by Rachel Hanna
“I have to go, Preston. We can talk about this when I get back,” she said lowering her head and walking into the bathroom to get more supplies. With that, he sighed, took his keys and left the condo.
***
Camden was about thirty minutes from the hospital when her cell phone rang. She looked down and saw her mother’s number. Oh, great, she thought. She knew that Preston had gone to visit her mother to alert her to Camden’s sudden burst of insanity.
“Hello?” Camden said with a sigh.
“Camden? What on Earth are you doing?” her mother’s high-pitched Southern drawl grated on her last nerve sometimes.
“I am driving, Mother. Why?” Camden’s tone was distant and direct at the same time.
“You know what I mean. Preston came to see me. He says you are taking care of some farmer you met in the mountains who passed out or something?” Leave it to her mother to only pick up the parts of the story she wanted to hear.
“He’s not a farmer, Mother. He owns a large farm in north Georgia. And, he had a stroke, which is a bit more serious than passing out,” Camden said rolling her eyes.
“Well, whatever. You need to come home, Camden Marie, and focus on your soon-to-be husband,” her mother chided. She hated when her mother used her full name. “A man like Preston won’t wait around. He has options, you know.”
“Mom, I am almost thirty years old, and I will do as I damn well please,” Camden snipped.
“Camden! Don’t you talk to me that way!” her mother yelled into the phone.
“Then don’t talk to me like I am a child,” Camden replied.
“You are my child,” her mother said softly. “I’m worried about you hooking up with people who aren’t of your ilk, Camden.”
“My ilk? Who says that? Really, Mother, you need to get out more. Learn to like people of all kinds. This person needs compassion and help, and that is exactly what I am going to give him. I will call you later,” Camden said hanging up her phone.
Camden turned up the stereo in her SUV and blasted 90’s hits until she pulled into the parking lot. She felt more free than she had in years. She had just told off her mother and her fiance in the same afternoon. What more could a rebellious woman want?
***
As Camden approached Sam’s room, she saw an unfamiliar woman standing there. She was very plain looking with short dirty blond hair and a thin build. She wore a pair of jeans, running shoes and a yellow T-shirt.
“Are you Camden?” the woman asked walking toward her.
“Yes. And you are?” Camden reached out her hand, but the woman immediately embraced her.
“I’m Rebecca, Sam’s sister,” she said hugging her tighter. “Thank you so much for saving him!”
“Oh, I didn’t do anything really. The paramedics were responsible…” Camden started to say but Rebecca wasn’t having it.
“Drake told me what you did, and also how Sam was so happy to have you here today. Come in. I am sure he wants to see you,” she said.
Camden walked into the room and Sam’s eyes immediately met hers. She swore that she could see a smile in his eyes, but his mouth never moved. He grunted loudly at her. She walked over to him and held his right hand as she looked down at his eyes.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked. He lightly squeezed her hand. “Good. You better start getting up and around soon because I want to see that farm of yours,” she said smiling. He squeezed again.
Camden finally felt like she was doing some good in the world. All of the glitzy parties and fancy charity events never made her feel like she was contributing to society. With Sam, she felt needed and wanted. With Preston, she felt like arm candy. An accessory. The necessary wife-to-be of the famous doctor.
“I think someone missed you,” Rebecca said smiling. Sam squeezed Camden’s hand once again, this time a little tighter. Was he flirting with her from behind that oxygen mask?
Chapter 8
As evening fell, Rebecca and Drake fell asleep sitting up in their chairs. Everyone was hoping that Sam could get into a private room the next day. As long as he continued to be alert, and had no setbacks, he was ready to be moved.
The room was dim as Camden sat next to Sam in silence. He had his eyes closed, which made her nervous at times. At least she knew how to read the blood pressure and heart rate monitor that was attached to him.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head back in her chair. As she drifted between sleep and being awake, she started to dream. She imagined herself walking up the path to the falls with Sam. He was holding her hand and laughing at everything she said. She felt supremely happy, which had been foreign for her in recent years.
As she fell into a deeper sleep, she felt him squeeze her hand. Unsure whether she was dreaming or not, she forced her eyes open and sat up closer to the bed. Sure enough, his eyes were open.
“Are you okay, Sam?” she asked. He squeezed and then let out a sigh. “Bored?” she asked with a smile. He squeezed again. “Are you uncomfortable?” He squeezed her hand harder this time. She stood up and looked at him up and down. She decided that the only way to find out what was hurting or bothering him was to ask about different things.
“Is it your feet?” No squeeze.
“Is it your arm?” No squeeze.
“Is it the mask?” He squeezed. She couldn’t remove his oxygen, could she? As a doctor, she knew that he was probably out of the woods as far as needing oxygen, so she slowly lifted it up and over his forehead, leaving it on the pillow behind him. Since he was still wearing an oxygen sensor on his finger, she knew the nurse's station would monitor his levels remotely anyway.
