Just Plain Lucky

by Tesa Devlyn

  The paramedic hurried to Leif’s side, a medical bag in his hand. He lifted an eyelid and flashed Leif’s eye with a penlight and took his pulse. “He’s coming to.”

  Michael rocked on his heels and flinched.

  “Mr. Saxon, your son got quite a knock to the head, but he’s young and strong. I’ve seen him at basketball practice. He’s a tough kid.”

  “Mr. Saxon,”—another officer touched Michael’s shoulder—“I know you’re worried about your son, but I have a couple questions.”

  “Yeah, sure. Whatever it takes to get that scum behind bars.”

  “He’s cuffed and in the patrol car. Do you know the identity of the man?”

  Michael scrubbed at his face with both hands. “His name is, Frank Nash. His ex-wife, Liana Campbell moved to Kalispell with her daughter about six months ago. She and I are seeing each other.” He paused and rubbed his forehead. He wished they’d drill him later so he could focus on Leif. “Liana lives on Evergreen Road. We figured Nash might show up, so we hired a PI to watch over her. Here is his number.” Michael fumbled for his wallet before he remembered he’d left it on the dresser.

  Everything moved in a slow motion haze even though he hurried into his bedroom for his wallet and truck keys. He handed the private investigator’s card to the officer.

  “Thanks.” The officer read the card and scribbled on a pad. “Go to your son. We’ll take Nash in and notify the private eye. An officer will inform Ms. Campbell in person. We’ll have more questions for you later. In the meantime, you’d better get your feet looked at. You have some nasty cuts.”

  His feet could wait. Michael rushed to the living room where the paramedics were lifting Leif to a gurney. “We’re taking your son to the hospital for observation. He’s been awake, but drifted off. His vitals are good. His pulse is a bit high, but that’s to be expected. He likely has a concussion.”

  Michael took Leif’s hand and walked along the gurney. “Son, wake up. It’s Dad. You need to wake up.”

  Leif groaned and opened his eyes a crack. “Dad? What happened?”

  “You were knocked out. We’re taking you to the hospital to make sure you’re all right.”

  “I came out of my bedroom to call the fire department and my head exploded.” Leif grimaced and tried to touch the back of his head, but the paramedic caught his hand.

  “Take it easy, champ. We’ve stopped the bleeding, but you need to leave it alone.” The paramedic placed Leif’s hand on his chest. “It’s gonna hurt for a bit. They’ll give you something for the pain once we get to the hospital.”

  Michael checked on Lucky, who had calmed down and rejoined her pups in their box. “You were a good girl, Lucky. You probably saved Leif’s life.” He choked back tears. “Rest with your pups now. I’ll see you later.”

  He started for the door and realized he was still barefoot. His feet hurt like hell. No way could he wear his boots. He slipped on a pair of flips-flops and left the house.

  ****

  “Dad?” Leif lifted his arm and patted the air.

  “I’m here, son.” Michael caught up with the nurses rolling Leif’s gurney from the ER to his room, and grasped his hand. Leif had been examined by two doctors. The test results showed no permanent damage. The doctor’s advised Leif stay overnight to be monitored.

  “Who was it, Dad? Who set fire to the boat and hit me?”

  “Frank Nash, Liana’s ex.”

  “So he did show up. Is the boat okay?”

  “You’re all I care about, son.” He grimaced when every step ground the tiny shards of glass into his feet, but he didn’t want Leif to worry about him. His son needed to heal and he needed the security of his dad being in charge and okay.

  When they stopped at the elevator, Michael brushed his son’s shiny black hair away from his forehead and kissed his brow. “We’ll see to the boat later when you feel better.”

  “What about Liana and Brittany? You should go tell them, Dad. Liana shouldn’t hear about this without you.”

  “Liana is a strong woman. She’s also a mother and she’d want me to stay with you. I’ll see her later.”

  “Man, he came out of nowhere. Lucky went crazy.”

  “Lucky is why I ran back to the house. She tried to protect you.” Michael’s voice caught. He dragged his shirtsleeve across his eyes and sniffed.

