Smitten at First Sight: A Contemporary Romance Novel

by Astor, Marie

  “Hannah, why are you crying?” Shawn exclaimed, his normally reserved expression melting into that of tender concern.

  “Because it’s been a terrible day and I don’t think I can take any more of this. I have to get out of here, Shawn.” And the minute she said it, Hannah knew it was true. She was bighearted enough to wish Taylor and Maggie the best, but that did not mean that she had to remain a bystander on the outskirts of their happiness. It was time for her to start building her own life, and maybe, in time, she would find someone who would love her the way Taylor loved Maggie. “No one needs me here. It’s time I got out of this town.” She had stayed in Eagleville for too long, foregoing good opportunities she should have pursued, opting to work at the ski lodge so that she could be close to Taylor, when she should have been concentrating on her ski career instead. It was time for a new start.

  “What are you talking about, Hannah? We all need you here,” started Shawn, but Hannah shook her head and got inside her car – there was nothing more left for her to say.

  “I need you, Hannah,” Shawn murmured as the door of Hannah’s car slammed shut, drowning out his words. In the past ten years that he had been in love with Hannah he had never found the right time to tell her so. Suddenly, it dawned on him that if he did not find the right words now, he might never get another chance to tell her how he felt. But how was he to put all those years of bottled up feelings into words?

  The sight of Hannah’s car leaving the parking lot shook him out of his indecision. He had never been more certain of his feelings for her than at that moment. He had to act now: if he let her walk out of his life, he would be forever heartbroken.

  “Hannah! Wait!” Waving his hands frantically in the air, Shawn ran after her car. Of course it would have made more sense to follow Hannah in his car, but at the moment he was incapable of thinking rationally, so he ran down the narrow street, praying for her to see him in the rear view mirror. In a few moments she would make a turn for the highway, and then all hope of catching up with her would be lost. His pulse quickened with hope when he saw her car slow down, pulling over to the side. In another instant, he was standing next to her car.

  “Hannah!” he gasped, leaning on the car door to catch his breath. “There is something I wanted to tell you…” He had held back his feelings for her for so long that now he was terrified of finally opening up to her.

  “Shawn! What are you doing?” Hannah exclaimed as she stepped out onto the sidewalk, visibly shaken up by his strange behavior. “What is it?”

  With Hannah standing so close, he could smell the light scent of her perfume, or perhaps it was the shampoo that she used. “I wanted to tell you that,” he halted in mid-sentence, feeling his throat tightening treacherously. The words were on the tip of his tongue, why could not he just get them out?

  “Shawn, you don’t have to say anything. I know it’s hard to say goodbye, but I’ve already made up my mind.”

  “Hannah, no, please wait,” Shawn pleaded, his mind racing for the right words. It was over - his life as he knew it was coming to an end because he could not work up the guts to speak his mind.

  Hannah shook her head. “It can’t go on like this, Shawn. I can’t be one of the guys anymore. It was great when we were kids, but we’re all grown up now. For a long time it used to be just the three of us… I mean we all dated, but in the end it would invariably go back to just being the three of us, our friendship always coming first. I won’t deny that I wanted it to remain this way forever, but I know now that it can’t be. Maggie changed things… At first it made me angry, and I resented her for barging into our lives, but I know now that I was wrong. Taylor loves her, and she loves him more than I could ever imagine. You know, for the longest time I used to think that I was in love with him.”

  At the sound of these words Shawn’s face twisted in a painful grimace as he felt a stab of jealousy toward Taylor.

  Hannah smiled, noticing the expression on Shawn’s face. “Yeah, I know, it must have been pretty obvious to everyone except for Taylor, but it was really just a crush, and I let it grow out of proportion in my mind. Taylor was and will always remain my friend. I thought he could be something more, but I know now that it’s not possible and to be honest, I’m glad. It’s time I started a new chapter in my life. Anyway, I didn’t mean to give you a confession…” Hannah smiled weakly. “I wish things could have been different. I can’t change the past, but the future is open game. I’ve decided to leave town. It’s something I should have done a long time ago. Remember my cousin from Colorado? She started her own ski school out there, and she’s been asking me to come out and help for a while, so I am finally going to take her up on her offer. I think it will be a good change for me. I hope that you’ll come and visit me.”

