Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,25

so kind, but so shy. Jeez, that woman barely speaks.”

I chuckle briefly at her comment. “Yeah, Maria doesn’t speak English well, I think.”

“She’s so discreet,” Janine blurts out. “You can barely hear her breathing.”

I couldn’t agree more with her. Since the day I met Maria, I’ve always thought how different she is from Janine. “Yeah, Margaret’s staff is like that too.”

“Margaret?” Janine asks.

And I remember I never told her who Margaret is. “Alex’s Mom.”

“Oh, you’ve already met her?”

“Yeah, I spent Christmas with his family,” I tell her, even though it’s not usual for me to be so open about my future in-laws.

“And how is she?” Oh, the question! How does someone describe Margaret Van Dieren? Damn, Janine can be so curious. The differences between her and the silent Maria couldn’t be more obvious.

“Um… I guess, interesting…” I tell her, keeping it short.

Fortunately for me, we are startled by the ring of the main doorbell, bringing an end to the inquisition.

“Looks like your friends have just arrived,” Janine says as she walks back to the entrance to invite them in.

Then I check myself briefly in the mirror—it looks like I’ve gained a pound or two during my stay at Bedford Hills, and maybe, dare I say, a semblance of a summer tan thanks to my aquatic classes in the outdoor pool.

Once Janine opens the door wide, I smile, seeing the joyful faces of Sarah, Katrina, David, and, of course, Matthew.

“Hey,” I greet them, my voice coming out a bit too low, maybe apprehensive at their reaction.

Sarah trots over in my direction and takes me into her arms, squeezing me so tight that I gasp. “I’m so happy to see you.” I try hard to restrain the rising tears. I don’t feel comfortable being so sensitive and emotional in front of them, but it’s one of the side effects Dr. Nel cautioned me about when she gave me my new meds. There’s also something recomforting about knowing your friends missed you. It could be fake, but my heart feels it straight to its core. After Sarah releases me, Katrina also gives me a hug, followed by David, and at this point, it feels like a ritual to welcome me back on planet Earth and among humans.

“How are you doing?” David asks me. “Did you recover well?”

“Um, yeah, I’ve been doing therapy, and I’m taking a lot of meds,” I tell them.

Seeing how they are nodding at me, I’m not surprised when Katrina asks, “Did you lose your memory or anything?”

“No, but I had atrophy of my legs for, like, ten days, and I could barely move.”

“We understand it must’ve been so tough,” she replies, her tone always so kind.

But the truth is, they can’t understand, no. Regardless of the amount of empathy and compassion they have, no one can understand what it’s like to be practically dead for so many months, when your own life is put on hold by an awful car accident—an accident I could have avoided.

Not even Alex, Dad, or Emma can understand. And I know I’m beyond blessed to be here again, to have woken up six months later without my brain damaged or my memories wiped away. After all, I could’ve simply… died.

I could have.

But I believe God decided otherwise for a reason, and nothing from that day on has ever felt the same—every breath, every laugh, every smile, every moment I spend with those I love will never be taken for granted ever again. I’ve admired and cherished every single one of them as if they were the last.

And, as I smile at my engagement ring, I think precisely about that. Never take anything for granted, Petra. Him either.

“Wow! Look at this ring!” Sarah shouts, taking my hand. “That’s a huge sapphire, and it’s so beautiful.”

“I can’t believe you are engaged.” Katrina hugs me again, before whispering in my ear, “I’m so happy for you.”

But my eyes dart instinctively to Matthew. He doesn’t look as enthusiastic; he feigns happiness with a polite smile, and I try to compose one back. But looking at him standing right in front of me feels awkward—to my surprise, his disappointment is overly palpable. I thought he had moved on after I’d been in a coma for so many months, and especially after telling him before Christmas that the man standing in front of the car he liked so much was my future husband. Well, I just hope we can remain friends.

“Alright, everyone, enough,” Matthew chides. “Petra can barely breathe with