  The nurses wheeled the gurney into the elevator. Michael squeezed in beside them, keeping hold of his son’s hand.

  Leif looked at his dad and tightened the grip. “I’m okay, Dad. It’s going to be okay.”

  For the second time that night Michael did something he hadn’t done in a very long time. He kissed his son’s brow and cried with relief.

  ****

  The doorbell peeled through the silent, dark house and jerked Liana out of what had already been a very restless night. Her heart hammering, she threw on her robe and hurried to the foyer. A glance out the side light showed the private investigator and two officers on the porch.

  “It’s okay to open the door, Ms. Campbell.” The PI stepped forward and raised his hand in greeting.

  Liana unlocked the dead bolt and opened the door a crack.

  “Can we come in? We have some news.”

  Liana stepped back and motioned for them to continue into the living room.

  Brittany stumbled from the hall, her eyes squinted, her hair a mass of auburn lights.

  “What is it, Mom? What happened?”

  Liana hurried to her daughter and looped her arm around Brittany’s waist. Her daughter might be tall and turning into a woman, but she was still young enough to need Liana’s strength from time to time.

  “I’m not sure, honey. Officers, wh-what’s happened?”

  “Ms. Campbell, there’s no easy way to put this. Your ex-husband was involved in an incident at the home of Michael Saxon. Mr. Nash is under arrest and in the Flathead County jail.”

  Liana wobbled and sank to the couch. The officers related how Frank had broken into Michael’s house. The fire on the boat. Frank knocked Leif unconscious. Her stomach roiled.

  One of the officers kneeled in front of the couch. “Can I get you some water, Ms. Campbell?”

  “No, I’ll be fine. I need to call Michael and check on Leif.”

  “He’s at the hospital. Would you like for one of us to drive you there?”

  “I’ll be fine. Thank you so much for telling me in person.”

  “Ms. Campbell, do you want me to stay until daylight?” The PI hesitated at the front door.

  Liana searched her mind. Frank had been the threat and he was locked up. “No. I think we’re fine now. Thank you for being here.”

  “Of course. I’ll check in with Richard in the morning.”

  The officers and PI left.

  “Oh, my gosh! I can’t believe he did this!” Brittany sobbed. She wrapped her arms around herself and rocked on the edge of the couch. “Dad hurt Leif?”

  “I’ll call Michael.” Her brain in a fog, she dialed Michael’s number twice before her fingers worked. It went directly to his voice mail. “Oh, Michael, I’m so sorry you got tangled up in this mess. What can we do to help? We’re so worried about Leif. Please call us.”

  “I can’t believe he did this!” Brittany repeated, and sprang from the couch to pace the length of the room. “What’s wrong with him?”

  Liana wanted to race to the hospital this instant, but she had to assure Brittany first. She caught her in her arms and stroked her hair. “I don’t know, honey. I guess he had problems we weren’t aware of. A person can’t change this quickly and do something so terrible out of the blue.”

  “I should have gone to see him. Maybe if I’d been there, he wouldn’t have done this.”

  “Don’t blame yourself. You can’t feel responsible for the actions of others. It’s taken me years to learn that lesson. I bogged myself down with guilt over things I couldn’t change or control. I don’t want you to do the same thing.”

  “
You did?” Brittany sniffed and hiccupped.

  “Yep. I wasted so much time and emotion. I blamed myself instead of finding a solution.”

  Brittany wrapped her arms around her mom and hugged her tight. “You deserve to be happy, Mom. I think you should marry Michael.”

  A pang shot through Liana’s heart. “Right now, Leif is all that matters.” After what happened tonight, Michael might never want to see her again.

  “Of course, but I know Michael loves you, Mom.” Brittany’s mahogany eyes took on the wisdom of a much older woman. “I see how he watches you. I like Leif too. He’d make a cool stepbrother.”

  “Are you up to a trip to the hospital?”

  “Yes. I’ll throw on some clothes and be right out.”

  Liana watched her daughter disappear into her room, before she returned to her bedroom to dress. Michael had to be going through hell. Even if Leif’s prognosis was good, Michael’s son had been injured, his life threatened. No parent should have to go through such trauma.

