SARAH
Voices woke me from a deep slumber. I was sure I’d been sleeping, yet I didn’t feel rested at all.
I tried to swallow, but something was choking me. When I started coughing, I opened my eyes, seeing nothing but white walls—and my sister.
“Easy, Sarah,” Tanya muttered, rushing to my side instantly. “Someone get a nurse!”
Nurse?
I tried to whisper her name around whatever was in my mouth, but I only choked again. An elderly woman came in, giving me a soft smile and placing her hand on my shoulder.
“Now, breathe easy. Welcome back, Officer Burke. Try breathing through your nose. I’m going to take your breathing tube out.”
I tried, but panic clawed at me until, suddenly, my neck felt better as she pulled the tube out. I coughed more, pain lacing every single breath I took. When someone held out a glass of water with a straw, I took a few eager sips only to have it withdrawn again.
“Slow, Sarah. You need to give your body a moment to get used to it,” Tanya explained, then my mom stepped up to my bed.
I knew I was in a hospital, but I had no idea why. I remembered talking to Knox, wanting to tell him I’d love to see him, but then… Nothing.
“What’s going on?” I rasped out, trying to sit up. Agony instantly raced through my veins, bright and hot. I cried out as hands pushed me back into the mattress.
“Stay still, Sarah. You’ve been stabbed, then had major surgery. Please, just stay still,” Mom pleaded. I stared at the ceiling, breathing through the pain until it was bearable, then I looked at my family again.
Mom looked pale, her eyes red-rimmed, Dad looked exhausted, and Tanya had dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn’t slept in weeks.
“Stabbed?” I whispered.
They all nodded. I closed my eyes, rubbing my temples. What happened after I’d talked to Knox?
I tried to grasp the thoughts bouncing around in my mind, but they seemed to be hazy, out of reach—until one settled in.
The fight and Callum.
“Is Callum okay?” I needed to get out of bed and find him. “I couldn’t stand after that punk sliced me open. I couldn’t protect him anymore.” I grabbed Tanya’s hand. “Please, tell me Callum is okay. Give me my phone. I need to call Knox. I need to… I…” Jesus, he’d be a mess if his son were hurt.
I heard my heart monitor going wild, but I didn’t care. I needed to know they were okay, both of them. I needed to see them.
“Sarah, calm down.” My sister cupped my cheeks, but I just shook my head.
“I cannot calm down.” A tear slipped down my cheek. “If his son is injured… You don’t understand, Tanya. Just give me my damn phone. I’ll talk to Knox, then calm down.”
“You don’t need a phone for that,” came a deep voice from the door.
I looked up, spotting Knox coming in behind my father. I grabbed the IV in my arm and pulled it out, ignoring the pain. I needed to be in Knox’s arms.
“Sarah,” a chorus of voices called, but I was focused on the guy standing by the door, as if unsure of what I needed.
When I tried to get to my feet, he rushed forward, catching me as I stumbled.
“I tried, Knox. I swear. I tried my best to protect him, but—”
“He’s fine, Sarah. You saved his life,” Knox whispered, and relief made my shoulders sag. Callum was okay. “He’s been worried about you, though, and he wants you to heal soon so you can bring over pizza.”
I cuddled into him. I didn’t care that my family was watching, or that I hadn’t seen them in a long time. I needed Knox to comfort me.
“Sarah,” my mother started, but Tanya interrupted her.
“Let’s go find some coffee and donuts for our police officer. We’ll be right back, sis.” She winked and grabbed my parents’ arms, pulling them out the door while Knox settled me back onto the bed.
I stared at him, taking in his scruff and blue eyes, and couldn’t remember ever having seen anything as beautiful as him.
“You’re here,” I whispered, and he nodded.
“Always,” he replied.
* * *
KNOX
I couldn’t believe that her first thought had been of Callum and me. She was lying in a hospital bed, just having woken from a coma, and had worried about us instead of herself.
