by Amy Reece
Her bedroom door was shut; he wrenched it open, expecting to find her cowering behind her bed. Instead, she lay inert, on her back, clearly unconscious—or worse. With trembling fingers, he reached to check for a pulse on her neck, almost collapsing with relief when he felt a weak, thready blip under his fingertips. He spared no words to try and wake her, but simply threw aside his crutches, prepared to lift her into his arms and damn the consequences to his ankle. The adrenaline raging through his body would have to compensate for his disability.
“Move aside! You’ll damage yourself. I can get her!” It was crotchety Mr. Taylor, up and walking. Wasn’t he crippled and in a wheelchair? Finn didn’t care at the moment, simply thankful for his aid. The older man scooped the unconscious Mel into his arms, shoved Finn out of the way, and led the way down the hall to the front door. The hallway was now full of smoke, making it nearly impossible to find their way. Finn knew if they didn’t get outside soon, none of them would make it. Please, God, let us make it!
They made it to the living room, past the now-smoking sofa, when he heard the yells of the firefighters and saw their headlamps glowing eerily. One of them took Mel, while two others each grabbed on to Finn and Mr. Taylor, guiding them out to the front lawn. Paramedics swarmed them, placing Mel on a stretcher and forcing the two men to sit. Finn tried to fight them off as they placed an oxygen mask over his face, but was unsuccessful. He watched as they intubated Mel and packed her in the back of an ambulance, speeding away within seconds.
“I don’t need to go to the hospital!” He pulled his mask away to argue.
“Finn!” Cara ran up to him, barefooted and in her pajamas. “Oh my God! Where’s Mel? Is she okay?”
“They just took her—” he broke off, coughing. The paramedic replaced his mask as she explained the deadly dangers of smoke inhalation and how she strongly recommended both he and Mr. Taylor allow them to transport them to the hospital. Finn finally relented when he was assured he would be taken to the same hospital as Mel and Cara could ride in the ambulance with him.
***
Mel
Why is it so hard to wake up? She tried to force her way into full consciousness, but she had to swim through thick molasses. Her throat was on fire and she was choking, dying. She struggled against the sticky darkness, but couldn’t get there. She let herself sink back below the surface. Blackness.
***
“Melanie? Can you hear me? Open your eyes, Melanie. That’s it. I’m Dr. Chaudhri. I need you to stay awake now, all right?”
Melanie pried her eyelids open and glimpsed a dark-complexioned woman leaning over her. It was so hard to keep her eyes open. Let me sleep! She tried to say the words, but she choked. Her eyes drifted closed again.
“Don’t try to speak, Melanie. You have a breathing tube in your throat. I know it’s uncomfortable, but I can remove it if you’ll wake up a bit more. There’s a good girl.”
She managed to open one of her eyes. The doctor—what was her name?—straightened and turned to check a machine of some sort. Melanie pried the other open and darted them around, trying to gain an idea of where she was and what had happened. She realized she was in a hospital room, of course, but why? She struggled to remember, but came up with nothing. Had she been in a car accident?
“Are you ready to get that nasty tube out of your throat?” The next few minutes were unpleasant as the doctor removed the tape from around her mouth and told her to cough as she extracted the tube from her throat. Melanie gagged and felt the saliva drip down her chin. “There now. That’s better, isn’t it?” The doctor placed the tube apparatus on a tray and wiped Melanie’s chin. She pressed a button on the bed and raised her into a more upright position, then arranged an oxygen tube under Melanie’s nose.
“Unh.” Melanie was trying to say ‘yes,’ but her tongue felt thick and useless.
“Shh. Don’t try to speak quite yet. Let’s try some ice chips. It will help with that sore throat.” The nurse Melanie hadn’t noticed stepped up to the other side of the bed and held a spoon to her lips.
Melanie opened her mouth and accepted the small spoonful of icy deliciousness. “Mmmm.” The cool liquid slid down her parched throat. The nurse gave her a few more tiny spoonfuls as she and the doctor conversed in incomprehensible medical-ese.
