I knew a few of these guys, since Todd was friends with a lot of them from way back when. But this one didn't look familiar, and he was headed straight toward Kenny's room. Good timing. I glanced toward Morley to gauge his reaction. Would he try to act like he just happened to be standing outside the hallway to Kenny's room pretending not to listen?
The officer nodded to him, then entered the hospital room behind the doctors. Hmm.
Morley mopped his head but didn't run. He didn't even move. Surely if he were planning to kill Kenny, he’d be a little nervous around a cop. So, I guess maybe I'd made up the whole big scenario about him coming to harm Kenny.
Still. Morley was connected to June. And June was involved in this in some way. Arg. My thoughts were going in circles now. If only the doctors would hurry up and I could talk to Kenny. I kept feeling like my time with him was running out. And now I would probably have to wait until Morley talked to him, too, unless he wasn't going to.
I sighed and took out my phone. I texted Todd. At the hospital trying to talk to Kenny. What are you doing?
“All right, Mr. Carner. You get some rest now, and we'll check on you again later. Tell your daughter I'd be happy to talk to her.” The lead doctor called over his shoulder as he left the room, his interns following him like a flock of ducklings, all adjusting their tablets and stethoscopes and trying to look very official.
What now? The nurse was nowhere in sight, but I didn't know how long that would last. And the cop was still in there with Kenny. Dang it! I wanted to hear what they were talking about, but I didn't want Morley to see me. Hmm.
But really, why should it matter if Morley Blackman saw me? I was Kenny's friend and had every right to be visiting him in the hospital. If Morley Blackman wanted to talk to Kenny, he'd have to wait until I was done. I took a step toward the door when my phone dinged. Todd.
Be careful. Had some interesting news about K this morning.
What?
I texted back a “wow” emoji with a question mark.
In a meeting. I'll call you in a few.
Wow, okay. Now I really wanted to talk to Kenny. I jammed my phone into my purse and glanced up in time to see Morley slip into Kenny's room. I looked around but didn’t see the cop anywhere. Had he left while I was texting? I straightened my shoulders, slung my purse over my shoulder, and prepared to stride into the room as if I belonged there. The worst that could happen is that someone would tell me to leave, right?
I took a step, then froze.
“...couldn't come talk to you until now, Ken.”
It was Morley's tenor voice.
I scooted a little closer, then pulled my phone out and pressed record.
“Morley, you know...I... can’t.” Kenny's wavery tone.
“Just think. Think hard. I know this is painful for you, and I wouldn't ask you if I didn't have to.”
Was that really Morley Blackman? He sounded so...kind. Sincere.
“I need to talk to Maple.” Kenny’s voice was a whisper.
Morley inhaled loudly. “Maple doesn't have anything to do with this.”
“Yes, she does. She always…has. Not her fault. Your fault. If you and June would have left me in peace to raise my daughter—”
I heard a strangled exclamation, then Kenny's voice again. “I won't have...my...daughter implicated...in this.” He coughed, a low, chesty cough. That didn't sound good.
“No one needs to know that part, Ken.” Morley was whispering now, and I had to lean in to hear his next words. At least the curtain around the bed was closed, so unless he happened to notice my feet under the curtain near the doorway, I was good. “Besides, she's, uh, in heaven now.”
“No!” Kenny coughed until he choked. “She’s not. She's not.”
“I’m sorry, old friend. I thought you knew.” Morley cleared his throat. “So how about it, Ken? Doesn't look like you're getting out of this place any time soon, and I have to have that—”
The nurse pushed past me. Where did she come from? Did she have like super-sonic hearing or something?
“This man is not supposed to have any more visitors today.” She flung the curtain open as I dodged her arm.
“I wasn’t—” I stopped as Morley Blackman spotted me, then shook his head. Was he trying to tell me something?
The nurse whipped her stethoscope from her neck and glared at us both. “Y’all need to let him get some rest. The poor man is going to have another coughing spell that will lower his oxygen level more than it already is. Now, it's time to go. Both of you. Out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I avoided Morley’s gaze and bent to hug Kenny, grasping his hand. “I’ll come back as soon as I can,” I whispered in his ear. “Will you wait for me?”
