by Mia Ford
“Andrea!” he shouted, reaching in and shaking her.
“And Bobby!” Dennis screamed. “The knights in shining armor are here, Andrea, you see that? Your gladiators have arrived, oh damsel in distress!” He let out a screech of manic laughter and slammed his fists against the steering wheel.
The heat of the fire was unbearable, but I pushed past it, trying to force the buckle open. It wouldn’t budge.
“The shears in the back of my truck,” Bobby said, slapping my shoulder to get my attention.
“Go!” I said. “I’ll see if I can get Dennis out.”
“Leave him,” Bobby called back. “Maybe he’ll just burn with the car.”
“Oh, hallelujah!” Dennis called after him and laughed again.
I shook my head, forcing myself up and around to the driver’s side. Dennis’s face was scratched in several places, and a piece of glass was stuck in his cheek. His mouth was oozing blood, and I could tell he had broken a few of his teeth.
“She fucking swerved the car!” Dennis screamed in my face. “I didn’t even notice she woke up and she grabbed the steering wheel and slipped us over! What a fucking bitch, right?”
I grabbed him by the back of his head and slammed his face into the steering wheel. I heard his nose crack, and he screamed out in pain, making me cringe.
“You broke my nose!” Dennis cried out. “He broke my nose, Bobby!” Then he began to laugh again.
“Sorry, man, my bad,” I said, then slammed his face into the wheel again. That shut him up completely, and I was able to unbuckle his belt without having to endure anymore craziness. I pulled him out of the car, then dragged him away, not really caring about being careful. Bobby raced past me with the sheers, and when I was far enough, I dropped Dennis like a bag of potatoes, his head hitting the asphalt hard.
A part of me hoped he’d get a concussion. If he didn’t already have one.
Sirens sounded in the distance, and I quickly ran back to the car, telling the other man to stay with Dennis. I dropped onto my knees beside Bobby as he worked the sheer into the seatbelt, ripping it and freeing Andrea. Her body slumped forward, and I reached in quickly, so she wouldn’t hit her head, my arm receiving a nasty gash from some broken glass. I held her head up, praying her neck wasn’t broken.
“The glass,” I said, wincing in pain. “We need to get rid of it before we pull her out.”
Bobby quickly broke the shards sticking out, clearing a path for me to carefully maneuver Andrea around and out of the wreckage. The heat was scorching my skin, and I began to cough violently as Bobby helped me carry Andrea away from the flames.
We laid her down on the grass just off the side of the road, and I bent down, listening to her breathing. It was weak, but it was there.
“Andrea?” Bobby knelt down beside me. He shook his sister’s arm frantically.
I stopped him, shaking my head. “Don’t,” I warned. “We don’t know if anything’s broken.”
The sirens grew louder, and an ambulance screeched to a halt behind Bobby’s truck. I waved the paramedics over with their gurney. They hesitated when they saw Dennis.
“Forget him, he’s fine!” I shouted. “This one here’s the real problem.”
They rushed over, one of them briefly looking back at Dennis’s still body. They pushed us back and bent down around Andrea, fitting her with a neck brace and checking her pulse and breathing before moving her onto the gurney and rushing her back to the ambulance. Two police cruisers pulled up behind the ambulance, and I sighed in relief when I saw Jeremy stepping out of one of them.
They moved Andrea into the back of the ambulance, and Bobby climbed in. I started to follow when one of the paramedics stopped me. “Just one,” he said.
“That’s bull –” Bobby started, but I quickly cut him off.
“It’s fine, go with her, she needs you,” I said. “I doubt she’ll be very happy to see me if she wakes up. Besides, someone’s gotta drive your truck back.”
Bobby threw me the keys. “Where are we going?” he asked the paramedic.
“Closest hospital is Coventry Mercy,” the paramedic replied.
Bobby looked at me, making sure I got that, and I nodded at him. I helped them close the ambulance doors and smacked the side twice as it pulled away.
I watched it disappear down the turnpike, my heart racing, slamming inside my chest like a jackhammer. My breaths came in short gasps, and Jeremy had to hold me up when I tried to move and felt my knees buckle.
“You’re okay, buddy,” Jeremey said, helping me to the side of the road and sitting me down on the grass. “Stay here, okay? We’ll take care of the rest.”
As he walked back, another ambulance pulled up, followed by a fire truck and two more police cruisers. I watched them move about, the paramedics racing to check on Dennis and hurry him off as well, most probably to Coventry Mercy.
I closed my eyes and ran a hand through my hair, waiting for the pandemonium to end so I could drive after Andrea and Bobby. Jeremy would probably want a statement.
I lay down, staring up at the night sky and the flashing lights, the sirens deafening.
I couldn’t believe how fast everything had gone downhill since this morning.
Chapter 17: Andrea
I opened my eyes to white walls and the sound of a constant, rhythmic beeping. My lids felt heavy, and when I tried to move my head, a sharp pain shot through my entire body. I wanted to scream, but all that came out was a groan. My vision was blurry, the room around me fading in and out of focus. A figure appeared above me, and it took me a few seconds before I could see her clearly. The woman looked to be in her forties, hair tied back in a bun and wearing pink scrubs.