“Melanie, I’d like to ask you a few questions, all right? I know you can’t talk very well yet, so just nod or shake your head. Do you understand?” When Melanie nodded, the doctor launched into her mini-inquisition.
By the time the doctor finished, Melanie was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to close her eyes. She’d answered all the questions, letting the doctor know she remembered nothing and had no idea what had happened. The doctor had asked several questions about her alcohol consumption the night before and what drugs she had taken. Melanie made it as clear as possible that she’d had wine but taken no drugs. The doctor asked several times, in several different ways, about sleeping pills. She listed off five or so different types, but Melanie shook her head each time. She didn’t understand why the doctor kept asking and felt tears of frustration leaking from her eyes. She reached to wipe them away, but the pulse oximeter on her forefinger prevented her. She still had no idea why she was in the hospital or what was wrong with her.
“Here, sweetie.” The nurse wiped her eyes with a tissue.
“All right,” Dr. Chaudhri said in her lovely lilting voice. “I’ll leave you to rest. I’m sure you’d like to see your fiancé. He’s probably going to break down the door if I don’t let him back in.” She smiled and patted Melanie’s hand before leaving her bedside.
Fiancé? What in the—?
“Mel? Hey.” Finn appeared in the doorway, a crooked grin on his face. He hobbled to her bedside and leaned over to kiss her forehead. “I told them we’re engaged so I could stay with you in ICU,” he whispered in her ear.
The doctor left and the nurse placed the Styrofoam cup of ice chips on the rolling bedside tray. “See if you can get her to eat a bit more before she falls asleep, okay? I’ll check back in a little while.”
“Sure. Thanks.” Finn took a seat in the chair the nurse kindly scooted closer to the bed. He waited until she closed the door before reaching for Melanie’s hand. “God, sweetheart! Are you okay? You scared at least ten years off my life. When I found you lying there in your bed, not moving…I thought you…never mind. You’re safe now and the doctor says you’ll be okay in a few days.” He rubbed his thumb across her knuckles. “Listen, I know you’re probably still pissed at me, and I promise I’ll let you chew my ass real good as soon as we get home, okay? For now, please let me be here with you. I need to be here, Mel. I love you.” He picked up her hand from the coverlet and kissed it.
She tried to remember why she was mad at him, but nothing came to her. She absolutely couldn’t keep her eyes open even one second longer, but fell asleep smiling slightly, comforted to have him beside her.
***
The room was nearly dark the next time she opened her eyes. Her throat was painfully dry and her lips felt cracked as she attempted to lick them with a tongue made of sandpaper. She turned her head, looking for Finn, but didn’t see him. Panic was her first instinct, but the door opened at that moment and he entered.
“I’m here. I step out for five minutes to grab a cup of crappy coffee and you go and wake up.” He bent over and kissed her softly. “Let me get you some more ice chips. The nurse might even bring you some water.” He pressed the call button and the nurse appeared swiftly.
Within a few minutes she was sipping the best water she’d ever tasted in her life through a straw. “Finn.” At least that’s what she tried to say. All that came out was a sort of growl. She sipped more water then tried again. “What happened to me?” Her whisper was barely comprehensible. “Accident?”
“No, sweetheart. There was a fire at your house last night. CJ woke me up and I got down to your place as fast as I could. You were in bed and wouldn’t wake up.”
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br /> “How did you get me out?” Her voice was slightly stronger this time. “You didn’t carry me, did you?”
He chuckled. “I was about to, but Mr. Taylor showed up and carried you out.”
“What?”
“Well, it turns out he’s not crippled or anything. He only sits in the wheelchair to remember his wife. I guess she was confined to it for the past few years of her life and he feels closer to her there. It’s kind of sad.” He took the cup from her hand and set it on the tray table.
“It’s beautiful.” Mel was silent for a moment while she thought about what he was telling her. “How bad a fire? Why am I here? Did I get burned?” She tried to take an inventory of her physical condition, but beyond the sore throat and a killer headache, she felt fine.
