"As you can tell from talking to her, there doesn’t appear to be any serious brain damage. As a matter of fact, she remembers far more than is normal for her type of injury."
"Thank God. What about physically? Will she walk?" Dani asked.
Alex smiled and wiggled her toes. When neither woman noticed immediately, she stretched just a bit and touched Nikki with her left foot. Startled, Nikki looked down at the wiggling toes and smiled. She looked up at Dani who grinned. "That’s a good start," Nikki said as she looked at Alex. "This leg’s going to give you hell for the rest of your life though." She stepped around the foot of the bed and placed her hand on Alex’s left knee. "The knee was badly damaged and required reconstructive surgery." She ran her hand up the leg briefly and stopped mid-thigh. "The femur was broken in two places and required surgery, and your pelvis was cracked. You fractured your left scapula and clavicle, and had a rather serious head injury."
Alex closed her eyes as Nikki’s hand traveled up her leg. She could feel the warmth radiating through the thin blanket that covered her. She shook off the stirrings of desire and opened her eyes. "Sounds like I’m going to need to find a new exercise regimen," she replied quietly.
Dani stepped up on the right side of the bed and looked down at her sleeping daughter. "She was so excited when she found out we were visiting today that she failed to take her nap." With suddenly weak knees, she dropped into the chair beside the bed and looked at Alex with tear filled eyes. "Thank you for giving me my daughter back. Every day I have with her is a gift you’ve given me. I owe you a debt I can never repay."
Alex reached her hand out towards Dani who grasped it tightly. "Will you do something for me?"
"Anything."
"Love her unconditionally, support her at every opportunity, and be the best parent you can be. Raise her to be who she was meant to be, not who you want her to be." She squeezed Dani's hand and pulled her towards the bed. Once Dani was close enough, she released her hand and wiped the tears from her cheek. "If you can do that, then it will have all been worth it."
Dani grabbed her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. "That’s a given."
"It isn't for everyone."
Dani tilted her head slightly as she considered the tone in Alex's voice and nodded. "For her it is."
Alex smiled. "Good."
Dani stood, wiped her face one last time, and smiled down at Alex and Madison. "We should be going. I’m sure it's already been a long day. You should get a nap of your own." She reached down and gently scooped up her daughter.
"Mommy, I don’t want to leave yet."
Alex reached up and gently tugged one ringlet until Madison looked down at her. "Will you come back to see me another time?"
Madison smiled. "Yes. Next time I’ll bring my Momma too. Would you like to meet my Momma?"
Alex looked up at Dani, confused. "Your Momma?"
Dani's eyes darted away briefly before once again meeting Alex’s. "My wife, Rachel."
"I see."
"Is that going to be a problem?" Dani asked as Nikki looked on, interested in the answer.
"I’d love to meet her."
Dani sank down into the chair and searched Alex’s face for the truth. "Are you sure?"
Alex reached out and waited for her to take her hand. "What are you so afraid of? I am a stranger that you could walk away from and never look back. Why does it matter to you if I approve or not?"
Dani wiped a tear from her cheek. "We may be strangers, but you have forever changed our lives. And while today is the first day you’ve met us, we’ve been visiting you here three or four times a week." She squeezed Alex’s hand. "It's up to you to decide if you wish to remain strangers or if you would like to become friends. Just know that we would all love to have you in our lives as a part of our family."
Alex felt a hand settle on her left arm and looked up into Nikki’s smiling face. "Why don’t you get some rest now? There will be time enough to think about this tomorrow." She opened the drawer in the small table beside the bed and pulled out Alex’s cell phone. "I've kept this charged. If you’ll unlock it, I'll program in Dani’s number as well as my own. If you feel like talking, just give one of us a call." She handed the phone to Alex who quickly unlocked it and handed it back.
"I don’t know what will be happening here tomorrow, but I’d love to meet Rachel. Why don’t you give me a call before you head over?"
