Gripped (Prescott #2)

by Joanne Schwehm

  Everything spun around me. This wasn’t happening. I couldn’t be losing her.

  My father hurried to my side from the waiting room and wrapped an arm around me, steadying me while a crash team worked on Beverly. When they shocked her heart with paddles, her lifeless body arched off the bed, but there was no other response.

  A doctor yelled, “Clear!” and they shocked her again, but still . . . nothing. He shouted instructions at a nurse, and she turned a few knobs on the machine. Once more he yelled, “Clear!” but that goddamn green line on the monitor didn’t change.

  “What the fuck is going on?” My hands gripped my hair, tugging at the roots, and I lunged through the doorway. “She was just fucking talking to me! Do something!”

  The nurses pushed me back again as I kept shouting questions at them that no one answered.

  I turned my attention to Beverly, shouting at her through the doorway. “BEVERLY! Honey, please wake up. Sweetheart! Can you hear me?” My legs felt weak, but I needed to be strong for her.

  A hand rested on my shoulder, and I turned to find a priest next to me.

  “Son,” he said solemnly, “I’m here to perform—”

  “NO!” I cut him off, not giving two fucks if he was a man of the cloth. “Just pray for her to get well. She’s not dying.” Jerking away from him, I cried out, “Beverly! Wake up!”

  I paced the hallway frantically outside her door, trying to get a glimpse of what was happening behind the human wall created by nurses and doctors.

  Finally, after what might have only been a moment or two but felt like hours, I heard the monitor beep out a heartbeat. Everyone in the room seemed to relax a little, and a nurse caught my eye and beckoned me in.

  The doctor stepped aside, allowing me to get close to Beverly. Leaning over her, I rested my lips on her bare chest, close to her heart. Her eyes were still closed, and I would give everything I had for them to open.

  “Honey, please. I need you.” I reached for her hand, surprised to find mine trembling. “Please, God, please. Don’t take her; you can’t take her. She’s my world and has so much still to do in life. We have so much we want to do together.” Then I closed my eyes, praying silently as hard as I could, terrified and desperate.

  “Dane,” Dr. Wells said from beside me. “We need to run tests.”

  Before I knew it, they had wheeled her out of the room. My father came in and stood next to me as Dr. Wells walked out.

  When we were alone, Dad said, “I know you’re upset, we all are, but taking it out on the medical staff isn’t going to help. Your brothers and sister are on their way back and will be in the waiting room. Your mother and Beverly’s mother went to the chapel.”

  I nodded. He was right—I shouldn’t be yelling at the doctors and nurses who’d just brought Beverly back, but I was out of my element and in way over my head. For the first time in my life, I wished I had followed in my father’s footsteps and gone to medical school rather than spending time playing golf.

  It felt like an eternity before Beverly was wheeled back in the room. The doctor followed a short time later to inform me that she had a blood clot, which caused the earlier episode. She’d been given medication to dissolve it, and now we were back in a holding pattern, waiting for her to wake up again.

  • • •

  Visitors weren’t supposed to stay around the clock, but the staff had learned that it would be futile to ask me to leave. It hadn’t worked before, and it wouldn’t work now. About once an hour, one of my siblings would come in to check on me. When it was Gretchen’s turn, she insisted I leave and take a break, but there was no way that was happening.

  A light touch on the top of my head woke me about four in the morning. When I opened my eyes, I found Beverly looking at me.

  Her lips curled into a small smile. “Hi.”

  Oh, thank God. “Good morning.”

  “When can I go home?”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sweetheart, we almost lost you yesterday. I think it may be a while.”

  Beverly nodded before moving her hand to her abdomen. In a weak voice, she said, “My stomach hurts. What did they need to do?”

  “They had to repair your liver. Do you remember what happened?”

  She closed her eyes, which scared me. The last time she’d done that, she’d almost died. But this time, they opened right away.

  I handed her a cup of water with a bended straw so she could drink something. “Just a sip. I don’t want you to get sick.”

