Going Going Gone

by Cerian Hebert

  “They just moved Gwen into a private room,” she told him and patted the seat next to her.

  Even though he’d been sitting for far too long, Eli took it. “They doing okay?”

  Lucy sighed. “It was a battle. Her doctor wanted her to go naturally, but finally they realized it was no good, so they did a C-section. I tell you, I’ve never seen Mark so scared. Kind of how you look now. How is Nell?”

  Eli shrugged. “No word. Not sure if they’d tell me anything anyway. So, do we have a boy or girl?” He wanted to think of something happy for a moment.

  “We have a boy. William Marcus Demers. Bouncing at five pounds, eight ounces. Not bad for an early baby.”

  Eli smiled, but it died quickly. Nell’s condition weighed too heavily on him. “Do they know about Nell yet?”

  Lucy shook her head. “I couldn’t tell them. I didn’t want to add to their stress, but I will, as soon as I see them.”

  That was the best he could expect. Eli stood slowly. Maybe he would go get coffee and return downstairs to wait for word on Nell.

  Word finally came, ten minutes after he got back. Paula and Howie remained at his side when Rod Covington came out. He’d known Eli for years. They played golf together on occasion and both volunteered for Special Olympics.

  “You know I’m not supposed to give you any information, but you’re close to the Demers and I know they’re going through their own situation right now. I spoke to Nell’s mother and she’s on her way, but won’t be here for a few more hours so I’ll consider you next of kin.”

  Relief mixed with apprehension in a tumultuous swirl. It gripped Eli right in the belly, then enveloped his heart. “How is she doing?” He was so afraid of the answer. His entire body tensed, prepared for the worst, praying for the best.

  “She’s out of surgery. She took quite a beating.”

  Understatement. It was going to be a long time before Eli got the picture of her crushed Mustang out of his head.

  “I won’t go into too many details with you, Eli. I’ve got to give those to a family member.” He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced around the room. “But I can say she has two facial lacerations, four fractured ribs, a torn spleen, a fractured pelvis and her left leg was broken in three places.”

  Oh God, so much. Eli wanted to sit because his stomach suddenly felt like it was going to erupt right into his throat. But he stood still and nodded. Even that small movement made him want to throw up.

  “She’s going to be spending some time with us, and after that, it’ll be a long time before she’s back on her feet.”

  “But she’ll be all right?” Please tell me she’s going to be all right.

  “Right now she’s in critical but stable condition. You know I can’t give you a definitive answer. It’s too early for that, but if I were a betting man, Eli, I’d give her good odds. She’s young and healthy, so barring any unforeseen complications, I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

  Eli let out a quick rush of breath in relief. “Can I see her?”

  Dr. Covington shook his head. “She’s not awake right now and honestly, unless she wakes and asks for you, I have to say no. Not until her mother or sister sees her. Why don’t you go home and get some rest. You look like you could use it.”

  Eli raked a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. Leaving was the last thing he wanted to do. He shook his head wearily. “Not yet. Someone should be here when one of her family members arrives. Gwen is getting settled. Maybe Mark—”

  He hadn’t finished his thought when Mark ran into the room. As exhausted as Eli knew he looked, he had nothing on Mark. The man, usually cheerful and well put-together, was a wreck, with hair sticking out in fifteen directions. The beginnings of a beard shadowed his jaw and chin, only slightly darker than the circles under his red eyes.

  “What the hell?” he asked as soon as he got to Eli and the doctor’s side. “What the hell is going on?”

  Dr. Covington repeated Nell’s condition, this time going into slightly more detail that turned Eli’s stomach in a sick tumble. How in God’s name had she made it through such an ordeal? Would she survive? Obviously she wasn’t out of the woods yet.

  Before he realized what was happening, Mark had him by the arm and was pulling him toward Nell’s room.