Dani gave her a brilliant smile that completely lit up her face. "I’ll do that." She helped Madison climb down from the chair and stood. She leaned down and gave Alex a brief hug. "Thank you," she whispered. After a quick kiss on the cheek, she pulled away. "We’ll see you tomorrow."
Nikki took a step back and paused. "Is it alright if I visit tomorrow as well?"
"I’d like that."
Nikki smiled. "All right then. I’ll see you later."
Alex closed her eyes and thought about everything she’d learned today and wondered just how much her life had changed. Within minutes she was sound asleep.
She woke to a shadow filled room and wondered what time it was. After a quick stretch, she pressed the call button to summon Alice. She was surprised when several minutes later a young woman walked in and introduced herself. "Hi, I’m Megan, the night nurse. It is good to finally see you awake. What can I help you with?"
"How long have I been here?"
Megan walked up and checked several of the monitors before looking down at her. There was understanding in her eyes. "I imagine you have a lot of questions." When Alex nodded she said, "We’ve been instructed to keep you calm and under-stimulated as much as possible. The doctors don’t want us to cause any setbacks in your recovery."
Alex grimaced. "I suppose that means you won’t answer any of my questions."
"I’m sorry." Megan rearranged the pillows, fluffing as she went. "You’ll get to see the doctor tomorrow. I’m sure he’ll answer some of your questions then. In the meantime, how about some broth?"
"Careful, Megan, you wouldn’t want to get me too excited." Alex couldn’t help but grin as the young woman laughed.
"Right you are. Let me see what I can find. I’ll be back in a jiffy." Megan smiled as she walked out the door.
As soon as she was gone, Alex pulled her phone out from under the thin cotton blanket. She quickly pulled up her calendar and realized that her appointment with Emily was nearly four and a half weeks ago. She knew she was going to have to call her, but wasn’t sure yet what to say. She slid the phone back under the blanket and waited for Megan to return.
Chapter Three
The sun was shining brightly, and there was still just a bit of a chill in the air, as she jogged towards the hospital. As she neared the park, she noticed a woman, a few years younger than herself with long, curly dark hair, playing with a young girl dressed in pink from head to toe. The girl’s hair matched that of her mother, and Alex couldn’t help but smile as the giggling child kept just out of reach. Suddenly she heard the roar of the engine of an approaching vehicle. She looked up in time to see a pink blur race out into the street in front of the speeding car and felt her heart skip a beat. She knew she wasn’t going to make it in time, but ran towards the child anyway. She screamed when she felt the car hit her, tossing her into the air. She woke up trembling just before she hit the pavement.
"You’re okay lass," Alice said as she stilled the squawking monitors. "It was just a dream." She placed a hand on her shoulder. Alex nodded as she took a deep breath. "Good. Now then, how about we get you cleaned up a bit? The doctor will be in to see you in about an hour or so. Then we’ll know what your next steps will be."
"Please tell me I’m not seeing Dr. Wright."
Alice chuckled. "No, dear. Dr. Wright is no longer handling your case. You’ll be seeing Dr. Jones today."
"Well, that’s a relief."
It was early afternoon before Alex was finally able to lay back and close her eyes. She’d had a busy morning, visiting with the doctor, and being
poked and prodded through test after test. She groaned when she heard the door open. "Please, no more." She heard a sexy, low chuckle and quickly opened her eyes in time to see Nikki walk up beside the bed.
"Rough day?"
"You could say that." Alex gave her a weak smile and closed her eyes. "I’m exhausted. I think they tried every test they could possibly think of, then threw in one or two more for good measure."
Nikki reached out and brushed a strand of hair off Alex’s face. "I’ll leave you to your nap then."
She captured Nikki’s hand and looked up at her. "Please don’t go." She hated how needy she sounded, and embarrassed, she quickly looked away. "I mean, what’s your rush? Pull up a seat and stay awhile."
"Do you really want me to stay?"
"Yes, please."
Nikki smiled. "All right then." She walked around the bed and pulled the chair up close.
