Strong (Kindred #1) (24 page)

When I wake up, Mum and Dad are sitting beside my bed and Carter is hovering by the door looking stressed and on edge. I close my eyes and ready myself for what I’ve got to face.

The reality.

“Hey Mum, hey Dad.” I croak, my throat still so sore.

“Sweetheart,” Mum half sobs, taking my hand and squeezing it. “How… How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay, or at least, as good as I can be.” I try and smile and I think I manage it.

“Can I get you anything?” Dad asks, leaning forward.

“I’m good, you both okay?”

“We’re better now you’re awake.” he smiles, kissing the hand Mum is holding.

“You can sit down, Carter, I’m okay.”

He looks at me, then at my parents and walks forward, there aren’t any more seats so he props himself on the bed next to me, I smile and he smiles too.

“I’m going to go ring Mom if you’re okay? I said I’d let her and Lex know how you are.”

“Go, you must be starving, you haven’t eaten for hours.” I smile.

“Actually…” he grins, leaning closer. “I ate some of those cardboard things, not so bad.”

“You must have been desperate.”

“I’ll be half an hour, give you some time alone with your parents, I’ve got my phone if you need me.” he presses a kiss to my forehead and then stands up and walks out.

I watch him until I can’t see him any more, without him with me, the room feels a little darker, a little colder and the pain a little worse. Everything is so much more bearable when Carter is with me, the things I know I wouldn’t be able to cope with alone, I seem to find strength to fight. I turn my attention back to Mum and Dad, knowing they need to be convinced I really am okay.

I’m just not sure how to do that.

I walk out of the hospital and take a huge lung full of fresh air. Everything inside is so stifling and I welcome the cold bite of the wind. My legs feel shaky, my heart is pounding and I feel sick. That long ass hour waiting for her to wake up was the worst time in my life, there were so many awful thoughts running through my head the whole time. When she did finally open her eyes, the relief was unlike anything I’ve ever known, as I rub a hand over my face, it dawns on me.

I love her.

I’m in love with her.

“Shit.”

How did I not realise?

I figured I just found her attractive, I want to help her, to be there for her when she desperately needs someone. When did it all get so complicated? So deep? I shake my head and wake up my phone, bringing up Lex’s number. It rings three times before she answers.

“Carter, is she okay?” she asks in way of a greeting.

“She’s okay. Sore and tired but she’s smiling, seriously, Lex, she’s the strongest person I know.”

“Can I come see her?”

“Not just yet, she’s only been out of theatre for a couple of hours, her Mom and Dad are with her… I’ll let you know okay?”

“Okay…” her voice sounds so small, so sad.

“She’s okay, Titch, I promise.”

“I’m just scared for her, I can’t imagine what she’s going through.”

“Hey, it’s okay. You sound like you need a hug,” I smile, Lex loves a hug. “I could do with some company tonight, fancy that dinner?”

“I’d love it, Carter. I can come over?”

“There’s a pub close by, we’ll go for a beer.”

“What time?”

“Seven? I’m pretty sure they’re going to kick us out soon so she can rest.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“I’m really not.”

“You are. You’re being incredible for Carmen when she needs you… and you only just met. Carter…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you love her?” her question takes me by surprise, it shouldn’t. Lex notices everything.

“Yeah… I do.” I admit honestly.

“I thought so.”

“I’m nuts aren’t I?” I run my hands through my hair, not knowing what to do.

“Why?”

“We’ve just met and she has all this going on.”

“Even more reason to fall in love, this whole thing just reminds everyone, life’s too short. Don’t be scared, don’t hide it. I’m pretty sure she likes you too.”

“I best get back, can you tell Mom? I can’t really cope with another phone call right now.”

“You got it. Be strong for her Carter, she needs you.”

“I know. I’ll see you later.”

I hang up and stay squatting outside for a while longer, my stomach is aching from being so hungry, I’ve not eaten anything really since before five this morning and it’s now almost three. I head inside and grab a bag of chips, a muffin and a coffee and practically inhale them I’m so hungry. I make my way back up to the ward and notice Carmen’s door is closed.

“Is something wrong with Carmen?” I ask the nurse who’s been looking after her.

“No, the doctor is in there with her, she asked you to go in when you got back.” she smiles.

“Okay.” I nod.

I feel unsteady on my feet, I have no idea what they’re telling her on the other side of the door, but she wants me to be there. I knock then turn the handle, as I step in, four pairs of eyes look at me and I feel a little nervous.

“The nurse said to come in.” I mumble, closing the door.

“Come sit down, Carter.” Carmen smiles.

I notice she’s sitting up now and her hair is brushed, she looks more awake and less sick. I feel ridiculously happy about that. I take a seat next to her and listen to the end of the conversation. The doctor goes over what has already been said and then continues. She tells us that the surgery went very well and that everything that needed to be carried out, was. Carmen will be staying for a few days until she gets over the surgery. After she’s discharged, she’s given strict instructions to rest; no heavy lifting, no strenuous activity.

“You’ll need to let your body recover but providing you feel up to it, you can resume your normal sex life in a few weeks.”

I look at Carmen who looks embarrassed, I also make the mistake of looking at her Dad who looks mortified that this has been mentioned.

“We’re not… Carter isn’t…” Carmen trips over her words, blushing furiously.

“We’re not together.” I finish for her.

“Oh, I do apologise, I assumed. I’m very sorry.”

“There’s no need.” Carmen coughs.

“As I was saying, you’ll need to rest, recovery from this kind of surgery can take up to twelve weeks. You’re not able to drive for at least eight weeks so I hope you have someone who can chauffeur you around.” she smiles.