  Nell opened her eyes and instantly closed them. The dim light brought on more pain than she could deal with. Unfortunately, closing her eyes didn't send the hurt fleeing into the darkness. No matter how still she remained, it was there, all over, seeping into every cell of her body. Not that she could move if she’d wanted to. And she wanted to. The need filled her like a rage, angry and hot, but it just added to the pain.

  She tried to call out but her mouth felt pasted shut. It took all her effort just to brush her tongue over her dry lips. If she spoke, maybe someone would be there to help her.

  With a slow intake of breath that brought more hurt, Nell opened her eyes again. Her surroundings were a gray blur of shapes and shadows. Slowly, some color seeped in and edges sharpened until she could make out a few of the objects in her limited range of sight. Some kind of machine stood near her head, a green jagged line running along its screen along with numbers her fuzzy mind couldn’t make out. A window to her right let in watery light.

  Her fingers crawled slowly over the sheet covering her body. Even without seeing them she knew she had tubes attached to the back of her hand. She could feel them pull slightly when she moved.

  "Drink." She thought she said the word aloud, but wasn't sure. At least she meant to.

  Out of her range of vision she heard the scurrying and then a voice. "Nell?"

  Nell forced her eyes open further. She didn't have to be fully awake to recognize her mother's voice. Her brain didn't want to question why her mother was there. She was supposed to be in Florida. But when Nell's eye caught sight of the machine as pain radiated across her lower body, she knew. She remembered.

  "Mom?"

  Suddenly her mother's face came into view and a comforting hand covered hers, warm and soft. "Oh, Nell, thank God. Shh honey, I'm going to call a nurse."

  Nell managed a nod before she slipped off into sleep.

  When she woke again, the world outside the window was darker, but everything seemed more in focus. Pale green curtains at the window, and several bouquets of flowers. As much as she could, she scanned the rest of the room in her range. A bouquet of balloons floated listlessly in the corner. She could see the top of a dark head, but couldn't make out who it was. Mark, maybe?

  At least she didn't feel that desperate thirst anymore. This time when she ran her tongue over her lips, they were smooth and moist and tasted faintly of strawberries. It reminded her of her mother. Of course, Mom had been there. Before dropping off the cliff of consciousness, she remembered seeing her mother's face, the touch of her hand. It was the only comfort she felt.

  Though the pain wasn't nearly as bad as earlier, there was still discomfort. She wanted to move, swing her legs over the bed and stretch them out but realized, even without seeing it, at least one leg was encased in plaster. In fact, it felt as if her whole lower body was entombed, immobile.

  Good Lord, what had happened?

  "Hello?" Her voice sounded rusty, gravelly with lack of use, but the dark head lifted and she was astonished to recognize the face. "Eli?"

  What in the world was he doing there? He hated her.

  He was out of his seat in a flash and at her side, gathering her hand gently in his. "Nell?"

  "What are you doing here?" She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the last of the fog from her vision so she could see him clearly.

  "Waiting for you to wake up, sweetheart." His voice was as gentle as the fingers that stroked her cheek. Hardly the same voice she heard the last time. Everything about him was different. Her vision cleared and she focused on his face. None of that cold accusation remained in his eyes, just concern and—if she dared to believe it—love.

  Did he real
ly call her ‘sweetheart?’ Her mind was still too fuzzy to comprehend anything beyond the fact she hurt like hell and he was sitting there, holding her hand as though they'd never had their blowout.

  "How long have I been here?" She wanted to sit up, but when she tried, he held her in place.

  "Don't move. You've been here since yesterday. Early yesterday morning."

  "I was driving here to get to Gwen. A moose . . . that's the last thing—oh my God, Gwen." Again she tried to sit up, but this time more than Eli's hand stopped her. The pain from her waist down surged up and nearly strangled her. She squeezed her eyes shut and rode the swell until the worst of it passed.

  "Nell, don't move. Try to relax. Gwen is fine. You are not."

  Nell drew in a deep breath and nodded. She kept her eyes closed and clutched Eli's fingers. "Did she have the baby?"

  "Yeah. You have a nephew. William Marcus."

