Chapter Eight

Blair hardly slept the night before she was scheduled to go home. The next day's possibilities ran furiously around her mind. With Serena's help she'd already begun to collect clues about her life. Now, to piece her past and present into one cohesive puzzle.

Lights from the nighttime traffic danced in her walls as crazily as her thoughts until she began to pick out repeating patterns that calmed her. An occasional jet roared overhead, rousing her when she was getting sleepy. She finally dozed off just before dawn.

A crack of thunder brought her straight up in bed. It rumbled slowly faded, and an early-summer down-pour sheeted rain across her window.

She woke each morning, thinking the same question. Would she remember?

Not today. She sensed everything she needed to know, hanging just beyond her reach. No amount of determination brought her answers.

Impatiently, she slid out of bed, but the moment she was vertical, nausea gripped her. She clung to the table, waiting for her stomach to settle. Dr. Davis had suggested saltine crackers, but they only seemed to make her queasier.

Pushing herself to use her weakened legs, she traveled from bureau to bed to pack the small, Louis Verton overnight bag Dorota had brought her.

By the time she snapped the catch on her bag, the rain had began to ease off. Blair perched on the side of her bed to wait for Chuck or her doctor. After a few long seconds, she crossed the room to open her door. Then she hobbled back toward her chair. Footsteps in the hall made her look over her shoulder.

Chuck stopped in the doorway. His brooding expressing suggested strength. His sheer size backed up the claim. He looked from her to her bag. 'I came early to help you.'

At the slight reproach in his tone, she wished she'd waited. She'd already learned he showed his feelings through service. 'The rain woke me early.' she pointed toward the hall he dwarfed with his height. 'Is Dr. Barton out there?'

Shaking his head, he turned to peer down the hall to his right. His purple dress shirt lovingly caressed the strong, straining muscles of his upper back. Bracing his hand against the door frame, he twisted to look the other way. The silk shirt stretched almost out of the narrow waist of his pants. Another shake of his head, and rich, dark strands of hair rubbed his tanned neck. Did he know how good he looked?

'I was hoping they might have signed your release papers already.'

'No.' She tried to sound normal, but hollow, electric bursts of attraction came as a relief. If she planned to stay married, wanting her husband had to be a plus. 'Do we have to wait?'

'You're all set?'

She nudged the bag. 'I've packed everything except for the magazines and books you all brought me. The book cart lady suggested giving them to other patients.'

'Good idea.' Stepping back from the door frame, he looked a touch uneasy. 'Why don't you sit and rest your leg? I'll look for your doctor.' Chuck paused.

'A car is waiting for us downstairs.'

Dr. Barton appeared behind him, carrying the clipboard that held her chart. Chuck moved out of his way but the doctor stopped, clearly discerning stress in the air.

'Am I interrupting?'

Blair shook her head. 'Can I go?'

'Don't rush me. How do you feel? Any morning sickness? How's the leg?'

'My leg's fine, but I feel sick as a dog.'

'Sometimes morning sickness lasts and lasts in a pregnancy.' He flipped up a page on her chart. 'I see the nurse liked the look of your wound last night.'

Blair picked up her bag. Chuck started toward her but Dr. Barton stopped him.

'What's your hurry? Blair has to wait for a wheelchair, and you might want to have the car brought around. I'll walk with you.' He scrawled notes on the chart. 'Blair, I believe I covered all your instructions last night?'

She nodded. 'But you can tell me anything you want to say to Chuck. I'm not an invalid.'

The older man laughed. 'You're getting paranoid.' His bland smile annoyed her. 'Once you're home, take it easy. If you want to exercise, take a walk, but be sure to take water along. I don't want you to get dehydrated. Call me if you have any questions. Oh and Dr. Davis asked me to remind you about your appointment with her.'

'I have the card she gave me.'

'Fine,' he capped his pen and held the chart to his chest as he extended his hand. 'Good luck to you, Blair Bass.'

She ignored his hand, forgave him for his chauvinistic urge to talk about her with Chuck and hugged him. 'Thank you for everything.'

Chuck's bewildered gaze told her she rarely hugged spontaneously. She wasn't surprised after her talk with Serena, but she didn't like thinking of herself as a women who withheld affection.

After a brisk squeeze, the doctor released her and turned to Chuck. 'She's going to be fine. Better than ever. Lets go. I'll tell the nurses you're ready, Blair.'

They left, and Blair felt painfully alone. What kind of women would be better than ever because she hugged her doctor? A frightened one who wasn't sure people would return her affection? Blair shook her head and chose not to be frightened anymore.

END CHAPTER EIGHT

Sorry for the long wait I had a bit of writers block.

Please review and let me know what you think. I may have to withhold chapters if I don't start getting some reviews lol.

Xoxo