Page 47 of Her Loving Hero

Had Ben’s hand moved?

She lunged out of the soft chair in the corner of the hospital room and went carefully grabbed his hand. She felt his finger’s twitch.

“Ben?” she questioned quietly.

Nothing. She looked at the one eyebrow showed from beneath the bandage on his head. It was the same shape and color as Wyatt’s. She saw him frown. She clasped his hand harder.

“Ben, can you hear me?”

He winced.

“Benny?”

He gasped and his eyes opened. It was like she was looking into Wyatt’s hazel eyes. Then he focused, and she realized he was someone else entirely.

“Ben are you in pain?” she asked softly.

“Where am I?” he whispered hoarsely.

“You’re in the hospital. You were in an accident.”

He closed his eyes. He flexed the hand holding hers, then she watched as both of his legs moved, then she saw his other hand move. He opened his eyes again. “What’s wrong with me?”

Emily thought her face would crack open like an egg because her grin was so wide. The doctor had told her so many potential horror stories about Ben not being able to speak, understand words or move, but he was talking!

“Oww!” she tried to wrench her hand out of his.

“I’m sorry,” he let go of her hand. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I forgot I was holding your hand. Lady, can you tell me what’s wrong with me? Please?”

“You’ve been in a coma. The doctors said we had to wait until you woke up to find out your prognosis.”

He searched her face, she could see him processing what she said and opened her mouth to explain further.

“Why are you crying?” he asked.

Emily touched her cheeks and wiped away her tears, then felt her smile come back. “Because you’re talking. They were worried. Ben, you’re going to be okay.”

He blew out a breath and winced.

“What’s wrong? Do you need me to get a nurse so she can give you something for your pain?”

For just a moment the young man’s lip trembled before he firmed it up. “What’s wrong is, I don’t know who you are. I don’t think my brain is working right.”

“Oh Honey, of course you don’t. We’ve never met. I’m a friend of Wyatt’s. He should be here any minute now.”

Longing filled his face. “Wyatt’s going to be here?”

“Real soon,” she promised. Emily calculated that he should have landed at LAX a two hours ago.

Ben winced again.

“Let me get that nurse, the last thing you need to be is in pain.”

“I’m fine, really,” the kid tried to lie.

“What, you’re trying to be a SEAL?” she teased.

“Eventually,” he closed his eyes and stifled a whimper.