by Claire Fogel
As we left the store, I glanced behind us and spotted Adam and Ryan trailing us, trying not to look obvious. As soon as we were outside, I asked, “Is anyone else hungry? Mom, are you up for The Grille?”
She was finally relaxed now that the stress of finding a wedding dress was behind her. “Sure, I could go for a burger and a chocolate milkshake.” She looked at our two bodyguards. “Do I even have to ask if you two are hungry?”
Adam and Ryan were both smiling as we climbed into my car and headed for The Grille.
I was in luck, finding a nice big parking spot in front of the restaurant. Mom smiled. “They must have known you were coming, dear.” My lack of parallel parking expertise was no secret.
The Grille was crowded, but we got the last available booth and placed our orders. While we waited for our food, Adam and Ryan described a few Elven weddings they had seen, although Ryan said my parents’ Elven wedding ceremony would probably be a little different since it would be held outside Elvenwood and not under the Joining Tree.
“It’s a simple but solemn ceremony. Whichever Elder agrees to oversee your vows will probably use his own words. I’m guessing he’ll tailor his words to your particular circumstances, Alicia. He won’t know you, of course, but he’s known Brian from childhood.” Ryan grinned. “It will be interesting to see what he decides to say to bless your union.”
Adam smiled. “Since it’s the wedding of Elvenwood’s leader, I think the Elders will ensure that it’s a momentous occasion. I also think your backyard will be packed with Elves, some of whom have never been outside Elvenwood before.”
Looking panicked again, Mom said, “Cara, please make sure enough food and wine have been ordered. It sounds as though it will be a much larger crowd than I anticipated.”
“Mom, I’m sure Amy will have it all under control. Please don’t worry.” I patted her hand and she took a deep breath. Fortunately, our burgers, French fries and milkshakes arrived at our table, giving Mom something else to focus on. I looked up at Adam and he winked at me, as if to say, “Don’t worry; she’ll be fine.”
When we had stuffed ourselves sufficiently, Mom paid the check and we left. As usual, our escorts received a lot of female attention as we walked to the door.
Out on the sidewalk, as Ryan leaned down to open the passenger door of my car for Mom, I heard a sharp crack and Adam threw himself over me and pushed me to the sidewalk. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mom and Ryan on the ground next to the car. I’m not sure I was breathing. The air had been knocked out of me.
I wondered what Mom and Ryan were doing sitting on the sidewalk up against the door of my car. That’s when I realized the sharp crack had been a gunshot. For a few seconds I froze, unable to move, although I couldn’t really move with Adam pinning me to the ground.
I remembered seeing a police car parked around the corner from The Grille, and almost immediately heard footsteps running toward us. I heard a voice shout, “Stay down. The shot came from the roof of the Post Office.” The Post Office was directly across the street from The Grille. Then I heard more than one person running past us.
I shouted, “Mom, are you and Ryan okay?”
Her voice sounded shaky, but she said, “We’re okay. Are you and Adam all right?”
“I’m okay, Mom. Adam? Adam, are you okay? Can you move? You’re pretty heavy.”
He groaned. “I’ve been hit. Wait for the police. Stay where you are.”
From across the street, I heard two more shots, then shouting, then several sirens told me there were at least two police cars converging on the Post Office. Not more than two minutes had passed since I heard the first gunshot.
“Adam, where were you hit?” I reached up and felt his arm. My hand came away covered in blood.
I started yelling. “We’ve been hit! We need help. Adam’s bleeding.”
From across the street, I heard the Chief’s voice. “Stay down! The shooter is still out there.”
I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. “How bad is it?”
Adam gasped. “It’s my arm, bleeding quite a bit.”
“Don’t move. I’m sure they’ll get to us as soon as they can.” I was trying to reassure myself as well as him.
His mouth was next to my ear. “Sorry if I’m crushing you, love.”
Actually, under different circumstances, I might have enjoyed being crushed by Adam. But not if he was bleeding. I sighed. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind.”
I heard a weak chuckle in my ear.
