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I nodded as I agreed with what he said. “I just don’t want to do the wrong thing. She’s it for me.”
“Just like I knew Hazel was it for me. We Zima men seem to know right away. We love hard and we love deep. Let her be your guide. Let her feel in control as much as you can but realize she’s as terrified as a small child right now. Mostly though, do as you have been doing, just love her.”
Suddenly I heard a yell coming from her room. Nodding at Leo I went back into her room. I worried Willow was having another nightmare. I found her sitting up. There was a look I recognized in her eyes as she looked up at me. I’d seen it in mine when my parents had been killed. I came over to her and kneeled before her, asking softly, “What’s wrong, amore?”
The despair I’d recognized broke free, and a sob ripped free from her as she immediately hid her face. I pulled her into my arms and held her close. “Hey, hey, angel, it’s ok. You’re safe now. I know everything is overwhelming and terrifying right now, but you aren’t alone. I promise.”
As her sobs slowed, I continued to hold her close. She wiped her face on the sleeve of the sweatshirt she wore. Wiping a spot or two that she missed, I placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She climbed into my lap and with a sad sigh she told me, “I woke up from a nightmare about the train and I didn’t recognize the room at first and you were gone. I got so scared. I’m sorry, Dante. I’m such a needy burden. I feel like everything is my fault,” she admitted, her eyes downcast.
“Why would you think that?”
“I thought about canceling and not going out with that guy. A coworker even offered me a ride. Maybe if I had…”
“Don’t,” I snapped. When she flinched at my tone, I immediately felt bad. “Don’t you dare blame yourself, Willow. None of this is your fault. Those men were evil. If they hadn’t gotten you then, they would have found another way.”
“I just wish I wasn’t so weak.”
“Amore, you’re the strongest person I know. No matter how much life has thrown at you, you haven’t given up. Instead, you sacrificed yourself to save women you didn’t even know. A heart that loving, that kind, is the strongest of all.”
“I don’t feel strong. I just did what I felt was the right thing to do.”
“Do you realize how few people are as wonderful as you are?”
“I basically offered my body to keep them safe. There isn’t anything special to that.”
“You made a decision and did what you had to. I bet if I called Kaily in here right now she’d agree with me completely. Should I go get her?”
“No, no, please.”
I smiled at her and sighed dramatically. “Fine, but I want you to listen to me.”
She was quiet for a moment before she looked at me and nodded. “I’ll try my best. What is going to happen next?”
“You’ll stay here until you’re all healed up, and then we’ll figure it out, okay?”
“Okay. Can you let me up? I need to use the restroom.”
Instead of letting her get up, I stood up with her in my arms. “You never let me walk,” she said with a shy smile on her lips.
I chuckled as I smiled brightly at her. “Of course not. I like holding you in my arms, so you might as well get used to it.”
Chapter 6
Willow
Over the next week, the doctor and his nurse were in and out of my room, making sure I was comfortable and not in any pain. Dante was with me so much I felt bad. I know he had to be so busy. Whenever I mentioned it to him though, he told me not to worry so much and to just concentrate on feeling better. So that’s what I’ve been doing.
I slept more than my eyes were open, but I was starting to feel better. When I was alone, I listened to the sounds of the house as I looked at the ceiling. Surprisingly, I wasn’t bored. I wasn’t scared or worried. Most of the time I just felt numb. I wasn’t sure if it was the medicine the doctor gave me or if I was just so overwhelmed that I shut down.
My body ached but not badly. As I lay there and tried to figure out what woke me I heard a knock. The door opened and I realized the approach of the nurse must have been what woke me.
“Good, you’re awake.” I only nodded since I doubted she’d appreciate it if I pointed out that she woke me up. She’d been nothing but kind, though, like the doctor.
“How about we get you on your feet some more this morning? Movement is important for healing. The more you move around, the quicker your body will mend itself.”
I didn’t have it in me to argue so with a sigh I simply nodded. Pain flared to life as soon as I sat up and lowered my legs over the side of the bed. Parts of my body I didn’t know existed suddenly screamed out.
“Deep breaths,” the nurse instructed in a soft voice. “You’re doing fine.” I don’t know if I agreed or not but I managed to stand on shaky legs before dragging one foot, then the other, across the room. The room seemed to grow even larger than it was. By the time we reached the bathroom my entire lower half pulsed with pain.
