She smiled in relief and he smiled faintly back. She walked alongside the gurney while the guard wheeled him toward the emergency room.
She said, “Can I call somebody, your wife or a relative to tell them you’re here?”
“Yes, please. My little sister. Her name is Elise Thorpe.”
He gave her the number, which she tapped into her cell phone.
“Can you please stay, at least until she and her husband come?”
“Yes, no problem. I wouldn’t think of leaving until I know you’ll be okay. But what’s your name? She won’t believe me if I were to say her brother John Doe has been badly beaten and he’s at the hospital.”
He chuckled. “Of course. Justin Halverson. You’re right about my sister. John Doe won’t cut it with her.”
“She must be a lawyer.”
“You’re perceptive, Miss… ”
“Torres. Leilani Torres.”
The hospital staff stopped outside a wide double door with glass windows, through which a well-lit room was visible. The nurse assistant said, “You can’t come in here, Miss. Please go to the waiting room.”
Before the assistant could push the gurney inside, Justin said, “I’d like the chance to show you how thankful I am to you for saving my life. Would you give my sister your phone number?”
II. Connecting
Elise placed her cell phone on the coffee table and eased her body on the couch in the study. How awkward she was becoming. If her second pregnancy was like her first, she would steadily put on pounds from her sixth month until she gave birth and her belly would balloon into a ball.
She put her feet up on a stool, leaned against the back of the couch, and cradled her head on a pillow. Resting her hands on her round belly, she closed her eyes and waited for Greg. He was in Goyo’s bedroom, tucking him in for the night.
Until a month ago, they used to take turns putting Goyo to bed, but since her pregnancy showed a little more the month before, Greg had insisted on her taking more care and resting. He now put their son to bed every night.
Elise had protested, though not too strongly. From the fourth month on, pregnancy made her more energetic than usual and she had no trouble doing everything she normally did, but Greg was adamant. He had not only become more solicitous of her, he insisted on pampering her.
She thought it rather romantic. Red roses at her office every Monday morning, her feet massaged every night, and a glass of warm milk before they went to sleep. In the morning, he brought her coffee and toast in bed before she showered and dressed for work.
She heard the door open, but only when he sat down next to her did she move a muscle. She raised her head and reached over to caress his cheeks.
“Who would have known? Inside this playboy lurks the sweetest husband and father that walked the face of the earth.”
“I always knew, but nobody else saw that man until I met you.” He smiled, and kissed the hand on his cheek. “Are you ready for your foot massage?”
Elise nodded and Greg picked up her feet off the floor and onto his lap. He turned some classical music on with the app on his cell phone and began kneading the soles of her foot.
“Hmm, that feels good. You’ve got magic hands.”
“Magic is good; sensuous is better.”
“I agree,” she said, smiling and settling her head back on the pillow to wallow in the sweet pleasure of a quarter hour of her husband’s soothing hands.
But the pleasure ended sooner. Her cell phone rang, startling her into jerking one foot away.
“Let me get it,” Greg said, reaching for her phone on the coffee table. He handed it to her.
She glanced at the number, and frowned. Not a number she could recognize, and at that time of night, probably not a sales pitch from the phone company, either. Could be a wrong number, but she needed to know.
“Hello,” she said.
“Ms. Thorpe, my name is Leilani Torres. You don’t know me. I’m making this call for your brother, Justin Halverson.”
The caller paused briefly, maybe to give her a chance to say something. But Elise waited.
Leilani continued, “Mr. Halverson is in the hospital. I found him beaten up, lying on a street on my way home from work.”
“Oh, no! Is he all right?” Elise swung her legs off Greg’s lap and onto the floor.
“Yes, he should be. He’s here at Sutter Emergency, at the main East Bay facility a block from Broadway. They’re now examining and treating him.”
“Did you call my parents to tell them?”
“No, he gave me your phone number, that’s all.”
