Whispers of Winter: A Limited Edition Collection of Winter Romances

by Nicole Morgan

  “Yes.”

  “So why would he be taking random shots at you if you were all squared away?”

  “Because he was looking for a cut of the café. He….”

  “He? Who is he?” Gallo asked.

  Billy sighed. “Ralphie Liotta.”

  Gallo looked at O’Brien and then back to Billy. “Was it Ralphie Liotta who shot Alexandra?”

  “I don’t know. It was dark out and the car windows were tinted. I didn’t see anyone. I just heard gun shots.”

  An older man dressed in light blue scrubs stood at the door. “Billy Davidson.”

  Billy leaped out of his chair. “Yes.”

  “I’m Doctor Hackman,” he extended his hand. “If you follow me, I’ll take you to see Alexandra.”

  Billy turned to look at Gallo and O’Brien who nodded their head. Following behind, the doctor stopped outside of Alexandra’s room.

  “Alexandra will be fine. I removed the bullet from the muscle in her forearm. I expect a full recovery after extensive physical therapy.”

  “But she’ll be okay, right?” he asked.

  “I can assure you she’ll be tossing pizzas up in the air in no time.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “I’ll be in to check on Alexandra in the morning.” Touching his shoulder he said, “Don’t worry, she’ll be all right.”

  Billy opened the door, walked to the side of her bed, leaned over and kissed the top of her head before sitting in the old metal chair with a tear in the seat next to her bed. All night he waited for her to wake up, but his own exhaustion put him to sleep.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Billy never left the hospital. He spent the evening in the small waiting room down the hall from Alexandra’s room. God forbid if anything happened to Alexandra, he wanted to make certain he was only seconds away.

  All night long he couldn’t get Ralphie out of his mind. He knew the kind of man he was and what he was capable of. And when he found out he ratted him out to the police…forget about it. Ralphie would make sure he paid for opening his mouth. But, if it meant protecting Alexandra, so be it.

  “Mr. Davidson.”

  Billy quickly stood. He turned and faced an elderly woman with a nametag, which read, Volunteer, standing in the doorway. “Why don’t you go down to the cafeteria and get yourself a cup of coffee.”

  “I want to be close, just in case,” he whispered as his heart beat quickly.

  “You will be. Go ahead before the next shift comes in. The head nurse won’t let you bring anything in here, let along stay overnight.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Everything will be okay.”

  Billy hesitated, not sure if he should trust her. But there was something in her eyes that put him at ease. And besides, he would only be gone for ten minutes tops. “Thank you. Can I get you anything?”

  “No thank you, Mr. Davidson.”

  Billy took the stairs instead of the elevator and continued to keep track of the time. He ordered an extra large coffee along with a bagel. The last thing he felt like doing was eating, but his body screamed for a caffeine fix and fuel.

  He was gone a little over ten minutes because the lady in front of him had such a big coffee order. He walked down to the little waiting room at the end of the hall since he couldn’t eat in Alexandra’s room. From where he sat, he was able to see straight down into her room.

  But something looked different. The curtain is moved.

  He stood, placed the cup of coffee down on the table, and slowly walked down the hall. Billy looked over his shoulder at a nurse talking on her cell phone with her back to him and walked right into Alexandra’s room. His suspicions were correct.

  On her nightstand, a vase sat, with a huge bouquet of assorted flowers. Billy shook his head and rubbed his eyes. “Where the hell did this come from?” he asked. He walked into the hall and approached the woman volunteer who had just told him everything would be okay.

  “Yes Mr. Davidson?”

  “The flowers,” Billy said, walking into the room and lifting the vase.

  The silver-haired lady volunteer stood in the doorway of Alexandra’s room shaking her head. “I don’t know, Mr. Davidson. I left the nursing station for only a few minutes to go to the room over there,” she pointed to a room two doors down from Alexandra, “I didn’t hear anyone.”

