“Yes, why don’t you? We’ll sit toward the door, so you can see us.”
She took a quick shower and dressed in slacks and a short-sleeved sweater. Taking time only to brush her hair and put on some lipstick, she grabbed her purse and headed downstairs. She saw them the minute she entered the restaurant. The terrible stress was clearly etched on their faces — her mother and father, and Jim, the favored one. She’d felt envy toward him all too often, probably natural in a sibling who never quite measured up to the one who always did. But none of that mattered now. When one of them was threatened, the family pulled together into a cohesive unit of love and support.
After they’d kissed and hugged and called the waitress over to take Ashley’s order, they resettled themselves in the curved booth, asking minimal questions about when she arrived and how she’d managed to make it so quickly after getting back from Cancun. When the small talk was exhausted, only the one paramount question remained.
Ashley took a deep breath, steeling herself for the answer before she asked, “How is he?”
Jim’s face was drawn with tiredness and unmistakable signs of anxiety. Her brother, the doctor, was worried. Knots formed in her stomach. “The most troubling injury is the skull fracture. As far as the rest of the injuries go, I’ve been assured they’re not as bad as they appear to be.”
Ashley listened in shocked horror as her brother, in his doctor’s calm voice, chronicled the broken bones. How could anyone survive such trauma?
“Bad as it sounds, Ashley, all of those bones will mend, and with a relatively short period of physical therapy, he’ll be all right. If, of course, they’ve succeeded in relieving the pressure on his brain.”
It was too much for her. All her resolutions to maintain a stiff upper lip so she wouldn’t add to her parents’ burden dissolved in a flood of tears. Three sets of arms reached out to comfort her.
They finished breakfast and went to the hospital, forming a pattern that remained unbroken for three days. Breakfast, vigil at the hospital; lunch and a rest, more vigil at the hospital; dinner, a shorter stay at the hospital, then back to the hotel and to bed. Ashley talked to Zachary several times, keeping him up to date on the progress — or lack of it. Johnny drifted into consciousness now and then but seemed vague and disoriented, barely recognizing any of them.
By the fourth morning, the routine was almost automatic. So was the rhythm of fear that her heart picked up as they neared the fourth floor. Would he still be alive? As they got out of the elevator, a white-clad man started to enter, but was halted by Jim’s “Dr. Caldwell! I’m glad we ran into you.”
The doctor stepped back and let the elevator go. “Good morning. Dr. Grainger.” He greeted their parents and acknowledged an introduction to Ashley with a smile. “Oh, yes. Johnny told me about you. He was hoping you’d be coming this morning.”
Jim’s hand shot out to grasp the doctor’s arm. “Johnny told you?”
Dr. Caldwell’s smile widened. “Yes. He has regained full consciousness and his reactions appear to be fully normal. I think it’s pretty safe to give a good prognosis.”
For a moment, there appeared to be danger of a mass collapse as Ashley’s knees turned weak and her parents both sagged in relief. But the rush of joy quickly bolstered them.
“Thank God.” Her father’s face reflected the happiness they all felt. “Can we see him?”
“Yes, of course. It might be easier for him if you didn’t all go in at once. He can’t do any neck swiveling, you know.” His chuckle was the best indication yet that the crisis was over. Ashley waited impatiently as her parents went in to visit. When they emerged, fifteen minutes later, their faces were wreathed in smiles. Her mother came over to report to Ashley and Jim. “He’s fully alert. It seems a miracle. Even his sense of humor is intact!” She took Ashley’s hand. “He’s anxious to see you, dear.”
She turned to Jim. “Do you mind if I go in alone? I won’t stay very long.”
He patted her on the shoulder. “You go right ahead, and take your time. Just the sight of you will be a tonic to him.”
Ashley hesitated, chagrined for the moment at his automatic acknowledgement of their closeness. She was embarrassed to realize she’d never given much thought to how Jim must feel about being excluded from their tightly fused friendship. She sighed. There was a price to be paid for everything. Even being the favorite child.
