Night creatures fell silent at his passing. He was a shadow among shadows. A darkness deeper thanthe night.
He stood on the sidewalk across the street from the hospital, staring up at the window he knew was hers. She had called him here, the faint lure of her voice more powerful than his will to resist.
He got past the nurse on duty using the same ploy he had used the night before.
Inside Kara's room, he stood beside the narrow bed, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept. There was a hint of color in her cheeks now. Her lips looked soft and pliable, their color like pale pink roses. Her lashes were thick and dark.
So beautiful, he mused. So fragile. Lightly, he traced the curve of her cheek with his forefinger.
She smiled at his touch, turning her head toward his hand, as though inviting his caress.
With a curse, he drew his hand away.
She came awake between one breath and the next, and he found himself gazing into a pair of dreamy blue eyes. They stared at each other for a long moment.
"How are you feeling, Miss Crawford?" Alexander asked.
"Better." She squinted up at him, trying to see him more clearly in the room's dim light. "Are you one of my doctors?"
He hesitated only a moment before answering, "Yes."
"You saved my life."
"So it would seem."
Kara frowned, wishing she could see his face better. He seemed so familiar.
"You must rest now, Miss Crawford," Alexander said. He took a step backward, hiding in the dark. His blood had saved her. He knew it as surely as he knew the sun would rise in the east.
At his words, she was overcome with a sudden weariness. "Wait. I want to know your name. . . ."
Her eyelids fluttered down as sleep claimed her.
Kara turned her head away while Dr. Petersen examined the stitches in her leg. "Where's the other doctor?"
"The other doctor?"
"The one who came to see me last night."
"What was his name?"
"I don't know. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with long black hair. He ... he had a deep voice."
"There's no one on the staff who answers that description." Dr. Petersen smiled indulgently. "No doubt you were dreaming."
"But it wasn't a dream!" Kara glanced at Nana and Gail. "I saw him. I spoke to him."
"There, there," Dr. Petersen said, patting her hand. "No need to be upset."
"I'm not upset. I just. . ." Kara sank back against the pillows. Maybe she haddreamed the whole thing.
"I'll stop in to see you tomorrow," the doctor remarked. He paused at the doorway and glanced over his shoulder. "Don't stay too long, Mrs. Corley. She needs her rest."
"I understand," Nana replied.
"I didn't imagine him," Kara insisted after the doctor left the room.
"Now, Kara, if the doctor said there's no one on the staff by that description, I'm sure he's right." Nana glanced around, her keen blue eyes taking in every detail. "It's a nice room," she decided.
"It should be, for what it's costing," Kara grumbled. "Did they say when I can go home?"
"Not for several days."
"But Dr. Petersen said I was making remarkable progress." Indeed, every doctor in the hospital had found an excuse to come by and see the miracle patient whose internal injuries had healed overnight.
"That's true," Nana agreed, "but you've had a bad bump on the head. Dr. Petersen wants to keep an eye on you for another day or two." Nana took Kara's hand in hers and held it tight. "We almost lost you, child."
"I know." It was frightening, to think how close she'd been to death. It was something she didn't like thinking about, and quickly changed the subject. "Gail, how are you doing in school? Did you pass your history test?"
"B-plus," Gail replied smugly. "Cherise got a C-minus, and Stephanie got a D."
"Don't gloat," Kara chided.
"We should go," Nana said, rising. "We don't want to tire you."
"But I feel fine."
"The doctor said you should rest. So rest." Nana kissed Kara's cheek. "It's a miracle," she murmured, blinking back a tear. "A miracle." She patted Kara's shoulder. "Can I bring you anything tomorrow? A book, maybe?"
Kara nodded. "Something to read would be nice. And maybe a strawberry malt from the drugstore?"
Nana smiled. "Now I know you're feeling better. Come along, Gail."
"I'll be there in a minute," Gail said. "I need to tell Kara something."
"All right, but hurry along."
"What is it, Gail?" Kara asked with a smile. "A secret to tell me?"