Walk a Straight Line (21 page)

Keith sat with Michael, appreciating the quiet time. A nurse had convinced his mother to get some sleep in one of the empty rooms. He took Michael's hand in his and talked.

He recounted all the mischief they'd gotten into and the pranks they'd pulled as boys. He spoke about all the good times they'd had. Keith spoke until his mouth was dry. He had to believe that his brother was still there, listening to his every word. He was told that people in this comatose state could recall conversations when they awakened.

Keith hoped that something would bring Michael back. For some reason, his brother seemed content to remain in that state. Keith was worried about that. He knew that the longer his brother stayed in the coma, the greater the chance of his regressing or becoming a vegetable. Keith couldn't bear it if that happened. The sooner Michael awakened the better.

Keith turned around as Gina entered the room. He couldn't help but look at her. His eyes bespoke of his love for her.

Gina saw it and mouthed, “Stop.”

Keith cut his eyes at her, not even bothering to respond. How was he to stop what he was feeling in his heart? Frustrated beyond belief because he couldn't make his brother wake up and because he couldn't have Gina, Keith got up and left the room.

Gina was a little taken at Keith's abrupt departure, but she resolved that she would let him go cool off and sat down next to Michael.

“I love you,” Gina said, silently willing Michael to come back to her. “Oh, Michael,” she exclaimed, “come back to me, so I can make everything right!” She held onto Michael's hand and placed her head into his lap.

“Why are you crying, Gina?”

“Because, I just wish that you'd wake up and tell me again how you—” Gina stopped and sat up. Her eyes widened, and she started hyperventilating. He's awake! He's awake! She looked into Michael's eyes. They were opened and glued intently on her face.

“Michael! Michael!” Gina screamed with heartfelt joy. She jumped on top of him and stretched out completely. Then Gina kissed him with all the passion that she could muster like there was no tomorrow.

Keith heard Gina's outburst and ran into the room. He saw Gina kissing his brother like a woman dying of starvation. Quickly he raced to get his mother.

When they returned, Michael's room was filled with doctors and nurses. Gina was standing off to the side, beaming and crying at the same time. Gerry ran over to her, and the two women hugged, and laughed, and cried.

Keith whispered a silent prayer of thanks. Soon, all three were ushered out into the hall while the doctors and nurses examined every inch of Michael's body. Then the psychologist came to speak to Michael.

The police were also notified of Michael's recovery. Pretty soon, the place was like a zoo. Keith handled the cops himself.

 

 

It had been a week since he'd woken up from his coma, and Michael was way past ready to go home. The doctors wanted to keep him longer for more observations and tests, but he wasn't having it. A part of him felt that if he didn't have the resources to afford his private room and perks, they'd have shipped him out already. Hopefully, he would be heading home tomorrow.

As he lay there, Michael reflected on his life. He couldn't believe he'd been reckless and drove himself into the embankment on the bridge. He didn't know how he had allowed a woman to get to him like that. But the woman in question was no ordinary woman. He looked at Gina, who was busy reading a magazine. She looked beautiful.

Michael asked Gina to retrieve the pants he'd been wearing the day of the accident from the armoire. She went to do his bidding, then returned to her seat by the window. He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the small box. He opened it to peer inside. It made a small creaking sound, but Gina didn't even look up from her article.

It was still there. The ring. Michael breathed a sigh of relief.

Should he wait? No, life was just too short. He had tried to conjure up a right moment before and that hadn't worked. It had turned into a complete and utter disaster. No, there was never a right moment. Michael had to seize any available opportunity.

A sharp pain shot through his head. Michael harrumphed and held onto his cranium. Immediately, Gina rushed to his side in concern.

Michael shooed her back to her chair as the pain gradually lessened. The doctors had decreased his medication. He had to expect the pain. Michael actually welcomed it. It helped him remember that he was alive. God had been good to him.

Michael closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander at will. Bits and pieces of little snippets of conversations from Gina and Keith came back to him. He had trouble piecing it altogether. Then he dismissed them. If he were meant to know something, he'd eventually find out. That was his policy. “Gina,” Michael croaked.

“Yes?” Gina answered.

She filled a glass with water and handed it to him to drink. The doctors had told him he needed to remain hydrated. Once he'd quenched his thirst, Michael asked the million-dollar question. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, Michael,” Gina said, after hesitating. “Of course, I'll marry you.”

Michael took the ring out of the box and placed it on Gina's ring finger on her left hand. Then he pulled her in toward him to seal it with a kiss. He felt Gina returned his kiss with equal gusto before she pulled away. “I love you, Gina,” Michael stated, simply.

“I know, Michael. I love you too. I just wish that this tragedy didn't happen to make me realize that.”

Michael did not give Gina a chance to think. “I want to get married as soon as possible, Gina. Is that all right by you?”

“Yes, Michael. That's fine,” she agreed with an amiable tone.

“Gina?” Michael took her face in his. Something wasn't right. He could feel it, but he just couldn't put his finger on it. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Gina chuckled. “Why is it that you men become concerned when a woman just gives in?”

Somehow her reactions seemed somewhat forced. “I guess,” Michael capitulated, with a little hesitation, still trying to read her. “I was prepared for you to fight me tooth and nail and figured that I would have to drag you down to the altar.”

“Well, now you don't have to,” Gina said. Then she excused herself. “I've got to hit the ladies' room.”

