Carly woke up early and headed downstairs. Allan hadn't packed anything the night before or spoken to her for that matter. She didn't take either one of those into too much consideration. She wanted to make breakfast for everyone and that's what was on her mind at the moment.
Steve came downstairs first. He stopped on the bottom step seeing her in the kitchen moving around like she was a short order cook. Back and forth between the fridge to the stove, back to the fridge, over to the counter and then rushing back and flipping bacon as she stirred OJ in a pitcher. Her long black hair was up in ponytail and moved from shoulder to shoulder with her. It was the most entertaining thing he had watched in a long time.
"Good morning," he said, walking over to her.
She looked over her shoulder, "Hi, good morning. Welcome to Carly's," she pointed to a chair. "Have a seat."
He took a seat and leaned over the counter on his elbows, getting a look at what she was cooking. He sat back in his seat as she turned around setting a glass of OJ in front of him.
"Do you want french toast or pancakes?" she asked with her hands on her hips, one still holding a spatula.
"Can I have both," he asked.
"Of course," she smiled, "anything you want."
He almost elaborated on that but decided against it. "So what's the occasion?"
She looked at him puzzled, "Breakfast of course."
"Ok. Do you need any help?"
"Nope, I'm enjoying myself."
"Well you look like you have things under control."
She leaned over the counter to him speaking quietly, "I know your fantasy is to have some woman cooking for you in nothing but an apron, but you're just going to have to settle for me."
His smile couldn't have been wider, "I'll take it, and for the record I don't consider that a disappointment whatsoever."
She smiled back at him, "Would you like bacon with your pancakes and french toast?"
"Yes Ma'am. You're just making this deal sweeter and sweeter aren't you?"
She wanted to reach over and kiss him. The banter between them made her morning even better than it already was. She looked over his shoulder, "Good Morning. I hope you're hungry."
Steve turned around seeing Jack and Jules walking toward him. He spoke to them in a southern accent. "Have a seat and Millie here will get ya some grits fired up."
They both laughed at him, sitting down at the counter.
"Do you need any help Carly?" Jules asked.
"Nope," she set down OJ in front of them. "Coffee all around?" she looked at all three of them for an answer.
They all nodded in unison.
"Where's Allan?" Jack asked. "He should be down here helping you."
She poured coffee into the cups, "No, I think it's better if I just work alone." She reached behind her for another cup as Craig came walking up.
"I've never seen this much action in my kitchen before." He sat next to Jules taking the coffee. "Thank you."
"Oops, flipping time." She set the pot down and flipped the pancakes in one pan and then moved to the french toast in the other.
Jules leaned over, looking down at Steve, giving him a look like 'what's up with her?'
He shrugged and was wondering the same thing himself. The last he saw she and Allan was the night before. They barely said two words to each other if that, and then went to bed separately. Whatever was with her, he liked it and hoped it stayed for a while. He was concerned over the new information he had obtained from Jack and Craig on the way home the restaurant, but after seeing her fresh attitude this morning, it hadn't crossed his mind once.
She set a plate down in front of him, with two each of french toast, pancakes, bacon, sausage and a smile that was more heavenly than the food. "Enjoy."
"Thank you."
She did the same for the others and then poured herself a cup of coffee watching them. "I thought maybe we'd get that race out of the way today Steve. What do you think?"
The others almost spit their food out laughing.
"Oh my God!" Jules roared. "That stupid race." She looked over at Steve, "Did you actually challenge her to a swim race again?"
"Damn right I did!" he said, with a fork full of food. "I'm going to win this time too."
Craig slammed his hand down on the counter laughing, "You've lost to her what, three times? Refresh my memory."
"Four!" Jack answered. "Well four that I was present at." He slapped Steve on the back, "You better win this time or your manhood could be at stake."
"Oh I'm ready. She's going down." He glanced up at her as was about to put another bite of food in his mouth and then stopped, dropping the fork on the plate. "I can't believe you!"
She looked down the row of people confused, "What?"
He shoved the plate away, imitating her voice, "Oh here Steve, have some pancakes and french toast and sausage," he picked up the bacon and then dropped it on his plate, "and bacon!"
"What are you talking about?" she looked at him like he was crazy.
"Is it just a coincidence that you want to race me on the same day that you fill me up with a lumberjack breakfast? I think not. You little cheat!"
