8. Bella

8

BELLA

The minute we arrive at the hospital, it's like time speeds up and everything happens so fast. Due to the head trauma, they rush me in and check me over and the battery of tests begins to make sure there's no bleeding in the brain or swelling. Memory loss is extremely important apparently, but I don't care about any of it because as soon as Dale tells them to call the cops, he's taken away to explain why he has a man chained up in the back seat of his truck.

My heart pounds a mile a minute and the nurses struggle to get me to bring my blood pressure to safer levels, but nobody will tell me what's going on with Dale.

"No, you don't understand. He saved me. Please let me see him. He should be here," I plead with the nurses, but everything is falling on deaf ears.

"Shhh. You need to calm down, honey. Once you're settled, the police can take your statement and then we can go from there, okay?"

"No, it's not okay. Please, I want Dale. I need him."

The rush of memories has me in a more vulnerable state compared to not remembering anything at all. At least then I wasn't afraid of my own shadow, but flashes keep flooding in and it's one horrible thing after another. It's not only mentally taxing, but it's physically wrecking my body with the nervous shakes, profuse sweating and the need to run.

I can't understand why I stayed with Wayne and why I put up with his actions. Now I know what it's like to be around a good person. I can't fathom ever seeing myself around people who are not wonderful and kind. There's nobody like Dale and I miss him so much, and it's only been a few hours. Only he can settle me right now.

The years of built-up tears want to fall, but I don't let them. It was a massive breakthrough for me in the truck with Dale to release everything I did, but I'm safe with Dale. It also didn't help that I had my whole life flood my mind and over stimulate my senses.

My younger years were amazing, with the best, fun-loving parents a girl could ever have. I never lacked for love or wanted anything. The hardships began when my parents died, but at least then I had my nana, who was a beacon of light in my life when I suffered through my darkest days. Not knowing I only chipped the tip of the iceberg.

It wasn't until after nana died and I was alone that everything shifted to the worse. Wayne found me and prayed on my loneliness and heartache. I've always been more introverted and never had a lot of friends. My grief overtook me and the few friends I had turned out to be more like acquaintances as they fell away. All I did was work and go home.

Wayne came into the work one day at the diner and then it turned into the next day, then the next. At the time I thought he cared for me, but I see now he thought of me as his prey and swooped in and I didn't stand a chance. He said and did all the right things and got me under his thumb. Before I knew it, I was a shell of my former self.

"Miss Brown," one detective pulls me back into his questioning as I struggle to make my statement. The memories are overwhelming, and trying to sort everything out in proper order is nearly impossible, so I get frustrated with myself and shut down as I'm too tired to fight and wish for Dale to be here with me. However, they won't let him in until I finish my statement. They need to line up our stories first before they want us talking to each other.

"What happened once the car crashed?"

I squint my eyes and daze off, trying to recall anything, but it remains a blur. I don't remember a lot until the first actual conversation I had with Dale. Everything in between is like little snapshots.

"I really can't remember. I keep trying, but nothing comes through."

The detective nods while his partner continues to write notes in his notepad.

"What's going to happen to Wayne?"

"Well, there's a warrant for his arrest."

I startle at the news and sit a little straighter. "What? A warrant? For what?"

"For armed robbery. Back home, he held up a convenience store."

I slump back into the hospital bed, playing over the fragments of my mind. It makes sense why he became so frantic to leave and why he wouldn't take no for an answer when getting on the road.

"I promise you, I had nothing to do with that. Oh, God, was anybody hurt? Please tell me nobody was hurt?" The heart monitor machine blasts out the increase of my blood pressure and the pounding of my chest.

The main detective stands, waving his hands in a calm down gesture. "Whoa. Take a breath for me. Nobody was injured. And it's clear he acted alone. The camera's inside and outside the store show he was alone. Please, we don't want you getting worse."

The door opens as a nurse comes running in and glares at the detectives. "I told you if she gets too stressed you guys are out of here. She's been through enough and needs to rest and relax."

Both detectives nod. "We're about finished up here. We don't want to stress you out. You gave us a lot to work with. And we have the collected evidence and the photographs. Next thing is, will you be pressing charges? He threatened you and Captain Mitchell with a gun."

The monitor jumps again, and the nurse turns the machine sound off and rubs her hand down my arm in a soothing gesture.

I bite on my upper lip as my body shakes. Fear is a physical reaction that has me weak, but I can't help the emotions Wayne has invoked from me.

