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Maggie beamed. “It’s just wonderful,” she said breathlessly.
He drew her to the blanket by the hand. “White, right?” Zane asked, holding up a chilled bottle of wine from the basket along with two real wine glasses. She held back a giggle as she recognized those glasses as a set she had given Dani. The girl’d had nothing but old jelly jars to drink out of so Maggie had given her two glasses and place settings so at least she could set a nice table for Levi someday. It tickled her that she was probably getting to use them first.
After pouring the wine, Zane unpacked the picnic basket that had been filled with cold fried chicken, potato salad and fruit and they settled into their lunch. They talked for a long time, about everything and nothing, easy in each other’s company. It was pleasantly warm in the glade and soon they were both stretched out on the blanket next to each other lazing in the sunshine that flitted through the trees.
“I can’t believe I haven’t asked you this yet but tell me why you became a doctor,” Maggie asked, leaning up on one elbow to look into Zane’s eyes. She was fascinated with their depth of color. She called them whisky, but she was quickly learning they could be sherry or cognac as well depending on his mood.
Zane reached out a long deft finger to trace the bones of her face, crossing her cheek and down the plane of her jaw. She felt the color blooming on her skin at his touch and his lazy smile made her insides turn to goo.
“So gorgeous,” Zane murmured.
“Don’t try to distract me. I really want to know.” Maggie tried to sound stern but it was difficult when she was melting under his touch.
Zane removed his finger and laced his hands behind his head. “I had a friend back in high school in Maryland,” he began. “We played lacrosse together, trained in the off season together. Hell, we dated some of the same girls.” Maggie narrowed her eyes a little at him with that admission. He gave her a sardonic half smile. “Not at the same time,” he amended. “Anyway, we were tight. He was as close to a brother as I ever had.”
Zane’s voice had gone gravely and low. Maggie wasn’t sure now that she wanted to hear the rest of the story. She could tell it wasn’t going to be pleasant and she hadn’t meant to bring up something distressing on this perfect day.
“We left a party with a couple of girls. We’d all had a few beers. Jason was driving and I was in the backseat with my date, not paying much attention.” He glanced at Maggie but she just watched him, her brown eyes solemn. “It had been raining. He...he apparently hydroplaned and we hit an overpass embankment.”
Maggie gasped but then quickly bit her lip, not wanting to interrupt the story. “I was banged up pretty good as was the girl I was with but Jason and his date...” He paused and stared up at the sky before he spoke again. “They were both thrown from the car through the windshield. No seatbelts of course. She died at the scene. Caitlyn, her name was Caitlyn.”
Maggie put a hand to his chest right over his heart. She could feel it pounding. She was surprised she couldn’t hear it.
“I’d never seen so much blood,” Zane continued quietly. “Caitlyn was just staring up at the sky, the rain falling into her eyes. She didn’t blink. Jason... Jason was alive but his head was bleeding so bad I couldn’t understand how. I had no idea what to do. I yelled at Brittany, my date, to call 911 but she just kept screaming. God, I couldn’t hear anything but her screaming. I finally gave up trying to get her to stop and found my phone to call for help. I’ve never felt so helpless in my life.”
He drug a hand out from behind his head and covered Maggie’s on his chest before he resumed his story. “Jason lived but he suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was never the same. Couldn’t live on his own. I spent a lot of time in the ICU with him and then at the Rehab Hospital after that. I’d already decided go pre-med in college but feeling so out of control, that really sealed it. I always thought that if I’d known what to do, I could have made a difference in how it turned out for him.”
“Oh, Zane, I’m so sorry,” Maggie said, eyes shimmering with unshed tears for the pain he was sharing with her.
He kissed the back of her hand. “It was a long time ago but that’s why I ultimately decided on neurology. I couldn’t help Jason, but I hope over the years, I’ve been able to help somebody else’s friend.” The edges of his mouth twisted up into a half smile. “I still go see him several times a year. He still thinks we’re in high school so we talk about the game that week or the parties we went to. It’s hard but I’ll never abandon him.”
Maggie bent and placed a soft kiss on his lips. “You’re a very good man, Zane Savage.”
Zane blinked slowly at Maggie’s pronouncement. She could see his eyes were dark as brandy now. He brought her hand to his mouth again and kissed her fingers. “I don’t know about that, but I like to think I try to be.”
“Trust me, you are,” she leaned over and brushed his lips with hers again. “There aren’t many left, I promise you.”
