Two Can Play (37 page)

I'm kissing her face and talking to her when I notice a tiny movement.

Did her eyelids just flutter?

I kiss her some more a little harder, desperately willing her and coaxing her out.

“Kate, come on, Kate...come back to me...please...?” I rub her face insistently and her eyes suddenly open wide and stare into mine.

I gasp in shock as she focuses on me.

“Hello, baby,” I whisper, almost speechless and breathless with relief and love.

“
Where am I?” she croaks in a tiny voice.

“
It's the hospital. You had a little accident. I'm here looking after you.”  I can't help it and break down and sob all over her face, kissing her to pieces. “I love you so much, Kate.” I sniff hard, trying to get myself in order.

Her hand moves up my shoulder and touches my head, stroking my hair.

“Love you too...so thirsty, Aaron. Water...please,” she croaks. The sound of my name on her lips makes me so happy I could shout.

I press the attendant button for the nurse.

She appears in the room a few seconds later.

“
She's awake, and thirsty,” I announce, with the biggest smile ever.

She smiles back at me. “Well isn't that great news? Let me check her over.”

The nurse asks her to move her hand, wiggle her toes, turn her head, and various other things. She checks her IV drip and resets her electrical equipment, finally giving her some water.

I watch her eyes, as they stare at me, and then flutter closed again.

“What's happening?” I ask the nurse in concern.

“
Everything's fine. She's just asleep. She'll come and go for a while. Don't worry. It's normal.”

My world is a wonderful place again. She's with me and she still knows me.

I call every one I can think of in the highest elation.

~ * ~

It's three days after she gained consciousness and I'm speaking to Mom, yet again, giving her yet another update. She called me this time, which was nice, and she's telling me don't even think about coming back to Venice. She won't hear of it. She understands, and says she's fine with the girls at her side when she has her planned laser treatment op. She says she's more comfortable with the girls, given the nature of the cancer, which I understand completely. I say I'll get over there as soon as I can bring Kate with me. God knows when that will be. But I'm not leaving her.

I haven't told her about the pregnancy yet. It's hard to broach the subject, considering it may not last. But every day that passes gives me more hope that it will. The nursing staff have kept it quiet and after a discussion with David and Bambi, who I have already told, he has agreed to let me tell her when she gets home tomorrow. As long as I tell her straight away, which I've promised, in the presence of Harry & Bambi, to do.

Kate and I are on the way home to Harry's today. We've employed a private nurse and I'm staying there as long as I have to.

We get her home, and after a very long and slow hobble through the house, onto her bed. She's lying down, wearing a pale blue and extremely sweet Hello Kitty nightdress her mom got for her. Her hair is already visible, growing a little. She looks impish. Cute and pixie-like.

Her facial bruises are fading, the swelling has gone down around her eyes and nose, and she's starting to look more like the Kate she was.

I know it'll be months before she can walk properly again, as she's got multiple fractures in her leg, but she's gonna do fine. I'm making sure of that.

Bambi and the nurse go off to the kitchen for some coffee.

“Okay?” I ask her, fussing around her, straightening her huge expanse of white bedclothes.

“
Yes... fine...stop fussing,” she says and grins at me.

I lean over and kiss her cute grin.

“Want anything?”

“
Just you.”

“
You've got me already.”

“
I know.”

I sit at her side, holding her hand.

We've spoken about lots of things the past few days. Her song writing, her plans and mine. We're looking forward to the future. Both of us. Together. So far I've avoided talking much about the accident, but I'm curious about it and what followed.

“
Kate...I was wondering. What was it like, being unconscious?”

“
Black, filled with nothing, oddly enough.” She laughs.

“
So you don't remember a thing?” That's kinda disappointing. I was hoping there'd been something going on in her head.

“
After the accident, no. But I had a dream, just before I woke up. A really strange one.”

“
Tell me about it.”

“
It was sunny and I was laying on some grass. A little boy was there. He played some games with me and told me to go inside his house. I asked him his name and he said he was Joe. It was really odd, Aaron, because he kept calling me mommy and said I had to see his daddy.”

I have a hot blood rush in my head. I'm quite sure she doesn't know my father was called Joe. I've never mentioned his name to her.

A little boy calling her Mommy? It's more than strange. It's unbelievable as far as coincidences are concerned.

“
A little boy called Joe? That's a sweet name, Kate. And he led you back to me, did he?”

“
He said I had to see his daddy. I didn't ever get to see him because the next thing, there you were. And you know what was really odd? He looked like you as a boy. Like that photo in your room at your mom's. Perhaps it was you who I was dreaming of?”

