The Dark Side of the Rainbow (16 page)

She turned her gaze toward Landon who was standing beside her. Gently, she reached out to touch his arm. “Everything is going to be all right.”

At the sound of her words, he turned his attention from the view below to her beautiful face. His spirit felt heavy with emotion.

“Don’t be afraid, Landon. There is nothing more to fear. Do you believe me?” There was absolute certainty in her voice.

He nodded.

“Good,” Brooke whispered, moving closer to him. There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she reached out to caress his face. When the contact was made, he reached up with his hand to cover hers as it rested against his cheek. Turning his head, he kissed the palm of her hand, tasting the saltiness of her skin.

Brooke reached for him, drawing Landon toward her in an embrace, kissing him softly on the lips. Her touch brought forth an ache that nearly consumed him. He wanted her, so much he couldn’t think. As he deepened the kiss, his heart began to race, his blood pounding in his ears.

The groan that escaped from Brooke’s mouth beckoned to him. She moaned again, more forcefully, the sound invading his senses.

Landon awoke with a gasp on his lips, feeling disoriented and unfocused. He blinked his eyes several times. It took him a moment to realize he was in the hospital and that he had been dreaming. The groaning had been real, he realized as he heard the sound coming from Brooke’s sleeping form.

Quickly, he stood and pressed the call button. When the nurse’s voice came over the intercom, he informed her that she was waking.

Within minutes, her nurse entered the room. She immediately went to Brooke’s side to check the equipment monitoring her vitals.

Brooke groaned again.

“It’s all right, Ms. Johnson. You are in the hospital recovering from a head injury.”

The nursed continued talking to the waking patient while she checked her IV fluids.

Soon, Brooke came to; her eyes were wide open in fear. Landon was standing by the bed. Quickly, he reached for her hand. “Brooke, it’s me, Landon. Can you hear me?”

It was obvious the young woman was frightened. “What happened? Where am I?”

“You’re in good hands, sweetheart. After you fell on the ship and hit your head, you were medivacked to the nearest hospital. They have been taking great care of you. There was swelling on your brain, but they’ve managed to relieve the pressure. You’re going to be fine.”

She tried to sit upright. Wincing in pain, she fell back to the pillow. Agony creased her forehead. She attempted to lift her arms to her head, but couldn’t because they were in restraints.

“Please remove the straps,” he demanded of the nurse, more forcefully than he intended.

Once Brooke’s hands were free she lifted them to her head, cradling it with both hands as she groaned in agony.

“Is there anything you can give her?” he asked.

“I need to call the doctor to let him know she is awake. He will tell me what medicine she is able to receive. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” The nurse left, leaving the two of them alone.

“I’m sorry you’re in such pain, Brooke.” The thought of her hurting caused him to feel helpless.

From the time they arrived at the hospital, Landon felt as if he had been walking on pins and needles waiting for every test result, praying for the best. After the tube was placed in her skull to drain the fluid, he continued to feel anxious, waiting for the next set of tests to be done. When the results showed a dramatic reduction in the swelling and the tube was removed, only then did he begin to feel some semblance of hope.

With the prospect of a full recovery, his exhaustion took over, causing him to fall asleep. The dream had felt unusually real, her words so comforting, the desire he felt for her was earth shattering. He thought of her words, a promise that everything would be all right.
Would it really
? he thought, almost afraid to believe.

The nurse returned with a syringe and a pitcher of ice water. “This will deal with the pain and help her to relax, Mr. Gray. The doctor will be here in about thirty minutes. He has to finish with another patient. I’ve also brought some ice water. She’ll realize how thirsty she is once the sharp edge of pain begins to diminish. Call me if she isn’t calmer in about fifteen minutes.”

Landon nodded to the older woman before she left the room.

Standing by her side he watched as she continued to moan, helpless to do anything about it, wishing the medicine would hurry and do its work. Soon, the intensity of Brooke’s moaning decreased. She tried opening her eyes a few times before closing them again in pain. The room was dark and the blinds were closed. He felt concerned by her reaction to such a limited amount of light.

“Brooke, are you beginning to feel better?”

