Owner of a Broken Heart Read online

  “Thank you so—” The chiming of her cell phone interrupted their conversation. “Hello? Alex, slow down, I can’t understand you . . . Nina? Accident? Yes, yes, I’m still in Charlotte, I’ll find my way there. I’ll be careful. See you and Daddy soon.”

  Without saying another word to the Realtor, she dashed out of the building. Oh God, she thought, please don’t let this have anything to do with me.

  Yolanda, who had been about three miles from the same interstate where Nina had crashed, found her way to the hospital. Rushing into the emergency room, she banged on the nurses’ desk.

  “Hello, somebody!”

  A haggard-looking nurse appeared at the desk and frowned at Yolanda. “Yes?” she said with a sigh.

  “My sister was in a car accident and was brought here. Her name is Nina Richardson.”

  The woman punched a few buttons on the computer. “She’s here and in surgery. I can have a doctor speak with you.” She reached underneath her desk and pulled out Nina’s belongings. “These were in the car with her.”

  Yolanda ripped the plastic bag open and searched for her sister’s cell phone. She had to call Clinton and let him know what was going on.

  * * *

  Time froze for Clinton as he sat in his car looking at the engagement ring he’d given Nina less than twenty-four hours ago. He couldn’t believe the things he’d said to her. Maybe it was the ghost of Ayesha reappearing in his mind and heart. Still, he wasn’t going to play second fiddle in her life if she had any question about being with Lamar.

  When his cell phone rang, he almost didn’t hear it because he was so deep in thought. “Yeah?” he rumbled into the phone.

  “Clinton, it’s Yolanda.”

  “Listen, I know you and your family are close, but this is really none of your business, it’s between me and Nina,” he snapped.

  “What are you talking about?” she questioned.

  “Why are you calling me?”

  “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Nina, but she was in a serious car accident. She’s in surgery at Atrium Health Center. You really need to get here.”

  Clinton’s heart nearly stopped beating. Accident. Surgery. What if she didn’t pull through and the last words they exchanged were angry ones? Dropping his phone, Clinton started for the hospital, though he had no idea where he was going.

  As he ripped through the uptown traffic, he spotted a blue hospital sign that led him directly to Atrium Health Center. Parking in the emergency room parking lot, he ran into the waiting area and sought out Yolanda. He found her standing next to the nurses’ station with her hand on her hip and a scowl on her face.

  “I’ve been here for an hour, what in the hell is going on with my sister!” Yolanda screamed at the nurse. The woman, who looked more tired and agitated than the law should’ve allowed, threw Yolanda a cold look.

  “When the doctors have some information, they will tell you. Standing here and screaming at me isn’t going to do you or your sister any good.”

  Clinton approached the women, fearing that they would come to blows without intervention. “Ma’am, we just need to know how Nina Richardson is doing, we’re not from here and this is very stressful,” Clinton said calmly.

  The woman gave him a terse smile. “I understand that and everyone in here is worried about a loved one. Give me a second and I’ll check to see if she’s out of surgery.”

  Clinton thanked the woman, then drew Yolanda into his arms. “Everything is going to work out fine,” he whispered.

  “This is all my fault.”

  “Why?”

  Yolanda shook her head and blinked away the hot tears forming behind her eyelids. “They’ve found me, I know it. Now Nina’s fighting for her life.”

  Guilt jabbed Clinton in the heart. He blamed himself for Nina’s accident. She was probably upset after their argument and shouldn’t have been driving. Why didn’t he hear her out instead of accusing her of sleeping with Lamar?

  “Nina and I had an argument before she left, it was bad and I know how she gets,” Clinton revealed. “If anyone is to blame, it’s me.”

  Yolanda looked up at Clinton, her eyes watery. “You don’t understand,” she began.

  “Is the Richardson family in here?” a doctor asked.

  “Yes, here,” Clinton spoke up.

  The doctor walked over to Clinton and Yolanda. “I’m Dr. Max Terry, Nina’s surgeon. She suffered some serious injuries in the wreck because the truck struck on the driver’s side of the car.”

