Susan looked at Aaron, who nodded his agreement. “Susan Martin, it will be my honor to marry you day after tomorrow in the Mercy Hospital Chapel.”
***
“Aaron said you wanted to see me,” Mike said, stepping into the hospital room the next morning. “I wasn’t sure you even knew I was here.”
Susan smiled and motioned him closer. “Still hard to speak,” she whispered as he bent toward her. She pulled his cheek to her and gave him a kiss. “I saw you yesterday, over there”—she pointed to the wall—“with John. But I knew you were here with Mom before that.”
Mike took her hand. “You gave us quite a scare,” he said. “I wasn’t ready to lose you.”
“It was pretty serious, wasn’t it? Did you come for the wedding—before I got so sick? Are Amy and the girls back at Rosemont?”
Mike shook his head. “They couldn’t make it. I came out when John called to tell me you were in a coma. I thought …” he began, and his voice broke.
Susan squeezed his hand. “Good thing you’re here now. Will you walk me down the aisle tomorrow?”
“Nothing I’d like better. We all thought this day might never come. Do you know how close you came to not making it?”
“I’m getting the picture. I had a sense of being away from you all, in my own peaceful place. But Aaron was always with me. He read to me and talked to me about the life we would lead. I kept trying to get back to him. That’s why I wanted to keep our wedding date. No more delays or interruptions. And now you’re here. I want you at my wedding.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“When do you go back?”
“I’ll take the red-eye tomorrow night.”
“Perfect. The wedding will be a simple affair, and you’ll be done in plenty of time to get to the airport.”
Mike ran his eyes over his sister. “You’re my hero, you know. That was a very kind and brave thing you did—giving Nicole your kidney. I’ll always admire you for doing that.”
Susan flushed. “Okay, you. Go back home and let a girl get her beauty rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, on my wedding day.”
***
Glenn Vaughn hung up the receiver and turned to Gloria, his wife of a little over a year. They’d been the talk of Fairview Terraces when, at their advanced ages, they’d gotten married in a surprise wedding at the conclusion of the town’s annual Thanksgiving Prayer Breakfast. “Looks like another unusual wedding is in the works,” he told her. She raised an eyebrow at him over the top of the morning paper.
“That was David Wheeler. He and Dodger were at Mercy Hospital, and he heard that Maggie’s daughter is out of her coma and is getting married in the chapel there tomorrow.”
Gloria dropped the newspaper and clapped her hands. “Praise God,” she said.
“Indeed.”
“But why the rushed wedding? Isn’t she expected to recover?”
“David thinks she’s going to be fine. We didn’t talk about why she’s getting married so soon.”
“Men,” Gloria shook her head. “I’m going to call Debra.”
Glenn raised his eyebrows. “Debra?”
“The gal that works at the hospital thrift shop. She knows everything that goes on around the hospital. I wonder if Maggie needs any help with anything.”
“I don’t think they’ll want any of us meddling …” he started to say, but she was already past him, on her way to get dressed and spring into action.
Chapter 53
Maggie arrived at the hospital on the day of her daughter’s wedding with the cream-colored cocktail dress in its zippered garment bag. She didn’t know if the doctors would allow Susan to be unhooked from her monitors and IVs long enough to get married in it, but they were going to try. When she rounded the corner of the hallway, the door to Susan’s room was shut and there were three rolling suitcases and two large medical carts in the hallway outside the room. She quickened her pace. Please, God—let there be nothing wrong today.
Maggie knocked and pushed the door open without waiting for an answer. She took two steps into the room and stopped short. Susan was sitting on the edge of her hospital bed as Anita Archer made the final adjustments to a full length silk and organza wedding gown. Susan’s makeup was done and flowers were woven through her long blond hair. She turned to her mother, and her smile could have lit the entire Eastern Seaboard.
“What in the world?” Maggie began.
Anita Archer looked up and removed the pins she was holding in her teeth. “The Martin women always get married in attire from Archer’s,” she said, winking at Susan. “Good thing Joan Torres called me. I don’t know what you were thinking.”
