Loving David (33 page)

“David…”

“Oh, come now. Good for the heart, right?”

Dr. Curtis chuckled and scribbled a few notes on David’s chart. “All in good time, David. About six weeks, to be somewhat exact anyway. About the most cardiovascular activity I want you doing for the time being is walking around the block.”

David saluted her. “Aye, aye.”

“Thank you so much for everything. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you and your team have done. Truly.”

“Are you kidding? It’s not every day we get a big-time movie star in here.”

“No offense, but let’s hope it’s the last time
this
big-time movie star comes through here.”

“Actually, if I could impose on you for one thing.”

“Anything---- name it,” David said.

Dr. Curtis hesitated a bit before going into the pocket of her white coat. “Sorry; this is all they had down in the gift shop. Anyway. Today’s my daughter’s birthday and it would make her day---- better yet, her year---- if I got your autograph. You might even make her naggy mom a hero.”

“Oh, well, only if it will make you a hero, of course” David winked. “I’ll even go you one better. When I’m back on my feet, bring her over to dinner. I’ll tell her you’re
my
hero.”

“Ha! If you do that, my husband and I just might make it out of the teenage years unscathed.”

Dr. Curtis handed David the magazine she’d pulled out of her pocket. He looked at it and chuckled. Across the cover was his favorite photo of him and Charlotte kissing at the farmer’s market, with a smaller one of him in the inset.

“What’s your daughter’s name?”

“Lindsay.”

“To Lindsay, Happy Birthday! David King,” David scrawled with a pen across the cover and handed it to the doctor.

“Thanks so much!” She smiled at Charlotte. “See you later.”

David held out his hand to Charlotte. She sat down next to him and laid her head in his lap. David caressed the back of her neck.

“Hell of a way to start off a marriage, eh?”

“No kidding.

“How are you? I mean really?”

Charlotte lifted her head and looked at David. “I’m okay.”

“Honestly?”

“Honestly. I’m just so happy you’re coming home.”

“That makes two of us. Say…. I was thinking you could buy a naughty nurse uniform.”

“Six weeks minimum!” Charlotte laughed. “Besides I’ve gotten you a perfectly lovely nurse. Her name’s Kate and she, Karen, and William have been getting the house ready.”

“Karen and Will seem to be getting on, huh?”

“I haven’t asked either of them about it yet, but there does seem to be something brewing there.”

“Well, it would appear, Mrs. King, that not only did we save each other, we might have saved our two best friends.”

Charlotte nodded, considering this. “I guess everything really does happen for a reason.”

#

CHAPTER 19

Dr. Curtis hadn’t been joking---- taking care of David required Charlotte to tap into strength she didn’t know she possessed. She had a hospital bed set up in the living room so David would be more comfortable while he slept. The nurse came during the day to help David with his breathing exercises and monitor his vitals. William had surprised her by arranging for a cleaning lady to come a few days a week, a perk she hadn’t realized she’d be grateful for until the day she was faced with mounds of laundry. Each day Charlotte took David for a walk, though when they first got home he couldn’t go any farther than the end of the driveway. The paparazzi had been curiously respectful; Charlotte hadn’t seen any lurking around since they’d been back.

Some days had been an emotional struggle. There were times when David was as chipper and as charming as ever, glimmers of his old self shining through. Other days he sat in bed for hours, not saying a word, just staring at the ceiling. The first time he took a shower, Charlotte heard him crying. He told her later he never expected a shower to be so traumatic---- as the water felt like a hundred little knives ripping into his skin. He was terrified his incision would split open and he’d bleed all over the bathroom floor.

Charlotte never let David see her own tears. She’d make up silly little errands like needing to buy stamps or get her oil changed. In reality she’d drive two blocks over, sit in the car, and cry for thirty minutes.

But once David no longer needed the hospital bed, his mood lightened. He’d taken to sitting by the window and leafing through potential scripts. He found a few comedies he liked ---- he was too afraid to venture into heavy dramas and asked Charlotte to read to him. They sat in the matching shabby chic blue chairs of the bedroom, the afternoon sun blanketing them before it faded into nothingness. Charlotte read all the parts, making embarrassingly bad attempts at accents and comedic timing. She didn’t care. It made David laugh, which was all that mattered to her.