  “How is she?” Yolanda asked nervously.

  “It looks as though the worst is over, she had several broken ribs and a punctured lung. We feared her internal injuries were more significant, but after her surgery, we discovered they weren’t. However, her left arm is broken in three places and there may be some eye injury because of the shattered glass that struck her face. Then there’s the possibility of head trauma.”

  “But she’s going to pull through?” Clinton asked.

  The doctor sighed. “The first forty-eight hours are critical. Her condition is very grave at this time. I don’t want to give you false hope, because at any moment she could slip away.”

  Yolanda’s knees buckled at the doctor’s admission and Clinton struggled to keep her upright.

  “Where is she now?” Clinton asked.

  “In the intensive care unit. Give us a few more hours to see how she reacts to the medication we’ve given her before you go in to see her.”

  “I need to see my sister now, even if it’s through glass,” Yolanda said, her voice forceful and sad at the same time.

  The doctor nodded and motioned for her and Clinton to follow him.

  With each step, Clinton felt cold dread creep up his back. If Nina died he knew he’d never love again and never forgive himself for the rude things he’d said to her just moments before her accident. How would he ever be able to find another woman who had the wit, the sparkle, and the heart that Nina had.

  Has! Clinton corrected. Nina’s going to pull through this and this ring is going back on her finger where it belongs.

  Chapter 24

  Nina felt as if she was having an out-of-body experience. She could’ve sworn she was talking and she was telling the doctors and nurses who kept poking and prodding her to find her family. They weren’t listening, though. She kept hearing things like her vital signs weren’t looking good and her lung had collapsed again. Pain ripped through her body every time she took a breath.

  What happened to me? she wondered. The last thing I remember is Clinton telling me that it was over. Why, why did he do that? Lamar. I don’t have time to deal with this. I’m so tired.

  “Doctor, Doctor, she’s flat lining,” a nurse screamed frantically. “We need a crash cart, stat!”

  A team of nurses and doctors rushed to Nina’s side at the same time that Clinton and Yolanda appeared at the window outside of the ICU.

  “Clear,” the nurse yelled as the doctor placed the paddles on Nina’s chest. Seconds ticked away before the doctor charged the paddles and placed them to Nina’s chest again.

  “We have a rhythm,” the doctor said.

  I just want to sleep, Nina thought. I want to put all of this behind me.

  Then she heard Yolanda’s wailing. “No! Nina.”

  Her eyes fluttered open and she whispered her sister’s name.

  “Miss Richardson,” the doctor said. “Do you know where you are?”

  She nodded.

  “We’re going to place you on a respirator until we know you can breathe on your own. Your sister is here and your fiancé.”

  She shook her head. I don’t have a fiancé, he dumped me.

  “They’re really concerned about you and you’re going to have to fight to recover. You’re a loved woman and they need you to pull through this,” he said.

  “Clinton,” Nina murmured.

  The doctor motioned for Clinton to enter the room. Slowly he walked in and stood by Nina’s
bedside. She cast her weak eyes up at him.

  “Make it brief,” the doctor cautioned.

  Clinton nodded and took Nina’s hand in his. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “Please come back to me. Nothing that happened before this moment matters. I want to marry you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But I need you to fight and come back to me and Yolanda and even Alex. Your dad, Alex, and Robin are on their way here right now. Nina, we can’t lose you.”

  Do you mean it? Do you really want to marry me or are you saying it because I’m lying here in this hospital bed? How could you think I was untrue to you because of something that Lamar said?

  When she opened her mouth, nothing came out.

  “Shh, don’t try to speak,” he said. “I was wrong. Just know that, I was wrong and I will never forgive myself if . . .” Tears spilled from his eyes as he looked down at her. Nina mustered as much strength as she could to squeeze his hand.

  I love you so much. And it’s okay, because I’m going to fight to come back to you and my family. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have tried to rush to the interview and I shouldn’t have let you walk away from me when you and I had unfinished business.

  “Nina, keep fighting, baby,” Clinton said.

  The doctor tapped Clinton on the shoulder. “You’re going to have to leave now.”