“This is the dress I saw last year that I told you about, Mom. The one I was going to order for my wedding next year. And now I get to wear it, anyway.”
Maggie stood, dumbstruck. “You look remarkable” was all she could manage.
“Anita got a lady from the salon to come put my hair up. The nurse washed it last night. Everyone’s being so kind.”
“How did Joan know about the wedding?” Maggie managed to ask.
“Gloria Vaughn told her,” Anita Archer chimed in.
Maggie threw up her hands. “I give up.”
“There’s one more thing,” Susan said, eyeing Maggie’s sensible navy blue suit. “You look like you’re going to a council meeting in that thing. Slip into that dress you brought with you.”
Maggie laughed. “I knew I needed this dress for a very special occasion. I can’t think of anything more special than this.”
***
Gloria Vaughn had, indeed, gotten the scoop from Debra and called Judy Young and Joan Torres. This might be a last-minute hospital wedding, but they’d make it an elegant, gracious affair or die trying. Word travels fast in a small town. Judy called Anita, who contacted the stylist. Gloria arranged for the flowers, and Joan spoke to Laura at the bakery. Laura began work on the wedding cake at the crack of dawn.
By the time Maggie was escorted to her pew by best man Alex Scanlon, everything was in place. The altar was adorned with a spray of white calla lilies. A two-tiered cake waited in the hospital boardroom, where the reception was to be held. Pete’s Bistro was supplying the luncheon.
Maggie looked at the small group gathered in the chapel, and her breath caught in her chest. These people were always there for each other, without question and without exception. The Torreses and the Knudsens, Tonya and George Holmes, Anita Archer, Judy Young and her husband, Glenn and Gloria Vaughn, and Pete and Laura Fitzpatrick. She turned and rose as Marc Benson struck out the wedding march on the chapel piano. And here was her precious daughter, glowing and beautiful, coming down the aisle on the arm of her brother. Nothing about this moment could be more perfect. Absolutely nothing.
***
Susan walked slowly down the aisle, leaning heavily on her brother’s arm but looking every bit the traditional bride. When she reached the altar, Aaron took her elbow and steered her into a chair that Sam Torres had procured from a nearby office. He knelt at her side. The hospital chaplain’s sonorous voice led them through the familiar vows, each couple in attendance joining hands and reliving their own commitment. When he pronounced them husband and wife, Aaron leaned in to kiss his bride. Maggie dabbed at her eyes and noted that Alex was blinking rapidly. The other women in the pews were reaching into their purses for tissues.
Susan rose and, supported by her new husband, retreated down the aisle. When they got to the back of the chapel, Aaron insisted that Susan reclaim her seat in the wheelchair and turned to the small group of guests. “I promised to bring her back to her room as soon as we were done. When everything checks out, we’ll join you in the boardroom at the end of the hall to cut the wedding cake.”
The group made their way down the hall and accepted champagne from Pete, who was busily filling glasses and unwrapping trays of finger sandwiches. The doors opened, and Aaron ushered Susan into the room in her wheelchair. Everyone clapped.
&n
bsp; Mike stepped forward. “I’d like to propose a toast to my sister and brother-in-law.” He beamed in their direction. “Aaron—welcome to our family. I always liked and respected you, but my admiration and affection have deepened as I’ve watched you care for my sister. I know you are devoted to her and will be the kind, loving husband she deserves. And now, three pieces of advice for you as you embark on a lifetime with Susan: Buy the luggage with the sturdiest wheels—my sister does not know how to travel light; increase your gym membership because my sister is an incredible cook; and always be thankful that you’ve married the kindest, most generous person I’ve ever known.” Mike raised his glass. “To Susan and Aaron.”
“Hear, hear!” cried the group as they toasted the couple.
Susan cut the cake and continued to hop in and out of the wheelchair, visiting with the guests and nibbling her slice of cake, until she finally surrendered, exhausted.
“We need to toss the bouquet and get you back to bed,” Aaron said.
