Page 95 of Out of the Shadow

My fingers close around my engagement ring and tug. With some effort, the diamond slips off. My fingers return to my wedding ring.

“I believe you were my soul mate. I loved you with my whole heart. But I’ve found another soul mate. I didn’t think it was possible, but I was wrong. My future lies with King, if he’ll have me after the way I treated him.” Thinking of my conversation with Marlene about the photos, plus the snippets of King’s pleading texts, I add, “He’s not perfect, but I’m not either. I love him.”

I pull my wedding ring off my left hand. Tears flow down my cheeks as I fist my rings.

I’m still crying when the door to my room opens. Juliana pops in holding a tray of bagels. One quick look is all she needs to figure out what’s going on. She places the tray on my side table and closes her hand over my newly bare fingers.

“You are so brave, Angie. Believe me, Dante understands.” She pries my right fist open and takes the rings from my palm. “Come on. Let’s go see King.”

King

I WAKE UP In a hospital room, monitors attached to my body. When I turn my head, I see Angie sitting there in a hospital gown, next to her sister. They’re both looking down at her lap, deep in conversation.

“Angie,” I croak.

Her head whips around and she jumps up, reaching out for my hand. “You’re awake.”

Juliana stands. “I’ll go get the nurse.” She heads toward the door and turns. “I might take my time.” And she disappears.

Angie, connected to an IV, runs her hands over my face, upper torso, and arms. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I got hit in the head by a baseball bat.”

Her lips curve upward before her expression settles into a scowl. “That’s not funny.”

I chuckle, but it causes my head to pound, and I end up groaning instead. Her hand lands on my forehead before slipping up into my hair and stroking. I relax into her touch. And here I thought I’d never see her again. “You’re really here?”

She swallows then nods. “I am.”

Maybe the baseball bat really did mess up my brain. “But I thought—”

“Shhh”—her hand descends to my lips—“we’ll talk later.” Then she kisses me, and for the first time in over a week, I’m certain everything is going to be all right.

The nurse comes in and shoos Angie away. A doctor joins the nurse, and soon I’m being poked and prodded and probed. I answer most of their questions in the negative—no nausea, no dizziness—except for the one about my pounding headache. The medical team is pleased with my responses. The doctor orders some more tests, gives me meds for the headache, and then I’m wheeled out so my body can be run through a bunch of machines.

Back in my room, a huge vase of flowers awaits on my side table. I ask the orderly to hand me the card, which he does and then leaves me alone. I rip open the envelope, fully expecting it to be from Angie, but the message is disappointing.

King,

We heard about what happened. We hope you have a very speedy recovery.

Love, Dad, Sara & Melody

Really? Could he have spared the ink? This is just like him—send some extravagant gift rather than show up in person to show he cares. Who am I kidding? We’re not on speaking terms.

I toss the card on the floor and turn my head to ignore the bouquet. Minutes later, my mood shifts as Angie, now dressed in her own clothes, walks through my door. She’s carrying a stuffed animal in a Yankees uniform. Holding a baseball bat. I laugh at her morbid sense of humor, then grab my head to stop the pounding.

“Baby, you can’t do that to me,” I groan.

Angie waves the teddy bear in front of me—her first gift to me. I accept it and run my finger over the bat.

“I wanted to make you smile,” she says, her delicious chocolate eyes dancing with humor.

“Youare what makes me smile.”

Placing the teddy bear next to me on the bed, I pat a space for her to sit. Instead, she walks over to the flowers, bends down and picks up the card. “This was nice of your father.” When all I do is wave my hand, she continues, “Who is Melody?”

I clear my throat. “My half-sister.”

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