  She managed a smile. "Thank God. Mark must be a proud daddy."

  "He is. Listen, I'm going to leave you for a few minutes. Your mom is in maternity visiting your sister but I'm sure she'll want to come and see you. You gonna be okay for a little while?"

  She didn't release her hold on his hand. "Just tell me, why are you still here? You hated me when I left."

  "I don't hate you and I was an idiot to send you away like that. When we found you and your car, oh God, Nell, when I thought I'd lost you . . .” He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a hard kiss onto her fingers. “I love you. I'm so sorry for what I said."

  All she wanted to do was to gather him in her arms, to feel his lips against hers, but she knew she'd have to wait.

  "I'm sorry, too. For lying to you. I should never have done that. Especially when I fell in love with you. I made such a mess out of everything just to boost my stupid ego."

  Eli leaned down and kissed away anything else she was going to say. His lips on hers lessened the pain for a moment. She clung to the familiar euphoria that his touch created, hoping he wouldn’t pull back too soon. Carefully she opened her mouth to him, inviting him to deepen the kiss. Delight spilled throughout her battered body when his tongue traced hers ever so gently. She sighed lightly and he pulled away, but pressed his forehead against hers for a bit longer.

  "I'm going for your mother, okay?"

  Nell nodded and leaned back into the pillows.

  Chapter 15

  Late February pushed insistently against the windows, pelting the panes with seed-like snow. But inside it was as warm as Nell could ever want, and busier than it ever had been in all the years she lived there.

  Her studio was set back up. Jill and Paula worked at the sewing machines while her new hire, Melody, pieced together a pattern on the dummy, a dozen pins sticking out of her mouth. Even Emma worked hard, running to help anyone who needed an extra hand.

  In the kitchen, her mother made lunch. She’d decided to spend the winter in New Hampshire while Nell recovered from the accident. Though she tried to argue, Nell relented and gave up her space in New York City. There was no way she could handle it in the condition she was in. Luckily Jill and Chuck had no problem relocating as well. In May, her assistant would be married and embark on the life she and Chuck longed for in a quiet little town.

  Nell relished the busyness surrounding her. Such activity had been key to getting her through the trials of physical therapy, giving her something to concentrate on during her recovery. Once again she was designing, putting together her spring collection, and managing Inner Goddess Fashions from the old farmhouse. Her show in New York gave her company the boost it needed and she’d become highly sought after, much to Javier's chagrin.

  Nell followed his success with the designs he stole from her. Though she couldn’t benefit from the financial rewards or have her name on them, she was still proud they were amongst ‘his’ most popular designs. He had to be kicking himself over letting her go, but the thought just made Nell smile.

  Her personal recovery had been slow and painful. Her doctor told her flat out she'd always have a limp and she'd have scars to remind her of the accident. Not that she needed reminders. Yet when she felt down, letting the pain get the best of her, Eli was right there next to her to make sure she moved forward. He stopped in nearly every day, generally for lunch. Today was no different.

  After Eli tracked her down in her workroom, Nell contentedly leaned against him. Now that she didn't have to hide who she really was, and could be open in her feelings for him, she let them flow freely. "You're a patient man," she finally muttered. "I would have left me months ago."

  Eli kissed the top of her head and gathered her tightly against him. "Not a chance. I did that once and look what happened."

  "Mmm. I wouldn’t trade this crap for nearly everything in the world. A spring show to plan, physical therapy. Summer collection. I'm going stir crazy!"

  Eli squeezed her gently. "You need a break. Before you collapse."

  "I wish. I love my family and I love what I do, stress and all, but I would kill for a weekend with nothing but silence."

  She settled for his kisses. She'd missed them so much during her recovery. Not once did they have more than a few minutes alone together for a little snuggling and kissing. No time, no privacy and it drove her batty. Nights were especially frustrating when she dreamed of him, of what they shared the past summer. What they were going to share as soon as they found five minutes free of company.