“You’re fine, hon.” He reached to straighten her oxygen tube, tucking it behind her ear. “You’re here because of smoke inhalation and because you wouldn’t wake up. There are no burns or other injuries. You and Cara must have really tied one on, huh?”
As he spoke, it started coming back to her: the fight with him and the evening with Cara, drinking way too much wine. She barely remembered getting into bed and falling asleep; she remembered nothing of the fire he was telling her about. “How bad was it?”
He sighed, apparently reluctant to tell her. “Pretty bad. Your garage and kitchen got the worst, but the living room was also damaged. We’ll know more later.”
“What about Fluff?” She suddenly remembered the elderly dog. Oh, God, please don’t let him—
“He’s fine, Mel. The little idiot was running around the backyard, barking his head off. Cara’s got him at my house. Now calm down or they’re gonna kick me out. You might get to move to a regular room later if your breathing looks good. How are you feeling?”
“I think I’m okay. I’m confused and my throat hurts.”
He reached for the water cup and let her sip. “Maybe I can talk to the nurse and score a popsicle for you.” He kissed the top of her head, then straightened and replaced the water cup on the tray. He grabbed his crutches and headed to the door. “Be right back.”
He brought her a cherry popsicle. It tasted amazing and soothed her throat, but she couldn’t finish it, so Finn did while she fell asleep again for a short nap. She was woken when the nurse and an assistant arrived to move her upstairs to a regular room. Cara and her mother arrived shortly after she was settled.
“I’m mad at you!” Cara leaned over to hug her. “You scared the living shit out of me!”
“Cara!” Moira scolded her daughter lightly, then went around to the other side of the bed and patted Melanie’s hand. “Melanie, dear, I’m so glad you’re all right. We were all so worried. Finn hasn’t left the hospital. I’m going to take him home for a few hours so he can clean up and get some sleep. He still smells like smoke.”
“But I’ll stay to entertain you, Mel, don’t worry.” Cara took over the chair Finn vacated.
“I’ll be fine.” Melanie was embarrassed by their concern. “You don’t need to stay.”
“No way.” Finn leaned over to kiss her. “Either Cara stays or I do.”
She looked up into his handsome, but exhausted face. She knew he needed sleep, so she gave in with a huff. “Fine, but I don’t need a babysitter.”
“Stop whining, Mel,” Cara said with a laugh. “The DeLucas don’t leave someone they love in the hospital by themselves. You need an advocate to make sure they take good care of you.”
“I’ll be back in a few hours, love.” He kissed her again, then left with his mother.
Cara waited until the door closed behind them. “I told you so.” The expression on her face was superbly smug.
“What?”
“I told you so.” At Mel’s blank look, Cara explained. “You had absolutely no reason to freak out about Tatiana. Nobody could pry Finn away from your side once he was released from the emergency room—”
“Why was he in the emergency room? Was he hurt? Did he—”
“Calm down! He’s fine. They put him on oxygen for a few hours to make sure his lungs were okay. Smoke inhalation can sneak up on you. Your neighbor was admitted and intubated, like you.” She anticipated Mel’s next outburst. “And he’s doing fine and is actually down the hall. I stopped in to see him right before I saw you. They took his breathing tube out a couple hours ago and he’ll get to go home tomorrow, probably, like you.”
“Why do I have to stay overnight? Am I not doing as well as I thought?”
“You’re doing fine, Mel, but you were in ICU and they couldn’t wake you up. Finn said they’re doing blood tests. Did you take sleeping pills after I left?”
Melanie frowned as she remembered the doctor asking her the same thing. “I don’t take sleeping pills, Cara. I never have. I didn’t take anything last night, I swear!”
“Okay, sweetie. I believe you. We’ll talk to the doctor. I don’t know what’s going on, but we’ll figure it out.”