Carly laid her head back cracking up, "You are being ridiculous."
"Oh am I?" he glared at her, picking up his OJ, "I think I'll just have orange juice, thank you very much."
She picked up the coffee pot, leaning over the counter, "You might want some more of this too. I hear caffeine makes people move quicker."
"You think you're pretty good, huh?" he said, giving her the stink eye.
"I know I'm good. I have six wins that say so."
"Six?!" he countered, "We've only raced five times."
She looked him straight in the eye. "I'm already counting today as a win, that's how confident I am."
The other three ooh and aah'd, cackling over the threat by Carly. Jack and Craig both made whooping noises, pumping their fists in the air.
"Go Carly!"
Steve tried to look intimidating but caved in. "Please," he begged, reaching out and taking her hand that was on the counter, "Please! Let me win just once. Just one time!"
She dropped her head down on his hand laughing at his pitiful expression.
Allan came up to the counter, standing behind him. "Hi. What did I miss that was so funny?" he looked at Carly as she raised her head up.
She let go of his hand and smiled, "Good morning Allan. Would you like some coffee?" she turned around and set a cup down at the vacant spot next to Steve. "Steve here thinks he can beat me at a swim race."
"Have you ever beat her Allan?" he asked him as he uneasily scooted on to the chair next too him.
"We've never raced before," he answered flatly.
"Lucky you. She's dangerously fast, it's humiliating." Steve grinned at her.
Allan took a sip of coffee and moved back as Carly set a plate of food in front of him. He looked up at her wondering if their fight from the day before was over and if she was going to leave with him in the morning, assuming her temper tantrum about staying the full week without him had cooled off.
"So what time are you racing?" Jack asked them.
Carly held her hand out gesturing to Steve for an answer, "You name it."
"High noon," he replied with a threatening glare toward her. He looked down the counter at the others, "Come to my funeral at noon?"
They all laughed as Jack grabbed his neck and arm, shaking him. "You're going to win this one buddy. You're going to do it for all us guys."
Carly looked over at Allan who stared at his plate of food, refusing to get involved in the game. She almost burst out laughing when Steve asked him if they'd ever raced. She wasn't even sure if Allen knew she was the state champion in high school. She was sure she had told him, but she was also sure he had forgotten ten minutes later. She glanced back at the others and smiled as they teased Steve, making her way down the counter away from Allan and more centered on them.
Steve and Carly stood on the end of the dock facing the water. Jack sat on one of the Jet Skis about fifty-five yards away playing the distance marker. Craig and Jules sat on the other one about halfway, videotaping it. Allan and Marissa sat on the deck watching, not interested.
Steve stretched his arm over his head, "Ok, so out to Jack and the first one back to the dock, right?
"Right," Carly said, bending over stretching her back.
"Are we diving or climbing down and starting."
"Whichever you want?" She re-tied her hair into a tighter ponytail.
"I want to dive."
"Then we dive." She smiled at him, "Ready?"
"Don't beat me by too much," he looked at her anxiously, "make it a close race, ok."
She eased him, "Don't worry Steve, I'm pretty sure my winning streak is going to end today. I'm not seventeen anymore and you are in better shape than most seventeen year olds."
"Don't patronize me Carly," he teased, nudging her. "Let's get this done." He looked over at Jules and Craig, "Ok!"
Jules yelled out with the video camera up to her face, "On your marks, get set," they both stood on the end and got ready, "go!"
They both dove in at the same time. Steve came out first, but as he took his first stroke, Carly came out right next to him and reached her arm out already swimming.
Allan finished off his beer and set it down next to the other empty bottle. He leaned over and took out another one. He saw them swimming and could hear the cheers coming from the others but refused to participate in it. It was stupid, a guy racing a girl? What kind of a challenge was in that? In his head Steve was only doing it so he could be closer to her. He wasn't blind. Carly was beautiful. He saw the way other men looked at her. Some of his greatest moments in their marriage were going places with her and the envious looks he would get from other men because she was with him. Or so he thought the attention was focused on him, but in reality, it was Carly they were focusing on. Her beauty was unavoidable and the fact that she was completely unaware of the attention she caused, made her even more attractive. The same beauty he used for his own self-gratitude was also the same beauty he would use against her, accusing her of flirting with men when it was the other way around.
He took a drink of beer and as they reached the Jet Ski.
