Ember Skies

by Nicky Crawford

  I repeated the words over and over, wanting so badly to believe that our love can in fact conquer anything. When I thought I felt her hand twitch under my lips, I silently scolded myself for thinking it was real. I want her to wake up so badly, that I’m now imagining her hand is moving.

  I repeated the words again, willing them to be true. They have to be true. This isn’t it. This is not goodbye.

  “Dalton.”

  Now I’m hearing her voice whisper my name. I’ve officially lost it. My sorrow and guilt have turned me insane.

  “Dalton.”

  Maybe I didn’t imagine it. My head shot up and looked toward Ember. Her eyes were closed and she wasn’t moving.

  “Dalton.”

  She’s awake. She’s awake! I grabbed her hand and placed it against my cheek, “I’m here baby. I’m right here. Open your eyes, Em. Please open your eyes.”

  Her thumb gently brushed back and forth against my face as I held it to my cheek. Her eyes slowly opened as she fought to adjust to the light. I quickly stood and turned the light above her bed off, letting only a small amount of light illuminate the room.

  When her eyes fully opened and locked with mine, she smiled. I pressed my lips to her forehead as tears fell down my cheeks.

  “Why. So. Sad?” It took her a few pauses to get the words out.

  “I’m not sad, sweetheart. I’m overjoyed. You came back to me. You came back.”

  Ember smiled and reached up to touch my face.

  I leaned into her hand and kissed her palm as the nurse walked in. She looked at me with pity, the same look she has given me every time I see her.

  As her eyes moved toward Ember, she gasped and dropped her clipboard. She ran out of the room, her voice loud as she made her way back to the nurse’s station, “She’s awake. Come quick.”

  Ember looked at me with a questioning look on her face, but I just wrinkled my nose at her and shook my head as I laughed. Her nurse’s reaction was priceless.

  Seconds later, the nurse was back, accompanied by a doctor and two other nurses. They examined her and asked a lot of questions. When they told her that she had been in a coma for a week, panic overtook her as she looked at me, silently telling me that a million questions are running through her mind. When I nodded and smiled, she relaxed a bit and finished answering all the questions they were asking.

  When they left, I sat next to her and told her about the past week. I let her know her parents were here, and that Harlee was well cared for. She was in shock, but knowing that everyone was alright, seemed to ease her mind tremendously.

  Ember shot up in bed, looking at me with worry, “Sniper? Please tell me he’s okay.”

  “He’s fine, babe. He has a lot of wounds, but he’s as happy as he always is.”

  Ember laid her head back on the pillow and sighed, “Thank God. He saved me, Dalton.”

  She told me everything she could remember about that day. Tears fell from her eyes as she relived what had happened. When the nurse came back in to run a few tests, I slipped out to call everyone. All of their reactions were the same, a mixture of crying and unrelenting joy.

  I went back into her room to wait with her while everyone made their way to the hospital. I stood in the doorway, just staring at her. Even after being in a coma for an entire week, she was still a vision, beautiful in every sense of the word.

  “Are you just going to stand there all night, or are you going to walk over here and kiss me?”

  She didn’t have to ask me twice. I damn near crossed the room in two steps. When I reached her side, I carefully cupped her face with my hands, and pressed my lips to her. Ember put her hands behind my neck and pulled me closer, deepening the kiss.

  “You have no idea how much I missed you.”

  She smiled against my lips and rested her forehead against mine, “I miss you even if we are only apart for a minute. I fought for you, and for Harlee. He wanted to kill me, Dalton. He tried to kill me.”

  As Ember began to cry, I sat on the side of her bed and wrapped my arms around her. “I’m so sorry. I couldn’t protect you. I should…”

  Ember shook her head and put her finger to my lips, silencing me. “Don’t, please. You can’t always be around. None of this is your fault, Dalton. If you think it is, you’re only giving him power. We cannot let that sick bastard affect us anymore. We just can’t. I love you, and I would never for a moment even consider blaming you. You go above and beyond to look after me and Harlee and you love us. Don’t you get it? Your love alone is enough. You are enough.”