When Ashley walked into Johnny’s room, she had to bite her lip to keep herself from crying like a baby in relief. His eyes jumped right to her, open and alert. And he smiled. Never had a smile brought more sunshine into a room.
“Hi, sis.”
She moved to his bedside on numbed legs. “Johnny. Haven’t I always warned you to look before you leap?”
His grin looked incongruous in the middle of all that white. “You know me — never had enough sense to listen to warnings.”
Ashley sank into the chair by his bed, fighting like mad to stop the tears that had risen to her eyes, and losing the battle. “Oh, God, Johnny.” Further words were blocked by the constriction in her throat.
“Hey, lady, you’ll run your mascara. Here, hold my hand. I’d take yours, but they’ve put me in bodily confinement.” His face sobered as she took his hand and squeezed his fingers. “Don’t cry, sis. I’m going to make it. The doctor thinks I’ll be in good enough shape to go back to work in about six months, if I want to.”
Her mouth dropped open in horror. “You’re not thinking of going back to that madness, surely!”
He frowned for a second, then laughed. “Damn. I just tried to shake my head. Are you sure I’m not already dead, and they’ve made a mummy out of me?”
She had to smile. Her mother was right; his sense of humor was still in place. “You dip. You promised all of us you’d quit that stunt-man stuff before you reached thirty. You’re already a year late.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just like all the rest, making me feel over the hill when I’m still a young pup.”
“Johnny . . .” Ashley’s voice held all the concern she really felt. The thought of his returning to stunt work was intolerable.
His expression sobered. “Hey. Don’t worry, hon. I’m out of it, I promise. I almost lost the whole package, and that’s way too high a price to pay for holding on to a hazardous occupation just because you get a kick out of it. I happen to enjoy life, and it’s time for me to take time for other parts of it.” He grinned. “I might even give Leslie a call and see if she’s still interested if I swear to reform.”
Ashley rose enough to kiss him. “I love you so much, you crazy galoot. I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”
“Hey, sis, don’t get all mushy. Only the good die young. At least that’s what I’ve been counting on all these years. ’Course, after all this, I guess I’d better take another look at that moldy old saying.”
“Will you miss the work terribly?”
“Yeah, probably. At least for a while. But, hell. There’s lots more to life than rolling cars and jumping off high buildings.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Even, I’d guess, than writing hit plays.”
“How did that get in there?”
He smiled. “I’d shrug, but I can’t. I dunno. Been thinking a lot about you since you called that night. Just been hoping you wouldn’t someday figure you’d passed up too much, that’s all.”
Her eyes dropped. “Funny you should mention that.”
“Uh-huh. How was the trip to Mexico?”
“Wonderful. Oh, Johnny, I love him so damned much! But I still don’t know what to do.”
“Yeah, it’s a tough one. Giving up a career like yours would be damned difficult, more so than mine. There’re lots of stunt men in Hollywood. But top play writers and lyricists on Broadway? Uh-uh.”
“You’re the only one in the family who understands. Mom and Dad think the decision should be easy.”
“Yeah, I know. But they can’t live your life, you have to do that.”
“Oh, damn. Johnny, what should I do?”
“Come on, sis, I can’t live your life either.” He raised his eyebrows in question. “How would it feel to cut it off with Zach again?”
“I don’t think I’d survive.”
“You may have just answered your own question.”
She nodded. She may have, at that. “I guess I’d better go out so Jim can come in. He’s obviously been a nervous wreck beneath all that professional calm.”
“Yeah. Good man, our brother.” With one last eye-to-eye agreement, Ashley kissed him again and left the room.
She stood outside the door and leaned against the wall, her mind churning. They’d come so close to losing Johnny, so awfully close! It pushed one thought to the forefront of her mind. People you love are the most important part of your life. Suddenly she was absolutely consumed by the need to be with Zachary, to be held in his arms, to be engulfed in his love.