  Billy put the vase down and held his head between his hands. He glanced over his shoulder at the volunteer still standing in the doorway and then looked back to Alexandra. He walked over to the bed, pulled up the chair and sat down. Someone was playing games and he wasn’t going anywhere until he found out why.

  Then, a white piece of paper caught his eye on the shiny floor. He bent down and picked up the mini envelope. He pulled the card out. The words: Somebody’s watching you, were written in red ink on the card. Billy lifted the vase off the nightstand, walked into the waiting room and dropped them in the garbage pail. He didn’t want to have to explain where the flowers came from to Alexandra.

  Glancing out the window, Billy watched the police car pull away from the front entrance of the emergency room. He took a deep breath, grateful that he wasn’t taken out of the hospital in handcuffs. Telling the police the whole story was imperative. No way he was going to risk anything happening to Alexandra.

  Billy knew Ralphie was behind the drive by shooting. Alexandra took the bullet meant for him. Protecting Alexandra had to be his top priority. The thought of anything happening to her because of his own stupidity would destroy him. He was willing to deal with the consequences.

  Sliding his hands into his back pockets, he rocked on the heels of his boots. He knew he was playing with fire when he gave the police Ralphie’s name. There was no telling what he would do in retaliation. He had paid his debt to Ralphie ten times over and he would be damned if he let him ruin his life with Alexandra.

  Billy took a deep breath. All he heard was the sound of the monitors beeping. Sitting in the chair next to her bed, he rested his hand over hers. Within a few minutes, Alexandria opened her eyes.

  Leaning closer, he ran his finger along her check. “I’m here Babe, and I’m not leaving your side until we are both on our way back home.”

  A slight smile appeared on Alexandra’s lips. “I knew you were here,” she slowly whispered. “I waited for you to come.”

  “I had to answer a few questions for the police. But I don’t want to talk about that. I wanted to make sure you are okay.”

  “I’m fine now that you’re here with me.”

  Billy felt her hand cover his, and lightly squeezed it. “I will never leave your side. I will make sure we will continue on with our plans.”

  “I want that. We are so close to getting our café up and running.” Alexandra took a deep breath. “Promise you’ll wait for me to finish.”

  “Sh.” Billy covered her lips with his fingers. “You don’t have to worry about anything. The doctor said you should be home in a couple of days. And you know what, I’m going to be sitting right here,” he pointed at his chair, “waiting to bring you home.”

  “Very romantic, Mr. Davidson.”

  Billy turned around to see an elderly, short chubby nurse standing there with her arms crossed, staring at him.

  “Thank you…” he saw her nametag read Mrs. Reed.

  “Before you go any further, let me remind you that visiting hours will be over in,” she said, tapping on her watch, “ten minutes. So start saying your goodbyes.”

  “I’m not leaving. The doctor said I could stay with Alexandra.”

  “This is my floor and my patient. Mr. Davidson, Ms. Scaronni will be fine. I’ll be back. Don’t let me find you here.”

  She walked out of the room, without looking back. Shaking his head, Billy turned back to face Alexandra.

  “Don’t worry, I won’t leave you. I don’t care what she says.”

  “It’s okay. I need my rest.”

  “But I don’t want to leave you.�
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  “I know you don’t, but I need my rest. I love you Billy.”

  “Love you too.” Billy stood. “I’ll leave when I get kicked out.”

  The next morning, Billy sat in the chair next to Alexandra’s bed. Billy stared at the card and placed it into his back pocket. When Alexandra stirred, she blinked her eyes open and close. She seemed to be having a hard time keeping them open. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waited until her eyes opened wide and her lips curled at the side.

  “How are you feeling?” Billy asked, resting his hand over hers.

  “I’m sure I’m better than you look.” Alexandra stiffened her legs and let out a sigh. “I want to go home.”

  “I know you do. We have to wait for the doctor,” Billy said, pushing the one strand of hair off her face.

  “Are you all right?” Alexandra asked, squeezing his hand.

