Chance Of Rain (22 page)

I heard my name being screamed as Anthony fell on top of me in a pile. Officers swarmed us, and I felt the heavy weight of Anthony’s body lifted off me.

“
He
was shot!
He
was shot!
Not her
! Who fired?” my dad yelled, as he gently turned me over and saw the revolver in my bloody hands. He took it from me. That’s when he saw the wound on my arm and held me. “Oh, Ashley…Ashley,” he whispered. “It’s going to be OK.”

“Dad,” I said in a faint voice.

“Shh. Try to rest. Your injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but it looks like you’ve lost a lot of blood.” He looked up as someone approached; then he stared back down at me. “I’m going to run and check on the ambulance. There’s someone here who really wants to see you.” My dad stepped away, and another face came into focus.
Trent?

He knelt next to me.

Oh, how I’ve missed his face
.

He carefully placed my good arm around his neck and slid his arm under my knees and scooped me up. “You OK?” he asked.

“Now I am.” Being this close to him was the safest I’d felt in days. It wasn’t very chilly outside, but I felt very, very cold. His body heat combined with the steady rhythm of his footsteps began to lull me to sleep. I was drifting off into a dream.

“Hey,” Trent said softly. He nudged my head with his shoulder. “Stay with me.”

I heard a low murmur of voices, and then I distinctly heard my dad. “You ride with her in the ambulance, Trent, and I’ll go get her mother.”

Trent put me down on a gurney. I didn’t want him to, but I couldn’t stay awake any longer, so I guess it didn’t matter. As I lay there, I began to dream again. I think I was flying. Then a strong, warm hand took mine and pulled me back down to earth.

I heard sirens in the background. It was unsettling and comforting at the same time. Then I felt Trent’s mouth against my ear as he whispered, “Happy birthday.”

I opened my eyes. He was grinning at me.

“Maybe we’ll go to the Road House to celebrate. Save me a dance?” he asked.

“Every one,” I murmured.

XLVI

Safe at Last

I
awoke later that day in a hospital room at the top of Buford J. Collins. I was a little sore but comfortable. My vision was blurry when I first opened my eyes. It was dark outside. I turned my head and saw Mike smiling at me. My mom was sitting with my dad. I blinked. My mom and dad were really sitting beside each other, and they were
holding hands!

My mom stepped over to me and stroked my hair. “How are you feeling, Ashley?”

“Much better,” I said in a scratchy voice as I raised my bed so I could sit up. I looked at my dad. “Long time, no see.”

With teary eyes my dad quickly stepped forward and took my hand. “Oh, Ashley, I’m so, so—”

“It’s OK, Dad.” I wanted desperately to lighten the mood. “So what’s going on with the hand holding?” I smiled.

My parents gave each other a knowing look and then my dad said, “We were never really separated, Ashley. I was just trying to protect-”

Just then Bri whipped through the door. “You’re up!” She had a coffee in her hand. “I just stepped out to grab one of these.” She lifted the cup. “Want me to go back and get you one? Here, take this one!” She was talking at ninety miles an hour; it was wonderful.

My mom smiled at my dad then looked at me. “Tell you what—we’ll leave you two alone for a while so you can catch up, OK?” She held up her phone. “Call if you need me.” She kissed my forehead, and my dad patted my head gently. “Come on, guys,” my mom said to my dad and Mike. “Let’s grab a bite
in the cafeteria.” Hand in hand my parents left the room. Mike stepped over to my bed before following them. “I’m glad you’re OK. I love ya, Ash,” his voice caught and he wiped the corner of his eye.

“I love you too,” I whispered.

As he turned to go, Bri said, “I love you too, Mike.”

He turned and blew her a kiss before walking out. I thought Bri’s face was going to crack from smiling.

As soon as the door closed behind them, I looked at Bri. “How long was I out?”

Bri squealed with joy and tried her best to hug me. “I missed you so much! Don’t ever do that again!”

“Ouch, Bri!” I said, as I cradled my left arm. “Do what?”

“Leave me! I’ve become very codependent on you, woman!”

She gleamed. “Isn’t great that your parents are together!”

I felt a crack in my heart mend itself.

