What kind of life would I have had if the old lady had not gotten drunk and drove her car into the café window crashing her car, changing the situation completely? The thought of becoming a fugitive, a felon for life made Steve cringe. He couldn’t convince himself entirely that this was not an act of providence, but a mere coincidence. “Coincidence or something far beyond my understanding”, revolved in his thoughts. He didn’t know the answer. Could it be divine intervention? He would speculate uneasily.
But the most important element was that Grace was alive and well, and that he was not a criminal, or a fugitive on the run and he was exceedingly grateful for that. He couldn’t believe he had nothing to worry or fear!
Even with all this going on, he didn’t forget about the two thugs, Ricardo Lopez and Gustav Nilsson. But they didn’t worry him anymore; he knew that there was precious little they could do to him now. They must have learned that it was the crash that thwarted Ricardo’s plan—not me.
Sure they must be enormously furious, and even frustrated, by the turn of events. But there is not much they can do now. The thought of not carrying out their plan, and the fact that there was nothing they could do about it brought a smile of immense satisfaction to Steve’s face.
There would be a time for a rendezvous with Ricardo and Nilsson that Steve knew he must face. He would have to contend with the two loons who must be surely raged at the turn of events. But because it had happened the way it did, Steve knew they couldn’t blame him for it. Besides, my contract with them is over! I had gone to carry out the plan and it wasn’t my fault that the old lady, (My Angel) had crashed in at the very last moment! Steve couldn’t contain his grin whenever he thought of Ricardo and Nilsson’s failed plan.
He knew that the crash had not only let him off the hook from the law, but also off the hook of these maniacs as well.
If they dare tell the cops, which was not going to happen, that they had planned to kill Grace Kingsbury and hired Steve to carry out their plan, what cop would buy their story, since he had actually saved her life! That scenario, Steve knew, was now an impossibility. Plus he had been smart to remove all evidence that he ever met with Ricardo or Nilsson. He had thrown Ricardo’s gun in the river, along with his cell phone. There was now nothing that could link him with the two thugs, he thought with a smile. But would they try to attack Grace again?
“Well they better not try anything with Grace now. For I am here now to protect her with all my strength” he said aloud in a fiercely determined voice.
“Yep I will meet with them someday, but now is the time for Grace…my Grace. “My Grace? What am I thinking?” He was annoyed with himself for thinking that way.
“She is not mine; yet, but what the heck, I love her!”
As he now lay on the comfortable bed of his Hotel room, Steve couldn’t stop thinking about Grace Kingsbury. She had entered deep in his mind and heart. Steve could not comprehend how she could have impacted him so profoundly in their first encounter—that he had fallen madly in love with her. Love, like this, was something that he had never experienced before in his life.
He also discovered that it was perhaps for the very first time in his life there was with nothing on his mind to torment him. He had not a care or a concern in the world, except for the thoughts of Grace that occupied his mind. He was amazed to feel as he did- completely and deeply in love with Grace. Sure he had few relationships with other women, but then he had never really fallen in love before. It was such a different feeling. There was no single word to describe how he felt. Warmth, joy, impatience, restlessness, amazing peace, and elation, were some of the emotions he was experiencing. He was truly amazed how love could produce such a wide variety of emotions- all served at once! He couldn’t wait for it to be morning so that he could go to the hospital to see Grace… my Grace, he thought, almost shyly. It suddenly dawned on him that the word “Grace” had become the most precious, the most beautiful, and the most important word in his life.
CHAPTER XV
Since Grace was under observation for 72 hours after the accident, no visitors were permitted to meet with her for the first three days.
Meanwhile Steve was very anxious to know how Grace felt about him. So when the three long and miserable days finally passed, and the doctors finally allowed Grace to meet with visitors, Steve went to the hospital with a bouquet of roses and a box of chocolates.
He hoped that she would like his flowers, that she would like him…
He had never given flowers to any girl in his life. Grace was the first one and Steve felt awkward about it. It was a bright and sunny morning and everything seemed perfect when Steve reached the hospital, a bouquet of bright red roses in his hands.
The receptionist recognized him instantly, as Steve entered the hospital. “Good morning Mr. Neal” she said enthusiastically, as she beamed at Steve.
Steve had taken care to look good that morning. He had shaved off his stubble, taken a long hot shower, put on his best shirt and trousers, and wore new shoes and applied a generous amount of after-shave. He wanted to be sure he looked his best. And when he had examined himself in the mirror, he smiled…for he knew he was looking his handsomest best. This was also the first time in his life that he was wearing clothes to impress someone. But then this someone was very special to him.
Steve had a hunch that the receptionist thought highly of him. Obviously she knew that he had saved Grace Kingsbury’s life. “She must think of me as a hero or something” he smiled.
His thoughts were interrupted by the receptionist who informed Steve that Grace was recuperating in room 507. “She has been waiting for you Mr. Neal. She has asked about you several times” she said giving Steve a knowing smile.
