Angie and Edsel got out of the Tahoe and ran to join Cynthia and E. Z. They all looked on helplessly as Greg climbed down to Sondra.
He held on with his left hand while extending his right down to her. “Grab onto my hand.”
Sondra clamped onto Greg’s wrist with one hand, then the other.
Greg wasn’t sure he could pull her up. But he’d heard stories of people gaining super-human strength in cases like this. He prayed it would kick in.
Sondra looked up at him. She seemed scared at first. Then her face contorted into the most evil grin Greg had ever seen. “Come with me, Greg. It’ll be such a rush.”
A chill swept over him. It was as if Sondra’s body had been taken over by Satan himself. He no longer cared whether she lived or died. But she was the one holding on.
“You can’t imagine how fantastic it’s going to feel, Greg. Think of your best orgasm. Now multiply it by a thousand.”
“Greg, let her go!” yelled Cynthia.
“I’m trying to!”
Sondra began swinging her legs forward and backward while laughing hysterically. “Let’s have an accident together, Greg. You know you want to.”
His arm was burning and going numb at the same time. The blood oozing from the bullet wound had soaked his shirt sleeve and was beginning to run down his arm.
Sondra began to lose her grip as the blood flowed down onto her hands and between her fingers. Finally, she clung to the knot at the end of the rope—Greg’s hand. As the inevitable sunk in, she looked up into Greg’s eyes.
Greg could see that Satan was gone now. The grin had disappeared—replaced by sheer terror. But she didn’t scream. She just continued to look up at Greg as her body was sucked down into the abyss.
**********
Cynthia checked the clock on the emergency waiting room wall. It was nearly 2:00 AM. “How bad do you have to be hurt for them to see you right away?”
Paramedics rushed in pushing a gurney, and went directly into the emergency room. The woman was screaming at the top of her lungs.
“That bad, I guess,” said Greg, pressing a towel against his bloody arm.
Edsel and Angie walked up. “We had a little talk with the police,” said Angie. “You can wait until tomorrow to give your statement.” They sat down in the corner next to E. Z.
“Good. Thanks,” said Cynthia. On their drive to the hospital, Greg had explained what happened with Boomer.
“Tomorrow? It’s already tomorrow. But I guess I should just be glad I’m still around for it. Thanks guys, for coming to rescue me.”
“You’re welcome,” said E. Z.
“What I don’t understand,” said Greg “is how you and Cynthia popped up all of the sudden and surprised Sondra. How did you do that?”
“Yeah, that was a good plan.” Cynthia smiled and gave E. Z. a high five. “You tell him. It was your idea.”
“Okay. Here’s what we did: While Edsel was talking to Sondra from the car, Cynthia and I slipped out the door on the other side. Then we got down real low and sneaked up to the side of your car.”
“Then Angie just drove around you and went down the bridge,” said Greg.
“Right,” said Cynthia.
“It scared me to death,” said Angie. “But somebody had to do something.” She paused and reached over to take E. Z.’s hand. “But, I still don’t understand why you went to Edsel’s hospital room this afternoon.”
“You really don’t know who I am?” said E. Z.
Angie was puzzled. “Should I?”
“I moved here to Orange so I could meet you.”
“Why did you want to meet me?”
“I grew up in a little town west of Fort Worth. But when I turned sixteen I started searching for you. Because that’s when they told me.”
Angie felt a lump in her throat.
“I’m your daughter.”
Angie started crying.
Edsel put his arm around her as he spoke to E. Z. with a gentle firmness. “I’m sorry, but you’re wrong. Angie doesn’t have any children.”
E. Z. placed her hand on Angie’s shoulder. “You never told him?”
“Don’t,” said Edsel. “You’re making her cry.”
“It’s okay,” said Angie. “It’s true.” When the nurse that afternoon had assumed that the young lady who visited Edsel’s room was Angie’s daughter because she looked just like her, Angie had brushed it aside. How could it have been? She knew she had a daughter somewhere out there in the world, but what were the chances that she’d ever come to Orange, Texas?
“What?” said Edsel.
