CHAPTER 33
Cora Chapman
I WOKE UP IN A hospital bed. My memory was a dense fog.
Machines buzzed and beeped all around me and my lungs were on fire. My throat was dry and raspy. All I could remember were bright lights and crashing and water—then darkness.
A nurse walked in. “Oh, good. You’re up.”
“What happened?”
My husky voice must’ve told her I needed water. I sounded like I’d chain-smoked a carton of cigarettes. She walked over with a big Styrofoam cup with a bent straw that sprouted from the top.
The nurse lowered it so I could take a drink.
“You were in a car accident. You nearly drowned.”
Some of it resonated. I remembered panicking. It all came to me slowly. “Landon.” It wasn’t a question. His name just came out of my mouth without even thinking.
“He saved your life. Him and his brother. He’s out in the waiting room with your family.”
My eyes widened and panic filled me.
“He not supposed to meet your family?”
I shook my head. “Not good.”
She leaned over as if she wanted to set me at ease. “It looked like they were getting along when I walked by earlier.”
“Can he come in?”
“Let me go check with the doctor and tell him you’re awake.”
ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER A man in a white lab coat walked through the door. Landon followed, towering over him.
The doctor kept talking, but all I could see was the look on Landon’s face. His jaw was tight and his cheeks were flushed with pink. He relaxed when he saw me.
I held out a hand for him. He took a giant stride and smothered my palm with his while the doctor checked me over. I had to be on some kind of pain medication because my thoughts were jumbled and I didn’t feel much.
“Ms. Chapman, everything seems fine in our pulmonary function tests. Neural systems are all fine too. No damage. You were incredibly lucky. We’re going to get your arm casted up and then I think you can probably go home soon. We gave you something for pain, but I’ll write you a prescription for more when you leave. You’ll need physical therapy for the arm. We can get that set up for you up front when you’re discharged.”
I nodded. “Okay.” I glanced to Landon then back to him. His words took a second to sink in. “My arm is broken?”
“Yes. Fractured humerus. Compound. Pretty nasty break overall, but fortunately it was clean. Probably on impact from the initial roll.”
“My car rolled over?”
“It rolled twice. Once during the wreck.” He glanced at Landon. “And, umm, once after.”
I gripped Landon’s hand tighter. So hard I could see the whites in my knuckles. I just wanted him, alone in the room.
The doctor and nurse finally left, and Landon slid a chair up next to my bed. He stared at me like I was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t,” I said. “Don’t do that.” I shook my head. “You warned me it was going to get bad. I was going to come right back. I promise.” I stared up at the ceiling. “I shouldn’t have left at all, though. Should’ve gone for a walk or something.”
“Don’t you blame yourself. If you’d gone for a walk coyotes could’ve gotten you in the field. Bad luck can happen anytime. We can’t control it.” He smoothed down some of my hair.
I didn’t think it needed it, he just wanted to touch me. I wanted to curl up in his arms.
Landon stared off at the wall. “Reporters.” His hand tightened on mine.
“You didn’t kill them, did you?”
He turned back and grinned. “No, but I thought Logan was going to.”
“Oh my gosh, what did he do?”
“Acted like a man. Defended his family.”
I smiled and then winced in pain.
Landon jumped to his feet. “You okay? You need anything?”
I motioned him toward my face with my index finger. When he was within reach I put a palm on his cheek. “Just you. And Logan. And Janet.” I paused and faked a glare out at the hallway. “And Joe.”
Landon leaned over and kissed me. I tried to roll away. I’d probably chugged a gallon of filthy water. My breath had to be rank. Landon didn’t care. He kissed me anyway.
“Your parents are here.”
“I heard. I wonder how they found out.”
“I called them. When we got here.”
“What? Why?”
Landon frowned. “You almost died. They’re your parents. They needed to know.”
“I know. You’re right. I guess you should send them in.”
“I think that’s a good idea. They’re really worried.”
“God, you talked to them?”
“Of course I did. I’m in love with their daughter.” He dropped another kiss on my forehead.
Landon left, and my parents walked in. Dad was a rock. Unreadable. It meant he was worried. Mom’s face was pink, and her eyes were a little welled up at the corners. We said our “I’m sorrys” and all that good stuff. It would probably only last a week, but I’d take it. It was a vicious cycle, but it was our vicious cycle.
“So, what happened? I still don’t really know.”
Dad straightened up. “They didn’t tell you?”
I shook my head.
“Some reporters chased you in a van. Landon said they were trying to take pictures and practically ran you off the road. The car flipped. It landed in an irrigation ditch. That was all Landon said, but we talked to the officers and firemen who were there. They said it slid down into the middle of it. The water filled up the car and you were totally submerged and drowning. Landon and his brother turned the car right-side up in the middle of the creek bed. Officer said it had to weigh thousands of pounds with all the water. They’d never seen anything like it, ever. Like it was something out of a comic book with superheroes. You were under for a while, with a broken arm. Landon pulled you out. Gave you CPR in the middle of the road. You didn’t respond. Everyone thought you were dead. Then out of nowhere you came back to life.”
“Oh my God.” I shook my head. Landon had downplayed all of it, like it wasn’t a big deal.
“Cora.” Mom approached cautiously. I held my hand out to let her know it was okay. After our last spat, I’d decided she wouldn’t change and we’d just have to embrace our differences.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I know—”
“It’s okay, Mom.”
Her eyes lit up. “It is?”
“We’re just different. That’s all. It doesn’t mean we have to be enemies.”
“Well, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve talked to your father.”
Dad nodded. “Yeah. Your decisions are yours. But we don’t want you to disappear on us again. We just want to be a part of your life. Whatever you choose. We know things will always be rough, but we will try.”
A warmth rushed into my chest and filled my heart. “I’m sure we’ll always complicate things.” I took a deep breath. “But I’d like that.”