  "Hmm." Eli burrowed his face into her neck, nibbling at her sensitive skin. Desire took over and threatened to turn her legs into gelatin. Thank God Eli was there to hold her up, otherwise she would have ended in a puddle of lust on the floor.

  "It's not fair," she murmured. "You can't do this to me when my mother is in the next room."

  Eli pulled away, but grinned. "I have to get back to work anyway. I'll give you a call this evening, okay?"

  "Mmm."

  With one final, long kiss, Eli took off. Unfortunately, he left her completely turned on, and a good half hour passed before Nell could even concentrate on work.

  Eli had plans to take Nell away for a few days. Nobody needed a break more than she did, and he wanted her all for himself. Except for an occasional evening out, they hadn’t shared a moment when someone else wasn’t in the next room.

  Tonight he’d change that. With a phone call, a quick trip to his parents’ house, and a longer one to the grocery store, Eli headed to Nell’s place, ready to whisk her away.

  “Pack a bag,” he told her as soon as she opened the front door to him. He stepped past her into the foyer and leaned in for a quick kiss.

  “A bag? Why?”

  “You need to get away and I’m the one to take you there. Now, go on. Pack some clothes—nothing fancy, just jeans and sweater or sweatshirt, and we’re out of here.”

  Nell laughed and nestled her face into the crook of his shoulder and neck. “Man of surprises. Where are we going?”

  “Uh-uh. It’s a surprise.” Eli turned her around so she faced the stairs and gave her a gentle pat on the butt. “Go.”

  Fifteen minutes later, they headed out of town, traveling northwest, stopping only long enough to get coffee from a drive-thru donut joint off the highway.

  Despite the fact the drive took over two hours, Nell didn’t ask him once about their destination. Instead they talked about a hundred different topics.

  When silence fell between them Eli glanced at her, and smiled to see her eyes had closed. He suspected she’d sleep a lot over the next day or so, to make up for the hectic schedule she’d set for herself the past few months.

  Well, as long as she’s sleeping with me.

  At last, with moonlight streaming on the snowy scene before them, Eli pulled into a long driveway, thankful someone kept it plowed. He stopped the truck and gently nudged Nell awake. “We’re here.”

  Her eyes fluttered open and she looked out the window. “Where’s here?”

  “My folks’ cabin. Outside Killington, Vermont. We’re borrowin
g it for a few days.”

  Nell straightened in the seat and released her seatbelt. “Beautiful. Eerie, the way the moon is glowing off the snow.”

  “Come on, let’s get settled and then I’ll bring our stuff in.” Eli grabbed their bags and exited the truck with more energy than he believed he’d have after such a long drive. He only had to glance over at Nell to figure out why. Even dressed in her dark green winter jacket and matching wool cap, she was damned sexy. And for at least two days—longer if they could manage—she’d be completely his.

  First thing, first. As soon as they entered the cozy two-bedroom chalet-style log home, he turned on the heat and started a fire in the living room’s fieldstone fireplace. His parents had been there not too long ago, so everything Eli needed was close at hand. When the room was warming and Nell had hung up her jacket, Eli returned to the truck to haul in the supplies he’d picked up in Harper’s Grove before they left.

  “This is a perfect little hideaway,” Nell commented as she wandered into the kitchen to help put groceries away. “You ski?”

  “I used to. Haven’t for years. I planned on bringing Dylan and Emma here but something always came up and I kept putting it off. Don’t suppose you ski?”

  Nell laughed, a low and sexy sound that made Eli’s blood course faster through his veins. It didn’t help that her soft, pale green sweater hugged her breasts and was low cut enough to reveal a tantalizing amount of cleavage. “Ski? Strap two slippery pieces of wood to my feet and rush headlong down a mountain? That’s what I call insanity. I will admit to cross-country skiing. I used to go with friends in college. But I don’t think these legs will allow me to do anything major, anyway. Maybe we could fumble through a little cross-country together.”

  “Well, maybe we can find a couple pairs while we’re here. My parents like both styles of skiing and they usually leave their skis behind.”