“Frankie, just who are you pointing that at?”
He ignores her. The barrel of the gun is aimed right at my chest. I say a silent prayer to God, asking him to watch over my family and Allie. I nudge her over to the side so that she’s not standing so close. I don’t want her to get hurt. I just hope he makes it quick.
“You know, old friend, I’ve been wanting to do this for so long.” He walks closer to me. “You’ve been nothing but a pain in my ass since the day I met you. Now, I’m gonna put an end to that.”
“Frankie, don’t you dare! You better aim that at the right person!” Claire barks, yet he still ignores her request, thank God. He takes another step closer.
“You just waltzed right into my life and destroyed it. I helped kill my father for her, yet you took her away from me.” The anger in his face makes my blood run cold. “Well, now I’m going to kill you.”
“Drop the weapon!” A woman’s voice booms over a bullhorn. It causes all of us to turn around. It’s Detective Denita Ferguson, the cop that we met in Macon. She’s surrounded by lots of cops and even the FBI. Many of them have their guns drawn.
Frankie turns his attention back to me. “It’s over for you, Donovan. One way or another, it’s over.” He pulls the trigger. I feel my body tighten, waiting for the bullet to strike me dead where I stand. I hear a blood curdling scream as Allie jumps right in front of me. She falls to the ground, then I hear shots fire all around me.
I kneel down by her side and yell her name. “Allie! Oh my God, Allie!” Hot tears stream down my face as I’m answered with nothing but silence. I pick her up, wrap her in my arms and cradle her. The blood pours from her left shoulder. Then the doctor in me takes over, applying pressure to the wound with my hand. “Stay with me, baby. I need you here with me. Please don’t leave me alone,” I whisper in her ear. Then I feel her breathing just as the EMS guys come to take over. They practically push me out of the way so they can help her. My heart is literally breaking.
Then I remember shots were fired, so I look over to the mob of uniformed police officers. Through the madness, I see Frankie laying on the ground in a pool of blood. Donna is laying face down on the ground with her hands behind her back in handcuffs. I don’t see Claire, but I figure they have her in the cop car already.
The EMS has Allie on a stretcher, her shoulder covered with white gauze that’s soaked in blood. My heart breaks all over again. I grab one of the guys by the arm. “Is…is she going to be all right?” The look on his face is grim; my heart drops right to my feet. Again I ask, “Is she? Tell me.”
“She’s stable right now, but we need to get her to the hospital quickly. She’s not conscious right now and we don’t see an exit wound, so we don’t know where the bullet is.” He turns away from me to climb in the ambulance with the woman I love. I try to climb in with them, but Detective Denita touches me on my back.
“Dr. Callahan, I need to ask you some questions about what the hell happened.” She looks as if she’s aged ten years since I’ve seen her.
“Can we do this at the hospital? I need to be by her side.” I start to take off, then realize I don’t have a car or phone. “Can you take me there and we’ll talk on the way?”
“Okay, let me tell my commander where we’re going. Stay there.” She walks towards the group of officers, leaving me there by myself. I can’t believe she did that. What was she thinking? I throw my hands into my hair, nearly pulling it out of my head. Then a voice makes me literally jump off the ground.
“I love you, Donovan. Why don’t you want me?” Claire stands in front of me, with the same gun in her hand that shot Allie.
Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit.
I can’t say anything back. What am I supposed to say? The nutbag holds my life in her hands right now, and no one is seeing this. I dart my eyes back and forth to see if someone is paying any attention. I know the detective will be right back, but it may be too late.
“I’ve always loved you, but you don’t love me. You love her now. It’s obvious.” She won’t look me in the eye. She only stares at the shiny metal in her right hand. “You said you want to marry her. I heard you. Why don’t you want to marry me? What’s so wrong with me?”
“Claire, I’m…I’m sorry. It’s over between us. I’ve moved on with Allie and yes, I want to marry her one day. We just aren’t meant to be.” Honesty may be the best policy, but it could mean death for me. I cringe as her hand lifts up.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve ever done to you, Donovan. I really am. I wish you both the best and lots of happiness.”
