He buried his head in her hair. "Just a minute,"
Kira was startled by the weariness in his voice.
There was also something else there, something like despair.
She put her arms around his waist and stroked his back
They stood stock-still for a long while.
The throng of people parted like a stream around them
Some
rossed the couple a dirty look for blocking the way, but neither noticed
In the carpark outside, Charlotte tumed her head.
She caught sight of Austyn's hunched shoulders and held back a sigh.
She knew Austyn had not accepted her fate.
She had given up on treatment and checked out of the medical centre, despite Dr Manning's vociferous objections.
He warned her that without the support of the medical staff and equipment, she might not survive past two weeks.
Charlotte was fine with it; Austyn was not.
Austyn finally released Kita from his anns
He tousled her hair and took hold of her hand. 'Conse on'
Kira noticed the fatigue in his eyes.
Her heart ached for him. "What's wrong?"
She had never seen him like this, so vulnerable and helpless.
The Austyn McCarthy she lose had always been so decisive.
His back was always mainrod straight, his head held high.
He was indestructible,
Using Her Like A Crutch
But when he hugged her just now, he seemed to be using her like a crutch, like he needed to borrow some strength from her or he would have collapsed. 'Nothing's wrong: Austyn had returned to his normal, assertive self. 'Can't a husband hug his wife for no reason?"
He started walking towards the exit, still holding her hand. 'Don't you miss me?'
Tunnel Vision
Kira had to jog to keep up with his long strides, "Not really
She tried to catch the look on his face but he was moving too fast and all she could see was his stubbled jawline.
"Oh? He cocked an eyebrow. I recall a certain someone jumping into my arms two minutes ago. The bear hug almost locked me to the ground."
Kira punched his arm. 'Are you making fun of me?!
she just suffered from a temporary affliction of tunnel vision.
When she saw him, everything and everyone else around him evaporated.
All she could see was him.
Nothing else mattered.
She forgot they were in a public place and even forgot about his mother
All she wanted to do was touch him and hold him and inhale his familiar scent
"Ow!" Austyn.doubled over
"What's wrong?" Kira was alarmed. 'Are you okay?'
He clutched at his chest.
shoot, she forgot about his gunshot wound!
She couldn't see his face. "Are you in pain?"
Austyn straightened up and pinched her cheek 'Gotcha"
Kirasaw the smile on his face. That wasn't farmy!!
She waved an angry fist at him.
Austyn caught her wrist, drew her in and kissed her on the lips.
A young man wallding past whistled.
Kira pushed Austyn away, blushing furiously.
She sprinted towards the ext
Kai was behind the wheel.
Their fi
first stop was the hospital.
Kira and her mother-in-lawsat in the backseat.
Charlotte insisted on having the window downL
She kept her eyes on the scenery outside.
Everything was so familiar yet so foreign to her the plane trees, the camphor laurels, the chattering azure-winged maples and the warbling red-flanked bluetails...
She had spent the better part of the past decade in one hospital room or another.
Even the p gasoline-laced air was refreshing to her
A team of doctors were already waiting by the time they arrived at Stamford General.
Dr Manning had liaised with them and sent over Charlatte's medical files.
She was wheeled into an examination room for a battery of tests.
The forty-hour plane ride was taxing even for an able-bodied adult like Austyn
Charlotte made it through the flight with the help of a portable oxygen concentrator and two phials of sedatives
Lucidly, her condition did not deteriorate.
Dr Vanderbilt, the head pulmonologist, recommended a hospital stay, just to be on the safe side.
Austyn took care of the inpatient admission, made sure Charlotte had a private room with a nurse who stayed with her at all times and then waited for her to fall asleep before leaving He returned to the villa with Kira
Elsie was out shopping
Austyn took a long, hot shower, which washed away some of his fatigue
Kira proffered him a set of pyjamas when he came out of the bathroom.
She'd also undownstairs and warmed up a glass of milk for him.
"This should help you sleep better."
hotharms Yourlier!
Kira set down the glass and went to him.
He drew her into his arms.
She rested her head against his bare chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
He finally let go of her after a long minute.
Kira looked at him. "Are you feeling better?
He changed into the pyjamas.
Kira took a quick shower.
had so many things to tell Austyn.
But when she came out of the bathroom, he was fast asleep.
Kira tiptoed to the bed and switched off the bedside lamp.Text content © .
Then the got into bed next to him and burrowed into his arms. It was not yet seven.pm.
Austyn had never gone to bed this early.
He said he was fine, but he must be utterly wiped out
Kira propped herself up on an elbow and watched him sleep
The stubble on his chin was more than two days old.
He'd definitely lost weight.