part0029

She was trying to wrap a bouquet for Remy and felt pretty helpless. Her hand was still grumbling, but the swelling had lessened somewhat. “Some nonsense with my ex, but it seems to be solved now. He was arrested yesterday, and I was promised a restraining order. So the future looks bright.” She felt happier than she had in a long time.

Fiona was shocked. “Gee, I hope he gets the punishment he deserves.” She wrapped her in a sympathetic embrace. She sounded like a worldly old woman and not a young girl without much experience with the other sex.

“And after everything you went through with Dad yesterday.”

“Have you heard anything?” Isabella knew the doctor would call Dinah and not her.

“No, Mom is at the spa. She doesn’t hear her phone when it rings.” Fiona walked to the door. “I’d better get her phone. Otherwise, we’ll never know when Dad is out of surgery.”

“Yes, hurry. He might’ve had the surgery already.” Isabella had tried not to worry about Remy all morning, but she could no longer help it. What if he was lying there, waiting for them? There was so much she wanted to tell him, and she missed him.

“Just head over to the hospital,” Pernille suggested. “I’ll watch the shop.”

“Maybe we should? It can’t be long until they call. He was scheduled for early morning.” She picked up her bag and got ready. A few minutes later, Fiona was back.

“There was a missed call fifteen minutes ago. So I called back. Dad’s had the surgery and is in intensive care. The surgery was successful.”

“Well done, Fiona.” How efficient she was. The girl knew how to get things done.

“I told Mom we’re leaving,” Fiona continued.

“Is she ready to go?”

Fiona started laughing. “Far from it. She’s at the hair dresser’s coloring her hair. It will take another two hours, at the very least.”

Isabella was sure she was right. Dinah knew how to enjoy herself at the beauty parlor. What a comfortable life she had. She was indulged all day and had a husband who paid all her expenses. No wonder she refused to let Remy go.

“Do you mean you and I are going?” Isabella looked pensive.

“Of course, who else?”

Isabella didn’t have to be asked twice. “Okay. Call me if it gets too busy, Pernille.”

Hiring Pernille was the smartest decision she’d ever made. She was reliable and never sick. And she was clever. She had an eye for details. She was an introvert and not very chatty, but now during summer, Fiona was talking enough for the three of them. The shop was never quiet. Isabella liked the liveliness and would miss Fiona when school started.

“Red or blue car?” Isabella asked.

“Red. Besides, your car is at your house.”

She smiled. “You’re right. I thought it best to drive Remy’s car back to the hotel.” She unlocked it. “So I can take the liberty of borrowing his car today as well. I can get used to this.”

Fiona giggled. “Me too. It’s not often I get to ride in this car. We usually use Mom’s.”

Remy was awake when they arrived and had been wheeled into a double room. Next to him lay a fragile man with an oxygen feed and tubes all over him. Isabella shuddered. She didn’t like hospitals much, and disease and sick people made her sad. It wasn’t for nothing she’d chosen to work with colorful flowers. She fetched a vase by the sink and placed the bouquet of buttercups on Remy’s nightstand.

“Dad, I’m so happy to see you.” Fiona hugged him and sat down beside his bed.

“Thanks for coming.” Remy’s voice was low, and he still sounded sleepy. “Beautiful flowers.”

“Did the surgery go well?” Isabella took his hand in hers.

“That’s what they said. A big, blocked artery has been unclogged. I feel totally drained.”

“Of course you do. Just think of everything you’ve been through. How long will they keep you here?” Isabella asked.

“A few days. They want to wait and see. But the days of staying in a hospital for weeks after a heart attack are over. They want me up and running as soon as possible.”

Isabella nodded. “I dropped by the kitchen this morning and told them what happened.”

“Good thinking. They’ll be fine without me, even if it’s hard for me to admit it.”

“You look so tired, Dad. I’ll text Mom and let her know you need to rest. She can come tonight instead.” Fiona started typing on her phone without waiting for an answer.

“Thanks.” Remy gave his daughter a grateful look.

She stood. “I’ll get a cup of hot chocolate from the café. Do you want anything, Isabella?”

“Yes, the same. The coffee here is nothing to boast about.”

“I don’t dare give you hot chocolate, Dad. Isn’t it lemonade they offer the patients?” she joked.

Remy smiled lopsidedly, and Fiona disappeared out the door. Isabella used the opportunity to tell him about the arrest the previous night. His face blanched, and she began doubting whether she was doing the right thing. Was his heart strong enough for this? He shouldn’t get upset so soon after the surgery. She had omitted the details to spare him, but it didn’t seem to be enough.

“I should’ve been there for you,” he said. “Then it never would’ve happened.”

“You were lying here. And it’s impossible to protect me at all times. But things are looking up now that Bob is being forced to keep his distance.”

“Good to hear. Hope it works.”

“If not, I’ll get a personal attack alarm. But one problem at a time. I’m hopeful.”