  Leaning in to kiss Nina’s scarred face, he muttered he loved her, then left the room.

  Next, the doctor allowed Yolanda to visit with her sister. She walked into the room with bloodshot eyes and tear-stained cheeks. “Oh my God,” she moaned as she looked at Nina.

  Yolanda, please don’t fall apart right now.

  “Nina, I hope this wasn’t because of me. You’d better not die on me.”

  This wasn’t about whatever you’re running from. I wish you’d go to the police and stop trying to hide.

  Yolanda held Nina’s hand and cried silently. “Right now, I wish I had Alex’s strength. Maybe when she walks in this room she’ll say the right words to snap you back to health or maybe I’ll wake up and this will be just a nightmare.”

  Yolanda walked the length of the bed, eyeing all of the machines and tubes hooked up to Nina.

  “I hate hospitals. But this isn’t going to be like the last time, God can’t be that cruel. You’re coming home and everyone is going to take care of you. I can see Alex right now forcing you to go to bed at eight o’clock.” She smiled at Nina, then kissed her forehead gently. “Come back, Sis. I can’t terrorize Alex alone.”

  “Ma’am, she needs her rest now,” the doctor said to Yolanda.

  Wiping her eyes, she nodded. “I’m going to be outside her door all night,” Yolanda informed the doctor.

  “I know you want to be here for her, but she’s going to need you to keep your strength up as well.”

  “I’m not leaving my sister in this hospital alone.”

  From the doorway, Clinton said, “She won’t be alone because I’m going to be here with her.”

  No one noticed the smile on Nina’s spilt lips.

  * * *

  When Clinton and Yolanda returned to the ICU waiting room, Sheldon, Alex, and Robin were huddled in a corner. Robin was the spitting image of her father only more feminine. She had long brown hair that hung down on her shoulders and a heart-shaped face that was filled with sadness and fear as she clutched her father’s arm. Alex pointed to Clinton and Yolanda and everyone turned to them.

  Sheldon spoke first. “How is she?”

  “Very weak, Daddy,” Yolanda said as she flung herself into Sheldon’s arms.

  “Oh my God,” Robin moaned. “Why is this happening?”

  Clinton closed his eyes because the answer to that would have Nina’s entire family ready to put him in a hospital bed.

  Alex wrapped her arms around her sister. “It was a horrible accident. That damned Mustang. She had to have it and look what happened.”

  “It wasn’t the car,” Yolanda said. “And don’t come in here with your negativity.”

  “Girls,” Sheldon said in a controlled voice. “Nina doesn’t need this. We’re here to rally around her and pray.” He turned to Clinton. “How are you holding up?”

  Unable to speak, he just shook his head. Silently the two men exchanged meaningful looks that spoke what they couldn’t verbalize.

  Alex, Robin, and Yolanda looked as if they would burst into tears at any moment. Alex grabbed Yolanda’s hand. “Are you all right? I know this is hard for you.”

  “I hate hospitals, nothing good has ever come out of a hospital.” She shivered as if an arctic wind had blown over her.

  “Do you think the doctor will let us see her?” Robin asked.

  “They just kicked me out, she looks so small and broken in that bed,” Yolanda said, then burst into tears. Sheldon held her tightly and rocked back and forth.

  “She’s going to be fine, Nina has a lot to live for.”

  Yolanda looked up at her father, her eyes shining with tears. “So did Mom.”

  “This is different,” Alex said. “It has to be.”

  Clinton wrapped his arms around Alex. The pain she was feeling had been written across her face. When he’d seen her shiver, he knew exactly how she felt. Then he felt her tears on his shoulder as he stroked her back. Alex pushed back from him and offered Clinton a lopsided smile. “Thank you, Clinton.”

  “Guys, Nina’s going to pull through because we’re getting married,” he revealed.

  Everyone looked at Clinton and found a small reason to hold on to a bit of happiness.

  “You’re good for her and I couldn’t be happier,” Alex said.

  Sheldon nodded. “I know you love my baby as much as any of us do.”

  Yolanda blinked her tears away. “She knows it too.”