  “Yes. I wish I could trade places with you. I hate to see you like this. You should have never gotten shot.”

  “I was protecting you,” she said, a smile appearing on her lips.

  Billy’s eyes bulged wide open, and he lifted both his hands and covered his face. Now all the pieces started to come into place. Alexandra took the bullet for him. He should have realized it when she drove directly in front of him.

  “I am so sorry,” Billy said, tears escaping from his eyes. “I’m supposed to protect you.”

  “You are, by getting me out of here.”

  “Looks like someone is feeling better,” the doctor said, standing in the doorway.

  “I want to go home.”

  The doctor walked over to the bed and opened her chart. “It seems that you’re progressing everyday,” he concluded, shutting her chart, “but I’d like to keep you here for another day or two.”

  “Why?” Billy challenged him. “There’s no reason why she can’t come home with me today.”

  The doctor placed the clipboard on the hook at the bottom of her bed. “I feel it’s best that Alexandra is monitored for another couple of days, especially since she had a slight fever last night.”

  Billy pointed his finger at him. “Can you let them know at the nurses’ station I am not leaving her side until she’s discharged?”

  “Unfortunately, that’s against hospital regulations.”

  Billy bit his bottom lip. No sense in causing a scene. That would cause more attention. Maybe he couldn’t stay in her room, but he wasn’t leaving the hospital, not until he found out where the flowers came from.

  Instead he asked, “When can she come home?”

  “I’ll run a few more tests tomorrow morning. If everything comes out fine, then I’ll consider sending Alexandra home.” The doctor walked to the doorway and turned around as if to say something, but changed his mind and walked away.

  When Billy was sure no one could hear him, he spoke to Alexandra. “You have to be very careful. I’m not going anywhere. I will be right down the hall if you need me.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  Billy thought for a second. “Nothing at all.” There was no need for her to know about the flowers, especially the card. He had to keep her safe, and didn’t need to have her worrying. The rest of the day they spent watching television. Whenever Alexandra dozed off, he would run down to the cafeteria to grab his caffeine fix.

  When the announcement came that visiting hours were over, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”

  Alexandra reached out and touched Billy’s face. “I love you. Please be careful until the police find the person who shot me.”

  “Love you too.” This time, he kissed her lips as she held his face between her warm hands. “I’m going to leave your cell phone with you. If you need me, call. Okay?” he whispered, sliding the phone under her pillow.

  “I’ll be fine. Go get something to eat. You look pale. I need you to keep up your strength if we’re going to finish the café together.”

  “You don’t stop. That’s what I love about you. I think I’ll take you up on that. Do you want anything?”

  “I’d love if you got me an Almond Joy.”

  “You got it. I’ll be back in a few.”

  When he left the room, he glanced over his shoulder at the nurses’ station. That’s when he caught a shadow coming from the room behind the desk. He couldn’t make out who stood there, and wondered if it was a good idea to leave.

  Billy looked at his watch. The store in the lobby closed at eight. He’d only be gone for a few minutes.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Billy got off the elevator with Alexandra’s Almond Joy. He walked into the tiny waiting room and sat on the chair facing Alexandra’s room. As he sipped his coffee, an eerie feeling came over him. Something wasn’t right. Billy walked to the nurses’ station. Vera, the red-headed RN, sat behind the desk.

  “Good evening Mr. Davidson. How’s Alexandra doing today?”

  “She’s doing a lot better, thank you.” Leaning on the top of the desk, Billy looked around. “Where is everyone tonight? Especially the elderly volunteer.”

  “What elderly volunteer?”

  “She was about this high,” he pointed at his chest, “with short gray hair.”

  “We haven’t had a volunteer here in months.”

  Billy folded his hands behind his head and walked into Alexandra’s room. Everything looked fine. Alexandra was sleeping with a pile of white hospital blankets on top of her. He returned to the nurses’ station where another RN named Barbara sat next to Vera.

  “I have to ask you again,” he said, looking at Vera. “Are you sure you don’t know who the volunteer is?”

