“Better,” she said. “A little disoriented. Everything happened so fast.”
“How’s your head and your knee?”
She leaned back into the pillow. If she closed her eyes, she might be able to pretend they were talking on the phone as they’d done a hundred times before. She might be able to forget he was in the room with her. Stone was actually here. She nearly smiled. The correct statement wasn’t that Stone was here, but thatshewas withhim. She still couldn’t believe that.
At least he’d only asked about her head and her leg. He hadn’t asked about her heart or her tummy. Both fluttered uncomfortably.
“I still have a bump on my head,” she said, gingerly pressing her fingertips against the raised ridge by her temple. “My knee is a little sore and very stiff.”
“Physical therapy will help that. You start tomorrow. Aside from that, I want you to take it easy. That’s what the doctor ordered. Plenty of rest and time to recover. Ula is excited to have someone to fuss over.”
Cathy thought about Ula’s quiet appraising stare and didn’t thinkexcitedquite described her attitude. “I don’t want to be a bother,” she began, not sure what else she could say. “This is all so…” Her voice trailed off.
Stone raised his hand in what she guessed was a gesture of dismissal. “Don’t even mention that,” he said. “I want to help you. When the alarm went off while we were on the phone…” Now his voice was the one to trail off. He cleared his throat. “I didn’t know what had happened to you. All I could think about was driving to the office to make sure you were all right.”
Cathy frowned. “I don’t remember much about that night,” she admitted. “Everything is a blur. I do know we were on the phone and the fire alarm started. At first I thought it was a test or something. Then I smelled the smoke.”
Thinking about it made her head ache. She could almost inhale the scent of fire again and she shuddered. “I remember that you talked to me. I was so scared.”
“We don’t have to discuss this if it bothers you,” he said.
“No, it’s all right. I don’t remember much after calling 911. They said there was an explosion.” Again she rubbed the tender spot by her temple. “I was tossed through the air and landed on my knee and my head.”
“I’m glad you’re all right.”
His voice was low and familiar. Cathy strained to see him, but the darkness was too thick. Was this really happening to her? Was she really in Stone’s house, talking with him? Had he really brought her here and arranged for physical therapy, and Lord knows what else?
“Why are you doing this?” she asked him.
“Because I want to. We’re friends. If the situations were reversed, wouldn’t you help me?”
“Of course, but that’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
He moved on the sofa. She watched the shape of him shift, then settle in one place. He was a tall man, with broad shoulders, but he wasn’t bulky. His features remained indistinct. He seemed to be in slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, but that was all she could tell. She supposed the good news about their situation was that if she couldn’t see him, he also couldn’t see her. Although he had been able to see her while she was in the hospital.
She thought about him staring down at her while she was sleeping. Of him seeing the truth and realizing that everything she’d told him was a lie.
“The point is,” she whispered, “I’m a fraud. I’m not a pretty blonde with an exciting life. I’m—” Her voice cracked as the tears formed. Even as her throat tightened, she fought against them. “I don’t have those people as my friends. I don’t really have any friends. Even Muffin was a lie.” The last word was barely audible, despite the quiet in the room.
She remembered how Stone had held her hand in the hospital. She wished he would do that now, that he would approach and offer her comfort. She needed that. Otherwise, she would be left feeling a fool and a complete failure.
“None of that matters,” he told her.
“I don’t believe you.” Irritation gave her strength. “You can’t mean that. I’ve deceived you.”
“You made up some stories about your life. There’s a difference. No one got hurt, Cathy. We all pretend in different ways. I understand how it happens. In business deals, I often bluff.”
“This was a lot more than that.” She swallowed. The threat of tears had faded. “But you’re right about one thing. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.” A grim smile twisted her lips. “You, I guess I mean. There wasn’t anyone else involved.”
“Then if I’m willing to forget it ever happened, why aren’t you?”
Because her life had never been that simple or easy. Situations were always complicated for her. But maybe this time it was different, she thought and wished it could be true.
“I suppose I think I should be punished or something,” she said.
“You’re stuck in bed after knee surgery and you nearly died in a fire. How’s that for punishment?”
