Ever After (14 page)

“You know what? I do think he will stay around, and I will tell you why. He has saved her twice this year. He stayed by her side each time, talking to her and encouraging her to fight. He loves her. I also know one thing for a fact, from all the nurses and his own grandfather. He only leaves her to change clothes and check in with his parents. I also know he stays here all night, every night watching and praying over her! Somehow the nurses allow it, they tell me her vital signs are higher when he is in the room.” I waited for her to spout some sarcastic response.

“I… didn’t know that,” she muttered.

“Do you see how he looks at her? He watches her every breath. He is totally in love with Corrine. I have never in my life seen more devotion in a couple so young.” I could tell he was smiling; his voice was much lighter now.

“Well…that’s the thing… they are very young John. He may be after her money. It’s no secret she’s your sole heir, and he could be plotting to get her inheritance. I’ve seen it in the news all the time, people lose their minds over money, and he may want Corrine’s.” That was just what I had expected. She was right back on track with her snippy comments and pessimism.

“That’s a real good one. You of all people should know about William’s family, being the social bloodhound you are. William’s father and his family name are heavily linked to one of the nation’s biggest medical corporations. I know they are tied to at least three Fortune 500 companies as well. I daresay that boy is far from being a gold digger.” He laughed, taking a sip of coffee.

“Well…I just…I…” She was at a loss for words. I loved it. The bag was speechless. To think she thought Will was after
my
money
was so stupid. “Perhaps he will marry her then. Oh,… what a good match they would make. He…uh… seems very smart and well educated too.” Sara upon learning of Will’s family’s money quickly tried to cover her harsh words. I found it very amusing; if I could have smiled, I would have,

“You amaze me sometimes,” my dad snapped back at her.

“What?” She gasped in shock. Why are you so angry? It’s true.”

“Sara, just two seconds ago William Darcy was a no good gold digger. I tell you the truth that his family is wealthy beyond anything we know, and now you’re marrying off Corrine to him! In fact if she woke up tomorrow, I bet you would nose around and see if they might possibly be thinking about getting married!”

The two argued over her flighty behavior. Dad was fuming over how little Sara cared for me. I also had not known the two were in marriage counseling. That came out in the argument too. She brought up their therapist several times, and how she needed to call her. I figured it was a weak attempt to hold onto my dad. They had a prenuptial agreement, as far as I knew. Sara would come away with very little if she blew this marriage. I wished I could laugh aloud. She would deserve being booted out of her precious country club and having her gold card revoked. I just lay there listening, like a fly on the wall. If only they knew, I had just heard every word they said.

They left finally and I focused on trying to wake up and move. I had been pushing myself, fighting the haze I was trapped in. I was so tired of it all. Will had been an angel, staying with me, talking to me. He prayed for me too, which caught me off guard. I wasn’t overly religious, but I believed in God and went to church with Gran a lot. I hadn’t any idea, with him being how he was, that he had any religious links. He did though, and maybe it’s because he was only half vampire. I reasoned that since he was only half vampire that he still had his soul. I wasn’t sure if this was right, and if I ever woke up, I was definitely going to ask him.

I could tell he knew I could hear him. I had managed to slightly squeeze his hand yesterday when he begged me to. It was so hard but he felt it. The results of my brain scan came back, after Dad and Sara’s big fight. I had normal brain waves, thank God. I was not a vegetable, and now they just had to figure out why I was still in a coma. Gran had formed a prayer circle at our church and I hoped God would hear and help me get out of this mess.

I lay there that night, a major thunderstorm was going on outside. It was spring now and I could hear the cracks of lightning. The rain was pelting the window hard as I tried to open my eyes. They stung but I had to try again. The doctors had lowered my pain medication. They suspected the drugs were pushing me into a coma. They called it a rare reaction to the medication, but not unheard of.

Chapter 18

Fighting
to
wake

The pain was back now because of the drastic change in the dose. I could feel my headache, and my wrists were stinging where they were wrapped. I must have been crying from the pain, and moving because Will was instantly at my side stroking my hair and talking to me.

“Up Corrine, climb out of there. It’s time; you have to wake up for me.” His voice was desperate and pleading. I slowly forced my eyes open. His face was so close to mine it was blurry. I could hear my heart monitor speed up as I blinked hard to clear my vision. I was getting panicky.

“Come now love, I’ve got you. It’s okay.” I felt his arms around me. I took a few ragged deep breaths as his beautiful face came into focus finally.

I ignored the pain in my arms and chest as I looked into his amazing blue eyes. I had feared I would never see them again. I smiled weakly as he cupped my face with his hands and gently kissed my lips.

“William.”

“Oh Corrine, I’m so happy you’re awake. I was beginning to think you couldn’t come out of this.” I took a deep breath, as a tear ran down his cheek. He sighed with relief as I smiled. I winced as a sharp pain shot through my head. Will gently laid me back down, his eyes now on the heart monitor. I looked around the room, the machines that had been keeping me alive were next to my bed like an army clicking and pumping.

I saw balloons and tons of flowers and two or three really huge teddy bears holding “get well soon” signs. I turned to see Will watching me, his black hair sticking up, where he had been asleep in the chair next to my bed. I smiled at him again. He took my hand carefully.

“Rest now. The nurses will be in here shortly, your heart monitor’s going crazy.” He winked at me and I rolled my eyes. That was to be counted on when he was in the room. I went a little bit crazy and the heart monitor confirmed that. I jumped a bit when the night shift nurse popped in, concern filling her wrinkled face.

