Hello all! It's been a crazy holiday season and I apologize wholeheartedly for not publishing chapters before the New Year. My computer died unexpectedly and I've only now been able to recover my files for this story. But enough pity-party, here's a new chapter to celebrate the premiere of the final season! Remember to review!
BTW I have only now learned that Lady Mae's new name in Series 4 is Madame Rennard, due to her remarriage. I assure you that the similarity of her name with my OC Antoine Renard was a complete and utter coincidence! Rather funny, right? Anywho, enjoy!
Moments later
Roger remained silent throughout the drive, though Josie urged him to reveal the mystery behind his worrisome state.
"I wish to God I could," he stated in a whisper, "But I cannot. Not yet."
She watched him as he avoided her eye and looked out on to the foggy street. She wanted to understand his worry, to help him overcome whatever trouble he faced, but he would not allow it.
It was some time before the cab could maneuver through the crowded streets and traffic.
Eventually they pulled up in front of the hospital and Roger helped Josie out.
"Come this way," he said, leading her through a side door and into an empty stairwell.
"What is going on?" she asked, trying to keep up with him as he practically raced up the stairs, "Why are we here? Roger, please!"
She reached out and grabbed his coat sleeve, stopping him in his tracks as they reached the third floor landing.
She saw him close his eyes in defeat but he slowly pulled his arm away and stepped aside.
"You will understand in time," he said, gesturing to the door, "Please, just, don't ask any more questions. I cannot bear it."
Josie nodded slowly and stepped through to the hallway as Roger held open the door. A man quickly approached them, his face lined with anxiety.
"Thank god!" he murmured, taking Josie's hands with unexpected familiarity, "I thought you would be too late."
"How is he?" Roger asked the man.
"Better, thank God. The doctor said he may be unconscious for some time," the man explained with a worried sigh, "They have done what they can and they think he will be alright in the end."
Josie heard the accent in the man's voice and blinked. She recognized it, somehow. She searched his clear green eyes, but she did not know him.
Josie looked to Roger, "My dear, who is this?"
Roger cleared his throat, "Antoine Renard. He…"
"Please,this way," Mr. Renard begged suddenly, turning and guiding Josie further down the hallway.
They stopped at an interior window looking into a small room that was full of metal hospital beds, all empty, save one in the farthest corner of the room.
Josie hardly had time to look inside before Roger took her by the arm, gently forcing her to look away.
"This may be quite a shock," he began, his saddened eyes gazing over her face, "And I hardly know how to prepare you. But - "
Josie shook her head and moved from him to look again into the room.
She could hardly see through the distorted glass, but her eyes fell on the occupied bed and the figure in it. She felt a sort of jolt in her heart, though she did not know why.
She took a step toward the open door and peered inside, curious.
One look was all it took to send an electric pain through her entire body.
"Oh my god…" she whispered, closing her eyes and turning her back.
She lifted a hand to her mouth as her breathing became erratic. The confusion in her head was nothing compared to the spasms in her heart. It was joy and despair all at once. Her ears rang and her knees felt weak. She thought she might faint.
"Oh my god…" she muttered again and reached out a hand to steady herself against the wall.
"Josie…" she heard Roger's voice but she shook her head.
"Don't…" she said sharply.
"Darling," he laid a hand on her shoulder but she shook it off harshly.
"Do not touch me!" she spat, moving away from him and into the hospital room.
She stopped a few paces inside and stared in silence at him. Florian.
It was him. She was certain of it. It had to be. But how? It was impossible.
She inhaled slowly as she continued to his bed.
The closer she got, the more her eyes watered.
It was him.
She finally reached the foot of the bed and stood there.
Florian.
Her breathing slowed as she watched him sleeping. He had a thick bandage around his head and another on his ribcage. His face was bloodied and he had bruising all along his bare chest. He looked awful.
But it was him. She knew his face. His hair. His figure.
She inhaled sharply and stepped back when she saw his chest raise and lower. He was breathing. He was alive.
She slowly moved and sat in the chair by the bed. She watched him. Florian.
She looked down at his hand that lay at his side. It was still, unmoving, but it looked as though he were reaching to her, somehow.
She quickly wiped a tear from her cheek then cautiously reached out to grasp his hand. When she felt the solid flesh and bone, everything she'd bottled up came pouring out. Her eyes flooded over and her sobs echoed through the empty room.
She did not know how long she wept, nor did she care.
Florian was alive. After so many years, after all the heartache.
After some time, she felt his hand tighten around hers.
"Josie?" a hoarse voice whispered.
Her heart stopped. She looked up slowly, still uncertain, but when she saw Florian gazing weakly at her, she smiled through tears of joy.
"Yes, my darling," she murmured, gently moving to sit on the edge of the bed, "It's me… It's your Josie."
He smiled and wearily lifted a hand to caress her face.
"I thought I had lost you," he said, searching her eyes.
"And I, you," she replied as tears fell on her cheeks, "I thought…I thought you were…"
"Do not talk of it," he said and wiped away her tears, "It is in the past now -"
"But I don't understand…" Josie gasped through her crying, "How is this possible? How are you here?"
"Does it matter?" he asked.
Josie smiled and nodded, pausing to kiss his hand.
"You are right, but…" she opened her eyes to meet his, "I just need to know. The army said you were dead and I…I really thought -"
"It is a long story," he said, lowering his hand from her face, "In the war…I…" he swallowed hard and closed his eyes, "The explosion…the fighting - "
His voice weakened and he jerked his head back.
"Florian?" Josie called out to him and quickly stood as his body began to shake wildly.
His arms thrashed about and he cried out, shouting and moaning in pain and confusion.
"Move aside, miss, please," a nurse hurried to her side, along with Mr. Renard and Roger.
Josie obeyed and watched in horror as Roger and Mr. Renard held down Florian's shoulders as the nurse fed him some sort of tonic. A moment passed as Florian's shaking slowly began to cease. His body went limp and his eyes closed in deep sleep.
Roger and Mr. Renard stood back as the Nurse opened Florian's eyes and took his pulse.
"He will sleep for a while," she said to Mr. Renard, before removing the bandages from Florian's head and wiping his brow with a damp cloth, "But you must tell me the moment he awakes again, do you understand?"
Mr. Renard nodded and the nurse quickly left.
The room filled with silence as Josie gazed at Florian. She heard Roger and Mr. Renard mumble to each other.
"What happened?" she interrupted quietly, not looking away from Florian.
"He…Well, it was all a bit of a blur…" Roger began, but Josie closed her eyes in contempt.
"He was walking in the street this morning," Mr. Renard continued, stepping towards her nervously, "A car was driving along in the fog and the driver could not see. Florian did not move in time and he was knocked down - "
"You know what I mean," Josie stated, lifting her eyes to Roger, "How is he alive?"
He blinked and tried to look away, but Josie held his gaze with all the inner-strength she could muster.
Mr. Renard spoke up.
"It was a long time ago. At the end of the war…"
He continued with his tale, but Josie only half listened. Mr. Renard talked of Florian's selfless act of bravery, his injuries, memory loss, the fake letter… She could not stand it. Every word, every explanation made her stomach churn. But she held a cold facade through the entire story and kept her teary eyes on Roger.
Goodness me...
I could never resist a touch of melodrama.
More to come! Please Review!