by Maggie Way
As the garage door shut Kai spoke over its loud creaking, “He’s gonna add an electrical box here so the unit ’ll have constant power, no plug. You’ll be able to watch remotely from your phone or laptop when he’s done,” explained Kai.
My stomach twisted nervously. “What if I see someone?”
“Oh you will.” Andrew chirped from his squat position.
“You’ll call the cops if I’m not here.” Kai instructed.
I nodded slowly. “But by the time the cops get here they’ll be gone. Shouldn’t I run out there to make sure who it is?”
“If someone’s outside of their car and standing on the sidewalk, you’ll be able to recognize them. This will pick up the make of cars and even license plates clearly.”
That news made me happy.
“Andrew’s also gonna tie-in the front door camera too.”
After Andrew was done installing and fiddling with both cameras he sat us down and taught us how to use everything, from how to login to the Cloud for re-play to how to use the App for real-time surveillance. After Andrew left, Kai and I spent the rest of the day making room in my garage to fit a car. Because the smell of fish never went away and I was planning on getting a new car the very next day.
The afternoon was gone.
Kai yawned. “I’m ready for a drink and I’m starving. You ready for an early dinner?”
“I sure am.” I said gladly. “Let me help you.”
“No, no, you sit and play with your new toy.”
So that’s what I did. As Kai cooked us a delicious meal of baked salmon with saffron rice and a vegi-medley, I watched the screen of my laptop computer. I also went back and forth texting with Ethan, who’d spent the day with Jake and Jackson after a sleepover.
After dinner, Kai and I settled back on the sofa and selected a movie.
The movie never grabbed my attention. I was more enthralled with watching nothing happen on the surveillance cameras.
That was the story for the next couple weeks, until late one Saturday night.
We’d spent the day at Disneyland with the kids. We’d driven my new car, a graphite grey Audi A7, and pulled into my garage at just past 10 PM. The kids had run up stairs as soon as we walked through the door. Kai was planning on going back to his place with Emily, but when I’d checked on the kids at 11 PM, they had fallen asleep while watching TV in Ethan’s room.
“I can scoop her up and put her in the back seat.” Kai offered.
“No. Don’t be silly.” I waved my hand at him. “They’re actually all tucked in. Like they planned it. Emily pulled out the trundle underneath Ethan’s bed.”
Kai grabbed his knees and rocked to standing. “I’d better get going before I fall asleep.”
To my surprised I offered to let him to stay. “You can sleep in the guestroom.”
A bent smile popped up on his unshaven face. “Progress.”
I shrugged, nervous, but not regretting the offer. “I just don’t want Emily going back to her mother…”
“Don’t worry about that,” he cut in, “I could always say I left and came back.”
He walked over giving me a bear hug.
“It is a big step to have you sleep here.” I nuzzled his chest and he held me a little more snugly.
“I know.” He murmured. “I won’t stay if it doesn’t feel right.”
I nodded. “No, I’m ok with it. I’ve wanted you to stay for a while. All of this, with the kids upstairs and having you here, it feels more right than wrong.” I confessed staring into his eyes. “I don’t know what I gotta get past…”
“Hey, I don’t need to sleep in your bed.” He pinched my chin and then kissed my forehead. We didn’t speak anymore about my hang-ups. They would vanish when they were supposed to.
At just about midnight, I incidentally passed by my laptop after filling a glass of water, I tapped on its mouse pad lighting the screen up. My heart stopped. There was a person on the sidewalk in front of my house.
Chapter Twelve
Kai
The sound of her jarring yelp made me jump over the back of the couch. I grabbed her by the shoulders as she rushed toward me.
“What’s wrong?”
The blood had drained from her face and she covered her pale lips with a shaky hand. She pointed at the computer sitting on the kitchen counter and stuttered, “There… there’s someone outside.”