She moaned in response, but Landon could tell she was wincing less and the cries of pains were less intense. The medicine was working. She was no longer cradling her head.

Landon reached for her hand. Using her line from the dream, he said, “Everything is going to be all right.”

“Why do you keep calling me Brooke?” she asked in a weak quiet voice. The words startled him.

“I’m very thirsty. Water, please.”

Reaching for the pitcher and cup, Landon poured the ice cold water and held the straw to her mouth. She winced in obvious pain as she sucked in the cool liquid, but continued to drink until she was too exhausted to take another sip, laying her head back in fatigue.

“Why do you keep calling me Brooke?” she asked again.

“Brooke is your name.”

Slowly she opened her eyes trying her best to keep them open so that she could peer at Landon. Taking a good look at him, she closed her eyes once more. “Do I know you?”

Landon’s heart began to race. Was it possible that she didn’t remember who he was, or who she was?

“Only for a short while. Do you not remember that your name is Brooke?”

She tried to open her eyes again. “No,” was her simple reply before she fell into a drug-induced sleep.

* * *

W
hen the doctor arrived, Landon told the neurologist what Brooke had said about not remembering her name, or him.

“It’s possible she may be suffering from amnesia.” The doctor made the comment while rubbing his chin. “It sounds to be retrograde memory loss. That’s when a person is unable to recall stored memories. It is not a very common occurrence but it does happen. We won’t know more until she wakes and I can assess her memory loss.”

“If she does have amnesia, will it be permanent?”

“Not typically. There have been the rarest of cases where the person never recovers any of their memories. They may see in their mind snippets of events, people, or places but are never able to fully recall their past life. It’s unlikely that her memories will be lost to her forever. For now, she needs to rest. We’ll know more in time. I will be by to check in on her in about an hour.”

Nodding to the doctor, Landon sat in the chair next to the bed, watching Brooke as she slept. He wanted her awake so he could talk to her and comfort her; but not at the expense of her being in pain.

He felt the phone in his pocket vibrating. Looking at the screen, he saw that it was his sister. “Hi, Natasha.”

“Landon, Gaston told me about the accident. Are you at the hospital?”

“Yeah, Brooke is starting to come to but is in a lot of pain. She’s medicated right now and sleeping. There is a chance she may have amnesia.” Landon told his sister about her comments and what the doctor told him.

“How terrible if her memory is gone, even temporarily. Have you been able to contact her family or friends?”

“There’s no one.”

“Are you sure, Landon? Everyone always has someone.”

“She told me yesterday that there was no one. Brooke doesn’t have a boyfriend or siblings. I think her parents have passed. I’ve asked the front desk at the Grand Vue to forward me any calls for her, in case someone tries to reach her.”

“How sad,” Natasha mused, mostly to herself. “What can I do for you, Landon?”

“I’m all right, babe. I know you’ve got your hands full with the kids.”

Not wanting to take no for an answer, Natasha insisted. “Let me at least bring you a change of clothes and some of your toiletries.”

Landon paused. He would love a shower and clean clothes. “If you’re sure it’s not too much trouble, I would appreciate it. I miss the kids, and you too, of course.” Gratitude filled his voice.

Natasha chuckled. “We’ll be there in about two hours. See you then. Love you.”

“I love you too.”

Landon returned his phone to his pocket while turning his attention back to Brooke’s sleeping form. She could have died. He thought about their last few moments on
The Absolution
and the question about his naming of the ship. If he had lost her, he was certain it would be one tragedy too many.

He would stay by her side making sure she was physically well, help her get settled, and then leave her forever. What a foolish thought! Landon knew it would be impossible to turn away even after she was better. His heart was fully engaged. For an indeterminate amount of time, Brooke would have to suffer the darkness of an empty mind, and he would not abandon her.

Thoughts of starting over with her filled his mind as he sat and waited for her to awaken. He had been waiting nearly half his life for that elusive something. He desperately wanted forgiveness, but he also desired love.

* * *

U
nable to bring Isabella and Nicholas into the ICU, Natasha called Landon when she was in the waiting room. He could see the concern on his sister’s face, but knew she wouldn’t push.

