“Is there a doctor or someone we should call? Are you under medical supervision?”
“No, I only see the neurologist for checkups. There wasn’t much he could do but monitor me.”
“Maybe you should check in later, okay? You can tell him what has happened and recommend someone here. I need to make sure you’re all right.”
“I’ll call him later.”
She smiled, her bottom lip still quivering. I felt our connection re-forming, already growing stronger. I pressed a gentle kiss to her mouth.
Standing her up, I drew the blanket from her shoulders and tugged off my sweatshirt and her wet clothes, leaving her in her underwear. Her skin was pebbled with goose bumps with a slight bluish tinge. Muttering a curse, I opened the door and guided her inside, holding her under the warm spray. Long tremors rushed through her until, at last, she relaxed, and with a sigh, melted into my chest. Her hand fisted my T-shirt, her head resting over my heart. I let the water run over us until I knew she was no longer cold. I turned her to the water and helped wash her long hair, remembering all the times this exact scene had played out right here. As I reached out to shut the water off, her hand covered mine. “My turn,” she said quietly.
“Ally…”
“Now, Adam.”
I smirked at her tone as I hunched low enough for her to reach. “Here we go with you being bossy again,” I teased her.
Her lips pressed into my skin, hard. “Get used to it.”
I lifted my face, the water running over my skin nowhere near as warm as her touch. “Happily.”
—
After the shower, I dried her off and slipped a shirt over her head. “My favorite,” she whispered, rubbing the thin cotton of my shirt between her fingers. I grinned as her wet, lacy brassiere hit the floor. Another patent Ally move, and I knew her underwear would follow, so I handed her a pair of my boxers. “It’s been waiting for you.” I told her, running my hand over her shoulder and smoothing the fabric. “Just like I have.”
“Adam—”
I shook my head. “Later. I want you to rest.” I stroked her temple. “How’s your head?”
“Better.”
“Do you need some pain meds?”
“I only need you.”
“You have me.”
I tucked her into our bed and pulled on a fresh T-shirt and boxers before slipping in beside her. Her entire body relaxed as I drew her close and felt the warmth settle inside me that could only be from her touch. I breathed in deep lungfuls of her scent, and I relaxed—finally feeling some semblance of peace. Her hands clutched my shirt, fisted even in sleep, as if she was afraid I would slip away. My arms held her equally as tight, the same fear etched in my head. I couldn’t close my eyes, too worried this was all a very real dream and I would wake up, once again alone and empty.
I had her back, and I wasn’t letting her go again. We were both exhausted, and I wanted her to sleep. When she woke up we could talk and reconnect. Figure out where we went from here.
Slowly, I relaxed, letting sleep pull me under.
—
Hours later, I woke up feeling different. Lighter.
Warmer.
My arms felt the weight of another person and I opened my eyes. The room was dim but I focused on the woman I was holding. Ally’s eyes were open and she was staring at me.
“I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Gently, I stroked her cheek. “No, you’re not dreaming. The nightmare is over—for both of us.”
“We need to talk. There’s so much I don’t understand.” She frowned. “And I need to understand to move forward.”
Her strength and determination made me proud. I loved her for both those traits.
“I know. Are you up to it? How’s your head?”
“Clearer today. My brain is so full of memories, I’m trying to sort them out.” She worried her bottom lip. “It’s like…”
“Like what?” I prompted.
Her wondrous eyes lifted to mine. “It’s like my mind found what it was looking for and it doesn’t have to work so hard anymore. Does that make sense?”
I was feeling my own anxiety subside, so it made perfect sense.
She continued. “I missed you—every single day, even when I didn’t understand what I was feeling.”
I brushed her cheek, agreeing. “I missed you, too. I felt empty without you, Ally.”
“You must have hated me,” she whispered, pressing a tender kiss to my jaw.
“No. I never hated you. I could never hate you. I was hurt and I didn’t understand. But I never stopped loving you. And I’m not letting you go.”
She gripped my hand. “I don’t want you to.”
I brought her tight to my chest, her head over my heart. “You’re home, and we’ll figure this out. Today is for us to reconnect, and talk.”
She looked up. “Together?”
I knew we had a difficult discussion ahead of us. I had to hear about her accident, find out from her about our time apart—about her parents’ manipulation. Hear what had transpired between her and Bradley—even though I cringed at what she might say. She needed to know I would really listen, though, and if needed, forgive.
Except she wasn’t the one who needed forgiving.
The people around her, her so-called family—they were the ones responsible. I held them accountable, not her.
And I needed her to forgive me for not being the man I promised her I’d be. I should never have left her.
I brushed a kiss to her forehead.
“Together.”
Chapter 23
Ally
Ever since the accident, my days had started the same way. It was as if my body was set on repeat. I would jar awake, every nerve twitching, my body tense and my chest aching.
I never knew what it was aching for.
This morning, awareness came softly—slowly. I woke up, warm and content, relaxed and peaceful. There was no feeling of loss, no tension and no ache.