  “No!” Shawn called out, unable to hold back any longer. The woman he loved was about to walk out of his life forever - he had to act now.

  “No?” Hannah’s face fell. “Well, I hope you’ll change your mind in time.”

  “No, that’s not what I meant!” Shawn exploded. “I don’t want you to leave. Hannah, I love you. I always have. I’ve been looking for the right moment to tell you all this time, but the right moment never came and I’m not going to hold back any longer.” He took her hand into his, looking into her dark blue eyes. Despite the traces of tears on her face and her tangled hair, Shawn thought that Hannah had never looked more beautiful.

  “Why haven’t you ever said anything before?” she murmured.

  “Because I was a coward… I did not want to lose you, and I thought that the safety of having you as a friend was better than the possibility of you rejecting me. But I was wrong and I don’t want to waste another minute. I’ve made a terrible mistake by holding back my feelings for you for so long. I love you Hannah. I don’t expect you to say the same in return, but I hope that you will give me a chance to prove myself to you. And that someday you will grow to feel the same way.”

  Hannah nodded, squeezing his hand. “I already do,” she said, and by the way her eyes lit up, Shawn knew she was telling the truth. He leaned in to kiss her – something he had wanted to do for a long, long time.

  “I have one condition though,” Hannah said after they finally pulled away from each other.

  “Name it.”

  “Come with me to Colorado - they could use a ski instructor like you.”

  “Gladly.” Shawn smiled - the only reason he had stayed in Eagleville, was Hannah. As long as he was with her, he did not really care where he lived, provided that it was somewhere near a good mountain, of course.

  Chapter 34

  In three quick steps Maggie reached the hospital door. Once inside, she rushed to the reception desk to sign in. The nurse on duty threw a disapproving glance at the clock on her desk: it was six o’clock and the visiting hours would be over in half an hour, but noticing the pleading look on Maggie’s face, she took her name and explained the directions to the intensive care unit.

  Moments later, Maggie was walking down the solitary hallway at the end of which Taylor’s room was located. The past few days had been an emotional roller coaster, and she could feel the stress of it taking its toll, but she pushed her exhaustion aside. She was struck by how quiet it was: the faint beeps of the medical equipment were the only sounds that interrupted the deafening silence around her. The stillness of the hospital with its nauseating, sterile smell made the implacable reality sink in, and doubts began to creep into her mind. What if Taylor did not make it? She angrily banished the treacherous thought away, fearing that somehow Taylor might hear her. She knew that she had to be strong for him, but it was easier said than done. More than anything, Maggie wanted to believe that her love for Taylor was powerful enough to awaken him and that he would come back to her, but she dreaded the thought of having her hopes crushed and losing him all over again, this time forever.

  Before opening the door to Taylor’s room, Maggie took a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself down. Su
ddenly, she became aware of someone watching her, and when she turned around she saw that she was not alone. A few steps away from her she noticed a hunched over figure of a middle-aged man sitting in one of the chairs that stood along the hallway wall. Intercepting her glance, the man rose from his chair. His coat had been folded on his lap and as he got up, it fell to the floor.

  “Are you a friend of Taylor’s?” the man asked, awkwardly reaching down to pick up his coat. His casual but expensive clothes were crumpled with creases; his face wore the fatigued look of someone who had not slept for days.

  “Yes.” Maggie took a step closer. One look at his face told her who he was, eliminating the need for the introduction. Despite the age difference, there was a striking resemblance. “My name is Maggie,” she answered, deciding that now was not the right time to go into the details of her relationship with Taylor.

