Love in the Falls (6 page)

“No problem. It was my pleasure. I just happen to be a doctor, you know?” she said sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“Pretty doctor.” He was a real charmer, even in a hospital bed.

“I can see you are a flirt, Sam Steele,” she said smiling down at him.

“Never.” His smirk made her heart melt.

“Sam?” Rebecca said from behind Camden. She shot up off the bed like a teenager caught in a compromising situation.

“Becca,” he whispered with a smile.

“Oh, my God! You’re talking!” she yelped as she lunged forward to hug him. Drake was startled out of a deep sleep and jumped to his feet.

“Sam? He’s talking?” he asked looking at Camden.

“A little bit, yes,” she said looking down at Sam.

“Hey, man! Boy, were we ever worried about you,” he said rubbing his right shoulder.

“I am going to get the doctor. I will be right back,” Camden said.

“No. Stay. Becca, go,” Sam muttered. It was obvious he wanted Camden to stay and Rebecca to find the doctor.

“Okay, okay. I will stay then. Jeez, you are so bossy, Sam,” Camden said giggling as she returned to the chair beside the bed. Rebecca walked out to find the doctor.

***

After such an eventful evening, Sam finally drifted off to sleep at around 9 PM. Camden used the time to get out of the room to clear her head and get some air. She walked outside into the courtyard. The night air was crisp and cold, but she had a hot cup of cocoa to keep her warm.

“Want some company?” Rebecca asked as she walked out into the courtyard.

“Sure. I just had to get some fresh air,” Camden said taking a sip as she warmed her hands on both sides of the cup.

“I can’t believe he’s talking. I chatted with Doctor Rabun tonight. He said we’ll move him first thing in the morning. He was hopeful that the talking means his brain is healing quickly. Tomorrow they will do more tests to see what deficits he has, like paralysis of any kind.”

“Great. I like this hospital so far. Looks can be deceiving,” Camden said immediately aware of how snobbish that sounded.

“You mean because it’s an old country hospital?” Rebecca asked smirking.

“Well, yes. I’m just used to state of the art hospitals in the city. But, I have been very pleased with the level of care here. This is the kind of place I would love to work,” Camden said, surprising herself.

“Really? See, I wouldn’t have pegged you for a country girl,” Rebecca replied.

“I never have been, but I also don’t feel like myself in the city. I became a doctor because I wanted to help people, not because I wanted to be rich or high society.”

“You’re certainly helping Sam. I don’t think he would be doing this well without you, Camden.”

“I haven’t really done anything but hold his hand and talk to him. Anyone could do that.”

“Listen, I know my brother. We are very close and always have been. He’s been flirting with you since he started talking,” Rebecca started cackling with a laugh unlike anything Camden had ever heard.

“His brain was without oxygen for awhile,” Camden said with a giggle. “He isn’t thinking clearly.”

“Are you married? Boyfriend? What’s your story?” Rebecca cut right to the chase. Camden could tell she didn’t like to mince words, and she had probably fixed her poor brother up a time or two.

“Not married. Engaged, though. Supposed to get married in December.”

“Supposed to?” Rebecca picked up on the two words that Camden didn’t mean to say.

“That’s the plan.”

“Well, Camden, I have to say that sometimes God has other plans.”

The next morning, Rebecca and Drake decided to take off to the farm to get some of Sam’s things together. He was sleeping a lot that morning, and Camden knew he needed the rest. As she stood in the room, the morning light came through the windows and lit Sam’s chiseled features. His stubble was turning into a beard, and it suited him.

She heard footsteps coming into the room, but she didn’t expect to see Jenny walking in. She was dressed in her typical miniskirt with leggings as well as a sweater and boots.

“Hi, Jenny,” Camden said.

“Hi. How is he?” she whispered trying not to wake Sam.

“Better. He is able to talk a little now.”

“Oh. Good,” Jenny said fidgeting. Camden could tell she was nervous because she wouldn’t come near the bed. She stayed back about ten feet as if he had something contagious.

“Glad you came to see him,” Camden said.

“I guess you think I am a terrible person. I just couldn’t come before now. It was so scary. I was thankful that you agreed to ride with him in the ambulance. How horrible am I for wanting a stranger to take him instead of his own date?”

“That’s not horrible, Jenny. You’re young, and you’ve probably never been around trauma like that. Plus, it was your first date. No one expected you to be here…” Camden tried to assuage her guilt a bit.

“I just can’t… do this. I like to have fun and live life, and I can’t take care of someone so sick. I feel bad for Sam, but I can’t…” she said, choking up. Camden was worried that Sam could hear them, so she pointed toward the hallway. Jenny followed her out.

“Listen, Jenny, he might be able to hear our conversation, so you can’t talk about how sick he is. I… we… want him to get better.”