We heard one more gunshot and a shout. “Got him. He’s down.”
An ambulance pulled up next to my car, and two EMT’s ran to us. They lifted Adam off of me and wrapped a tourniquet around his left upper arm. They lifted him on a gurney and put him in the ambulance. I could hear him protesting, saying he was not going to any hospital, that he’d rather see his own “doctor.” I was sure he was referring to Kathleen. One of them asked if I was all right because one side of me was covered in Adam’s blood. “Yeah, I’m fine. The bullet hit Adam, not me.”
I looked over at my car. Ryan and Mom were both sitting on the ground, leaning against the passenger side of my car. Ryan stood, lifting my mother to her feet. She looked at me, half covered in blood, and her eyes got huge.
“I’m okay, Mom. It’s Adam’s blood, not mine.”
Adam argued with the EMTs who thought he needed to be in the E.R. They were taking his blood pressure and temperature. I could hear them sounding surprised that his vital signs were all perfect.
Another ambulance had pulled up across the street. I saw two police leading a handcuffed man to the ambulance. The man was bleeding from the head, but he was on his feet. He looked over at me and gave me a dirty look. One of the cops got into the ambulance with him and they took off, siren on and lights flashing.
I knew then that I had been the target, and if Adam hadn’t thrown himself over me, I’d probably be dead. I felt sick, deep inside. I was afraid I might lose my cheeseburger.
The Chief walked across the street, heading for me. Before he reached me, I pointed to the ambulance where Adam was still arguing with the EMTs. Maybe he could convince the EMT’s to cut Adam loose.
Another police car pulled up and my father jumped out, running to my mother. I walked over to her and she threw her arms around me. She didn’t say a word, just hugged me while my father hugged both of us.
“Dad, we’re both okay, but Adam took a bullet in the arm. I think he’s trying to talk the EMTs out of taking him to the hospital. I’m sure he wants to come home with us and see Kathleen.”
Once he was assured that Mom and I weren’t hurt, he strode to the ambulance to collect Adam. Between Dad and the Chief, the EMT’s were convinced to let Adam get out of the ambulance and leave with my father, who assured them he’d be taking Adam to his own doctor. At least Adam’s arm had been bandaged tightly and didn’t seem to be bleeding.
Dad looked over at us. “Cara, are you up to driving home?”
“I think so. I’ll take Mom and Ryan with me. The Chief can drive you and Adam home.” He nodded, taking Adam’s good arm and leading him to the Chief’s vehicle.
I climbed into my car with Mom and Ryan, groaning when I spotted a bullet hole in the hood. Mom asked what was wrong and I pointed to the hole in the roof.
Once we were all settled in my car, I reached into my pocket for my keys, put the key in the ignition and couldn’t remember how to start my car. I sat there, staring at the key in the ignition until Mom said, “What’s wrong?”
I laughed, probably sounding slightly hysterical. “I can’t remember how to start the car. Isn’t that silly?”
Mom said, “Move over, dear. I’d better drive us home.” She got out and came around to the driver’s side and I slid over to the passenger’s side, wondering what was wrong with me.
Ryan reached over the back of the seat and patted my shoulder. “I think you’re in shock, lass. Just relax. I’m sure Kathleen can take care of you as w
ell as Adam. It’s over. Nothin’ more to worry about.”
I knew he was wrong. Donald Gaynes was still out there and wanted one or more of us dead.
We followed the Chief’s cruiser to our house. As soon as Mom parked my car, my father got out of the Chief’s car and rushed to help Mom and me out of my car.
He was frowning, his eyes serious. “Alicia, you’re driving? I thought Cara was driving you home.”
“Cara is a little more shook up than we realized, Brian. Of course, we’re both shook up, but I think I’m doing better than she is. Have you called Kathleen yet?”
He nodded. “If it’s all right with you, I’d like to have Kathleen come here. Adam can rest on the couch until she gets here.” He turned to me. “Do you need Kathleen’s help?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I think I just need to calm down.”
