Chapter Forty-Two
Carina
With the exception of going to the bathroom, Josh hadn’t left her side. He had stood in silence, holding her hand while the police questioned her. When the police finally left, he had crawled into the small hospital bed and held her while they waited for the X-ray and MRI results.
She knew Josh wasn’t happy with what she had done. Pissing Eric off at the outset and unleashing his rage had been her plan all along. Her intention was to get Eric to confess to what he had done to her in the presence of another administrator, one who was loved and respected, one whose statement no one would dispute when he told what he had witnessed. But what she hadn’t anticipated was lying in a hospital bed at the end of the day.
The ambulance and police had arrived within minutes. She had been wheeled to the waiting ambulance and taken to Jefferson Hospital for her injuries. While her vitals had been taken by a nurse, Josh had come running into the ER and found her. The look on his face when he had first caught sight of her lying in the hospital bed still haunted her. There was so much fear…so much pain in his eyes.
“I know you’re angry, but I had to…”
“Put your life at risk?” he rasped, his voice thick with unshed tears. He still held her, but she knew he was livid. “I… I could have lost you.”
“I’m right here,” she said, looking up at him. “Still here, still yours…” She kissed him. “Always yours.”
Carina heard a throat clearing and looked up to see her doctor standing at the foot of her bed. “Everything looks good, Ms. McGinnis. No concussion and no fracture, but expect some bruising. I’ll prescribe Motrin for the discomfort you may encounter over the next several days. Other than that, I’m clearing you for discharge.” Carina heard Josh sigh and then felt him kiss the top of her head. “Reception can help arrange for a cab to take you home, if you like.”
“She’s coming home with me,” Josh said. The doctor smiled and then left them alone.
Carina melted into his embrace. “I love you,” she said.
“And I love you…my brave, hard-headed girl.”
***
After a much-needed shower and downing two Motrin, Carina had called her parents and told them what had happened. Just as she had expected, her mother was furious that someone would lay a hand on her baby girl. Her father had remained calm and asked her if she wanted to come home and stay with them for a while. Carina had thanked him, but she admitted to her father that she was with Josh and that he was taking care of her.
Carina had called Jake next and repeated the same story she had given her parents. But unlike her father, Jake did not remain calm. There was talk of hunting the bastard down and killing him with his bare hands. There were expletives flying and promises that Eric Ross would never see the light of day again.
After Jake’s rant had subsided, Carina thanked him first and then made him swear to her that he wouldn’t touch Eric. As much as she wanted to see Eric suffer, she didn’t want her brother in jail. She asked Jake to tell Luke, Gabe and Brennan what had happened and make them swear on their firstborn sons that they too would not touch a hair on Eric’s head. He had begrudgingly agreed and then asked her if she would like to stay at his place while everything blew over. She had been grateful for the offer, for having such a caring brother, but she had declined and told him she was staying at Josh’s.
Phone calls to Mia, Morgan and Erin had come next. Their reactions had been similar to Jake’s, but filtered. They had refrained from speaking of how they wanted to dismember Eric and focused more on supporting Carina and asking her if she needed anything. She had taken that opportunity to tell her friends about how Josh had come to her father’s birthday party and that they were now together. Just as she had suspected, they weren’t at all surprised and were thrilled over the news.
It was close to eight o’clock when she received a call from Mr. Atkins. He asked her how she was feeling and Carina was touched by his kindness. But there apparently was another reason for the phone call.
“Carina, unfortunately, while this case is being investigated you are being put on paid leave. It’s not something I want to do, and knowing how dedicated you are, it’s probably the last thing you want. But I need to follow procedure. Do you understand?”
Carina had intended to take a few sick days to allow the swelling to go down so she wouldn’t frighten the kids, but she wasn’t planning on calling out any more than that. Although it pissed her off that Eric was keeping her from her students, she knew it wasn’t Mr. Atkins’ fault. He was just the messenger. And it really was one shitty message.
“And what about Eric?” she asked.
She didn’t expect a response, but she couldn’t help asking. The police were involved and as she told the officer in the hospital, she was filing charges against Eric. “He’s on leave as well. There’s nothing more I’m permitted to say, Carina.” Mr. Atkins went silent and then after a moment he said, “But you need to know, I told the police exactly what I saw. I just wish…I wish I would have come to your classroom sooner. Then you wouldn’t have…”
“Mr. Atkins…thank you,” she said, cutting him off. She didn’t want him beating himself up for not preventing Eric’s fit of rage. Because she had been the one responsible. She had set Eric off on purpose in the hope of exposing him for the bastard that he was. Mr. Atkins had nothing to apologize for.
“Okay, Carina. I’ll be in touch with you before the weekend. Until then, I would avoid the news if you can and try to distract yourself with more pleasant things.”
Carina looked over at Josh, who was making ice cream sundaes and spilling chocolate fudge onto the countertop in the kitchen and smiled. “I think I’ll take that advice. Thanks again, Mr. Atkins.”
“Anytime,” he said.
She ended the call and made her way to the kitchen. “You’re spoiling me.” She hopped up onto one of the beat-up kitchen chairs.
“Get used to it, sweetheart.” Josh sprayed an outrageous pile of whipped cream onto her sundae and topped it with two cherries. “I’ll make it so you never want to leave.” He sat next to her and handed her a spoon.