Meghan returned to the doorway. “I let the nurses know you’re awake.”
She attempted a smile. She looked different, younger, without makeup. Meghan and Andrew were freaking me out. What were they hiding?
The doctor and a nurse came in and shooed my family out. Other than the tight ball of fear in my chest, I was much improved. The staff checked me over and talked to me about my arm and caring for the cast, but I wasn’t listening.
Dr. Maeve strode into the room accompanied by billows of something spicy, like curry with a hint of sandalwood. She appeared prepared to do battle as the doctors left.
“Elizabeth, my dear.” She took my hand in hers and squeezed. “This isn’t what I had in mind when I sent you here. Would you like to return to 2022?”
I opened my eyes wider.
“I can send you back and this can be like a bad dream.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. Her words scared me. Why would I not want to stay? Unless… No. It couldn’t be. It scared me to ask the question that tumbled around my head. It was hard to breathe as I swiped at my eyes. “Did something happen to Christopher?”
She looked at me with a keen eye and a thoughtful expression. I stared into her emerald-green eyes. They seemed to expand, and she pursed her lips in disapproval. “Your family is well-meaning. They’re trying to protect you by keeping painful information from you. They don’t believe it was him, but the evidence is stacked against him. Their hearts are in the right place, but you need to know. You asked about Christopher time and again when you’d slip in and out of consciousness. They’ve left you in the dark about why he isn’t at your side.”
A feeling of horror niggled at my foggy brain as I tried to absorb what she was saying.
“Someone else was there that night, weren’t they? Besides Christopher.”
That got my attention. I sat up straighter. My heart lurched onward; my eyes widened. What did she mean besides Christopher? Didn’t they know?
“Eric was in the house.” My throat ached as I forced myself to speak.
“Eric got away. Again. He’s out there and nobody has been searching for him.”
I shook my head. That wasn’t possible. “Where’s Christopher?”
“He confessed to attacking you, so the authorities had no choice.”
I shook my head again to clear the cobwebs. This was all wrong. Eric was supposed to be in jail. The bottom dropped out of my world as I realized what had happened.
“Christopher.” My hand covered my mouth in horror. This was why he hadn’t come to the hospital. Christopher had confessed to hurting me. I painted a new picture in my mind as this knowledge rushed into my brain. He’d been startled awake, confused and disoriented. Half awake, he’d staggered into the kitchen. He’d seen the blood, found me broken on the floor. He thought he’d hurt me because he hadn’t seen Eric. The alarm had sounded and the cops from the nearby car would have rushed inside. They’d found Christopher beside me on the floor. When he couldn’t explain, they’d arrested him. He’d gone with them, convinced my injuries were his fault. He must be in jail, tormenting himself, worried sick.
“Yes,” Dr. Maeve said. “Your love is in jail. He thinks he attacked you. I spoke with him this morning and let him know you were awake. But he can’t forgive himself.”
She pursed her lips. “Christopher didn’t do this to you.”
“Eric hid in the house and attacked me.” My heart hurt, but I could feel it again, healing with every second. The shards fit back together like a three-dimensional puzzle.
“I know,” she said. “I met your Christopher once before today, and I know what kind of person he is. When we called him from my office, I heard it in his voice. You’re his world and he’s yours. You need to decide because you’re running out of time.”
I could go back to the future and this never would have happened. Christopher wouldn’t be in jail and Eric would be dead. The offer was tempting, the easy way to solve my problems. But Christopher would be alone and I’d promised him I’d never leave.
Or I could stay, help get Christopher released. Someone would have to find Eric. My money was on Luke and Ella. I might have to face Eric again.
“If you want to help Christopher, it has to be now. He won’t make it much longer thinking he hurt you. It’s destroying him. He looks as bad as you do.”
“Did the injection work? Is he himself again?”
“Does it matter?” She got to her feet. “Make your decision.”
“Stay. Eric needs to be stopped.”
“I hoped that’s what you’d decide. Christopher’s court hearing is in less than an hour. Convince him and the judge that he didn’t do it. You can’t use email or texts. This time, you’re going to have to speak. Can you do that?”
I swallowed. For Christopher, I could. I nodded.
