Edmund paced back and forth nervously in the waiting room
at Pine Valley Hospital. He pushed his hair back on his
head, watching the clock as Joe Martin entered the room.
"Joe," Edmund said. "Joe, how is she? Is
she OK?"
"She sustained quite a jolt" Joe said to him.
"But is she going to be alright?"
"I expect her to make a full recovery."
"What about... what about the baby, Joe?" Joe
was silent as he shook his head. Edmund shut his eyes,
massaging his temples. "Can I see her?"
"Of course," Joe said. "She's
sleeping now, but you can still go sit with her. Room
213."
Edmund quickly made his way down the hall to room 213,
entering quietly. He looked over at Brooke, she was
sleeping soundly, almost peacefully.
Edmund took a chair and pulled it over to the side of her
bed. Taking a seat, he grabbed her hand. "Hey,
you," he said softly, running his thumb over the
back of her hand. "What on Earth were you thinking,
Brooke? Going out in this storm... what were you
thinking?" Edmund paused. "What was I
thinking?" he continued. "I should have
insisted you stay. I shouldn't have let you leave
Wildwind." Edmund ran his fingers gently through her
hair. "It'll be alright," he said. He
released her hand and leaned back in his chair, folding
his arms across his chest. "I'll just stay here
until you wake up."
Although it was still falling,
the snow wasn't as heavy, not as dangerous as it had
been the night before. Tad slowly awoke, squeezing his
eyes shut momentarily in a semi-chant. "Please
don't let that have been a dream. Please don't
let that have been a dream." He eased his eyes open,
looking over at Dixie. She slept soundly and sweetly
beside him. She was beautiful. Even more beautiful than
Tad remembered. An angel. "What a fool I was to let
you go," he said softly. Tad paused a moment before
cautiously slipping out of bed, trying not to wake her.
He threw on a pair of pants and made his way to the
living room. He ran his fingers through his hair, finding
a shirt and throwing it on quickly. Tad made his way to
the door, swinging it open for some fresh air, preparing
to step outside, when he surprisingly almost collided
with Liza.
"I've been trying to call you all night,"
Liza said, stepping inside.
"Won't you come in," Tad said
sarcastically.
"Did the storm knock out your phone line or
something?"
"Must have," Tad said.
"I thought we could run over the notes for..."
"Tad?" Dixie appeared in the foyer, wearing his
robe. "I thought maybe I could..." She paused
as she and Liza caught eachother's sight.
"Liza."
Liza gazed passed Tad. "Dixie."
Tad shut his eyes with a grimace. "My God."