At five-thirty, he rose and kissed Dakota’s cheek. “Bye, honey. I’ll be back soon.” He hated to leave, but a part of him was relieved too. As long as he was with her, he couldn’t escape the heavy, overwhelming guilt of what he’d done.

  By the time he’d showered and forced some food down, he was drained of energy. Cat was still asleep, and Janey had been sleeping in the guest room when he’d arrived. He’d made sure not to wake her.

  He sat in the recliner and closed his eyes. He had some time before eight.

  The sound of the burbling Keurig penetrated his dreams, and he slowly opened his eyes. He looked at his watch. Damn. Nine forty-five. He rose from the chair and went into the kitchen. “Good morning, Janey.”

  Cat was playing in her walker, and he gave her a kiss.

  Janey’s brows rose. “Oh! Did I wake you?”

  “I meant to go over to see Michael at eight, so I’m glad I heard you making coffee. How about fixing a cup for me?” He retrieved a mug from the cabinet and handed it to her.

  “Sure thing.”

  Fifteen minutes later, with the coffee on board, he felt much better. He headed over to Dakota’s house.

  Michael answered the door. “Hi, Beau. Come on in. I’ve got Johnathan up and dressed, and he’s already had breakfast.”

  “That’s great.” He filled Michael in on Dakota’s condition and then said, “If you’ll give me that number, I’ll call and see what we can work out.”

  As Beau went into the living room, Michael left to get the contact information. Several minutes later, Beau had a woman named Shelly on the line. He explained the situation and then said, “Michael can stay here this morning, but we’ve got to make other arrangements after that. He needs to get back to his own responsibilities.”

  “I understand. Let me see what I can set up. Can I call you back on this number?”

  “Yes, it’s my cell, and I’ll have it on me. So, do you think you can do something pretty quickly?” he asked.

  “Yes, we have backup plans in place for our caregivers. I just need to look at Dakota’s paperwork. I’ll speak with you shortly.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be waiting for your call.”

  Michael sat down opposite him on the couch, obviously anxious to hear the outcome of the call.

  “This woman Shelly just needs to find out what the backup arrangements are. She’s going to call me back.”

  “Great. I’ll hang tight here and keep Johnathan busy. He’s anxious at having his routine disturbed and is worried about Dakota. I kept my explanation vague as to why she isn’t here, but he knows she’s not feeling well.”

  “Well, let’s hope we have some good news to share with him soon.”

  He felt torn between going back to the hospital and going home for some much-needed sleep. As he stood up, however, his legs buckled, and he decided to go home.

  When he walked in, Janey was feeding Cat breakfast. He gave his daughter a kiss. “Hey, munchkin. Daddy loves you.”

  Cat, who had a full mouth, smiled.

  He chuckled. “I’ll leave you alone so you can eat, little one.” When he stood up again, his back twinged painfully. That decided him. He needed to rest. “Janey, I think I’ll try to get some sleep. Are you okay with staying a while longer?”

  “I’d be glad to stay all day, Beau. I slept well last night in the guest room. I’m good to go.”

  “Thanks, Janey. That works for me. I’ll see you in a few hours, then.”

  Yet, when he lay down in bed, his eyes were wide open. His heart weighed heavily in his chest, and breathing was an effort. What if Dakota didn’t wake up when they took her off the medication that was keeping her in a coma?

  He moaned, and tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. He’d done everything wrong. Her injuries were all his fault. If only the car had come from the other direction. It should have been him who was injured, not her.

  He turned onto his side in an attempt to get away from his thoughts. She had to get better. She just had to. He squeezed his eyes shut. God, please heal Dakota. Bring her out of her coma safe and sound. Don’t let her have brain damage. Make her just the way she was before. Please God. I’ll do anything, be anything you want if you’ll just do this one thing.

  He opened his eyes, and a tiny thread of peace wound through his belly. As it began to widen and grow, he took a deep breath and slowly breathed it out. His muscles relaxed one by one. His mind became fuzzy and drifted. Blackness overtook him.