“Welcome back,” she said, a little too loudly for my liking.
I blinked and frowned as more pain shot through me.
“You’re in a hospital, Coventry Mercy, to be exact,” she said. “You’ve been in quite a nasty accident, sweetheart. Can you tell me your name?”
“Andrea,” I croaked. “Where’s Dennis?”
The nurse frowned. “I don’t know who that is,” she said. “But your brother and his friend are outside. Would you like me to bring them in?”
Bobby. Andy.
I wanted to nod, but that only made the pain worse, and instead I closed my eyes.
I didn’t open them again for another two hours.
***
Bobby was sitting by my side when I woke up again. He was reading the same book he had been glued to for the past week, and if it weren’t for the drugs, I could have sworn that he was still on the same page. He looked adorable when he concentrated like that, sometimes making me wonder if he was just reading for show.
I moved my arm painfully to a side, rustling the sheets. In the otherwise silent hospital room, the sound was deafening, and Bobby quickly looked up and over his book at me. When he saw my eyes open, he sat up quickly and moved to sit beside me on the bed, holding my hand in his. He squeezed, and I wanted to tell him that it hurt, but I was just happy he was there.
“Hey,” he said, smiling. “Rise and shine. What are you planning to do? Sleep through the whole day?”
I smiled and coughed, wanting to tell him that I had every right to do just that, but my mouth was still too dry, and trying to speak felt like shards of glass scratching the inside of my throat.
“Water,” Bobby said, reading my mind and turning to the jug by the bed, pouring me a glass. He put his hand under my head, helping me up so I could drink. His touch almost made me scream, and I didn’t want to even think about the extent of damage done to my body. A quick scan let me know that at least I wasn’t in any casts.
Then why the hell did everything hurt so much?
He let me back down gently, making sure I was comfortable before he sat back down in his chair, moving it closer to the bed so I wouldn’t have to raise my voice to talk to him.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice hoarse and my throat burning.
; “We pulled you out of the wreckage, Andy and me,” Bobby explained. “You were unconscious, but fortunately we didn’t have to wait too long for the ambulance. They got you here in record time. You suffered a lot of internal injury, and they rushed you into surgery.”
That explains the damn pain.
“Dennis?” I asked, forcing my eyes to stay open.
“Yeah, we had to save him, too,” Bobby said. “Although I tried to convince Andy to just leave the bastard there. He was awake when we got there, and he didn’t look like he had suffered as much damage as you had. At least that was the case before Andy broke his nose.”
I groaned, and Bobby smiled. “Completely an accident,” he winked. “Dennis accidentally hit his face against the steering wheel when we were pulling him out. At least that’s what we’re going with.”
I coughed in laughter and winced when the pain reminded me that there were some luxuries I couldn’t enjoy, at least not right now. Bobby grabbed my hand and patted it gently.
“Andy’s outside, if you want to see him,” he said.
I looked at him, tears welling up in my eyes. I did want to see him, but I still couldn’t get the image of the naked woman at his apartment out of my head. I didn’t know how to talk to him about that, and I would have to, eventually.
“You do know it wasn’t his fault, right?” Bobby asked.
“I saw –” I coughed, clearing my throat. “I saw her, Bobby. That woman.”
Bobby nodded. “Yeah, crazy Hannah, I know,” he said. “He told me. She drugged him, Andrea. She’s one crazy, messed up woman, and she’s strung up on him bad. This was just one of the many extremes she goes through to get what she wants.”
I looked away, a tear running down my cheek. I wanted to believe him, but the explanation sounded far too ridiculous.
“He’s been here since they brought you in,” Bobby said. “I’m not exactly the biggest fan of your relationship, but I’ve never seen him care that much before. There’s got to be something there.”
“Can we talk about something else?”
Bobby sighed and leaned back in his seat. “I’m thinking of repainting the garage.”
***
It took me a week before I could finally sit up properly, and in that time, I tried hard to find some way to forgive Andy for what had happened. He was outside every day, sitting quietly in the waiting room, from the minute visiting hours began until they ended. He never came in, giving me the space, I needed, even though I wouldn’t have stopped him if he had tried. It was Bobby who was trying to convince me to talk to him, forever the loyal friend, even though he had his reservations.
I guess my brother saw how serious Andy really was and was slowly changing his mind.
On the day the doctors told me that I was good to go, and could be discharged whenever I wanted, I finally gave in. The truth was, I missed Andy. A lot. I knew the whole naked woman in his apartment incident was just one crazy bitch’s idea of getting back at me, and I needed to get past this. I wasn’t punishing him. It was just really difficult to get the image out of my head.
Andy popped his head through the open door, giving me a weak smile. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he hadn’t slept for days. I didn’t know whether I should be flattered or concerned.
I beckoned him to me, and he walked in, gently closing the door behind him.
“How are you holding up?” he asked.
“Better,” I replied. “The stitches still hurt a little, but at least I can talk.”
