Chapter 7
For a week, she had not seen Darien, except to talk to him on the phone. He was busy at the hospital, covering two shifts sometimes to cover for Jessica. Half of the time he was exhausted unable to make any attempt to meet up with her or even work out in the gym.
It was a Thursday, Liz friend Julie’s family get a call that Julie’s grandmother who was in Florida, was ill. Julie and her family had to leave. Liz was at a loose end, she went back to her parent’s house, thinking it would not do any harm to spend two days on her own.
As she was cycling into the driveway, she got a shock to find a van parked in front of the front door, and the door was wide open. In the van were some of her mom and dad’s prized collections of vases and paintings, some furniture.
Rather than call the police, as that would have been the rational thing to do, she thought her black belt in Karate would come in handy. She ventured into the house to confront the robbers. She was outnumbered and out maneuvered.
There were two huge guys, who towered over her small frame. One of them laughed, and said “well lookie here, what we got, while the other crept up behind her and landed a blow at the back of her head that sent her reeling.. they tied her up. After a while she recovers with a throbbing head. She finds herself all bounded up, her mouth taped. She heard the robbers speaking to each other in low tones. “Rob, we need to go,” the second robber says to the first.
“no, we can’t, I have not found the safe,” he replies.
Liz pretends to be unconscious. The robbers finally leave. Liz sighs in relief. She tries to undo her bounds but is helpless. Feeling hopeless, she thinks to herself, ‘I just have to wait untilDarienrealizes I’m not at Julie’s. She freezes when she hears footsteps approaching the doorway. “What the hell? Liz! What on earth are you doing here? Who did this to you? “He questioned her while untying her. “Oh!Darien!” she clings to him, “We’ve been robbed!”
“Why are you here and not at Julie’s house?”
“Julie’s family had to go toChicagoto visit her grandmother who is ill,” Liz toldDarien. “Why didn’t you call me?” he demanded.
“I though it would be okay to stay alone,”
“Are you nuts? You could have gotten killed!”
Liz realizing that she had a close shave nodded and said, “I should have just called the police, but I thought I could handle it,” she says meekly. “I hold a black back in Karate, you know?” she said. “Liz,”Dariensays in a warning tone.
“I’m sorry Darien, I didn’t think there would be any real danger,” she started crying, tears rolling down her cheeks as the shock took her.
Darie ntakes her into his arms and holds her, rubbing her back and arms in an effort to calm her.
He then says, “Okay, first, we better contact the police; call the locksmith and then you’re going to spend the night in my house.” He says decisively.
Liz meekly nods her head. But they find the phone lines were cut and there was a storm outside that would make it impossible to go out.
“Darien, I’m scared, what if the robbers return?” Liz said looking around. “They didn’t find the safe, so they might return,” she continued.
“don’t worry, nobody in their right mind would go out in this weather,” he tries to calm her. Here sit down, I’ll make a fire and get us something to eat and cocoa.” Knowing that Liz could be suffering from belated shock, he quickly prepares some grilled cheese sandwiches, cocoa, gets some blankets. As he entered the den, he calls out toElizabeth. He gets no response. He goes into the room to find Liz sprawled on the floor.
“Liz?” Her lashes fluttered up uncertainly, she discovered she was in his arms on his lap and he was staring at her with a frown of concern.
“oh,” she tried to move, butDarienstops her,”
“Don’t, you hit your head at the corner of the table, you might have a concussion. Does your head hurt?”
She lays back and feels her head tentatively. There was already a bump above her left temple. “Not yet, too much,” she said cautiously, and felt his fingers follow the path hers had, find the bump and she winces.
You’re going to have the proverbial lump like an egg for a day or two and a bit of a headache. Any other symptoms like double vision or feeling cold?”
She blinks experimentally.
“No, no double vision.” But she shivered suddenly.Darienwraps the blanket around her more closely, hugs her closely to himself. He says, “I am getting up to get some ice,” slowly moved her and placed her gently against the cushions, go up and went to the get the ice. He opened the freezer and was glad to find that Jess kept a gel pack that was frozen and ready to be used. He wraps the pack in a teatowel, and goes back to Liz. She was trying to pour herself some cocoa. He takes the thermos gently away from her trembling hands, pours the cocoa into the mugs, and helds one to her lips, helping her to hold the mug as she took a sip. He sits besides her and asks “Any headache?” “Not yet…do you want me to have one?” she asked jokingly.
“hahaha..I asked for that I supposed,” he said chuckling. “Okay, you better eat the sandwiches, though, it must have gotten cold by now, he grimaced in distaste. He took one and bit into it, and passed another to Liz. Liz found she was hungry, and the cold sandwich tasted like ambrosia to her.
She settled back on the chair, and found herself being gathered inDarien’s arms. He held her cocoa, and she finished the drink. She settles back, and closes her eyes. She opened her eyes in shock when she felt a cold towel compressing lightly on the bump.Darienmutters softly, “Sh..sh..don’t move, just close your eyes and try to sleep.” He kept the cold compress on and off, lightly, and Liz falls asleep, cradled inDarien’s arms.