The news blew Steve away. All the time he was worried that Grace may not even remember him, but here is this nurse telling me enthusiastically that Grace inquired about me not once but several times! Could it be true, that she too likes me...perhaps even is falling for me? The thought made him go warm in the heart and weak in the knees. Yet he managed to give the receptionist his widest smile and as he walked past her, he winked at her—which made her blush.
The room where Grace was recuperating was on the fifth floor of the large hospital. Steve hated hospitals, but this hospital was an exception, it had Grace in it! As he reached room 507, he paused for a moment. He discovered his heart was hammering and his mouth had turned dry.
Does she like me? Will she remember me? Will she be cold to me? A myriad of troubling thoughts crossed his mind as he entered the room with considerable trepidation and apprehension.
The room was huge, almost 30 feet wide and 40 feet long. It was in immaculate condition, as if it were painted and furnished very recently. But Steve was in no mood to appreciate the décor of the room. His eyes were searching furtively for Grace…for Grace alone. And finally he saw her. Grace was lying in the hospital bed, which was located in the corner of the vast room, wearing white pajamas watching the small TV placed near her. Her white PJ’s caused Grace to look like an angel, and it made Steve catch his breath sharply. Her brownish blonde hair was slightly disheveled from lying on the bed; her face, devoid of any make up, looked pale but innocent and virtuous. Steve thought she looked even lovelier without make-up. In his eyes, Grace Kingsbury was easily the most beautiful girl in the world!
And as he stood at the entrance of the room, the roses dangling loosely from his hands, he realized no words were forming—he could just stand and gape at Grace. Even as he struggled to say something, Grace saw Steve, and his heart skipped a beat. Her face lit up with a smile that was warm, large and genuine. Steve knew instantly that she liked him. Nay, loved him! How could anybody become so happy seeing someone else, unless….
Grace managed to sit up as Steve stood beside her bed. Looking at her angelic face, and in a rather hoarse voice that he could barely recognize, Steve succeeded in saying, “Good morning Ms. Kingsbury, how do you feel today?”
Grace Kingsbury smile
d warmly at Steve, “I feel better, how do you feel Mr…
“Steve Neal” Steve cut in.
“I like your name Steve, I mean Mr. Neal” Grace Kingsbury said shyly.
“Please call me Steve” he blurted, his voice husky.
Her looks, her persona, her very presence seemed to mesmerize Steve and he continued to stare at her—without wanting to—with a transfixed gaze.
As he stood staring at her she asked him softly, “Did you get those flowers for me Steve?”
“Yes, yes Ms. Kingsbury” Steve stammered. Do you like roses? He asked Grace anxiously.
“No, I don’t like roses, I love them Steve” and she laughed.
“Thank you so much for bringing them” and she got up from the bed and gave Steve a tight hug. Steve could have kissed her then and there but managed to restrain himself with considerable difficulty.
Warily he looked into her eyes, and was astonished to see that this beautiful, wonderful girl liked him. It was obvious from her eyes—the way she regarded him. But could she fall in love with a total stranger. Was that at all possible? Steve wondered. What does she know about me?
He wondered how she would react if he told her the horrible truth, that he had come to the café the other night with the definite purpose of murdering her! But he restrained himself for the fear of what she would say.
Instead, he asked, “How long will you be staying in the hospital?”
Selfishly Steve hoped that Grace would be asked to stay at the hospital for a while so that he could visit her each day. Steve wasn’t sure if he would be allowed in her house—he was sure she lived in some kind of a mansion with plenty of security.
“Honestly Steve I want to go home right now and I do feel well, but the doctors are not letting me go home, they say I may have to stay here for a week” she said in a disappointed voice. But the news did not disappoint him, it actually made him jubilant! And before he could restrain himself he found himself announcing “That’s awesome, now I can come here each day and see you!”
For an instant Grace was surprised by this reaction then she suddenly burst into laughter, and embarrassingly Steve joined her in her laughter.
Soon they had warmed up to each other and were chatting merrily as if they were two long lost people meeting each other after being away from each other for a long time. Steve couldn’t have enough of Grace. She was the loveliest, the most charming girl in the world and every word she spoke was pure music to his ears.
Grace on the other hand was stunned by Steve’s transformation. The stubble was gone, so was the ugly hoodie and the nasty horn-rimmed glasses. The man who stood before her was looking more handsome than many movie stars, she thought admiringly. His blue eyes twinkled with affection for her, while his face beamed with obvious joy at seeing her. She couldn’t believe the man who had saved her life was as handsome as this!
“Steve, you look so... so different today”, she said shyly. How can I thank you; thank you very much for saving my life. Had it not been for you I would be lying dead and buried in some old cemetery…”
But even before she could finish her sentence, Steve on an impulse placed his fingers on her mouth, preventing her from completing her words. The very thought of Grace being dead was unbearable to him now. ‘”Don’t say that Grace. May you live a hundred years” Steve’s spontaneous and so obviously unpremeditated utterance made Grace look sharply at him. She knew instantly it was a genuine sentiment. As she continued to look at his eyes intently, searchingly, she knew this tall ruggedly handsome man loved her deeply. Her eyes turned moist, as she took the flowers from his limp hands and she hugged him tightly.
