Lauraine Snelling (33 page)

“Thank you.” Maggie did as he said, feeling as if he were talking from a far distance. She walked Bonnie over to a grassy strip so she could pee and then back to the truck. “Do you think you could get a bottle of water for her? She’s been barking so hard, she . . .”

“I will.” He brought one back from his car. “Here, but I don’t have a dish.”

Maggie opened the bottle and tipped it so Bonnie could drink. “Eddie taught her to do that.” Maggie removed the rope and gently closed the door.

“Easy, girl. Stay.” Bonnie whined but settled back. “She’s pretty protective of Eddie.”

“I can tell. She wasn’t going to let those medics touch him.”

When they returned to the ER waiting room, the woman who had promised her information met her. “Okay, here’s what we know. The X-rays showed a skull fracture, but not a severe one. They stitched up the laceration, and he is resting now.”

“Is he conscious?”

She shook her head. “No, but that’s not surprising.”

“Did they sedate him?”

“No.”

Maggie sat down in one of the waiting room chairs and leaned back, closing her eyes. She opened them when Maria sat down beside her. “He’s not regained consciousness.”

“You mean what?”

“He’s sleeping.”

“That good.”

“No, he’s . . .” How could she explain unconscious? She went on to repeat what the woman had told her.

“Madre Dios.” Maria crossed herself and bowed her head, her lips moving in prayer.

The hours passed. They moved Eddie to intensive care, and Maria and Maggie moved to a waiting room close by.

When Gil walked through the door, Maggie stood and walked into his arms. “You go pick up the phone by that button to the right of the door, and they’ll let you in.”

“How is he?” Gil kept her hand as they walked to the closed door and he followed the instructions.

“They won’t tell us anything, other than he is resting comfortably.”

He identified himself, and they buzzed open the door. Maggie watched the door close behind him and returned to sit next to Maria. Surely Eddie would be all right. They’d said the fracture wasn’t severe. But what did she really know about head injuries?

THIRTY-ONE

T
ime never passes more slowly than in a hospital waiting room.

In order to keep her sanity while Gil went to see Eddie, Maggie called the vet. “Breaking Free will be fine, pretty stiff in that shoulder for a while but I believe I got all the slivers out. He’ll have a scar, but he should be fine.” He gave the instructions for caring for the horse and asked about Eddie.

“He’s still unconscious.” Every time she said the words, she had to fight back the tears.

“We’ll all be praying for him. He’s one tough young man.”

“Thank you. I’ll tell him you said that.”

Gil came out of the ICU and sat down between Maggie and Maria. “Here’s what they could tell me. Eddie has a skull fracture, probably from a flying two-by-four, but the bones are still together rather than crushed in, which is really good news. He is stable and comfortable.”

“But is he starting to wake up?”

“No, and he is not sedated so we wait. The sooner he wakes up, the better.”

Maggie clutched his hand. “Can he hear you?”

“We don’t know.” Gil squeezed her hand back. “We just pray.” He swallowed hard, sighed, and turned to look directly at her. “Now tell me what all happened.”

Maggie told him everything, wishing she could do something to wash away the sorrow in his eyes. He looked weary beyond measure. When she’d answered all his questions, she asked, “Can I get you a cup of coffee or something?”

“No thanks. Why don’t you and Maria go on home and get some rest. They said I could stay in there with Eddie.”

“All right. I’ll take Bonnie home and see to Breaking Free. Then I’m coming back.”

“You don’t drive.”

“I do now and they’re going to hang me for the first offense so I don’t think another one much matters.”

“Get some sleep, both of you. I’ll call you if there is any change. And Maggie, don’t drive.”

Maggie let Bonnie out to do her business, and she and the dog both climbed into Maria’s car.
Jail, will I end up in jail again? What if—don’t go there. Eddie is going to be fine. What do I need to do? Call Mark first thing. For you can bet the police will. Thank God Gil is back
. When Maria stopped the car in front of the house, Maggie said, “You take Bonnie into the house, and I’ll go check on Breaking Free, all right?”

“You get some sleep.”

“You too.”

