Read Online The Search by Shelley Shepard Gray - Free Book Online

Was he talking about their relationship now? While she was wrapped up in a hospital sheet, had a tube stuck in her hand, a bandaged eye, and was pretending to sleep?
    But if she opened her eye and turned to him, he would expect her to talk. To ask him more questions. To make the plans for their future together. To tell him what to do, what to say.
    And at the moment, she didn’t think she could do anything more than just lie there. She tightly held her eyes closed and let him continue to think she was sleeping.
    Go away, she silently pleaded.
    What felt like hours later, he stood up and walked out—leaving her feeling slightly guilty but relieved, too. She heard the curtain part and him as he stepped across the linoleum with sure, even steps, and then the door open and close.
    He was gone.
    She sighed.
    â€œThat man is an eager one, huh?” said the voice from the other side of the curtain.
    With a flood of embarrassment, Frannie realized the voice was the other patient . . . and that she’d heard every single word that had been said.
    Feeling awkward, she went ahead and answered. “Yes. He is.”
    â€œIn my day, the men didn’t propose at the hospital. Wasn’t seemly.”
    â€œHe didn’t propose.”
    â€œSounded like he was about to!”
    No, she thought. He’d been waiting for her to suggest it. But there was no use in explaining that to a stranger. “Perhaps.”
    â€œHope you’ll weigh your decision carefully. I’m not at all sure he’s the man for you.”
    Intrigued, Frannie said, “Why do you say so?”
    â€œHe’s too weak-willed. A woman needs a strong man to hold her up from time to time. Just like a strong man needs a strong woman to allow him to show weakness once in a while.”
    Was Frannie strong? Yes, she supposed she was. Suddenly, she was feeling a little better. “If he asks,” she said, “I’ll be sure to think about my answer.”
    â€œGood, good.”
    The woman coughed a bit, then picked up her phone when it rang. She began to talk about her sheepdog and her boss’s terrible habits.
    She talked so much, and in such a speedy, friendly-sounding way, the words began to blend together. Before long, Frannie closed her eyes and let the woman’s voice wash over her, lulling her to sleep.
    Where she was thankful to drift back into the warm comfort of her dreams.
    F rannie?”
    Her name was being called yet again. Oh, couldn’t anyone here simply leave her alone? The words felt like needles to her brain, prickly and stinging.
    â€œStop,” she mumbled.
    But it still continued. “Frannie? Frannie, wake up.”
    Slowly, her eye opened. Immediately, she felt the pain. The ache of her wounds throbbing around her eye, her cheeks, her jaw.
    Wincing, she tried to focus on her newest visitor, wondering if Micah had returned—and what she would say to him if he asked her to marry him.
    But instead of Micah, she saw that Luke now sat by her side.
    â€œHello, Luke,” she whispered. Her throat was still scratchy, strained.
    Without her having to ask, he reached for the pitcher on the side table and poured her a cup of water. Placing a straw in the cup, he smiled as he held it to her lips. “Sip,” he said.
    She sipped, and stared in wonder as he set the cup back on the nightstand. “Thank you.”
    â€œDo you need more pain medication? I’ll talk to the nurse . . .”
    She was going to try to be brave, strong, but realized it was foolish. With the way pain was tapping a steady drumbeat behind her eye, she wouldn’t be able to focus on a word he had to say. Slowly, she nodded.
    â€œI’ll be right back.”
    Purposely, he strode out of the room. While he was gone, she made sure she was tucked in, and even tried to tidy her hair a bit. A lost cause.
    When he finally came back in and sat down, she said, “Are you here to ask me more