Starlight Bridge

by Debbie Mason

  “You love it, and you know it. You’ll have something to brag about at the next Widows Club meeting,” his father said to Kitty, throwing an arm over Griffin’s shoulders. “Proud of you, son.”

  “You know what? Maybe you shouldn’t take the job with HHCG. Dad and I will have to share the spotlight with you.” Liam grinned, giving Griffin a playful punch on the arm. “You couldn’t be satisfied with saving just one life; you had to save two. You always were an overachiever.”

  Griffin smiled, reminded once again of how much he’d loved and missed his family. “Thanks, guys. Now would you mind telling me how Gino’s doing?”

  The three of them shared a look. “You should talk to Ava, dear,” Kitty said, adding, “Colin, we better be leaving. Liam, you and Sophie stay as long as Ava needs you. Mia’s in good hands.”

  Once his father and grandmother headed for the exit doors, Griffin turned to his brother. “Something I need to know?”

  Liam rubbed his stubbled jaw. “Yeah. Jimmy got a little emotional when they brought Gino in. He told Ava what Gino had planned to do. So she’s…Oh, shit,” his brother said when Sully lifted his chin in their direction and Ava turned. “Okay, whatever she says, don’t take it—”

  Focused on the woman striding their way, Griffin tuned out his brother and walked toward her. “Ava, I—”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to hear your apologies and excuses. Because of you, my father nearly died tonight. You took away his dignity, embarrassed him in front of his friends. If he d-dies, it’s your fault!” Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, her face pale, the finger she stabbed in his chest shaking.

  He closed his hand over hers. “You’ve gotta believe I never meant—”

  She jerked her hand away, raising it as though to slap him, and then she clasped it with her other hand. “Go. Just go. Get out of here,” she demanded, her voice rising hysterically on each word.

  Sophie hurried toward them with her grandmother following close behind. His sister-in-law reached for Ava. “Come on, honey. Let’s go sit down.” Sophie cast Griffin an apologetic glance as she tried to steer her cousin away.

  “No, he needs to get out of here. He needs to leave!”

  Rosa reached for Ava’s hand, giving it a gentle shake. “Cara, that is enough. Griffin, he doesn’t deserve this. You owe him your thanks. Your father is alive because of him. He risked his life to save Gino’s.”

  “He’s the reason my father is even here. He’s the reason he’s fighting for his life!”

  “No, cara, there is only one person responsible, and that is Gino. The drink, it has made him pazza.”

  She put up her hand. “Don’t. You always hated my father. You—”

  Rosa cut Ava off. “Griffin only said what someone should have said years before. What I should have—”

  Her intentions were good, but Rosa was making matters worse. Griffin gave the older woman’s shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. I’m leaving.”

  “Good. Go. Go, now!” Ava practically shouted at him.

  Rosa brought her hands to her cheeks, shaking her head as she watched Sophie lead Ava away. “What’s the matter with her? She’s acting crazy.”

  “She’s afraid she’s going to lose Gino, Rosa. She’s angry at me.”

  “Angry? You went out in a storm and risked your life for him. You all did. He’s a no-good, selfish somabitch.”

  Ava obviously heard her aunt and turned to shoot daggers at Rosa. Sophie forcibly dragged her cousin to a chair while holding her husband’s gaze. She nudged her head at her grandmother.

  Liam nodded and said to Rosa, “Why don’t I take you home? It’s getting late.”

  Rosa ignored his brother and pressed a firm hand to Griffin’s cheek. “You’re a good man. Don’t let her push you away. She needs you.”

  “She doesn’t want me. She hasn’t for a long time,” he said without thinking, grimacing when he caught the sympathetic expressions on his brother’s and Rosa’s faces. He reached in the pocket of his leather jacket for the gold chain and placed it in Rosa’s hand, closing her fingers around it. “I appreciate everything you said. But Ava needs you. Don’t drive a wedge between the two of you because of me. I’m good.”

  He might not be good right now, but he would be. He’d needed the reminder of just how deeply Ava could wound him. The twist in his gut, the ache in his chest, they were nothing compared to how much he’d suffered twelve years before. He still bore the scars. And the reason why he’d never set himself up for that kind of heartache again. He knew when to cut his losses, and this was one of those times. He hoped his family hadn’t gotten their hopes up, because he wasn’t taking the job with HHCG.