“Kiss me, Isabella. I’ve missed you more than you can imagine. It’s when you’re close to death that you start thinking. Thinking about everything you’ve done and haven’t done. But mostly about what you should’ve done.”

He didn’t have to persuade her. “Just a small kiss, so your heart doesn’t start galloping.” She leaned over and met his soft lips. He tasted of fresh spearmint, from mints or toothpaste. The kiss lasted longer than it should have, and she reluctantly ended it. She wished she could jump into bed with him and cuddle him. They would lay very close. She would have felt incredibly safe then. But she knew it was more than that. She was starting to have serious feelings for Remy. It was exciting and scary at the same time, but she allowed herself these new feelings. She wouldn’t let her problematic relationship with Bob get in her way any longer. She had to give love a second chance. As soon as he was healthy and able to get to know her properly, she’d give him everything she had.

“Mmm. One more kiss.”

She gave him a quick peck. Fiona would be back any minute.

“Can you keep Dinah away from the hospital?” he asked.

“Sorry, that’s impossible. We can’t refuse her. If she finds out I’ve used your sports car again, she’ll throw a fit.” Isabella smiled.

His face brightened. “Use it as often as you like.”

“Can you come alone next time?”

“I’ll try, but it won’t be easy. They only let us come early today as you had surgery. Visiting hours are between six and seven. So we’ll come all together and fight for the minutes with you.”

“I feel very popular.”

“You are. Let’s hope you get home soon. Everything will be so much easier then.”

The door opened, and Fiona was back with two paper cups of hot chocolate. “This isn’t too bad. Have a try, Dad.” She gave him the cup, and he took a small sip.

“Ugh, that’s not how I make it.”

“No, but it’s better than nothing. I bought the delicious Danishes, too. Now Mom isn’t here, we can tuck in. I’ll put your bag here, Dad. You can ask the doctor if it’s okay for you to eat it later.” Fiona placed the pastries on his nightstand.

“I believe they recommend a healthy diet after a heart attack,” Isabella said. “Low in fat and lean food.”

Remy grimaced. “They did mention something like that. Obviously, I’ll need to make some adjustments when I return to work.”

“And exercise?” Isabella knew that Remy’s form of exercise consisted of kneading dough and boat maintenance, which wasn’t a small job, after what she’d seen. But they most likely had another kind of exercise in mind.

“Moderate exercise. Everything in moderation, they said. Slowly to begin with. Perhaps it’ll be enough with a few walks?” He gave her a hopeful look.

“I don’t know, but it sounds sensible.” Isabella checked her watch. “You need to rest now, and we have to get back. We have a wedding this weekend, and a lot of work still to do.”

“Thanks for visiting me.”

They said their goodbyes and sped off in the red sports car, like two teens without a worry in the world. Remy was on the road to recovery, and everything was looking brighter.

Remy feared he was about to have another heart attack. Three days had passed since the surgery, and it was dead boring just lying there. The evening visits had been strenuous. Dinah insisted on being there the entire hour, without leaving his bed. He hadn’t had a single moment alone with Isabella. He didn’t have the energy to fight with Dinah. He still wasn’t over her incredible betrayal. It was impossible to forgive and forget. How would he ever do that?

He was fed up with feeling like her husband. They were separated, and it was about time she started respecting his decision. He had developed strong feelings for Isabella but realized it looked like he was rushing into a new relationship before the old one was over. The truth was that he should have left Dinah a few years ago.

If only he hadn’t been incapable of acting, everything would have been easier now. But he felt bad. And the tiny voice in the back of his head told him he should give it another try. It wasn’t easy to make everyone happy; he knew it was in fact impossible.

He had to come up with something so that Dinah could go on with her life. He was content to be going home tomorrow. The hospital wanted to discharge him before the weekend. Fewer staff were on duty at the hospital then, and patients were sent home if they were stable and safe. He was grateful for the Norwegian health care system. He wasn’t paying a cent to lie there, nor for the surgery. Not many countries in the world had a similar setup. Still, he was ready for his own bed.

When Dinah had insisted on picking him up, he hadn’t answered. But he felt stronger and more prepared to fight now, even if his tiredness seemed to linger. Perhaps it was time to get the upper hand.

Isabella could barely wait for Remy to come home. If he hadn’t been discharged today, she would have skipped further evening visits. She was weary of Dinah’s act, which was so feigned it was ridiculous. She felt like an idiot when visiting him every night. But Remy had insisted, and she knew he meant it. He wanted to see her. He called and texted her several times a day. There was no doubt what he was feeling. And that was what kept her going.

Her phone beeped, and she had to laugh. Remy wanted her to pick him up at the hospital. He was to be discharged in an hour. Was she able to come? She texted back and asked him if that wasn’t Dinah’s job, but got some nasty emoji’s in return. He was not in the mood for jokes.

“I’m on my way,” she wrote.

The timing was perfect. Fiona and Dinah were having lunch. It was easy to get away. “Pernille, I’m picking up Remy at the hospital. Don’t tell them where I am. Otherwise there’ll be a convoy driving through town.”