“Okay. My husband and I should be there in half an hour. Thank you for telling me.”
Elise hung up. The voice was pleasant, educated, and had to be of someone trustworthy. Someone unlikely to make a crank call. She had learned to be more suspicious, after nearly five years working in the Public Defender’s office.
Greg said, “Peter?”
“No. Justin. That was a woman I’ve never met, Leilani Torres. She found Justin beaten up. Took him to Sutter East Bay. We gotta go to the hospital.”
“What could he be doing in the East Bay at this time of night?”
“Maybe he took Megan to work or was on his way to pick her up. Sometimes she works overtime at the hospital.”
“Why don’t you stay home and I’ll go. I’ll call you as soon as I get there.”
“I have to go with you. Goyo is asleep and we have to request Bob, Alicia, or Andy to come and stay with him until we get back.”
Half an hour later, Elise and Greg were standing by the reception desk at the hospital, asking where they could find Justin Halverson, brought in for injuries from an assault about an hour before.
*****
Leilani sat in the waiting room outside the emergency ward, watching the door, hoping to catch and talk to Elise Thorpe and her husband when they came in. She had nothing much to go by to identify them except that Elise was younger than Justin Halverson. He had called her his “little sister.” She also expected a young woman who moved with confidence, and whose features bore some similarities to those of Mr. Halverson.
She recalled the image of Justin Halverson spread-eagled on the sidewalk, with crumpled paper wrappers, brown paper bags, and broken bottles strewn around his head. Something incongruous about that, even ironic. Or funny. An obviously virile young man in an expensive leather jacket looking vulnerable and helpless. The image tugged at her heart.
Very few people came into the waiting room at that time of night. Spotting the couple should be easy.
Not too long after, a handsome couple strode into the room, tension evident in their steps and on their expressions. Leilani was sure she had found the Thorpes.
The woman was probably about her age, beautiful and pregnant, her blonde hair flowing loose down her back, the front strands tucked behind her ears. She looked anxious but her manner was sure and purposeful. Her husband was dark-haired, tanned, tall, and handsome, his bearing as commanding as hers was arresting.
They looked around the room and caught her eye. Leilani rose and approached them.
She said, “Ms. Thorpe? Elise Thorpe?”
Elise turned toward her and Leilani stared into large eyes as blue as those of Justin Halverson’s.
“Yes, that’s me.” Elise looked straight into Leilani’s eyes for a couple of seconds. Then, the beginning of a smile brightened her anxious face. “You must be Leilani Torres.”
“I am.”
“I can’t thank you enough for helping my brother.” Elise turned toward Greg. “This is Greg, my husband.”
Greg said, “I’m honored to meet you, Ms. Torres. Nowadays, most people would ignore someone they see lying on the street.”
“Thank you. I can tell you more what happened, but I’m sure you want to see your brother now. I’ll take you to him. I have his room number—536.”
Elise said, “How
is he?”
“He’s out of Emergency. They stitched him up and did some x-rays. I’m afraid I dislocated his foot when I closed the door on him.”
Elise said, “You probably saved his life or kept him from a worse beating. We’re so grateful you found him.”
“Maybe, you should know. He was quite drunk.”
“Justin? Drunk?” The couple exclaimed in unison.
Leilani nodded, but said nothing. In fact, it pleased her to know that getting drunk was unusual for Justin Halverson.
Greg said, “The most I’ve seen him drink is three glasses of wine at dinner, and he never gets drunk on those. Justin doesn’t like losing control of himself.”
Elise frowned and started for the elevator. “Something’s going on. Let’s go see him.”
Riding the elevator in silence, Leilani’s gaze flitted from Elise to Greg and back again. Striking, intriguing, she thought. Dressed casually in old blue jeans and lined windbreakers, they, nevertheless, had the mark of money and education and the easy confidence of those advantages.
“Penny for your thoughts, Ms. Torres,” Elise said, smiling, her large unflinching eyes regarding her.