  Ava held her father’s hand. Her eyes felt like they were rubbing against sandpaper as she tracked the shallow rise and fall of his chest, listened to the steady beep of the monitor. It had been two days since that horrible, awful night. Other than to change into the clothes Sophie had brought her and use the washroom, Ava hadn’t moved from Gino’s hospital bedside. Every time she left his side, she was overcome with panic, terrified that he was going to die. Afraid that if she stopped willing him to live, willing him to fight, he’d let go and slip away.

  “How is everyone doing this morning?” a cheery young nurse Ava hadn’t met before asked.

  Her chirpiness was annoying. Ava wanted to say, How do you think we are? She could read her father’s charts. He had pneumonia. There’d been no improvement. He’d barely regained consciousness. But she’d done her clinical practicum in a hospital and knew how difficult the job could be. She forced herself to respond politely. “Fine, thank you. How’s your morning going?”

  The nurse gave her a wide smile. “Aw, that’s sweet of you to ask. I’m having a great morning, thanks. The snow has finally let up, and the sun is shining. And my patients are all in a good mood. I guess in your case, my patient’s family.” She unhooked Ava’s father’s chart from the end of the bed. “Oh, wow, now I know who your father is. My best friend’s brother was rescued by the same man who rescued your dad.” Her face took on a dreamy expression. “He’s been in all the papers. He’s so brave. God, I’d love to meet him. Has he come to see your father?”

  “No, he hasn’t.” Because I screamed at him and kicked him out of the hospital. She wondered what the young girl would say if she told her. Probably look at her like her aunt had, like she was an ungrateful lunatic. Her face burned at the memory. She’d acted like a crazy person. Only an hour before Griffin had arrived at the hospital, Jimmy had told Ava that her father meant to take his own life. After the anguish of waiting on the docks for news, it had been too much to deal with.

  She’d taken her fear and anger out on Griffin. And he’d just stood there and taken it. She’d hurt him. She knew she had. But she’d been so ashamed, so embarrassed and afraid for her father…She’d been angry at him too. Because Rosa was right. Griffin had put his life on the line for Gino and so had the other men.

  “Maybe he’ll come by today.” The nurse smoothed her hair from her pretty face and then looked down at her powder-blue scrubs. “I should have worn my other uniform.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. He won’t be coming today either.”

  “I bet he’d come if you called him. I can find out his number for you. I’m sure—”

  Ava was back to being annoyed. Her father may be taking his last breaths, and all this girl could think about was Griffin. “That isn’t necessary. I have his number. He’s my husband.”

  The nurse’s eyes went wide. “Oh, um, I should probably check on my other patients.” She hurried to the door, then pivoted. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have been going on about your husband like that. But you probably get that all the time, don’t you?”

  Husband? Had she not said ex? Why wouldn’t she have said ex? “Ex. He’s my ex-husband.”

  “Really?” The girl broke into a wide smile. “That’s awesome.” Her smile faltered. “I mean, wow, that sucks f
or you. I’m sorry for your loss.” Ava thought she must have made an aggravated noise in her throat because the girl looked startled and flapped her hand. “I’ll just go now.”

  Ava forgot about being annoyed when her father’s eyes fluttered open. For the first time, they held hers, and she saw awareness there. He made an anxious sound in his throat, lifting his hand to the tube in his mouth. “No, you have to leave it in, Papa. Calm down. Everything’s going to be all right.” She rubbed his hand while reaching to press the call button for the nurse.

  He shoved her hand away and pulled at the tubes in his arms, his eyes wild. “No, Papa.” She tried to take hold of his hands but he was beyond reason and fought her. “Help, I need help in here!” she called out.

  He sat up and shoved her out of the way. She lost her balance, tripping over the chair. It overturned, and she fell on top of it.

  And that was how the young nurse, her Auntie Rosa, Dorothy, and Dr. Bishop found her. The nurse and Dr. Bishop ran to the other side of the bed to subdue her father while Rosa and Dorothy helped Ava to her feet. Another nurse rushed into the room to administer the sedative Dr. Bishop had called for.