“Oh… my Ms. Whitmore, you are awake. I wondered what was going on in here.” The nurse winked at Will. “You were right William, tonight was the night she would wake up. However did you guess such a thing?” She smiled at Will, still holding my hand at my bedside.

“Just a hunch I guess.” He flashed a dazzling grin. I laughed softly at his effect on the nurse, as she seemed lost in his smile. She proceeded to check my vital signs, adjust my lines, and take my temperature. She sent a page my doctors. Will had already called Doc, to let him know I was awake. He was on his way over to the hospital now, despite it being two in the morning.

“Amazing, Doctor Parker’s dedication. He never sleeps much.” The nurse commented. Will and I winked at each other, knowing why Doc would be up at this hour; this family secret was unknown to the innocent nurse of course.

The pain was staring to burn in my arms. I winced, looking away toward the window, so Will wouldn’t see. I gripped the sheets. The heart monitor jumped announcing my agony to them.

“Are you in pain, dear?” The nurse moved quickly to my side looking at the monitor closer.

“Yes,” I whispered with my eyes closed. Will held my hand now, and he rubbed my back gently as I tried to calm down. “It hurts so badly, it’s my head.” I whispered not looking up, trying to slow my breathing down.

“Okay dear, hang on. I can help you. Doctor Parker gave orders for certain pain medications should you wake tonight.” I didn’t look at her injecting the needle in my arm. I only felt a prick and then quickly, the pain lessened to a tolerable level. Will stepped back as the nurse finished with me. He sat in the chair quietly observing.

“I’m okay now. I think… it’s not so bad.” I sighed as she poured me a glass of water.

“Now drink slowly, and if you keep this down, we can see about something to eat for you. You’re going to be very hungry.” I smiled weakly and nodded as I clutched the water glass, my throat was so dry. I could have drunk a gallon of water.

The nurse left, and William got back up and sat on the edge of my bed, as I inhaled the water greedily.

“You scared me for a while,” he said, softly kissing my forehead. “I was starting to fear you couldn’t wake up and were lost to me.”

“I tried, but I just couldn’t.” I inhaled a jagged breath so many emotions flooding my mind. “I could hear you and feel your touch.”

“I know. I told them you could but they didn’t listen. Only Doc understood.”

I sat there silently. The horror of the night of the attack was seeping back in to my mind. I knew why I was in here, but now I was remembering the details. I looked up at Will. He already knew what I was thinking.

“They’re still searching for him.” He frowned. “I promise you. He will be caught, and he will pay for all he’s done to you.” I didn’t push him for details. Todd no had chance hiding from a coven of pissed off vampires. The cousins would enjoy hunting him down. I had heard Roth joke about it many times when they visited me.

Chapter 19

Recovery

Recovery was long and extremely painful. I hated being in this position again, like after my accident at the river. I had not realized how badly Todd had hurt me. I spent two weeks in the hospital. William was with me nearly all the time. When he wasn’t he was with his cousins trying to find Todd. Will was an angel. He brought me flowers each day and sneaked in any fast food I wanted and tried to entertain me. I got to know Doc better too. He was an extremely handsome older man. I should have expected that, all of Will’s family was like that.

I felt safe around him, and he was very attentive on my medical care. I knew he had ordered another brain scan for the week after I got home. I was hoping he would forget. I had so many tests I just wanted a break, no doctors, no pills. It was all too much. I wanted a normal life again. I was beginning to think I would never be normal again.

I was afraid to go home a little bit, the old panicky me seemed to be resurfacing even though Will was watching over me. To my relief, Dad moved my room to the other end of the house and had it redecorated. I could not even bear to go down the hall near my old room anymore. The many things that changed at home included a full time security guard and cameras. I had deadbolts on my bedroom door. I felt safe, but the fact Todd was still free nagged me. I worried he might return and catch me alone again somehow, and this time he would finish me off.

Chapter
20

The
Great
Difference

William spent many afternoons with me. He only slept three or four hours at a time at night, so he was always watching over me. The weather was improving not that it was late spring. I loved to get out into the gardens and walk. The problem with that was I had to use a stupid cane now. I had severely damaged my hip at some time when Todd attacked me.

The result was physical therapy and continuous use of the cane to lessen the pressure on my injured hip. I hated it; it made me feel old and feeble, and even more vulnerable to just about anything. I never really thought about the whole major difference with me and Will till now either. I guess using a cane to get around makes you think of how it would be to really be old.

Will would forever be young, beautiful, and alive or however you want to say it. I on the other hand, was prone to injury and death, not to mention wrinkles. I tried not to think of it today, as we walked (I hobbled) in the rose gardens. Will was here to cheer me up, and all I could think of was my aging body walking next to his, not walking very gracefully, I might add.

The trees were blooming and the flowers just had a few hints of new buds forming. I took a deep breath, trying to improve my mood as we walked very slowly down the path. William was careful to walk slowly for me, his intense blue eyes watching me for any signs of pain.

“We don’t need to go too far,” he warned me, holding my hand and smiling. I felt like he was waiting for me to collapse any time now.

“Oh Will, would you stop treating me like I’m an old woman. I can walk, you know!” I fumed as he stopped, staring at me. “It’s not like I’m ninety or something. I can get around despite this damn cane!”

“Well hell, I’m one hundred and fifteen, what are you talking about?” He flashed a smile at me, and I had to laugh.