  “So, you’re Clinton,” Robin said. “I’ve been so caught up in my drama that I haven’t had a chance to meet you.” She extended her hand to him. Clinton shook her hand.

  “I hate that we’re meeting under these circumstances,” he said softly.

  Robin nodded and tears ran down her face. “Not the best way to meet my future brother-in-law.”

  The doctor walked into the waiting room. “Excuse me,” he said. “I have some news about Nina Richardson.”

  “We’re her family,” Sheldon said, his face shadowed with concern. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s quite remarkable,” he said with a smile. “We were going to put her on a breathing machine because of her collapsed lung, but to our surprise, it has reinflated and she’s coming out from under the medication. Her vitals are rapidly improving and I can allow one of you to go in and see her for a few brief minutes. She’s not out of the woods, but her condition has been upgraded from critical to serious.”

  “Thank you, Jesus,” Robin and Alex moaned.

  “I’m going to go and see her,” Sheldon said, and everyone agreed. The doctor led him into the ICU area where Nina was.

  Clinton watched the three sisters as they huddled in the corner, silently praying that God didn’t take Nina away from them and thanking Him for bringing her this far. He couldn’t help but believe this was all his fault. He had been the reason that Nina was lying in the hospital bed. Tears fell down his cheek and hit the tip of his shoes before he realized that he was crying. Alex looked at Clinton and drew him into the sisters’ circle.

  “I know you love her and you have to believe that she’s going to make it through this,” she said in a tender voice. “She doesn’t need your tears, she needs your prayers.”

  Just as the group joined hands to pray, Sheldon came running down the hall. “She’s awake, my baby just woke up.”

  Everyone rushed to Nina’s room, happy and surprised to see her with her eyes open. The doctor cautioned them to visit her only for a few minutes and one at a time.

  One by one, the Richardson sisters entered Nina’s room. When it was Clinton’s turn to see her, he wasn’t sure if he should’ve gone inside or just allowed her
family to see her. But when she smiled weakly at him, he knew coming into her room had been the right thing. Despite the angry words that they’d shared before the accident, the love they shared was still strong.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Nina shook her head. “Not your fault.”

  “I love you so much and the thought of losing you was more than I can bear.”

  Nina reached for Clinton’s hand. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said. Her voice was raspy and low.

  He kissed her hand. “Please don’t. When you get out of here, this is going back on your finger where it belongs.” Clinton pulled his mother’s engagement ring from his pocket and held it up for Nina to see.

  “Lamar didn’t mean any—”

  “Shh, I know. Don’t worry about him or how foolish I was. Just get better so that we can plan our wedding.”

  Tears flowed down Clinton’s cheeks. Seeing Nina looking like a broken doll in the bed with all of those tubes hooked up to her was almost more than he could handle.

  “Don’t cry, Clinton,” Nina said.

  He stroked her hand, then kissed her on the cheek. “I’m going to let you get some rest, but I’m going to be outside your door.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Stay with me tonight.”

  Clinton nodded. If she wanted him by her side then he wouldn’t leave it. As Nina drifted off to sleep, Clinton rose to his feet and stretched. The door to her room opened and Sheldon walked in. His eyes were bloodshot and his shirt wrinkled.

  “How is she?” he asked Clinton.

  “Resting.”

  “Can’t believe I almost lost my little girl. I think I’ve lost enough. She doesn’t know it, but she’s more like her mother than anyone else. Nora had spunk just like Nina, she wore her heart on her sleeve just like Nina, and she loved hard. I can’t lose her all over again.”

  Clinton stood there feeling helpless and guilty. “Mr.—Sheldon, I feel like this is all my fault. Nina and I had an argument before she got into her accident.”

  Sheldon rubbed his forehead. “You’re not to blame for this,” he said. “When Nina told me she was getting the Mustang, I didn’t say it, but I didn’t want her to get it. Thought it was too fast for her and thought that something like this would happen. She’s the kind of person who drives too fast. Add being angry or emotional to the mix and I knew something like this was going to happen. When she gets out of here, I’m buying a her a Buick.”