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Her head suddenly felt too heavy to hold up. She lay back and closed her eyes. “How did I get here?”
He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. “I found you just before six o’clock; you were lying at the edge of your driveway, your head was bleeding. I couldn’t get you to wake up.” His voice cracked, “I was sick with worry that I was too late.”
Taking his hand in hers, she squeezed. “I’m so sorry you had to stay here so long. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
He snorted. “I know you didn’t mean to worry me or any one of us. We just want you better and to find the son of a bitch who did this to you.”
A voice from the doorway broke the moment. “Can’t you leave her alone for a minute? Geez, Gray, she’s in the hospital for God’s sake.”
Jessie walked in with a smirk on her face.
Sam smiled at her. “Jess, you don’t understand. I thought he was leaving me and I panicked.”
The look she leveled at Gray was scathing, her eyes narrowed. “Why are you making her think that in her state? What the hell, Gray?”
Sam held her hand out to Jessie. She quickly came forward, and took her hand, squeezing, tears shone brightly in her crisp blue eyes.
“Jess, it was a misunderstanding and no one’s fault. Please don’t lay any blame on Gray. He’s been worried about me too.”
Jess looked at Gray, her face softened. “Okay, but he better not hurt you.”
A small giggle escaped, and Sam introduced Jessie to everyone in the room, including Jamie, who had just arrived, and Officer Williams. The officer took the opportunity to ask Jessie a couple of questions.
“Ms …”
“Johnson,” Jess supplied.
“Ms. Johnson, has anyone been around the office asking for Ms. Powell or acting suspicious in any way?”
“Yes, yesterday a man came into the office looking for her. I told him she was off.”
“Did he ask anything specific?”
“He asked if she was in and I told him she had the day off. He asked where he might be able to find her and I told him I didn’t know, a day off meant she didn’t have to check in with anyone. He left.”
“Can you describe him?”
She scrunched up her face. “He had really blue, cold eyes, and short dark hair. He was dressed well enough, but he looked smarmy.”
25
Sam was released from the hospital the following day with orders to take it easy and take the pain medication as needed. The stitches in the side of her head would come out in a week, and until then, she was to keep them clean and moist with an antibiotic ointment. She only had three stitches, so after her whole arm incident, this was nothing. They only had a week left before the closing on her house, and she had to have everything out.
The police were still looking for the man who had inquired about Sam and the truck that had hit her. In the meantime, Gray took Sam to work in the morning and picked her up afterward. She wasn’t supposed to go anywhere for lunch, which was fine with her—she was still a bit weak and tired and usually spent her lunch hour turning the lights off in her office and closing her eyes for a few minutes. Sometimes, Jessie would come in and chat. The boyfriend that Jessie had met at the same time Sam met Gray hadn’t worked out. She wasn’t deterred, though. She was still going to find Mr. Right.
On the day of the house closing, Sam asked Shelia to come to the office so she could sign the papers there. She didn’t want Gray to have to take off work to drive her anywhere. After the documents were signed, she handed over the keys with a sigh. That chapter of her life was officially in the past. All the memories were just that—memories. She still had her children and grandchildren and now Gray and his family, to make new, and hopefully better, memories. Shelia handed her a large check by way of payment. Onward.
She walked Shelia to the front door and said goodbye. Turning, she said, “Jessie, I’m going to walk to the bank and deposit the proceeds check. I won’t be gone long, and I have my phone with me.”
“No, Sam. You aren’t supposed to go out by yourself.”
“Jess, it’s a beautiful day, and nothing has happened since the incident at my house, and to be honest, I’m a bit stir crazy. It’s only a block away. What could happen?”
“Sam, tell Gray or I will. We are all on strict orders. A block away may as well be miles if no one is around to help you. I’m serious.” The vivacious woman stood with her hands firmly planted on her hips.
With a sigh, Sam pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed Gray’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Hey baby, how are you?”
