-Evangeline-
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"I don't like the way he was looking at you," I chuckle.
"Really? Is that why you gave him the death stare the whole time? I didn't notice how he was looking at me because I was looking at you the whole time as I was walking down the stairs," Mr. Winters says nothing as he grips the steering wheel tightly. I grab his hand and hold it.
"Don't worry, darling. I'm all yours," I kiss his hand, feeling his hand untense," Mr. Winters parks and opens my door as I get out.
"Thank you, darling," I hear him chuckle as he helps me out of the truck, seeing that I was struggling.
I watch Charlotte and Elias get out of their vehicle. Mr. Winters wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close to his side as Elias and Charlotte walk to us. We start walking together to the restaurant together.
"Do you have a reservation?" The hostess says as she looks at a notebook of tables and reservations.
"Oh, yes! We have one at 8:30," Charlotte says as the hostess flips through the notebook.
"It seems you're an hour late to your reservation. We're sorry, but we've already given your table away," The waitress continues to look at the notebook as another staff walks up to her and whispers in her ear. The waitress looks up with wide eyes as she stares at Mr. Winters.
"Oh my god- I'm so sorry about the mistake, ma'am! It seems we have a table open fit for your group. Follow me,"
I watch her grab menus as she keeps glancing at Mr. Winters nervously. She leads us to a private room and sits us at a table with four chairs. Mr. Winters pulls out a chair for me. I sit down, and he pushes me in. I look at Charlotte, staring at Elias as he sits down. Mr. Winters sits next to me, in front of Elias as Charlotte sits in front of me. The waitress takes our order for our drinks and leaves.
"So, Charlotte, what are you getting?" Charlotte looks at her menu mad and then looks at me.
"Huh?" I chuckle.
"What are you getting?" I see her eye the menu angrily.
"I don't know. Perhaps a salad," I look at Charlotte, confused.
"When do you eat salads?" I hear her scuff.
"Since when I want to, Evangeline! Not everyone can eat as much as they want and gain nothing," I look at the menu and say nothing. I feel Mr. Winters's hand on my thigh to comfort me. The waitress comes back with our drinks, and we order our food.
Elias and Charlotte look at Mr. Winters, probably wondering how he's going to eat with his mask on. Mr. Winters barely lifts his mask over his face, making sure not to take it off to show anything, and takes a bite of his food. I smile as I know Charlotte and Elias were expecting to see his face.
As we finish our food, the waitress comes by and hands us each a chocolate cheesecake.
"On the house, for our special guests tonight," I smile at her.
"It looks delicious, thank you so much!" I watch as she walks away, and I hand my cheesecake to Charlotte. Mr. Winters looks at me confused.
"Why are you giving her your dessert?" I smile at him and hold his hand.
"Because I'm allergic to chocolate. Besides, I have a better dessert later," I kiss Mr. Winters's hand, looking him in the eyes.
"Ew, get a room," I laugh at Charlotte's remark. I look at Charlotte.
"We are in a room. You're just in it," I see Charlotte roll her eyes as I laugh.
"Well, it was a nice evening, but I think we should get going," Mr. Winters leans close to my ear.
"I wouldn't want you to wait for dessert," Mr. Winters pulls my hand and walks me out of the door.
"Well, I think that went, fairly decent," I rub my arms as I look at the ground. I feel a jacket being put on me. I look at Mr. Winters, jacketless.
"Are you not going to get cold?" I hear him chuckle.
"Not as cold as you in that dress," I look at the ground and sigh.
"Yeah, this was a terrible idea. I have no idea why Charlotte snapped at me like that," Mr. Winters places his arm on me.
"Some people are jealous of other couples's relationship. You shouldn't beat yourself because Charlotte is jealous of how I treat you," I sigh.
"You're right. It's just that she's usually not jealous of me-" I stop as I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"Evangeline?" I turn around and see a familiar man in a mask. I see him reach into his pocket, pull out a gun, and point it to me.
"Eva, watch out!" I cover my face and hear a gun go off. The man runs away as I feel myself. I'm not shot. I'm not in pain. I'm not hurting. I look at the floor and see Mr. Winters bleeding heavily over the cement.
"No. No. No. No. Stay with me, Mr. Winters!" I hold pressure on his chest.
"Help! HELP!" I see some people looking. Others carry on what they're doing. I put his head on my lap and his hand.
"HELP! He's rich and has been shot!" Everyone looks over, some gasp and whisper, while some are getting on their phones calling and recording.
"Evangeline, it's okay," Tears start to flow out as I hear his raspy voice.
"No! It's not okay! Why would you take a bullet for me? Are you crazy!?"
"I'd take a bullet for you anytime, pumpkin," Heavy tears start strolling down my eyes as my body starts shaking.
"Shhh, it's okay," Mr. Winters cups my face with his hand as he takes a breath.