“
No, I don't think it was me you were dreaming of, honey,” I say slowly.

“
Why not?”

“
I think there's another reason you saw him.” My heart thumps uncontrollably in my chest.

“
And what reason is that?”

I squeeze her hand, take a deep breath and tell her what she needs to know. “Kate, I know this is going to come as a shock, but you're pregnant baby. And I think little Joe's in there.” I rub her stomach softly.

She laughs and stares at me in disbelief. “Don't be stupid. What are you saying, Aaron? I can’t be pregnant. How can I be?”

“
You definitely are, it's been confirmed by the hospital, and I'm guessing he's our Joe.”

“
Oh God...I really can't believe it...”

“
I found it kinda hard to believe myself at first. It took a bit of getting used to.”

“
Holy smoke...I think I need to lie down, but oh fuck, I already am.”

I laugh at her sweet, stunned facial expression.

Then I try and explain the other part, carefully.

“
I've been told not to be too hopeful. The shock from the accident can bring on a miscarriage...he might not survive, sweetheart.”

“
Right...so we'd better not get too attached to Joe then, had we? It's probably just as well anyway, isn't it?” She scans my face looking for a clue as to my feelings. I'm doing the same thing to her.

But I'm already more than attached to Joe and I'm not fucking about over that for a second.

“Baby, I'm praying he's okay. I'm so pleased about it.”

“
You're pleased?” she says in a shocked voice.

“
Ecstatic.” I grin.

She smiles back at me, beaming with happiness, lifts her head and kisses me.

“God! I really can't believe all this is happening. One minute I'm almost dead and the next I'm baby-on-board. And so much for being on the pill...jeez... 99.9 per cent reliable?” She laughs and smiles at me, a heart stopping gorgeous smile.

“
It does seem as if something was very determined to get together between us.”

She turns on her side, facing me with an amazed expression.

“Determined? I'm thinking your boys must be Olympic triathletes.”

“
I'd like to think that, but maybe it was you? Perhaps your girl was so desperate for company she came out of hiding and threw herself in my river.”

“
Ha ha,” she giggles sweetly. “God knows, or maybe he doesn't?”

“
I guess it'll always be a mystery, won't it Kate? And you know something? I kinda like that.”

“
Yeah, me too...and talking of mysteries, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. For some mysterious reason, Bren seems to think we're engaged. Did you propose to me when I was unconscious?”

“
No, that was my reaction to seeing him lying all over you when I arrived at the hospital. I needed to pull rank.”

I really can't stand to be in the same room as him, but I don't need to tell her that. I'm so pleased he's gone back to Austin now.

“He's got a crush on me, that's all. And I guess you'll have to dis-engage us now, won't you? Before Mom finds out, and plans our party at Caesars Palace and chooses her wedding outfit.”

“
Do you really want me to dis-engage us?” My heart's pounding. I don't know what I'm saying. I'm putting out feelers, voicing my innermost thoughts.

“
I want whatever you want, but at the right time,” she replies a little cryptically.

I'd have preferred a straight yes or no, and not to have the question turned back on me. So being the clever bastard I am, I bounce it back again.

“And I want whatever you want...and what time is the right time?”

She places her finger over my lips.

“It's not going to be now, is it? Think about it. The baby might not survive. It could be a very upsetting time ahead for us. Let's take everything nice and slow. There's no rush, is there? We're together and that's enough for me. Ask me that question when and if you feel it's the right time to ask it. And I'll tell Bren something convincing...to keep him quiet and sweet and off our case, when I next speak to him.”

I snuggle up close and nibble her ear. I really love her ears. I can't keep my teeth off them.

“I guess that's best, for everyone. Right now I just want you to concentrate on getting better and keeping yourself and Joe safe, okay?”

“
And I'll try my goddamn best not to have any more disasters.”

“
Yeah, you do that. Just stay here in bed, baby. Don't move an inch without me. And Kate...one more thing, did anyone tell you my dad was called Joe.”

“
No...oh no...Aaron, you are kidding me,” she whispers.

“
No I'm not, and it kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?”

“
It's doing more than making me wonder. It's a goddamn sign. A burning bush or something prophetic. I've got shivers running up and down my spine. I don't know what to think right now?”

“
I'm feeling the same way baby, believe me.”

She strokes my face.

“Look, I'm not going there Aaron. In an attempt to make this simple for us. I'll just say thank you. Out loud. To you for giving me Joe, and your dad for naming him. However long I have him for.” She rubs her stomach.