I closed in on the computer screen and watched as a figure, clad in baggy, black sweats and an over-sized sweatshirt pulled over his or her head, threw something over and over again at the house. I was stunned, watching the screen like it was a TV show. But it wasn’t, it was real life happening just outside the door. My first instinct was to run for the front door, and that’s what I did. As a tall man who towered over most, and by stature had the easy ability to overpower people, the last thing on my mind was getting hurt. What I wanted to do was annihilate whoever was outside. I burst out the front door in my socks ready to kill someone, but by the time I got to the sidewalk the person had vanished. I ran into the middle of the street, searching.
A loud screech pealed through the air, echoing off the surrounding houses. It was too dark to see anything clearly. By the time I’d spun around to face the sound, I saw the dark car without the headlights on coming toward me. I couldn’t move out of the way fast enough. The car hit me with such force, the last thing I registered was tumbling up onto the hood and my head slamming into the windshield.
Pain. A dull scattered pain was the first thing I felt when I came to, and tried to opened my eyes. They were sticky and dry. I tried to move my right arm but it felt restrained. Glancing down with blurry eyes, I found it in a black sling and my left arm sported an IV covered with translucent, blue medical tape. I wiggled my fingers slowly and blinked to clear my vision. I was alone in a hospital room and thoughts of Emily and Grace rushed to my mind.
How long had I been here?
My mouth felt like I’d eaten chalk. Searing pain shot through my gut as I tried to sit up. A beeping sound filled the room, causing a nurse to appear.
“Ok, ok, you’re gonna be just fine. Relax. Please.” The nurse said as she whisked to my side and fiddled with the machine behind my head. “I’m Margaret. Now you’re pretty banged up, but you’re stable.”
“I need water.” I cold barely get the words out of my dry mouth.
“Let me get you some ice chips and tell the doctor you’re awake.”
“Please call my...” Wife. Grace wasn’t my wife. “My girlfriend, where’s my girlfriend and daughter?”
“You’re mother’s been here. I can call her. Let me get the doctor.” She smiled.
My mother? There was no way.
“No! Wait. Please tell me my girlfriend and daughter are ok.”
“I’m assuming they’re OK because no one else was brought in.”
Relief flooded through me as I laid my head back. I tried to bend my knees and felt restrained. My right leg was in a brace too.
Fuck.
I wondered where my cell phone was as I thought about what the nurse said – my mom was here? She lived in Las Vegas and I had rarely spoken with her since my divorce from Stacia. As a devout Catholic, she frowned upon our divorce and I grew tired of her critical mouth. I took care of her, but kept her at arms length. How had the hospital gotten in touch with her?
Nurse Margaret removed the IV stuck in my arm, allowing me to use my hand freely. I eagerly shook in a mouthful of ice chips. My tongue rejoiced as I let the cold ice melt and soak into the parched tissue of my mouth, swallowing the liquid slowly. Doctor Murray slid into my room startling me. He was an older bald man with dark eyes and a strong nose. Without a word he sat a small laptop computer down on a table at the foot of my bed and tapped away at it. Round lens glasses sat at the tip of his nose and he cleared his throat looking at me.
“Mr. Burton. You’re a lucky man.”
“If this is luck, I wish I were luckier and avoided that car. What d
ay is it? How long have I been in here?”
“You remember. That’s good.” He said, walking closer to me, taking out a little flashlight. He flashed it into each eye. “It’s Tuesday. You’ve been in here since Sunday night, or technically Monday morning. Can you tell me your name?”
“Kai Burton.”
“Do you know where you live?”
“Yes, Santa Monica.”
“What’s your birthdate?”
“July 21st.”
“Good.” He smiled satisfied with my answers. “You have a concussion, a minor ruptured spleen, a grade-3 ankle sprain and a fractured radius, in other words forearm.”
“Ruptured spleen? Did I have surgery?”
He shook his head and pushed his glassed up his nose. “No, not required in this instance.”
“What’s gonna happen with that?”
“It’ll heal on it’s own, just like the rest of your injuries. Lot’s of rest is what’s gonna happen.”
