Submerged

Marcus didn’t know what to say to that.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Hinton, AB – Saturday, June 15, 2013 – 6:46 AM

When Rebecca opened her eyes, the early morning sun lit her hospital room with an orange glow. She didn’t have a clue what time it was, but she realized where she was—and why.

Her head swam as she tried to move it.

Someone patted her hand. A young nurse. “Everything’s okay, Mrs. Kingston. Your surgery went well, and your kids are right next door.”

“Can I see them?” Rebecca rasped.

“Dr. Monroe wants you to rest awhile first. You don’t want your kids to see you all groggy, do you?”

“No, I guess not.”

“Besides,” the nurse said, moving to the door. “You have another visitor. Are you up for it?”

“Who is it?”

“A man. Police maybe. Sorry, I didn’t get his name. Should I go ask?”

“That’s okay. Let him in.”

Rebecca licked her lips. Her mouth was dry and her throat hurt. But the pressure she’d felt around her ribs and chest was gone.

She lifted the covers.

“I think everything’s where it’s supposed to be,” someone said.

She dropped the sheets and saw a man standing in the doorway. His face was grizzled but attractive, and his pale gray-blue eyes twinkled.

She blinked. “Marcus, I can’t believe you’re still here. I figured you’d gone home.”

“And miss this happy reunion? Not likely.” He crossed the room and stood by the bed. “I promised to meet you here, and I’m a man of my word.”

“Yes, you are. But I didn’t expect you to wait here for hours.”

He shrugged. “Who said I did? Maybe I went out for dinner, or went shopping.”

She chuckled. “The doctor said there was a man pestering everyone for status updates on me every fifteen minutes, while I was in the operating room. I know that wasn’t Wesley.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like I was run off the road by a maniac.”

Marcus’s face drooped.

“Sorry. Bad joke.” She gingerly touched her stomach. “I’m pretty banged up.”

“That’s what you get for driving into a river.”

She tried to smile, but it made her head hurt. “Wasn’t exactly done on purpose.”

“I know.” He studied the soft contours of her face. “You do clean up well.”

“That’s good to know. So do you.”

He offered her the glass of water that was beside her bed, and she took a sip before saying, “How are my kids?”

Marcus pulled a chair to the side of her bed and sat down. “Your son and daughter are enjoying their sugar high at Hotel Hinton.”

She frowned, then realized he meant the hospital. “I hope they’re behaving.”

“They’re fine. Right now they’re watching Shrek.” He paused for a minute. “I hope that’s all right.”

“Yeah.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off his face. This was the man who had saved her. And her children. Those eyes and smile belonged to the man who had talked to her when she wanted nothing more than to scream and cry. He’d kept her sane when her world was pure insanity.

“Uh, do I have pudding on my face?” he asked.

She smiled. “Sorry for staring. It’s just that you…” She didn’t know what to say next.

“I know. You’re trying to figure out how a guy with such a sexy voice like mine could look like this.” He rubbed his bristly chin.

She held back a laugh. “Not exactly what I was thinking. But yeah, you could use a shave.”

Marcus shrugged. “I’ve been a little busy. You know, being a superhero and all.” He leaned back in the chair and stretched his legs beneath her bed.

“Wow. You’re quite modest.”

He grinned. “I’m repeating what you called me.”

The man was more than charming. He was flirting with her. She couldn’t recall the last time a man had done that. It felt kind of good.

“Feel up to talking about the truck?” he asked.

“I see. First you get me all comfortable and unsuspecting, and then you bring on the questions.”

“Sorry. It can wait.”

“I was teasing.” She released a long sigh, then added, “I didn’t see much. A truck with those hunting lights. The truck was a dark color. That’s all I remember.”

“And Wesley doesn’t own a truck like that.”

She eyed him. “No. And he’d never hurt his kids.” She could tell when he squinted down at the floor that he didn’t believe her. “He wouldn’t, Marcus.”

“Colton saw a man outside the gas station when you stopped.”

“Really? I didn’t see anyone.”

“You were busy getting the key. The guy wore an Oilers cap, a T-shirt with a car on it and dirty jeans.”

She shut her eyes, willing herself to remember. “I didn’t see him.”

“You said you saw a couple of cars and a truck in the parking lot. Where were they exactly?”

Opening her eyes, she nodded. “The cars were near the pumps. The truck was…” She sucked in a sharp breath.

Marcus jumped to his feet. “Are you okay? Want me to call the doctor?”

“No. I’m fine. It’s not that.” She licked her lips again. “I remembered something.”

“What?”

“That truck had lights on the top, like the one that ran me off the road.”

“Are you sure?” Marcus asked, sitting again.