The gun fires.
Claire falls to the ground with a self-inflicted gunshot to her temple.
Chapter 20
Donovan
I don’t move. I can’t move. As I stand there, watching the blood pour from her head, I think about all the agony and pain she has brought me. Now she’s dead, because she couldn’t have me. Then all the commotion starts; cops yelling for me to back away, bystanders screaming, sirens blaring. Detective Ferguson pulls me back as the rescue squad tends to Claire.
“I…I can’t believe what just happened.” I try to wrap my mind around what all has happened in the last hour. Allie and I went from prisoners to escapees on the run, ending with nothing good. “Detective, please take me to the hospital. I need to be with my girlfriend.” Even I can tell my voice sounds disconnected.
“I’ll have one of my officers take you there. I need to be here right now. But I will be in touch, Dr. Callahan. I’m really sorry this happened to you.” She turns away from me as she walks towards Claire.
A male officer escorts me to the ER. The entire ride is nothing but a big blur. I just want to get to my girl.
We finally make it and I rush up to the ER entrance. The nurse at the desk takes one look at me and cringes. I suppose being locked up for days will make you look like shit. I pay her no mind.
“I need to get back to see Allison Marshall.”
“Are you family?” she asks with about as much customer service as a bill collector. Her attitude pisses me off, and I’m ready to snap. I slam my hands on the counter and look her straight in the eye.
“Look, lady. I’ve been through hell and back today. All I want to do is see my girlfriend and make sure she’s not dead.”
Her eyes get wide as if I just insulted her. “I beg your pardon?”
“My girlfriend was shot today and I need to get back there.” The smoke starts to seep out of my ears. “I’m a damn doctor, so please, let me go back.” Yep, I just threw out that card.
“Yes…yes, sir. You’ll need to get a pass to see her.” She hits the buzzer to open the door for me. I remember my manners and tell her thank you, which seems to throw her off even more. I take my visitor badge, find out what room she’s in, and bolt towards her. I come to the major bay where a team of nurses in OR scrubs are wheeling Allie out. Her eyes are still closed, the color is gone from her face, and she’s on oxygen.
Oh my God. Please…please let her be okay.
I stop one of the nurses coming out. “I’m her boyfriend. What’s happening?” I feel the tears trickling down my face. “Is she going to be okay? Where are you taking her?”
“Sir, I’m sure that you’re concerned about your girlfriend, but right now, we have to put her needs first. Leave your number with one of the girls up front and we’ll call you.” With that, she trots off to follow the stretcher carrying the love of my life. Those people right there hold my girl’s life in the palm of their hands. My heart is already cracked apart. I don’t think I can take much more. I just stand there, looking in the direction where they rolled her. My feet feel like they’re cemented to the floor.
“Sir, are you okay?” I hear a voice, but I can’t answer. It’s like I’ve forgotten how to speak, how to breathe, how to anything except have a nervous breakdown in the middle of this small town ER. And that’s exactly what I do. I break down. My mind can’t take anymore of this shit. Claire has completely r
uined my life. Now she may have just stolen the one girl I ever want to spend my life with.
“Sir, why don’t you have a seat and I’ll get you some water or something?” I nod, paying no attention to the person assisting me to the nearest chair. I put my elbows on my knees, bury my face into my hands, and sob like a baby.
“Where’s my baby? Where is she?” There’s a voice I know. It’s Julie. I look through my searing tears to see her talking to a nurse. She looks my way and the look on her face is pained. She rushes over to me, so I brace myself for a chewing out. I’m the reason her daughter is in this mess. I’m the reason that she’s laying on a stretcher, surrounded by people she doesn’t know. I’m the reason her baby girl is fighting for her life.
“Donovan! Thank God you’re okay,” she says as she stands in front of me. I stand to face her, and I’m sure I’ve got one hell of a confused look on my face. “I’m so glad you’re here. I need to find Allie. Jon is bringing Jackson in a little while.” She grabs my hand and takes me back to the nurse she was talking to.