Mom took my hand. “Let’s go inside and get the couch ready for Adam.”
When we got inside, Mom rushed to the linen cabinet and pulled out a rubber sheet and a soft blanket and spread them over the couch. “It’s just in case Adam starts bleeding again when Kathleen cuts that bullet out of his arm.” She paused. “Cara, go up to my room. You’ll find a couple of men’s shirts in the back of my closet. Bring one down for Adam. He won’t want to spend all night in that bloody shirt.”
I ran upstairs to find the shirt and realized that I was feeling much better since Mom took over and put me to work. Being busy was exactly what I needed. I took the shirt downstairs and Mom asked me to make a pot of coffee. “I’m afraid this will be a long night, Cara. Feeling better now?”
“Yeah, I am.” The front door opened and my father came in with Adam. The Chief was right behind them. My father told Adam to sit down on the couch.
Mom asked, “How are you feeling, Adam?”
His eyes looked a little glassy, but he smiled at us. “I’ll be fine as soon as Kathleen gets this bullet out of my arm.” More serious, he looked at me. “Cara, I hope I didn’t hurt you when I pushed you to the ground.”
“You saved my life. That’s all that matters. That bullet was meant for me.”
He nodded, looking suddenly tired.
I heard a knock at the back door and rushed to let Kathleen in. She gave me a hug. “Are you all right, dear?”
“I wasn’t hurt. Adam took a bullet that was meant for me. He’s resting in the living room.”
I led her into the living room and she knelt down next to Adam. After checking him over quickly, she stood. “Alicia, I brought some strong tea to put him to sleep. Would you boil water for me please? I don’t want him to wake up when I have to dig out that bullet.
“Brian, I’ll need you here in case he has to be held down, so stay close please.”
The Chief followed Mom into the kitchen. She started water boiling on the stove and poured coffee for the Chief. “Have a seat, Tommy. I imagine you have questions, but I want to let Kathleen take care of Adam first.”
Chief O’Donnell pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and sat down. “There are two police cars in front of your house tonight, and Brian told me he has men stationed behind the house. Ryan’s on the front porch as well. Nothing else is going to happen tonight.”
I was still standing in the doorway to the living room where I could hear everything that was going on in the house. I wasn’t shaking anymore, but I felt my nerves were pulled tight.
Kathleen came into the kitchen with a bag of herbs in her hand. “Put these in boiling water. It will take several cups to put Adam to sleep.”
I moved into the kitchen to see if Mom needed my help.
She poured the herbs into the pot and the kitchen was immediately filled with the strong scent of herbs. This wasn’t the gentle scent I was used to when I made tea. This was something earthy and slightly bitter. “Let the tea brew for ten minutes,” Kathleen said. “That’s when it will be at its strongest. Then pour a large cup for Adam. And when he finishes it, pour him another cup. I want him to drink until he can’t hold his head up any longer. I’ll get his arm ready now. Bring in the tea in ten minutes, no sooner.”
“Mom, I’d like to help. I can take the tea in to Adam.”
She looked at me and nodded.
I wished there was more I could do for the Elf who had saved my life again. I felt my eyes fill with tears and ordered them to stay where they belonged. Crying wouldn’t help anyone.
When I carried the medicinal tea into the living room, Kathleen had already placed several thick towels under Adam. She had stripped the bloody shirt off of him, and washed off the blood all around the bandage on his upper arm and on his chest. Seeing his bare chest made him seem more vulnerable.
I sat down on the floor next to the couch. “Here, Adam. Please drink this down as quickly as you can. Kathleen wants you asleep before she removes the bullet.”
He nodded and tried to smile as he took the cup from me. He was paler than he’d been before and there was the sheen of sweat on his face. He’d been leaning back against the arm of the couch, but he propped himself up, drank down the entire cup of tea and handed it back to me, sinking back into the couch.
I hurried into the kitchen, filled up his cup, and returned to the living room. He sat up slowly, took the cup from me and drained it again. He whispered, “Thank you,” and his eyes closed.
I looked at Kathleen. She nodded and said, “Adam, can you hear me?”
