She looked flabbergasted by his response, but Deputy Police interrupted them. “Dr. Allen? Sanjana? Do you have time to give your statements?” “Of course,” Sanjana said. He didn’t want to let her go but had to be content with holding her hand. “Could we sit down somewhere? It was a long night, and I’m sure Sanjana is exhausted.” “No problem. Let’s head over to the patio outside the dining room.” Once they were seated at the picnic table, Deputy Police took out his notebook and pen. “Sanjana, why don’t you start at the beginning?” “After we transferred Seema to hospital, I needed a moment alone, so I went outside and stood beneath the overhang just outside the ambulance doors. I guess I must have been out there longer than I thought, because when I came back in,
the trauma bay was already clean, and everyone was gone. I was about to head back to my team of patients when Sandeep came in.”
“Did you see him outside?” Deputy Police asked. “No, but I probably wasn’t paying attention. I will admit I thought he was theone who drove into his wife, but I never expected that he’d come looking for mearmed with a gun.” Vikram couldn’t bear the fear underlying her tone, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Then what happened?” “I tried to talk him into putting the gun down, but he just kept coming closer and closer. I didn’t have a way to call for help, but then the door leading from the arena opened, and I saw Vikram standing there.” “And you went inside?” Deputy Police asked, a deep frown furrowing his brow. “You’re lucky he didn’t kill you.” “I couldn’t just stand there while he took a shot at her,” Vikram said. “Besides, I figured I could get him to talk. I needed to try and stall long enough for you and your guys to get there.” Deputy Police didn’t look happy, but he spared Vikram a lecture, asking a few more questions before he closed his notebook. “I appreciate your time. Thanks.” “That’s all you need?” Sanjana brightened. “We can go home?” “Yes, you’re free to go home.”
Deputy Police walked away, and Vikram glanced at Sanjana. “How about I drive you home?” he suggested. “We’ll pick up your car later.”
“I’d rather just drive my car home now, if you don’t mind.” Sanjana tucked her hair behind her ear and avoided his direct gaze. “But thanks again, Vikram. For everything.”He didn’t want to let her go, but he couldn’t very well force her to allow him to stay, either. He frowned as she walked to the parking lot alone. Why was she pushing him away? Maybe after everything that had happened, she needed some time alone. So he’d give her a few hours to sleep and to recharge. Then he was going to make his feelings known by asking her out on a proper date. And he could only hope and pray she wouldn’t say no.
Sanjana dragged herself out of bed after five hours of sleep, determined to get back on a regular schedule since she had day shifts scheduled after her day off. Her ankle was a little sore, so running was out of the question. A boat ride would have been great, but she quickly veered away from thoughts of Vikram. She was still struggling with everything that had happened with Sandeep. The way he’d accused and threatened her brought back terrible
memories of life with George. She hadn’t told anyone about the abuse her mother had suffered. Sanjana hadn’t mentioned the time George had broken her arm, either, since that one the injury had been nothing compared to everything George had put her mother through. She’d prayed for the strength to forgive George, but seeing Sandeep in the trauma bay made her realize she hadn’t forgiven George. Or Sandeep. Or Rolland, who hadn’t hurt her physically but who’d tried to control her just the same. And she needed to forgive all of them. Or she’d never been able to move on from her past.
When her buzzer went off, she dragged herself over to the intercom. “Yes?”
“Sanjana? It’s Vikram. Can I come up?”
She hesitated but then acquiesced. “Sure.”