Susan began to protest, but Alex chimed in. “Aaron’s right. You don’t want to set yourself back. You’ve been here far too long as it is,” he said firmly.
Susan sighed, then agreed. “There’re no single ladies to throw my bouquet to,” she said, looking around the boardroom.
“Let me take care of that,” Joan Torres interjected, signaling to Judy Young to join her as she exited the room. They returned almost immediately with a host of nurses in their wake. “These ladies would all love to catch your bouquet,” Joan said.
They propped the double doors to the boardroom open, and Aaron wheeled Susan into position. He helped her to her feet, and she swung her arm over her head, releasing the bouquet in an arc that sent it sailing into the waiting arms of a divorced mother of three. The woman shrieked and everyone clapped. She hugged Susan. “Thank you, honey. I hope I find a guy as nice as this one,” she said, winking at Aaron.
“I hope you do, too,” Susan whispered in her ear before releasing her.
“Okay, my dear,” Aaron said. “The party’s over for you. I’m taking you back to your room. Doctor’s orders.”
***
Loretta Nash pushed Nicole’s wheelchair toward the elevator on the second floor of Mercy Hospital. Nicole’s first checkup since returning to Westbury had gone well, and Loretta was flush with happiness, oblivious to her surroundings.
Nicole pointed to a raucous group of people at the end of the hall. “Susan!” she cried, wriggling to get out of her wheelchair.
Loretta put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “You’ve got to stay put,” she said as she turned to look where Nicole was pointing.
There, at the end of the long hallway, was Susan Martin—resplendent in a bridal gown. The groom was helping her to her feet, and they were surrounded by a jovial group of women in hospital scrubs.
Loretta was about to wheel Nicole toward Susan when a shadowy figure crossed their path along an intersecting hallway fifty feet in front of them. Loretta hunched over, trying to make herself and Nicole invisible. She would recognize that portly frame and greasy pate anywhere. What in the world was Chuck Delgado doing at Mercy Hospital?
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Nicole asked.
Loretta put her finger to her lips and kept her gaze riveted on Delgado. He appeared to be in a hurry to go somewhere, carrying a sheaf of papers in his hand. He glanced quickly in the direction of the nurses, who were jostling for position to catch the bouquet. What she saw next chilled her like an arctic blast. Delgado stood, observing Susan Martin as she swung her arm over her head and threw her bouquet. He raised his right arm, holding it straight and parallel to the ground. He pointed his index finger at Susan, then brought his thumb down to meet his finger. He held his position, then threw back his head and laughed before continuing on his way.
Loretta shook her head. Had she really seen what she thought she had? She knew what that gesture meant; Delgado had taken aim with an imaginary gun and fired at Susan.
Delgado was rumored to be furious with Maggie Martin and anyone that had anything to do with his arrest. Would he seek revenge by harming Maggie or her family? Loretta knew firsthand what a vicious monster he could be. If Frank Haynes hadn’t interrupted him, Delgado would have raped her last New Year’s Eve.
She straightened her shoulders and began pushing Nicole’s wheelchair down the hall toward the conference room. She’d let Nicole say hello to her sister on her wedding day and then take her right home. She needed to tell Frank Haynes what she’d seen, and the sooner the better. Frank would know what to do.
Chapter 54
Marissa and Sean Nash raced up the stairs to their apartment, with Frank Haynes trailing behind. Sean burst through the door. “Mom—guess what?”
Loretta stepped out of the kitchen and put her finger to her lips. “Shhhh … Your sister is taking a nap.” She herded her two older children into the kitchen and motioned for Frank Haynes to join them. She smiled at him, and he felt the familiar jolt he always got these days when she did. “Okay, what?” she asked her son.
“We got to take Sally to the dog park after the movie,” he said.
“And I got to hold her leash,” Marissa chimed in.
Loretta nodded and gave Frank a quizzical look over the tops of their heads. Frank shrugged and looked at his shoes.
“So now you’ll be wanting to get a dog, won’t you?” she asked the two shining faces turned to hers. They nodded vigorously.