Steve was convinced now that Grace liked him immensely, but did she love him? He wanted to know that...He needed to know that…
CHAPTER XVl
From that day on Steve started coming every day to the hospital to visit Grace. They would sit and chat for hours and with each passing day Steve and Grace became closer. When he was not with her, his thoughts were filled with her violet eyes, and how they twinkled as he gazed into them; the silky hair that danced on her shoulders and framed her beautiful face. Ironically, this girl who he hadn’t even known until a month back and whom he had agreed to murder for a fistful of dollars had now become the very focus of his life and his future.
And then on the day Grace was to be discharged, Steve mustered the courage and invited her out for dinner. It would be her first night after being released from the hospital and Steve wanted her to spend the evening with him and have dinner together—hopefully if she would want that.
And he was elated when Grace willingly accepted his invitation. This would be their first evening out together after that fateful night and Steve was excited about their date.
He still had plenty of money left from the advance Ricardo had given to him and he gave no thought to the fact that he would want it back it was all so bizarre, baffling, and inexplicable. Just a short time back he was practicing painstakingly to make sure the plan to kill Grace Kingsbury would be pulled off flawlessly. And here he was now, painstakingly preparing to do absolutely anything to shield and safeguard the life of the very woman he had wanted to exterminate. He was prepared to go to any lengths to protect her from any harm, even if that meant laying down his own life for her. This was how strongly he felt about Grace Kingsbury now. Besides protecting her, Steve also wanted to fill Grace’s life with happiness, love and fervor. He wanted to obliterate all the sorrow and trauma she was going through, because of her father’s untimely demise, and replace it with joyous bliss. This way he would atone for the despicable plan he was to carry out.
He was confident that his parents—wherever they might be—would approve of what their son was doing now.
CHAPTER XVll
Steve took Grace out to a carefully chosen restaurant, which was not overly fancy, yet classy enough to host candle-light dinners. Since it was a Monday, Steve hoped there wouldn’t be much of a crowd. And that was exactly how it turned out when he and Grace entered the restaurant. Although there was abundant dining room, there were but a few diners. The tables were nicely laid out, with a candle glowing at the center of each one, and there was instrumental music playing softly in the background.
Steve thought the ambience was exceedingly romantic. And he was not the only one; he was pleased to see that the whole ambience was making a tremendous impression on Grace…his Grace. She too was obviously impacted by the splendor of the setting and the magic of the moment. The staff was cordial and friendly, and this made them feel even more comfortable.
Steve ordered the most expensive wine the restaurant was serving. He wanted Grace to thoroughly enjoy her first evening after her stint at the hospital. He wanted her to have a break from her worries, troubles and sadness. And the wine really hit the spot. The steward, who had highly recommended the wine, was right. The wine was indeed splendid, it’s rich color and pleasant aroma was smooth and delicious, and they drank it liberally. After all that they had been through in the past few weeks, it was a nice way to relax and unwind.
As they wined and dined in the dim romantic candle light, Steve and Grace seemed to melt in the romance of the evening, accentuated by the candles and soft piano music playing in the back ground. Soon they were on the floor, dancing.
Steve noticed how happy and beautiful Grace looked. She swayed to the music, her soft curls bouncing on her shoulders and the candlelight illuminating her flawless complexion. Her sadness had all but disappeared. The thick cloud of melancholy that surrounded her—when he had first seen her at the café—seemed to have been replaced with joy and serenity. It was a great contrast to see the young lady, who once appeared overwhelmed with tragedy and pathos, scarcely contain her happiness now.
She looked absolutely gorgeous when she laughed. His eyes were transfixed on her face and the sound of her laughter gave him more happiness than any other thing he had experienced in his life. And he found this delightfully peculiar. He was amazed how s
omeone else’s joy could make him so glad.
The night was turning out to be a very special night for both Grace and Steve as they swayed to the romantic numbers played by the restaurant’s DJ. It was during their third dance, as Steve was twirling Grace under his arm, she all of a sudden came close to him. So close that Steve found her lips on his and before he could check himself or fully comprehend what was happening, they were kissing passionately.
At that moment in time, they were lost in their world, and lost to the world. Their hearts seemed to be over flowing with love for each other, which would find a simple expression in the form of kisses. Kisses so soft and sweet that went on until late in the night—when there was hardly any other guests left in the restaurant besides them.
In the midst of this magic, Steve found himself saying something he had never said before, to anyone. Looking deep into Graces eyes, he murmured softly but distinctly, “I love you Grace… I love you more than anyone or anything I have loved in my life. You matter more to me than life itself; I can’t imagine my life without you in it Grace”. And after this spur-of-the-moment confession Steve closed his eyes. He knew he had failed in resisting the power of the moment, and had expressed what his heart genuinely felt. He was now deeply concerned he may have been hasty about this. He didn’t want to lose his darling Grace for anything on earth. He knew that he loved this gorgeous lady like crazy, but the question was did she love him as well?
ROMANTIC SUSPENSE : DEATH WHISPERED SOFTLY Page 9
