Page 53 of My Salvation
Looking up, I see Shaw looking down at me as he strokes his hands over my body to soothe me. Sadness pulls at me as I look to him to help me recover my equilibrium. He grabs a tissue on the nightstand.
Gently, he strokes it down the sides of my face, helping me mop up my tears. “You were crying in your sleep, yelling for someone called Collin?”
Exhaling, I smooth my shaking hands over his chest as I gather my courage to say it out loud. “I think the hospital just triggered something. It’s the first time I’d been in one since the shooting. Collin was my husband.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Angel. I’m here, and I’m not leaving. It’s OK.” He gathers me tightly in his arms, murmuring softly, as I cry myself back to sleep.
Waking up later, I notice it’s early evening. Shaw comes in to check on me.
“Good, you’re awake. Would you like to go downstairs and have dinner? Lev stores extra dinners in the freezer, or I can grill a steak for you.”
My stomach growls. Blushing, I look up at him. “Mm, steak sounds delicious.” I scoot to the side of the bed, but he stops me.
“Hold on.” Reaching down, he scoops me up and starts carrying me downstairs.
“Shaw, I can walk. I feel fine now.”
He glares at me. Making a sour face, I loop my arms around his neck and let him continue.
Once downstairs, he deposits me on a chaise on the patio while he starts the grill. Looking up, I watch the stars pop out as the sky grows darker.
“It’s so beautiful out here. I’ve never seen stars so bright as they are in Montana.”
Glancing over, his eyes skim down his T-shirt to my bare legs. “It is beautiful out here, but let me get you a blanket.”
Grabbing the throw from the sofa, he carefully covers my legs, tucking them in tight. Rolling my eyes, I give him a mock glare. He gives a loud laugh. Sitting up straighter, I stare at him in stunned silence. I don’t think I’d seen him laugh once around me. His whole face lights up, the semi-permanent scowl disappears, and he looks relaxed and happy for the first time.
Noticing my staring, he quickly stops laughing. “What is it? Are you feeling OK?” He strides over to me.
Putting my hands up in the air, I stop him. “I’m fine. I’ve just never seen you laugh, and I was enjoying it. Especially since I was the one who made you laugh.”
Clearing his throat, it’s his turn to rolls his eyes at me before walking back over to the grill. In the window’s reflection in front of him, I see him smile.
Once the steaks are ready, we sit down to dinner. Lifting my water glass, I toast Shaw. “Thank you for taking such excellent care of me. I know it wasn’t easy and you had to put things on hold for me, but I greatly appreciate it. I don’t have many people to help me when I need it.”
He opens his mouth to respond when we both hear shouting in the living room. Turning around, I see Lev calling for me. Waving, I let him know we are outside. As I wait for him to come to me, I look at Shaw and notice he is frowning again.