With a sigh, she headed toward the waiting room, her mind miles away: in Boston, Massachusetts, to be precise. When she reached her destination and stepped into the room, she froze. Zachary was seated between her mother and father, talking earnestly to them and to Jim. As soon as he saw her, he rose.
“Hello, Ashley.”
With a cry of thankfulness, she ran into his embrace, giving herself over entirely to the unbridled joy of seeing him there. He swept her into his arms, holding her tight, his cheek against her hair. “Oh, Zachary, I can’t believe you’re really here. I’m so glad to see you. I had no idea you’d come!”
He touched her cheek with his fingers, barely able to control his urge to kiss her hungrily. “I knew how scared you’d be, and I wanted to be with you earlier, but I got here as soon as I could.”
She looked up at him, her eyes full of the gratitude she felt. “Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.” He glanced around at her family and let his arms drop. “It sounds as though I arrived on a good morning. How’s Johnny?”
“Wonderful.” She shook her head and gave a confused laugh. “Terrible. I mean, he’s still funny and lovely and completely Johnny with one major exception. He’s immobile.” Her eyes twinkled. “He asked me to assure him he hadn’t already died and been turned into a mummy.”
Jim hooted and stood up. “That’s it. He’s back with us, sure enough. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to go in and bedevil my kid brother.” They all nodded assent and Jim headed for the door.
By the time Jim came back with all the lines in his face relaxed into a relieved smile and Zachary went in for a short visit, it was clear that Johnny was in need of some sleep, so they all headed back to the hotel for lunch and a rest.
Ashley rode with Zachary in his rented car, snuggled close beside him, her head on his shoulder, her hand on his thigh. Never within memory had she been so happy to see someone. Johnny’s near miss had unnerved her to a point that made itself fully felt only now, when she knew the crisis was over and he would recover. The suspension of all that fear left her limp and unutterably grateful for Zachary’s presence. “I’ll bet Johnny was surprised to see you.”
“Yes, that he was. Looks like he did a real number on himself.” Zachary covered her hand with his. “This has been rough on you, hasn’t it? I know how much you love Johnny.”
“I’m just so thankful that he’s going to be all right.” And that Zachary was beside her. Her love of loves.
They had a nice lunch, full of the jubilance borne of the encouraging hospital visit. Ashley couldn’t miss the heightened level of her parents’ hopefulness. Not only was their son going to recover, but their daughter had brought this wonderful man back into their lives. Boy, talk about acceptance. As a potential son-in-law, Zachary had “approved” stamped all over him! But Ashley couldn’t blame them. As a potential husband, she had to give him the same rating. She tried to focus on the factors in her life that had seemed too vital to let go of, but New York, the theater, the excitement of creating, the fun of seeing a show take form, all seemed so remote, so . . . nonessential. Her eyes moved to Zachary. But him? Essential. Absolutely essential.
“So, Ashley, dear, how long are you staying?”
She stared at her mother in confusion. “I’m sorry. What did you ask?”
Doris laughed. “My, you were a long way off! Zachary just said he’d wait till you returned east to go with you, and I was wondering when that would be.”
Her eyes met Zachary’s and she smiled. How considerate of him to once again put aside his business demands to be with her when she needed him. Had he been more willing to make sacrifices for their relationship than she? “I suppose there’s no real reason to stay. We’ll see Johnny again this evening. After that, well, it’s obviously going to be a long time before he’s up and around. It’s easy enough to come back if he needs me. But, heaven knows, one thing my brother has no shortage of is friends! He’ll get so much tender loving care he may decide to become a permanent invalid!”
So it was decided that they’d catch an afternoon plane the following day. Jim, too, had to get back to his patients. Her mother and father would stay a few more days.
That night they were all thoroughly pooped and went to bed early. Zachary, for the sake of appearances, had taken his own room. But very soon after everyone had retired for the night, Ashley heard a knock on her door. With her heart beating in anticipation, she went to open it, moving eagerly into her lover’s embrace as he stepped inside and kicked the door shut behind him. All the awful anxiety of the last days dropped away; all the uncertainty of the last months seemed to disappear too. He was everything to her: home, family, acceptance, security, love. Her biggest need in life was to be with him.