The horse nickered as soon as he heard her open the door. She ignored the desire to check out the barn damage and turned on the lights. The vet had put the horse in a different stall and even left a full water bucket and hay in the rack. “How you doing, big boy?” She stroked his neck and shoulder, staying away from the bandages. “Your boy is going to be all right, you hear? None of that was your fault, and you behaved wonderfully.” Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she sobbed into his mane. Another accident. More damage.
All my fault.
She patted him some more and eased out of the stall. “You sleep now, and we’ll all feel better in the morning.” Shutting off the barn lights, she followed the moonlit pathway to her house. After taking a shower, she set the phone on the pillow next to her head and after praying for Eddie again fell into a restless sleep.

Gil called at seven a.m. “He’s the same, but the doctor says it is only a matter of time.”

“I need to feed the horse and call my parole officer and then we’ll come. Can you see any change?”
Please, please, let there be change
.

“Not yet, but he doesn’t seem to be in any pain either and that is good.”

“Gil, I’m so sorry, I . . .”

“Listen to me, Maggie. This was not your fault. And by the way, Sandra was involved in an accident. She was in the ER earlier.”

“Is she all right?”

“I think they carted her off to jail for driving under the influence.”

What could she say?

Maria set a small suitcase in the backseat. “Eddie will have clean clothes to come home in.”

Maggie nodded. “You keep thinking that.”

“I keep praying.”

When they entered the waiting room, Gil met them. “He’s moving around more. They say that is a good sign. The nurses said you could come in.” He beeped the button and the door opened. Maggie stopped at the foot of Eddie’s bed. He looked so small in that bed of white. Even his sandy brown hair was covered by bandages. One eye had turned purple.

She stroked his feet. “Come on, Eddie, Breaking Free needs you. Bonnie needs you. She hasn’t quit crying.”

Maria held his hand, tears raining down on the slender arm. “Que bueno, chico. You come home.”

Gil joined Maggie at the foot of the bed. “How are things at home?”

“Breaking Free will be fine. The barn will need to be repaired.”

“What did your parole officer say?”

“Not to worry. Come see him at four this afternoon. He said I probably wouldn’t be sent back to prison.” She looked up at him. “But I’ll need to go before a judge, most likely.” She shuddered. “I-I can’t go back to prison, I just can’t.”

“Maggie, if it takes every dollar I own, I’ll keep you out of prison.” He put an arm around her shoulders and gathered her into his side. “Thank you for saving my son.” He breathed the words into her hair and her ear. “Thank you.”

For saving my son. All she could think was she’d nearly killed him.
But I didn’t do it
. She said the words three times.
I was lax. No, I wasn’t. His mother is at fault. I should have marched her out of there, but I was trying to be polite. I should know better than trying to reason with a drunk
.

“Chico?” Maria moved to Eddie’s head and touched his cheek. “Come now, it is time to wake up.” She turned to Gil and Maggie. “See, his eyes, they blink.” She smoothed the back of her fingers over his cheek. “Come, Eddie, wake up.”

He blinked again and slowly his eyes opened. He sighed. “Hi, Dad.”

Gil clung to Maggie’s hand and pulled her along beside him. “Hey, sport. You had a bit of a nap.”

“Maria?”

“I’m here.” She squeezed his hand. “I get the nurse.”

He turned his head and his smile widened. “Maggie, you’re here too?”

“Bonnie would be if she had her way.” She felt her face spread and smiled back.

“You smiled.”

“She did.” Gil turned her his way. “Well, I’ll be—Maggie’s smiling.”

“You don’t have to make a big deal out of it.” But she could feel the warmth of her own smile clear to the soles of her feet.

“Am I hurt?”

Gil nodded. “But you’ll be well soon.”

“Good.” Eddie’s eyes drifted closed then shot open. “Will I get to ride in the horse show?”

“I’m afraid not this time, but we’ll be ready for the next one.” Gil smoothed his son’s cheek.

“I’m sleepy.” Eddie’s eyes stayed shut this time.

The doctor stopped at the end of the bed. “He should recover quickly now. He’ll need to take it easy. The headaches could be fierce. We’ll probably move him to the pediatric floor in the next few hours if all goes well.”

Gil shook the man’s hand. “Thank you.”

Gil and Maggie left Maria with Eddie and wandered out to the waiting room, each with an arm around the other. They stood at the window and looked down to the green lawn below and the vibrant bed of ruby zinnias that surrounded a fountain.