“The doctors told me about the injuries,” he said. “I’m sorry about all that.”
“Hey, I’m just glad to be alive,” I smiled. “A couple of hours more and I would have died in the wreckage.”
He stood by my bed, keeping a bit of a distance between us, as if not really sure whether he should come closer or not. His eyes searched mine, and I could see a hint of tears somewhere there.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice breaking. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m so sorry.”
I held my arms out to him, throwing away any doubt in my head that I wanted to spend every waking moment of my life with him. I began to tear up when he leaned in and embraced me, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, tight.
“I’m so sorry,” he kept saying.
“It’s not your fault,” I said. “It really isn’t.”
“What you saw –”
“I know,” I cut him off, holding his face in my hands and looking him in the eyes. “Bobby told me. I know.” I kissed him, tasting the salty tears on his lips, breathing him in. “I know.”
He crawled into bed beside me, and gently pulled me into his arms. I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heart beating, closing my eyes. It felt good to lay there, his arms wrapping me up tight, as if he would never let me go.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you, too,” he replied, squeezing me tighter.
I relaxed, letting my tears flow comfortably, and within seconds, fell asleep.
***
“So, how long before you guys leave?”
Bobby was helping me get dressed, easing my arms into my shirt and making sure he didn’t accidently hit any of the stitches. It was a painfully slow procedure, and I was happy I didn’t have to do it alone.
Andy was packing my bag, quickly scanning the room for anything he might have missed.
“What do you mean?” I asked, wincing slightly as I pulled the hem of my shirt over the bandages.
“Maine,” Andy said, looking from me to Bobby and back again.
I looked at my brother, letting him decide for the both of us.
“I’m thinking we might just stay after all,” he said with a smile. “Dennis is behind bars, and Andrea could do a lot worse than you. So, no real hurry, right?”
I smiled back and looked at Andy, winking at him. Bobby was finally on board.
“Besides, the divorce process is underway, and after the kidnapping charges, I think things will go a lot faster now,” Bobby continued.
“Jane will be thrilled,” Andy said, his eyes locked onto me, his smile stretching from ear to ear. He looked like a child who had been given a jar of candy.
“Only Jane?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Hey, you’re still under house arrest,” Bobby said. “Until you’re fully healed and ready to move around on your own. So, don’t get too excited.”
“We have a guest room,” I suggested.
Bobby squinted at me and Andy broke into laughter. “You’re like a teenager,” Bobby said.
I smacked his arm. “Fine, dad, just help me up, won’t you.”
“Would you hate me if I said I like that you’re helpless?” Bobby said. “At least now I won’t have to worry about you sneaking out of the house late at night.”
“Oh, believe me, I’ve learned my lesson,” I laughed, my merriment cut short when a stabbing pain radiated from below my chest. It still hurt to laugh.
“Easy,” Andy said, coming up beside me. “The sooner you heal, the better. Let’s not push ourselves.”
I smiled at Bobby. “See? He’s useful.”
“Shut up,” Bobby replied.
“That’s fine,” Andy chuckled. “Either way, I’m heading out to Manchester tonight. I can expect a guest room when I get back in a few days.”
I had given Bobby a list of things that needed to be done back in Manchester, one of which included officially finalizing my resignation at KarpTech. Not to mention I had a bunch of personal things that needed to be boxed and brought back to Mansfield. Thankfully, Andy had offered to take over that chore, arguing that, at least for now, I needed Bobby more than him.
I didn’t necessarily agree, but I was glad he had offered to go.
I wrapped an arm around Andy’s arm and let him lead me slowly towards the door while Bobby grabbed the bag off the table. I looked back at the hospital bed I had spent the last three weeks in, hoping that I would never
have to see the inside of a hospital again for a very long time. Andy waited for me until I nodded that I was ready to go.
“Say goodbye,” Andy said.
I smiled and shook my head at him. “Get me out of here, boys. I want to go home.”
Andy smiled and helped me out. “By the way, Bobby, about that guest room –”
Chapter 18: Andy
I never got that guest room, but I was practically living with them for the next few weeks. Before my shift, I’d pass by and make sure she had all she needed, and afterwards I’d spend the rest of the evening with them, helping out with dinner. During my night shifts, I spent most of the morning and afternoon with Andrea, picking up groceries when asked to, driving her to the hospital to change her dressings, and helping out in any way I could.
I enjoyed every second of it and made the most out of the time we had together. We’d argue about which movie to watch, and usually end up watching both. We’d sit in beach chairs out on the porch and talk for hours. I even took it upon myself to get the porch swing fixed, although I doubt I did a very good job at it.
For the most part, it was smooth sailing, and the aftermath of the accident only brought us closer together. Sometimes, though, there would be triggers. Small things here and there, a car backfiring, a cup slipping off the kitchen counter and shattering. And every time, she’d flinch and stare into space for a few seconds before breaking into a sweat and uncontrollable shiver. It freaked me out the first time it happened, and I held her tight through it all, waiting for the episode to pass.
