“You can call and check on her later. I’m sure—”
“I don’t want to call and check on her. I want to see her. I need to be here when she wakes up. There’s something I have to tell her.”
“It can wait until she’s—”
“No, it can’t. Please. Please, Mrs. St. James.”
Hardy could tell that she was about to tell him no again. He reached out and put his hands on her shoulders, looking her square in the eye. “Please. I love her.”
Hardy knew the instant she changed her mind. Her features relaxed and he saw the worry that she felt shine through.
“All right, but if you upset her, you’re leaving. Period.”
“Yes, ma’am. I don’t want to upset her.”
“Let me go back and check on her. I’ll send someone for you when she’s decent.”
Hardy nodded and tightly smiled his gratitude. He was hoping she’d let him go back with her now, and he wanted to argue. But, desperate or not, he was still smart enough to realize when not to push it. He decided that if she didn’t send for him soon, he’d call back and aggravate her until she agreed to let him in. And if she refused, he’d wait for her to go to the bathroom or go get a drink and he’d sneak in to see Miracle. One way or the other, he was getting back there. No one was going to keep him from Miracle. No one.
Hardy took turns pacing the waiting room, asking for updates from the volunteers and staring out the big bay of sliding glass doors. Every minute that passed felt like a year. When it had been just over an hour, Hardy walked to the courtesy phone and dialed the ER’s number. When a woman’s voice answered, he asked to be connected to Miracle’s room. Her mother answered the phone.
“How is she? Can I see her?” he asked without even identifying himself. He didn’t need to. Miracle’s mother knew who was calling.
“Come on back,” she said and then hung up.
Hardy went to the burly security guard that sat behind a sheet of bullet proof glass. For all intents and purposes, he was a gatekeeper, so Hardy took the time to explain that he was being allowed to see Miracle. Eyeing him suspiciously, the gatekeeper picked up his phone and dialed a number, murmuring to someone on the other end. He nodded twice and hung up. Without looking up at Hardy, the security officer leaned forward and pressed a button that allowed Hardy to hear him more clearly.
“I’ll buzz you in.”
And then he did.
Hardy made his way back through the hall of pulled curtains and closed doors to the nurse’s station. He felt like he’d just been there, mainly because he practically had. As if on cue, his hand gave him a deep pang to remind him of its state of injury. Hardy ignored it as he approached the nurses.
“Miracle St. James.”
One of the younger nurses looked on a coded board behind her and gave Hardy a room number, pointing him in the right direction. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked that way.
Somehow, they had managed to rouse her a little. Her eyes were open and her mother stood at the head of her bed, smoothing her hair in a repetitive motion. Hardy didn’t have to imagine how scared and helpless she felt. He felt the same way.
Nervously, he shoved his hands in his pockets, wincing when his hand cried out. That hand wouldn’t fit in his pocket anymore, what with the splint and all, and he’d jammed his fingers trying to make it go. Both Miracle and Kelly looked down at his hand as he tucked it behind his back.
He walked around the bed and stopped at Miracle’s feet, uncertain of how receptive she would be to him. “Hey,” he said lamely.
Her lips curved the tiniest bit. “Hey.”
Hardy moved toward her head a little more, glancing up at her mother to make sure she wasn’t giving him the stink eye. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I could run a marathon. How ‘bout you?”
He managed a small smile at her joke. He didn’t know how she could tease in her current condition. Just another amazing part of the person she was, Hardy supposed.
“Getting ready to go throw some javelin.” Hardy made the motion with his hurt hand. Miracle grinned.
“Good idea.”
Hardy shrugged. “I thought so.”
Miracle’s mother bent and pressed a kiss to the top of Miracle’s head. “Be right back, baby. I’m gonna go find the bathroom.”
Miracle nodded. Kelly St. James looked at Hardy and smiled a little on her way out. He wondered if that was her version of a green light. He hoped it was. If he thought she would believe him, he’d tell her how he wanted to protect Miracle, how he wanted to make her happy forever and make sure nothing happened to her, to make sure she never shed another tear as long as she lived. But now wasn’t the time. And she might not believe him anyway. Hardy figured he’d just have to show her.
When Kelly was gone, Hardy moved even closer to the head of the bed. Hesitantly, he reached out and brushed a stray hair off Miracle’s damp cheek. She frowned at his hand.
“Did you carry me to the nurse’s office?”
Hardy nodded. He was afraid he couldn’t speak past the lump that had formed in his throat.
“With a broken hand?”
He nodded again.
“Why would you do that? You could’ve just gone to get someone.”
Hardy shrugged and cleared his throat. “I wasn’t about to leave you.”
Miracle’s chin trembled. “Well, thank you for going to all that trouble. And for doing something I’m sure hurt like the devil.”
“You’re worth it.”
“Hardy,” she said, her voice quivering. “What are you doing here?”
“Don’t ask me to leave.”
“But you shouldn’t be here. You don’t need this in your life.”
“Don’t you mean you don’t need me in your life?”
Miracle paused for what seemed like an eternity before she spoke. “I know that’s not who you are, Hardy. I was just scared.”
“And I’m so sorry I scared you. I swear to you, I’m nothing like my father. I just…I saw him and…I thought you…”
Miracle wound her fingers around his, her touch as gentle as butterfly wings. “I know.”
Her heart was in her eyes. He knew his heart was in his. Hardy couldn’t hold back what he was feeling any longer. He was terrified he wouldn’t get another chance to tell her if he did.
Squatting down beside her, Hardy brought Miracle’s fingers to his lips. “Miracle, I’m in love with you. I’d never hurt you. Ever.”