  Her mind raced as they locked the house and hurried to the frost-covered car.

  The trip to the hospital was a nerve-wracking blur. Leif’s recovery was the most important thing, but she couldn’t stop believing Frank had ruined any chance of her and Michael being together.

  Parking outside the ER, Liana and Brittany entered the hospital. Their wet boots squeaked against the polished tile as they hurried to the reception desk.

  “May I help you with something?” The tired eyed receptionist pursed her lips.

  “We’re here to check on Leif Saxon. He was just admitted through the ER.” Liana clasped her shaking hands. The impact of Frank’s actions swept through her. Her knees shook. She gripped the countertop.

  The receptionist tapped something into her computer and read the screen. The sterile silence of the lobby, the tick of the minute hand on the wall clock and the muffled voices from somewhere beyond the secure door, made Liana want to scream with frustration.

  “Yes, he was admitted, and he’s on his way to a room for the night. He can only be seen by close family.” She peered over the black rim of her glasses. “Are you close family?”

  “No. He and his father are close friends of ours.” She gestured toward Brittany and back to herself.

  “In that case I’m sorry, but you can’t see him tonight. You’ll have to check with Mr. Saxon tomorrow.”

  Liana glanced at Brittany, who nibbled on her bottom lip and sniffed. Tears balanced on her lower lids. Her daughter had been through so much in a very short time. Neither of them could rest or think of anything else until they confirmed Leif’s condition. “Can you call the room and let Mr. Saxon know we’re here?”

  “No, I can’t disturb them while the nurses are hooking up the monitors. You’ll have to connect with them later.”

  Liana turned to her daughter. “All we can do is go back to the car and wait for Michael to call.”

  The electric doors swished open and the winter chill hit them. Liana shivered and picked up her pace. In the car, she started the engine and flipped the heat on high.

  “What should we do?” Brittany turned in the seat and pulled her jacket closer.

  “Wait.” Liana sighed. “Now I know exactly how other people feel when there’s a crisis and they can’t access the people they care about. We have to wait. Maybe Michael will check his messages.”

  Her cell phone rang. Her stomach churned. She hit the connect button. “Michael. How’s Leif?”

  “Physically, the doctors say he’ll be fine in a few days. His concussion is mild, and there’s no internal bleeding.”

  Physically. The word echoed through her head.

  Liana pressed her hand to her forehead. “What do you mean, physically? My god, they don’t believe there’s brain damage do they?”

  “No, but he’s been through a trauma, Liana.”

  “I’m so sorry. Brittany and I are in the parking lot. They won’t let us come up.” She caught a sigh through the phone connection.

  “He’s drowsy from the pain medication. Take Brittany home and get some rest. I can’t think past getting Leif back on his feet.”

  Liana’s chest tightened and her heart ached. To contemplate losing Michael was too unbearable. She’d never expected to fall so completely in love. Thanks to Frank’s retaliation and her secrets, her chance to spend her life with Michael might have ended before it began.

  She fiddled with her key chain and tried not to cry. “Go back to Leif and please give him our love. If you have a chance later, we’d like an update. Day or night.” She slumped against the seat. Please, please forgive me for everything that’s happened.

  “I should know something later this morning. Bye.” Click.

  Liana bit her bottom lip. She’d been through heartache before, but this was different. She’d never loved a man like she loved Michael. Somehow, she’d have to survive. She had to for Brittany’s sake.

  She struggled to compose herself. Damn Frank Nash for the damage he’d done, and the hurt he’d caused. She turned toward Brittany. “Michael has enough on his hands without worrying about us. We’ll go home and wait.”

  “Did he say Leif is all right?”

  She repeated Michael’s update. “Michael is rightfully upset.”

  “I hope he doesn’t blame us for what Frank did.” Brittany swiped at her own tears and sniffed.

  Liana shifted the SUV into gear and her fragile emotions into parent mode. “Leif and Michael won’t really blame us. Sometimes when a tragedy happens there’s too much pain to go back to the way things were before.”

  “I hope you’re wrong!” Brittany flounced in her seat. “I’m sure Michael’s in love with you! How could he hold what Frank did against you?”