  Beau woke midafternoon, foggy-headed and grim. He’d dreamed that Dakota had died at the hospital, never having awakened. Her parents had been holding each other and sobbing, and when he’d entered her room, they’d refused to acknowledge him.

  Uneasily shaking off the dream, he got ready to leave again. Janey said she was okay staying with Cat while he went back to the hospital. As he left, he gave Cat a guilty hug. He’d hardly seen her in the past twenty-four hours.

  When he arrived at Dakota’s room, Pete and an unfamiliar woman were there. Pete gave Beau a wan smile. “Fran went home to rest. She’ll be back later, and then I’ll leave.”

  The woman rose and offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Beau. I’m Jules, Dakota’s best friend.”

  He shook her hand. “It’s good to meet you too. I just wish it was in better circumstances.”

  He went over to the bed and took Dakota’s hand, bending to kiss her cheek. She looked the same as she had before he’d left that morning. Then he glanced at Pete. “What did the doctor say when he came in today?”

  “He looked into her eyes for a while. Then he said that it would take time to see improvement. I asked how much time, and he said, “Let’s give it a few days. Then we’ll see.”

  Beau bit back a groan. “Days? He’s going to keep her in this coma for days?”

  Pete blew out a breath and rubbed his forehead. “That’s what it sounded like.”

  Beau felt his pulse picking up speed. How could he wait that long to find out if Dakota would be okay? And what about her broken bones? Something more had to be done about them, didn’t it?

  He noticed a new bandage on her upper arm. He pointed. “What happened there?”

  “They came in and stitched her arm up. They also sutured the two cuts on her back that only had pressure bandages on them. They were so gentle and careful. It gave me a lot of confidence in this place.”

  “Did they say when they were going to do something about her broken arm and leg?”

  Pete sighed. “The two that came in to stitch her up didn’t know anything about that.”

  Beau gritted his teeth. If only he were more conversant with the medical field. “When is Aiden coming back? Do you know?”

  “He had surgeries scheduled for today, so he’ll be here this evening. He has office hours tomorrow, but he said that he was going to rearrange his appointments so he could spend more time here then.”

  Well that was good news. Maybe Aiden could find out what the plans were for Dakota’s fractures. “Why don’t you go to the cafeteria while we’re here with Dakota? I’m sure you’ll feel better if you get out of here for a little while.”

  Pete glanced at his daughter. “I think I will. She won’t be waking up since they’re keeping her under.”

  “Take your time,” Beau said.

  Before the older man could leave, Jules said, “I think I’d better get back, Pete. Please keep me updated.” She gave him a hug. “I know she’s going to come through this. Try not to worry yourself sick.”

  After they both had gone, Beau brought Dakota’s hand to his lips. “Honey, I’m so, so sorry you’re hurt like this. I’m sorry I didn’t protect you. I should have called the evening off. It was obvious how bad the storm was before we left the house.”

  He studied her face. It was pale and yet so beautiful despite the bruising down one side. “I should have turned back when I saw how poor the visibility was.”

  He moaned softly and squeezed her hand. “Sweetheart, I should have done anything but drive you in that awful storm. This is all my fault, and I don’t deserve to be in your life.”

  He took a steadying breath. “But I’ll stay. I’ll be here until you wake up. But when I know that you’re okay, you won’t have to see me anymore.” Tears rolled down his cheeks, but he didn’t wipe them away. They were proof of his guilt, and he wouldn’t let himself forget it.

  He stayed three more hours after Pete got back. Fran returned during that time, and Pete left. He and Fran chatted intermittently, but neither of them felt much like talking.

  Every time he looked at Dakota’s unmoving form, he was stabbed with guilt. Finally, he said, “I need to get back so I can let my sitter go home. And I’ll return to work tomorrow. As a new employee, I don’t have any accrued time off, and I’m afraid they might frown on me taking more days away from the office.”

  Fran smiled gently at him. “I understand, of course.”

  “Cat and I will come back in the afternoon, though. I want to spend some time with Dakota each day, if you don’t mind,” he said.