She looked up at him, her heart in her eyes. “How can I tell you how much it meant to see you in that waiting room today? I love you so much.”
“No more than I love you. That wouldn’t be possible.” He kissed her temple, very tenderly. “I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you. I’d grown accustomed to your face. And various other parts of you.” His hands ran over her as his mouth hungrily sought hers. She opened her lips to his questing tongue and curved her body into his, winding her arms tightly around his neck.
His head lifted, and his midnight eyes, opaque with desire, bore into her. “You have far too many clothes on.” She raised her arms so he could easily slide her flimsy night-gown over her head, shivering slightly as the cool air brushed her flesh.
This moment, this pinpoint of time, held the extreme essence of happiness, the peak experience of loving and being loved. Eagerly, she unzipped the top of his sweatsuit and pushed it off, letting her hands enjoy the feel of his firm shoulders as she did. He untied the matching pants, let them drop, kicked them to one side. His mouth laid claim to hers once again, his strong fingers moving over her back, then sliding down to cup her soft round buttocks.
Ashley was submerged in the warm caress of their caring, happy beyond measure to be in the arms of this man she loved so totally. She ran her hands over the taut, sinewy muscles of his back, digging her fingers into the firm flesh, flushing with excitement at his low growl of pleasure.
With a deep moan of need, he lifted her off the floor and carried her to the bed, bending as he lay her down to search out the tips of her breasts with his tongue, sending quivering shock waves through her body. His hands roamed the silky skin of her hips and thighs as his lips pressed and pulled at her tightening nipples.
She ran her hand up the inside of his thighs to cup him in her palm, smiling at the gasp that escaped his lips. Her hand moved relentlessly, increasing the girth of his arousal.
His lips moved down to the satiny flesh of her belly, then beyond. Ashley cried out, her body convulsing with ecstasy. The delectable torment sent steaming blood rushing through her veins, pouring fuel
on the flaming need of her desire.
With a cry she pulled him up to her, guiding him to close all gaps, joining body to body, love to love, binding them each to each. With one great, heaving shudder, they rose to a mutual fulfillment and the union was complete.
“Oh, Zachary,” she breathed, overwhelmed by the dimension of her happiness.
He raised himself to his elbows and kissed her eyes and her cheeks and each lip, separately. Their eyes met and held, gleaming the wonder back and forth, a silent vow of faith. “Ashley.” Her name was a whisper, a pledge.
She gazed up at him, so full of the marvel of their love she could think of nothing else, could care about nothing else. “You haven’t done what you promised yet.”
His eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “And what is that?”
“You said you’d ask me to marry you when we got back from Cancun.”
He looked down at her, his blue-black eyes blazing trails to her heart. When he spoke, his tone was hushed, sober. “Will you marry me?”
“Yes. Oh, yes!”
There was a great sigh, a duet of joy, as they clung together.
They fell asleep, still interlocked in their oneness.
Chapter Thirteen
The following morning at breakfast, they announced their engagement to her parents and her brother Jim, which set off a positive eruption of enthusiasm. Hugs and handshakes and delighted exclamations abounded. Ashley, for perhaps the first time in her life, felt bathed in her parents’ wholehearted admiration and showered by their unrestrained blessings. The applause for this, she ruefully acknowledged, vastly exceeded any she’d received for the seemingly inconsequential act of mounting a hit show on Broadway. At last, after all these years, she’d won their full approbation. It felt good.
When they said goodbye, her mother was still beaming like a floodlight, already making wedding lists and planning menus. Her father kept slapping Zachary on the back and jokingly calling him “son.” Jim, a true product of his environment who firmly accepted the premise that a woman’s place was in the home, hugged her several times, offering his sincere congratulations.
Love Lyrics Page 21