“Uncle Landon!” The four-year-old ran to him.

Scooping her up in a hug, Landon kissed her on the cheek. “Hi, sweet pea! How is my favorite niece in the whole world?”

Isabella giggled. “I’m your only niece, silly.”

“And you are the best one ever.” He glanced at his sister who was standing next to a stroller with a sleeping Nicholas.

“Hi, Natasha. Thanks for coming.”

The older sibling hugged and kissed her brother. “How is Brooke?”

“They’re running some tests to assess her memory loss and to do another CT scan and MRI. If the brain scans reveal no more swelling, they will keep her for another two days max.”

“Isn’t that too soon to release her?”

“That’s what I asked, but the doctor said once the swelling is down there is nothing more they can do except help manage her pain. Over the next few days they’ll see what medications she responds to best and then release her. He did say that someone should be with her around the clock for at least three days after she leaves the hospital. There is a list of things that her caregiver will need to monitor to ensure there are no continued or underlying issues from the head trauma.”

Isabella began squirming in Landon’s arms, indicating that she wanted to be placed down on the ground. He obliged her before returning his attention to his sister.

“What will you do since she has no family?”

“It will have to be me, unless she has objections to staying in one of my spare bedrooms at The Vue. I’ll work from my home office while Tomas takes some of my meetings. Thankfully, I cleared a lot off my desk before the cruise.” He paused. “If Brooke is not comfortable sharing my place for a few days, then I thought perhaps you might be willing to have her stay with you?”

“Of course. I would be happy to have her. It would be good company for me.”

“Are you sure it’s not too much? She’s in a lot of pain.”

“Ask her about staying at your place; if she chooses not to, then my place it is.”

Landon kissed his sister on the forehead. “Thank you.”

She smiled at him before asking him about his time on the cruise.

They talked for the next hour about the weekend and some other things, but not much about Brooke. He wasn’t ready.

Eventually a nurse appeared in the waiting room to inform Landon that the patient was back from her tests. He hugged his family and thanked Natasha again for the clean clothes and toiletries.

When he walked into the hospital room, Brooke appeared to be sleeping. Quietly, he sat in the chair and waited for the doctor to appear.

“Am I going to be all right?” Her voice startled Landon. Immediately, he stood and made his way to her side.

When she sensed his presence, she opened her eyes and looked at him. He could tell her eyes were more adjusted to the light; it seemed less painful for her to open them.

“You are no longer in danger, Brooke. I will take care of you.”

“There’s no one else, is there?” She searched his eyes. The helpless look he saw in them reminded him of a lost child. He knew by her comment that the amnesia was certain. Would the doctor be able to tell them more about the severity and the long-term impact?

“I don’t know, but I had the impression that you might not have anyone back home.”

“Where is my home?”

“You’re from Kalispell, Montana. We met a little over a week ago. You’re a photographer here on assignment taking pictures of Patagonia. You are staying at my hotel, the Grand Vue. The ship you were on for the cruise also belongs to me.”

Realizing who he was, Brooke immediately felt like a burden. “I’m sorry I’ve caused you so much trouble. Of course you would be concerned about my well-being; I was a passenger on your ship when I slipped and fell. You won’t have to worry about me filing a lawsuit. I will talk to the nurses. I’m sure there is someone in the area that I can pay to provide me with assistance until my memory . . . returns.” A brave but desperate look formed on her face.

She was about to say more when Landon gently placed his finger over her lips to silence her.

“I’m rambling, aren’t I?” she asked when he removed his finger.

He nodded. “First of all, I am not here because I feel obligated. We were becoming friends before your accident. We are also business partners.”

The puzzled look in her eyes led him to discuss the brochure and the photos she had taken of the ship.

“I hope you realize, Brooke, that I want to help you. If the CT scan and MRI come back clean, they will release you in two days; however, the doctor wants someone watching over you for the next seventy-two hours. I live at the Grand Vue. I have a suite of rooms on the top floor. If you are comfortable with the idea, I would be happy to lend you a room until you’re able to be left by yourself. Do you think you will be all right with those arrangements?”