  “Please, Brittany, don’t worry about it. Right now, we need to go home and try to sleep. Your recital’s this afternoon.”

  Brittany sighed and leaned her head against the door.

  Liana needed to reach the solitude of her bedroom before she fell apart and cried her heart out.

  Chapter Fourteen

  He’d been too abrupt.

  He couldn’t help it. The fear, the angst of Leif’s injury, the threat to their home and security, roiled inside him until he wanted to go to the jail and beat up Frank Nash. Again. Luckily, logic overrode his innate need for physical retribution.

  He wasn’t a Neanderthal. He was a hard-working businessman. A father. Right now his son needed him to stay sane and strong, not get carried away with his tangled emotions. He also had to make things right with Liana. He’d taken his frustrations out on her and she didn’t deserve it. She must hate him.

  Michael braced his elbows on his thighs and leaned forward to cup his face with his hands. He couldn’t think about Liana right now. God, he could have lost his son forever. Leif deserved his full attention.

  Over the next few hours, he dozed and woke intermittently to make sure Leif slept. He’d watch his son’s chest rise and fall until his eyelids went heavy and he dozed off again.

  The nurses were great. They quietly entered the room and moved around to check on Leif’s vitals and make him comfortable.

  Through the haze of the night Liana’s hurt tone played through the back of his mind. She’d been hurt enough and he’d added to it as if she could control Frank. He’d probably ruined any chances of weathering this storm.

  Daylight peeked through the window blinds of Leif’s hospital room. His son slept like a log, the beauty of youth allowed him to turn off his fears and relax. Oh, to be young again and have such resilience. He straightened his stiff back and stifled a moan as he pushed out of the orange vinyl chair. The moment his inflamed feet pressed into the rubber soles of his flip-flogs, he flinched. Before he’d drifted off to sleep, he’d picked out the larger shards of glass, but didn’t want to make a big deal about his injuries. Now, he’d pay the piper. An old song about likening a relationship to walking on broken glass flashed through his mind.

  He hobbl
ed to the window and turned the wand to open the blinds a touch. Purple and gold hues shadowed the Flathead Valley, gently waking the inhabitants before the sun shot its rays over the cold, winter day. Michael released a breath and inflated his cheeks. He hoped if he pushed out all the old air and sucked in the new, his angst would loosen and flee.

  Dammit, he couldn’t ignore it. He had to do damage control with Liana. She wasn’t part of some mid-life crisis. He wouldn’t have made love with her if he didn’t care for her. A lot.

  Did he have what it took to maintain a lasting relationship? Maybe being single for three years with the freedom and flexibility to call his own shots would prevent him from wanting to compromise when he needed to. Marriage was a partnership.

  Marriage? Where in the hell had that thought come from?

  Wow.

  He stared at his sleeping son for another moment before he left the room.

  To combine his family with Liana’s would mean tons of compromises. Was he ready for the commitment? He checked with the on-duty nurse and asked her to tell Leif he’d gone home to take care of the dogs. He left the hospital and climbed into his frost-covered truck. The drive home was surreal. Life had suddenly taken a sharp left hand turn.

  He pulled into the driveway and parked. Even his house seemed different. He fumbled with his keys, his hands shaking. Finally he fit the key to the lock and turned the bolt. He stepped into the foyer and into a wall of frigid air.

  In a daze, he moved into the living room and stared at the shattered French door. His stomach clenched. Shards of glass on the carpet; the coffee table overturned, all evidence that last night hadn’t been a nightmare, but real. A lunatic broke into his house and tried to kidnap his son.

  Lucky shot out of Leif’s room, her tail wagging like a windshield wiper, but her expression worried. “I’m so sorry, girl. I should’ve come home sooner.” He squatted and ruffled her fur. “Leif will be fine. You’re worried about him, aren’t you?” he crooned to the dog, blinking back tears he’d managed to stem once the machines were attached to Leif and his vitals were normal. “When Leif gets home, we’ll celebrate. You’re a hero, Lucky. You probably saved Leif’s life. You were there for him, girl.”