  “I’m Paul, Paul Denton.” The man shifted his feet awkwardly. “I’m Taylor’s father.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Denton,” said Maggie, feeling the apprehensive look of his eyes on her.

  “Please, call me Paul,” he added quickly. “Have you known Taylor long?” Before she could answer, he cut her off apologetically, “I did not mean to be nosy. It’s just that Taylor and I haven’t spoken much over the past few years…” he halted, his face twisting in a painful expression, “and I don’t really know any of his friends.”

  “It’s all right. I don’t mind at all.” She smiled in an attempt to put him at ease. Absentmindedly, she ran her hand through her hair, trying to think of the best way to tell Taylor’s father about Taylor and herself. Noticing the questioning look on Paul’s face, she awkwardly lowered her hand, suddenly realizing that she had already told him.

  “That ring, it belonged to my wife. As a boy, Taylor used to be fascinated by the stone - he used to stare at it for hours, looking at it every which way,” Paul broke off, his voice quivering.

  “We were engaged. It happened less than a week ago.”

  “My son got engaged, and I didn’t even know...”

  “Taylor didn’t tell anyone about it – he wanted to wait until later,” Maggie started weakly in an attempt to explain.

  “No, it’s all my fault. I was too hard on him and we became estranged. He is so young and proud, but I should have known better. I should have listened to what he was telling me; instead, I tried to impose my own will on him. I turned my back on my own son. And now, I might never get a chance to make things right between us.”

  “Don’t say that,” said Maggie gently. “We have to believe that he will recover. We can’t lose hope.”

  “You’re right. Please forgive me,” Paul broke off. “It’s just that as a parent you never think that something like this would happen to you, and when it does, it feels as though your whole world is over. I feel so guilty. You know, he wrote to me about the documentary and how important it was to him. I could have come, I should have come, but I didn’t. Instead, I went on with my business as though business is more important than my own son! I was in Japan when I found out and my flight only landed a few hours ago - I came here straight from the airport. When I saw him lying there…” Paul broke off abruptly. “It made me realize how much time has been wasted. I should have been there for him; instead, I’ve turned my back on my own son…”

  “But you are here for him now, and I’m sure he knows that,” said Maggie quietly.

  “Do you really think so?” Paul looked at her searchingly.

  Maggie nodded. “I believe it with all my heart.”

  “Thank you.” He touched her arm lightly in a gesture of gratitude. “But you must go to him. I did not mean to hold you up.” Paul stood aside. Just as Maggie was about to enter the room, his eyes lit up. “I hope that Taylor will hear you.”

  “So do I.”

  Her heart beating wildly, Maggie stepped inside the room. At the sight of Taylor lying so still, she felt tears prickling her eyes, and for a moment, she stood still, struggling to gather her bearings. Slowly, she walked up to his bed and took a seat in the chair that stood next to it. The impassive expression on his face was so unlike her memory of him: gone were the fiery sparkle of his eyes and the glint of his smile. She searched the serene blankness of his face for some hint of the fiery spirit that she remembered, certain that the Taylor she loved was still there, fighting for his life. She looked at his hands lying motionless by his sides, remembering their tender caresses on her skin, thinking of the touch of his lips when he kissed her.

  “Taylor, I’m here. You called for me and I’m finally here,” she whispered. “I’m sorry it took me so long. I’ve missed you so much. I thought you were lost to me, but now I finally found you…I hope that you will forgive me for not getting here sooner, but I am here now, and I hope that you can hear me. Please, hear me!” She halted, the tears in her eyes spilling over. “Please wake up. Please come back. Come back to me.”

  She waited for an answer in vain as Taylor remained motionless on his bed. She took his hand gently into hers, hoping that he would sense her presence. She began telling him how much she loved him and how empty her life would be without him. And she spoke about the terrible web of deceit that Jeffrey had spun around them and how devastated she was to think that Taylor was gone from her life forever. She begged for his forgiveness and hoped that he would hear how much her heart ached to be with him.

