Page 46 of Hiding Rose
He dropped his hand and picked mine up. “It was bad. The doctors said they almost scalped me. By the time I got to the hospital I had lost so much blood I was nearly dead. Apparently, they caught an artery when they cut me. They also broke my arm and two ribs.”
“My God, Sawyer. I had no idea,” I whispered.
He shrugged. “I healed, and enjoyed the two weeks in the hospital where I had food, a bed, and clean clothes. I worried about where I would go when they released me, since I had a broken arm and couldn’t walk long distances without severe pain from the ribs. I expected to go back to some foster home already bursting to the seams with kids. Instead, the man who found me, George, came to see me every day with his wife, Laken. They brought me toys, games, clothes, and a soft warm blanket I still have to this day.”
“Really? How sweet. I would love to see it,” I whispered, the swaying of the boat relaxing me deeply.
He bopped my nose with his finger. “You’ve seen it. It lays on the foot of my bed. I covered you with it the other night when I went to shower and you laid down.”
I kissed him chastely again. “I had no idea. It was the perfect mix of softness and warmth. Not too hot, but just right. What happened after the two weeks were up?”
“I went home with George and Laken Kanki, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“What an awesome story. Do you have any brothers or sisters? I don’t.”
He shook his head. “Laken was barren, so they never had children of their own. When they adopted me, they were in their late sixties. They took care of me when I needed them, and I was grateful to be able to do the same. They passed five years ago, within days of each other. After they were gone I sold the house and moved to Maui, which is when I started working for Gideon.”
I laid my head on his chest and hugged him. “Such a bittersweet story. I’m sorry you lost them so young.”
He kissed the top of my head and rested his chin on the same spot. “I miss them every day, but I always knew they likely wouldn’t meet my wife or see their grandchildren. It didn’t matter to me though, because they’re watching over me from the stars. I’m happy with knowing my babies, one day, will have the best guardian angels.”
“This. This is what I mean by how willing you are to share your feelings. Most guys would have said they were adopted and never said another word,” I explained, glancing up at his face. His eyes bore into mine with an intensity and love which both scared and thrilled me.
“Our lives are stories lived to share with the world. If I didn’t tell others about my struggles then how can they learn from them?”
I nodded. “I’ve often thought about talking to other women about what I’ve been through, but I can’t yet. I’m not emotionally there.”
My faced turned to his, he kissed my lips, sucking my lower lip through his teeth for a heartbeat. “No, you aren’t, because you’re still dealing with it. A year from now, I could see you making a real difference with some of the women in the community. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to a dinner and you can help out with serving, or whatever your leg will allow you to do.”
I sat up a bit and rested on his legs. “A dinner? What do you mean?”
He cocked his head. “I thought you knew I was on the Community Table board. Once a month the chefs from Kupid’s Arrow provide dinner to battered women and children at the community center. Kate comes along and offers free legal advice. Usually they have medical services, counselors, and even hair stylists or free clothing. The meals are offered several times a week and are provided by all different businesses and churches. It’s a small thing we can do to help others who are struggling.”
“I’m in,” I whispered. “I’ll figure out something I can do to help that doesn’t require me to be upright for long periods. Maybe I can watch kids while moms get pampered, or rock babies so moms can eat while their food is hot,” I said, my hand on my heart. “I had no idea. I love this so hard.”
He sat up and put his arms around me, opening his legs, so I could sit between them. “And I love you so hard. We’re almost to Honolulu. Let’s watch as we pull into the marina and then we’ll go to our hotel and grab something to eat. Tomorrow is a big day,” he said, his lips light on my neck.
The sun was setting as we motored closer to our destination. It sat like a giant, glowing, orange ball on the edge of the water. The stars shimmered above us separated only by the final glow of the sun’s rays as it went to sleep for the night. It wasn’t even five p.m. yet, but sunset is early in January. It was magical and I stared silently at it until there was nothing left of the sun, and the moon began to rise. The sky was free of clouds and the moon was nearly full as it laid a moonbeam down across the water for miles. He lifted my left leg down and swiveled me on the chair, pointing over the front of the boat. I gasped as the lights shimmered against the water, guiding us into the harbor.
I glanced backward and smiled at him, mouthing ‘thank you’. I couldn’t tell him for what, but it was the emotion running through my veins as we approached the island. He lowered his lips to mine and drank from them thirstily. For a brief second, I forgot about the man who was gunning for me, and got lost in the man who wanted to love me.
