He was just about to spill his heart to her again when a hospital aide pushed in a cart with her breakfast tray on it.
“Good morning,” the gray-haired woman greeted them. “I’ve got some scrambled eggs and bacon for our patient. There’s also coffee and orange juice.” She pulled a table across Angelique’s lap and then placed the tray of food on top of it. “Sorry, Chief LeCroix, I’ve got nothing for you.”
“That’s okay,” he replied. “I ate before I came.”
“Enjoy, honey,” she said to Angelique, and then she left the room.
“Eat it while it’s warm,” he urged her.
“I’m really not overly hungry,” she said.
“At least try to eat a little,” he replied.
Dutifully she picked up a piece of toast and took a bite. “Eat some of those eggs. Don’t make me play the airplane game with you,” he said and was rewarded by her laughter.
“You’re still such a goof,” she said.
“I’m only a goof with you,” he replied. “Angelique…”
George Trahan strode into the room. “Angelique…oh God, Angelique, I’m so sorry.” He walked to the opposite side of her bed and pulled up a chair next to her. “Angelique, I had no idea… I didn’t know what she was planning to do to you.”
The man looked utterly miserable as he raked a hand through his hair and gazed at her. “I still can’t believe what she did. I can’t believe I was sleeping with a monster.”
“It’s okay, George. I don’t blame you for what happened,” Angelique replied.
“But I should have seen something… I should have somehow stopped it before it even started,” he replied. “I’m just so damned sorry.” He appeared to be on the verge of tears.
“George, really it’s okay. You have nothing to apologize for,” she said.
“I just wanted to stop by to make sure you’re going to be okay and to tell you I had no idea what she was up to. I still just can’t believe this happened. I thought I knew Desiree, but I sure didn’t know she was capable of something like this.”
He got up from the chair. “I just… I needed to see you and now I’ll just leave you to your breakfast.”
As he left the room, Dominique and Monique came in. Daniel had come to the hospital hoping to declare his undying love for Angelique, but there was too much traffic and the mood wasn’tright. He stayed another few minutes, and then he left to head to work.
One case was solved, but he still had a murder investigation to get back to. It was six o’clock when he left the police station and headed back to the hospital.
As always, he was eager to see her. He whirled into the room and stopped in his tracks. She was a sleeping beauty in the bed. Her hair was a cloud of darkness against the white pillowcase and her features were relaxed in slumber.
The last thing he wanted to do was wake her up. He slowly backed out of the room. Maybe a hospital wasn’t the right place to have a romantic interlude. Hopefully the right time would come very soon, but for now he decided the best thing to do was wait.
ANGELIQUE AWAKENED EARLYon her third day in the hospital. She felt well rested and much better than she had since the night she’d been brought in. She still had pain, but that was to be expected. It was going to take her some time to completely heal from Desiree’s attack.
It was finally over. She no longer had to look over her shoulder or be afraid to leave her shanty again. The person who had wanted her dead was now behind bars and according to Daniel she would be there for a very long time. There was no more reason for Angelique to be afraid.
She stared out the nearby window, where the sun was bright, promising another hot and humid day. She was hoping she would be released today. She felt as if she’d been granted a new life and she was eager now to go out and live it.
She was also eager to see Daniel again. She hadn’t seen him since the morning he had taken her report. Her heart squeezedtight as she thought of him. At least he no longer had to be concerned about the attacks on her.
All he had to deal with now was her mother’s murder. Would he still be willing to meet with her to keep her updated on the case? Would he still want to spend evenings with her just visiting and enjoying each other’s company? Did he still believe himself in love with her or had he realized it wasn’t love after all.
It was just after noon when the doctor came in to see her. “The good news is you’re healing up quite nicely,” he told her.
“And what’s the bad news?” she asked.
“The bad news is it looks like we’ll have to do without your presence here because I’m releasing you to go home today,” he said with a smile.
“That’s wonderful news,” she replied. “I’m so ready to get back to my life.”