She brushed her fingertips across the scruff on my cheeks, and I caught her hand, kissing her palm.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
She smiled. “I want that steak with you, Knox. One, then another one, maybe one more after that,” she stated, then her face fell. “I mean, unless you’re here because you feel guilty I got stabbed, then I’d be… You know, I’m a police officer, so it’s my job to save people and—”
I placed my index finger on her lips, stopping her tirade. “I’ve been here ever since you were brought in. I came every day. There was never a doubt in my mind that I belonged here because I needed to be close to you. I’d hoped you’d realize I was here and would understand how much I regret having been an ass. Also…” I cleared my throat. “Maybe a doctor should tell you this, but…” I sighed. “Sarah, you won’t be able to have children.”
The doctor had explained that the internal injuries had been severe. We all knew what that meant, even without him saying the words.
To my surprise, Sarah’s lips pulled into a small smile. “During Penny’s birth, they discovered I had cysts in my ovaries. Two cysts burst, so they removed my ovaries completely. I nearly died that day. If that stab wound caused damage to my uterus, well… I don’t really need it anymore anyway.”
She was playing it cool, but hearing that, it made sense that she’d help other women out with their infants. Still, I hurt for her so much, I wanted to cry.
Penny’s death became more tragic now. No wonder she’d stayed away from people and happiness for a while. I was glad I had been an exception.
“I’m okay, Knox. I made my peace with it,” she assured me, framing my face with her hands.
“Can’t I still hurt for you?” I asked, almost pouting. She chuckled, wincing.
“So, about those steaks…”
“I love you, Sarah. I knew that before you were even hurt, but sitting in that waiting room every day, hoping they’d tell me you were finally awake, I realized I needed you. The few days you’ve been in my life, even when we were just talking on the phone, I realized I felt exactly the way I’d thought I would when moving to Eden. I felt like I was home. You make that possible.”
I pressed my lips to hers briefly, knowing her family would be returning soon, and also that her doctors would come in to check her over. Pulling back, I saw the spot she had ripped out her IV was bleeding, and I knew she had lost enough blood to last a lifetime.
“I love you, too, Knox. Tell Lanky I’m glad he’s okay.”
I sobered. “He was terrified, Sarah. He thought he’d practically killed you. I’ll bring him over tomorrow after school, okay? He’ll be glad to see you.”
She shifted, confusion on her face. “Can’t he just come over now? There’s a bus going right to the hospital from—”
I interrupted her. “You’re in Ashton, Sar,” I whispered, and her jaw dropped.
“How serious was I? How long was I out?”
Hadn’t I mentioned that earlier? I wasn’t sure anymore. “Ten days, sweetheart. You were in a coma.”
What little color she had gotten back vanished again as she stared at me.
“What? It wasn’t that bad. I feel okay. Tired, but okay. It was just a knife wound. I—”
“Shh,” I whispered, grabbing her hands and kissing her fingertips. “You’re okay now. Are you in pain?”
“She’s heavily medicated, Mr. Dyer, so she probably isn’t. Officer Burke, we’re glad to see you awake.”
When I saw a doctor walk through the door, I stood from the bed, even though Sarah kept holding onto me.
“Stay,” she begged, but I shook my head.
“I’ll be around the corner. I need to check in with Cal and tell him the good news.” I pressed a kiss to her forehead, then left the room, seeing her family standing in front of the door.
Tanya knew about me because she and Sarah had spoken on the phone quite a lot, but her parents had been caught off-guard with the news of their daughter having found someone. I wasn’t sure they trusted me, but even their dark looks hadn’t been able to keep me from Sarah.
It hadn’t helped that they’d found out their daughter had stepped in to save my son.
“The first clear thoughts she had were for you and your son,” Mr. Burke stated. I nodded.
“I told you Sarah loves him, Dad. Yes, I know he’s not good enough for your little girl, but no one will be. Ever. I agree. However, he’s decent enough when he’s not being an ass.”
“Tanya,” Mrs. Burke scolded, and Tanya winked at me.
“It’s true. Sarah is unlike any woman I’ve ever met, yet I’m clearly lucky enough to have her like me. I promise, I’ll make her happy. Listen, I think you should go back in. I’ll be in the waiting area. I need to call my son.”
They all watched me for a long moment, then her dad clasped my shoulder. “We’ll be here. Take care of your family.”
I intended to do just that, and Sarah would be part of that one day soon, too.