Chapter Thirteen

I woke up with a fright in the hospital, hooked up to all the machines. On the left side of the bed, Ruby was sitting quietly, holding my hand. Everything felt like it was surrounded in some sort of thick fog and for several moments, I couldn't remember what had happened or how I had got there. I mumbled something about a bad dream.

"What bad dream did you have, Charlie?" Ruby asked softly.

"I dreamt I got my chance to speak to Joey and I passed out," I replied.

I saw a smile twitch in the corners of her mouth and she told me to look to my right. I turned my head slowly. Every part of my body was aching. And there she was. Sitting by my side, looking even more captivating that she had outside the boat, was Joey. She was perched forward in her seat and she looked very concerned.

"I think I'm going to give you some alone time," Ruby decided. "Don't die or anything."

I laughed, even though it hurt my chest.

Ruby left us to it and I gazed up at Joey. My memories slowly started to come back to me and I realised that I really had passed out in front of her.

"This isn't exactly how I expected things to go," I admitted.

My voice was croaky and my breathing was shallow but under control.

"Yeah, I hear you had a speech prepared and everything," Joey replied.

I flushed with embarrassment and dreaded to think what Ruby might have revealed while I was in my state of unconsciousness.

"I'm so happy to see you again," I told her sincerely.

She kept smiling at me and it made me feel all warm and mushy inside. She was the first person to ever make me feel that way and she still has the same effect on me. I hope she always will.

"I've never made a girl swoon so literally before," she giggled, catching hold of my hand.

I blushed some more, my heart racing at having physical contact with her.

"Did Ruby tell you what happened?" I asked.

Joey nodded.

"She said that you got shot," she said. "And that it was nearly fatal. And that's when you decided you wanted to see me again."

I nodded, still feeling shy.

"I've missed you," I said, although that was probably a case of stating the obvious.

"I've missed you too, Charlie," she replied.

My monitor beeped to say that there wasn't enough oxygen in my blood. It was only then that I realised that I had been holding my breath. She panicked and asked if she should get a Doctor but I assured her I was fine. I'm so used these damn machines that when they beep at me, I don't even care anymore.

"I just have to breathe better," I told her.

"Isn't breathing meant to be the easiest thing in the world?" she wondered.

I chuckled and then wheezed.

"Not for me, apparently," I said. "I took the whole oxygen thing for granted before."

She smiled but I could see worry on her face.

"What's going on here, Charlie?" she asked.

I sighed. And then I wheezed again. Really, this whole breathing debacle is just getting silly now. I'm really losing patience with myself.

"Well, I stopped breathing and passed out and…"

She interrupted me with a mere look. She didn't even have to say anything.

"I was desperate to see you again," I admitted. "Please don't be mad at me for trying to track you down."

"I'm not mad," she assured me. "I'm touched by all the effort you've gone to, especially after so long. And I'm touched that it was me that you were thinking of when you nearly…"

She trailed off unhappily. I was encouraged that the thought of me dying was painful to her.

"There's so much I want to say to you," I said. "But I don't exactly know where to start."

Joey smiled again. She lifted my hand to her lips and kissed it. My whole body tingled.

"Why don't we start with your speech?" she suggested.

Next time… Charlie reveals that Ruby is her daughter and tries to explain why she cheated on Joey…