First, many thanks to all you who are giving time out of their day to read this story as it means much to me. Reviews really don't matter to me anymore, but I still greatly appreciate any given criticism/review.
XxX
Chapter Two
"Are you ready to leave honey?"
I looked up from the unappetizing plate of cafeteria food to see my father leaning against the open room door with my bag in his hand. Taking a quick glance back down at the burnt toast and runny eggs, I immediately push the breakfast cart away not even wanting to stomach the idea of eating it. People would think that being in the military would harden your stomach against all kinds of food. While that was right, there was one important fact…I was NOT in the military anymore. Without hesitation I answered quickly.
"Yea dad"
Before I could even move off of the bed, I noticed Ruth appear in the doorway next to my unaware father. She said a quick hello to him making him jump off from leaning on the door. Ruth has a way of surprising people with her short stature and untimely appearances. Keeping her eyes on me the entire time, she entered the room going straight to the food tray. An audible sigh escaped my lips before I could stop it as I prepared myself to receive a verbal reprimanding. And just by the puckered look on her face I could tell I was in for one. She lifted up the lid off of the breakfast to find nothing had been touched save for the muffin which I wasn't afraid to take a bite of, considering it probably wasn't made in the hospital cafeteria. Quickly scanning the contents, she looked up to me with admonishing eyes.
"Elizabeth Katie Martin, I will stand guard at that door until you eat some of this food"
My father walked over to us with a puzzled expression. . . I looked up to him pleading with my eyes for him to help me. Setting my bag on the bed, he took a good look at the hospital food before addressing Ruth.
"You call that food…hmm Ruth?"
He tried to pick up some of the eggs with the fork, but they only seemed to run through the cracks like liquid. Dropping the fork, he looked back up to Ruth expecting an answer. Her face blushed brightly with either embarrassment or anger I'm not sure, but I couldn't help but laugh. Upon hearing me, my father and Ruth both looked at me with a shocked expression that quickly turned into surprised joy. Their smiles made me feel awkward and silent with their unwanted stares.
"That's the first I've heard you laugh in five days sweetie"
With a stoic face I looked down to my lap when Ruth placed a hesitant hand on my shoulder. Why, oh why did she have to bring it up? Thankfully my father, coughed as a hint to Ruth of my discomfort which she noticed then and changed the subject.
"Um---------here Elizabeth, just eat a bit…that's all"
She pushed the cart to stand before me, once again sending an unpleasant aroma into my nostrils. I closed my eyes to keep from looking once more at the ill prepared breakfast.
"Oh come on Ruth, she's leaving the hospital…we don't want to have to send her here again because of that stuff"
Looking up from my lap, I caught her challenging my father with a glare which brought a small smile to my lips. Ruth was a considerably smaller woman than my father, not only in stature but in size also. She stood at about 4'11 while my father………well, he towered over her at 6'4. Not to mention my dad wore his uniform right now with all the dangerous police toys hanging off his belt and Ruth. . .well, she wore the pink floral nursing scrubs.
"Benjamin Martin, you know better! Sheriff or no sheriff, she hasn't eaten very well these past five days and I specifically told her this morning she wasn't to leave without having a bite to eat."
Quickly looking down at the tray, I searched for anything that I could possibly eat to make her satisfied yet not make me sick at the same time. The blueberry muffin stood as my only salvation so I picked it up to show to her.
"I'll take this on the go…"
I stood up from the bed, folding the muffin in a small napkin for Ruth to see. She stared at me before releasing a defeated sigh and looking back to my father.
"Very well, I suppose I can let you go Elizabeth…………if I had any idea they were putting a new cook in the kitchen today. . . well, someone's going to have to have a talk with the young man"
My face lit up with a smile as I gave her an ever so brief hug.
"Thanks Ruth…"
In response, she laid a hand on my cheek before addressing me once more seriously.
"Now Elizabeth, promise me you'll stay in touch young lady. Don't be a stranger, and anytime…anytime you need something you know my number and where I live"
"I'll remember that Ruth…"
I said with a hint of hidden sarcasm, but Ruth didn't notice. . .her mind was already on other things. What an odd southern woman! She let out a quick grunt of approval before grabbing the tray of food to take out. Passing my father, she just barely acknowledged him with a nod.
I think in a way she was still kind of bitter about the way my father raised both my brother and I. She was the one single woman in the county that didn't chase after my widowed father and she was also the only one that still held animosity towards him. I guess she'll never understand the great amount of pain my father experienced after losing my mother Katherine. . .no one will understand.
I turn to see my father standing in front of the bed; his mischievous eyes were bright and welcoming. He was a changed man altogether from the defeated man of not so long ago. Shaking those thoughts from my head, I picked up my bag and gave him a quick smile.
"Well dad…is everything taken care of with the doctor?"
"Yes, he said you're good to leave, saw nothing out of the ordinary this morning when he checked you…..but I should tell you Liz that we both still think that…"
He laid a hand on my arm which I quickly removed when I walked around him to head for the open door.
"I know what you both think dad, and I know you're only worried about me. But trust me when I say this is for the better that I go home now. It's only hurting me to stay cooped up in this depressing room"
Turning to face him, I saw a solemn look in his turquoise eyes…that same look of regret and helplessness which always dampened my spirit. I walked over to him and placed a hand on his arm with a downcast smile.