"I can feel myself going now. Evangeline, when I first met you, I was hooked on you. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," His hand falls from my cheek as his eyes start to close.
"No! Stay with me, Mr. Winters! I need you! I love you!" I grab his lifeless hand and put it on my cheek.
I watch as the ambulance arrives and puts Mr. Winters on the gurney, straps him in, and lifts it.
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to let go of his hand, so can can take him. Only the injured person can ride in the ambulance," I let go of his hand and drop to my knees as I watch them take him into the ambulance. Keys. KEYS! I remember Mr. Winters putting his keys in his jacket pocket. I grab the keys from his jacket and drive his truck to the hospital.
"Hi, I'm here to see John Loan," I tell the nurse as my leg shakes impatiently.
"He's still in surgery. You're going to have to wait in the waiting room."
I sit down in one of the waiting chairs and wait while squeezing his jacket against me. It still smells like him. The only sound is the ticking of the clock on the wall. Once in a while, people go in and out of the doors, but then I'm stuck alone with the sound of the ticking of the clock. That damn clock again. Tik. Tik. Tik. The worst sound in the world.
I wait for what seems like an eternity. I see a nurse walk up to me.
"Are you here for John Loan?" I quickly stand up.
"Yes. Yes, I am. How is he?" Tears form in my eyes as I think of the worst.
"He just got out of surgery. He lost a lot of blood and is in a coma. How are you related to him?"
"I'm his girlfriend," The nurse looks at me seriously.
"I'm sorry, but only family members can see him right now," I roll my eyes.
"Oh, I forgot! He proposed to me earlier tonight, so I'm his fiance. It also explains why I'm still wearing a dress."
"Oh, okay. He's in room 211 if you want to see him."
"Okay. Thank you," I pass the nurse, walking into the back, counting all the numbers until I reach his room. I go through the doors and walk down to his room. I knock on the door, hear no answer, and enter.
"Hey, Mr. Winters. It's me, Evangeline," I hear only the sounds of the beeping heart machine as an oxygen tube is wrapped around his face.
Seeing him like this breaks my heart. A disgusted look appears on my face as I notice his sheets are stained and filthy. I press the nurse button and in walks a nurse.
"Hi, I'm Nurse, Linda. Is he awake?" I roll my eyes.
"No. I beeped it to complain because his sheets need to be changed. They're covered in who knows what," I hear the nurse sigh.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am. We've been busy today, and we're short-staffed," I roll my eyes.
"So? That's not my problem. You don't leave a patient in sheets covered in blood and who knows what. Do you even know who- whose filth or bodily fluids could infect him," The nurse clears her throat.
"Right now, isn't a good time for us to be able to change his sheets. I'll come back in an hour to change his sheets."
"Change these sheets now," I look her in the eyes with a dark expression.
"If you keep trying to tell us how to do our jobs and keep pushing the button, then I'll have to throw you out for causing too much of a ruckus," My blood starts to boil in my skin.
"If you try to touch me, or try to throw me out, then I will personally sue this hospital for negligence. I am a high lawyer, and I assure you, you won't win," I stare the nurse dead in the eyes as she looks stunned.
"I'll get it right away, Ma'am," I watch the nurse leave as I take a deep breath and hold Mr. Winters's hand.
"Don't worry, darling. I won't let anyone mistreat you in any way," I kiss his hand.
I turn the page to my book as I snuggle in the chair next to Mr. Winters's bedside. I hear coughing and turn to see Mr. Winters's eyes start opening. I throw my book down and stand up, by his side.
"You've been gone for three days. I thought I was going to lose you," I hug Mr. Winters, making sure I'm being gentle while tears start flowing from my eyes. Mr. Winters wipes a tear from my eye and cups my cheek.
"I could never leave someone as beautiful as you," I smile.
"Are you okay? Is the baby hurt?" I chuckle.
"No, silly. I'm fine. You should be worried about yourself. You're the one who got shot," I hear Mr. Winters chuckle as he coughs.
"I've been hit with worse than a shot to the heart. What day is it?" I sigh.
"It's Wednesday night, darling. Stephanie called, and I told her everything that happened. She said she's going to postpone the business trip until you're all better. She also said she would have taken a bullet for me, too. I know I shouldn't have answered your phone, but I thought you'd wanted to let your business partners know where you are," I hear Mr. Winters laugh.
"That sounds like Mrs. Waltons," I smile.
"It's good to hear you laughing again," I look at my watch.
"Your brother visited and sent his condolences. It's getting late, and I know you like your privacy. I should get going to let you rest and be alone," I walk away from the bed, and I feel his hand grab my arm.
"Stay with me?" I hear Mr. Winters say. I grab Mr. Winters's hand and kiss it.
"I'll always stay with you."
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-End Of Chapter 37-
Thank you soooooo much for reading Chapter 37 Of CRASHING DOWN INTO GLORY!!!!
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