He clutched my hand and shook it up and down weakly, his eyes closed.
Was that a yes?
I had to leave, or else the nurse would no doubt drag me out by my hair. I stepped away from the bed and walked out into the hallway behind Morley.
He stopped so quickly I almost ran into him.
“It appears that talking to Kenny seems to be of utmost importance for both of us, Miss Erickson.” He smiled at me. “May I ask how you know him?”
I gaped at him. What should I say? I shrugged. “My aunt has been friends with him for a long time.”
He nodded. “You’re Dorrie’s niece. Of course.”
“And you?”
He smiled. “Let’s just say that Ken and I go back a long way too. Golfing buddies, you know?”
Golfing buddies?
Right. I wanted to keep him talking. “I heard recently that you're an author, Mr. Blackman.”
“Oh, that.” He cleared his throat. “Just a little hobby of mine.”
“I see.” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Mona slipping up behind Morley. She put a finger to her lips. What in the world?
He pulled a tissue from his pocket and blew his nose. “Wish this cedar pollen would subside. Usually ends by now.”
This was getting awkward. “Yeah, I know what you mean. How's your wife?”
“She’s bad off, truth be told.” The sudden grief in his eyes took me off guard.
“Is she ill? I hadn't heard.”
He shook his head. “No. Not like that. I think she’s—” He twirled his finger at his temple. “I don't know. I thought maybe if I talked to Ken and got things straightened out...”
“Is there any way I can help?”
He squinted at me. “Not unless you know how to heal broken hearts, I suppose.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn't mean to be so dramatic. I simply thought that by my age, we'd be able to live our lives in peace.”
I was becoming more confused by the moment. And more and more convinced that Morley was not a killer.
“It’s just that when Maple died, I thought maybe Ken would be more receptive to burying the hatchet. But I guess not.”
“Ah.” It seemed the less I said, the more he talked. And my recorder was still on, my phone sitting in my open purse.
“I thought you seemed like a nice person when we met that day at your bookstore. Thanks for listening to an old man ramble on.” He stuck out his hand, and I took it. “Keep up the good work, young lady,” he said. “We all need hope.”
“Thank you, sir.” I released his hand, and he brushed past me to trudge down the hall, never noticing Mona.
We watched him until he turned the corner toward the elevators.
I turned my recorder off.
“That was weird.” Mona shoved her phone into her handbag. “What was he telling you?”
I puffed my lips out. “I don't know. He seemed nice, even when I heard him talking to Kenny before he knew I was there.”
“You heard him talking to Kenny? What did he say? I'm sorry I couldn't keep the nurse away any longer. I tried, but once she saw the cop head down there, I couldn’t keep her away. Why was he there, anyway?”
“I don't know,” I said wearily. “I can't make heads or tails of
this. But I know that I have to talk to Kenny at least one more time. If even for a minute or two.”
“Well, it's not like they're going to post an armed guard at his door or anything. Let's go visit Miz Grace for a few minutes, then you can sneak back up here into his room when the nurse is busy. I heard them talking about being shorthanded today, so I bet they'll be so busy they won't notice.”
“It’s worth a try.” But I was reluctant to leave him. What if something happened before I got back here again?
My phone rang. “Oh, good. It's Todd.”
I talked to him while we headed toward the elevators. “What did you find out?”
Mona raised her eyebrows.
I shook my head. “Oh, my goodness. Wow. Okay. I'll talk to Aunt Dot.”
“What?” Mona whispered loudly.
I ignored her. “Is Shanna on duty today? Okay. I'll let you know. I love you too. Bye.”
“Hold on a minute, girlfriend. Did I hear you tell Todd you loved him?” Mona clutched my arm and halted in front of the vending machine, grinning at me.
I flushed. “Yep.”
She grabbed me to her bosom in a hearty hug. “I knew it! When's the big day?”
