One Special Moment - Brenda Jackson [75]
Colby drew in a deep breath. Even late at night she could smell the sweet fragrance of the wildflowers she had seen growing alongside the house. Tomorrow she intended to take a walk around the property. She had wanted to do that earlier today, but by the time she had unpacked it had begun getting dark.
The sounds in the distance of crickets and frogs intertwined with an occasional whooing sound from an owl. The noises were soothing and relaxing. Again she couldn’t help but wonder how anyone could not like this place. She wouldn’t be like those other Hamilton women who became bored and restless as they waited for their lumberjack husbands to return home. She would keep herself busy while Sterling was away. She might even apply for a job at the elementary school in town. The thought of teaching again made her smile.
Now if she could only convince Sterling to keep her. She was determined more than ever to talk to him when he returned. She had news for him. Whether he liked it or not, he had a permanent wife.
Her last thought before sleep overtook her was that she was here to stay.
Dr. Thorn studied the two men who were sprawled out in the chairs in the hospital waiting room asleep. They had been there all night waiting for word of Angeline’s progress. He had known the Chenaults for over twenty-five years and no one had ever mentioned Angeline had another son. Especially a son named Sterling Hamilton, the well-known movie actor. No doubt the media would have a field day when they found that out.
He cleared his throat and the two men woke instantly and stood. Although they weren’t similar in physical features, except for their height, they both gazed at him with that same deep, intense stare. He could tell by the way they were looking at him, that they were expecting bad news.
It was Sterling who spoke first. “How is she?”
Dr. Thorn looked from one brother to the other. “Remarkably well for a woman who’s gone through what she has. She’s awake now, and I think I can say the surgery was a success, although she’s not completely out of the woods yet. She has a lot of recovering to do and will need all the support she can get.”
“Can we see her?” Nicholas asked anxiously.
Dr. Thorn smiled. “Yes. In fact, she’s been asking for the both of you.”
For the first time since meeting the day before, the two brothers looked at each other and allowed themselves to smile.
A few moments later both Sterling and Nicholas stood at the foot of Angeline’s hospital bed. By the time they had gotten to her room, she had drifted back off to sleep.
“Mr. Chenault?” a nurse whispered softly as she entered the room. “You have a phone call at the front desk.”
Nicholas nodded to the woman. He then turned to Sterling. “That’s probably my office. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Left alone, Sterling allowed his gaze to linger on Angeline. In the hospital bed, she looked so tiny and frail. Her entire head was bandaged up and all sorts of machines were connected to her by way of various tubes. Sterling compared the woman he was looking at now to the one who had come to visit him in California. In less than four weeks, she had seemed to age almost twenty years.
Taking a deep breath he moved and sat in a chair at the head of the bed. No matter how he had felt toward her in the past, he would not have wanted this for her or anyone, not this sort of pain and suffering. At least Chandler had been spared that, having passed away in his sleep.
Suddenly Angeline’s eyes opened weakly, and she looked at him. At first it appeared she was somewhat in a daze as she continued to look at him. And then as if she recognized him, a semblance of a smile tried to form on her lips and tears came into her eyes.
Sterling saw her attempt to raise her hand to him and took it in his. She tried to move her lips to forms words to make a sound