Page 102 of Catch My Fall
“I shouldn’t be too long.” He offers me a wink before leaving the room.
Taking a seat back in my chair, I link my fingers with Alec’s and rest my head on the mattress beside Alec’s waist.
Nothing could ever make him forget you…
I really hope that’s true.
38
The next morning, I’m reunited with my sister-in-law. I never realised how much I missed her until she walked through the door a little over an hour ago. She clung to me like she hadn’t seen me in years, her tears falling for not only me but the man I love lying a few feet away from me.
She’s always been the most empathetic person I’ve ever met, making everyone else’s problems and worries her own, shouldering some of the pain to take away from the people she loves. It wouldn’t be her if she didn’t.
She’s pure heart through and through, and that’s why I love her, and I suppose it’s the same reason my brother does too.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. Gage told me about the fire and the warehouse… I can’t even imagine…” she says, taking a sip of her coffee.
About half an hour ago, the nurses wheeled Alec down for a brain scan, and to take my mind off of it, Ray offered to buy Della and I breakfast in the cafeteria while we wait.
I can’t even remember the last time I ate something, and after a long sleepless night watching over Alec, I need something to give me some energy. But I can only manage a few mouthfuls of my eggs before it begins to make me nauseous.
“So this Austin guy is the one that kidnapped you?” Ray asks. Della and I have begun filling him in on everything that’s happened, he has a right to know now more than ever.
“Yeah, he’s the brother of someone my family had a run-in with last year, a guy called Bryce Tanner,” I begin. “Gage stole Della out from under him and made her his wife instead of Bryce, but it didn’t stop him. Bryce was determined to get to her no matter what. It ended up with him getting killed, and that’s when Austin showed up. It was Rafe that shot his brother in self-defence and Austin thought that by hurting me, it makes them even. But what he did to me was much worse than death, there were a few moments there where I wanted to die but….” I let my words die on my tongue.
“Si…” Della rests a gentle hand on my arm, tears glistening in her eyes.
Did I forget to mention that part before now?
“It was the thought of coming home to you, and Ree and my brothers… the kids. Alec. It kept me going. As weak as I was, I knew I had to keep living, no matter how much I wanted to give up.”
Ray shaking his head in disbelief. “I don’t know how you do it.”
“Do what?”
“Stay so strong, talk so openly about what happened.”
“It gets easier with time, and help. I have Alec to thank for most of it.”
Ray reaches across the table for my hand. “I know it won’t change things, but I’m sorry that he hurt you. What you’ve been through… It’s the stuff of nightmares, but you are so incredibly strong, never forget that, Sierra.”
“Thank you,” I say.
After we’ve finished with our food, we make our way back towards Alec’s room, but before we reach it, his doctor stops us in the corridor.
“Mr. McKenna is back in his room. We’re awaiting the full results of the scan but so far there’s nothing to indicate any further bleeding.”
“How long before you can wake him up?” I ask.
“There’s still some swelling on his brain so a few more days at the very least. But please try not to worry, he’s receiving the best care and is in a stable condition.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” Ray says.
“You’re welcome,” the doctor replies with a tight smile before excusing himself and continuing in the other direction.
It’s only about ten minutes after I sit down beside Alec’s bed that I have to stifle a yawn with the back of my hand. My eyes feel so heavy it’s like there are weights sewn to each eyelid.
I’m so incredibly lethargic that’s it’s an effort just to hold my head up. Over twenty-four hours without sleep will do that to you, I guess.