Carly could see his arms, but wasn't sure if she was in the lead or not. The fact that he was still beside her gave her a renewed burst of energy. As they reached the Jet Ski, she went under doing a divers roll and then kicked off of it, coming out of the water all alone.
Steve reached out for the Jet Ski and then saw her do a somersault under the water and take-off without any hesitation. "Holy crap!" he looked up at Jack who was pointing toward the dock and yelling at him.
"Move your ass!"
He pushed off, reaching out with every stroke and digging deeper into the water. He felt the splashing of her feet and then could see her hands. He was gaining quickly on her. She must be getting tired he thought. He was going to win, finally! He heard her gasp, knowing she must have taken in some water, which meant to him she was struggling but still giving it her all. He knew they were getting close and suddenly the win didn't seem so important too him as it probably would to her. He kept his pace so it wouldn't be obvious but didn't dig as deeply in the water as he should have, letting her keep the lead.
She could hear Jules screaming for her to hurry and knew he was beside her again. She put her head down and reached out, not knowing why she wanted this win so badly? Maybe it was because her competitive side hadn't been able to surface for so long and she missed it. She also knew if she beat Steve he wouldn't be angry and sulk the way Allan would when he lost. She looked up between strokes and reached out grabbing the dock. She looked to her right and saw him reach out three seconds later. Jules screamed excitedly while Jack and Craig yelled out what a wussy he was and booed.
They both held on to the dock, catching their breath.
"Oh my god!" Carly breathed heavily, "I can't believe I beat you."
"Only by a couple of seconds!" he reminded her, enjoying the smile that he helped put on that beautiful face. It was worth every bit of shit that Jack and Craig were going to fling at him.
Allan polished off his third beer, watching them dry off on the dock. Marissa looked over at him, "She's pretty fast. Does she swim a lot?"
He popped the top off another beer and shrugged, looking over at her in the cut-off jeans and red bikini top. "I don't know."
"I can't believe she beat him again. I guess they have this competition thing going on since high school. That's what Craig told me."
"I guess so," he replied not really listening, more admiring the young firm breasts when he could get a glance in without her noticing.
"Craig said when they were in high school, they were pretty close." She caught him looking again at her chest. She wasn't sure if she liked it or if it annoyed her. He was kind of creepy in the way he did it.
"Yea I heard. She tells me all the time how close they all were." He rolled his eyes.
"It doesn't bother you that they dated back then and now here they are together?" She thought about that question and then corrected herself, "I guess it was a long time ago," she gestured toward him, "and she is married to you now."
"Carly and Steve dated?" he sat up.
"That's what Craig said. But it was for just a little while before her sister died or something like that." She bit her bottom lip, knowing she must have said something that he didn't know. "They were never serious." She tried to cover her tracks.
He got up off the chair as they came walking up to the deck. "So, you two were an item in high school. I'm surprised you never told me that Carly." He loved the blind side, catching people off guard.
She glanced down at Marissa knowing it must have been her that said something.
Marissa mouthed the word 'sorry' to her and scooted off the chair, grabbing her towel and headed for the lawn.
"So what," Steve dropped his towel on the chair she just vacated. "It was sixteen years ago and lasted about five minutes."
"I'm talking to my wife," he said to him.
"Well it sounds like you were talking to both of us." He put his hands on his hips, noticing the beer bottles next to the chair.
Allan ignored him, "So you've slept with him?" he asked accusingly.
"Allan," Carly said annoyed, "we were seventeen and went to Prom together, that's the whole wild affair story!" she said, making his accusation sound ridiculous. "No, we didn't sleep together. It was a terrible time for both us and you know that, so please don't bring this up as if you really care. How many office parties and conventions have I attended with women you pointed out that you actually did sleep with?"
"You pointed out women that you slept with?" Steve raised an eyebrow, "Wow, I'm not married and even I know that's a big mistake."
Allan's nostrils flared as he looked back over at him, "Mistakes, you want to talk mistakes. At least I never let her sister…"
"Allan!" Carly yelled over him, knowing exactly where he was going with this. She stood in between him and Steve. "Don't you dare!" she shuttered at the thought of it.
"You little prick!" Steve growled through gritted his teeth, on the verge of knocking Allan's out.
Carly shoved Allan backwards into the house, "Go inside!" Once he was in there, she closed the door in his face, turning back to Steve.
