Passion and Pearls (The pearl series) (10 page)

Tears were streaming down her face as she listened and prayed. She cried out when she felt the pain of his ribs breaking as he was thrown down the cellar stairs. She was on her feet turning in circles, not sure what to do when she heard him start talking to her. She stopped and listened, sobbing when he told her he loved her. The pain must have gotten to much and he suddenly stopped talking, she guessed he’d blacked out.

Aqua ran to the phone and called 911. She begged to be patched into the chief and told him what Blu had said. When he asked how he’d contacted her she lied and said he’d called her cell and that his phone wasn’t working right and he had been only able to contact her the one time. She prayed the chief would believe that thin line and was almost breathless until he told her he would go get him.

The second she hung up Aqua ran out the door and all the way to the police station. When she ran through the door, there were officers all over. They were gathering rifles and the chief was barking orders. Aqua felt a little better knowing that help was on the way to Blu. The Chief stopped in front of her and told her that he would get Blu back home safe and instructed her to stay
put
. She nodded and gave him a quick hug.

There were several cars
of
officers from nearby town
s with
county deputies and state troopers all converging on the property. Luckily
,
Blu had left Bobby’s file on top of his desk
so
the Chief had known where to go. The place was surrounded and looked like a war zone within a very short time.

That was when Bobby’s father had the bad luck to come home. He wasn’t about to be taken quietly and a short but deadly gun fight ensued. No other officers were harmed but Bobby’s father would never stand trial.

As the chief searched for the cellar Aqua had told him about, ambulances were called and someone covered Fred with a blanket not wanting to see his blank stare. Blu and Bobby were both unconscious when the rotted cellar door was flung open. No time was wasted getting them both on their way to the hospital.

Aqua heard the radio report stating they had been found and were being transferred and before anyone could offer her a ride she was out the door and running again. It was several blocks
up
to the hospital emergency room but she ran the whole way. Lungs burning
and
gasping for breath
,
even as she worked to keep the tears from blinding her
,
s
he was at the doors well before the ambulance arrived. The doctors didn’t question her right to be with the officer when he was brought in and although they made her stand back while they worked on him they didn’t ask her to leave. When the x-rays were done and Blu was cleaned up and starting to wake up, Aqua was there holding his hand crying.

Blu’s family had been contacted and they were in the waiting room thankful for the good news that he was going to be alright. There had been no question about Aqua leaving his side. The only time she’d left him was when she heard Bobby crying in the next exam room. She went to the boy and spoke softly to him giving him what comfort she could until he was sedated and taken to a regular room. They would keep him for a couple days for observation but he should be fine, physically anyway.

So when Blu’s eyes opened the first thing he saw was the woman he loved. He smiled and thought she looked prettier than he’d ever seen her. He didn’t notice the red eyes, smeared makeup or bruised lips from the way she had been biting them as she worried.

He tried to talk but ended up coughing which was a new kind of pain for him with three broken ribs. The nurses were there immediately helping him and he tried again. They let him speak just enough to tell Aqua one more time that he loved her before they gave him medication to help him sleep. He was transferred to
a
regular hospital
room
and the family was finally allowed to come in. They were instructed to let him sleep but the doctors knew they needed to see their loved one.

Everyone hugged and more tears were shed and prayers prayed. They had been through another close call and they were all thankful that their family was still
intact
. Eventually, Blu’s sister Amanda made Aqua leave with her and took her home to get some rest. They had been assured he would not wake up until tomorrow. The doctors wanted him to rest and heal and they would keep him sedated until at least then.

Amanda offered to stay with Aqua, but she needed time alone. There was so much emotion flowing through her she really needed to be alone to sort through it all. Once Amanda left, promising to pick her up early to go back to the hospital, Aqua drew a bath and let the hot water do
its
calming magic. She soaked until the water turned cold and then went to bed
exhausted
.

Aqua was up early and was sipping a cup of tea waiting when Amanda came to pick her up. They were solemn as they drove to the hospital. Both were thinking of how close they came to losing someone they love. It was as if they couldn’t talk about it yet, it cut too deep. When they
walked
into the reception
room,
they found
they found both of
Blu’s parents waiting for word and approval to go see Blu.

The doctor came out fairly soon from his early rounds. The nurses had let him know the family was waiting for an update. He smiled at the family and sat.

“He really is going to be fine. It’ll take a week or so for him to heal and a bit more to really get back to normal. You can go and see him
but only
a couple of you at a time and please don’t stay
too
long. He really does need to rest.”

The family thanked him and he headed off down the hall. Aqua sat quietly with tears in her eyes. She was so thankful he was going to be OK. There were tears and laughter as the family was adjusting to the relief of knowing he was all right. Blu’s mother gave Aqua the tightest hug and then took her hand and told the others that they were first. Hand in hand they walked to his room and went in. Blu was just starting to wake up and both women rushed to his side.
His Mom, Betty,
took his hand and lifting it, kissed it while tears streamed down her face.

“Oh Blu, I’m so glad
you’re
ok. We were so scared, Son.”

“I’m fine Mom, sorry to worry you.” Blu got most of that out before he coughed and
grimaced in
pain from his
injured
ribs.

“Now Son, don’t you talk. You just listen and nod.” Betty then told him how Bobby’s dad was dead and that little Bobby was doing fine. The state would be working to find a home for him so that he didn’t have to go to into the foster system. She let him know that she had personally gone and spoken with the boy.

