My chest tightened with tension.
KATH: HELP!
I didn’t hesitate a second. I used the executive pin number to enter the building’s entrance, then bounded up the stairs where I kicked in the door to her apartment.
Inside, I swiftly made my way to the hall where the love of my life was lying, twisted on the floor, her face white as a ghost. It looked like her leg was broken. I knew not to move her. I’d had my emergency training as a grommet in my junior lifesaver days.
I had dialed 911 as I ran up the stairs to Kath’s door and now I’d gotten through to an operator. I gave the details and the address. The dispatcher said it was a blessedly slow night and someone would be there in minutes.
I sat by her side, caressed her cheek, and looked into her eyes.
“You didn’t need to do all this just to get my attention,” I teased.
She smiled and squeezed my hand. “I missed you,” she said seriously.
“Me too,” I said.
Now was not the moment to tell her I loved her, but I hoped it emanated from every pore of my body. Seeing her in pain shot up my protective feelings for a strong woman who didn’t want to need anyone. Boy, did I understand that.
As promised, in a few moments, the ambulance was there and the crew did a stellar job getting her onto a bed and administering much-needed pain relief. I held her hand all the way to the hospital and found myself pacing in the waiting room while they operated on her multiple leg fractures.
When the doctor came out and explained everything had gone as hoped and that after a couple months in a full leg cast and physical therapy, Kath should be good as new, I felt tears spring to my eyes.
“She’s lucky to have you,” the doctor said.
I smiled tightly, but for the first time, I allowed myself to feel confident that it was true. I would never hurt Kath. Scarlett had been wrong. I knew that when I’d heard the warning uttered, but I’d doubted it.
Now, I was more certain than ever. There was nothing I wanted more than to spend every day with Kath. There wasn’t much point to life without the prospect of that.
Eleven
KATH
When I woke from the fog, Liam was in my hospital room. His big, strong build was a beacon. The funny thing was when my eyes focused on him in the chair about three sizes too small, it was like, of course, Liam’s here. Who else in the world would it be? The relief in his bottomless blue eyes overwhelmed me. They told me of his love even if we hadn’t said the words yet.
He stood, and through a shock of pain, I lifted my arm to grab his hand. I doubted my weak squeeze conveyed what I wanted to say, but that was probably a good thing. He hadn’t explained his disappearance in the weeks since our perfect time together.
“Thank you,” I said. And despite how vulnerable I was making myself, I went on. “I’m so glad it was you who found me. I’m so glad it was you whose call roused me after I passed out. You saved me.” I wrapped my fingers as tightly around his strong knuckles as I could. “Your care feels so good, so safe and strong.” I was too tired to play games. Anything less than the truth felt like a cop-out.
“You will always have that. Even though I tried not to, it doesn’t seem I have a choice in the matter.”
I’m sure my scrunched brow betrayed my confusion. But this wasn’t a time for rushing things. It was clear I didn’t know something, and I wanted to give Liam the chance to share it on his own terms. His desire to do so was expressed over his face.
I dipped my chin in understanding and left it there.
“Your sister and Lachlan will be here in a few minutes. So, I’m going to head into work to hold down the fort. Apparently, there were some power issues with one of our largest properties overnight.”
Neither of us seemed too concerned about the veracity of that statement. Again, I nodded. He cupped my cheek in his strong hand. I watched as his lips claimed mine. Through the disorientation, my body reacted intensely.
I opened wider to let his tongue thrust deep enough to show me he’d hungered for me all this time too. When he backed away, he took his time caressing the planes of my face. Then I watched as his muscles worked in what I could only describe as a visual feast as he walked out of the room.
Nothing could have prepared me for Scarlett’s teary confession a half hour later. While I understood her fears about the Angry Aussie hurting me, the Liam I knew now didn’t deserve that kind of dismissal. I intuited how deeply her words hurt him. Now his disappearance, his words, and the look on his face earlier made perfect sense.
I knew I had to give him time to come to me on his own, but if he understood that I knew what Scarlett had said, I could ease the process for him, and I couldn’t stop myself from doing that.
KATH: I know what Scarlett said to you. It’s dead wrong.
I waited for the swirling dots. And, boy, did I grow to despise them. I won’t say how many times I checked during my last night at the hospital.
Twelve
KATH
By the time I hobbled my way through another week, I was doubting the certainty I’d maintained since I’d sent that text to Liam. He hadn’t responded.
Still, something kept me from writing him off. I felt it in my bones that Liam wanted a future with me, the same way I did. And though we were apart, in my better moments, I felt linked to him, as an extension of myself, and that sense grew. Still, I was only human and as the days wore on with no word, I had dark moments where I thought I was a deluded fantasist after all.
It was a Saturday night, chilly and bright with a glittering array of stars, not unlike the evening I’d nearly fallen to my death last week. I gazed at a picture-perfect, sixteen-foot Frasier Fir to be decorate within an inch of its life with every “beautiful” decoration Zooey had concocted with a mix of beads, cardboard, popcorn, yarn, and about fifty gallons of glue. God, I loved that kid.
Beyond the tree was a floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the water, stunning pines all around. Scarlett unpacked a box of the family Christmas balls and ornaments that we had cherished over the years, and Lachlan’s own holiday ornament memorabilia—at least the ones his mum let him take with him, he reminded us.
This holiday, she’d be coming here for her first white Christmas. The following year, the whole Close family, including the baby who was eight and a half months away from making its debut, would be headed to Sydney for a Christmas of surfing Santas and seafood picnics at the beach.
Zooey was lining up her ornaments in the order we were to hang them according to her direction. That’s when I saw movement between two pines outside the window.
I stepped toward the glass, speechless. It was Liam. Wow, could he rock that leather jacket. Even in my shock, that was abundantly clear. His eyes glowed in the moonlight and I could see he was looking right at me.
The others noticed my sudden movement and their gazes followed. Together, we all watched through the glass as Liam got down on one knee, the first snowflakes fluttering around him.
My own knees went weak when I realized what was happening.
From the pocket of that black leather jacket, in a movement I would not forget anytime soon, Liam pulled out a turquoise leather box. Locking me in his gaze, he hinged the top back to reveal a glittering rectangular diamond ring.