He looked at Carly and pointed toward the house angrily, "He deserves a bloody lip for that!"
"I know!" she was about to apologize to him for Allan's remark like she had always done in the past, but caught herself. "He has nothing else to hit you with Steve. This is all he has." She grabbed on to his arms as he stared past her into the house ready to pounce on Allan. "Hey! Don't play into this stupid game with him. You're too smart."
"Smart enough to know when someone needs an ass kicking!" He'd had it with him.
"What happened?" Jules asked as they came up on the deck.
Carly squeezed Steve's forearms, drawing his attention to her, "Nothing. It's not worth repeating." She spoke to the others but was focused on him.
He was mad as hell and if it wasn't for her, he knew Allan would have a bloody lip and possibly other parts of his face as well, but the second he looked at her he calmed. He felt her hands gently glide up and down his forearms, trying to soothe him. It worked. She had a power over him that he'd never let anyone have before. He liked that about her too. He nodded to her, "It was nothing."
She smiled, grateful for his patience and not for the sake of Allan, but for her concern for him. She knew Allan would probably have done something crazy like call the police or try to sue him for assault. She let go of him and went inside.
Allan sat at the counter pouring tequila over a glass of ice. "I'm leaving tomorrow," he announced, taking a drink of it.
"These people have done nothing to you, yet you find every opportunity to insult, criticize and just plain hate them!" she got angrier as she went on, "I don't understand you! Why are you like that?"
He didn't answer her. He didn't feel like he had to justify himself to her or anyone else there. He had nothing in common with these people and that was the end of it.
"Fine," she responded to the silence, "go ahead and sit there sulking and go ahead and leave tomorrow." She walked away, "I'm going Jet Skiing with Jules. You wouldn't know fun if it bit you in the ass."
He finished off the glass and poured another one.
Jules raced past Carly on the Jet Ski and turned in the opposite direction too quickly and knocked herself off.
Carly pulled up next to her as she sat in water. They both busted up laughing. "You are the only person I know that can fall off all on their own."
Jules climbed back on, "I'm going in. I have to pee. I just can't do it in the water. I'll be right back."
"Ok," Carly laughed, "I appreciate that bit of information. I'm going to stay out. Let me know if anyone else wants to ride. I'll come back in."
Jules nodded and waved as she took off for the dock. Carly stayed in the cove out front of Craig's house, racing back and forth, just playing.
Jules ran past the boy's standing in the yard, "I'm going back out. I just have to use the bathroom."
Jack ran after her, grabbing her around the waist from behind, "How bad do you have to go!"
She squealed with laughter as he tickled her belly. "Stop Jack!" She pushed down on his hands; "I'm going to pee in my pants!"
He dropped her and she turned and smacked him on the arm before darting into the house. Steve and Craig laughed, telling her to hurry because they didn't want diaper duty.
Allan stood at the window staring at Carly out in the water. His eyes were blood-shot and he swayed, reaching his hand out steadying himself on the glass. It made him mad that she was out there not caring that he was in here, angry and hurt over her deceit with Steve. He glanced over in his direction watching him talk with Craig and Jack. "Fucking asshole," he said out loud, bracing himself against the window again. He pictured him kissing Carly and considered going out and kicking his ass, but knew he couldn't. He wanted to go home tonight. He pushed off the window and staggered back into a chair, catching his balance. He was leaving tonight and she was going with him. He finished off the glass of tequila in his hand and set it on the table.
Jules came in the house and ran past him to the bathroom, not noticing him standing there. He walked outside and past the others, making his way to the dock. Craig noticed him brace a hand on the railing down by the water. "He looks a little tipsy."
He picked up Jules life vest and slipped it on over his shirt, trying to focus on the snaps. He only did two and began to climb down to the Jet Ski.
"Jules is going to be pissed," Jack said. "She wanted to go back out."
They saw him take off from the dock headed out toward Carly.
Carly stopped when she saw him coming toward her. She was still mad about his incident with Steve and thought maybe he was coming out to apologize and have some fun. As he came closer she realized that wasn't the case at all. The look on his face told her that. He was an experienced rider but seemed to be having difficulties. That's when she realized he was drunk. "Be careful Allan," she said as he glided up next to her.
"We're going home tonight," he said reaching out for the handles on the side seats of her boat.
