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Stephanie paced the hallway of the waiting area for what felt like hours but in reality it had only been thirty minutes. When she couldn’t stomach the notion of standing anymore, she sat. Her butt barely perched on a chair by the window. She couldn’t relax. Her arms gripped the seat of the chair in a vice like grip and she straightened her legs out with locked knees.
She blew out a breath. Part of her exhausted but the rest of her worried. So worried. Everything that transpired on that mountain top had been her fault and when she thought of that parting, almost kiss....
Well, her heart raced with excitement, but Bret hadn’t been in his right mind. I mean, how could he have been? He probably wouldn’t have remembered this when it was over. Stephanie didn’t know how she felt about it. All she could think about was what would happen if he wasn’t okay? Richie had worried about the loss of blood and damage to the muscle wall. All Stephanie knew was, it didn’t sound good.
What if this was something they couldn’t easily fix?
Stephanie folded her hands and heard a rush of footsteps coming from around the corner. At first, she thought perhaps it was Bret’s surgeons, but instead it was the worried face of her boss, Gary. He carried two cups of coffee as he headed over to her. He sat next to her without question, handing a coffee over while he sipped the other one.
Thankful but silent, Stephanie peeled back her lid and blew to cool the magic beverage down.
“By God, it’s all true? You look like it’s true but that message you left me, I couldn’t just take your word for it.”
Stephanie nodded. “It’s true.”
“Footage?”
Stephanie’s stomach recoiled. “I have some. He wanted to keep the interviews going but it became clear pretty quick he couldn’t make the return journey on foot.”
“So you did it?” Gary waited for Stephanie to nod. “Well, that’s all right. A voice over will fill in the gaps. You can talk about what it was like. You having to rescue the Wilderness man. The story you now have on your hands.” Gary laughed, dollar signs practically flashing in his eyes but Stephanie felt overcome with grief.
“I don’t know if I can do the piece,” Stephanie admitted. “I’m the one who wandered away. He got attacked by the mountain lion because of me and the things I did.”
“He knew the risk going out. He accepts them every time he goes. Stuff happens. This is how good stories are born. You’d be a darn fool if you pass on this. Do you have the footage on you?”
Gary practically salivated at the mouth.
Stephanie shook her head. “It’s not here. I forgot it on the helicopter, but it’ll be safe.” She had never lied before to Gary but now it felt like her only option. If he saw the footage, nothing would stop him from editing it together. It would run on the evening news before Bret was even out of surgery.
Gary grumbled. “You get it to the studio. Soon as you can. That camera and the footage on it belongs to the studio. We can’t have anything happen to it.”
Stephanie nodded. “I got it. Don’t worry, boss. The important stuff ended up in once piece.”
He gave her the side eye, looking confrontational, but he didn’t call her out. “And Bret? How is he?
“Surgery,” Stephanie said plainly. She shuddered at how cold and lifeless she sounded, but she wanted to protect herself from the guilt and pain. Two things she felt when she thought of Bret.
“He’ll pull through. He’s a fit guy. Want me to sit with you longer?”
“That’s pretty much the last thing I want, Gary.” Stephanie sipped her coffee. It wasn’t sweet at all. Instead, it was a hot, bitter drink. In other words, it was perfect for her current frame of mind.
“Get some rest. Get a meal. And for goodness sakes, get me that footage as soon as you can.” Gary stood, gave her what passed for a smile, and was on his way. His sneakers squeaking across the tile as he left.
All the things he said, were all the things she had no intention of doing—not yet. Stephanie wouldn’t leave the hospital or even the waiting area until she had word that Bret was through surgery. And he’d be fine. He’d be absolutely fine.
*****
Stephanie stabbed her plastic fork into the chef’s salad balancing on her knee. Thanks to her friend Vivi, she had lunch and a diet soda. She couldn’t believe how hungry she was and almost couldn’t moderate the speed in which she shoved food into her mouth. With her napkin, Stephanie wiped a bit of ranch dressing off the corner of her mouth. “Sorry,” she mumbled, her mouth a combination of lettuce, egg, and cheese.