“Better?” she asked waiting for him to squeeze her hand.
“Yes…” he whispered faintly.
Camden was so stunned that she grinned and leaned over to peck him on the cheek. “You spoke!” she said in a loud whisper trying not to wake Drake and Rebecca. Realizing that she had just kissed a perfect stranger on the cheek, her own cheeks felt like they were on fire with embarrassment.
“I speak,” he said with a quirk of a smile.
“Funny guy. Do you know what happened to you?” she asked.
“No. Tell me…” he was struggling to whisper the words.
“Maybe I should let your sister or Drake…” she started to say.
“You.”
“Only if you promise to stay calm, okay?” she said sitting back down and holding his hand. She didn’t know why she was holding his hand since he could talk.
“Calm.”
“You had a stroke at the falls… with Jenny,” she said studying his eyes and vitals for any sign of stress. He was calm.
“Stroke. With Jenny.”
“Yes. But, you are doing very well so far. You might even move to your own room tomorrow.”
“Yippy.” His sarcastic tone came through loud and clear. It made her smile.
“I’m Camden,” she said lightly shaking his right hand.
“Pretty,” he said with a smirk.
“Thank you.” Camden couldn’t believe she was now flirting with a stroke patient.
“Welcome.”
“I should wake Drake and Rebecca. They have been so worried about you…” she said trying to stand up. His hand squeezed.
“Stay. Wait.”
“Don’t get yourself all tired out. You have to take it easy. So you can get better. Okay?” Camden leaned over him and brushed some stray hair off his forehead.
“Thank you,” he said with his eyes watering. She felt so bad for him, trapped in this bed while he was so young and vibrant.
“No problem. It was my pleasure. I just happen to be a doctor, you know?” she said sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“Pretty doctor.” He was a real charmer, even in a hospital bed.
“I can see you are a flirt, Sam Steele,” she said smiling down at him.
“Never.” His smirk made her heart melt.
“Sam?” Rebecca said from behind Ca
mden. She shot up off the bed like a teenager caught in a compromising situation.
“Becca,” he whispered with a smile.
“Oh, my God! You’re talking!” she yelped as she lunged forward to hug him. Drake was startled out of a deep sleep and jumped to his feet.
“Sam? He’s talking?” he asked looking at Camden.
“A little bit, yes,” she said looking down at Sam.
“Hey, man! Boy, were we ever worried about you,” he said rubbing his right shoulder.
“I am going to get the doctor. I will be right back,” Camden said.
“No. Stay. Becca, go,” Sam muttered. It was obvious he wanted Camden to stay and Rebecca to find the doctor.
“Okay, okay. I will stay then. Jeez, you are so bossy, Sam,” Camden said giggling as she returned to the chair beside the bed. Rebecca walked out to find the doctor.
***
After such an eventful evening, Sam finally drifted off to sleep at around 9 PM. Camden used the time to get out of the room to clear her head and get some air. She walked outside into the courtyard. The night air was crisp and cold, but she had a hot cup of cocoa to keep her warm.
“Want some company?” Rebecca asked as she walked out into the courtyard.
“Sure. I just had to get some fresh air,” Camden said taking a sip as she warmed her hands on both sides of the cup.
“I can’t believe he’s talking. I chatted with Doctor Rabun tonight. He said we’ll move him first thing in the morning. He was hopeful that the talking means his brain is healing quickly. Tomorrow they will do more tests to see what deficits he has, like paralysis of any kind.”
“Great. I like this hospital so far. Looks can be deceiving,” Camden said immediately aware of how snobbish that sounded.
“You mean because it’s an old country hospital?” Rebecca asked smirking.
“Well, yes. I’m just used to state of the art hospitals in the city. But, I have been very pleased with the level of care here. This is the kind of place I would love to work,” Camden said, surprising herself.
“Really? See, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a country girl,” Rebecca replied.
“I never have been, but I also don’t feel like myself in the city. I became a doctor because I wanted to help people, not because I wanted to be rich or high society.”
“You’re certainly helping Sam. I don’t think he would be doing this well without you, Camden.”
“I haven’t really done anything but hold his hand and talk to him. Anyone could do that.”
“Listen, I know my brother. We are very close and always have been. He’s been flirting with you since he started talking,” Rebecca started cackling with a laugh unlike anything Camden had ever heard.
“His brain was without oxygen for awhile,” Camden said with a giggle. “He isn’t thinking clearly.”
“Are you married? Boyfriend? What’s your story?” Rebecca cut right to the chase. Camden could tell she didn’t like to mince words, and she had probably fixed her poor brother up a time or two.
“Not married. Engaged, though. Supposed to get married in December.”
