Dane's Storm(77)

CHAPTER THIRTY


Audra



Dane and I were discharged on the same day. He had been up and walking around—albeit slowly—for days, but I think the hospital staff knew he wouldn’t leave without me, so they kept him until I was ready to go home too.

They’d finally moved another bed into the room when Dane had refused to leave mine, and Dane had pushed them together to create one big bed for the both of us. We still ended up huddled on one, sleeping in the familiar way we’d come to know, each other’s solace when life as we’d known it had ended. Perhaps it was just temporary, maybe we’d drift to our own sides of the bed as life moved forward. Or maybe we’d always come back together at the end of each day, into each other’s arms, sharing warmth, rekindling hope, meeting at that familiar place in the middle. I liked to believe the latter.

Jay came to visit every other day, hugging me tightly, the look on his face incredulous as I recounted the story. He’d kept himself from going crazy, he’d said—even when it was reported that our situation was hopeless—by keeping the business running as best as he could. His own wisp of smoke that I was still alive, that I’d return. He’d even contacted another florist who agreed to take over the events that would have been left without flowers had it not been for him. “You’ve been such a good friend to me,” I told him, tears in my eyes as I hugged him again. “The best.”

Dane’s mother, along with Luella, were the first ones at the hospital when we’d arrived. Dustin and Dalila had flown to Denver the moment they’d gotten word that we were found. They were at the hospital continually, and filled in the gaps about what had been going on since our plane went down.

The storm had kept rescue planes from going out in the first few days, and when they finally got clearance, they had searched the area where the signal from the black box was coming. It was as Dane had guessed, and though Dustin had worked tirelessly around the clock, hiring private helicopter companies, and experts who were familiar with the area to try and locate the plane, in the end, nature had just been too ruthless and the search area too vast.

And yet, somehow, Dane and I had done what no helicopter, no expert, no room full of a hundred volunteers could accomplish. We’d survived, and we’d gotten ourselves out of there. Alive . . . barely.

All told, Dane had pulled me through miles and miles of snowy, rugged terrain while in severe septic shock, his organs beginning to fail one by one. His body had given out just fifty feet from the prepper’s house. Yet even then, he’d rallied, dragging me those last precious inches.

Some would call it luck. I called it a miracle.

My legs would heal, and so would my arm. The experience had changed me forever, in ways I was still sorting through—mostly with Dane in whispered words during the dark of night as we held each other close, revealing our secrets and fears as we’d learned to do.

There was a short knock on my hospital room door, and Dalila peeked her head in, smiling. “You decent?”

I laughed. “Finally,” I said, glancing at the altered sweatpants and T-shirt I was wearing. If I never saw another hospital gown that opened in the back, it would be too soon.

“Great” She came in, glancing at my bag, packed and ready by the door. “What time are you getting sprung?”

“The doctor’s supposed to be in with my discharge papers in about an hour.”

“Awesome. I’d ask if I could cook you and Dane dinner tonight, but I kinda figure you’ll want some alone time.” She gave me a kind smile, but I didn’t miss the flash of disappointment in her eyes at her own words.

I smiled. “Thank you, Dalila, but . . . I think we’ve had plenty of alone time.” I laughed softly. “We’d love to have you over.”

She grinned, putting her hands together as she gave me an excited glance. “Really? I don’t want to bombard you on your first night out of the hospital. But”—she shook her head, her eyes tearing up—“I’ve missed you, Audra. I’ve missed you a lot.”

I opened my arms as she moved into them, hugging me, both of us laughing and crying a little. “I’ve missed you too. So much.” Dalila had always been like a real sister to me. She’d tried to stay in touch after Dane and I divorced, but I’d rejected her attempts. It was just too painful to have contact with any of Dane’s family members. And it felt wrong to keep anyone who I felt rightfully belonged to Dane. But really, I’d cut myself off from everyone who might potentially make me face the deep well of pain I kept locked inside. I saw that clearly now. I saw a lot of things more clearly now. Being a whisper away from death could do that for a person.

Dalila pulled away. “So when’s the wedding?”

I laughed, wiping the tears from my eyes. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. Our big plans are working our way through the fast food restaurants of Laurelton.”

Dalila laughed. “Good, you’re both skin and bones.” She paused. “Dane told me he’s moving here, though.”

I nodded. “Yeah. He’ll be transferring to the new industrial park.”

Dalila nodded. “Good. He really does love his job.”

“I kn—”

There was a knock at the door and after I called out, “Come in,” it opened slightly, Luella Townsend peeking inside, looking strangely uncertain, strangely small as if she’d shrunken in some elusive way.