Charlotte was curled up in one of the chairs, watching David as he napped in their bed. The doctors had discouraged sleeping during the day, but he hadn’t done much sleeping the previous night. It had been a fitful night for them both; Charlotte had woken up every half hour to check on him as he tossed and turned, adjusting to being back on a regular mattress.

David stirred and opened his eyes. He looked around and spotted Charlotte.

“Aren’t you a sight.”
“How’d you sleep?”

“Like a dream.”

“What can I get you?”

“You.”

Charlotte went to crawl into bed beside him. She took care not to bump against his chest, gently laying her head against his shoulder.

“When this is all over, we’re going on a long holiday.”

“Where?”

“You ever been to Greece?”

“Until we went to Canada I’d never been out of the country. My passport was quite empty until you.”

“Seriously? Charlotte, you need to get out more, my love.”

“Isn’t that why I have you?”

“Yes. Okay, back to Greece. The beaches are amazing. Pristine white sand, water so clear you almost want to drink it right out of the sea. And the food! My God, the food is just… I can’t even describe it.”

“Sounds amazing.”

“It is. I can’t wait to show it to you. In the meantime, how about a trip to the couch? I feel like watching the sappiest, syrupiest, most sickeningly sweet romantic movie we can find on the shelf.”

Charlotte helped David out of bed. “I may have just the thing,” she said as they ambled toward the living room.

“I’m listening.”

Charlotte fluffed some couch pillows, and David slumped against them, the short trip seeming to wipe him out. Charlotte frowned.

“You look tired. Are you sure you’re up to this?”

“Yes. I’m tired of lying in that bed. Now, what’s the movie?”

“
Somewhere in Time
.”

David covered his eyes with one hand before peeking out at her between fingers. “No.”

“I know, I know. It’s terrible. I can’t help it. I love it.”

“I thought you were going to say something like
The Notebook
or
Sleepless in Seattle.
Bridges of
Madison County
even.”

Charlotte shrugged and plucked the DVD from the bookshelf. “Laugh all you want. I absolutely one-hundred-percent love this movie.”

“This better be worth it.”

“You mean you sit here and make fun of my movie selection and you’ve never even seen it?”

“Guilty.”

Charlotte pushed the play button in defiance. “That’s all about to change, Mr. International Movie Star. You’re going to watch this movie, and you’re going to
love
it.”

David rubbed Charlotte’s knee. “We’ll see.”

#

The last thing Charlotte remembered before dozing off was the portrait scene. The music for the closing credits woke her up. She looked over at David and giggled. He was crying.

“I knew you’d love it! It is a pretty romantic ----” Charlotte stopped as she realized something was wrong.

“I’m so sorry, Charlotte,” he choked, barely able to get the words out.

Charlotte took David’s face in her hands. “What’s the matter? What do you need?”

“I love you,” he said with a deep sigh as he closed his eyes, his shoulders sagging.

Charlotte shook his shoulder, her tears clouding her vision. “David!” No response.

Sweating, Charlotte bolted for her phone, frantically dialing 911. She held David’s hand.

“Please don’t leave me,” she whispered.

#

Charlotte refused to cry. She would not cry, because it would be an admission of sorts, a truth she just couldn’t face.

David was going to die.

Dr. Curtis came out. Charlotte looked at her, struck by how she was moving toward her in slow motion. Panic washed over Charlotte

“How’s David? Can I see him?”

The doctor sat down, her face drawn. She rubbed her eyes for a moment before she spoke. “The blood isn’t flowing properly through the graft we put in, and that blockage has caused a rupture. It’s a rare complication, but unfortunately it does happen. We could do more surgery, but it would only be putting off the inevitable.”

Charlotte stared straight ahead, hearing the words, not quite believing them.

“How long?” she whispered.