“Supposed to?” Rebecca picked up on the two words that Camden didn’t mean to say.
“That’s the plan.”
“Well, Camden, I have to say that sometimes God has other plans.”
Chapter 9
The next morning, Rebecca and Drake decided to take off to the farm to get some of Sam’s things together. He was sleeping a lot that morning, and Camden knew he needed the rest. As she stood in the room, the morning light came through the windows and lit Sam’s chiseled features. His stubble was turning into a beard, and it suited him.
She heard footsteps coming into the room, but she didn’t expect to see Jenny walking in. She was dressed in her typical miniskirt with leggings as well as a sweater and boots.
“Hi, Jenny,” Camden said.
“Hi. How is he?” she whispered trying not to wake Sam.
“Better. He is able to talk a little now.”
“Oh. Good,” Jenny said fidgeting. Camden could tell she was nervous because she wouldn’t come near the bed. She stayed back about ten feet as if he had something contagious.
“Glad you came to see him,” Camden said.
“I guess you think I am a terrible person. I just couldn’t come before now. It was so scary. I was thankful that you agreed to ride with him in the ambulance. How horrible am I for wanting a stranger to take him instead of his own date?”
“That’s not horrible, Jenny. You’re young, and you’ve probably never been around trauma like that. Plus, it was your first date. No one expected you to be here…” Camden tried to assuage her guilt a bit.
“I just can’t… do this. I like to have fun and live life, and I can’t take care of someone so sick. I feel bad for Sam, but I can’t…” she said, choking up. Camden was worried that Sam could hear them, so she pointed toward the hallway. Jenny followed her out.
“Listen, Jenny, he might be able to hear our conversation, so you can’t talk about how sick he is. I… we… want him to get better.”
“Oh, sorry. See? I don’t know how to take care of someone so sick. I guess that makes me shallow. I don’t know why I came here…” she said looking down at her boots.
“Jenny, move on with your life. Sam will be okay. Don’t feel guilty. You found him help when he needed it most,” Camden said putting her hand on Jenny’s tiny shoulder. It was amazing how immature Jenny was at only a few years younger than Camden.
“Why are you still here anyway?” Jenny asked furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. “You didn’t even know Sam.”
“He needs me… wants me here. He gets upset when I leave his side,” Camden said trying not to smile. It was nice to be needed.
“Really? Well, then he must really like you. You know, he was quite the catch in Norton’s Crossing. Every girl wants him… well, wanted him. I sure hope he gets better,” Jenny said peeking one last time into the room.
***
Sam woke up around 9 AM. Camden was standing right by his side, as usual. Her long dark hair was swept up in a ponytail, and she was wearing a UGA sweatshirt and jeans.
“Well, good morning, sleepy head,” she said. He smiled at her, which melted her heart. She didn’t know why this stranger’s smiles did these things to her.
“Morning,” he said. His hair was tousled and messy, but he wore it well.
“Today is the big day. You get your own room,” she said. She also knew today would be the time they tried to feed him without the IV to see if he was able to chew and swallow.
“Yay…” he smiled again.
“Jenny came by to see you.”
“I know.”
“Oh, yeah? How do you know?” she asked with a smirk.
“Pretended to be asleep.” His voice was low, but she could understand him well.
“What? Why did you do that? Jenny feels horrible!” Camden said giggling.
“Too young... Bad fashion… Immature,” he said with a slight chuckle.
“Well, I can’t argue there. I don’t think you are going to get a second date. Your first date was too dramatic for her,” she said smiling.
“Sticky,” he said.
“Sticky?” Camden was completely confused by the random remark.
“Bath,” he said. Lying in a bed for days on end was making him feel hot and sticky, even though the outside temperature was far from warm.
“I will get the nurse,” Camden said.
“No. You. Please.”
“You want ME to give you a bath, Sam? You’re kidding, right?” Camden was both shocked and amused by his request.
“Not kidding. Washcloth…” he nodded in the direction of a cloth sitting on the tray by the bed. She looked him over and figured she could at least wet the cloth and wipe down his arms.
“Okay. Just a little bit,” Camden said relying on her medical training to guide her. As long as she could think of him like a ninet
y year old man in her mind, maybe she could get through it without wanting to plant a kiss on his full lips. What was she thinking? She was engaged to Preston, she kept reminding herself. But, should she have to remind herself of her own fiance?
She took the washcloth and ran it under some warm water in the sink next to the door. When she returned to his side, she pulled the blanket down enough to expose both of his arms. Being careful to go around his IV lines, she rubbed the cloth up and down his left arm. She could feel the strength of his arms even in his weakened state. It occurred to her that Preston’s arms didn’t look so masculine. Sam was a working man, and he was built like some kind of rugged cowboy that she had never seen up close before.
