by Cheri Lewis
Heath finally filled me in on who the psycho people in the woods were and what the hell was going on. Here’s the summarized version. The land dispute Deloris won from the game warden came with some people who don’t believe in the government. The old lady with the staff is the game wardens sister and he had let her and her adult son, who is now no longer on this earth, live on his land for years. After he lost the land he told them they had to move. He told the chief his sister went a little crazy when he told them it was court ordered. He said she ranted about government sanctioned bureaucrats and taking land from the Indians. He also said he told them they had to be off the property in a week. He went back and they were gone so he thought they had gone to the other side of his property but apparently they moved further into the woods which put them closer to the Wrights.
When they found Corky wandering around the woods in his green jungle attire they thought he was from the government. Everything was set in motion when he had asked them about the cats. That’s how they survived and she feared he was going to take their home from them again. They literally lived off the land. The mother had had mental issues when she was younger and it got worse over the years. The game warden tried to take her to get a mental evaluation when she was sick a few years back and he took her to the doctor. But she refused it and the doctor said unless she was going to kill herself he couldn’t keep her against her will.
Something else that really needs a good look at in this country is how mental patients are handled. She was turned loose and left for somebody else to deal with that didn’t know how to use the proper channels. The game warden said they’d lived like that for almost twenty years and never have they had a problem. He’d bring them fresh vegetables or blankets from time to time when the temperature was going to be below freezing but for the most part they just left each other alone.
All I get from this whole situation is, if we’d called the game warden in the very beginning and told him we had animals missing this could have been completely avoided. I try not to think about the fact I actually killed someone but he was doing his best to kill me so I find myself having conflicting feelings about it. My mind goes back and replays the events that took place and how I might have done things differently but I have to live with the fact that I did what I did in self-defense.
I’m not sure Corky will ever be the same or ever come back to Alabama. Heath said he came to see me while I was still asleep after they had checked him out. He had a few scrapes but other than having the living shit scared out of him and watching a man burn alive he was okay. I shouldn’t laugh because none of this whole situation is funny but Heath used the exact same words Deloris and I had to describe him— What an odd duck. I find myself wondering if he’ll now look at where he’s going when he walks or if he’ll chase after lost pets anymore. I know I’ll never ever make the mistake at thinking a simple case is stupid and a waste of my time. This proves you just never know when crazy lurks around the corner.
Now here I sit waiting on my release. I walked the entire floor of the hospital ignoring all the stares as I pass people by and thankful for jogging pants they allowed me to wear under the hospital gown. Heath is sitting on the end of the bed watching some stupid reality show. I sit in the chair staring out the window watching cars come in and leave. I can hear the clicking of shoes as someone walks down the hallway which isn’t unusual on the tiled floor of the hospital. The closer they get the louder they are then they stop right outside my opened door. Then a knock sounds. I look back to the door and have to blink three or four or ten times to make sure I’m not imagining what I see. Penny is standing in my doorway. When she steps inside Heath is up off the bed. I look back to him and his mouth is hanging open. She is dressed to the nines and beautiful. Black pencil skirt and white sleeveless top. Her hair is pulled up into a bun with her designer sunglasses on her head. They aren’t the same ones from either day she worked the litter patrol.
“Is now an okay time?” she asks.
“Sure.”
I’m just about to ask her what she’s doing here when she sticks her hand out and introduces herself. “I’m Vivica James.”
I know who the hell you are. I got beat up not brain damaged. I eye her funny but realize she’s doing that for Heath not me. I glance back to Heath and he’s still standing there with his mouth still wide open. I roll my eyes. “Hey, what are you doing here?”
She walks over to the bed where Heath was just sitting. “Do you mind?” She motions if it’s okay for her to sit down. I nod and she shifts her tiny butt up on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit.” What are you doing here?
She looks over to Heath with a sexy grin, he’s finally closed his mouth but still has slobber running down his chin, not really but it wouldn’t surprise me if he did. She looks back to me. “I need your help.”
I feel my whole body move as my shoulder gets poked, hard and it hurts. Weird movements hurt. Fighting someone, being slammed up against a tree, and chocked makes you use muscles you’ve never used in your life. I look up to Heath who’s now standing beside me with pleading eyes. He shoved me so I’d introduce him.
“Pen—Vivica, this is my best friend, Heath. Heath, this is Vivica.”
He rubs his hand on his pants leg before he reaches out to offer his hand. She smiles again all flirty. I’ve never seen this side of her. She knows how to play a man and get what she wants. Heath’s hooked, infatuated, enthralled. She takes his hand and dips her head while batting her eyelashes over her clear blue eyes. I find myself shocked that something like this really works on men but here I sit watching it happen. Heath is in full out to impress you mode. I’m tempted to tell him to take his shirt off and do pushups or pick the hospital bed up with one hand over his head and move it so he can show her how strong he is but, what the heck let him flirt. I’ll tell him later she’s a prostitute although knowing Heath like I do that won’t matter one bit.
I clear my throat and lean back in my chair. “Help with what?”