Michael let her go without any further comments. He looked at the empty doorway. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Gina just seemed too—agreeable. No, agreeable was not the right word. It was more like she was resigned. She didn't seem overly excited or jubilant. Just resigned. That didn't sit well with him at all.

 

 

Gina entered the stall and plopped her head against the door. She berated herself for how she had acted. A great man had just asked her to marry him and had given her a sizable rock to prove it. Gina looked at the ring. It was exquisite.

She closed her eyes and gulped hard. She did not deserve this. Maybe she should tell Michael the truth. But Gina shook her head. She knew that she couldn't do that. She couldn't hurt him in that way.

Gina prepped herself. She was going to go back into the room and show Michael how happy she was. She had not responded at all like a woman in love. She ordered herself not to be so stiff and show a little more enthusiasm. She was going to be a married woman soon.

Gina resolutely quelled all the feelings of guilt and pushed them to the back of her mind. She pushed all of the love that she still felt for Keith way down in the inner recesses of her heart. Gina closed her eyes and brought Michael to her mind. She did love him, and she would spend the rest of her life devoted to him or she'd die trying.

It was mid-January when Gina finally returned to work. She had more than enough sick time to cover her days so she wasn't worried, but she'd missed her students. She proudly sported her rock on her hand. News spread like lightning in the teacher's lounge. Most of her coworkers came up to her to inquire about Michael and to offer heartfelt congratulations.

She faked her excitement until she felt some glimmer of enthusiasm. She called Colleen and told her the big news. She made sure her tone bespoke a blissful happiness at her impending nuptials. Colleen demanded that they get together for dinner that very night. She agreed, knowing that tonight would be the big show-and-tell.

Colleen did not give Gina a chance to ring the doorbell. The door flew open before her fingers even touched the small device. She entered with a huge grin and her left hand swooping in the air. She hoped Colleen would be too thrilled to question her closely.

“Let me see it!” Colleen demanded, grabbing Gina's hand. “Whoop whoop.” She let out a shrill whistle. “Tell me everything,” she squealed. “I mean, I cannot imagine you getting married and all that. That is so exciting, I mean . . . So, I guess you figured out which brother you really loved, huh?”

“Well,” Gina hedged, trying to remain cool. She shifted her eyes away from Colleen. “There's a little more to it than that. Colleen, I found out that when we first started dating, Michael had a one-night stand with his old girlfriend Karen. Then he had her living at his place until she got on her feet. Well, he never told me, and I found out by accident. I was so livid that I broke it off with him and took a cab home. Well . . . then . . .” Gina wrung her fingers together. Then in one breath, like she was getting the world off her shoulders, she said, “Keith came over, and told me he loved me, and . . . We slept together. We were going to tell Michael and let the chips fall where they may, but then we heard about Michael's accident. So, we ended it. And, now . . .”

“You're marrying Michael?” Colleen finished with a deadpan tone and a resigned expression.

“Yes.”

Colleen looked unsure. “So, all that hoopla you came in here with was just a front.” She gripped Gina's hand and led her to the couch. “Gina, remember all the things that you were saying to me the other day? What happened to being true to yourself and love? I know you, and you don't sleep around. You wouldn't have given yourself to Keith if you didn't have genuine feelings for him.”

“I
am
being true to myself,” Gina protested. She hoped Colleen would stop because she wasn't trying to have second thoughts. She was resolved to do this.

“I don't think so. It sounded to me like you really felt something for Keith. I'm not sure that those feelings are something that you can easily dismiss like that.”

“I didn't dismiss them,” Gina countered. “I just made a decision between two men that I really care about.”

Colleen wasn't convinced. “Gina, you seem sure that you can turn your back on your feelings for Keith. Are you positive this is the right thing to do? I mean, it's obvious that Keith is the one that you love. You're drawn to him like a magnet. Gigi, think twice about this.”

But Gina's mind was closed. Colleen wished she would heed her warning. Instead, Gina changed the subject. “So, have you called Terence?”

“No,” Colleen shifted. She was now in the hot seat.

“Now, who's denying her heart?”

Colleen sighed. “I don't know, Gina. I just need more time to sort this all out.”

“Look at us,” Gina moved her hand between them. “The two of us have finally found love.”

“Yeah,” Colleen gave an unladylike snort, “and now we've both experienced heartache.”

“Michael's made so much progress that I imagine it'll be time for me to go home, soon. I can't believe it's the end of February already. Where did the time go? Well, right after the wedding I'm out of your hair. I was going to fly home and come back, but Michael convinced me to stay.” Gerry amended. “April is a great time of the year for a wedding, don't you think?” In one swoop, she flicked her hair out of her face and pierced her gaze on Keith.

Since Michael had left the hospital, he'd been recovering at Keith's home. Gerry had stayed to take care of him and was now helping with the shotgun wedding arrangements. This meant Gina had been around, too. Everywhere. Anywhere he went, it seemed she was there. His home that had seemed so large before, now felt small. Keith's solution was to keep himself busy and scarce. He worked at the office until past midnight at times, and when he was home, he retreated to his room or his office. Work was the excuse he used, but he knew it was all about Gina. He avoided her as much as he could.

She did the same too. She didn't make eye contact. Instead, she waved or uttered a quick, “Hi,” before going into Michael's room. He couldn't be near her and not have her.