Chapter 10: "I care about you."
My meeting with the steel steps resulted in a trip to the emergency room,
38 stitches, and a mild concussion. Despite the local anesthesia, I winced
in pain as I felt the stitches being threaded through my skin.
Bradshaw noticed my pain and placed my hand in his. "Squeeze as hard as you need to." His caring and sincerity was moving. I had always known that Bradshaw cared about my family. How could he not? I couldn't remember a time when he and Uncle Farooq hadn't been friends. But in all the time I've known him, I never realized just how much we had become a part of each other. Lately when I looked at him, it was like seeing a whole new person. Something was different about him and whatever it was it was pulling on my heartstrings.
When the doctor was finished, he explained the care of my stitches, gave me something for the pain, and let me leave the hospital. In the car, there was an uneasy silence. Bradshaw finally broke the silence as we sat at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. "Sam, I don't' know what to say. I am so sorry."
"Don't be. This is nothing compared to what you guys go through on a normal basis. Besides, it could've happened to anyone." I tried to reassure him.
Bradshaw hadn't looked at me once since we left the hospital. Now his eyes locked with mine. "It didn't happen to just anyone, it happened to you and it's my fault. I pushed you into being my valet tonight. I should've protected you. I promised you I would." As hard as he tried to, he couldn't hide his tears from me. The guilt was overwhelming him.
"Bradshaw, you couldn't have known that I would get hurt. I was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. I'm okay. It's just a bump. No major injuries, I'll survive. And as for pushing me into being your valet, I'm glad you did. It was the greatest rush! You were right, I've dreamt of being a diva for as long as I can remember. If you hadn't talked me into it, I would be kicking myself right now for letting this pass me by. If I had to kiss the steel steps to have tonight, so be it. I would do it again." I smiled sweetly at him and wiped his face gently with the back of my hand. I leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. Quickly, I turned to face forward. I could feel his eyes on me still. "The light's green."
We proceeded to the hotel in silence. * What have I done? This is Bradshaw, you're uncle's best friend in the world. Maybe it was just the shot to the head, fuzzy thinking and all. Pretend nothing happened. Nothing did happen. I was trying to make him feel better. It's not his fault I got hurt. He shouldn't blame himself. * All the thinking was making my head hurt.
When we got to the room, our bags were already there. Bradshaw picked up a letter from on top of his bag. "Flair had them sent over. He says to tell you he's sorry and he wishes you a speedy recovery." Bradshaw said.
We both went about getting ready for bed. Bradshaw turned on the television and lay on his bed. When I was finished changing I turned off the light and got into his bed alongside him. I wrapped my arms about him and hugged him close.
"Maybe you had better sleep in your bed tonight." Bradshaw said as I laid my head on his chest.
*I knew it. I had screwed everything up in one stupid moment that I couldn't even explain away. * "Oh, sure. You're probably right." I said, trying to mask the tears that would soon spill over and streak my face. I sat up.
Bradshaw held my arm as I got up from his bed. I turned to look at him. His face illuminated by the light from the TV. "Samantha, I care about you." He started.
"I care about you too." I responded.
"I wasn't finished. More than I should. You're Farooq's niece. If anything were to happen between us, I would lose my friend, maybe even you. That's too much to risk and I don't want to be the one to break your heart."
My eyes focused on the floor. For a moment, I thought I would see my heart there. I didn't know what to say. What could I say? * Did he just try to tell me he loved me? * Even if I had the words, I don't think I would've been able to speak.
Bradshaw released my arm. "I think it would be best if I put you on a plane back home. Tomorrow, I'll call your mom and let her know."
Bradshaw noticed my pain and placed my hand in his. "Squeeze as hard as you need to." His caring and sincerity was moving. I had always known that Bradshaw cared about my family. How could he not? I couldn't remember a time when he and Uncle Farooq hadn't been friends. But in all the time I've known him, I never realized just how much we had become a part of each other. Lately when I looked at him, it was like seeing a whole new person. Something was different about him and whatever it was it was pulling on my heartstrings.
When the doctor was finished, he explained the care of my stitches, gave me something for the pain, and let me leave the hospital. In the car, there was an uneasy silence. Bradshaw finally broke the silence as we sat at an intersection, waiting for the light to change. "Sam, I don't' know what to say. I am so sorry."
"Don't be. This is nothing compared to what you guys go through on a normal basis. Besides, it could've happened to anyone." I tried to reassure him.
Bradshaw hadn't looked at me once since we left the hospital. Now his eyes locked with mine. "It didn't happen to just anyone, it happened to you and it's my fault. I pushed you into being my valet tonight. I should've protected you. I promised you I would." As hard as he tried to, he couldn't hide his tears from me. The guilt was overwhelming him.
"Bradshaw, you couldn't have known that I would get hurt. I was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's all. I'm okay. It's just a bump. No major injuries, I'll survive. And as for pushing me into being your valet, I'm glad you did. It was the greatest rush! You were right, I've dreamt of being a diva for as long as I can remember. If you hadn't talked me into it, I would be kicking myself right now for letting this pass me by. If I had to kiss the steel steps to have tonight, so be it. I would do it again." I smiled sweetly at him and wiped his face gently with the back of my hand. I leaned in and kissed him on his cheek. Quickly, I turned to face forward. I could feel his eyes on me still. "The light's green."
We proceeded to the hotel in silence. * What have I done? This is Bradshaw, you're uncle's best friend in the world. Maybe it was just the shot to the head, fuzzy thinking and all. Pretend nothing happened. Nothing did happen. I was trying to make him feel better. It's not his fault I got hurt. He shouldn't blame himself. * All the thinking was making my head hurt.
When we got to the room, our bags were already there. Bradshaw picked up a letter from on top of his bag. "Flair had them sent over. He says to tell you he's sorry and he wishes you a speedy recovery." Bradshaw said.
We both went about getting ready for bed. Bradshaw turned on the television and lay on his bed. When I was finished changing I turned off the light and got into his bed alongside him. I wrapped my arms about him and hugged him close.
"Maybe you had better sleep in your bed tonight." Bradshaw said as I laid my head on his chest.
*I knew it. I had screwed everything up in one stupid moment that I couldn't even explain away. * "Oh, sure. You're probably right." I said, trying to mask the tears that would soon spill over and streak my face. I sat up.
Bradshaw held my arm as I got up from his bed. I turned to look at him. His face illuminated by the light from the TV. "Samantha, I care about you." He started.
"I care about you too." I responded.
"I wasn't finished. More than I should. You're Farooq's niece. If anything were to happen between us, I would lose my friend, maybe even you. That's too much to risk and I don't want to be the one to break your heart."
My eyes focused on the floor. For a moment, I thought I would see my heart there. I didn't know what to say. What could I say? * Did he just try to tell me he loved me? * Even if I had the words, I don't think I would've been able to speak.
Bradshaw released my arm. "I think it would be best if I put you on a plane back home. Tomorrow, I'll call your mom and let her know."