With in minutes, Nick was back with her family and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes quickly hugged their daughter.
“I’m so glad that you are okay honey.” Mrs. Barnes stated brushing back her daughter’s hair.
“Mel, you should have told us about Adam.” Mr. Barnes said looking at his daughter.
“Mike, not now.” Cathy replied to her husband.
“Dad, I love you, but I had to do this on my own. Can you understand that?” Mr.
Barnes sat down on his daughter’s bed.
“I understand.” He took a deep breath. “I thought I was going to lose you.” Tears
started to well up in his eyes. Melissa grasped his hand and held it in hers.
“You didn’t lose me. I’m right here, papa.” Hearing papa, made his tears start to
fall. He hugged Melissa and she held on tightly to him.
Once they broke apart, Melissa had tears in her eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine honey. I’m more worried about you.”
“I’m okay, but I would feel better if you let a doctor check you out.”
“Mel, I’m fine. I don’t need to check over by a doctor.”
“Dad, you weren’t supposed to travel.”
“I agree with Mel. Mike you should let a doctor check you out.” Cathy stated.
“Great so you two are gaining up against me?” They both shook their heads with
big grins on them.
“Fine, you two are so lucky that I love you two so much.” Mr. Barnes stood up
and looked over at Nick. “Are you should you want to marry her, Nick? She can
be a hand full.”
Nick looked over at Melissa and gave her a smile. “I have never been more sure
of anything in my life.”
“Okay, enough stalling, let’s go find a doctor.” Mr. and Mrs. Barnes left.
Once again Melissa moved, trying to get comfortable. “Not comfortable is it?”
Jonathon asked sitting down on the bed.
“No, it hurts when I breathe too.”
“That will pass in a couple of days, till then just rest.”
“Easier said then done.”
Knock…knock.
“Excuse me Ms. Barnes, but someone sent you flowers.” A nurse instructed as
she placed them on the table by the bed. A thought entered Melissa’s mind and
by the looks of it, it entered everyone else’s.
Melissa reached for the card and slowly opened it. “Melissa, I’m glad you are
okay. Get well soon.” Melissa breathed a sigh of relief. “Officer Garner.”
Everyone started to laugh. “I guess it will take some time for Adam’s death to
sink in.”
“Mel, you have to be the strongest person I know.” Jeni replied.
“Yeah, how did you get through that, not knowing if you would see your family
again?” Alyssa asked.
“I don’t know. I guess I thought about my parents, you guys, Nick.” She looked
over at him. “I wasn’t going to let him win. I was done being his victim.”
“You aren’t his victim anymore. You can live your life without looking over your
shoulder.” Julie stated with a smile.
“Finally I can have the life I always wanted.”
“I better be in it.” Nick said sitting down on her bed.
“You’re it Nick. You and my family, you’re my life.” She replied squeezing his
hand.
“Good news Ms. Barnes, you’re being released on Friday.”
“Great, if I have to see another hospital it will be too soon.”
“But there are some rules you must follow. Take easy, stay off your feet as much
as you can. I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”
“Don’t worry Dr. Williams; I’ll make sure she takes it easy.” Nick stated looking at
her.
“Great, you being a mother hen again!” Jonathon and Julie snickered.
“Funny Angel.”
“Dr. Williams, do you know if my father was checked over by a doctor?”
“Yes, I checked him out. He is fine, no problems.”
Melissa sighed with relief. “I have him resting in an empty room.” He glanced
around the room. “Which you should be doing. You went through a hellish
ordeal; you need to conserve your energy.”
“Dr. Williams, having my family here is the best remedy.”
“Alright, but eventually you should get some rest.” He stated then left the room.
“Okay guys we really should let Mel get some sleep.” Nick said standing up.
“Yeah, he’s right.” Jonathon stood and reached for Julie.
“See you tomorrow Mel.” Julie said as they exited the room with the others.
“Hey I thought you left.” Melissa said as Nick reappeared in her room.
“You can’t get rid of me that fast Angel. I’m staying here with you. And don’t try
and talk me out of it, because I won’t listen.”
“I wouldn’t think of it, besides I’m too tired to argue.” She said moving over to
make room for him. Nick laid besides her holding her left hand against his.