  I smiled against her finger and she let out a small laugh. A sound I’ve so desperately wanted to hear since that day. “I love you, Ember. I have never been so fucking scared in my entire life. The thought of losing you was too much.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, love. You’re stuck with me.” Patting my cheek, she added, “You poor, poor man.”

  We both laughed and I moved closer, pressing my lips to hers. I couldn’t get enough of her. We were caught up in our kiss and didn’t hear anyone walk in, but the sound of someone clearing their throat, startled us apart.

  “Daddy!”

  Haywood rushed to Ember’s side, engulfing her in his arms as I stood and moved away to give them some space. He held her so tightly, I thought he was going to lift her off the bed.

  “I’m glad to see you’ve still got a hell of a fight left in you, lightning bug. We missed you so much.” Haywood motioned for me to come closer and wrapped one arm around my neck, hugging both of us at the same time. “This boy never left your side, LB. He’s a keeper.”

  Ember gave me the biggest smile and snuggled into Haywood’s side, “He sure is, daddy.”

  Haywood dropped his arms, letting Ember lie back down. I leaned in to kiss her forehead and whispered, “Babe, I’m going to go into the waiting room so your mom can come in.”

  She took my hand and held it to her cheek, then turned her face to kiss my palm. I gently kissed her lips, patted Haywood on the back, and walked out of the room. As much as I want to spend every single moment with her, I knew everyone else is desperate to see her. We have our whole lives ahead of us, and I couldn’t be happier.

  I feel like I was run over by a tractor and left in the field for days. Everything hurts. Even holding my eyes open is almost unbearable, but I’m afraid if I close my eyes, I may never wake up again. Seeing Dalton’s reaction to me waking up, and then watching my mother cry, was almost too much. I can’t let them go through that again.

  I spent some time with my parents. It felt weird to be in this situation when the last time we were all in a hospital, it was my dad who was lying in the bed, fighting for his life. I cannot imagine how my mother felt, seeing two people she loves dearly, fast asleep with no definite answer on if they would ever wake up again.

  I push the negative thoughts away as Harper walks into my room, grinning from ear to ear.

  She holds up both arms, revealing a bag in each, “I come bearing gifts.”

  I held out my arms as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around me. When she leaned back slightly, her expression was serious, “Don’t ever fucking scare me like that again.”

  “I mean, if you’re going to bring me gifts every time I almost die, I may have to attempt to cheat death a few more times.”

  Harper rolled her eyes, “You are impossible.”

  Smiling I said, “I missed you too, best friend. What’s in the bags?”

  “Well, although you look ridiculously sexy in that hospital gown, I knew you would want some real clothes so I bought you the softest fleece pajama pants I could find and this adorable shirt to go with it.”

  “Ugg, you are a life saver.”

  Harper went and got my nurse and between the two of them, they carefully helped me change. It was excruciatingly painful, but I felt a lot more relaxed once I was in real clothes. Nothing says miserable like having to wear those baggy hospital gowns.

  After my nurse left, Harper sat next
to me on the bed, holding my hand as if I could float away if she didn’t keep contact at all times.

  “So, tell me about mommy life. How are you feeling?”

  “Oh, Em. Everything you said about being a mom was spot on. It’s amazing. Sure, I’m exhausted and my breasts feel like giant sandbags, but I love it. Trent is so amazing with Bryson. I just feel, complete. I still have to take it easy for a while, but I feel better every day.”

  “I’m so happy for you, Harp. I cannot wait to snuggle that sweet little boy. I know what you mean about being complete. You and Trent are perfect together.”

  Harper smiled and a little tinge of pink spread across her cheeks. Ah, love. It makes people crazy, but it’s a remarkable feeling.

  “Do you have any idea what that boy went through while you were playing sleeping beauty?”

  “Who? Dalton?”

  “Yes, Dalton. Girl he was a mess. My heart was broken for you, but I’ll be damned if he didn’t shatter it further. The only time he left your side was to be with Harlee. He spent time with her every day and slept in that chair by your bed every night.”