I disentangled myself, my nose itching from her perfume. “Just because we love each other doesn't mean that we're getting married, if that's what you're asking.”
“Why not?”
Yeah, Callie, why not?
“I’ve been married before. I'm not sure if I'm ready for all of that yet. Again.”
“All of what?” She put a fist on her waist. “Having someone be there for you? To love you? To share your thoughts and dreams with? What's not to love about that?”
“Nothing. It's not that part that I'm worried about.”
“I understand that your first marriage wasn’t the greatest. But isn't it worth the risk to try again?” She shook my arm. “We’re talking Todd Whitney, here, Callie. He's a great guy. He loves God. He loves you. What's the holdup?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
I seemed to remember saying some of these same things to her the other day in my kitchen about Rob. But now wasn't the time or place. I blew out a sigh. “It’s complicated. But we can talk about that later. Todd says the sheriff suspects foul play in Kenny's sudden ‘illness’ a few nights ago.”
“What? Why?”
“I don't know, but you know Shanna from church? She works on the third floor. Todd suggested that I see if Shanna could take a peek at Kenny’s charts and let me know what the issue is. I guess that’s why the cop was here earlier, but legally, Todd can't tell me anything.”
“Too bad he’s so honest.”
“Mona!”
“Kidding! I'm going to run these magazines to Miz Grace while you see if you can find Shanna. I'll meet you here in a few, okay?”
I sank down into the chair next to the vending machine. Usually, I wasn't tempted by junk food, but at this moment, the chocolate-covered peanut butter cups were calling my name.
I sat up straighter. I would make it to Easter if it killed me. I wasn't going to let a little bit of chocolate...that was it. The cocoa-butterscotch cookie recipe. That was why Erma told Sharlene the story of the robbers. Erma must have known who the masked men were. After all, she had taught high school in Short Creek for almost forty years. She knew everyone.
She must have suspected that Sharlene was Shelby Janosic and given her the message that would help her clear her father’s—Jim’s—name. The pieces of the puzzle clicked together in my brain.
I jumped up from the chair and headed for Kenny’s room at a trot. I didn't care what that nurse said.
I sidled into his room, intent on my mission, only to find him gasping for each breath, an oxygen mask over his face.
“Oh, no.” I leaned over, grasping his hand. “Papa. Can you hear me?” His eyelids were partly open, but I couldn’t tell if he was aware of my presence or not.
“Papa. I’m here. Please wake up. Tell me about the night you had cookies and tea with Erma.” He couldn’t die now, right when I’d finally figured out what to ask him.
His chest rose and fell as the machine hissed air into his lungs.
I sank onto the hard chair. I didn’t need the nurse to tell me that Kenny was never going to wake up again. I leaned over, my elbows on my knees, and held my head in my hands. God, please have mercy. I groaned. It had to have been Kenny and Jim who planned to rob Erma that night so long ago. She recognized them and gave them a second chance.
But she had kept silent about it her entire life. So why would she tell Sharlene now?
“Callie!” Mona’s urgent whisper roused me moments later.
I turned toward the door where she motioned frantically. “What?”
“Come on. Hurry!”
I pulled myself to my feet, then leaned over my elderly friend and kissed him on the forehead above the mask. “Godspeed, Kenny. I hope to see you again.” I swallowed against the lump in my throat and walked toward the door.
“One of the nurses said she needed to talk to you.” Mona grasped my arm, hurrying me toward the nurse’s station.
“He’s not going to make it much longer.” I hated the thought of him dying alone. Even if I barely knew the man, he thought I was his daughter. And anyway, he should have someone with him in those final moments. Even this moment, he might be drawing his last breath…heading out into eternity.
Mona kept walking, and I half-turned to head back to Kenny’s room. I’d never been with someone when they died, but somehow it was suddenly important. I could examine the reasons why later, but I needed to be there, holding his hand.
“Ms. Erickson?”
I jerked around at my name.