"No I'm not. I told you I'm staying,"
He shook her boat angrily, "You're coming home with me!"
"You're drunk. You shouldn't be out here on that thing."
"Come back to the house and pack!" he demanded.
She put her foot on his boat and pushed herself off. "Go back to the dock before you get hurt." She started her engine and took off toward shore.
"Carly!" he growled, starting his engine and following her.
Jules came out of the house, joining the others on the lawn seeing her toy being used out in the water. "Ahh bummer." She shrugged it off and took Jack's beer from his hand, taking a drink.
"Feel better?" Craig asked.
She raised her drink up, "Much."
"I still want to see you water ski, Jack," Steve said.
Jack's attention was suddenly diverted, looking over his shoulder toward the water. "What is he doing?"
Steve turned around just in time to see Allan's Jet Ski ram the side of Carly's, throwing her into the air as his came over the top and landed on her in the water.
He dropped his beer on the ground and ran for the dock with Jack at his heels.
He was in a full stride as he came to the end and dove in the water fully dressed. By the time he came out and began swimming he was already a good ten feet ahead of Jack and leaving him behind with every stroke. His mind was screaming for him to swim faster. If he lost her he wasn't sure he would recover from this one. He looked up to get his bearings and saw her about thirty feet away, face down in the water. The boats were both capsized and he didn't bother looking for Allan.
He rolled her over, pulling her limp body towards the Jet Ski as Jack arrived.
"Flip it over!" he yelled to him.
Jack got both hands on the side and pushed himself out of the water, coming down on the side, rolling it easily. Steve climbed on as Jack held her. He reached over the side, grabbing her vest with one hand and pulling her up so she was sitting side saddle in front him, leaning against his chest. He took the key on her vest and put it in, starting the engine and racing for the shore. He looked down at her seeing the blue begin to form around her mouth.
"Carly!" he yelled, "Come on baby, hold on, almost there," he shuttered.
He didn't let off the throttle until they were on the shore. Craig grabbed the boat, steadying it as Steve climbed off with her in his arms and laid her down on the grass.
"Carly!" Jules screamed behind him, watching her face turn a pasty white.
"Call 911!" he said to her as he and Craig worked together quickly getting her vest off.
He kneeled before her and started mouth to mouth first, knowing she needed air. He did three repetitions and then straddled her legs, placing his hands just below her diaphragm and pushed up from her belly to her lungs, doing three repetitions of that and then moving beside her again to repeat mouth to mouth.
Craig backed out of his way, giving him room. "Come on Carly!" he said over and over.
Jack and Allan came up on the shore next to Carly's Ski. Allan stumbled off, falling in the water before gaining his balance and ran over to them as Steve was giving her mouth-to-mouth.
"Get off her!" he screamed at him. "Let me do it!"
Steve ignored him, straddling her again, trying to push the water out of her lungs.
"Get off my wife!"
"Shut up Allan!" Jack yelled.
When Steve moved to get in position to do mouth-to-mouth again Allan kneeled down across from him, shoving him on the shoulders as he put his mouth on Carly's. "I said get off her!"
Jack grabbed the back of his shirt as Steve sat up, grabbing the front of it, pulling him forward as he punched him in the mouth as hard as he could. Allan was unconscious before he hit the ground. He resumed his task without giving him a second thought.
He breathed over and over for her, but felt like he was losing her, it had been too long. "Come on Karen," his voice weak, close to panic, not even realizing what name he'd just said.
He felt movement from her and quickly straddled her again. Carly's head voluntarily moved to the side as he pushed up on her belly.
"Come on, Carly," he encouraged her. He pushed once more and a spray of water came out of her mouth. He pushed again and could see her mouth fill with lake water as she turned her head and it spilled out. She coughed on her own and he quickly rolled her over on her side. He held her head; tilting it just enough so she wouldn't choke as more water came out. Her body convulsed still in shock over the lack of oxygen. She continued to cough out bits of water and fight him as if she thought she was still drowning.
"It's ok Carly," he soothed her, "it's ok!" He leaned down to her face, "you're alright sweetie, just take slow deep breaths. I'm right here, you're ok now"
She moaned, reaching out and grabbing his wrist that was in front her. His words were calming and she knew more than anything else that he would take care of her, and if he said she was ok; then she was. Her body trembled and she took in deep breaths as she was told.
