Page 11 of Unforgettable

“Shit,” Vince grumbled. I gripped his hand in warning. “What?” He looked at me. “I knew this was too good to be true.”

“Let me reassure you, Vince. It’s nothing regarding you leaving the hospital.”

I released the breath I’d been holding. “Thank God.”

“Vince cannot drive until we can guarantee that he will not be a hazard to himself or any other drivers on the road. With his symptoms and the results of his most recent tests, he’ll need to have someone drive him to and from his appointments.”

“I’ll take a fucking Uber if I have to,” Vince said.

“Vince!” I could feel my cheeks heat.

“What?” Vince shrugged. “Baby, nothing is going to keep me from getting my life back.”

“Don’t cuss at the doctor,” I admonished.

Dr. Hopkins’ chuckled. “It’s quite all right, Hailey. We’re quite used to cursing around here. Especially from Labor and Delivery.”

My cheeks continued to burn, remembering all the profanity that flew out of my mouth when I delivered Hudson. I could feel Vince’s eyes on me but couldn’t meet them. I still hadn’t told him about Hudson. After talking with his doctors and parents, we felt that we should take a couple of days to get him settled in before springing more new news on him.

“Let’s talk about the most important part of your healing regimen.” Dr. Hopkins turned his focus to the emotional and psychological aspects of recovery. “It’s essential that you don’t just focus on the physical healing. Your mental and emotional well-being are just as critical, if not more so, considering what you’ve been through. Traumatic events like you endured can wreak havoc on your mental and emotional recovery. It’s natural to have flashbacks, nightmares, and anxiety.”

Vince’s jaw tightened, his muscles ticking with the thoughts I was sure were involuntarily flooding his mind. I would do anything to keep him from drifting back to those horrors he experienced. I blinked back my tears, not wanting to show weakness. My vulnerability made me feel pathetic. After all, I wasn’t the one who’d endured suffering day in and day out. Losing Vince felt like a part of me had been cut out. But Hudson had filled that void.

“Hailey?” Vince’s voice came to me through the fogginess of emotions. I felt him squeeze my hand again. I couldn’t hide my worry—it was written all over my face.

“I’m okay. It’s just . . . a lot.” I squeezed his hand back, silently reassuring him. “Once we get you home, I’ll be better.”

“I know this is all a lot to take in, Hailey.”

I nodded as tears welled in my eyes. I looked at Vince and tried to smile as best as I could. “I’m just so thankful to have you back.”

“Me too, baby.” He kissed the top of my hand. “Me too.”

Dr. Hopkins smiled before he continued, “As I’m sure you’ve been told, we have an excellent team of therapists who specialize in PTSD and trauma recovery.”

“I don’t think—”

“Vince, let Dr. Hopkins finish.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said in response to my no-nonsense tone.

“We have a highly skilled team to help you work through things and develop coping strategies. I’m sure you’re quite familiar with the process, but remember, Vince, seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.”

“We’ll do everything we need to get him better, right?” I looked at my heroic husband and implored him to agree.

Vince closed his eyes and nodded. His voice was softer when he said, “Yes, baby. I'll talk to them if it helps me—us—get through this.”

My heart swelled with love and pride.

I stood up and leaned over him, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. I cradled his face and said, “We’ll do it together, Vince. We’re a team.” Our next kiss lingered a little longer. I peeled myself away, wanting to immerse myself in Vince’s touch. The sound of pages turning caught my attention. Doctor Hopkins was trying to give us a moment to connect and appreciate the second chance we’d been given. His presence was a minor interference, but I appreciated him being patient with us and not interrupting our moment. “I love you, Vince.”

“I love you more, Hailey.”

Dr. Hopkins was smiling when I took my seat again. He seemed encouraged by our determination—and affection. “This is exactly what I was hoping to hear.” He tucked his clipboard under his arm. “Now, as for your release from the hospital, Vince. We'll be arranging for home healthcare to continue your physical therapy and provide any necessary medical assistance. Hailey, you'll play a vital role in Vince’s recovery as his primary caregiver.”

My commitment was unwavering, and I nodded. “I’ll be with him every step of the way.”

“Vince, it's important to understand the challenges you might encounter during recovery. You will more than likely experience setbacks. There will be days when you feel great. And times when you get extremely frustrated. Don’t worry if your improvement seems slow.”

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