There was just…
Adam.
Surrounding me with his strong body. Holding me in his arms and keeping me safe. Making me feel as though I was loved.
And home.
His quiet assurances of “no matter what” only made me feel safer. His sincere brown eyes were filled with so much emotion when he spoke. He would love me, regardless of what I told him.
I wanted to ease his mind—the way he had eased my soul.
My phone rang, my mother’s ringtone loud and obnoxious in the quiet of the room. When it fell silent, I looked at Adam. “She’ll call back until I answer.”
“Yeah, I remember her insistence. You should answer it. Let her know you’re safe and be done with it.”
I wasn’t sure I could talk to her without screaming. “I don’t want to talk to her.”
“Then send her a text. You left their apartment in the middle of the night. Even your mother would be concerned. And you have to face her when you go back for your things.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to go back there!”
Adam captured my hand that was rubbing my forehead. “Okay, Nightingale. Calm down. Are you in pain?”
“No. Sometimes when I get upset, my head aches. It’ll go away.” I snuggled closer. “This helps. I don’t ever want to wake up without it again.”
His lips were warm on my temple. “Not happening. Ever. I’m never letting you go.”
My phone beeped and I shut my eyes.
Adam rolled out of bed and got my bag, fishing out my phone. “Is Emma in town?”
“Yes. She’s in meetings all day about her new designs.”
“Does Sarah know that?”
“No.”
“Where’s Ronald?”
“Away on a business trip. He’s away a lot these days.”
“One less asshole to deal with today.” He grunted as his fingers moved over the keypad quickly. “That’ll buy us some time.”
“What did you say?”
&
nbsp; “She now thinks you couldn’t sleep with all the wedding excitement, and you went to Emma’s early to have a spa day so you’d look nice for Bradley.”
The phone beeped and he shook his head after reading the screen, then tossed my phone back into my bag. “She’s reminding you she’s out this evening and that you have a final dress fitting.” Then he arched his eyebrow. “You won’t need that fitting. You aren’t going to need that dress.”
I met his steady gaze. “No, I won’t.”
The sunlight coming in the window glinted off the large diamond on my finger.
“Or that ring,” he added.
We glanced at my hand, and I slid it off. Adam handed me my bag and I tucked it into the side pouch. “I have to give it back and tell them all the wedding is off.” I hesitated, pleading with my eyes. “Will you come with me?”
“Absolutely.”
“Bradley’s going to be upset. I don’t think he’s totally innocent in all this, but I don’t know how much he knows.”
“I think he knows quite a bit.” He bent down close. “I’ve been in hell for months, aching for you. I’ve been without you and that bastard kept you away from me. I woke up every day thinking you didn’t love me anymore. So frankly, I don’t give a fuck how upset he is. I owe him some pain.”
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe all of this has happened.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t on you. He and your mother kept you away and let me think you didn’t love me. I’m sure of it.”
I stroked along his jaw, feeling his rough scruff under my fingers. “It’s amazing how the mind works, because I did love you. Even when I didn’t know it.” My voice caught. “My soul missed you every day.”
His face softened. “I know that now.”
“I have to face them all, don’t I?” I asked, the dread in my voice evident.
“Yes, but I’m not risking you being near them alone. We’ll face it together. Bradley, Ronald, your mother—whatever shitstorm it causes. They have to answer for their actions—not you.”
“I need you there. I need them to see they failed.”
He brushed his lips over my temple. “I’m not letting you out of my fucking sight. It’s my turn to tell them what to do. They’ll never get close to you again.”
I let him surround me. I hated it had come to this. But there was no decision to be made—Adam would always come first. What they had done had proven how little I meant to them.
Adam
Ally hung up the phone and smiled reassuringly at me. “My neurologist is amazed how much I can remember. He’s going to have me see a colleague of his in the next couple days, just to make sure everything is okay. He’ll transfer my files to him. Now will you stop worrying?”
I trailed my fingers down her cheek. “Not sure I will ever be able to stop worrying about you.” I tucked the blanket higher around her shoulder and settled back into the chair. I studied her face—she looked tired, but her eyes were clear. “Are you ready to talk? Just pick somewhere to start and we’ll figure it out.”
She thought about it a moment, then spoke. “I was so upset after we got disconnected—”
“I didn’t hang up on you,” I interjected. I had to make sure she understood that. “I was startled by a couple of the villagers. They broke through the bushes and ran into me. I dropped the phone into the river. It was an accident.”
“There was no other phone anywhere?”
I heard the trace of disbelief in her voice.
“Ally, I was in the middle of nowhere. There was no Wi-Fi or cellular service in such a remote area. Peter’s equipment was damaged in the storms. We had no communications for days. When I sent Tommy for supplies he called and left you a message, but I don’t think you ever got it.”
She shook her head, putting the pieces together. “I was already in the hospital. My mother had my tablet and phone. I’m sure she deleted everything to do with you. She gave me new ones with new accounts—she said they were a get-well gift and the other ones had been damaged in the accident. I should have known better than to believe her.”