Both women were quiet for a few minutes. Mel’s mind was spinning out of control and she struggled to find something to focus on. Finally she blurted, “Finn told the doctors we’re engaged so he could stay with me. And I think he said he loves me, but I was falling asleep, so I’m not sure.”
“Well, I guess you’re going to have to judge by his actions, huh? At least until he gets back. So, what does it tell you that he followed a mangy cat into a burning house to rescue you? He refused treatment from the paramedics until he was promised he would be taken to the same hospital as you, and then lied about being your fiancé when they told him only family members could visit in ICU. So, yeah, I’d say he loves you. Now what are you going to do about it, Mel?”
“You’re a little scary sometimes, Cara.”
The other woman smiled. “That’s what my students say. It’s a valuable tool in the classroom. I’m waiting…”
“Fine.” Mel played for time by reaching for the water on her tray table. “What I’m going to do about it is love him back. At least I’m going to try.”
“Good answer.” Cara handed her the cup of water.
Chapter Thirteen
Finn
He took a long, hot shower as soon as his mother dropped him off. After a bit of fussing about him not getting enough rest, she’d promised someone would pick him up in a few hours to take him back to the hospital. The shower felt incredible and he let the scalding water stream down his body, washing away the lingering smell of smoke as well as the tension of the last twelve hours. He’d meant to shave as soon as he finished drying, but utter exhaustion caught up with him; he fell into bed, pausing only to tell Siri to wake him in two hours.
He’d barely closed his eyes when Seamus woke him, shaking his shoulder. “Finn! Man, your phone’s been beeping for almost ten minutes.”
Finn sat up, rubbing a hand over his face while reaching for his phone to silence the alarm. “Sorry. God, I swear I just shut my eyes.” He tossed the phone on his bed and searched for his crutches. “Be a pal, Seamus, and put some coffee on. I need to shave.” He continued mumbling as his brother left the bedroom. Soon the life-giving aroma of coffee reached him as he shaved and dressed. He grabbed his crutches and hobbled out to the kitchen.
Seamus placed a steaming mug of black coffee on the table before pouring one for himself and sitting across from Finn. “You want me to make some eggs or something?”
Finn sipped the scalding beverage and shook his head. “This is fine, thanks. You’re my favorite brother, by the way.”
Seamus laughed and added several spoonfuls of sugar to his own coffee. “Sure I am. Until Hugh or Tony shows up with a six-pack, that is.”
“Yeah, well, whatever. Coffee is what I needed now.” He took another sip. “Any news on the cause of the fire?” He’d called his brother earlier that morning, as soon as they let him out of the emergency room, and asked him to see what he could find out. Seamus’ unit hadn’t been called to the scene, but Finn knew his brother could ask around.
“Goddammit.” Finn ran his hands through his hair. “How am I supposed to keep her safe if I don’t even know what the hell is going on?”
“Hey.” Seamus stood and reached for the coffee pot. “Nobody is gonna get to Mel. They’ll have to go through all the DeLucas first. And Cara alone is enough to terrify anyone.”
Finn chuckled reluctantly. “Yeah, true.” He waved the coffee away. “I can’t lose her, Seamus.”
“You won’t.”
Seamus drove him back to the hospital and went up with him to visit Mel and take Cara home. “Hey, Mel. When do you get to bust out of this popsicle stand?” He handed her the stuffed rabbit he’d bought for her in the hospital gift shop. She was sitting in an easy chair next to Cara, with a hospital blanket draped over her lap.
“Probably tomorrow. This is adorable, Seamus. Thanks.”
“All right. Get out of the way so I can kiss my girlfriend.” Finn sorely missed having full use of his hands so he could shove his brother aside. “Hey, beautiful.” He managed to bend down and kiss her upturned face without falling on top of her. He was beyond ready to get rid of these crutches.
“Hi.” She smiled crookedly and he hoped it meant he was forgiven.
“Seamus brought you the stuffed bunny, but I brought something much more useful.” He held his hand out to Seamus for the tiny carton of lemon sorbet he’d found for her in the gift shop.