"Good girl," he whispered to her as the sound of a fire truck could be heard in the distance. She continued to cough until nothing else was coming out.
Jules pushed on Jack's arm, "Go meet the ambulance!"
He and Craig both scrambled to their feet, running toward the house. She kneeled down in front of Carly, taking over Steve's job of rubbing her back as she leaned over so her face was close to hers. "It's ok Carly."
She held her hand and continued to take deep breaths, her body still in shock over the ordeal.
Steve sat back on his hands, panting as Jules looked up at him in complete awe over what he just did. She would be dead if he hadn't been there. He crawled back away from her as they came running out of the house with the paramedics behind him. Jules did the same as one kneeled down next to Carly and the other went to Allan.
"He's just drunk!" Jules blurted out to him. "There's nothing wrong with him!" she pointed toward Carly, "She needs the help!"
He checked Allan's pulse and eyes, satisfied with her explanation and moved to join his partner with Carly. They began to work on her by first putting oxygen over her mouth.
It all seemed to hit him then as he sat up on his knees with his head bent. His body began to shake realizing how close he came to losing her, just like Karen. He felt a hand on his back as Jack kneeled down.
"You ok?" he said passively.
Jules came down to his aid as well, but in a more motherly way, by kneeling right in front of him and putting her arms around him and just hugging him as he trembled. "She'll be alright now," she reassured him. "You did really good, Steve."
He nodded feeling himself beginning to calm. He looked over her shoulder at Carly as she lay in the grass with the oxygen mask over her face that was beginning to regain color. He could see her talking to the paramedics, which in turn calmed him even more.
The ambulance arrived shortly after the paramedics bringing a stretcher out on the lawn.
Jules and Jack helped him up off the ground as they followed Carly around the side of the house to the awaiting ambulance.
"I'm going with her," Steve announced. "You guys have room for one more?" he asked the EMT's.
"Yes," they both said.
He waited outside the ambulance as they loaded her in.
Jules put a hand on his back, "We'll be right behind. I'll bring you some dry clothes."
He turned to Jack and Craig before climbing in; "I don't want to see Allan, unless he wants his ass kicked again."
They both agreed.
Jack gave him a wry smile, "No problem buddy."
He crawled in the back and took a seat up by her head.
They watched Carly reach back for his hand. He took it and put it up to his lips before they closed the doors.
Jules wrapped her arms around her husband's body as the ambulance drove off.
Steve, Jack and Jules stood outside Carly's room listening to the good news they had hoped for. The doctor explained she just had some bumps and bruises, but no concussion and they wanted to keep her overnight just to be sure she didn't develop a lung infection.
"She's sleeping now," he informed them. "I'll be back to check on her before I leave for the night."
"Is it alright if I stay with her tonight?" Steve asked. "I don't want her to be alone after this."
"Sure." He replied, "Stay as long as you want."
Steve shook his hand, while the others thanked him as well.
"Thank God," Jules sighed, leaning against Jack.
"Do you want us to bring you anything?" Jack asked him.
Steve shook his head. He should have been hungry but his stomach was still in knots over this even though she had been given the green light. "I'm ok."
Jules peeked inside her room and saw her lying on her side motionless. "I don't want to go in and wake her up. I think we'll just go, now that we know everything is good." She stood in front of Steve, reaching up with her hands, cupping his face, "Are you ok?" He nodded but didn't convince her. "Thank God you were there. She would have drowned." Her voice shuttered at the memory. No one said it out loud but they were all thinking of Karen. "You saved her life. None of us know how to do CPR."
Jack put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed, "You did good Buddy," he shook him gently, "especially that right hook." He made a fist with his other hand, pretending a quick jab. "Beat me too it."
"Sorry Jack, but I'm sure they'll be other opportunities with that guy."
"Probably. I'm glad they arrested him."
"They'll just charge him with DUI and reckless driving on the water. They'll let him sleep it off and release him into his own custody in the morning," Steve said.
"Good!" Jules snorted, "I think he's safer in jail than back at the house." She put her arms around Steve's neck and hugged him. "If you need anything call. I'm going to bring you something to eat later. It's already seven-thirty." She kissed his cheek before letting him go.
"Thanks Jules, but its ok. I really don't want anything." He smiled down at her. "Thanks for bringing me the clothes though."
"Here," Jack handed him a set of car keys, "It's to our SUV. Jules drove Carly's car here."