"Dad…don't worry, everything's going to be okay. What I need and want now more than anything is to forget what happened that's all…I want to move on with my life. I'm fine…really"
Shame on you Elizabeth. Liar. Liar. Liar.
He laid his hand over mine, before addressing me in a lighter yet unconfident tone.
"I believe you honey. It's just…I'm afraid to lose you again"
"You've never lost me dad, I've always been there by your side…."
On a brighter note I added with a large grin.
"Sorry pops, but I'm not going anywhere. . .you're stuck with me"
That seemed to cast the dreary mood aside as a hearty laugh erupted from his lips. He straightened up with that keen look in his eyes once again.
"Well God help me. Liz, I don't know what I'm going to do with you…"
"For starters, you could take me home"
With a sigh he placed an arm around my shoulders pulling me into a hug.
"Right, let's go get your papers signed to get you out of here"
We walked over to the main desk where we were greeted by a young male nurse, who looked to be not that much older than myself. His long brown hair was tied back at his neck, and his soft green eyes were cheery and warm. He looked at my father with wide eyes at first because of the sheriff's uniform, but then his eyes solely set on me giving me his full attention.
"Hello miss, how are you this morning?"
My father leaned down on the counter with his elbow giving a square look to the ignorant young man. To be polite, I gave him a quaint smile before answering with practiced patience.
"I'm good…..just here to sign the papers for my release"
He nodded as if knowing I was going to say those exact words and looked to my father again quickly. His back straightened with a short cough, seeing that I was really in no mood to chit chat and neither was my father.
"Right and your name miss?"
"Elizabeth…Elizabeth Martin"
The nurse looked down to the old computer whilst setting his long fingers on the stained keyboard.
"Okay…one second Miss Martin"
I heard a thumping noise, and turned my head to see my father drumming his fingers on the off white colored countertop playfully. With a look of disapproval I mouthed the words "Don't". In response, he shrugged his shoulders innocently as if saying "what am I doing". I was not born a fool, and only the blind would be fooled by his innocent look. It was his eyes…those eyes had always given away his thoughts, and ever since I was smart enough I knew how to use that to my advantage. And right now, there was no doubt of the mischievous glimmer in those bright blues. I gave him one more warning look before turning to the nurse.
"Here we go miss…Elizabeth Katie Martin?"
"That's me"
"It's going to take a couple of minutes for the things to print. I'll be right back"
As I watched him walk away, I felt a pair of eyes on me. Knowing all too well who it was I turned yet again to see my father doing what else than staring at me intently. With raised eyebrows I asked,
"Yes?"
"Liz, I've been thinking about something that happened the other night while you were asleep"
"No wait…let's see, did you have another revelation about life?" I asked jokingly before he continued talking.
"I'm trying to be serious Liz, you were talking in your sleep…………..in fact you even called for someone"
Laughing nonchalantly I took it as a joke, but inwardly I was teeming with curiosity. He ignored my laugh, seeing straight through my false front which made me stop laughing.
"Oh come on dad, be serious. . . do you think I care?"
"Well, don't you want to know whose name it was you called?"
With the smile quickly fading, I asked him more seriously.
"Why are you telling me this now…in the hospital hallway?"
"Because I saw the young man's name tag and it reminded me of that night…"
My arms folded across my chest as I raised my eyebrow again waiting for him to tell me.
"Well dad…"
I held my breath eagerly waiting to hear the name come off my father's lips but it never did.
"Here we are Miss Martin, you just need to sign a couple of these here pages and you'll be home free"
The nurse set three papers before me, pointing to the lines where I was to sign. He held out the pen to me waiting for me to take it. Releasing the constricted air in my lungs, I reached for the pen with a wavering hand. An uneasy feeling came over me as I began signing the pages.Just look at his nametag for goodness sake Liz…it's only a name.
Finish signing the last page, I slid over the pen and papers back to him with my eyes still faced downward. Slowly yet surely I allowed my eyes to lift up and look at his nametag. I read it letter for letter. . . left to right. . . . slowly soaking it in…………….
W----------I--------------L----------------L-------------------I----------------A-----------------M
It took me awhile to even register the name as I just continued repeating the letters in my head to put together. Putting the simple pieces together, I whispered the name softly and lingered over the taste of it upon my lips.
"William"
My heart fluttered at the sound of his name, and my soul beckoned me to speak his name once more. My mind was no longer working effectively, and all the senses not connected to my heart and soul fell away. Feeling light headed I whispered his name once more. . .
"William"
A low rich voice reached the inner strings of my heart and began pulling mercilessly…whispering into its inner depths with an ardent ferocity.
"Elizabeth…"
Within the confines of my chest, my heart beat wildly making me take short uneven breaths. I lifted up my hand to lay over my heart before looking up with blurred vision to see nothing but dim silhouettes. Far away I felt a hand grab my arm trying to shake me from this growing stupor. My heart and soul's call was stronger than that of my weak mind and I could do nothing but lose control.
With a raging desperation, his fervent voice once more reached the inner depths of my heart, invading every hidden crevice and knocking over every security.
"Come to me…"
With all sense gone, I abandoned myself slowly to the comforting darkness that surrounded me. Closing my heavy eyes, I felt my weightless body spiral down into the oblivion of obscurity with his fading words holding me.