Part 20 (1/2)
He looked into her big, shadowed green eyes and saw the fear and painshe was determined to deny.
”Faith-”
”I know I should probably call it a day, go to bed and sleep, but ...I'd really rather not do that just yet.”
She drew the blanket tighter around herself, the strain showing now inthe tension of her posture, and fixed her gaze on the fire. ”I don'twant to be alone right now.”
Thinking of her isolated in her limbo of no memory drove him to say,”You aren't alone, Faith. I'm not going anywhere.”
”Thank you.”
”But my confidence that you'd be safer here with me was obviouslymisplaced. I'm sorry. Noah was right; I should have taken betterprecautions from the beginning.”
”You had ... other things on your mind.”
”That's no excuse. I made your safety my responsibility, and I shouldhave followed through. But tomorrow I'll take those steps I mentioned toGuy, make it impossible for anyone to get close or to see inside. I'llmake sure we have an escort when we leave here. You'll be safe, Ipromise.” She nodded, but said, ”if I could only remember.
We'd be ahead of them then. We'd know what it is they want and why theywant it so badly. We'd know who they are. Maybe we'd even know whereDinah is.”
”You can't force your memory to return.”
”I've been out of the coma now for almost a month.
I should be remembering something. Those dreams are only flashes-I don'tremember them, not really, I just see them happening. And what do I knowabout myself? I play the piano, it seems. I'm nervous about storms.” Shedrew a shaky breath. ”My mother and sister were horribly murdered, and Ican't remember, can't feel anything about it. I married a man who abusedme, who terrified me, yet I could pa.s.s him tomorrow on the street andnever recognize his face.”
”Faith-”
”What's my favorite color? My favorite food? Do I like to read? Do Ilike animals? Flowers? Did I love Tony Ellis before he beat me?”
Kane pulled her into his arms and held her while she cried. He didn'turge her to stop or tell her every- thing would be all right; crying wasobviously some thing she needed to do. Careful of her injury, he wrappedboth arms around her, rested his cheek against her soft hair, and 'justheld her.
It was a long time before she finally quieted, before she said in am.u.f.fled voice against his chest, ”Oh, G.o.d, I'm sorry.”
”Don't be ridiculous.”
she pulled back a little. ”I don't usually cry.” Then she laughedshakily. ”At least, I don't think I do.”
”You're ent.i.tled. More than ent.i.tled.” Since his handkerchief had been employed earlier, he used a corner of the blanket to wipe her cheeks.
”And I bet you feel better now, don't you?”
”As a matter of fact, I do.”
”Then I count it as a good thing.” He brushed a strand of her hair awayfrom her face and smiled at her when she finally met his gaze. Hisfingers lingered on her face, and he thought how soft and warm her skin was.
He had never before seen eyes that particular shade of green, likeseawater. It would be so easy to sink into them and lose himself So easyto think of nothing but the ache of loneliness and longing he felt, toforget everything else. ... Kane realized he was staring at hermouth, that his hand had moved to cradle the back of her head and wasdrawing her toward him. And he froze.
Faith blinked as if coming out of a daze, then very slowly pulled awayfrom him and got to her feet. ”I think I'll turn in now after all. Goodnight, Kane.”
”Good night.” His voice sounded normal, he thought.
He sat there for several minutes staring into the fire. Then he pulledout his wallet and opened the section where he kept photographs.
She hated posing for pictures and always had, so this was a candid shot.
He had surprised her at the beach, catching her in a brief yellowtwo-piece that showed her splendid body to advantage. The click of theshutter had just missed her scowl; his own glee at finally capturing her on film after several frustrated attempts had amused her, and she hadlaughed, giving him a wonderful picture.
It was the only picture of Dinah he had.
”Come back to me,” he murmured. ”Come back before ..
He didn't finish the sentence. Even to himself.
”There's no sign of infection,” Dr. Burnett said as he finishedrebandaging Faith's wound, ”so the shot's just a precaution. In themeantime-”
Faith smiled at him as she pulled down the loose sleeve of her sweater.
”I know. Don't stand in front of any more windows.”
Burnett washed and dried his hands at the small sink in the examination room, then nodded at the nurse, who left silently. When they were alone,he said, ”Faith, what's going on? A gunshot wound?”
She wasn't certain how much she should tell him, and with the newtension between her and Kane, she hadn't felt able to seek his advicebefore they had parted just a few minutes before, he to question theremaining staff members, she to check in with Burnett and get her armexamined. Going on the theory that the least said would probably bebest, she replied, ”The police are investigating.”
”You have no idea why someone shot at you?” Lightly, she said, ”It wasthe middle of a storm and at night, and for all I know whoever it wasnever even aimed the gun, much less aimed it at me. It was probably afluke. Just a fluke.”
Burnett looked unconvinced, but nodded and changed the subject. ”So howare you doing otherwise? I called your apartment over the weekendbut didn't get an answer.”
”I'm ... staying somewhere else.” Before he could question that, shewent on quickly, ”And I'm fine. I get tired a bit too easily, but that'sall.”
”No headaches? Dizziness?”
”No, nothing like that.” Sometimes I hear the sounds of water rus.h.i.+ng,just inside my head, you understand, but that's probably nothing at allto worry about ...
”Any unusual muscle weakness or numbness any- where?”
”No.”
Burnett nodded again and studied her soberly.
”Any memories come back?”
”Not really.” Faith shrugged, wincing when she felt a twinge of pain inher arm. ”More knowledgee. I found out I play the piano, for instance. I... found out some things about my past, my life before I came toAtlanta, but not through remembering. Sometimes I have dreams that mightbe memory, but it doesn't feel that way.”
He frowned. ”Faith, I'd like you to talk to Dr. Wilson again.”