“I have something else to tell you, but you need a shower first.”

I knitted my brows. “Gee, thanks Bri. I can always count on you to be brutally honest.”

“The doctor said it’s OK, as long as you don’t get your arm wet.

Come on. Get up,” she said, as she gingerly helped me to my feet. “I brought you some cute jammies and a change of clothes for tomorrow. Your toothbrush and cosmetics are by the sink.”

I looked at her and smiled. “I was just wishing I had some lipstick.”

I realized Bri was right the moment the warm water hit my face and ran down my body. My arm was very tender, and I was careful not to get it wet. Bri had brought my favorite shampoo as well. I smiled when I realized she had thought to bring my special conditioner too. Only she would think I needed great hair while lying in a hospital bed.

I dried off the best I could then slowly put on my pajamas. The top was pale pink, long sleeved, and plush. The pants were pale pink as well with a plaid pattern. I slid on my fuzzy slippers and stepped over to the sink and brushed my teeth.

A million thoughts ran through my head, and snapshots of Erica and Anthony took turns flashing through my mind. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to make it stop. I thought about Trent, which helped. I was dying for Bri to tell me her other news. Maybe she and Cole had eloped while I was gone.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, Bri towel-dried my hair and combed it for me as I sat on the bed. “I’d kill for your hair,” she said as she helped fluff my ringlets into shape.

I smiled then kicked off my slippers and propped myself up in bed. I pulled my sheet and blanket up to my waist and rested my hands on my lap. Suddenly I felt exhausted.

I took a deep breath. “Well, I’m ready now. Let me have it,” I said with a smile.

Bri sat down. I could tell she had some very juicy news to share, because she wouldn’t just spit it out; she was savoring it.

“Well…”

“Would you just say it already?” I was starting to perk up. I guess I was getting a second wind from the anticipation.

“OK, OK. First are you up to speed on the whole ‘why you were kidnapped’ thing?”

She was so nonchalant that it made me laugh. “Yeah, I heard Anthony when he talked to my dad.”

“Did you know that Chase is Trent’s uncle?”

“What?”

“Yeah. And, Trent’s cousin, Travis, is the officer that was wounded during your dad’s big drug bust. That’s who Trent was visiting at the hospital that night. The cute little blonde is his cousin’s wife.”

“So…what about Trent? How does he fit into all of this? He just
happened
to start going to our school, and he just
happened
to be in all my classes?”

“Chase asked him to keep an eye on you, Ash—you know, since you wouldn’t let him.” Bri was grinning. “Trent’s a cop too. He was working undercover!”

“He’s a cop? How old is he?”

“Chillax—he’s barely twenty-one. I just told you that your sexy crush was your secret bodyguard, and that’s all you have to say?”

I smiled, but I wasn’t sure what to think. “This is
unbelievable
.”

“Unbelievable…and thrilling…and romantic!”

My smile vanished.

“What’s the matter with you?” asked Bri.

“Bri, that’s why he was always following me home from work.” Tears filled my eyes. “He wasn’t doing it because he wanted to. He was doing it because he
had
to.”

I swallowed the lump that was rising in my throat. Then I lay my head back on my pillow and exhaled slowly as I stared at the ceiling. I lifted my head. “That’s why he never kissed me, Bri. He never liked me like
that
. He was just doing his job.”

Knock. Knock
.

Trent was at the door, and he looked haggard. His hair looked like it had wrestled with the wind, and lost and he needed to shave. He looked exhausted and
adorable
.

Bri and I gave each other a look that said, “How long has he been standing there? And…how much did he hear?”

I looked at him, and he gave me his crooked grin, which I adored.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I bit my bottom lip and nodded.

“
Yeah…so
…I guess I’m gonna get going. I can’t wait to stop by Cole’s and share all the good news.” She flashed me a grin.

“Did they say when I get to go home?” I asked her before she left.

“You only have a flesh wound and got some stitches. Your dad donated a tad of A negative, and they hydrated you. You’re good as new. You’ll be home tomorrow, babe.”

She headed toward the door then turned around and mouthed, “Call me,” as she held her thumb to ear and her pinky to her lip. She gave me a wink, a huge smile, and scurried out the door.