“I have a situation and I need your help…” she pauses and looks toward the doorway. When she looks back she frowns and closes her eyes for a brief second before reaching over and patting my leg. “How about I call you when you get home?”
I look back to the door and there stands a second buffoon with his mouth wide open looking between Penny and me. Yeah, yeah I know she’s beautiful and I look like a beaten piece of liver. Heath nods at Wade and Penny stands then says, “I’m glad you’re okay. I’ve really enjoyed our time together.”
What an odd thing to say. You’ve enjoyed our time on litter patrol together? She sashays out of my room with a little more sway to her backside than she came in with.
It takes Wade several seconds to finally say something. “Willow, how do you know Vivica James?”
How do you know who she is? Are you a client of hers? Oh, I bet you are, so gung-ho to get rid of prostitution but probably do it behind closed doors to keep up appearances. Wade snaps his fingers and I glare at him. I might be beat up and bruised but I could still give him a run for his money if he snaps his fingers at me again.
“How do you know Vivica James?” he speaks a little slower this time like I’m dumb.
He’s determined to piss me off today. How do I know Vivica James? I don’t know Vivica James. I know Penny Parker. Wait a minute? Penny Parker. Wade Parker. Are they related? Oh gross. I wonder if he knows her real name is Penny Parker and he slept with his cousin when he thought she was Vivica James. Is that it? He’s afraid I’ll know he slept with his cousin? That’d make me want to shut down prostitution to find out I’d slept with a family member by accident.
“Are you guys related?” I blurt out without giving it any thought.
He ignores me so he must know her real name because he’s not the least be confused as to why I’d be asking if he’s related to her.
“How do you know her?” he asks again for a third time.
You ignore
me, I can ignore you. “What are you doing here?”
He looks around the room then locks eyes with Heath. I see the silent communication between him and Heath. Then Heath says, “I’m going to get me a soda. You want one?”
I shake my head and wait for Heath to leave to see what the hell Wade wants that he thinks he needs to speak with me alone.
“You guys hang out… or something?”
“Heath is my best friend and I am in the hospital, you know. Almost died. Isn’t that enough reason for him to hang out with me… or something?”
A small smile plays at his lips and he knows I answered the question wrong on purpose. “She a client of yours?”
“You a client of hers?”
I see his cheek flinch slightly. That got a reaction. Maybe they did sleep together. Eew. What the hell do I care?
“No,” he huffs.
“Girlfriend?”
“Is she your girlfriend?”
My eyebrows raise and I don’t bother fighting the smile at his forwardness. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
He walks over to the bed and sits in front of me. That poor bed has had four different asses on it today. I frown at the thought. How many people pass through this hospital and how many asses have been on this bed. I’m actually not sure why I’ve even thought about something like that.
Wade takes a deep breath and I’m locked and loaded, ready for his next question. “How are you feeling?”
Huh, not the question I was expecting. Maybe a different approach to get what he wants. “I’m fantastic. Thanks for asking. What do you want, Wade?”
“I came to tell you Franny Jamenson will be held without bail and is undergoing a psychiatric evaluation.”
“That the witch woman?”
“Yes, the woman who attacked you in the woods.”
“Good to know.” But you could have told me this over the phone or told Heath and he could have told me.
“I also came to see how you’re doing. To see if I could do anything for you.”
“Not really. I’m ready to see Joe.”
“He doing okay?”
“Yes. Vet said they need to keep him one more day.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Wait. Yes, there is something.” He studies my face as his changes to surprise. “Make sure that lady gets the helps she needs.” And never sees the light of day without bars keeping her contained.
Wade nods stands and he steps the short distance to where I am to squat down in front of me. “I hope you know I like you …” I eye him trying to read if he’s blowing smoke, still fishing for information he wants, or if he’s being sincere. “…a lot and I care about you.” He seems sincere. His dark brown eyes are soft and kind. I feel twinges throughout my body and my mind because I know I need to apologize. My heart twinges because the truth of the matter is I really do like him, too. A twinge from down below is a relief because I’m happy to know she’s still alive. Oh, screw it. I really don’t want to do this now but I need to apologize for the whole handcuff thing. Apparently he’s ready now and I know I’ll never be ready so I might as well do it and get it over with because I am sorry.
“Look…,” I’m at a loss of exactly how to phrase what I need to say. I look around him as I try to gather my thoughts. Why are apologies so hard?
“She’s not a good friend to have,” he says.
I look back to him and for about three seconds I’m confused. Are you kidding me? You’re still stuck on this? So, does he care about me or was that part of his master plan to get me to fess up how I know her. I sigh and now I’m a bit disappointed. Here I am ready to apologize and make amends and he’s using his feelings for me to out my friendship with Penny. He’s good. I see how he made detective so young. He almost had me fessing up and he could care less about all that crap that happened between us.
Wade stands when Heath walks back in interrupting us and pushing a wheelchair with papers lying in the seat. “Look what’s finally came.”