"Tell me about your day," Alex said as she watched Nikki get comfortable. She couldn’t help but smile as she watched Nikki’s humor and compassion begin to shine through while she discussed some of the events of her day. There was something about Nikki’s voice that comforted her, and her eyes began to droop. Before long she slipped into a deep sleep.
Alex woke a little while later and turned to see Nikki still sitting in the chair beside the bed. "You could’ve just told me I was boring you."
Before she could object she saw the gleam in Nikki’s eye and the slight upturn at the corner of her mouth. "I thought it would be rude, and I wouldn’t want to be rude."
Nikki’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh and falling asleep isn’t rude?"
Alex fought to keep a straight face. "Of course not. Not when it can be completely blamed on the exhaustion brought on by the stress of the day, both emotional and physical." She looked at Nikki with her best puppy dog eyes and gave her a big blink. When the corner of her mouth lifted slightly, Nikki began to laugh. Alex was startled at how much the laugh changed the woman before her. The stress fell away revealing her true beauty. She immediately wanted to make her laugh again. Just then her phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and quickly answered. "Hello."
"Hello Alex, this is Dani. Is…is that my sister?" Dani asked as she heard Nikki laughing.
"Yes, it is." She couldn’t help but smile as she watched Nikki wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.
"I haven’t heard her laugh like that in a long time. You’re good for her. She needs a friend like you." Alex didn’t know what to say and the silence hung heavy for a moment. "I was just calling to see if you were ready for some company."
"Yeah, that would be great." She looked over at Nikki and saw her curious expression. "I hate to ask, but would you mind doing me a favor?"
"Hey no problem, Alex. What do you need?"
"Any chance you can stop and pick up a T-shirt or two, and either some shorts or pajama bottoms?" she asked. "I don’t have anything here to wear, and they want me to start physical therapy tomorrow. I’ll pay you back. I just can’t stand this damn gown any longer."
Dani laughed. "Don’t worry about it. We’ll find something for you. If you’re doing therapy, you’re going to need more than just T-shirts aren’t you? You’ve been well covered every time I’ve seen you, so I don’t know for sure, but I’ve gotten the impression you are not exactly flat as a board."
"You’re right, I’m quite the opposite actually." They briefly discussed sizes and styles while Nikki stared out the window. "Thanks, Dani." She hung up the phone and looked at Nikki. "That was Dani. They’re going to get me something else to wear, but they should be here fairly soon. Will you please stay?"
Nikki frowned slightly. "Why wouldn't I?"
"It’s just that I’m…you seem…it’s…" Alex stammered.
Nikki smiled. "Just spit it out already."
Alex looked away. "I’m probably misreading things." She looked back at Nikki who looked at her expectantly. She sighed, opened her mouth, and then quickly closed it again. She watched as Nikki raised one eyebrow, and waited quietly for her to continue. "It’s just that you seem a little uncomfortable around your sister. That’s all."
"I didn’t realize I was that transparent." Nikki stood and walked over to the window, staring out into the clear blue sky. "Does Dani know? Has she said something to you?" She looked back at Alex, fearful of the answer.
"I don’t know if she’s aware of it or not, but she hasn’t said anything to me. Then again it's not like we've really had any time to talk." She held her hand out to her. "Care to tell me about it?" she asked.
Nikki shrugged then walked towards the bed. "I had a rough time a while back. Dani and Rachel really helped me out. They took me in when I moved to town, and I’ve been living with them ever since." She sat down heavily in the visitor’s chair. "I’m sure I’ve overstayed my welcome, it’s just been difficult finding the time to get out and find my own place." When she looked up, Alex could see the pain in her eyes. "We lived apart for years, and there was always a part of me missing. While the circumstances of our reunion were unpleasant, I was just so happy to be near her again. Twins have a bond that most people will never understand."
They sat quietly for a moment before Alex finally spoke up. "Let me make sure I understand. You found that missing piece of yourself when you moved here near your sister, correct?" She watched Nikki nod then took a deep breath and said, "So tell me why you're pushing her away." She saw the disbelief on her face as she began to deny the accusation. "You are, Nikki. You're pushing her away and hurting you both in the process. Has she told you it’s time to find your own place?"
