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A scene that would haunt her for the rest of her days.
A doctor pushed through a set of double doors that led into the heart of the hospital and made a beeline for the cluster of officers.
Cruz held up a hand, as if to stop the doctor from speaking, and waved Mia over.
Mia shot to her feet, her legs shaky, and moved toward them. She held her breath until her chest ached.
The doctor slid a dark blue cap off his head, exposing a full head of white hair. “Mr. Black is out of surgery and in recovery.”
Relief sucked the air from her lungs, and she staggered to the side.
Brooke and Zoe flanked her, holding her up and keeping her steady.
Tears dotted her eyes and she dashed them away with the tips of her fingers. “Can I see him?”
The doctor smiled. “Follow me.”
Her damp shoes shuffled down the long hallway. Nurses bustled about and doctors barked out orders. They reached a room with the lights dimmed inside and the door wide open.
“Go on in. He’s just waking from surgery. Keep him calm. One visitor at a time.”
She shook the doctor’s hand then disappeared inside. Machines dominated the side of the bed, beeping and announcing Chet’s condition to people who actually understood what it meant. Chet laid on his back with a white blanket tucked around him. His eyes were closed, his body still.
She walked quietly to his side. The pale skin of his face spoke of the trauma his body had endured. Needing to feel his warmth, she rested a hand on his.
His eyes flickered open. “Mia?”
She gasped, the sound of her name on his lips the most beautiful thing she’d ever heard. “I’m here.”
His fingers twitched beneath hers as if it took too much energy to do anything more. He turned his head on the thin pillow, facing her. “I’m sorry.”
She furrowed her brow. “For what?”
“For letting him take you,” he said, licking his dry lips. “I should have seen it. I should have known. Should have known it was Eddy.”
“You need to stop blaming yourself for any part of the madness Eddy brought into our lives. None of it was your fault. And if you wouldn’t have followed us—wouldn’t have found me…” she shuddered, unable to put into words the horror of what could have been.
“I found you, but you stepped out of the trees to protect me. You put your life on the line—for me. In that moment, I had to do whatever I could to save you. You have too much ahead of you, too much to live for.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks and his selflessness touched a part of her no man ever had. “Wehave too much ahead of us. Together. I love you, Chet. More than I ever thought possible.”
All signs of pain left his face and he smiled. “I love you, too. Can I kiss you?”
She grinned and brought her face inches above his. “I thought I told you that you can kiss me senseless any time you want.” Sealing her mouth to his, joy exploded inside her.
The future may be unclear, but with Chet by her side, all her dreams had already come true. He’d brought love and respect and confidence into her world. Now they’d finally put their painful pasts behind them and look forward to a brighter, better future filled with love and healing together.
EPILOGUE
Chet swiped his finger over the wide, glossy screen of his new phone and muttered to himself. Why did he need to have so much crap on his phone when all he wanted was to make a call? Hell, screw all the apps Mia had made him download, he couldn’t even figure out how to unlock the damn thing. Luckily, he didn’t need to unlock the screen to see the time.
He shoved the cursed device back in the front pocket of his jeans. Now wasn’t the time to fiddle with it. Not when Mia was due to arrive any second. Her friends and family had gathered and waited. Nerves danced in Chet’s gut. He’d put this whole shindig together, wanting Mia to see with her own eyes how much support she had in Pine Valley—how large her family had grown since her time there.
Turning to the crowd of people inside the empty restaurant Mia had purchased on the town square, he pressed his finger to his lips. “Quiet. She should be here soon.” Brown paper still covered the windows, but if Brooke and Zoe got Mia here on time, everyone needed to stop talking if they were going to pull off the surprise.
Hushed whispers and giggles sounded around him, but instead of irritation tightening his muscles, he shook his head and smiled. Four months had passed since the tragedy in the forest that had forced his eyes wide open about his feelings for Mia. Since then, she and Wrigley had moved to his side of the duplex, leaving her side empty for privacy, and he vowed every single day to show her how amazing she was.
In return, she’d awakened his soul and showered him with love—while bringing parts of his past into their daily lives. She’d hung pictures of his family in their home and asked questions to keep their memory alive. He could never show her how much that meant to him—but he’d damn well try.