"Thanks. I'll call you if anything changes."
He waited until they were gone before carefully opening Carly's door and going inside. She was still sleeping on her side. The room was scarcely lit from the light in the bathroom. She had no machines hooked up to her, not even an IV. That was a relief, which meant she really was doing well. He closed the door quietly and went into the bathroom with the change of clothes Jules had brought him.
He came out as the doctor came inside. He tossed the pile of still damp clothes on the chair by the door. He was barefoot not wanting to put his wet shoes back on yet.
The doctor stood behind Carly with a stethoscope up against her back, listening to her lungs. He smiled, satisfied with what he was hearing, wrapping them around his neck. "Sounds good," he whispered, walking over to him. "I'm taking off, but there are two nurses on duty for the night. I'm also only about five minutes away if something should happen, which I don't anticipate." He looked over his shoulder at her. "I can't tell you how lucky she is. We have at least three or four downing's a year up here with situations just like this."
Steve nodded still feeling the after effects of the whole ordeal. He glanced down at her in the bed and couldn't help but think of Karen all over again, wishing he could have done the same for her. It was a bittersweet joy he felt over Carly's recovery.
He thanked the doctor again as he left and pulled a chair up to the side of her bed. He didn't see Karen anymore as he reached out, carefully moving some hair from her face, all he saw was Carly. The only visual mark he could see from the accident was a scape on her forehead.
He studied her, really being able to look at her for the first time as long as he wanted without having to turn away. Her long black eyelashes needed no enhancement as well as the flawless complexion. Her hair looked like black silk and it took everything he had not to run his fingers through it for fear of waking her.
He smiled at the shape of her nose, knowing what the phrase 'a perfect little button' now meant. He scanned down to her lips that were full and pink from the IV fluids they had given her earlier. They were slightly open and just like the rest of her, they were perfect, and just like her hair he had to fight off the urge to touch them. Her hand laid flat on the bed so he carefully slid his under, gently caressing the back of it, admiring how small and delicate it looked in his when she folded her fingers over his.
He looked up and she was awake, admiring him in the same way. He felt the impact of it shoot through his body leaving him blinded to anything else around him except for her. She pulled his hand closer to her body until it was nestled beneath her chin, holding it securely in place with hers.
She wanted to hang on to him as long as she could. It wasn't fair that she was married to a man who gave her nothing, while this one gave her everything, including a second chance at life, which she wanted to experience with him. She just didn't know how, and that broke her heart.
He watched her beautiful green eyes fill with tears as she bent her head down, gripping his hand with both of hers as if he might try to pull it away at any second. He leaned in, brushing her hair back, feeling a bump from the incident. "Don't cry, Carly. Please sweetheart, don't cry." His pleading just made her cry harder, which in turn broke his heart.
"I've made such a mess of my life," she sobbed.
"That's not true," he sighed, "you're still the same Carly I remember. You're just as playful, just as adventurous and just as beautiful as you ever were. I think maybe you just lost your way for a while."
She looked up at him as he gave her an encouraging smile, brushing away fresh tears on her cheek with the back of his hand. She loved him so much that it scared her. "I should have never let you go." She bent her head again, "Even back then I knew I was making a mistake," she gulped in air, "why did I do it?"
His throat tightened as he tried to swallow, "Because we were seventeen and we were both hurting," he had felt the same way about her, "and we didn't know losing each other was going to hurt more."
One of her hands glided up his up arm, feeling his strength, as her fingers tips glided back down touching his gentler side. Her eyes followed the path up until she could see his. "I don't want to make that mistake again."
They were the most powerful words he'd ever heard, coming from the sweetest voice he'd ever heard. "We won't," he assured her.
Neither one of them took into consideration her current marital status. Too Carly, any feelings she had left for Allan were severed the moment he took her life in his hands so carelessly, but she wasn't so sure it would have mattered anyway; she belonged right where she was. And to Steve, it only a came down to what was best for her. He wanted to be with her now more than he ever had, but he also wanted that decision to come from her without any influence or pressure on his part. He loved enough to let her go if that's what she wanted, but he also loved her enough to hang on for the rest of his life if he ever got her back. And that's exactly what he was going to do. The only dilemma he faced now was the 2,000 miles of ocean separating their homes. That wasn't going to work for either one of them.