Leilani was taken aback. Oh God, she caught me watching them. With a wan smile, she forced herself to meet Elise’s gaze.
She said lamely, “I wasn’t really thinking. Just … this night has been … full of surprises.”
“That, it has.” Elise said, still smiling. She turned toward her husband.
Mortified, Leilani lowered her gaze. She told herself it did not matter what they thought of her. She would probably never see them again. And yet, she did long for a friend like Elise—someone to talk to about things other than work. Someone who seemed like she would really listen.
The light was dim in Justin’s room and Elise walked in softly, ahead of Greg and Leilani. Justin lay still on the bed, his swollen eyes closed. He had bruises on his cheeks, two stitches on his lower lip, and a cast on his right foot. He seemed unaware of them.
“Justin, it’s me. Elise.”
He opened his eyes and turned his head toward the direction of the voice. “Elise. Greg. Am I glad to see you both. So, you’ve met Ms. Torres here. I owe her my life.”
“Yes, but we haven’t had time to get to know each other. Soon, I hope. She promised to tell us how she found you.” Elise flashed a momentary glance and smile at Leilani.
“Did she tell you where?”
“I’m sure she will. Later. How’re you doing?”
“Oh, I’ll live. They’re keeping me overnight, for observation. Those thugs kicked me pretty badly. I’m hurting all over my body. I’ve got stitches here and there, I think. And as you can see, they put my foot in a cast. But I should be out of here by tomorrow.”
“Does Megan know you’re here?”
“I’ve no idea where she is.”
Elise exchanged looks with her husband. He shrugged and shook his head.
Leilani cleared her throat. “Um … now that you’re both here, I think I’ll go.”
She turned toward Justin. “I hope you get better soon, Mr. Halverson. I have to go now.”
“Yes. Thank you. We shouldn’t keep you here any longer. Elise, can you get Ms. Torres’s phone number? I’d like to thank her the way I ought to when I’m in better shape.”
“Yes, oh yes. Besides, she promised to give us her side of the story. Sounds like you were too drunk to know what brought you here. But she can tell us. I’m thinking we could meet with her soon. Greg?”
“Yes, definitely. Whatever is convenient for Ms. Torres.”
Greg said to Justin. “I’m dying to know what you were up to in that seedy part of town.”
Justin glanced at his brother-in-law. He seemed at the point of saying something, but he kept silent and merely chuckled.
Some private joke? Leilani wondered. The two men seemed very comfortable with each other.
Elise took Leilani’s number down. “Would tomorrow be okay? We could meet somewhere you choose.”
Leilani glanced at Elise’s belly. “Well, tomorrow’s Saturday. I do have somewhere to go in the evening, but I can meet in the afternoon, say around three or four?”
“That’ll work. Where?”
“Do you live around here?” Leilani glanced again at Elise’s belly.
Elise smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Don’t worry about me. I’m a little slower, but waddling does move me from one point to the next. But to answer your question, we’re on the Peninsula south of here.”
Leilani said with an embarrassed smile, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stare. Would you mind if I come to your home? I’m going to San Francisco that evening and can easily make a little detour.”
“No, not at all. We can talk more freely, but are you sure you don’t mind? You’ll be going out of your way.”
“I think I’ll enjoy the drive. I don’t get out of this city much. Too busy. You’ve given me a good excuse to venture farther out.”
*****
“What’s going on, Justin?” Elise said after Leilani left. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
Justin took some moments to answer. When he did, his voice was hoarse.
“Megan left me.”
A soft, consternated “Oh” escaped Elise’s lips. She glanced at Greg. He shook his head.
He said, “You both looked so cozy and very much in love last time I saw you, like you were ready to spend your life together.”
“Looks like I was the only one ready for that.”
“Has she met another man?” Elise said.
“Another woman,” Justin answered weakly.