  “Of course we don’t mind,” she said. “You’re always welcome. We’ll see you here tomorrow, then.”

  She rose slowly to her feet, and he rushed to her side. She gave him a firm hug.

  His heart warmed, and that hug relieved the tiniest amount of his guilt. He went to Dakota’s bedside and clasped her hand. “I’m leaving now, sweetheart, but I’ll be back tomorrow, and I’ll bring Cat. You do your best to get better, you hear?”

  As he slid the glass door shut behind him, a heavy weight settled on his chest. Dakota’s beautiful mind was trapped inside her unresponsive body, and it was all his fault.

  Eight days later, Beau, exhausted to the point of near delirium, got out of bed at the sound of his phone alarm. The evening before, after tapering the dosages for several days, the doctor had finally taken Dakota completely off the meds that were keeping her in the coma. He’d also modified the ventilator during that time so that she could gradually begin breathing on her own. Beau wanted to be there with her in the event that she awakened.

  With bleary eyes, he looked at his phone and tapped his boss’s contact. Whether Anna liked it or not, he was taking the day off. When her voicemail picked up, he said, “This is Beau. Dakota’s off the medication keeping her in a coma, and there’s a good chance she’ll wake up today. I need to be there. I’ll have my phone on. Call if you need anything.”

  He staggered out of bed and into the bathroom.

  After a long, hot shower, he felt human again.

  Janey arrived while he was making himself a cup of coffee, so he went ahead and made her one too.

  “Good news,” she said as she sat down at the kitchen table with him. “Caroline said that she can meet with you any evening this week. I can’t believe how lucky we are that she decided to put off going to college for a year. I think you’re really going to like her.”

  Pain shot through his chest. Dakota had been supposed to take over caring for Cat when Janey went off to school, and now that couldn’t happen. Caroline was the replacement Janey had found.

  After a pause to gain his composure, he said, “I’m sure I will. Everything you’ve told me about her sounds perfect. I can’t thank you enough for finding her for me.”

  “Like I said, she lives pretty close, and she’s ultra-responsible.”

  He nodded. “I also like it that she knows infant and child CPR and first aid.”

  Janey chuckled. “She’s actually better qualified than I am.”

  “You’ve been wonderful, and I’ll miss you when you go off to college.” He took another swallow of coffee, feeling a bit more alert. “Why don’t you see if she can come over tomorrow evening? Say around six?”

  “No problem. I’ll give her a call.”

  He quickly fixed himself some instant oatmeal, knowing that having something in his stomach would absorb some of the acid that always flooded it when he visited Dakota.

  When he walked into her hospital room an hour later, both Pete and Fran were there. As they greeted him, he asked, “Any changes?”

  “Her eyes are moving under her eyelids, like she’s dreaming. I think that’s a good sign,” Fran said in an excited voice.

  He went over to Dakota’s bedside and took her hand. As he watched, he saw her eyeballs move slightly. Elation filled him. If she was dreaming, then maybe her brain activity was increasing.

  “When is the doctor supposed to be in?” he asked.

  “He’s usually here around ten-thirty or eleven. I hope he’s on time today,” Pete said.

  “So, not long from now.” Beau pulled a chair up to Dakota’s bedside and kissed her cheek before sitting down. She still had the ventilator mask on, but hopefully that would be removed today, too.

  He took her hand and applied gentle pressure to her fingers. His heart leapt. Had he felt a tiny response? He squeezed again. Yes! He’d definitely felt something. “I think her finger moved,” he said.

  “What? She moved?” Fran jumped up and strode to Dakota’s bedside. “Honey, can you hear me? It’s momma. I love you, honey. I’m right beside you. If you can hear me, open your eyes.”

  Beau watched anxiously as Dakota’s eyes moved beneath her eyelids. But she didn’t open them.

  He leaned down and said in a clear, strong voice, “Dakota, it’s Beau. Wake up for me, honey. Open your eyes. Please, honey, open your eyes for me.”

  Fran sucked in a breath as Dakota’s eyelids opened a fraction.

