After Divorce, I Won The Christmas Lottery

Chapter 14: You’re Awake!

Zander

She just looks like she is sleeping and so peaceful. The top of her head is bandaged, and she is wearing a neck brace. I see she has a cast on her hand and many bruises. I lifted the blanket and looked at her legs. They are also full of wounds and dressings. I sat down on the chair and took her right hand in mine.

“Oh Liz, you gave me such a scare. You had better be okay when you wake up. I can’t lose you.” I whispered as I kissed her hand. I sat like that for a while and I must’ve dozed off, because I got such a fright when my phone rang. “Zander Caine,” I said in answer.

“Mr. Caine, its detective Sholtz again. We have spoken to Dr. Willis and he advised that Mrs. Standford won't wake up today. We will come get her statement as soon as she wakes. We have Ms. James in custody but she denied any involvement. We will question her at the station.

We couldn’t find the vehicle, and according to her, she sold it before Christmas so it couldn’t be her. We know she is lying because she has a very fresh cut above her eye and my colleague noticed some bruising on her hands and arms,” he says. “We were at the house yesterday to discuss the divorce and her car was parked in the front. I have a picture of it on my phone. I will send it to you.

I took pictures of the house for the divorce proceedings and in case they tried to vandalize it in Mrs. Stanford’s absence.” I said. “That’s great, send them through. We will get to the bottom of this. Please let me know the minute Mrs. Stanford wakes.” he says.

“Will do and thank you for letting me know, detective. Mrs. Stanford has no other relatives here that care about her. She only has me and a friend who is out of town. I will be handling her affairs while she is incapacitated. Please keep me in the loop.” I say and he agrees and hangs up.

That b***h has no remorse. How could she do all these things to a woman who was willing to help her when she needed it? I will make sure she pays, no matter what. I wonder if Kyle put her up to this? I wouldn’t put it past him, he is a coward. Why would Tiffany go to such extremes if not for Kyle?

I sat with her for a while until Rosa came rushing into the room. I had called her to tell her what happened, and she insisted on coming down to see Liz. She really likes her and I love how well they get along. Her son, Domingo, comes walking in after her and I get up and greet him while Rosa checks on Liz.

“Thank you for bringing her. I told her she didn’t need to come, but you know how stubborn she is.” I say and he chuckles. “Yeah, she dragged me out of bed as soon as you called. I am sorry about your girlfriend. Mom really likes her and I would like to meet her when she wakes up,” he says. “We are just friends, for now anyway. But thank you, Dom, doc says she will be okay in a week or so.” I said.

“Do you know what happened?” he asks, and I nod and tell him what I know so far, while Rosa listens in. “That is horrible. You need to keep her safe, Zander,” Rosa says and I nod. “Yes mam, I think you know how I feel about her.” I say and she smiles. “Yes, I do, and I know she feels the same.” she says, looking at Liz.

They stayed for a while and Dom and I caught up. I haven’t seen him at all this year. He only comes home for the holidays. He is a First Sergeant in the Marine Corps and Rosa is very proud of him, as she should be. We were very close growing up and always kept in touch.

When they leave, Dr. Willis comes in and talks me into going home. I know there is nothing I can do, and she won't wake up yet, but I am so scared to leave her. My car is in the parking, thanks to Toby. That man deserves a promotion and a raise, but I would be lost without him.

I know that I can’t hold him back, so he will have to train his replacement to be just as irreplaceable as he is. I can’t worry about that now, my mind is too focused on Liz. The drive home feels so empty and wrong. What if she wakes up and there is no one there? I should’ve stayed with her.

I get home and just make myself a sandwich. It’s weird coming home and not seeing Liz here, or smelling her cooking. I eat and grab a shower before I get into bed. I toss and turn and can’t get comfortable. I am too worried about Liz, so I got up and went to her room. I lay down on her bed and tried to sleep. After some more tossing and turning, I finally fell asleep.

Two days later…

It’s been two days, and they are finally going to wake Liz. The swelling is nearly completely gone, and Doc is happy with the last scans he took. I had to cancel the meeting with Kyle, because Liz couldn’t be present. He just agreed and didn’t even ask how she was.