"No, she hasn’t."
"Then stop using that as an excuse." Alex watched as Nikki thought about what she’d said. "Enjoy what you have. Not everyone's as lucky as you are." They sat in silence for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.
"What are you thinking about?" Nikki finally asked.
Alex shook off the memories. "Just thinking about buzzing Megan to come help get me into that chair." She pointed over to the wheelchair near the restroom.
Nikki stood and looked down at her, searching her face for a clue as to the true nature of her thoughts. Giving up she said, "How about I do that? I don’t mind." When Alex agreed, she pulled the chair close then leaned over the bed. "Put your arms around my neck." She quickly scooped her into her arms and turned to gently place her into the chair. "How’s that?" she asked.
Alex was surprised at how easily Nikki picked her up. "That’s perfect, thank you." Nikki smiled as she maneuvered the wheelchair closer before sitting back down. She looked up at the clock and frowned. "It’s taking them a little longer than I expected."
"They’ll be here, just relax. Why don’t you tell me about yourself in the meantime?" Nikki noticed the confusion on Alex’s face and said, "What do you do for a living? Tell me about your friends and family. I really don’t know anything about you."
Alex scrambled for something to say. "There’s really not much to tell. I'm uh…I’m self employed."
Nikki could tell she wasn’t comfortable talking about herself, but her curiosity forced her to push. "What do you do?"
Alex began to nervously play with one of the ties on the side of her gown. "A little of this and a little of that. I’ve done some motivational speaking, freelance writing, and I work for the University every summer." She quickly looked up at the clock again, wondering what was keeping Dani.
"If you keep looking at that clock, you’re going to give me a complex," Nikki said when she noticed Alex look at it for the second time in just a few minutes. "Am I that boring?"
"No, not at all. I just can’t wait to get out of this gown." When she saw Nikki's eyebrow raise and the corner of her mouth lift ever so slightly, she realized the implication and felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She knew her blush was visible when Nikki smiled. "Stop it." Nikki stared a moment longer then laughed when she saw the blush deepen. Alex sat back and listened to the sound of her laughter. She found she enjoyed it when N
ikki laughed, and couldn’t help but smile in return.
She heard the door squeak and looked up to see Dani walk into the room. There was look of joy on her face as she watched her sister laugh. She turned and saw Alex watching her and smiled. She walked over, placed a large shopping bag in her lap, leaned in for a hug, and whispered, "Thank you." As Dani started to pull away, Alex gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hey," Nikki called out. "How come you don’t greet me like that?"
Dani shook her head and grimaced. "You’re a pain in the neck, why would I want to greet you like that?" she asked.
Nikki glared at her in mock anger. "I wasn’t talking to you." She turned and gazed at Alex expectantly.
"You didn’t bring me clothes, instead you make fun of my discomfort. Dani deserves far more than a quick peck on the cheek, but that is all I am able to offer at the moment." As Nikki’s eyebrows shot up, she once again felt her face grow warm. In an effort to regain her composure, and put Nikki in her place, she quickly elaborated. "I’d genuflect and kiss her feet, but I can’t put any weight on my leg." Dani chuckled at the look on her sister's face, and held her hands up in surrender when she glared at her again. "Do you mind if I change before meeting Rachel?" Alex asked as she looked up hopefully at Dani.
"Not at all. We’ll just wait out in the hall."
Alex grinned. "You may want to check with the nurses, but I bet they still have an ice cream sundae bar in the children’s unit on the fifth floor. I’m sure Madison would love it."
Nikki stepped up beside the wheelchair and placed her hand on her shoulder. "Will you be okay by yourself, or do you need some help getting into those clothes?"
Alex leaned back in her chair and looked up. "You know, I don’t recall the last time someone offered to help me put my clothes on." She watched as Nikki turned several shades of red. "Thank you for the offer, Nikki."
The Queen of Diamonds Page 2
