“Is there not a shortcut we could take?” I asked.

“Nope. This is the only way to the hospital.” The taxi driver sent me an apologetic smile. “We’ll get there.”

The other vehicles started rolling again, and we were on our way. The outside blurred by through a fog of tears, but I didn’t pay attention; I was restless and so frightened. In my shell-shocked state, I forgot to find out if Harvey was OK. I’d abandoned my phone in the middle of the floor as I fled the office. I grabbed only my purse, ran for the lift and jumped into the first taxi I saw.

No, he’s going to be fine. He promised me he would be there for me… no matter what.

It was a foolish thought. Not even Harvey could stop a freak accident or death knocking at the door, but I kept on telling myself this, anyway; it was a mantra stuck on repeat. The cabbie pulled up to the kerb, and the passenger doors automatically unlocked once I flung my money at him, not caring if I overpaid. My fingers shook as I grabbed the handle and let myself out.

I hurried toward the hospital’s emergency entrance, half walking half running, speeding up then slowing down as I figured out in my panic which way I needed to go. Finally I saw the main reception desk ahead.

“Where is Harvey Guyer, please?” I asked, my voice trembling, barely holding back the tears.

The nurse smiled at me and after some infuriating questions—“hospital policy” nonsense—she told me the room number and floor. Waving her arm, she pointed me in the right direction.

He has a room… he must be alive. Oh, god. Don’t you dare be fucking dead, Harvey!

I twisted my head from side to side, desperately looking for the room, trying to make sense of the numbers outside each door, as if I’d forgotten what numbers even were.

Eventually my subconscious mind solved the Arabic numerical puzzle, and I found the right room. I stopped dead in the doorway. The breath that left my lips was almost a moan as my eyes focused on Harvey’s bulky form on the bed. Like a beacon, monotonous beeping guided me toward him. The small machine signalled from beside his bed.

I reached out to touch his hand, and the tears that I’d tried to hold back fell silently down my cheeks. I took his fingers in mine and squeezed, then studied his bruised face. His eyes were closed, moving beneath their lids; I saw the occasional flutter or twitch of an eyelash.

“Don’t you die, Harvey. Don’t you dare. I can’t lose you, too. I need you.”

I paused and looked down to his hands held within mine.

“I love you too much,” I said.

The three little words that had been on the tip of my tongue, ready to be said at the right time, slipped out. And I was so distracted in my own thoughts, my own despair and panic, that it took me a minute before I realised the light pressure of Harvey’s fingers on mine. I looked up from our hands and stared at him with wide eyes. He stared back at me with a smug look on his face. The corners of his lips tilted, and his mouth moved as it formed a few words.

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

I smiled as he lifted our linked hands to his mouth, pressing a chaste kiss on my palm before he brought it to the centre of his heart. From where I stood, I could see a faint line of bruises and other battered spots marring his beautiful skin.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” I whispered. “I was so scared.”

“I know, baby.” He tried to smile but could only wince, and I could tell he was struggling to stay awake.

“Careful,” I warned. “Rest, go back to sleep, I’ll be here when you wake up. We can talk then.”

As soon as his breathing evened out and his eyes were closed, I untangled our hands and snuck out of the room to find a nurse or doctor who could tell me more.

“What happened? What’s wrong with him? Is he going to be OK?” I asked at the nurse’s station.

“The paramedics told us he was hit by a speeding car at a junction. He ran in front of it to push a kid out the way, but there’s not too much damage. He’s a survivor and a hero. He’s got a mild concussion, a broken wrist and a few broken ribs on his right side, but they should heal nicely—all clean breaks. Other than that, he’s fine.”

I nodded, “When can he leave?”

“We’re monitoring the head injury, and we’d like to keep him overnight at least, but he should be good to go in a day or so as long as the doctor gives the all-clear.”

My shoulders dropped in relief, and I went back to Harvey’s room and spent the rest of the day watching over him.

“I think it’s best if you stay with me at my house, Harvey. Even Sadie thinks so,” I said.

He peered at me, “You just want to take advantage of me in my injured state… play nurse.” He winked. I waved the suggestion away with a laugh, but I wouldn’t mind giving him a sponge bath or two, I thought wickedly.

“I won’t take no for an answer. Either that or Humbug and I will come stay with you at your place. It’s my turn to look after you. So decide, mine or yours?”

“You’ve got better things to do than stay home and baby me.”

“It’s OK, I’ve got a lenient boss; she won’t mind me taking the time off. And anyway, this is just a small way for me to give back to you after you helped me out so much.”

“No, babe,” he shook his head in a jerky manner. “You’re my responsibility. I like looking after you. Not the other way around.”

“Hey, hey,” I tutted, “we look after each other, all right? I already told you, anyway, I’m not taking no for an answer.”

He pulled me to him, though I knew it pained him to do so.

“You win this round…” he said, giving in. I grinned at him, his mouth so close to mine. After he’d awoken, we both skirted around the elephant in the room. Our love had been declared, and that was all that mattered, but it still felt like we needed to have that conversation about what we were to each other, what the next step was going to be.

“Harvey?”

“Yes?” he said, his eyes pinned to my mouth.

“Are we really doing this?”

His lips moved forward and brushed mine, slowly, gently. His tongue wetted my bottom lip and I moaned.

“Does that answer your question?”

I giggled, “I guess so.”

Suddenly his face fell, and he turned sombre, the same look he’d the night before the accident.

“Tell me,” I whispered. “You can trust me. Whatever it is, we can handle it together. Trust me, Harvey.”

He looked away for a moment, and I thought he was going to clam up again or try to flee, but my arms were wrapped around his neck, and I wasn’t about to let him go anywhere.

His eyes met mine. “You might not want me after I tell you, though.”

I shook my head, and pressed my forehead to his. “I’ll never stop wanting you.”

He sighed. I leaned back and watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed at his throat. “I can’t have kids, Sara…” His eyes glistened, and I held my breath. “I can never give you another baby. Or be a father.”

I exhaled, not expecting that, but I looked into his sad, blue eyes, determined to make him see that my words were true: I’d always want him. “Do you remember what you said to me? That you’d always be there for me, no matter what?” I said and squeezed his hand.

“I do…”

“Well, I want you to know I feel the same. I’ll be by your side no matter what.” I took a breath. “I’m not going to lie to you and pretend that it doesn’t upset me that one day we can’t have a baby together, but Harvey, my love, can’t you see, you can and will be a father?” I said as I moved his hand onto my belly, the little bump that had started to show around my middle.

“I didn’t want to presume…” he said, shaking his head and looking in wonder as he stroked the bump.

“We both need you,” I said.

“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life looking after the both of you.”