His voice was hard to hear, but he said, “I can hear you.”
She pointed me to the kitchen and I filled his cup with tea again.
This time I had to coax him to sit up and drink. He was about three-quarters asleep, but Kathleen wanted him completely out, so I held the cup to his lips and whispered, “Drink, Adam, please.”
He never opened his eyes, but his lips quirked and I heard, “Anything for you, love.”
When Kathleen asked him if he could hear her, he didn’t answer. His breathing was slow and regular. Kathleen nodded. “It’s time to get that bullet out. Cara, dear, perhaps you should wait in the kitchen. He’s going to bleed quite a bit.”
She had moved a small end table up against the couch and placed the towels and his injured arm on it. Looking up at me, she said, “How well can you handle the sight of blood, dear?”
I didn’t know so I looked at my father who was sitting at Adam’s feet. “Should I stay?”
He nodded slowly. “I know you feel responsible. Stay with him as long as you can.”
From the doorway, Mom said, “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.” I heard her pull out a chair as she sat down with the Chief. I could hear their soft voices as Mom described what she remembered about the shooting.
Kathleen was as skilled with what looked like a scalpel as she was with herbs. And she’d been right; there was a lot of blood. In less than a minute, she held up the bullet she’d pried out of Adam’s upper arm and called out, “Here’s the bullet if the Chief wants it.”
Rushing into the living room, the Chief held out a small plastic bag and she dropped the bullet into it.
Putting pressure on the open wound, she said, “I’ll have to stitch him up now, but the worst is over. I’m glad he didn’t wake up.”
When she started pulling the needle through his flesh, I had to leave the room. My stomach was threatening to embarrass me. When I walked into the kitchen, Mom took one look at my face and said, “Sit down, dear. Kathleen’s relaxing tea is in the teapot. I’ll pour you a cup.”
I sat down and drank the calming herbal tea.
The Chief said, “Cara, I’d like to get what you remember about the shooting tonight. Okay?”
“Okay. All I can tell you is that right after we walked out of The Grille, I heard a sharp crack and Adam pushed me down to the sidewalk, throwing himself over me. It was a few seconds before I realized it was a gunshot. And I had no idea where it had come from. Then I heard someone running past us, then sirens, and you know the rest.”
The Chief asked, “You don’t remem
ber seeing anyone near the Post Office when you walked out the door?”
I thought about it, but couldn’t remember seeing anyone across the street. I shook my head.
“I’m going back to the station now. I’ll talk to Adam tomorrow. I think Ryan’s still on your porch. I’ll see what he remembers. The shooter is in the hospital getting his head patched up. I’ll be having a long talk with him in the morning.” He got up, thanked Mom for the coffee, and left through the back door.
I poured myself another cup of tea and took some deep breaths, trying to relax. When I looked at the clock, it was only ten o’clock. It seemed much later.
Mom got up and took a cup of coffee in to my dad and asked Kathleen what she could get for her. I peeked into the living room and was relieved to see the stitching was finished. Kathleen was applying a thin paste of something over the stitches. Mom asked, “What is that?”
Kathleen smiled. “It’s a mixture of herbs and a special kind of mold, excellent at fighting infection. In your world, I think it’s similar to what’s called penicillin.”
She finished applying the paste that smelled of rotting leaves and damp earth and started wrapping strips of linen around Adam’s arm. He was still sound asleep. When she’d finished bandaging him, she stood up and stretched. “I could certainly use a cup of that coffee I’ve been smelling for the past hour, Alicia.” As she left the room, I covered Adam’s bare chest with the soft blanket Mom had brought in.
My father joined us in the kitchen. Kathleen chatted with Mom, but Dad was unusually quiet. I think Mom noticed it too.
I took my father’s hand. “Come out on the back porch with me. I owe Rowenna a song.”
He got up and followed me outside. I could almost feel his nerves humming just under his skin. He started pacing from one end of the porch to the other. I thought maybe if I started singing Rowenna’s song, he’d calm down.