“Do you see anything different?” I asked, quietly.
“Yes, but not what I was expecting,” he replied.
Over the next couple of days he continued to improve and continued to badger the doctors to have him transferred back to Washington. If they didn’t he would do it himself, he had told them. Travis and I visited the police station a couple more times, reconfirming our statements. They had wanted to speak with Robert, so far, this had been blocked but I knew that he would have to at some point. He sat with James for an hour, had his statement written down and I had no doubt that whilst I was gone, he had spoken with Mack about what had happened to Luca.
Ten days from when we arrived in New York, Robert was transferred. It was remarkable how well he had recovered. The doctors had told him, anyone else would be in hospital for at least a month but he would have none of it. In one way I was grateful, until that point I had not known whether I would make Kerry’s funeral. Robert certainly wouldn’t.
The day I was able to finally take him home was one of the best of my life.
****
It was wonderful to get home, Evelyn was at the door as we pulled up. She had wanted to fly back out and be with us but Travis and I thought it best that she stayed close to the kids, they really needed her right now and she and Robert spoke each day on the phone. The first thing Robert did was go to his home office. I had wanted him to relax but he wanted to catch up on any emails and he also arranged for Gina to visit so they could rearrange his diary.
That first night back was bliss, to crawl into bed next to my husband was just the most wonderful feeling. We talked about what had happened until late in the night. Mack had told him how well I had handled the police and Robert told me how proud he was of me. It was hard to convince him that I really was okay. The only lasting issue had been this inability to eat much. I would take small bites of food but could not eat a whole meal without feeling sick. After a discussion with my doctor it was decided that it was simply the shock of what we had been through and that although they would monitor the obvious weight loss, for the moment, time was the best healer.
As I lay with him, my fingers roamed over his stomach. I asked him what he meant, that day in the hospital when he said he saw something in my eyes, just not what he was expecting.
“Strength, Brooke. What I see is a woman so much stronger, so much braver than before.”
“I feel stronger. I’ve not been damaged by what I did. I would kill anyone who hurt you, Robert,” I said with a smile, remembering something he said to me once.
“I don’t feel remorse. I’m not happy about it, I feel sad that it had to come to that but I did the right thing,” I added.
We made love that night, slowly, gently and with such feeling that it brought tears to my eyes. I had cried so much lately that I believed there could be no tears left but later, lying in his arms I thanked God repeatedly for saving him, for not taking him away from me.
I watched my black eyed, beautiful husband fall asleep. He had not left me, he had not died and I vowed that no matter what was to come in the years we would have together, I would love him more than life itself. I would protect him as he would me and I would stand by his side no matter what.
That night I had the strangest dream. I was there when my fallen angel, my soul mate, was cast down. I cried for his soul and I begged on bended knees for the opportunity to find him, to heal him and to help him be forgiven. I was granted my wish.
Letter from Brooke
Dear Reader,
Do I believe souls recognise one another? I don’t know. But I do believe that each moment of each day that I spend with Robert, I become more sure of one thing. I was destined to be with him, I need to be with him. Maybe one day I’ll understand it, maybe it means nothing more than I have found a man I am so totally in love with.
What I have told you only spans three months or so of my life, yet that time has been the most intense, crazy and emotional time I have ever experienced. I have no idea where my life is going next. I know I am married to my soul mate, to the man I will grow old with, the man I will fight with and love until my dying breath. I know I will never have a quiet, straightforward existence and do you know what? I wouldn’t want it any other way.
I crave the passion, the desire, the markings and the danger that comes with Robert. To see the depth of feeling he has for me reflected in his dark, dark eyes still sends a shiver up my spine. To feel that spark of electricity when he touches me and to feel him before I see him sets my body on fire, I feel alive.
I am surrounded by wonderful people, dangerous people but I am protected, I am loved and cherished. Most of all, I am worshipped by an extraordinary man, a man whose heart I hold in my hands.
Robert healed, we returned to normal life, well, as normal as our lives are ever going to be. And for a little while, all was calm. That was until Caroline.....
Brooke xx
Contents
Copyright
About The Author
Acknowledgements
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Letter from Brooke
Fallen Angel, Part II Page 24