Greg and Cynthia watched in amazement.
“And I think,” said E. Z., looking at Edsel, “that you’re my father.”
“What? That’s crazy.”
“She’s right,” said Angie.
“That’s impossible,” said Edsel.
“No, it’s not,” said Angie. “Remember that one time when I was a senior in high school.”
“Yeah, but—“
“—well, I got pregnant.”
“No, you didn’t. I was there—remember. Until your dad broke us up right after your graduation and sent you off to—.”
“—to have the baby.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? How could you keep this from me?”
This was what Angie had dreaded. Now there would be no wedding. Edsel would never forgive her for keeping the secret all these years. “I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
“So, it wasn’t that you didn’t want me,” said E. Z.
“No, not at all. My dad thought he was doing the right thing. I was only 18. I wanted to keep you so badly. And I wanted to tell Edsel about you.”
“You should have,” said Edsel.
“I know.”
“So…I’m really her father?”
Angie could see it in his eyes. He wanted it to be true. “Yes.”
He stood up. “I want to hug my daughter.” Tears began to drip down his face.
E.Z. got up and hugged him gently. “I don’t want to hurt your ribs.”
“It’s okay. Right now I’m feeling no pain.”
Angie stood and joined the hug. “Have you had a good life? What are your parents like?”
“They’re wonderful. I was so lucky. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
“Well,” said Edsel, “I guess now we’ll have to get married.”
“Huh?” said Angie.
“You know—now that we have a kid.”
They all smiled and hugged tighter.
“Okay,” said Edsel, “not quite that tight.”
“Will you be my maid of honor?”
E. Z. smiled. “I’d love to.”
Angie kissed her on the cheek.
Greg looked at his wife. “Wow. That’s amazing. Did you have any idea?”
“No,” said Cynthia. “Of course, all I could think about this whole time was you.”
Greg kissed her on the lips. “Thank you, Sweetie.” He glanced over at the happy threesome again. “It’s like she’s a baby, and they’re just seeing her for the very first time.”
“Yeah,” said Cynthia. “Wouldn’t that feel great?”
“What?”
“To have a baby.”
“Well, sure. You know I—.” He studied her face. “Are you saying—“
“—yes. I think I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, Honey.” He hugged her. Over her shoulder he saw Angie, Edsel, and E. Z. still embracing. He was so happy for them. But at the same time he was thankful that he would meet his baby while it was still…a baby.
**********
Greg and Cynthia attended Edsel and Angie’s wedding. It was small, but beautiful. Herman Mayberly apologized to Edsel, Angie, and E. Z. for what he had put them through.
Slowly but surely, Greg made peace with his dad. Ralph had missed Greg and Cynthia’s wedding, but he and Norma drove to Coreyville for the birth of their grandson. Edsel, Angie and E. Z. came too. Gre
g had wanted to name his firstborn ‘Edsel,’ but he and Cynthia had compromised with ‘Edward.’
Little Edward would be raised in the new tradition of the Tenorly family. Along with love, hope, and faith, his parents would teach him the value of a positive attitude. They would tell him to always fight for what is right. Never give up and never give in. Be your own man and do your own thing to the best of your ability. In the words of Uncle Edsel: FLY THE RAIN.
THE END
BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
Greg Tenorly Suspense Series
Bicycle Shop Murder
Hideaway Hospital Murders
Illusion of Luck
Fly the Rain
Ginger Lightley Short-Novel Mystery Series
Sweet Ginger Poison
Ginger Dead House
Rebecca Ranghorn Short-Novel Mystery Series
Naked Frame
Stand-alone books
22 Short Stories
Amateur Investigator (and nine other short stories)
Visit the author’s website
http://www.robertburtonrobinson.com
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Special thanks to
Don Neuman & Lynda Robinson
The story in this book is a work of fiction. The characters and events described in this story are imaginary and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
FLY THE RAIN
SECOND EBOOK EDITION
July 2012
Copyright © 2008 Robert Burton Robinson
Cover image:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ellenm1/
Greg Tenorly Suspense Series Boxed Set Page 71