  After she swallowed with a wince that even I felt, she looked at me. “I was on my way to the shelter . . .” Her brow furrowed as she remembered. “Oh my God! Katie. Where is she? Is she okay?”

  The beeping increased, which scared the shit out of me.

  Needing to calm her, I squeezed her hand. “Please try and relax.” When she glanced at the machine, took a deep breath, and relaxed again, I said, “Yes, Rose took care of her. She’s fine.”

  Beverly nodded. “I didn’t get to see her. When I was walking from my car to the shelter, three or maybe four men wearing dark hoodies grabbed me and dragged me down the side alley.”

  My hands balled up into tight fists, splotches of red blurred my vision, but I let her continue.

  “One of them grabbed my purse when I reached my hand in it, but I was able to spray him with my pepper spray.” She coughed, and I gave her more water. “Thank you.”

  We smiled at each other, and I asked, “Do you remember any more?”

  She looked past me, her gaze unfocused. “One of them told me he was going to enjoy hurting me.” That fucker. “Then I remember getting punched in the face.” Her hand went to her cheek. “The other one told me he was going to enjoy . . .” Her eyes sprang wide open and she focused on me. “Oh my God, was I . . . did he . . . did they?”

  Tears spilled from her eyes, and I reached out to brush them from her cheeks. I knew what she feared; the same thought had run through my head.

  “You weren’t sexually assaulted. Someone must have called the cops. They broke it up and caught the guys.”

  “Thank God.” Then her mouth dropped open and she gasped. “Your tournament. Did you win? I’m so sorry I missed it.”

  “All that matters is you’re alive, so yeah, I won.” That was the God’s honest truth. There would be more tournaments, but there was only one woman for me.

  A knock sounded at the door. When it creaked open, her parents and my entire family walked in, followed by Dr. Wells.

  “Hello there, Beverly. It’s so good to see you awake.” He walked over to her and checked her vitals, paying special attention to her bruised eye. “Everything looks good. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m sore and a bit tired, but I’d like to go home.”

  Everyone laughed, but I was ready to help her to my car. All I wanted was tuck her into my bed and take care of her.

  Dr. Wells smiled. “I’d like to keep you a bit longer for observation. When you’re stable for more than twenty-four to forty-eight hours, I’ll release you.”

  After we all let out a sigh of relief, my parents took the Whitfields to lunch, and my brothers, Gretchen, and Lucy went home to relax. They’d all been here every day and had to be exhausted.

  “Dane, why don’t you go home and rest.” Beverly was concerned, but there wasn’t any need.

  I shook my head. “No way. The nurses took pity on me and let me shower here. But maybe tonight they’ll let me climb into bed with you.” When I waggled my eyebrows, Beverly let out a weak giggle and grabbed her ribs. “On second thought, I’ll wait until I get you home.”

  Another knock came from the door. We both looked over to find Rose standing in the doorway.

  “Your brother called and told me Beverly was awake. Can I come in?”

  “Sure, please do.” I got up and gave her my chair.

  “I’m so glad you’re awake,” Rose told Beverly. “You had us worried.”

  She placed her hand on Beverly’s, who t
hen asked, “How’s Katie?”

  Rose’s face fell. “She’s very sad and confused.”

  Beverly’s eyes filled with tears. “That poor little girl.”

  “Actually, she’d like to see you when you’re up to it. I told her I’d check with you first.”

  Beverly swiped under her eyes with her fingertips. “Yes, I’d love to see her. Who is she living with?”

  “We had to place her in a temporary home. Sadly, not many families want to adopt a six-year-old. They mostly want a newborn.” Rose’s shoulders slumped and I felt for her, unable to imagine having to deal with that as a profession.

  My eyes locked with Beverly’s. I knew exactly what she was thinking, but didn’t dare mention it until we were alone. Rose stayed for a little longer before saying she’d contact us to set up a meeting with Katie.

  When we were alone, I kissed my girl. “You want her, don’t you?”