I can’t believe he cares so little about her well-being. They always seemed so much in love. That’s why I just gave up. I should’ve gone over there to beat the s**t out of him, but I didn’t want to make matters worse. Tiffany is out on bail, thanks to Kyle, the fucker. They are definitely charging her and I have already made a few calls to some of my peers.

I gave them the run-down and no one would willingly take her case. Let’s see how she gets herself out of this. She still hasn’t admitted to her guilt, but they did find her car. They are building a solid case and detective Scholtz keeps me updated. He is a good guy and very thorough. Tiffany’s blood and DNA are all over the vehicle and no one else’s.

Some of Liz’s car’s paint was all over the bumper and the police have enough evidence to convict her. She left the car at her mother’s place. I had called Tiffany’s mother, Elaine, the next day to tell her about Liz, and she really didn’t care. She did, however, tell me that it’s definitely Tiffany because she left her car at her house. All Tiffany told her was that she had driven into a tree.

Liz really only has me and Robyn that care for her, and that is so sad. She is a wonderful woman with a big heart. It looks like all Tiffany and her mother care about is money. I think her aunt may be a problem when she learns that Liz won the lottery.

I checked the lottery rules and regulations. I have had nothing but time as I sit with her every day. They will definitely release the winner’s name. That draw was a special promotion they only do every ten years. It’s all over the news and social media, and everyone is waiting for the winner to claim their winnings.

It’s a really big deal, and we will have to be careful of any backlash. Kyle may also be a problem when he finds out. Money changes people and most of the time it isn’t for the better. But I will always be there for her to help and protect her. I can’t let something like this happen to her again. She means too much to me.

I sit next to her bed and hold her hand and wait for her to wake. After a while, I felt her hand move in mine, and I looked up at her face. “Liz,” I said softly, and I saw her scrunch her eyes tightly closed. She groans and tries to move. “It’s okay Liz, you are safe. I am right here with you. Try not to move too much,” I said.

“Zander,” she croaks out and tries to open her eyes. She closes them again and after a while she opens her eyes and I can see she is trying to adjust to the light. “You’re awake, thank God. You have no idea how much I missed seeing those beautiful eyes,” I said, and she looked at me and smiled. She looks around the room and then frowns.

“Water,” she croaks out. I take the water that is ready and waiting for her. Doc said she would be thirsty, and her throat would be scratchy when she woke. I held the cup up to her lips and helped her. After a few sips, she stops and I put the glass down. “How long have I been in the hospital?” she asks.

“You have been here for three days. How are you feeling?” I ask. “That long?” she asks and I nod. “My head is killing me and I have some pain, but it feels manageable.” She says and scrunches her nose when she looks down at her hand. “Do you remember what happened?” I ask.

“I do, that b***h Tiffany ran me off the road. Please tell me you figured it out and got her? Before I closed my eyes, I heard her drive off.” she says. I am glad she remembers, her statement will also help the case. I told her exactly what happened from the moment I realized she had been in an accident.

“So that b***h thought she could get away with almost killing me? This time she has gone too far,” she says, and I can hear she is pissed. I have never seen her angry before and I don’t blame her. “The police do have enough evidence and a very strong case against her. Adding in your statement of what happened, they will definitely win.” I said, and she nodded.

“When are we meeting with Kyle again? I want this divorce over and done with. I don’t want anything to do with him or Tiffany ever again. I think I have been more than patient and very amicable about this whole thing. But they crossed the line and I won’t let it slide this time.

They will both pay for everything they have done to me. I could’ve died, Zander. Do you want to know what my last thought was before everything went black?” she asks me. “What?” I ask and she smiles. “I thought of you, and that I never told you how I really feel about you.” She says looking at me, and I can’t help but smile.

“And how do you feel about me?” I asked with a big smirk on my face. “I had hoped to tell you this under better circumstances, so let’s just imagine I am wearing that red revenge dress you got me. I am sure I look like s**t and pretty beaten up right now.” she says and I chuckle.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear or what you look like. You will always be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” I said, and she smiled that smile I love so much.