by ML Gardner
He hated himself for not arranging a plan in case they got separated. But Ruth should know not to go anywhere. She should know to stay at the train station where he would surely find her. She should know better! Unless…unless she was in trouble. Unless she couldn’t get to him. The thought crossed his mind that Victor might not have been alone. After all, they hadn’t stuck around to see exactly who came through the door. She could have been spirited away while he had his back turned.
He broke into a run, towards the Sheriff’s office. Worried, hungry and very tired, his legs didn’t last long. He slowed to a fast walk and it was then that he noticed someone behind him. Close behind him. He turned quickly and a man following him came to an abrupt stop. A quick look around found them on a road sparsely populated. A few houses dotted, a corner business half a block away, a stray tabby nonchalantly crossed the street. The man was balding, short, with large eyes and an equally large smile.
“Relax, buddy.” He mopped his forehead. “You haven’t been easy to catch up with. Fit guy like you.”
“Do I know you?” Bomani asked.
“I have a message from Ruth.”
Bomani relaxed, blew out a breath and stepped forward.
“Thank God. What is it?”
“I got it right here.”
From under his jacket, the short man pulled out a gun and raised it.
“She said to tell you she loves you.” He pulled the trigger.
The sound echoed through the street and the cat sprinted off. The short man stepped over Bomani’s body and walked away. Around the corner he got into a waiting car, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
∞∞∞
Patrick walked up the hill, past the back garden, toward his little cabin. There was a spring in his step and he whistled. They had just enough supplies to get through winter, Shannon was happy in their new little home and Caleb’s problems were Caleb’s problems. There was a great relief in being separated from them. Since Katie Mallory had set him straight, he’d been sober for a bit now and with any luck, he’d stay that way. Either way, he shrugged to himself as he walked, they weren’t his problems anymore.
He heard a car behind him as it pulled up to the front of the farmhouse. He heard Arianna talking but couldn’t make out what she was saying. Then someone called his name. Patrick stopped and turned around. It was Marvin. He stood slightly hunched, looking small and meaningless, waved and smiled in front of Arianna. He pushed his glasses up his nose and started walking past the house and up the hill toward him.
He changed as he walked, out of eyesight from Arianna. He began walking straight and tall. Slowly took off his glasses and his friendly smile morphed into something ugly and angry.
He got right to the point.
“You talked to Caleb.”
Patrick drew himself up tall. “Aye. Man had a right to know. What he does with it now is between you two.” He turned to walk away and Marvin grabbed his arm.
“You think it’s that easy? After I specifically told you not to say a word, you go and squeal. You disobeyed my order, Patrick. Now, what am I supposed to do about that?”
“Ye can start by taking yer fecking hands off me. Else, law man or no, I’ll lay ye flat out.”
Marvin held on for a few more seconds, pressing his luck, before he let go. “I suppose you’re one hell of a fighter.”
“Yeah. I can be. So ye can throw your wee hissy fit and flash yer badge and have Caleb arrested for all I care. But know this, if ye do, I’ll find ye and I will rid this town of one crooked deputy. At the very least, they won’t be able to recognize ye. That’s a promise.”
“Ah, be careful, Pat. Threatening a law man could land you in jail.”
“So could the thousands of dollars of opiates you’ve got stashed in that barn.”
“Tell me, Pat, is it just the heritage that makes you hate authority, or does your friendship with Caleb have anything to do with you getting all ruffled up.”
“Caleb’s a good man, deep down. He’s taken me and my family in. I’ve been madder than hell at him for his choices lately, but I won’t see him busted for something he’s not responsible for.”
“Well, Patrick, in the last few seconds, I’ve had a revelation of sorts.” He smiled, lopsided and devious. Patrick stared, wary.
“Let’s say that you do something for me, and I won’t hold my promise to have Caleb busted.”
Patrick narrowed his eyes. “I won’t do anything illegal.”
“Well, for me, what’s legal and what’s not is in the eye of the beholder. And I am that beholder. After all, if a deputy were to tell you it was okay to do something, as a favor, it’s kind of like a free pass, you know?”
“I figured it would be something underhanded. The answer is no. Whatever it is, I won’t do it.”
“Even if it means sending your friend down the river?”
Patrick stared at him. “Ye won’t do that. And ye know how I know ye won’t? Because ye need him. If ye didn’t you’d have yer stash somewhere else.”
