“I don’t want your last image of me being in this bed like this,” Ava said, her tears flowing freely now.
“Ava,” Elizabeth said again, a slight smile pulling at her lips.
“Elizabeth, I…” Ava gulped in a breath. “I love you.”
A tear slipped from Elizabeth’s eye as she traced her fingers down Ava’s cheekbone. Ava almost held her breath as she waited for Elizabeth’s reaction.
“Ava, I love you, too,” Elizabeth said and leaned over to press her lips to Ava in a soft kiss.
Ava lifted her arm and ran her fingers though Elizabeth’s hair. Her light eyes were shining when she pulled back.
“I’ve already offered her a research position here at Phoenix Ridge,” Doctor Mars’ voice carried over from the door.
Ava turned to gape at the woman while Elizabeth smiled. “Are you serious?” Ava whispered.
“Yes,” Elizabeth answered. “There are some loose ends I will have to tie up in New York, but soon I will be here full time as a lead attending for the interns and residents.”
Ava blinked as she looked back and forth between the two women. Her chest felt as though it would burst with happiness. She fixed her eyes on Elizabeth. “Is that what you want?”
Elizabeth nodded, “We’ve talked about it at length for the last couple of days.” Elizabeth looked up at Dr. Mars as though they were finalizing some scheme. “I want to be here, I want to be with you.”
Ava choked back a sob, she couldn’t help it. Elizabeth leaned over the bed and wrapped Ava in a deep hug. She felt so warm, so soft, so perfect against Ava that she thought she would melt away in a river of happiness.
“First,” Elizabeth said when she finally pulled back, “We need to make sure you are feeling better.”
“We’ve been waiting for you,” Doctor Mars said with a smile.
“Waiting for what?” Ava asked, suddenly confused.
“We have a statement to make,” Doctor Mars said. “And some heroes to recognize.”
“You haven’t announced the cure yet?” Ava asked, her eyes going wide.
“You’re the face of this hospital, Ava, like it or not,” Doctor Mars said with a chuckle. “You were an integral part of this whole process, and we want you to make the announcement.”
“When?” Ava asked.
“As soon as you’re feeling up to it,” Elizabeth answered. “If you want, we can start working on it while you recover.”
Ava nodded slowly, she felt tired but elated. “I think I need some more sleep first,” she finally said.
“Of course,” Doctor Mars said. “I’ll talk to you again in the morning.” She gave a quick nod to Elizabeth and turned and left the room.
“I would swear that woman is psychic,” Elizabeth muttered and Ava chuckled.
“I wouldn’t bet against it,” Ava said, turning her full attention back to Elizabeth. She reached up and touched Elizabeth’s face again, and she smiled as she leaned into Ava’s hand. “Are you sure this is what you want?” Ava asked. “This is… Phoenix Ridge is very different from New York City.”
“I’m not worried,” Elizabeth said with a smile. “It’s not like we are trapped here, but this will be our home base. I know you aren’t done making a difference in the medical world, and neither am I; we have a lot of life ahead of us, Ava. I just want to make sure that you are in mine. I love you. I love you in a way that I’ve never felt before. Whatever comes our way, I know we will handle it.”
“I love you, too, Elizabeth,” Ava whispered, though her eyes were growing heavy again. “I want to be with you, too.” Her lids settled and she struggled to open them again. When she did, Elizabeth was smiling down at her.
“Sleep, my love,” Elizabeth whispered and pulled Ava’s blanket up around her shoulders. “I will be here when you wake up.”
Ava closed her eyes, and she was content. A lot was left to plan for their future, but she wasn’t worried. She didn’t completely understand it; she and Elizabeth were so different that it should be terrifying. It wasn’t, though. Ava was happy as she drifted off to sleep.
14
ELIZABETH