“Look, I’m her mother and I demand to know where my daughter is. Please help me,” she pleads. The woman looks from her to me, and you can see the sympathy in her eyes.
“Yes, ma’am. Can I have you sit over there while I call the floor to find out what’s going on?” We both nod, then walk back to where I was sitting.
“Julie, I’m…I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. If it wasn’t for me, she wouldn’t be here.” The sobs start again. “She…she jumped in front of me. Frankie was pointing the gun at me. I pushed her to the side and before I knew it, she was on the ground at my feet.” I try to catch my breath, and I’m surprised to find that Julie takes my hand into hers.
“Donovan, I know you feel awful about this. But please, don’t blame yourself for other people’s crazy. You’ve made mistakes, but who hasn’t? You had no idea what you were getting yourself into when you met that woman.” She sighs. “Allie loves you so much. It’s so obvious to everyone, and I can tell right now you love her just as much.” She pats my hand. “She did what she did because of that reason. If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t you have done the exact same thing?”
I nod, feeling comforted by her words. If it had been Allie that was in harm’s way, I wouldn’t think about it for a second. I would have taken that bullet for her, no questions asked. Just then, the same nurse comes up with two Styrofoam cups of water.
“Your daughter is in the operating room now, Mrs. Marshall. She’ll be in Recovery for awhile after they finish, so once she’s moved to a room, you can see her.” My heart drops. The OR? She’s laying on a cold, sterile table with no one there to comfort her? I don’t even bother to ask if I can go up there. Since I’m not a doctor here, I have no privileges. As much as I want to go there, just to be there with her, I can’t. We can do nothing but wait. “Would you like to go to the waiting room in the Surgical unit?”
We both stand at the same time, then let her escort us upstairs. We get into the elevator and it has to be the longest ride ever. I rest my head against the wall, waiting for the door to open. The pounding in my temples doesn’t let up. I close my eyes, trying to block out the light, which is only making it worse. The stress of this whole thing is wearing me down. I feel like it’s a movie and I’m front row center. It’s like I’m watching it all play out in front of me, only, this is my life. I sigh loudly. Then I feel Julie’s hand on my shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
“Do you believe in God, Donovan?”
“I want to. I really do, but why would God do this to Allie? Why would He do this to me?” My faith is shaken. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why is Allie fighting for her life because of me?
We walk through the lobby, which thankfully only has a handful of people. Julie and I pick a couch in the far corner. I put my head in my hands, rubbing at my throbbing temples.
“Look, son, I know you feel like this is all your fault, but please, don’t do this to yourself. God has a purpose for everything in this world. Allie is going to be okay, and so are you, all in due time.” I look at her, noticing for the first time just how much they look alike. The same green eyes, the same cheekbones, the same smile. Geez, they even have the same dimple on the same side of their face. I need to see her, like yesterday.
She continues on. “I know you’re questioning why this all happened. I can’t give you the answers. No one really can. But just have a little faith in the man upstairs, and in yourself. Allie loves you, just like I loved her father. When she loves, she loves with her entire heart, and that love is strong. She’s a tough girl, so she’s going to be all right.”
“How can you be sure?” I ask quietly.
“Because,” she says as she puts her hand on mine. “I have faith. I have faith in her and in God. You should, too.” She gives me a closed lip smile. Then she stands. “I’m going to get some coffee and call Jon. Do you want anything?”
“No, I’m good, thank you.” As she turns to walk away, I say, “Julie?”
“Yes?”
“Thanks for being so understanding. It…it means a lot to me.” Tears threaten to fall like rain if I speak anymore, so I look downwards to the grey tiled floor. One day, I’ll thank her properly, tell her she’s like the mother I wish I’d had. Her daughter possesses all of her good qualities, especially her heart.
She smiles, but says nothing as she walks down the hall to the cafeteria. I’m alone with my dark thoughts again. The memory of seeing Allie on the ground after taking a bullet for me. The sight of Claire, pulling the trigger on herself. All the flashbacks that I don’t want replay over and over in my head. I’m a broken man, in desperate need of repair. I decide right then and there to pray. Silently, I admit I’ve done so much wrong and have so many screw ups under my belt. I ask for Allie’s recovery. I ask for forgiveness, for solace, for anything that will mend my heart. Just as I say amen, I hear my father and Megan.