I feel relief. The three hours I’ve been waiting this morning to be released has felt like nine. He locks the wheels in place and I stand gingerly from the chair. I’m better but I still hurt like I’ve taken a beating. I ease over to the wheelchair and sit down. He backs me up several feet to where I’m sitting at the door as he grabs our bags. Thankfully when he left to go get us some real food last night he took all my plants, slightly deflated balloons, and cards to my office since it’s the closest to the hospital.
Heath backs me out into the hallway and Wade follows us. I watch and wait to see if he has anything else to say. Surprisingly, he doesn’t. Heath spins me around wheeling me down the long fluorescent, brightly lit hallway and says, “I caught up with Vivica in the hallway and rode the elevator down with her.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“How’d the two of you meet?”
I look up to Wade and if he just didn’t seem so eager to hear my answer I could have refrained but I don’t. I raise one eyebrow at him and smile. “She’s the best lover I’ve ever paid for.”
Heath coughs or chokes from behind me as he continues to push my wheelchair toward the elevator. Wade is no longer beside me. What I wouldn’t give to look back to see the look on his face. I smile when I see a security mirror up above and I glance at him in it. He’s standing with his arms crossed over his chest watching us walk away.
Heath rounds the corner and stops in front of the elevator with a sly grin on his face. “Now, why’d you do that?” he asks as he presses the button with the arrow pointing down. “I thought you were going to quit pushing people away.”
“It’s just too tempting with him.”
I know he’s teasing me but what he doesn’t know is I really was going to apologize but Wade’s dumb detective brain had to know about my friendship with Penny instead of having a serious conversation with me. Also, I’m curious now more than ever to know what she needs my help with exactly. What if he’s stalking her and she needs proof? He did show up out of the blue when she was there. What if he was following her? Good Lord, Willow… I have got to get off whatever medication they have me on. My brain doesn’t shut off and thinks some of the stupidest, craziest ideas.
“How much does she charge?” Heath asks as he pushes my wheelchair into the opened elevator.
“Shut up and take me to the vet to see Joe.”
“Is she really worth the thousands she charges?”
I glance up to him and he’s smiling at me now. He knew all along who she was. Figures. I knew he wouldn’t care.
“Do you get a discount if you’re a repeat customer?”
“Seriously, Heath, how the hell would I know?”
“I don’t know what you know anymore. You’ve been holding out on me.”
The elevator ride down is a short one and we have a few more hallways to navigate until I see the front sliding doors. Heath’s truck is parked to the right, next to the curb near the front door. Tears of joy fill my eyes when I see Joe through the back glass of his truck. Once Joe spots me he paces back and forth in the front of Heath’s S-10 barking at me. I don’t bother wiping my tears as I push myself up and out of the chair before he comes to a complete stop. I try to open the door with my right hand and the pain sears through my arm as I use the muscle. I switch over using my left hand and Joe darts out the door, jumping, whining, and his tail is wagging so hard his whole rear end looks like it’s dancing. I ease down on one knee and wrap my arms around Joe as he licks me all over my face, as he whines.
I glance up at Heath as I hold on to Joe. “How? How’d he get here? I thought he had to stay another day.”
He shakes his head and lets out a light laugh. “Wade.”
“Wade?” I say a little too loud and too surprised.
Heath shrugs. “His idea. His surprise. Worked it out with the vet.”
I close my eyes and hug Joe closer to me. When I open them I see Wade standing off to the side watching me. His smile is genuine as he
dips his head to me before he turns around and walks away. I let go of Joe and stand with help from Heath. I rub Joe’s head as he continues to circle around me. I watch as Wade disappears around the corner.
I let out a long dramatic sigh. “Well, damn.” Well played, Wade… well played.
“Told you. You shouldn’t have said what you said about Vivica being your lover.”
“No, that’s not what you said. You said, ‘Now, why’d you do that?’ Two totally different things. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“And ruin the surprise?”
Joe jumps into Heath’s truck and I climb in beside him. Heath pushes the wheelchair back into the hospital then returns and gets into the truck.
“Where to?” he asks as he cranks his truck.
“Home.”
“You want some food?”
“Yes. You reckon ‘Not Dog’ will mess up my stomach?”
“You ate a double cheeseburger, fries, and a large strawberry milkshake last night.”
“Okay, then, let’s call in an order and pick it up.”
“You got the number?”
“Yeah. What do you want?”
“You know you’re going to have to apologize to him for that too, right? He really does seem to like you although I don’t know why in God’s name he keeps trying.”
“I know, Heath.”
I sigh because yes, I do know. The apologies are just piling up for me. He one upped me in the good guy department and now I’m scum way down lower than a snake’s belly. I roll my eyes as I scroll down to Not Dog in my phone when he calls my name “Hey, Willow,…” I look over, “…thank you for not dying.”
“It’s going to take more than a witch to get rid of me.”
I tap the number on the screen to order our food. I know now what matters and what doesn’t. I know how lucky I am to have Heath in my life. I’ve always known but this highlighted his importance in a huge way and I’m fully aware I don’t deserve his faithful friendship but I sure am glad I have it and he needs to know it.