“Oh, sorry. See? I don’t know how to take care of someone so sick. I guess that makes me shallow. I don’t know why I came here…” she said looking down at her boots.

“Jenny, move on with your life. Sam will be okay. Don’t feel guilty. You found him help when he needed it most,” Camden said putting her hand on Jenny’s tiny shoulder. It was amazing how immature Jenny was at only a few years younger than Camden.

“Why are you still here anyway?” Jenny asked furrowing her eyebrows in confusion. “You didn’t even know Sam.”

“He needs me… wants me here. He gets upset when I leave his side,” Camden said trying not to smile. It was nice to be needed.

“Really? Well, then he must really like you. You know, he was quite the catch in Norton’s Crossing. Every girl wants him… well, wanted him. I sure hope he gets better,” Jenny said peeking one last time into the room.

***

Sam woke up around 9 AM. Camden was standing right by his side, as usual. Her long dark hair was swept up in a ponytail, and she was wearing a UGA sweatshirt and jeans.

“Well, good morning, sleepy head,” she said. He smiled at her, which melted her heart. She didn’t know why this stranger’s smiles did these things to her.

“Morning,” he said. His hair was tousled and messy, but he wore it well.

“Today is the big day. You get your own room,” she said. She also knew today would be the time they tried to feed him without the IV to see if he was able to chew and swallow.

“Yay…” he smiled again.

“Jenny came by to see you.”

“I know.”

“Oh, yeah? How do you know?” she asked with a smirk.

“Pretended to be asleep.” His voice was low, but she could understand him well.

“What? Why did you do that? Jenny feels horrible!” Camden said giggling.

“Too young... Bad fashion… Immature,” he said with a slight chuckle.

“Well, I can’t argue there. I don’t think you are going to get a second date. Your first date was too dramatic for her,” she said smiling.

“Sticky,” he said.

“Sticky?” Camden was completely confused by the random remark.

“Bath,” he said. Lying in a bed for days on end was making him feel hot and sticky, even though the outside temperature was far from warm.

“I will get the nurse,” Camden said.

“No. You. Please.”

“You want ME to give you a bath, Sam? You’re kidding, right?” Camden was both shocked and amused by his request.

“Not kidding. Washcloth…” he nodded in the direction of a cloth sitting on the tray by the bed. She looked him over and figured she could at least wet the cloth and wipe down his arms.

“Okay. Just a little bit,” Camden said relying on her medical training to guide her. As long as she could think of him like a ninety year old man in her mind, maybe she could get through it without wanting to plant a kiss on his full lips.
What was she thinking? She was engaged to Preston, she kept reminding herself. But, should she have to remind herself of her own fiance?

She took the washcloth and ran it under some warm water in the sink next to the door. When she returned to his side, she pulled the blanket down enough to expose both of his arms. Being careful to go around his IV lines, she rubbed the cloth up and down his left arm. She could feel the strength of his arms even in his weakened state. It occurred to her that Preston’s arms didn’t look so masculine. Sam was a working man, and he was built like some kind of rugged cowboy that she had never seen up close before.

“Is that better?” she asked looking at his arms and avoiding eye contact.

“Yes. Much.”

“Good,” she said as she went around to the other side of the bed and washed his left arm. “Can you move this hand, Sam?”

“No.” He looked sad.

“You will. It’s still very early in the process,” she said nodding her head. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him or herself.

When she finished washing his arms, she went back to wet the rag so that she could wash his face.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she softly brushed the rag across his right cheek, down his chin and over to his left cheek. He moaned a little as if he was feeling a sense of relief. She wiped across his forehead and then down his neck before she stopped and looked at him. He had closed his eyes, so she ran the rag across both of them.

“Is that better?” she asked.

“Yes. Chest?” he asked.

“Your chest? Let me get a nurse, Sam…” she said standing up.

“Please. No. I trust you,” he whispered.

Camden thought for a moment and went back to the sink. As she filled the cloth with water again, she wondered how in the world she was going to wash his chest without being attracted to him. She was an engaged woman ready to make the biggest commitment of her life to Preston. She was just helping this guy, and she had to remember that.

She moved back to the bed and started to lift the hospital gown, being careful not to move the cover from below his waist. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea, and she didn’t know if she wanted to see the rest of him.

Anxiety pitting in her stomach, she rubbed the cloth in circles around his chest. He closed his eyes as she cleaned him, but she could feel another set of eyes on her from behind. That’s when she turned around to see Preston standing in the doorway.

Camden put down the rag and told Sam she would be right back. Preston, dressed in his white doctor’s coat, had apparently weaseled his way into the ER. Even though he had no privileges at the hospital, he always had connections that would let him do things that others couldn’t do.

“Preston, what are you doing here?” Camden snipped as she stepped outside into the hallway.