“You’re right. And they say Irish are all temper and no brains.” He laughed. “What I don’t need, Patrick, are witnesses. Like you. Now, if you were willing to do something to be needed, like use those muscles on some guys who haven’t paid, then we’d have more of a partnership, of sorts.”
“I’d sooner die than be a dirty partner of yours.”
“Stubborness. Now that’s a spot on typecast of your people.”
“Ye go about your filthy business of muddlin’ up peoples brains with that stuff yer selling. But I won’t have any part of it.”
He turned and started to walk away. Marvin spoke with malice in his voice.
“That’s a real pretty wife you’ve got there in that cabin. Cute wiggle she has when she’s reaching up to hang clothes on the line.”
Patrick froze and spoke through clenched teeth.
“Unless you want to see the full fury of hell—” He turned and looked Marvin in the eye. “I’d not mention my wife ever again.”
Marvin just laughed. A loud, boisterous laugh that made Patrick want to choke him silent.
“I’ll be watching, Patrick,” he said as he turned and walked leisurely back to his car. “Should anything happen to my investment, we’ll talk again.”
∞∞∞
“Jon.” His head jerked up and he saw Vincent standing in the doorway with his hat in his hand. “How are you?”
Not readily having an answer, he brought his shoulders up. He looked lost. He felt lost. Vincent motioned with his hat to sit down and Jonathan invited him.
“How’s Ava?”
“There’s no word yet,” Jonathan said. “They thought tonight, but…”
“I hope it all works out, Jon. I really do.”
He nodded, bouncing one leg, twisting the arms of the metal chair under his palms.
“I know this isn’t the best time. I’ve talked to Marvin and gotten his account of what happened. I’d like to get yours.”
“Ah—” He blinked and rubbed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. “He showed up and tried to kill me. After Ruth and her friend showed up…I don’t remember his name.”
“Her friend? What did he look like?”
“Tall with dark hair. A little bit of an accent, I don’t know, Egyptian, maybe?”
“Bomani?” Vincent asked.
“Yeah, that’s it. He showed up and said Victor was on his way.”
“How did he know?”
“Said he used to work for him.”
“And you’re sure this person was her friend? Boyfriend maybe?”
“Maybe, probably. I don’t know. She seemed awfully protective of him.”
“Okay.” Vincent held his hat between his knees, twirling it slowly. “I’m just trying to put all the pieces together.”
“What’s to put together? Ruth and Bomani tried to warn me, Victor showed up and now he’s dead. And the whole damn thing caused Ava to go into labor. I’m glad he’s
dead. In fact, I’ve never been happier that someone is dead!” The other fathers glanced over at him.
“I’m not trying to upset you, Jon,” Vincent said in a hushed voice. “In fact, I owe you an apology. You came to me months ago and I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry.”
Jonathan rolled his head around for a moment, stretching the tight muscles in his neck. He appreciated the apology, but it didn’t change, or help things now.
“Thanks, Vincent,” he said. It wasn’t his fault. He was angry at the situation, not the Sheriff.
The nurse appeared at the door and three expectant fathers popped their heads up anxiously. She didn’t call Jonathan, but another fitful soul waiting for news. He scurried away while the two remaining looked down in disappointment.
“Do you want me to stay with you?” Vincent asked.
“No, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
Vincent stood. “Can I get you some coffee? Bring anything back? A book or something?” He glanced at his watch. “Dinner?”
“No. I appreciate it, though.”
He turned to leave and Jonathan stopped him.
“Hey, wait. How’d you know the name of Ruth’s friend?”
Vincent stepped closer and lowered his voice to nearly a whisper.
“He turned up dead on the sidewalk this morning.”
If Jonathan hadn’t been overwhelmed to the point of breaking already, this certainly pushed him dangerously close to the edge.
“Ruth showed up yesterday evening saying she’d been kidnapped, managed to escape, and ran straight to the Sheriff’s office. Marvin is giving her an escort back to New York now.”
“Kidnapped?”
“I take it she didn’t look under duress?”
“Not at all.”
“Well, now you see what I mean by putting the pieces together. I’ll let you know when I—”
“You know what Vincent? Don’t. I don’t want to know. It doesn’t concern me anymore.”
Vincent agreed with a reluctant shrug. After he left, Jonathan scrubbed his face with his hand. He didn’t want to know. Didn’t care. The only thing he cared about was several rooms away, fighting for life with an unknown fate. The long wait, the little voices in the back of his head, the blasted ticking of the clock on the wall, it all reminded him of what was truly important and he closed his heart to everything else. The whole world could burn and he wouldn’t give it a second glance. Just let them be alright, he pleaded.