“When can I leave?”
“We’ll run some tests later today or tomorrow morning and discharge you tomorrow pending the results of that spleen.”
I shook my head. “Where’s my cell phone?”
“I don’t think you arrived with one. But I’ll have the nurse come back in.”
He patted my shoulder and smiled. “I have to warn you. The police are going to want to interview you. They’ve called a few times checking your status. I’m going to clear you for that.”
“I want them to come and tell me who fucking ran me over and if they caught the person,” I said bitterly.
“I’d like to know that too,” he said before departing.
The nurse came back soon after the doctor left. She carried a tray with an assortment of bland foods, yogurt, oatmeal and toast. “I called your mother and she’s on her way.”
“I need a phone.”
She walked near my bed and grabbed an old-school phone into her hand. She yanked on the cord and placed it on my lap. “Dial 9.”
“Can my girlfriend come to visit?”
“Not until we move you to another room. Plan on visitors after 3 PM today.”
Great, I thought as I glanced at the early time on the wall clock. It was only 9:18 AM. When the nurse left, I immediately called Grace.
“It’s me,” I croaked when I heard her voice.
“Kai,” Her breath sounded like static in the phone. “I’m so happy to hear your voice.”
“Not as happy as I am to hear yours.”
“I was so worried she killed you,” her voice quivered.
My heart stopped. “What?”
“Kai, it was Stacia who ran you over.”
The room spun and I closed my eyes. I felt like I was frozen over. “Where’s Emily?”
“She’s with your mom. They’re staying at your house. I gave her the key.”
“I can’t fuckin’ believe it. Wha…what the...”
“I’m sorry, Kai. I didn’t mean to blurt it out like that.” Her voice split and grew small as she began to cry. “I haven’t been allowed to see you since they took you away. I’m so happy you’re ok.”
Her sobbing crushed me more than knowing my ex-wife had tried to kill me. “Hey, I’m OK. The doctor said I’m going to be fine. They’re moving me out of intensive care to a new room after 3 PM today and you can come then.”
“OK. I love you so much. I thought I lost you.” Her tears strangled her voice. “Please don’t cry, Gracie.”
After hanging up the phone, I let the weight of what happened press upon me and hoped my mom would get to my bedside as soon as she heard I was awake. I wanted to know how Emily was doing and if she knew what had happened. I couldn’t wrap my head around Stacia. Was she the one who’d been vandalizing Grace’s house? Why would she purposefully run me over? It had to be an unfortunate accident. Maybe she just didn’t see me in the street. There had to be a logical explanation. Sharp shooting pains stabbed in my abdomen, my arm and ankle ached and my head throbbed with every movement. I needed painkillers and I pressed the button for the nurse.
A minute later both my mother and the nurse came through the door. My mom rushed to my side, “My Mordie. Thank God.” She kissed me gently on the cheek and took my hand.
“Hi Mom.”
Her eyes ran over me from head to toe. “Your face is black and blue.” She looked to the nurse, “He needs ice.”
Margaret looked at me, almost rolling her eyes. “Do you need something?”
“I need something for my pain.”
“I’ll be right back.” She tipped her head and vanished.
“I forgot that my face tried to save me from that windshield.” I said dryly now realizing why the right side of my face felt tight. I ran my left fingers over it feeling the rough scabs and tender skin.
Mother’s lips pressed tightly and her nose flared. She was trying not to cry. “Emily is good. She’s confused about what happened. Let’s call her so she can hear your voice.”
“Who’s she with?”
“She’s at school.”
Oh yeah, it was Tuesday morning.
“What happened to Stacia?”
My mother squeezed my hand and pulled the faded blue, cushioned chair closer. “She’s in jail. They arrested her last night.”
My breath rushed out like someone jumped on my chest. “What happened? Why?”
“Other than her running you over…I’m not sure why else, yet. I’m sure the police will be able to tell you more.”