Elise and Greg exchanged glances again. Justin’s mugging surprised them. He rarely went to dangerous places and would not knowingly provoke others. She was also more than aware of random violence, having defended criminals accused of murder as well as those charged with mayhem. But she knew no one among her friends or colleagues who had left a lover of the opposite sex for one of the same sex. What could she say?
Elise studied her brother’s face. Justin was hurting, that was clear and expected. Beyond that, she found nothing in his expression that could enlighten her on what she was concerned about: What did it mean to him that Megan left him for a woman? Was he hurting more, blaming himself for not seeing the truth right away?
She was not about to pry. Justin knew she would be there if and when he wanted to talk. More likely, he would pour out his unhappiness and doubts to Greg. The two were that close.
“Do Mom and Dad know you’re here?”
“No. I didn’t want to worry them.”
Elise nodded. “No. I know. We can wait to tell them later, when you’re out of here and feeling better.” She wanted to add, “When they’re ready,” but she restrained herself.
“I gotta get out of here tomorrow. This place is bad for my ego. I’ve never been sick my entire life.”
Elise smiled. “Yes, you have. Shall I tell you all the times I remember?”
“Shut up, little sister, and promise to pick me up tomorrow.”
*****
Back home an hour later, Greg and Elise walked quietly out of Goyo’s room. Greg closed the door behind them. It was past midnight and Elise only had enough energy to change into her nightgown and brush her teeth.
Greg followed her into the bathroom. He said, “When do you plan to tell Mom and Dad?”
She finished brushing her teeth before saying, “I think I’ll leave it up to Justin—both the mugging and Megan. He’ll them when he’s ready”
Greg nodded. “Yeah, I agree. They’re still dealing with what’s happened to Peter. We all are.”
“Do you think they need to know about the assault? Justin is strong. I’m sure, by Thanksgiving, you’d hardly see his bruises—the visible ones, anyway. I don’t want to add to their worries. Mom’s especially.”
“I can understand how you feel. The assault, he could hide,
and he could think of a few lies to explain his bad foot. But how long can he keep his breakup a secret?”
Elise sighed. “He’ll have to tell them by Thanksgiving. That’s the one occasion Megan never missed since they lived together. He’ll have to explain her absence this year.”
She walked toward the door, and touched his arm as she passed by. “Come to bed soon, okay? I need more hugs tonight.”
“I’ll be there in a couple,” Greg said before he put his toothbrush in his mouth.
An hour later, Greg was asleep, his arm around Elise. She lay awake, soothed by the regular heaving of his chest against hers, his breath warm against her cheek. She relished that quiet spell, when she allowed her mind to go blank so sleep could take over. But tonight, images from the past four months held a grip on her consciousness.
The Halversons had all been living uneventful, peaceful lives until Peter’s suicide attempt turned their lives upside down, forcing her mother to reveal a past her children had been unaware of. She told her and Justin that Peter, their older brother, was the son of a first love whose life was cut short by a terrible disease. A disease Peter had inherited, diagnosed only after it had triggered his suicide attempt.
For her Polish mother’s Catholic conscience, caring for Peter was a fair and welcome sacrifice she must make for sins of the past, when—more focused on her needs than those of the life in her womb and eager to preserve the memory of her first love—she ignored concerns that he was likely to inherit his father’s disease. She embraced her atonement, devoting her energy attending to Peter’s needs.
Justin’s problems were nowhere near as serious as Peter’s. Regardless. Whatever happened to him that evening—what led to it, what transpired after—deserved the family’s attention. From her, if not from her parents. She was determined to do all she could to help him.
She would ask him to stay with them for a while. He needed help while he recovered from physical injuries and, away from his apartment, he was less likely to be preoccupied about Megan.
Elise had been through heartbreak herself and knew the comfort a sympathetic ear could give. In the trying days ahead, with them close by, Justin could talk to her or Greg anytime he needed.
Welcome Reluctant Stranger Page 3