  Her face flushed with anger, tears in her eyes, Rosa cried, “Now you see. Now you see what Griffin tried to protect you from.”

  Ava knew her father hadn’t meant to hurt her, but it was like everything crashed in on her at once. Her father nearly dying, the hurtful words she’d shouted at Griffin. And underneath all of that there was something else, something she didn’t want to admit even to herself. Her fear that her father was going to live, and she would never be able to leave him alone in case he tried to hurt himself again. She’d have to quit her job to care for him full-time. She’d grow old in the house on South Shore Road.

  “No, lovey, don’t cry. You know he didn’t mean to hurt you. You know that,” Dorothy crooned, taking her in her arms.

  “Come, we’ll go to the cafeteria. You have something to eat. You’ll feel better,” Rosa said.

  Ava drew back from Dorothy and self-consciously wiped at her face. “I’m okay. I need—”

  “Rosa’s right. Let’s get out of their way. If they need you, they know where to find you,” Dorothy said.

  Ava glanced at her father, who’d calmed down, and numbly allowed herself to be led to the cafeteria. She sat in a plastic chair, barely able to hold herself upright. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept. Rosa returned with a cup of coffee and a chocolate donut.

  Taking the seat beside her, her aunt’s anxious gaze searched Ava’s face. “Enough, cara. You can’t go on like this. You must go home at night.”

  “I need to be here, Auntie Rosa. The nurses are busy. I can—”

  “If you don’t agree, I will talk to Dr. Bishop and have him ban you from your father’s room.”

  “You can’t do that.”

  “Sí, I can. Dr. Bishop, he likes me, and he likes my lasagna.” She gave Ava a smug smile.

  “You’re going to bribe my father’s doctor to keep me out of the hospital. Is that what you’re telling me?”

  Dorothy pressed her lips together as though trying not to laugh, and then her eyes went wide. “Rosa, Dr.—”

  “No, I’m going to seduce him. That’s what I’m telling you.” Rosa ignored Dorothy frantically trying to get her attention and took Ava’s hand. “You see the lengths I would go to protect you? I love you, cara. I’m tired of seeing you this way. It hurts my heart. So for me, please, please, do this. Or sí, I will seduce Dr. Bishop.”

  “As intriguing as I find the idea of you seducing me, Rosa, it won’t be necessary,” a deep voice said from behind them.

  Rosa blushed, glaring at Dorothy as Dr. Bishop took the seat across from them.

  Dorothy shrugged.

  “Your aunt’s right, Ava. I’ve allowed this to go on long enough. I should have stepped in years ago. You can visit your father during visiting hours, but you have to…”

  Ava strained to hear the words coming out of Dr. Bishop’s mouth. It was as though he were talking underwater and in slow motion. She swayed on the chair and everything went black.

  Chapter Eight

  Griffin looked out the back window, debating whether or not to go for a run around the lake. It was a cold and rainy forty-five degrees. Crappy weather had never stopped him in the past. For some reason, today it did. He wasn’t himself. Ever since he’d left Harmony Harbor, he’d felt…Hell, he didn’t know what he was feeling. Something just felt off. He wasn’t even sure it had anything to do with Ava ripping him a new one at the hospital.

  His family had tried to convince him to go back that morning and talk to her. Instead, using Lexi as an excuse, he’d headed home to Virginia Beach. She was dropping by after work, so he had at least an hour to kill.

  He looked around the open layout of the two-bedroom bungalow for something to do. The landlord had been going for a cottage look, he supposed. The walls were cloud white while the built-ins and kitchen cabinets had been painted a dusky blue. It was kind of girlie. He liked the potbellied stove sitting inside the river rock fireplace though. About the only thing the place needed was some furniture. He’d moved in after he and Lexi had split and hadn’t brought much with him. What he did have didn’t really suit the place—it was too dark and masculine.

  Rent was reasonable though, the view of the lake was great, and it was an easy bike ride to Little Creek. But other than hanging out at the base with his crew, he had no real reason to be there. He was retired. Jesus, God, he was retired at freaking thirty-eight. What the hell had he been thinking?