Vivi only smiled. “Oh, please! The ordeal you went through... I’m just happy you’re okay. And he’s okay. Anything I can do for you, you tell me. I’ll do anything to help out.”
“Thank you,” Stephanie said. “I can’t think of anything else I need other than... Can you hold something for me? Maybe for a few days.”
Vivi nodded. “Of course. Absolutely.”
Stephanie opened her backpack and took out a camera. “Hold this at your house and don’t tell anyone—and I mean anyone—that you have it.”
Vivi took the camera and looked at it like it was the holy grail. “This is it? The footage you shot?” She leaned forward to whisper.
“Yup. I just don’t know what to do with it next. Gary’s feeling a little media hungry, if you know what I mean.”
“You can count on me. There hasn’t been a secret yet that old troll has been able to pry from my hands.” Vivi slipped in her bag and zipped it up. “I’m not surprised you’d do the right thing but you were ready to pin him to the wall. And now this? The attack, the rescue, you could spin it anyway you wanted.”
“But that wouldn’t be fair, would it? That’s exactly something that Gary’s going to suggest. And... we had a real connection. I don’t know what it was but I don’t want to harm his career if I don’t have to. I want to be able to look at him and not feel like I’m a total jerk face.”
Viviane scowled. “You’re far from a jerk face but okay. I get why you feel that way. It won’t ruin his career. Accidents happen no matter who you are.”
“I just want to talk to him first. Make sure he’s okay with it. I wouldn’t feel right otherwise.”
“I hope he pulls through soon. Call me, okay?” Vivi rose to her feet to leave and Stephanie did the same.
As she did, Stephanie noticed Bret’s doctor walking toward her—his surgical mask in his hand. Touching Vivi’s shoulder, Stephanie rushed to greet him. Before the doctor was able to say anything, she asked a rush of questions.
“Is he okay? How was surgery? Did it all go the way you thought it would?”
The doctor gave her a kind smile. “He came through with flying colors. He’s in recovery and he’s waking up. I can’t tell you anything else, I’m afraid. He’s asked that you go home. Take care of yourself. And he may be able to speak with you tomorrow. Have a good night, Stephanie.” The doctor touched her shoulder warmly before he headed back the way he came.
It was like the wind was snuffed out of her sails. After all her waiting around, she was just expected to go before she saw him? Before they finished their talk? Before she could apologize again?
“Did he say Bret might be able to speak to you tomorrow? What do you think that means?” Vivi stepped up behind her and voiced Stephanie’s own doubts and concern.
“I don’t know.” Stephanie’s lips straightened tight. “But you darn better believe I’m going to find out.”
******
The only thing that made Stephanie feel any better was picking up her small beagle, April, at her sister’s house. Marcy was a stay-at-home mom with another bun almost completely cooked and ready to be born any moment. “You know when I talked about launching a rescue party, I was only kidding. You weren’t supposed to take me quite so seriously.”
Stephanie laughed as she took the leash from her. April jumped up and down against her owner’s leg and Stephanie couldn’t resist giving her a few enthusiastic head scratches. “Thanks, Marcy. You rest, you look tired.”
Marcy laughed. “I don’t know anything else other than tired. But I can sleep when I’m dead.”
Stephanie pouted at her sister but Marcy knew what she signed up for. Still, she was sad for how at worn out she looked. “Tell the kids I’ll be back in a few days. I need a long soak and a good book.”
Marcy sighed. “I’m not sure what either of those things are anymore.”
Stephanie chuckled as her sister waddled back up the front stairs. April wagged her tail as Stephanie took her over to the car. “You ready to go home and get some treats?” April barked at her twice, a happy smile on her face.
It made Stephanie feel better as they drove over to her modern style apartment. Inside was quiet, even with the windows open, except for an occasional bird chirp. Stephanie lay in a warm bubble bath with her hair piled on the top of her head. A hot tea in her hand and lounging back on her bath pillow, she couldn’t imagine a better night.
Except... except Bret kept popping into her mind. Maybe he was okay, maybe he wasn’t, but in her sleepy state, Stephanie saw he was hurt. He was hurt and he was reaching for her. And Stephanie was nowhere to be seen.