However, it's Dale's face and his actions that give me the courage to do something I should've done years ago.

Stiffly, I nod. "Yes, I wish to press charges."

The main detective smiles a little. "That's good. It will add a lot more to the charge list and it'll make it harder for him to get bail."

The word bail has me breathing heavier. "He'll get out?"

"Miss Brown, I don't want you to worry about that. His arraignment will be a little later than normal because of the storm and all the recovery that needs to be taken care of first. And his bail is going to be set ridiculously high, plus the extradition. He won't be free anytime soon. So, you take care of yourself and know we have him in custody, okay?"

I won't be okay unless I have Dale beside me. It's the only way I'm going to get through this. He said he's going to be by my side, and I need him by my side.

Oh, gosh, what if he only means during this, and then he's going to go back to his life and I'm here alone and have to do Wayne's trial and everything all on my own? I don't know if I'm capable. Or if I can do it.

"I think we have everything we need at the moment. I know Captain Mitchell has been dying to get in here with you."

I perk up at that. "And nothing is going to happen to him, right?"

"No, it was clearly self-defense. The DA said she won't be pressing charges or pursuing the matter further. It also helps that the man he subdued has a warrant for armed robbery. That goes a long way, along with your statement and his impeccable service record. He's clear. "

Relief flows through me and the heart monitor seems to stop jumping around and everybody in the room notices it as well. "Does that mean I can see him now?"

"Yes." He hands over his card. "Call me if you think of anything else. I have Captain Mitchell's number in case we need to get a hold of you, but please don't leave town. We will need to be able to ask you questions should information arise."

I frown as I hold his card. "Um, I don't live here. What should I do if I have to leave? I don't have anywhere to stay."

The nurse clears her throat and both detectives smile. "I don't think that will be a problem."

I lower my brows and glance around the room. "I'm sorry?"

"Captain Mitchell has been making it very clear you have a place to stay and will have everything you need."

Surprised, I form an o with my mouth. There's nothing further to say and the detectives leave the room after wishing me a speedy recovery. The nurse fiddles with a few things, like taking my temperature and asking if I need anything and I tell her no.

"Very well. I'll get Captain Mitchell for you and the doctor should be in with you shortly."

Nodding, I rest my head against the pillow. I'm exhausted, and it's been a hell of a decade, but I can't help the butterflies and the excitement of knowing Dale's going to be with me soon. Even though nerves eat away at me a little wondering if everybody has it wrong and he's only feeling an obligation and once he sees I'm all right, he's going to wipe his hands of me.

I bite on my lips as I fiddle with my fingers. I don't know what to expect.

The door flies open and Dale barges into the room and makes his way over to my side. "Bella, are you okay? Damn, I've been going out of my mind, but nobody would let me see you." He cups one hand on my cheek while the other grips my hand, and he strokes his thumb back and forth.

I burst into tears and Dale's face drops as he hugs me awkwardly with the bed rails and all the wires linked up to me and the machines, but it's still the best hug I've ever received.

"Shhhh, baby. It's going to be okay. We'll get through this." He rests his head on top of mine while I suffer my second breakdown in front of him.

I can't fight off the embarrassment and wish I can make myself stop all the blubbering but the more I try to quit it the worse it becomes so I succumb once more.

"That's it. Let it all out. Cry as much as you need to. I've got you."

I cry harder. This is exactly what I didn't know I needed all these years. Somebody to just hold me and let me cry.

The door opens, and a doctor stands in the doorway and his eyes widen at the scene before him. "I'll come back later."

Neither Dale nor I say anything as the doctor turns around and the door closes behind him.

I scooch over as much as possible.

"What are you doing, Bella?"

"Lay with me."

"Of course." Dale lowers the side rail and moves the cords around before gently getting onto the bed with me. It's a tight fit, but as I wrap my body around his and he strokes my back and tucks me tight to his side, I breathe for the first time in ages. This has become my safe place, and I want to embrace it as much as I can.

"Sleep, Bella, I won't be going anywhere. I'll be here, so you rest."

I snuggle in closer to him and inhale deep the pine and natural musk that is Dale and I'm home. Something I haven't had since Nana passed, more specifically since my parents passed.

"My full name is Amelia Grace Brown, but I like being called Bella," I mumble into his chest. And I really do. It's like a sweet pet name, something I've never had before, and I want to hold on to it for as long as I can.

"You'll always be my Bella."

With his breathing and the slow rise and fall of his chest, I allow slumber to take over and let darkness descend.