“He was worried about you, Son. He was relieved to find out his dad hadn’t killed you like he had his own mother. What a thing for a
ten
year old to have to worry about. Just makes me so upset. Anyway son, all is as good as it can be with him. The family is all here and fine so you have nothing to worry about and on that note I’m leaving and going to give Aqua a chance to see you on her own. Now you be nice to this gal or you will have me to answer too.” Betty leant down and kissed Blu’s cheek then turned and left with a smile for Aqua.

Blu looked at the woman he now knew meant the world to him. “I love you.”

Aqua kisses him and whispered, “I love you, too.” She stayed with him holding his hand as he slipped back to a healing sleep.

The next week was slow and yet one of the best Aqua had ever experienced. Blu was getting better, his arm may never be quite the same but he could use it and with physical therapy get most of his range of movement back. His ribs were better, still sore but he could walk and was back out at the ranch recuperating.

The Chief had come out to debrief Blu and was a little puzzled when Blu didn’t have an answer as to how he’d been able to “call” Aqua with his hands tied and
his
phone had
been found smashed and inoperable
. Blu thought back and realized he would never be able to explain it to his boss in a way he’d understand so he just shook his head and told him, “Well hell Boss, you know women always know what
you’re
thinking or up to well before you do,” and left it at that. Chief didn’t like that answer but realized no
better
information was forthcoming so he finished up his reports and closed the case.

Soon, Blu was feeling much better and ready to go back to work, desk duty at least.  He and Aqua had spent as much time as they could together. They really were a good match in most every way. Blu wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted but, he knew he wanted forever, kids and the whole mess that families entail.

When his Dad came into the sitting room and saw Blu looking pensive he was worried. “Whats wrong son?”

With a sigh Blu told him that he wanted to make a life with Aqua but wasn’t sure how to approach her. “Hell Dad, I owe her my life. How do I top that?”

Blu’s Dad had been married several years and was wise to Blu’s torment. “Son, I learned a long time ago. You can’t top anything your woman does for you.  All you can do is be the best man you can and love them. A nice string of pearls doesn’t hurt either, especially when you mess up. And son, you will mess up plenty. I heard my Momma tell a of friend of hers that pearls were symbols of feminine wisdom and that it meant a lot to a woman when a man gave them to her. I remembered that all my life and it’s served me well. Why do you think your Momma has so damn many of them?”

Blu decided it couldn’t hurt and found a long beautiful strand that
somehow
remind
ed
him of Aqua. They were almost all the pearly white everyone sees but there were just a few darker colored pearls thrown in that Blu knew would appealed to Aqua’s love of the unusual. He purchased them and a diamond ring surround with small pearls that the sales woman assured him would work beautifully as a wedding set.

Blu was a nervous wreck on their next date. He had asked Aqua not to listen in to his thoughts for a while and she had been good about giving him his mental space. He knew she might worry that he was deciding if he wanted to be with her or not but, it was the only way he could think to surprise her. When they finished dinner,
they
walked hand in hand back to her place and sat snuggled on her sofa
.
Blu was so anxious that he couldn’t sit still.

He leaned over and gave Aqua a kiss on the cheek then slid to the floor. He was in the classic ‘down on one knee’ position and had taken Aqua’s hand in his.

“Baby, I know it’s been hard and things haven’t always run smooth for us. But, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to raise a family with you, grow old with you and spend every day laughing and loving you. I don’t have much to offer you, except my love. Well, that and passion and pearls. Yep, passion and pearls. Darl’n, will you marry me?”

He pulled the strand of pearls from his pocked and slid them over her neck then pulled out the ring box, opened it and held it out to Aqua. She looked at the ring, then Blu’s eyes all while fingering the strand of pearls now around her neck.

With a cry of pure happiness she flung her arms around this crazy man that didn’t always make sense and held on tight. Tears of joy streaming down her face she whispered, “Yes.”

Aqua placed her hand on her much enlarged belly
“I know Hanna
d
ear, Daddy will be home soon. Then we’ll head to the hospital. I’m so excited to hold you and introduce you to your family. You have
grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins just waiting to spoil you rotten. I know, I know, Daddy is panicking a little. It’s not every day that he becomes a father. He’s just so excited. Did you hear
those tires
squeal? I guess he’s home now. I better go try and calm him down so we can get this done. I can’t wait to hold you in my arms. I love you, daughter of mine.”

“Aqua… where are you? Come on baby, don’t do this to me. Let’s get you to the hospital.” Blu was hollering the minute he came flying through the door.

“I’m here in the bedroom getting dressed. I wanted to take a quick shower before we left.” He rushed in and she was taken into Blu’s arms and he kissed her gently.

“You ok love?”

“Better than ok, now that you’re here. But, I think we’d better head out soon.  Hanna seems to be ready to face the world.”

Little Hanna was born two hours later with her calm but exhausted Mom and freaked out Dad. She knew she was loved and couldn’t wait to see what was in store for her. The window to the hospital nursery was packed with faces peering in. She was cooed over and admired by family members and
their
friends. She felt her Mom’s love surround her and slip
ped
back into sleep, knowing she would be with her again soon.

Aqua was just about to fade into sleep herself as she thought to herself. ‘Wow, this really did get interesting.’