“Having a dog is a lot of work,” she said. “You’ve got to feed them and walk them every day—especially when you live in a second-floor apartment, like we do.”
“I’ll walk him before and after school. I promise,” Sean replied.
“And there’s the matter of training, too. I’ve never trained a dog, and I don’t have time to learn now. I told you we would consider it when Nicole’s better.”
“Mr. Haynes said that he’ll teach us how to train him, and we can keep him at his house until you say he can come home with us,” Marissa said, taking her mother’s hand.
This time, Loretta did not smile at Frank. “We’ll see. I’ll talk to Mr. Haynes. You go to your rooms and start cleaning. They look like a bomb went off in them. I shouldn’t have let you go with Mr. Haynes this afternoon, with your rooms in such a mess.”
Sensing this was not the time to cross their mother, both children set out for their rooms without further comment. When they were out of earshot, Loretta turned to Frank.
“How’s Nicole?” he asked.
“All of her test results were better than expected. She’s not rejecting the kidney, and it’s working beautifully.”
“That’s good news.”
Loretta nodded. “What in the world were you doing, letting them hope that we can get a dog? I can’t manage that right now.”
Frank held up both hands. “I’m sorry, Loretta. I was out of line. But you should have seen them with Sally. They were so happy. I know how good Dodger has been for David Wheeler.” He looked aside. “I remember how much it helped me when I got my dog when I was Sean’s age.” He turned to face her. “This hasn’t been easy for them, you know. They’ve been scared about losing Nicole, and their mom hasn’t had much time for them, either.”
Loretta recoiled. “You think I’m neglecting them? I’m doing the best I can. You have no idea how hard this has been to do alone.”
Frank Haynes stepped forward and put his hands on her arms. “I don’t want you to have to do this alone. That’s why I took them to the movies today. That’s why I want to get them a dog and keep it at my house until you’re ready to bring it home. It’ll be good for Sean and Marissa, and it’s something I can do to help.”
Loretta leaned toward him.
“We’ll all go to Forever Friends to pick out the dog. We’ll get a small one, and you can have veto power. How does that sound?” he asked, pulling her to him.
Loretta rested her head on his chest and nodded.
“I have good news,” he said s
oftly, into her hair.
She pulled her head back to look into his eyes.
“Susan Martin got married today.”
“I know. We ran into her at the hospital. Nicole got to see her in her wedding dress and say hello. Nicole said that her dress was the prettiest one she’d ever seen, and Susan told her she’d save it so Nicole could wear it when she got married. You should have seen them together, Frank. Those two have a magical bond.” Loretta drew a deep breath. “I saw Chuck Delgado at the hospital, too. He did something that alarmed me.”
Haynes’ gaze turned to steel. “Did he come near you?”
“No. He never saw us. He had papers in one hand. Maybe he was there having some tests done, I don’t know. Nicole and I were waiting for the elevator when I saw him down the hallway near where Susan was holding her reception. She was getting ready to throw her bouquet, and Delgado stopped to watch her. He raised his hand and pantomimed shooting her with a gun.” Loretta demonstrated what she had seen. “He threw back his head and laughed, then proceeded on his way. It was really creepy.”
“Did anyone else see him?”
“No. The hallway was deserted except for the commotion around the reception. He was a good fifty feet from them. Nobody else noticed.”
“Did he see you?”
Loretta shook her head. “I was afraid he would, but he never glanced in our direction. We were at the other end of the hallway.”
Haynes nodded, deep in thought. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it.” He forced a smile onto his lips.
“How did you find out about the wedding?” she asked.
“Glenn Vaughn called to tell me.”
“Why didn’t they wait for her to get out of the hospital? They don’t think she’s going to die, do they?”
Frank shook his head. “No. Nothing of the kind. Glenn said that, after almost losing their happy future, they didn’t want to wait any longer.”
“That’s wonderful, then. I’ve been terrified that she wasn’t going to pull through. I’d never forgive myself if she didn’t make it.”
Drawing Close: The Fourth Novel in the Rosemont Series Page 23