  Beverly’s eyes filled again, and the last thing I wanted for her to do was cry. “Yes, I do. She doesn’t deserve to be shuffled around.”

  “I thought you might say that. How would you feel if I had Drake look at the possibility of us adopting her?”

  Her voice was hopeful as she echoed, “Us?” The smile that grew on her face confirmed that I’d said the right thing.

  “Yes, us.” I took my place in my chair. “I love you so much, Beverly. I should have told you long before now.”

  Her chin quivered, but she managed a smile. “I love you too.”

  My entire body relaxed and filled with hope for us and our future together.

  I leaned over and kissed her, and with her hand in mine, I said, “I’m not asking you to marry me in a hospital, but know one day I will ask. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and when I thought I’d lost you, part of me died. I breathe easier when you’re by my side, Bev. You know I love you. I think you’ve always known that, and what better way to share our love than with Katie?”

  Beverly’s smile brightened, and I couldn’t help but tease her.

  “Plus, who’s going to teach her how to play golf? You?” I chuckled, then gave her a wink. “You never even finished your lessons with me.”

  “Hey! That’s not fair. I’m a good golfer when I want to be.”

  “Fine, we can both teach her. But seriously, what do you think if we were a family?”

  “I’d say that’s the best idea you’ve ever had.”

  I shook my head. “No, that was when I asked you out.”

  CHAPTER 36

  November

  ~ Beverly ~

  Every bone in my body ached and my muscles felt like Jell-O. At least I was home now—well, at Dane’s apartment. My parents went back to New York when I was released from the hospital last week, but have called me every day since, checking up on me.

  Dane and I went to bed around ten p.m. and snuggled together. It was so wonderful being in his arms again, and I reveled in the warmth of his body pressed against mine. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, pressing a little deeper in my pillow as . . .

  Three men in dark hooded jackets walked up to me. One pushed me, making me stumble backward into another’s arms. It was like a bad game of pinball. A hand grabbed my breast, followed by more shoving, and rancid breath wafted into my face, making me want to vomit.

  Then someone said, “I can’t wait to hurt you.”

  I tried to run, but couldn’t. When I felt my bag being tugged off my arm, I grabbed a small can and sprayed the stranger in his dark brown eyes. His pupils were so large, his irises looked black. Then I swung my arm and connected. All I could do was scream, so I did, as loudly as I could.

  “Beverly.” A gentle hand stroked my hair.

  Oh my God. He knows my name. I swung again, but this time, pain in my knuckles startled me.

  A man’s voice cried out, “Damn!”

  When I opened my eyes, a bright light shone into them, making me squint. Dane was sitting up in bed, holding his mouth. When he pulled his hand away to look at me, his lip was bleeding.

  “What happened?” I cried out. “Are you okay? Why are you bleeding?”

  “You were having a nightmare.” His tongue came out and licked the cut.

  My eyes widened. “Oh my God! I did that?” I looked down at my hand to find my knuckles were red. “I’m so sorry!”

  “Sweetheart, don’t worry about me. Are you okay? I tried to wake you, but then your right hook connected with my mouth.” He attempted a smile, most likely to quash the look of horror I had on my face as I stared at his bleeding lip.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” I hurried to the bathroom to get a cold washcloth. When I gently pressed it to his mouth, he winced a bit. “I’m so sorry, Dane.”

  “Hon, it’s okay. Look . . .” He pulled the compress away. “It’s not even bleeding anymore.” He flipped the cloth over and placed it on my knuckles. “How’s your hand?”

  I flexed my fingers a few times. “Fine. Honestly, it doesn’t hurt.”

  After I had set the cloth aside, he pulled me close to him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “It’s the same dream. Men in hoodies. I still can’t see their faces, just their eyes.” Which was enough to creep me out.

  “What did Dr. Bronski say?” he asked, referring to the therapist Dr. Wells had insisted I speak with before I was discharged.

  “He said nightmares are common and I could have anxiety, but in time, it should get better. If not, he wants me to make an appointment with him.”