  If I thought I couldn’t be any more in love with Dalton, I was wrong. Listening to Harper talk about him staying with me every night and making sure my baby girl was taken care of, makes me fall even more in love with him.

  “I’ve been miserable for so long. I never thought I would have the strength to leave Austin, and I sure as hell didn’t think I would find someone like Dalton. I thought that if I did start dating, years down the line, that I wouldn’t be able to trust them or even love someone deeply enough to want to spend the rest of my life with that person, then Dalton strolls in. He’s so unbelievably amazing, Harp. How did all of us get so lucky? You and Trent, Blake and Piper, Dalton and me. I mean, I’m sitting in a hospital bed completely fucked up, but I still feel so lucky. Is that insane?”

  Harper laughed and shook her head, “Nothing about that is insane, silly girl. We’ve been best friends for what, forever now and I’ve seen what you’ve had to put up with. You deserve happiness. You deserve a man who will love and cherish you as much as Dalton does. When he’s around, I see that spark in your eye. He has it too. You two were made for each other.”

  “Well, I won’t argue with you there.” I said as I gave Harper a huge hug.

  “Get some sleep, honey. I’ll come visit in the morning.”

  I said goodbye to Harper and she left. I’m still afraid to fall asleep. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m just worried I won’t wake up.

  I’m really hoping all my tests come back clear so they can move me out of the ICU tomorrow. I miss my little girl and she isn’t allowed in here.

  As I flip through the channels, hoping to find some mindless movie to keep me awake, Dalton walks in, “Hi babe. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m really sore, actually.”

  “You need to get some sleep.”

  I looked at Dalton like he was a crazed lunatic, “I seriously just slept for an entire week. Sleep is the last thing I need.”

  “Actually, sleep is just what you need and lots of it.” Nurse Betty said as she walked into my room with medication. “I have two pain pills and a sleeping pill for you. It’ll help, I promise.”

  “Oh, um. I’ll definitely take the pain pills.”

  I saw Dalton eye me suspiciously as Betty walked closer. She set the meds on the tray next to me and smiled, “What’s the matter, honey? Why don’t you want the sleeping pills?”

  Dalton’s face grew to concern as he moved closer, “Babe? What’s up?”

  I felt like I was under a heat lamp in an interrogation room. My cheeks flushed and I felt anxious. I took a deep breath and sighed, “It’s just… What if I go to sleep and don’t wake up?”

  “Oh child, don’t think like that. That won’t happen. You need your rest.”

  I shook my head, silently letting her know that I was not interested in anything that would put me to sleep. When she raised an eyebrow, giving me a stern motherly look, I surrendered. I’ve known Betty since I became a nurse. While we work on different floors, we have spent many lunch breaks eating together in the cafeteria.

  As I held out my hand, she dumped the little container of pills into my palm and smiled. I took another deep breath and popped them into my mouth, swallowing any hope I had of staying up tonight.

  When Betty left, I scooted over in bed and patted the empty space next to me, “Will you lay with me?”

  Dalton kicked off his shoes and pulled the covers back as I turned on my side the best I could. We laid facing each other, his arm around me and my hand against his chest. I felt my eyelids grow heavy as I fought to stay awake.

  Dalton kissed my forehead and snuggled closer to me, “Stop fighting it, Em. I’m not going anywhere, and you will wake up. You need sleep though, babe.”

  I nodded as I fought back the tears. One escaped from my eye, but Dalton quickly wiped it away. “It’s okay, Em. I’m right here. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” That was all I could say before I lost the fight against my eyelids and fell into a deep sleep.

  Finally, after four days of being in the ICU, they are moving me to a different floor. Dalton went to pick up Harlee and I’m so excited to finally see her. I’m so appreciative of Dalton, my parents, and our friends for looking after her.

  No one has seen or heard from Austin. I want to believe that he is long gone, but only a fool would think that this entire charade is over. I just want him caught so I can move on with my life and stop living in constant fear.

  “Alright, sweet girl. Lets get you moved, shall we?”

  “Betty, you startled me.”