  That he’d put in his time. That his luck would hold out for only so long. On their last mission, he’d lost a member of his team. It made him reevaluate his life. And now he was a civilian with no idea what to do with his time. He flicked a piece of peeling ocean-blue paint from the window frame, reminding himself of Sully’s offer. The guy hadn’t let up. Maybe that’s why Griffin couldn’t get the reason he wouldn’t take the job out of his head. At least since he’d gotten home he wasn’t constantly being woken up by a voice telling him Ava needed him. Now it was just his own conscience bugging him—wondering how Gino was doing and if she was okay.

  Griffin gave up fighting the need to know and walked to his favorite chair. He made himself comfortable, pulling up the wooden lever to raise the footrest. An image came to him, sitting there with a book in his hand and a bottle of beer in the other. Is that really what he wanted his life to look like ten years from now?

  He brushed the thought away. Everyone deserved some downtime. He’d only been nonactive for a month…It’s January, dumbass. You’ve been sitting on yours since November. Scowling, he thumbed through his contacts on his phone. Instead of texting his brother, he decided it might be better to talk to someone rather than talking to himself.

  “Hey, I was just about to call you,” his brother said as soon as he picked up.

  An uncomfortable feeling twisted in Griffin’s gut at the serious tone of his brother’s voice. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. “What’s up?”

  “Ava was just hospitalized.”

  Griffin slammed the lever down and shot to his feet. “What the hell do you mean she was hospitalized?”

  “Jesus, you just about blew out my eardrum. Chill. It’s nothing serious.”

  “Chill? You tell me something like that and you expect me to chill? And since when did you start saying shit like chill?”

  Liam snorted a laugh. “Blame Mia. It’s her favorite new word.”

  “If you don’t tell me why Ava was hospitalized, you’ll be hearing my favorite word.”

  “For a guy who says he doesn’t care, you sound pretty worked up about this.”

  “Liam,” he gritted out.

  “Okay, okay, she has a hairline fracture in her arm.”

  “Goddamn, the woman’s stubborn. I told her it wasn’t just a bruise.”

  “Yeah, well, here’s the thing. It was just a bruise, a bad one. But, uh
, Gino woke up, and he wasn’t himself. He was ripping—”

  “Swear to God, I’m going to kill that old man. He hurt her again, didn’t he?”

  “Seriously, big brother, you’ve gotta calm down. It wasn’t intentional. Gino was off his head and pulling out the lines. Ava tried to stop him, and he pushed her. She tripped.”

  Griffin sat on the arm of the chair and dragged a hand down his face. “They wouldn’t hospitalize her for a hairline fracture. What else is going on?”

  “She fainted. She’s been at the hospital since they brought Gino in and hasn’t slept. Before you give us grief, we all tried to get her to go home. Like you said, she’s stubborn.”

  “Are they sure that’s all it is? I’ve gone without sleep for forty-eight hours. I’m sure you have too. I didn’t faint. Did you?”

  “Hello, I’ve never gone without sleep for that long. And you’re a SEAL; nothing affects you. But it’s not just the past two days. Dorothy, their next-door neighbor, says Ava hasn’t had more than a couple of hours of sleep a night since she moved in beside them. Over the past month, Gino’s been drinking more and staying up all night. Ava’s afraid he’ll hurt himself and doesn’t go to bed until he does. Then she’s up at the crack of dawn getting him and his meals ready for the day. Doc Bishop says she’s burned out. He’s beating himself up for not recognizing the signs and stepping in sooner. We’re all feeling pretty bad. We’ve seen the changes, the weight loss, signs that she might be depressed, and none of us took her aside and talked to her about it.”

  “Take it from me, it wouldn’t have done you any good. She would have told you she’s fine.”

  “That what she did with you?”

  “Yep.” He watched the rain stream down the windowpane, remembering how hard he’d tried to get her to open up all those years ago. “In the end, this is probably the best thing that could have happened to her. She won’t be able to pretend anymore. How long is Doc keeping her in the hospital?”

  “A few days.”

  “Gino?”