“You don’t know anything?” I asked, confused. She sighed and wrung her wrinkled hands together. She looked like she hadn’t slept.
“All I know is yesterday they arrested Stacia. Grace supplied them with the surveillance video at some point. Emily said something about Van calling the cops on Stacia. It’s an unbelievable story.”
“Please tell me. Tell me what you know from the beginning.”
“It was 6 AM when I got a call from your friend Grace, telling me that you’d been hit by a car and it was serious. I got on the next plane out. Grace waited for Emily to wake up and then got Emily to dial my number. Thankfully the children didn’t wake up from the commotion of the accident, or whatever you want to call it, attempted murder…”
“Mom, is that what they’re really saying?” I interrupted.
“That’s what I’m saying.” She said angrily tapping hard at her chest. “That woman ran you over. I saw the footage. She didn’t try and stop. She accelerated and never stopped after she hit you. There is no way this was an accident. I never liked her.”
I know.
I shut my eyes. “How do you know it was Stacia? And what’s this about Van turning her in?”
Her mouth turned downward. “I don’t know exactly. But what I do know is Emily went home late yesterday morning, I took her myself. Grace picked me up from the airport at about 9:30 AM with Emily and her son. She dropped me off at your house to get your car so I could take Emily home to her mother. Grace was told no children or non-relatives would be admitted to see you…”
“Ok, but what’s this with Van turning Stacia into the cops?” I asked again more aggressively.
She cocked her head. “Mordecai, if you’d please let me finish. I’m getting to that.”
I swallowed my impatience. “Sorry.”
“Van opened the door and said Stacia was asleep. That she was sick. Emily went to her room and I quietly told Van what had happened to you. He was shocked, very shocked and wished you well. I told him neither Grace nor I told Emily what had happened and that we wanted to wait as long as we could. Then I left to come straight here and told him I’d call them when I knew more.”
She paused taking a few breaths. “And?” I said urging her to go on.
“Next thing I hear from Van is that I needed to come get Emily. That the cops have arrested her mother.”
Chapter Thirteen
Grace
I peeked into the bedroom and leaned my head against the door jam. Kai w
as sleeping soundly. Honing in on his chest, I watched its gentle rise and fall. His peaceful breathing eased my mind. The last couple of days had been a revolving door of people. He’d been unable to rest soundly since being released from the hospital. Between the pain of his injuries, too much stimulation from well-wishers, and the overwhelming consequences Stacia left in her wake, Kai had been unable to relax.
I finally called it quits on the visitors.
There was no hesitation in my offer to take care of him. I insisted on it, to the annoyance of his mother. Kai didn’t want to be a burden, but I told him, “I won’t have it any other way if we’re planning on being together. This is love. Let me love you.” The thought of almost losing another man I loved in a car accident of all things, was unfathomable. Each time it sprung to mind, I thought of our future and what we’d do once he got better.
A soft hum from the ceiling fan and the faint chirps from beyond the window set a mellow mood. It was as if I could feel the house let out a relaxed sigh as I shut my bedroom door. I left Kai sleeping soundly in my bed and quietly padded down the stairs where Jake sat waiting for me.
“Thank you for everything.” I collapsed in a heap and closed my eyes.
“Anything you need, Grace.”
I sank deeper into the pillows. “I might just fall asleep right here.”
“I’m gonna go to Kai’s place and grab some things on this list.”
I peeked down my nose at Jake who stared at a piece of paper in his hand. A little smirk rested on his face. “What’s with the smirk?”
His eyebrows hopped up his forehead. “Just readin’ the list.”
I sat up and reached out to him. “Let me see it. I may have some of the stuff and you won’t need to hassle with it.”
“Nope,” he pressed the paper to his chest and then tucked it quickly into his back pocket. “I’ll get him what he wants. You just take it easy.”
I plopped back, totally amenable to his offer. The down filled pillows hugged me as if they wouldn’t let me go the next time I tried to get up. “Fine.”