Pernille smiled. “Dinah is quite a character. I’m rooting for you.”

“Thanks, I need supporters. By the way, all the arrangements and the bridal bouquet for tomorrow are ready. It’s good we’ve finished everything. The church is decorated, and when I get back, I’ll do the venue.”

“The flowers turned out great,” Pernille said. “The last few days have been hectic, but it’s been fun.”

“Yes, it’s been busy. And it’s even more fun since this is our first wedding. We’re a perfect team, you and I.” She fetched her purse. “I’d better get going.”

Isabella took the stairs down to Remy’s car. She could borrow it with a clear conscience this time, seeing as she was picking up the owner. She was starting to get bored with the long drive. The hospital was situated north of the capital, while Solvik was south, making it a forty-five-minute drive each way. But this was the last time, so she wasn’t complaining. It would be great to get him home.

Right now, it sounded like they’d been together for a long time. But they were only almost sweethearts, with the possibility of more. She was happy, either way. She hadn’t seen nor heard from Bob since the arrest, so the restraining order seemed to be working. She was still careful and looked over her shoulder all the time. It had become a habit that wasn’t easy to break.

Isabella stopped at the main entrance, where she’d agreed to meet Remy. He’d insisted on being picked up there. No need to go inside to find him. He’d been ordered to exercise, and there was nothing wrong with his sense of orientation, although the hospital was big and the corridors plentiful.

Remy showed up ten minutes later. She got out of the car and hugged him. “All good?”

“Do you want to drive?”

“No, you drive.” He sat, and she shut his door before getting into the driver’s seat.

“You got away?” He fastened his seatbelt.

“It was easy enough, they were having lunch. You texted me at the perfect moment.”

She smiled to herself. She should have guessed. He knew exactly where Dinah was at all times, so he could avoid her whenever possible. It wasn’t a nice thing to do, but she understood all too well how it felt when the other party didn’t accept the breakup. You had to respect one another’s wishes.

She came to think of Bob. “I completed the puzzle again while you were in the hospital. The room had to be tidied up anyway.”

“Did you find all the pieces?”

“Sadly, no. Three pieces were missing, which means I’ll never puzzle it again.”

“That’s a shame. Is it Bob?”

“What do you think? He knows I hate it when pieces are missing.” She sighed. “Let’s talk about something more uplifting. I’m looking forward to getting you home,” she said.

“Home? Do I get to move in with you?” He looked at her mischievously, and she sniggered at his eagerness.

“That might be an exaggeration. It’s been some strenuous days for all of us, and most of all for you. So, I intend on taking good care of you. In your apartment.”

“Oh, so you’re moving in with me?”

She slapped his thigh. “Your mood is improving. But no, I can pamper you even if I don’t live there. Have you forgotten that my apartment is only a few blocks from yours?”

He turned serious. “You know what? I’m planning on rebelling a bit. Dinah doesn’t have a key to my apartment, and she won’t get one, either.”

“It might work. What about Fiona? She needs access to your apartment.” Isabella turned into his driveway and parked the car.

“No, she’ll understand that I don’t want visitors. Especially when she knows you’re with me.” He opened the car door and stepped out.

“You’ve had time to think while in hospital, I can tell.”

“I did.” He stretched and inhaled deeply. “Ah, fresh air. Stuffy hospital air isn’t for me.”

“You’re lucky you live on the first floor, with easy access to the garden. Is the patio furniture yours?” She pointed at a small table and two chairs.

“No, I don’t know who they belong to. I’ve never seen anyone sit there.”

“In that case, you can use it.”

They went into his apartment. It was neat and clean, and everything had its designated place.

Remy opened a bottle of sparkling water from the fridge and lay down on the sofa. He looked like he could do with some rest.

“You must be hungry. I have to get back to work and decorate for the wedding tomorrow. Should I bring you some food?”

“Yes, please. I’ll be fine until then. There’s a spare key in the drawer in the hall. Take it.”

She did as he said and put it in her pocket. “How will Dinah handle this?”

“Not well. But it’s about time she understood I’m serious.”

“Something crossed my mind. I didn’t tell Fiona that Bob was the one cooperating with Dinah. She knows about my ex-boyfriend, but not his name.”

“It’s better that way. The less she knows, the better.”

“My thoughts exactly. A teenager shouldn’t have to worry about things like that. That’s why I didn’t go into the details of what happened to me.”

She thought for a moment before she continued. “Could that be the reason Bob didn’t find me until now? Because he was contacted by Dinah, who needed help influencing the locals? Or was he keeping an eye on me all along, and when Dinah’s money tempted him, he realized he could regain control over me again? All at once! Almost like two for one.”

“It’s impossible to know. Bob will never admit how he planned it. Let’s forget about Bob and Dinah. It’s us we should focus on now.” He put his arm firmly around her waist, and she found herself tightly wrapped up in his safe arms.