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I meet Kasey’s gaze. “I don’t understand.” I have a feeling that I probably do though.
“Diego heard some of what was said to you as he was starting to wake up. He thought he was dreaming until he realized that you weren’t there. He kicked everyone out.” Kasey grins. “Come on. He’s sleeping now but needs you there when he wakes up.”
“I was heading back inside. Once I cried myself sick, I realized that I wasn’t being true to Diego by running away when he needs me the most.”
Kasey wraps an arm around my shoulders. “You are so strong, Rae, but being alone against my family is hard especially when you’re emotionally drained. I wish I’d have been here to back you up.”
Walking through the hospital with Kasey, I don’t see Diego’s family anywhere, which is a relief. Minutes later Kasey leads me back into Diego’s room and ushers me into a chair beside my husband.
I take his hand and thread my fingers through his. “I love you, Diego,” I whisper, laying my head on our joined hands as before.
Kasey touches my shoulder. “I’m going to head over to the cafeteria for something to eat. Can I get you something?”
“Coffee please.”
“I won’t be too long.” Kasey squeezes my shoulders and by the soft click of the door, he’s left.
I caress Diego’s hand with my thumb and lift my head when his fingers tighten around mine. His dark gaze is purely focused on my face as though he’s afraid I’m going to disappear.
“He found you?” Diego’s whispered words of relief wash over me while tears of happiness cloud my vision, delight that he’s awake.
“I was on my way back to you.” I offer him an apologetic smile. “Once I pulled myself together I realized that I should have stayed and stood my ground beside you.”
“It’s difficult when you’re alone against my family.” Diego sighs. “At least my head isn’t pounding this time around…scoot in beside me, baby.”
There is only a brief hesitation before I’m settled along the length of him and the guardrail is pulled up so that I don’t roll from the bed to the hard floor.
Snuggled against him, Diego lifts his hand and a hard glint comes into his eyes when he flexes his fingers. “Someone had removed my wedding band,” he tells me. “I wanted to kill them when I realized it had been removed.”
“It’s back now,” I observe. “Who removed it?”
“I don’t know. My first thought was my mom, but she looked just as surprised to hear me call you my wife than the others did, so I’m not sure.”
I wiggle my fingers in front of his face. “I love my ring, Diego.”
He takes my hand and brings it closer to his face. “Even if it’s making your finger green?”
“Yes. You gave me this at our wedding so it holds sentimental value more than anything. Our rings and our vows joined us together, Diego. This means everything to me.”
“Don’t leave me, Rae.” Diego holds me tight. “I hate that I can’t trust my family right now. Only trust Kasey, okay?”
Diego drifts back off to sleep while I stay snuggled against him, listening to his heart beating beneath my ear.
He’s everything to me and no matter what I’ll always fight for him from now on. I won’t be running away with my heartbreak anymore. He’s my husband and in my heart, that’s all that matters.
18
Diego
After sending Kasey home with Rae to make sure that she gets some sleep, I feel better myself after I’ve showered and dressed into comfortable sweats and t-shirt that Levi had brought in for me. I recovered well thanks to having Rae in my arms and knowing that she wouldn’t be stopped from coming in and out of my room freely—the way it should have been from the minute she arrived at the hospital.
Settling on the bed, I sigh with relief, having not realized just how tired being up on my feet made me. There’s only a dull throb behind my eyes now, which is ten times better than the sledge hammer that had been pounding in there yesterday. My family certainly hadn’t helped with all the bickering and interference.
My twin Emelia, would have had more to say if she’d have been here, but she’s still on resting orders from her doctor and OB. Em has always known when to interrupt and when not too, so I have a feeling the whole hospital would have known her opinion.
Hearing a soft knock on the door, I watch as it slowly opens and Mom pokes her head through the gap. “Can I please come in?”
“As long as you don’t have anything bad to say about Rae, then yes you can.” It’s hard for me to be like this toward her, but how can I not be. She has been against Rae from the start, and Rae is the woman that I’ve chosen to be with and she needs to accept that.
