Page 53 of Icy Heart, Empty Chest
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a flinty look over my coffee. “You got a witch to take out your heart a few years ago and then boom, everything explodes.”
He nodded wearily. “I guess I deserve that. The last thing I remember was you dragging me to Filla’s.”
I put my cup down and stared at him.
“There may have been some illegal acts in the process of your revival.”
He paused while drinking his coffee. “I’ll count the charges while you tell me,” he said dryly.
“Once we struck out at Ziedlin’s house, I was down to my last few ideas. So instead of guessing, I decided to check. I went to Ziedlin’s conference and stole a badge. Sat through some presentations, super interesting by the way, and then threatened him in a closet at knifepoint. I proceeded to threaten to blackmail him with the knowledge of your heart and that I would announce it with photographic evidence to the conference audience. He told me that he left the heart with Filla and was going to pick it up after the conference. I tried calling you a few times and didn’t get any answer. So then went to your house. You were on the floor, looking worse than I’d even seen anyone. I dragged you to my car and to Filla’s.” I looked up, tiredly. “She almost didn’t do it. I had to beg her. She said you might be too far gone.”
“I remember collapsing. I woke up so tired, sweaty. I tried to get to my phone but I was too weak.” He put down the cup. “How did you convince her? Filla only took it out in the first place because I gave her a substantial amount.”
I stared at my hands, afraid of the words that were going to come out of my own mouth. “I told her that you were the most important person in the world to me and she might as well kill me if you died.”
I could feel his eyes boring holes in me but didn’t look up.
“Cor?” he said in a strangled tone. “You told her that?”
I nodded, still not looking up. I couldn’t.
“Look at me, Cora,” he asked firmly.
I looked up at the beautiful kelpie with the seafoam hair sitting across from me, in my bathrobe, smelling like my shampoo.
“I meant it,” I said quietly.
“I know. Not many people would plan multiple felonies and drag a half dead man for nothing,” he joked. “It’s weird. I’m me again. Full spectrum of emotions and all. The good and the bad.”
“Great, ’cause we’re never doing that again. I’m revoking your magic privileges,’ I announced dramatically.
“I’d say be still my beating heart but I’m pretty sure you don’t want that.”
I cracked a smile. “Man, dude gets his heart back and all of a sudden he’s a comedian.”
His eyes went wide. “Oh gods. My job. YOUR job.”
I raised a hand. “I covered it.”
“What did you tell them?”
“A variation on the truth. I told them that you had a surgery that would take you out of the game for the next month and that you were recuperating with me as your caretaker. When you go back in four weeks, you’re on desk work for a month. I was vague enough but said you’d need physical therapy. For you that’s probably a couple of half marathons.”
“And what about Amy?” He looked wary.
“I filed for temporary leave as your caretaker for the next few weeks.”
“Amy must have been thrilled.”
“She can’t do anything about it, legally. I had to argue that your mom wasn’t strong enough to help with your rehab but I was the only other family you had. Besides, I’ve been feeding, washing and changing you for the last week. It’s more or less the truth. The government is going to pay me for it too,” I remarked dryly.
He winced. “Not how I’d want you to see me.”
I shrugged, nonplussed, warming my ice hands on my mug. “Maybe not, but I wasn’t going to abandon you. You’ve seen me looking less than my best.”
“You’re always beautiful,” was his answer. “Guess I’m not used to feeling vulnerable or dependent either.”
I nodded and moved to get up. “The caretaker needs to take care of herself. I need a shower and a nap badly.”
