By the time the doctor opens the door for Jake to come in, I can tell by his rigid posture he’s been pacing up and down the halls outside. I have to let out a little chuckle, although it hurts all over to do so. Jake notices my discomfort, so comes running over to me.
Helping me up, Jake takes me towards the bathroom. I motion to him that I think I can do this by myself and shut the door behind me. I walk over to the toilet, my ankle still sore and my legs wobbly, but I manage it all still the same.
When I get to the sink to wash my hands, I freeze. I can hardly recognize myself. I have bruises on the side of my head and finger mark bruises on my neck. My eyes are puffy and red, and my hair looks like straw.
I let out a sob, and Jake shouts my name through the door. When I fail to answer, he barges his way in and sees my face through the mirror. He immediately understands what’s wrong as his face changes from worry to sympathy.
He walks over to me and lifts me into his arms. He holds me as I cry into his shoulder, but the pain in my throat is excruciating. He strokes my hair and wipes the tears from my eyes. I nod so he knows I’m okay, and I wash my hands before he helps me back to bed.
“I just spoke to the doctor. He said if all goes well, you can go home tomorrow.”
I throw my fist in the air to show my enthusiasm, which makes Jake smile. It’s then I wonder where I am exactly. I grab the pen again.
What hospital are we in?
He frowns at the note before answering. “You’re in St. Francis Hospital in Midlothian. I can’t wait to get you out of here, so I can get you home and take care of you.”
Neither can I. I’m not sure why, but a flash of memory comes into my mind, and I see that picture on the fireplace mantel. It makes me wonder about that night. I pick up the pen and begin writing again. Jake notices and waits patiently for me to finish.
Do you remember the Christmas party? Jake nods. Tony had a picture in his house, and it reminded me of our dance.
Recognition runs across Jake’s face. “I remember that well. That dance was the most difficult one I have ever had to endure. It took everything in my willpower not to pick you up, drag you out of there, and make love to you over and over again.”
Tears begin to well in my eyes. I don’t know why this is making me cry, but it does. Maybe it’s the knowledge that I wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
“Why are you crying?”
I pick up my pen and start writing.
Because it is everything I have always wanted to hear.
Agent Marcos turns up a little later with a couple of other agents. They want me to repeat my whole story over again, living through it again in the process. Jake tells them to take a hike, but I reason with him. If I have to do this, it is better that I do it now. Otherwise, I’ll just have to do it later. I try my best with the voice that I have, but it’s difficult. They seem satisfied that they have everything they need and wish me well. Agent Marcos certainly seems to have a spring in his step. I hope it finally brings an air of finality to this awful case. It seems to have been going on for years instead of months. Finally, the blonde ladies of Virginia are safe again, and life can return to normal.
As the evening comes, I order Jake to go back to a hotel so he can rest. Exhaustion’s taking over, and although I want nothing more than to feel him next to me while I lie in his arms, I’m acutely aware that he must be a zombie on his feet.
After my pleadings and the nurse’s assurances that I’m in the best of care, he reluctantly leaves the hospital with the strict instructions he’s to be called if he is needed during the night.
He kisses my forehead and lingers there a while. He visibly cringes before he speaks. “Ana, did he—” He pauses, and I close my eyes, knowing exactly what he’s trying to ask. The pain in his voice is quite clear.
I shake my head, and with a whisper, I say, “No.” He places a finger on my lips as if to silence me, and I feel his sudden relief. His forehead touches mine as he grabs my hand and kisses it tenderly before he leaves.
28
I’m in my hospital bed asleep when I hear a clinking sound. It seems determined to wake me up. I don’t want to wake up, but the incessant noise just keeps going on and on. I finally decide to open my eyes. I regret my decision immediately as my eyes land on the shadow of a man, who is sitting in the far corner of the room, holding a gun. He’s tapping it against the side of the radiator on the wall. I try to scream, but no sound comes out. I try to move, but my body remains still.
As I attempt a scream, the man stands up, but I still can’t see him. “Why did you do this to me, Ana? Why did you leave me?”
Oh, my God, Tony. I thought he was dead. Why is this happening? He’s going to finish off the job. He’s going to kill me.
Panic consumes me as the figure stalking towards me comes into the light. As I squint, I begin to make out the features of who’s in front of me. I gasp. It isn’t Tony.
It’s Alan.
I wake, clawing at my sheets. Alarms are going off, and two nurses are beside me, trying to hold me down. “Ana, please, honey, it’s okay. You’re in the hospital. You’re safe. It was just a bad dream.”
I hear another frantic voice shouting, “Give her ten milligrams of diazepam!”
I’m straining against the voices as I try to scream Jake’s name. Then I watch as a nurse inserts a syringe into my IV line. Soon after, I drift off into a very deep sleep.
I can’t remember much after that. I wake up to bright light beaming through the window and the high-octane bellowing of a very pissed off caveman.
“Why didn’t anyone call me? I knew I shouldn’t have left.”
Jake comes charging through the door with two terrified nurses behind him, unsure of what to say and do with him. He seems to have that effect on everyone. I have to smile inside. No matter how much I complain, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Are you okay? I’ve just been told you had a nightmare during the night, which caused your heart rate to shoot through the roof, and,” he looks back to the nurses, “they didn’t call me. I told them to call, and I’m pissed that they failed to do so.” He says that a little too loudly, and the timid nurses retreat from the room. I notice he’s taken the time to shave, but he still looks like he hasn’t slept much.
“Please calm down. It’s unfair to talk to the nurses like that. They have done nothing but take care of me, and then you come charging in here like the bull that you are, scaring them all to death.” His face softens as he touches my hand. My voice is still a little hoarse, but speaking is a lot easier today than it was yesterday.
“I’m sorry. I just lose all my sense when it comes to you. You still drive me crazy. Do you know that?”
I smirk and touch his face. “I know. I can see that. And thank you. Nevertheless, I don’t think I am the one you need to be apologizing to.”
He nods his head in agreement and sighs. “Anyway, how are you feeling this morning? You look a lot better. They said they had to give you something during the night to calm you down?”
I nod, but I can still feel the pain of the nightmare coursing through me. “Yes. I think I was being a bit vocal. I’d had a nightmare that Tony was in my room, and I thought it was real for a minute. It was all a bit confusing, I guess. I must have scared the life out of the poor nurses. Now I feel a bit groggy, but otherwise, I’m fine. Would you please pour me some water?” I gesture to the jug by the bed.