“Don’t blame yourself. The bitch and her fucking sidekick thought of everything.”
I ran my hand down her thick hair, stroking the silky curls. “Emma told me about the accident. I wish I had been there for you.”
“I don’t remember much about it—even now. Only bits and pieces.” She rubbed her head. “When I woke up, I was in the hospital and things were so confusing. I was in pain, scared, I had no idea why, and not being able to remember such a huge part of my life was so frightening.”
“Emma said you were in pretty bad shape.”
“There was so much I couldn’t remember. Emma looked different than I thought she should. It was the wrong time of year. My head ached all the time, my leg was in a cast, and I had bruises everywhere. My entire body hurt. They told me I’d been hit by a car, but I couldn’t remember that. The last things I could remember clearly were going out with Bradley to dinner and being at work. I couldn’t remember coming to Calgary or anything in between.” She shook her head. “Emma was hurt, and when I finally saw her, she seemed withdrawn. And my mother was always around, hovering, and kept her from saying too much, and then she stopped coming to see me.”
“She didn’t want Emma saying too much—she was afraid it would trigger your memory.” My anger started to build as I thought of the lengths her parents had gone to in order to separate us.
“I know that now.”
I kissed her head. “Emma was injured, too, and I know you two aren’t as close as you had been, but I think you can repair your friendship.”
“I want to.”
“Good. I think with Emma out of the picture, your mother and Bradley were more than happy to fill in the missing details—at least their version of the details.”
She became quiet, playing with my bands, and thinking. When she spoke, her voice was sad as she processed thoughts in her head.
“They didn’t tell me very much, and the times I was alone I tried to remember on my own, to try and fill in more of the empty spaces, but nothing ever came.”
“How often were you alone?”
“A lot.” She sighed. “My mother left often to come here for her ‘obligations,’ and Bradley flew in and out. Ronald never came, not that I wanted him to.” Her voice was wistful. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital room alone.” She paused, her voice low and somewhat shy. “I cried a lot at times. I didn’t know what I was crying for, but I couldn’t stop. I think—I think maybe I was crying for you.”
I swallowed the thick feeling in my throat. I hated knowing that. The fact she was alone in a strange place with no one to comfort or care for her the way she should have been cared for made me angry. The fact she needed me and I wasn’t there upset me. I pulled her head to my chest, stroking her skin gently.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.”
Her voice was muffled in my shirt. “You didn’t know.”
“No, I didn’t. If I did, I would have moved heaven and earth to get to you.” Tilting her head up, I laid my forehead on hers. “It kills me to know you were hurt and you were alone.” I brushed my lips on her temple. “I will never fucking forgive your mother for that.”
She looked up at me, determined. “I won’t, either.”
“I should never have left you. I should have stayed when you asked. I did so many things wrong. I’m not sure I can ever forgive myself.”
“I forgive you,” she whispered. “We made mistakes. What my mother did wasn’t a mistake. She was being cruel.”
“They kept me away from you, Nightingale. When I got back to a place I could get my messages, I found four from you—the last one telling me you didn’t want to see me again.”
“I didn’t send that.” Her voice was emphatic.
“I know that now. I came home and tried to find you. Vivian told me you quit your job, your place was up for sale, I couldn’t get hold of Emma, and yo
ur mother…” My voice trailed off and my hands clenched thinking about her words and the almost sick enjoyment she got out of my pain.
“What did she say?”
I repeated the words her mother flung at me and the fake text I fell for. Ally’s eyes filled with tears and anger as she shook her head rapidly. I took her face in my hands, cupping her cheeks. “I know it was all lies now. She wanted me gone and she got her wish. I let her defeat me, and I packed up and went back to Peter in Africa and helped build a new clinic. I thought with time and distance I could get over you. I hoped you could come back and pick up your life here, without me interfering.”
“But you left me a message before you left.”
I brushed the tears from her face. “You heard that?”
She nodded. “Last night, when everything came back, I called your number—I could remember it and I wanted to hear your voice. I heard what you said. That’s when I knew there was so much more to this than I could handle myself and I had to come to you. I grabbed my things and left.” Her hand covered mine, stroking the rough skin gently. “You thought I’d left you and you still loved me?”
“I’ll always love you. Nothing can change that. Your mother and Bradley failed. I came back to find you.”
“I can’t believe Bradley did this. I don’t understand why or how they thought they’d get away with it.”
“I think when they found out how much of your memory was missing, they decided to make sure they got what they’d wanted all along. I know you could never see it, but Bradley wanted more than friendship from you—even Emma could see how he felt. This was his chance. Bradley got you and your mother got rid of me. Your mother kept you in Calgary, supposedly for you to heal. He accepted a job there. I think once you married Bradley and left Toronto for good, even if you got your memory back, they’d convince you I’d been the one to walk away from you, not the other way around—and probably tell you I never came back when they got word to me you’d been hurt. I’m sure they had all their bases covered.”
My Image of You Page 25