Carmen laughs and the sound is the best sound in the world. I don’t even think about it, I wrap my arm around her and gently pull her to me a little more. She doesn’t stop me, in fact, she snuggles closer and rests her head on my shoulder.

“I’ll be back to check on you later, if you feel sick or the pain gets any worse, just buzz for a nurse, you’ve got plenty of painkillers on your chart. For now, lots of rest.” she smiles before she leaves the room.

“Did you hear?” I tell her. “Lots of rest.”

“I’m in bed, I am resting.”

“We’re going to go sweetheart, you look exhausted, Carter is right, you should be resting.”

“Okay.”

“We’ll be back tomorrow, the nurse said there aren’t visiting times as you have your own room.” her Mom smiles.

“Can we bring you anything tomorrow?” her Dad asks leaning down to kiss her.

“I don’t think so, if I think of anything, I’ll let you know.”

I walk Beth and Will to the door and say goodbye, Beth gives me a hug and when she pulls back she takes my hands and looks at me.

“Thank you for being there for her, Carter. It doesn’t matter to us how long you’ve known each other, you clearly care for our daughter and she for you. She smiled when you came back into the room, she’s happiest when you’re there.”

“I do care about her.”

“I can see that,” she smiles, then kisses my cheek. “You’re part of the family now, Carter.”

Will shakes my hand and walks with his wife out of the ward. I head back to Carmen’s room and she’s fallen asleep. I settle back in the chair and close my eyes too. When I open them, she’s just watching me, a little smile appears when she sees I’m awake.

“Are you watching me sleep?” I tease her.

“I might have been… You don’t snore?”

“Don’t I?”

“No. I’ve noticed before. Strange, I thought all men snored.”

“I’m not most men, clearly.” I grin.

“I see that.”

“How’re you feeling?”

“I hurt, Carter. I need something for the pain, I’m trying to fight it, it kind of reminds me I’m still alive, but I need something now.”

“Don’t fight it, not now, just recover, you’ve plenty of time to be a warrior, Carmen.”

I press the call button and wait for the nurse to come in, they sort Carmen out while I go to the bathroom and when I come back, she’s looking more comfortable and isn’t frowning anymore.

“You should go home, I’m okay. I promise.”

“I’m not going anywhere just yet, it’ll be a long night. I want to stay here if you want me to?”

“Of course I do.”

“Fancy watching a movie? I’ve got your laptop down here.”

“Depends what it is?”

“Well I was going to let you choose…”

“Then it’s going to be girly.”

“I can cope. Do your worst.”

I set the laptop up on her table and pull the chair over so I’m sitting at the top of the bed. I open iTunes and select movies, she has a lot of movies on here, some even I wouldn’t mind watching. She doesn’t choose one of those though, she chooses Twilight.

“It’s only because you’re in hospital I’m allowing this.” I tell her as it begins.

“No it’s not. You’re that guy.”

“What guy?”

“The guy who will watch whatever the girl wants, the kind guy, the guy who looks after and protects those he cares about.”

“You’re right,” I smile squeezing her hand. “Now, shush, it’s starting.”

She laughs and I make a promise to myself to make her laugh as much as I can.

When the movie finishes I look at the time, it’s six-thirty, there’s no way I’m going to get home by seven. I text Lex and tell her, I’ll let her know when I’m back. I stay with Carmen while she tries to eat some crackers, she manages a couple of mouthfuls before she pushes them away feeling too sick to eat. The nurse gives her some anti-sickness in her IV and suggests she tries to get some rest.

My cue to leave.

“I’ll be back in the morning, if you need anything, phone me. I don’t care what time it is, okay?”

“Okay…” she blinks and tears roll down her cheeks.

“Hey, no tears, it’s all okay. You did it.” I kiss her forehead and wipe away her tears.

“I did.” she nods, more tears falling down her cheeks.

“Do you need anything before I go?”

“Yes… Walter.” she whispers shyly.

“He’s here?”

“Of course he is, he’s in my bag.” I pick her bag up off the floor and sure enough, there he is, sitting there looking at me.

“You know,” I tell her, sitting Walter on her chest. “You’re in good hands with him here. You’ll be absolutely fine. And if you’re not, phone me. Any time, I mean it.”

“I will. Thank you, Carter.”

“Nothing to thank me for. I’ll see you in the morning, get some sleep.”

I walk straight out and don’t look back, I know if I do, we’ll both cave and she needs her rest. I get a taxi outside the hospital and give them our address. When I’m close to the apartment, I text Lex and let her know I’ll be ready in an hour. I let myself into the apartment and it’s eerily quiet. I head to the bathroom and strip out of my clothes, the heat from the shower helps wash away the day and some of the tension. When Lex knocks, I’m ready. I step out of the door and she’s standing there smiling at me. As she usually does, she leaps into my arms and gives me a hug.

“Are you sure she’s okay?”

“Positive. She’s incredible.”

“I know she is.” she smiles as she pulls back.

“So where are we going?” she asks as she links her arm with mine.

“There is a pub around the corner that Harry said serves good food.”

“Let’s go to the pub Harry suggested then.”

We walk the short distance and when we step inside, it’s warm and busy. We both look around and find a vacant table, Lex heads over and I follow, she sits down and looks at me expectantly.

“What?”

“You’re getting the drinks, right?”

“Yeah, it’s on me, what do you want?”

“I want a beer.” she grins.

“You never drink beer.”

“I’m in a pub in London, Carter, I’m having a beer.”

“Okay, you’re a weird little thing you know?”

“Yup. Go get me my beer.”