Lover's Knot Read Online Free PDF Page A

hadn’t cleared it. She heard that. He had expected to return. Now, faced with a woman who hadn’t even been sure she could leave the hospital, he was reconsidering.
    “I’ll be fine,” she promised.
    They drove the rest of the way without speaking. She flinched as he pulled into the condo garage. It was well lit, the space large enough that it was unlikely anyone would be hiding, but when he turned off the engine, she had to force herself to unsnap the seat belt and reach for the door handle.
    “Wait until I come around,” he said.
    He helped her out, then opened the back to get her overnight bag. She had given her flowers to other patients early that morning. She had little to show for the weeks she’d spent in rehabilitation except improved muscle tone, a lopsided gait that was, nevertheless, the difference between mobility and paralysis, and the prospect of a normal life once she was fully recovered.
    “There’s no nurse’s aide present. Am I allowed to escort you?”
    She moved closer and took his arm. They walked slowly, but she managed well. Her gaze darted right and left. The garage seemed empty.
    The ride up was uneventful. Their hallway was longer than she had remembered. The inside of their condo was filled with red tulips, yellow daffodils and hyacinth-purple balloons.
    “It’s wonderful.” Kendra’s voice was husky. “Are they all from you?”
    “The balloons are from your colleagues. The daffodils are from Sam and Elisa. The tulips are mine.”
    “I feel welcomed.”
    “You’ve been missed.” He wrapped her in his arms. This kiss was not perfunctory. “Welcome home,” he said, when he finally pulled away.
    “Either you’re making me dizzy, or I’m still recovering.”
    “Sit. I’ll get you something to drink. Pepsi? Snapple?”
    “Why don’t you get yourself something for lunch?”
    He waited until she was seated, then headed for the tiny kitchen. She pulled the old quilt from the back of the sofa and draped it over her legs, because, suddenly, she was chilled. She wondered how long the peace would last, how long she would be allowed to bask in flowers and balloons before her convalescence became the topic of conversation again.
    It didn’t take long. He returned with a sandwich. She wondered when he had found the time to shop for bread and ham. Had an assistant volunteered? Had he gone online and scheduled a delivery, hurriedly checking off items he thought she might need?
    “Are you really going to be all right?” he asked. “I can stay, or I can call Sandy. She said she’d come if you needed her.”
    “I’ll be fine. We have a security alarm. I’ll probably use it.”
    He ate in silence, as if he couldn’t fill up quickly enough. He had broad shoulders and an athlete’s build. He always ate as if he were training for a decathlon. When he had finished, he took his plate back to the kitchen, returning minutes later with a glass of milk.
    “We might as well talk about this,” she said. “There’s nothing to gain from putting it off.”
    “It’s been a big day. Maybe we should wait.”
    “I know you don’t understand. I know you think I’ve lost my mind. But I need to get out of here.”
    “I could try to get vacation time. Not next week, but the week after doesn’t look too grim. We could go away together. Someplace quiet.”
    She searched for the right words, but there weren’t any. “I need to get away from everything ,” she said at last.
    He sipped his milk, but his eyes didn’t leave hers. “I gather that means me.”
    “I hope you’ll stay there with me when you can.”
    “This doesn’t make sense.” He got up and began to pace. “I know you’ve been through a tough time. I understand that. But what’s the point of leaving everything familiar?”
    “And why should I stay? My job’s on hold. You’re never home. What friends I’ve had time to make have high-octane professions. I don’t think I’m going to enjoy strolling our neighborhood