Dr. Curtis hung her head. “No more than a day.”

“I see.” Charlotte stood. She felt as if she were drowning in a river of sweat and her mouth exploded with cotton.

Charlotte fainted.

#

“Mrs. King?”

Charlotte opened her eyes, blinded by the overhead fluorescents. A nurse was standing next to the gurney she was amazed to find herself lying on.

“What happened?”

“You fainted. The doctor will be in in just a sec.”

Charlotte groaned and leaned her head against the pillow. The curtain snapped back, and

Dr. Curtis strode in.

“You gave us a scare. We want to run a few tests, because your blood pressure was bit elevated.”

Charlotte started to get off the gurney. “No, I don’t have time for this; I have to----”

The nurse laid a hand on Charlotte’s shoulder and gently pushed her back.

“We’re just going to run a few standard tests. I promise to be quick so we can get you back to David.”

Charlotte started to protest but then relented.

“Fine. But please hurry. I can’t waste time.”

CHAPTER 20

Charlotte slid her chin into the palm of her hand. The sun was just starting to come up; she wanted to push it back into the night. Smash the clock to remain forever frozen in another, happier time. Not this moment.

David’s leg twitched under the sheet, and Charlotte’s head jerked up. He was moving. He unglued his eyes and looked at Charlotte. In an all-too-familiar sight, an oxygen mask cloaked his face.

“I’m here, sweetheart. I’m right here.”

David blinked to show Charlotte he understood. She leaned in, knowing she had to talk fast.

“David, I need to tell you something. I found out today I’m pregnant.”

David’s eyes grew wide, and Charlotte laughed and cried all at the same time. “I know, I know. I couldn’t believe it either. I thought I was too old, but the doctor said it can happen. I’m about six weeks along.”

David squeezed Charlotte’s hand and closed his eyes again. A single tear streamed down his cheek.

Charlotte leaned in farther and whispered in David’s ear
.
“I love you so much, David. I always will. And I’ll tell our baby all about you. He or she will know who you are. How amazing you are.”

David took a deep breath and shuddered. He closed his eyes, and Charlotte heard the monitor behind her expel one long beep. A nurse swept into the room and whisked a whimpering Charlotte aside. More doctors flooded the room and all Charlotte could do was stand in the corner and watch, sobbing.

“Goodbye,” she whispered.

#

CHAPTER 21

Charlotte had come to realize time was a funny thing. She’d met David almost two years ago. They’d fallen in love. Married. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.

And now she had a newborn.

Charlotte bounced Frances Marie on her hip as she paced the cabin. She’d named the baby for her and David’s mothers, though she was nicknamed Frankie by William and Karen, who relished being her godparents.

She’d be scattering David’s ashes across the lake soon, and she was steeling herself for the task.

It had been a year since David’s death, a year Charlotte could both scarcely remember and would never forget. In the days following David’s passing, she and William had planned a public memorial. It seemed grief had enveloped the world, as Charlotte heard from people as far away as Japan, Spain, and of course, London, expressing their sorrow and condolences. She was still amazed by how many people attended the memorial, so many people touched by the man with the beautiful smile and amazing talent. David had more money than Charlotte knew what to do with. She donated a large chunk to various heart-related charities, set up a college fund for the baby, and established a scholarship in David’s name at the Royal Academy.

Intent on protecting her pregnancy, Charlotte had gone into near seclusion. Because of her age, it had been a high-risk pregnancy, and she couldn’t have afforded the stress of dodging overzealous photographers salivating for a shot of the widow King and her burgeoning belly. She rented a house high in the hills behind a massive iron gate and hired a battalion of extra security to keep the paparazzi at bay.

William, of course, had been a godsend, doing everything from dealing with the mainstream media, getting David’s estate settled, and finding her the best medical care. Karen had been in the delivery room with her while a nervous William marched around the waiting room. Charlotte cried from joy and sadness as her daughter was born. Frankie had the same shock of black hair and sparkling emeralds for eyes as her father. Sometimes her laugh even sounded like David’s.