When the cab pulled up in front of the gates and I climbed inside, I finally allowed my emotions to break free. And I was officially a mess.
Chapter Nineteen
The snow was really coming down outside, and I chewed my lip nervously as the cabbie tried to make pleasant conversation. He was driving entirely too fast for how slick the roads were, but I tried to tamp down my fear and respond to his ongoing dialogue.
“So my sister’s coming from Philly, and we’re going to do up a nice Christmas dinner. The whole shebang… you know, the ham and mashed potatoes. My sister’s a damn good cook.”
“It sounds lovely,” I told him sadly. “It’s nice that you get to spend some time with your family during the holidays.”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “So what about you? You have anything special planned?”
I squeezed the bridge of my nose to try to hold back another flood of silent tears. I would most likely be sitting in my Aunt’s apartment and enjoying it while I still could. Before I was evicted next week when Madame Jackie found out what I’d done.
“Nothing too much,” I answered vaguely.
“You know it’s kind of late,” he said. “I don’t know if the trains will still be running tonight. Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”
“Yes.” I nodded.
I had nowhere else to go, and if I had to, I’d sit in the train station until morning.
“Okay,” he agreed. “Whatever you want.”
I leaned back against the seat and rested my eyes for a few moments, hoping for some silence. To my appreciation, the cabbie indulged me.
I was just nodding off when I felt the tires hit a patch of ice. The cabbie started to swerve and overcorrected, sending us fishtailing out of control. My body jerked violently to the left and slammed against the door when we came to a stop with a spectacular crunch.
I clutched my chest, gasping for air as I glanced out the window and realized we were in a ditch.
“Holy shit,” the cabbie swore. “Are you alright, miss?”
I groaned in answer because I couldn’t articulate any words at the moment. My body was filled with adrenaline, and I didn’t know whether I was hurt or not. I was shaking too badly.
I heard the cabbie talking to someone on the phone, and then the crunch of the car door as he got out.
“It’s okay,” he assured me. “I’ve got an ambulance on the way.”
***
Three hours later, I was shaken, but officially declared okay.
I had some bumps and bruises, but nothing too serious. Nothing that hurt as badly as the ache still inside of my chest.
“Is there someone we can call for you?” the nurse asked.
I stared up at her and shook my head. I could have called Katia, but there was no way I’d make her come all the way to New Jersey just because I was an emotional train wreck. I needed to be by myself. The way I’d been since my aunt died.
“Harper?”
The nurse turned back towards the door, and I stared in disbelief when I saw Jameson standing there with a frantic expression on his face. He looked scared out of his mind as he walked towards me, and I was shocked into silence when he pulled me against his chest.
“Thank God, you’re okay.”
“How did you know I was here?” I asked.
“The cab driver called us and told us you were in an accident,” he said. “Our number was the only thing that he had on record for you.”
“Oh.”
“Are you hurt badly?” he asked, his eyes roaming over me.
The concern in those dark depths nearly undid me. I didn’t expect it, and it was only making things harder.
“I’m fine,” I answered. “You should go. Spend Christmas with your family.”
His lips flattened, and he shook his head in disbelief.
“I’m not going anywhere without you, Harper. You’re coming home with me.”
“Jameson, if it’s about the money, I’m going to fix this with the agency. I’ll explain everything. I’ll tell them it was my fault.”
He pressed his lips against mine to shut me up. It worked. He kissed me long and deep, and I was glad the nurse had disappeared so she didn’t witness me melting in his arms. I couldn’t help it.