Page 94 of Endless Love

“I’m afraid she will never be able to dance again. At least on a professional level. Her right leg was severely broken in five places. We had to pin eet back together.”

The big smile on Mel’s face fell off. “Will she be able to dance at her wedding?”

The doctor nodded with a grin. “Bien sur. Not only will she be able to dance at her wedding, but she’ll be able to dance at her children’s too.”

Tears leaked out the corners of Mel’s eyes. “Can I see my little girl, Doc?”

“Oui. But just for a petit peu.” A little bit. “She eez very tired.”

The doctor’s focus shifted to me. “You must be Ryan. Oui?”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“She was crying out for you when she was wheeled into the hospital. And when she regained consciousness after the surgery, she asked for you again.”

My stomach twisting, I digested his words and remained speechless.

The doctor continued. “She will be very happy to see you, monsieur. Attendez-vous ici, s’il vous plaît.”

Wait here.Dr. Beauchamp escorted Mel to Willow’s room while I took a seat in the waiting area. Jumbled thoughts swirled around in my head. How would I feel when I saw her? What would I say to her? And why had she called out my name?

Fifteen minutes later, Mel slumped into the waiting area. His eyes were bloodshot; he’d been crying. I leaped to my feet.

“How is she?” I asked anxiously.

A faint smile flickered on his face. “She’s eager to see you, Ryan. She’s in room 312.”

Allee had been two floors above in room 512. The memory of our last night together jumped to the front of my mind. Frail, wan Allee lying there in bed with me, facing the bitter end. My beloved Allee. I could hear her voice in my head as if she was looking down on me. Madewell, I want you to be strong for me. Now, I had to be strong for Willow. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the worst.

A few minutes later, I stood in the doorway to her room.

“Hi.”

The minute my eyes set sight on her, my heart filled with reckless abandon. A small smile lit her face, and when she met my gaze, I rushed to her side, desperately wanting to take her into my arms.

Hooked up to IVs and beeping monitors, she was way thinner than when I’d seen her last. From under a bandage around her head, her long red hair fanned out over her pillow. Her skin was paler than I remembered, but her pallor and weight loss only accentuated her exquisite delicate features. Her leg, in a thigh-high cast, was suspended in traction. I took hold of her frail hand.

“Oh, Ryan, you came!” Her hoarse voice was just above a whisper.

“Shh.” I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it.

“Yeah, I’m here, baby.”

“Can you ever forgive me?”

“There’s nothing to forgive. We’re together. That’s all that counts.”

Her heavy-lidded eyes blinked tears as I slid my backpack off my shoulders.

“I brought you something.”

“You did?” she murmured, her voice rising just a bit.

Her eyes stayed on me as I unfastened the buckle of the bag and reached inside it.

“Baboo!” she exclaimed as loud as she could as I held him up and waved his little tattered hand.

“I missed you,” I said in my best cartoony monkey voice. I certainly was no actor, but my silly impersonation worked.

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