"You must be starving," Amelia said while staring down at her toast and eggs.
"I brought some muffins from the bakery down the street," I offer as I pull the bag out from behind my back.
"It's been less than two days, and you are already spoiling me again, Charlie Crane," Amelia says, pointing her fork at me.
"I don't know when you fell asleep last night, but—" I began.
"The airport," she states. "Yes. I can't say I'm not upset that you didn't approach me in the airport, Charlie. I would have liked to have a say in the decision you made. But, with that said—" She pauses and it makes my heart skip a beat. "I can't fault you for loving me enough to put my happiness first. But, how did you know I was happily married?"
I place one of the muffins down on Amelia's plate. "Would you like some butter?"
"No, thank you," she says, peeling the paper away from the bread. "Charlie, don't avoid my question."
I snicker as I take a bite. "You looked quite smitten over one another."
"A woman can be that way with her best friend, right?"
Just a best friend? I would never have assumed.
"I suppose," I reply.
"Well, Max was a good man, and he gave me a good life, but we were companions at most. Now, it has been years since he has passed, and I have had the time to consider that I never allowed myself to care about another man as I care about you."
"I didn't think a day would come where I would hear you felt the same way about me that I have about you," I tell her honestly. It was a fact I had accepted long ago.
"Good morning," a voice startles us from the doorway. It's the doctor, the one who saved her heart.
"Oh hello, Dr. Beck," Amelia says while dabbing her lips with a small paper napkin. "What good news do you have for me this morning?"
"Well first, how are you feeling?"
"I'm a bit sore, but with all things considered, I feel quite well. Well enough to go home, in fact."
Dr. Beck walks further into the room, laughing gently at Amelia's suggestion. "Yes, I think you will be able to go home soon. We're going to keep you until tomorrow, and then I think you will be well enough to go home. However, we'll want to check on you next week."
"Of course," Amelia says. "I suppose I will have to make room in my life for such accommodations, but I'm sure I can work something out."
Dr. Beck merely raises an eyebrow at her sarcasm, but I think he's learned enough about Amelia during these last few days to know she's toying with him. "Understood, Ms. Baylin."
After Dr. Beck checks Amelia's vitals, he leaves us to our privacy.
"Charlie, I want you to bring me to your apartment in New York," Amelia says. Her statement shocks me as I never imagined she would have a desire to travel those three hours just to see a small apartment.
In fact, I almost choke out my words. "Darling, do you think that is a good idea in your fragile state?"
Amelia crumples her napkin and tosses it down on to her table. "Charlie Crane. Do not confuse me for a weak person. I can take a train like any other person. I am capable of getting into a cab and walking up a couple of flights of stairs—"
"Sweetheart, you just had a stroke and heart surgery. We should be taking it easy."
"Charlie, do not tell me you don't feel like a ticking time bomb in your nineties. Today could be it for both of us, and if I'm going to die, I'm going to die doing what I want to do, and I want to see your apartment."
I clear my throat because I'm taken aback by the scolding. "Well, okay. You make a good point," I say.
"Fabulous. Then it's settled."
I have a strong suspicion that her family will reject this idea, but I'll leave that argument to them.
"Your mother sounded like a wonderful person," Amelia says. "And you were a good son. I think you should know that."