  Reliving every moment that they had spent together, Maggie became lost in the memories of their love as she recounted them to Taylor, hoping that the powerful force of their feelings for each other would bring him back to her. She talked about the adventures that awaited them and the hopes she had for their future together and how much there was for him to live for. She spoke for several hours, powering through the tears that flooded her eyes, ignoring the hoarseness in her voice, she went on, refusing to stop. The visiting hours were long over, but no one interrupted her and Maggie lost track of time, only cognizant of the fact that she must keep going, refusing to abandon hope.

  The sound of Maggie’s voice cut through the dark haze that encircled Taylor. Like a beacon, her voice guided him through the maze of oblivion. Vague and distant at first, he could hear the sound getting stronger, giving him strength to fight against the smothering fog that threatened to obscure his memory and will forever.

  How could he describe the state that he was in? It was like being trapped in an endless dream from which you were unable to wake up no matter how hard you tried. The sound of her voice was getting louder and despite the darkness around him, he knew that he was getting closer to her. There had to be a way back and he was going to find it.

  Gradually, the darkness parted, forming into a passageway. Taylor knew instantly that it was the same passageway that he had seen when he was first brought into the hospital. He understood now that he should have never gone into the tunnel - he had gotten lost in the labyrinth of this eerie dreamland, taking a wrong turn along the way. He had been drifting aimlessly, forgetting who he was and where he came from, but now, a second chance was being given to him. He could see a distant outline of a female figure at the end of the tunnel as he took his first step.

  “I’m coming, Maggie! I’m coming!” He rushed toward the female figure at the end of the tunnel. He was running as fast as he could, but the ground underneath him was soft and mushy, sagging right under his feet. Taylor looked down and saw that there was no ground at all: the floor consisted of gray fog, as did the walls. Somehow he knew that if he lingered, the fog would swallow him up, and he would be trapped in its grayness forever.

  Suddenly, Maggie’s voice vanished as abruptly as it had come. Taylor could still see a dim outline of the tunnel opening where the female figure had been standing but a moment ago. The opening was growing smaller by the minute - in a few moments it would disappear completely, but if he hurried, perhaps he could still make it. Taylor pressed on, feeling his feet sinking deeper into the fog with every step.

  The fog kep
t growing thicker, engulfing Taylor up to his waist now. Already the memory of Maggie’s voice was growing dim, yet he struggled to cling on to it as he waded through the grayness, determined to break free. But the tunnel kept shrinking relentlessly until in one sweeping instant it vanished completely, leaving Taylor walled off in the numb grayness of the fog.

  Sometime later, Maggie heard a light knock on the door and saw a tall, thin man clad in a doctor’s coat enter the room. He introduced himself as Dr. Evans.

  “I have been told that you are Taylor’s fiancée.”

  Maggie nodded. “I came as soon as I found out. Is he going to be all right?”

  “Perhaps we could go into my office – it will be more convenient to talk there.”

  Maggie hesitated, reluctant to leave Taylor: she felt an almost palpable twinge inside her, telling her that she should stay by Taylor’s side. For a moment she lingered, unsure of how to explain herself, but sensing Dr. Evans’s look on her, she agreed, dismissing her misgivings as stress and fatigue. After all, she was not leaving the hospital, so what could go wrong?

  As they walked along the hallway to Dr. Evans’s office, Maggie asked, “Did you speak with Taylor’s father? I know that he was here earlier.”

  Dr. Evans nodded. “He took the news very hard. He wanted to keep a vigil in the hospital, but I’ve asked him to get some rest. He was so overwrought that he looked like he might collapse from exhaustion. Taylor’s grandparents spent most of the morning with Taylor, and I spoke to them afterwards. They were doing their best to put up a brave front, especially Taylor’s grandmother, but I could tell that they were deeply shaken by Taylor’s injury – and what family member wouldn’t be? How are you coping?” asked Dr. Evans, casting a side look at Maggie from above his glasses. “You’ve been in there for some time.”