  She walked close and rested her hand on mine, “Sorry, child. I’m so glad you are well enough to leave the ICU, but I’ll sure miss you.”

  Nurse Betty took care of me almost every single day since I’ve been in here. While I don’t remember the first week, we became closer than ever during her twelve-hour shifts the past four days. She is an incredible woman.

  “I’ll miss you, too. As soon as I’m out of here and back to work, I’ll be ready for our lunch dates in the cafeteria.”

  She gave me a hug and smiled, “I look forward to it, dear.”

  Once I was finally moved out of the ICU, I felt more relaxed. The bed is still awful and being in here as a patient sucks, but I feel like I’m finally out of the woods as far as my health is concerned. The doctor was concerned about blood clots and the swelling on my brain, but after careful monitoring, he feels that I am finally in the clear. Hopefully I’ll be able to go home in a few days.

  The door flew open and Harlee shot into my room, “Mommy!” Harlee said as she jumped on the bed.

  “Oh baby girl, I missed you so sooo much!”

  I held Harlee in my arms, tight against me as Dalton walked over and kissed my forehead, “How are you, babe?”

  I gave him the biggest smile and winked, “Perfect, pretty damn perfect.”

  It was the truth. Sure, I was in the hospital and Austin was on the loose, but I was feeling better and surrounded by those I love the most, so I couldn’t possibly be anything less than perfect.

  “Guess what, mommy?”

  Tearing my gaze away from Dalton, I snuggled Harlee closer to me, “What, baby?”

  “Peaches got me a surprise.”

  “Did he? What surprise would that be?”

  Dalton smirked at me, the kind of smirk that says I may not like whatever surprise he bought for Harlee.

  “A baby pig, mommy! Peaches got me a pig! His name is Wilbur.”

  I looked at Dalton who was eyeing me carefully, clearly waiting for my reaction. I raised an eyebrow at him, keeping our eyes locked on one another as I directed my question half to him and half to Harlee, “Wilbur, huh? Have you been watching “Charlotte’s Web” with Peaches?”

  When Dalton started laughing, I knew the answer. They watched “Charlotte’s Web” together and Harlee wanted a pig. I guarante
e that is what happened and he just couldn’t say ‘no’ to her.

  “It’s a micro pig. He won’t get very big and I know I should have talked to you first, but…”

  I held my hand up to stop him from trying to defend his purchase. I know why he did it and it’s not like we don’t have the space for Wilbur. I curled my finger, telling him to come closer, and when he did, I grabbed him by his shirt and pressed my lips tightly against his. His hands cupped my face and he kissed me back with fierce desire.

  I smiled against his lips, not wanting to break contact from him. I needed to feel his touch, his heat; I needed all of him so badly. Of course, I would have to settle for only having his lips on mine, for now. I kissed him again, sweetly, and then pressed my forehead against his, “Thank you. You do not have to justify why you bought Wilbur. I know why you did it, and I love you even more because of it, if that is even possible.”

  “Peekcha! Show mommy the peekcha on your phone, Peaches!”

  Harlee’s voice broke our lust-filled trance. Dalton pressed his lips to my forehead, and then reached into his pocket for his phone. He pulled up a photo of Wilbur and handed to phone to me.

  “Oh my goodness, baby girl. He is way too cute.”

  Harlee grabbed my arm and pulled it toward her face, needing to see the picture for herself, “He is really cute, mommy. He makes funny sounds and he likes to sit in my lap.”

  He really is adorable. It makes my heart happy to know that Dalton took such amazing care of Harlee while I have been in here. The truth is, I knew about Wilbur. Harper called a few days ago and told me. Dalton and Harlee were watching Charlotte’s Web at her house while I was still in a coma, and Harlee was sad that the three of us couldn’t be together and she relentlessly nagged him about getting a pig for days until he caved. He’s a good man. No, he’s an amazing man. Even though I’ve dealt with my fair share of shit in the relationship department, I can honestly say that I am lucky. I am ridiculously lucky to have found someone so incredibly amazing.

  “You are gonna come home with us, right mommy?”