“I’m not hurting you, am I?”
She turned to him and smiled. “Nick, you could never hurt me.” She laid her
head on his shoulder.
“Angel, I need to tell you something. When I noticed you were gone, I thought
my world had ended. I couldn’t eat, sleep, I couldn’t function not knowing if you
were okay. I was so scared that I had lost you and that I would never see you
again.”
“I was scared too Nick. Scared of what he might do, scared that I would never
you or my family again.”
“But here are you, my strong Angel. Not once did you back down to Adam. I’m
so proud of you Mel. You kept your promise to me.”
“What promise?”
“You promised to me that you would fight with everything in you and you did.”
“That wasn’t one of my finest moments. I’m sorry about…”
“Mel, don’t apologize. I understand why you asked me that, but I want to put that
in the past. I want to put all of this in the past.”
“I want that too Nick. I want to start our life together.” She placed a kiss on his
cheek and laid her head back down on his shoulder.
“Good because I was thinking since your parents are here and so are our friends
that it would be the perfect time for us to get married.” Nick waited for a
response. “Angel, what do you think?” He glanced down at her. Her eyes were
closed and her breathing was soft. She had fallen asleep. “Rest Angel, we have
all the time in the world.” He kissed her forehead and then closed his eyes still
holding her hand.
She had been in the hospital for about a week and half and with each day she
felt better. The doctor had removed the bandages around her ribs which were
finally not aching. Her busted lip had healed as did her bruises. If you had
looked at her, you could never have known what she went through.
“Hello Ms. Barnes, how are you feeling?” Nurse Summers asked as she came
into the room.
“Hi Nurse Summers, I’m feeling good.”
“I bet you are anxious to get out of here.”
“Yes, I am but…”
“But what?”
“I kind of get the feeling that my family is up to something.”
During the week, Melissa received visits from her parents and friends, but not
Nick. She hadn’t seen him since that day in the hospital. She asked her parents
what was going on and they told her some story about Nick being busy. She
knew they weren’t telling her the whole story. She was getting worried.
“I’m sure it is nothing. Dr. Williams will be in shortly to check you over.” The
nurse stated with a smile and then left.
“I hope it’s nothing.” She whispered to herself.
“Hello Ms. Barnes, how are you feeling today?”
“Like I’m ready to get out of this hospital.” She stated hoping he would get the
hint.
“Yes, Ms. Barnes you are getting released today. I just want to check your vitals
and then I’ll get your papers in order for you to be released.”
“Thank you Dr. Williams.” He checked her pulse, lungs, and heart.
“Alright, everything sounds good. I’ll get your release papers. Someone is
coming to pick you up right?”
“Yes.” She responded, but once he left she added. “I just don’t know who.”
“Hey Mel!” Julie said as she and Jonathon said as they entered her room.
“Ready to get out of here?” Jonathon asked sitting down on the bed.
“Yes, I am.”
“Here, I brought you some of your clothes.” Julie stated handing Melissa a bag.
“Thanks. Can I ask you two something and please give me an honest answer.
What’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why hasn’t Nick come to see me? And don’t tell me he is busy because I don’t
believe it.”
“I’m going to go and check on getting you released!” Julie said exiting the room.
“CHICKEN!!” Jonathon yelled at her.
“Okay you are scaring me Jonathon. What’s going on?”
“Mel you trust me right?” She nodded her head. “You know that I want nothing
but the best for you, right?”
“Yes, I know that.”
“Good, then trust me when I tell you nothing is going on.”
“Fine I’ll trust you. But if you are lying to me Jonathon, you will be sorry.”
“I know that Mel. Now get dressed!” He got up and left her to change.
“Jonathon!” Julie yelled. “Does she suspect anything?”
“Yes, wouldn’t you if your fiancé hasn’t visited for over a week?”
“She’ll understand once we get her home.”
They arrived at the beach house and Melissa slowly exited the car.
“Head on in Mel, I’ll grab your bag.” Jonathon responded from the back of the
car.
“How are you?” Julie asked as they walked to the door arm in arm.
“I’m okay.” Julie opened the door and let Melissa go first.
“SURPRISE!!”