“Turning into a beautiful day.” He pulled her closer.

“Yes, it is. A breaking free day—for all of us.”

“Well, at least I don’t have to worry about getting dizzy and falling over.” Eddie looked up at his dad as they waited in the vestibule of the church.

“Good point. But you will tell me if the pain gets bad?”

“I will. But I am not missing walking Maria down the aisle.” Eddie grinned at his dad. Wearing matching tuxedos, they looked more alike than ever. “Are brides always late?”

“No, not always.” Gil glanced through the doors to see Enrico and his oldest son waiting at the front. The other family members lined the front pews. The group had grown more than the three children Enrico had brought to the dinner at Gil’s house.

“She’s ready.” Maggie came through the door to the bride’s room, wearing a long-sleeved, scoop-necked dress that fell loosely from gathers at the shoulder. The shimmery shades of blues made her eyes sparkle. The smile helped too.

Gil sucked in a breath. “You’re beautiful.”

“Dad, I told you that.”

Maggie fingered one of the crystal dropped earrings in her newly pierced ears. “I feel so strange, dressed like this.” She gestured to the entire ensemble.

Gil swallowed. She’d caught him by surprise. And yes, Eddie had said that, but then he’d seen her in this dress—and Gil hadn’t. “Just remember, the first dance is for me.”

“I thought Eddie was first.” Maggie tipped her head and smiled up into his eyes.

She was flirting, yes she was. His Maggie was flirting. When had he begun to think of her as his?

The door opened and Maria came through, fussing with her lace mantilla.

“Leave it,” Maggie whispered. “You look beautiful in it. Enrico is getting impatient.”

Maria took Gil’s arm and motioned for Eddie to take his place on her other side. Maggie stepped in front of her and when the organ changed the tune walked through the door to lead them all to the altar. When she was halfway there, Gil kissed Maria’s cheek, she bent down and accepted a kiss on the other cheek from Eddie, and the three of them proceeded down the aisle.

Gil watched Maggie’s face as the minister led the service. The sun beams through a side window caught the glimmer in her gown, making her glow. She held the bouquet of lilies and chrysanthemums that Maria had chosen and arranged the mantilla after Enrico kissed his bride. After the bride and groom walked back down the aisle, she came over and took Gil’s arm.

“I’d rather walk with the two of you.” And so she did.

That evening back home after they had dinner and the animals were fed, Gil tucked his son in bed and sat down for prayers. “I have a question for you, Eddie.”

“What?”

“What if I asked Maggie to marry me?”

“Do you love her?”

“I sure do, how about you?”

“Can I walk her down the aisle?”

“I’m sure you can.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. She’ll have to decide that.”

“Well, you better go ask her. I can say my own prayers for tonight.”

Gil leaned over and kissed his son good night. “Right away, huh?”

“Before she gets away.”

He found Maggie in her apartment. This didn’t seem like a real romantic proposal but like Eddie said, he might want to hurry. While he knew she felt the same attraction he did, what if she didn’t want to get married? After all, the first time had not been the best—well, not for either of them.

He returned to the kitchen for leftover cake and plates to serve it on. He had coffee in the office already. A few minutes later, he knocked on her door, balancing a tray on one shoulder. “Room service.”

“Come in.”

Maggie had changed into a long caftan of a slinky fabric that touched her in all the right places and fell to the floor in attractive folds.

Gil set his tray on her table. “Tonight was my turn to bring the coffee. And I must say, you look lovely. Two dresses in one day?” He arched an eyebrow at her and wiggled it like Eddie did.

“It’s nice to feel feminine for a change. Thank you for the cake.”

“Let me serve you, madame.” He knew his English accent wasn’t real well done, but it made her smile. He’d do anything to make her smile more often. “If you will be seated.”

Maggie took the chair he suggested and sank back with a sigh of delight.

He handed her a plate, a napkin, and a cup of coffee. “Decaf, even.”

“Good, then we won’t have trouble sleeping tonight.” She took a bite of cake and rolled her lips together, eyes half closed. “This is so delicious.”

“Not quite as good as Maria’s, but a close second.” He sat down on the ottoman in front of her. “I have a confession to make.”

“Oh, really?”

“Uh huh, I confess that I have fallen in love with you.”