A young nurse stood next to Mona. She smiled at me, and I was taken by the peace that seemed to radiate from her.
Her voice was low. “I’m Alicia and I cared for Mr. Carner during the night. You are his daughter?”
“No.” I croaked. I didn’t feel like being interrogated by a nurse right now, even one as sweet as this one. She
clasped her hands together. “Oh, I thought…well, never mind. But your name is Maple, right?”
I made a noncommittal gesture that she must have taken for assent.
Her eyes shone. “He was afraid he might not see you again, and he wanted me to tell you that he finally said yes.”
My heart leapt. “He said yes?”
“He accepted Christ’s forgiveness. He wanted me to tell you and someone named Dorrie that he would see you both in Heaven.” Her face glowed. “Isn’t that exciting? I couldn’t wait to tell you.”
Hot tears sprang into my eyes, and I felt Mona squeeze my hand. “Thank you for sharing that with me. He’s not going to be with us much longer, is he?”
“No. He’s going soon.” She pushed her hands into the pockets of her scrubs, then cocked her head. “You may want to head in there because it won’t be long.”
Sweat prickled under my armpits. “Let’s hurry, Mona.” I took a step down the hallway, then turned and held my hand out to the nurse. “Thank you for being there with him and for telling me.”
She grasped my hand in both of hers, and the barest hint of scent wafted over me. “My pleasure. God bless.”
I froze, staring into her eyes. I knew that smell. It was the scent of…Heaven.
She gave me the barest nod and released my hand. “Go now, Calendula,” she whispered.
It was not until later, as I shared Kenny’s last moments with Aunt Dot, that I realized the full import of what had taken place earlier. “That nurse called me Calendula.”
Aunt Dot and I stared at each other.
“How would she know my full name? That’s too weird. Almost nobody knows that.” I dug in my purse for my phone. “I’m going to call the hospital right now and ask to talk to her. She said her name was Alicia.”
“Good idea, darlin’.”
I dialed the hospital and asked for the fifth-floor nurses’ station. “Yes, I wa
s there this morning with one of your patients, and I’d like to speak with his nurse. Her name was Alicia.”
I raised my eyebrows and looked at my aunt. “No nurses named Alicia? Could she have been filling in for someone? Oh, I see. How about on other floors? Yes, I’ll wait.”
I turned to Aunt Dot. “They say there are no nurses on the fifth floor named Alicia. They’re checking to see if she could have been from another floor.”
Dot’s hand flew to her throat. “Oh, my.”
“No one? Okay, thanks for checking.” I laid my phone on my lap. Had I gotten her name wrong? Or…
“Do you think she was an angel?” Aunt Dot leaned toward me.
“How else would she have known my real name? And the fragrance…” I closed my eyes, reliving the moment. “I don’t know how to describe it. Except that I smelled it the day of Marleigh’s funeral.” My aunt knew the story of how, years ago, an unknown woman had comforted me on one of the worst days of my life. I had never seen the woman before, and probably would never again…unless…I caught my breath. Surely not, but—
“I think it was her, Auntie. It was the same woman, except this time she looked so young. She had the same dark, wavy hair. And her eyes were this gorgeous aquamarine color.”
“That’s amazing.” My aunt sighed. “I told you this life of following God is an adventure.”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe it. And Kenny slipped away so peacefully. It’s hard to explain, but I could sense the Holy Spirit there in the room with us.”
Aunt Dot dabbed at her eyes. “The Holy Spirit is so precious. That’s why He’s called the Comforter. I remember sitting there, holding my Garth’s hand as he crossed the river. I grieved, but I knew that my sweetheart was not alone. And neither was I.”
We sat in silence together, the warm afternoon sun slanting through the window. My thoughts drifted to my late husband, Kev. Even though our marriage had died a slow, painful death before the accident that took his life, I had still cared about him and it continued to grieve me that I hadn’t been there to hold his hand when he died. His death was violent and quick, caused by a drunk driver. “I wonder if Kev knew he was dying, or if he was instantly with Jesus.”
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