  “Sorry Mr. Davidson, but no.”

  Barbara leaned back in her chair. “Wait a minute. Are you talking about the cute little elderly volunteer?”

  He looked from Barbara to Vera. “Yes. Do you know her?”

  “Everyone knows her. She usually works in pediatrics but fills in on other floors when they need help.”

  “Why don’t you know her?” Billy asked Vera, raising his voice.

  “Because Vera just transferred here from the south facility.” Picking up the phone, Barbara held her finger up and spoke, “Can you ask Rachael to come up to four south, nurses’ station eight? Thank you.” She hung up. “She’s on her way up.”

  “Rachael’s on her way up.”

  “Okay. Thank you. If you don’t mind, I’m going to wait in Alexandra’s room.”

  Before she could answer, he walked into Alexandra’s room and sat down next to her. Tomorrow, no matter what, he was taking Alexandra home with him. The doctor had said she needed a few days rest, so he’d make sure she got all the rest she needed with him by her side. This hospital thing gave him an eerie feeling.

  “You’re looking for me Mr. Davidson?”

  Billy turned around and sighed in relief. Sure enough, there stood the volunteer, who had helped him out the other night.

  “Yes,” he nodded his head. “You took such good care of Alexandra and me last night, I just wanted to thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Rachael walked over to Billy and touched his shoulder. “Don’t worry, everything is going to be okay.”

  Billy didn’t sleep the whole night. He sat slumped in the chair next to her bed the next morning. At one point, he could have sworn that someone was watching them. He kept saying to himself his imagination was running wild, but knew better. His instinct told him something was going on beneath the surface.

  A tall lanky gray-haired doctor walked into the room. “Good morning Mr. Davidson.” Extending his hand he said, “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

  Billy stood and took his hand confused. “Nice to meet you.” Dropping his eyes to his nametag, his heart dropped. “You’re Doctor Reynolds? What happened to Dr. Hackman?”

  “Doctor Hackman had a family emergency down in Florida. We both did the surgery.”

  “Then who was the doctor that came
here yesterday morning?” Billy asked, pointing to the chart hanging on the bottom of her bed.

  “Hmm…let me take a look.”

  Billy watched Doctor Reynolds open the chart, then review it with a dumbfounded look on his face.

  “I’m sorry Mr. Davidson, but I don’t know who Doctor Adams is.”

  “Doctor Adam’s said she needed to stay a few more days. I want you to release Alexandra. I’ll take her home and take care of her.”

  “There’s no reason why she’s here. The surgery to remove the bullet wasn’t complicated. She needs time to heal and physical therapy. I’ll send a prescription for an antibiotic. Tomorrow call my office to make an appointment in a week.”

  “Thank you.” Billy walked over to Alexandra and kissed her forehead. “Hey wake up sleepyhead. You’re going home.”

  Alexandra opened her eyes and a huge smile appeared on her lips. “Really?” Looking at Billy, “You’re taking me home?”

  “How are you feeling Alexandra?” Doctor Reynolds asked.

  “Fine. Eager to go home,” she replied, sitting up on the bed.

  “Make sure you keep the sling on your arm,” Doctor Reynolds said. “I’ll have the nurse prepare your release papers,” Doctor Reynolds concluded, before leaving the room.

  Alexandra got out of bed and walked right into Billy’s arms. “I can’t wait to get home.”

  “Neither can I.”

  While Alexandra got dressed, Billy wondered what was going on. The first step was getting her out of the hospital. Something didn’t seem right here. He wondered who the hell the doctor was that came into her room the day before. Things weren’t adding up. Maybe it was time to go down to the police precinct and speak to the officers in charge of Alexandra’s case. But first, he had to get Alexandra home.

  “It feels so good to be home.” Alexandra sat on the couch with her feet up on the cocktail table. “I couldn’t wait to get out of that hospital gown. It feels good to be wearing my own clothes.”