“Donnie? Oh my God, are you okay?” Megan throws her arms around my neck, causing me to nearly lose my balance. I welcome the bear hug.
“I’m alive, but that’s about all.”
She pulls me back at arm’s length. “How’s Allie? Have you heard anything?” The concern in her eyes touches me.
“I haven’t heard yet.”
“Son, I’m so glad you’re alive.” My father had been crying, judging by the red rimmed eyes. It looks as if he hasn’t shaved in over a week. I allow a small smile to tug at my lips. I’ve never seen my dad with even a goatee, let alone almost a full on beard.
I stand to hug him. His embrace is tight, just like when I was leaving for boarding school. It’s like he doesn’t want to ever let me go. Pops isn’t an emotional man, so I know that he’s been worried sick over us. I can’t imagine what it’s like to have your child missing for days, not knowing what’s happened to them. I choke back the sob that tries-9+ to escape my lips.
“Pops, I’m so sorry,” I start, but he pulls me back, looks me square in the eye, and causes me to shut my mouth.
“Son, you don’t have to be sorry, okay? This is not your fault. None of this is. Please don’t blame yourself.” He sounds like someone I know. “And as for Donna,” he growls. “The divorce papers are on the way, and I’ll be on the front row of that courtroom when the jury convicts her ass of trying to kill my son.” His normally bright eyes seem to darken at the mention of her name.
“Dr. Donovan?” All three of us turn our heads to see the cutest little boy heading our way. Megan and Pops look quizzically at each other, then it dawns on them at the same time.
“Jackson!” I bend down with open arms as he leaps onto me. I wrap him in a bear hug, finding comfort in him. Just knowing he’s a part of Allie eases the pain, just a little.
“Where’s Mommy?” He looks around for her. Then he spies my family and gets shy.
“Mommy is in with a bunch of doctors right now. They’re trying to make her better.” I look up. “Jackson, this is my dad, Robert,
and my sister, Megan. Megan and Pops, this is Jackson, Allie’s son.”
“It’s very nice to finally meet you, Jackson.” Megan squats down beside me, holding out her hand. The little guy takes her hand and shakes it lightly. Following suit, my dad does the same thing. Julie and Jon both walk up to us. I stand, Jackson holding tightly to my leg.
“Donovan, is my sister—” Jon starts, but can’t finish his sentence. He bites his knuckle, trying to hold back his tears. I pull him in for a bro hug.
“She’s still in surgery right now. I haven’t heard anything,” I say, but right at that moment, someone in blue OR scrubs comes out of the swinging doors.
“Family of Allison Marshall?” he asks. We crowd around him. “I’m Dr. Morales. Can we sit?” Uh oh, that doesn’t sound good.
Julie, Jon, and I sit on the couch as Dr. Morales takes a seat in the chair next to us. He turns to Jackson, then my dad and sis. “Did you want to take this little guy for some juice?” His hint works, so they take Jackson by the hand and lead him down the hall. He looks back, needing reassurance. All of us smile, so it seems to calm his nerves. As soon as they leave, he begins to speak.
“Mrs. Marshall, as you know, Allie was wounded by a gunshot today.” She nods. “Well, the bullet entered her left lung, causing it to collapse. A pneumothorax at the upper lobe of the lung.” Seeing the perplexed look on her face, he explains, “Part of her lung collapsed. We found it when she went to CT.” My mind goes into panic mode, needing to know what the outcome is.
“Allie started losing pulmonary function in the ER, so we had to perform emergency surgery. The wound was fairly small and easy enough to suture up. I removed the bullet and she tolerated the operation well. She’s in Recovery right now. She’s on oxygen and resting comfortably. But she’s going to be out of it for quite some time. She’ll be there for at least a couple of hours, so if you want to go home, I’ll have a nurse call you when—”
Here With Me Page 14