushed careful fingers over the taped line on his cheek.
“Perfectly fine. The plastic surgeon gave me some cream that should minimize scarring, but I’m not really worried about that. It’ll only add to my manliness, don’t you think?” Michael winked at me.
I wasn’t ready to joke yet. “I’m sorry,” I murmured, tears filling my eyes again. “If I hadn’t been so stupid… so gullible…”
“Hey.” He gripped my hand again, pulling it up to his lips. “None of that. You were so brave. I’m very proud of you.” He leaned down to brush his lips against my forehead. “But if you ever put yourself in danger again, I am going to be really, really angry.”
“Tell me what