Now it was just Trent and me. I stared at him for a moment and devoured him with my eyes—his dark, messy hair; his broad shoulders; and his lean muscular body in his faded jeans. His printed T-shirt was a little snug on his chest and biceps, and his lightning-bolt tattoo looked…perfect.

My heart pounded against my rib cage. It was a good thing it wasn’t being monitored. The machine would have been beeping like an alarm. My obituary would have read, “Girl Literally Dies from Embarrassment in Hospital.” The thought made me smile.

“What are you smiling at?” Trent asked.

“Nothing…
you
,” I said. He walked past the chair and sat on the edge of the bed and looked at me. I blushed a little as I felt his weight on the mattress beside me.

“How are you feeling, Ashley?”

“Like Bri said…I’m good as new,” I said, still looking down and running my fingers nervously along the hem of the blanket.

“You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that.”

After what I’d just discussed with Bri, I was too embarrassed to make eye contact with him. I felt the weight of his stare.

He leaned over me and propped himself up with his arm. The pressure of him on my legs made my heart race again. He caressed my cheek. He smelled so good when he was this close. I closed my eyes at the softness of his touch and inhaled him.

“It’s not true, you know.”

“What’s not?” I whispered.

“What you said to Bri.”

My eyes opened.

“Yes…I was doing a job. No…I wasn’t
supposed
to get emotionally involved.”

I quit breathing.

“But…I couldn’t stop myself.”

Then he touched his lips to mine and kissed me.

We leaned into each other. I touched his face then ran my hands around his warm, strong neck. If my arm was hurting, I didn’t notice. My hands had a mind of their own as they moved up the back of his head and each clutched a handful of his hair. I pulled him tightly toward me, and he responded by doing the same. I’d been yearning for this for so long now; I wasn’t about to let him go.

He pushed me back against my pillow, our mouths parting as we drew one another even closer.

A soft moan escaped from somewhere deep inside him, and he stopped himself. “Sorry,” he whispered breathlessly, “but I’ve been wanting to do this for a while now.”

“Me too.”

He kissed me one more time, chastely on the forehead. “Your parents could be back any minute.” He smiled.

He cozied up beside me and put his arm around me. I snuggled into him and drifted off to sleep.
Safe at last
.

Epilogue

The Big Day

B
ri looked gorgeous. Her hair was swooped up in a twist, and a few long, soft curls hung around her face and down her back.

Cole looked like he was auditioning for the cover of
GQ
.

“You should wear suits more often,” I told him with a smile.

“Is she coming on to you again, baby?” Bri asked him as she approached us.

He looked down and blushed.

“You really outdid yourself, Bri. Everything is gorgeous.”

We looked around at the twinkling lights. She had transformed the reception hall into a starry night.

My mind drifted back to shortly after I was released from the hospital. My dad already had moved back in, and he and my mom were out to dinner while Trent kept me company at home.

We were out on the patio, using the new telescope that my parents and Mike had gotten me for my birthday.

I’d just sat down to watch the fire flicker in the chimenea. Trent sat next to me and handed me a small envelope.

“What’s this?”

“A belated birthday gift. Open it.”

I carefully slid out the little card and opened it. “It’s blank.”

“That’s where I was going to write the coordinates for the star I was going to buy for you.”

“Oops.”

We laughed for a moment.

Trent then handed me a small box that he had tucked inside his jacket.

“Here’s your real gift.”

I smiled as I peeled off the wrapping paper.

“A weather station! How romantic!
Thank you
!”

“What are you smiling about?” Trent asked, as he walked up to me in the reception hall. “Are you thinking about me?”

“No, I was thinking about my weather station.”

He smiled. “Well, who can compete with that?”

Trent had stepped outside so he could return his cousin’s call.

“So how is Travis doing?” I asked.

“Things are still going
really
well.”

“Thank God. How long has it been now, since he was released from the hospital?”

“At least two months. He’s talking and walking, and..” Trent grinned, “doing all sorts of
stuff
. You’ll
never
guess why he called.”

“
Why
?” I asked.

“Guess who’s pregnant?”

“You’re kidding? Kate’s pregnant! That’s wonderful. I guess he
really
is better.”