  The concern in Dane’s eyes made me want to be stronger than the visions in my head. I didn’t want to go through life always thinking about this.

  Giving him a smile, I said, “If I’m still having nightmares in a few weeks, I’ll make an appointment. I promise.”

  Dane kissed me. “Whatever you need. You know, a witness came forward and identified the men. You won’t need to testify or see those bastards ever again.”

  After I let out a sigh and snuggled closer to him, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.

  • • •

  Dane held my hand as we left the doctor’s office after my four-week checkup, a little more spring in his step than when we had walked in. The doctor gave me the all-clear to resume normal activities, which meant I was cleared to have sex. I had already returned to work a couple of weeks ago, and it was great to be able to get back into the swing of things with Dane too.

  I met with Dr. Bronski last week and told him my nightmares had lessened significantly, and I no longer wanted to run away when I saw someone in dark clothing. He said since I knew those men were behind bars probably helped my fears, which made sense. I was just glad I wasn’t waking up in the middle of the night as often, terrified I was being chased.

  Today, we also had an appointment to see Drake, who had been working on the adoption paperwork for Katie. Before I was discharged, Dane had introduced him to Rose and told them both that we wanted to adopt Katie. Since we weren’t living together, my name would be the only one on the paperwork. Rose also thought it would be in my favor to attempt to obtain sole custody since Dane would be traveling so much.

  Drake’s assistant greeted us and led us to a conference room. Rose, Drake, and another woman were sitting around a rectangular glass table.

  When Drake saw us, he stood and introduced us to Shannon, the social worker assigned to Katie’s case. After we all said our hellos and took our seats, my heart started to frantically beat in my chest. What if they denied me?

  Dane took my hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze before leaning over to kiss the worry lines on my forehead. “It’ll be okay, I promise.” His hand cupped my neck. “We won’t let her down.” Looking deep into my eyes, he added, “I won’t let you down.”

  Shannon slid on a pair of tortoise-rimmed glasses, opened a folder, and began to go over the criteria necessary to obtain custody.

  “Our goal is to connect a child with a parent or parents who are suitable for the child. We generally r
un a matching process in our system, but since we know that you’re seeking a particular child, we’ll bypass this step.” She pushed back her glasses until they were perched on top of her head and looked at me. “It’s my understanding that the child you wish to adopt is Katelyn Buchanan. Is this correct?”

  Buchanan. I didn’t even know her last name. Did I tell the woman? “Yes, I know her as Katie.”

  A warm smile grew across Shannon’s face. I figured her to be in her forties, and maybe had kids of her own. “Yes, Katie. She’s a darling little girl.”

  Shannon cleared her throat and slid her glasses down to rest on the bridge of her nose. “This isn’t the usual case since she has somewhat of a relationship with you. We don’t think there will be a separation anxiety issue because, according to her foster parents, Katie prays for you to come every night.”

  Tears filled my eyes and ran down my cheeks as Dane laced his fingers with mine. “When can I see her?”

  Drake handed me a tissue from the box at the end of the table. After I thanked him, I dabbed at my eyes.

  “Drake told me about your situation, so we ran a background check. It came back clean. Rose has also recommended you.” She looked at Dane. “Well, both of you, since according to your brother, you’ll be a big part of her life too.”

  Dane’s wide eyes matched his smile, and his grip on my hand tightened. “Yes, I’d like to be.”

  Shannon nodded. “I can have Katie at your home by the end of the week if you think you’ll be able to have the proper necessities needed for a six-year-old.”

  Thrilled, I frantically nodded. “Yes, I’ll have everything she needs.

  She smiled. “There’s the question of day care since you work during the day. Katie will need to be enrolled in school, but what will you do before and after?”

  “I’ll be there, and if not, I’ll hire a nanny,” Dane chimed in before I could answer. “Plus, I’m sure the school offers before- and after-school care. Katie will be properly cared for; you have my word.”

  Shannon nodded. “Once you do, call my office. After an inspection, I’ll process the paperwork and Beverly will be listed as her foster parent.”