  He said, “That’s it, sweetheart. Lift your eyelids. Look at me.” He bent down and kissed her forehead. “Come back to me, honey. Open your eyes.”

  Slowly, her eyes opened.

  He frowned. Her gaze was blank. Could she see him? He caressed her forehead. “There you are, sweetheart. Your mom and dad are here. You’re in University Hospital right now. You’ve been asleep for nine days, and I’m so glad you woke up.”

  “I love you, honey,” Fran said as she choked back tears.

  Pete, who stood beside her, said, “It’s Daddy, honey. I’m here too. We haven’t left your side. Everything’s going to be okay now.”

  Dakota’s eyes closed then, but not for long. When she opened them again, there seemed to be thought behind her stare.

  Fran said, “Pete, why don’t you go tell the nurses that Dakota’s awake?”

  “Good idea.” He hurried from the room.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dakota’s doctor and a nurse walked in. “What’s this I hear about my patient waking up?”

  Dakota had her eyes closed again.

  “She’s opened her eyes several times, but she hasn’t spoken yet,” Fran said.

  The doctor listened to her chest and, after a moment, said, “We can take this ventilator off. She doesn’t need it anymore. The way it’s set now, she’s been doing most of the work herself anyway.”

  After several long moments, Dakota was free of the ventilator.

  Beau looked at her, glad to see her beautiful face again.

  Then the doctor took out a large, blunt-tipped needle from his pocket and removed the sheet and blanket from Dakota’s feet. He pressed the needle firmly to the bottom of her heel. As he ran it to the top of her foot, her eyes opened and her foot flexed downward.

  Fran clapped her hands. “Did you see that! She moved!”

  Beau’s heart pounded as the doctor put the needle on the other foot and gained the same response.

  “This is good news,” he said, and then tested both of her palms. She reacted each time.

  The doctor clasped Dakota’s hand and said, “Dakota, if you can hear me, say yes.”

  Dakota didn’t respond.

  The doctor repeated his words, and this time, her lips gave a tiny twitch. “You’re doing well, Dakota,” he said. “Keep trying to talk. You’ve come a long way, and your family’s here with you.”

  As he stepped away from the bed, he looked at everyone and said, “Keep talking to her and stimulating her by holding her hand and stroking her. Just don’t let her get overtired. She’s been through a lot and needs her rest.”

  “Of course,” Pete said, smiling. “We’re just so happy with her progress.”

  The doctor nodded and strode from the room.

  Beau, who held Dakota’s hand, said, “I’ll bet she has something to say before the day’s out.” He bent and kissed her forehead. “Sweetheart, just say one word. Any word. We’re listening.”

  A second later, her lips moved.

  Fran gasped.

  He said, “What is it, honey?”

  Her lips came together, and she whispered, “Beau?”

  Elation burst through him. He cried, “I’m here, honey.”

  Her eyes moved toward his voice.

  He brought her hand to his lips. “Sweetheart, welcome back.” Tears filled his eyes as Fran started to cry.

  Pete took his wife into his arms, and with a shaking voice said, “She’s going to be okay, honey. God’s answered our prayers.”

  Beau moved so that he was in Dakota’s line of sight.

  She said again, “Beau?”

  He caressed her forehead. “It’s me, sweetheart. I don’t know if you remember, but we were in a car accident. You were hurt, and now you’re in the hospital. But you’re going to be okay.” His voice broke. After taking a deep breath, he continued. “The doctor checked, and your reflexes are all working just fine. That’s great news. Now you just need to rest and get better, honey.”

  Her eyes closed for a moment. When she opened them, she said, “John... Johnathan?”

  “He’s fine. Michael stayed with him until he could go to your backup placement. You don’t need to worry about him.”

  She sighed heavily, and her eyes drooped.

  “Dakota, are you hurting? We can get you pain medicine if you are,” Fran said as she anxiously patted her daughter’s shoulder.

  After a long moment, she said, “Leg.”

  Beau’s brow wrinkled. God, her broken thigh was hurting. It was still just in a splint.

  “I’ll get her something,” he said and strode from the room.

 

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