After Eden

Chapter 17

I awoke to a room washed with fluorescent lights and the voice of a bright, chirpy nurse checking my chart at the foot of the bed. I turned my head to the side and saw Ryan sitting in the chair beside me. His forehead was creased with concern, but his rich brown eyes were filled with light and warmth and the corners of his mouth were turned up in a crooked little smile. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but he was too far away.

‘Oh good, you’re awake,’ the nurse said brightly. ‘I’ll be back in a moment to take your blood pressure.’

If this was a dream, I had survived. Unless this was heaven. I didn’t even believe in heaven. But if it existed, Ryan would be there. I smiled to myself. Heaven or a dream. I didn’t care. I just wanted it to last as long as possible, so I could enjoy gazing into his perfect face.

‘Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,’ said Ryan.

‘Am I dreaming or am I in heaven?’ I asked.

He raised one eyebrow.

‘I don’t care which it is so long as you’re there.’

He gently brushed my hair back from my eyes. ‘You’re not dreaming. And you’re not in heaven.’

‘Am I hallucinating? Did they give me morphine?’

He smiled. ‘No. I’m really here.’

‘You can’t be. You left.’

‘I came back.’

I blinked. He was still there. I touched his hand. It was warm. It felt real.

‘What do you remember?’ he asked, running his thumb across the back of my hand.

‘Everything. Up until Travis pushed me under the water.’ An image of blood, pink and foamy, fanning out around his head, filled my mind. ‘Where’s Travis?’ I asked.

‘Travis is dead,’ he told me.

‘In the water?’

Ryan nodded. ‘He was concussed and then he drowned.’

I shook my head. ‘That’s awful.’

‘No,’ Ryan’s voice was hoarse. ‘It’s the best thing. He would have killed you, Eden. He’s dead and you’re safe.’

He leant over and kissed me gently on the mouth. Right on cue, the chirpy nurse came back to check my blood pressure. Ryan stood up to give her space.

‘Too much excitement will raise your blood pressure,’ she said, winking at me.

‘Can I go home?’ I asked.

‘The doctor will be doing her rounds soon,’ the nurse said, smiling at me. ‘If everything is OK, you should be free to go right after breakfast.’

I still had so many questions. How could Ryan be here? Who saved me? Where was Travis’s body?

‘It’s a little high,’ the nurse said, taking my reading. She glanced at Ryan. ‘But nothing to worry about. Breakfast will be here in just a few minutes.’

‘Is Miranda OK?’ I asked once the nurse had left the room again.

‘As well as can be expected.’ He took my hand again.

‘Does she know anything?’

Ryan shook his head. ‘She thinks that Travis was walking along the harbour wall, trying to take a photo of his restaurant. You were there too, helping him. Travis slipped and fell in and then you jumped in to try to rescue him, but he had hit his head on the rocks. Then I jumped in and managed to save you, but it was too late for Travis.’

‘And how come you were there?’

‘I told Miranda that we changed our minds and decided not to go back to America.’

‘But really, how come you were there? How can you be here?’

‘I came back for you.’

Breakfast arrived, putting an end to our conversation. Then the doctor. And finally Miranda.

She looked tired and drawn. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore no make-up.

‘Thank God you’re OK,’ she said. ‘Let’s get you home.’

‘Ryan,’ I said.

‘Get some rest, OK?’ he said.

‘I don’t want any rest. I want to be with you.’

‘Eden,’ said Miranda wearily. ‘Travis is dead and I have to try to contact his relatives. I don’t know where to start. I need you.’

I looked at Ryan. I’d said goodbye for ever. I couldn’t do it again.

‘I’m not going anywhere,’ he whispered in my ear. ‘Ever. Help Miranda. And come and see me tomorrow.’

‘You promise you won’t leave?’

He nodded. ‘I promise.’