∞∞∞
Jonathan nodded off sometime after midnight. He jolted with the feeling of falling and grabbed the arms of the chair with a gasp.
Another father, who hadn’t been there when Jonathan fell asleep, nodded his understanding and repositioned his sweater as a makeshift pillow, leaning at an awfully uncomfortable angle. Jonathan stretched his leg out to avoid a cramp.
“I just keep telling myself, it’s not as bad as what they’re going through in there,” the man said with a smile.
Jonathan nodded.
“This is my sixth. You?”
“First. Well, second, but…long story.”
The man didn’t feel the need to ask questions. “After you have as many kids as I have, it gets easier. That is, after you get them home, it’s easier. This is never easy. The waiting.”
Jonathan nodded again, stood and stretched, letting out a big yawn.
“The nightshift nurses just brewed a pot of coffee. It’s in the hall on a table to your left.”
“Thank you.” He opened the door and peeked out. All was silent. It seemed unnaturally bright. He’d always disliked hospitals. And this nerve wracking waiting game didn’t improve his opinion.
“Mr. Garrett?”
Jonathan turned around. “Right here.”
“Would you come with me?”
A plump nurse with her hair pulled in a tight bun fluttered her hand and turned, walking quickly. Jonathan jogged to catch up. “Is she okay?”
“Right this way.” She led him with a fast waddle down a series of hallways and through a number of doors. The last room was small and the lights were off. The nurse flipped the switch, blinding them both. Jonathan blinked, shielding his eyes.
“She’s right in there.”
“Ava?” he asked, squinting.
“No, your daughter.” The nurse turned him around by the shoulders and through a thick plate of glass stood a nurse, holding a tiny bundle. He couldn’t see a baby for all the blankets and took a step forward. The young nurse, clad in a gown, cap and mask stepped forward as well, tilting the bundle so Jonathan could see the smallest face he’d ever dreamed possible.
“She’s a strong one. It was a little concerning at first, she didn’t want to breathe, but once she did, she let out a holler we nurses love to hear.”
Jonathan stood with his mouth agape, staring. He could see thin wisps of hair peeking out from the edge of the bulky knit hat; it was light, like Ava’s. Her little mouth was pursed but she didn’t frown like most babies he’d seen who looked rather inconvenienced at the process of being born. She slept peacefully.
“She’s healthy?” he managed to whisper.
“She appears to be. Tiny, but healthy. Only four and a half pounds and seventeen inches long. She’s breathing well and she’s even had a half ounce from the bottle.”
“And Ava?” He turned to the nurse. “How is she?”
“Very tired. But doing well. It’s late, but I can take you to her, just for a moment, if you’d like.”
“Yes, please.” He turned with the nurse to leave, but didn’t take his eyes off the baby until the last second.
Ava lay sleeping in the hospital bed as Jonathan approached. The room was dark with only a dim lamp at her beside. It was odd to see her figure flat, with only the slightest rise and fall of her chest.
It was a large room with five other beds. Three beds were occupied besides Ava’s and those mothers slept soundly. Jonathan pulled the curtain surrounding Ava’s bed closed. When he sat down, her eyes were open.
“Have you seen her?” Her voice was hoarse and weak.
“I did. She’s so beautiful. Just like her mother.”
Ava managed a weak smile.
“I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there with you.”
“I wanted you. I asked for you. They said it wasn’t allowed.”
“I know,” he said with a frown. “I’ll be there next time. I promise.”
She grimaced with a smile. “I really don’t want to think about next time right now. She may have been small but that was really hard.”
“I’m sure it was.”
“I’m so tired,” she whispered, closing her eyes.
“I’ll go tell the others and let you sleep, okay?”
She lifted a weak hand to find his. “Don’t stay gone too long, okay?”
“I’ll be back first thing in the morning.” He leaned over to give her a kiss.
“Bring Jean,” she said, just before she slipped off to sleep.
∞∞∞
The next day Ava was sitting up in bed when her visitors arrived. She had eaten and her arms were restless to hold her new daughter.
Smoothing the blankets over her legs for the third time she sighed heavily, growing impatient with the nurse who was supposed to be bringing her baby.
Jean’s dark locks poked around the privacy curtain and she smiled.
“Are you okay?” he whispered with nervous eyes. Jonathan rumpled his hair.
“I told you she was alright this morning,” he said, stepping around Jean and producing a bouquet of flowers.
“Oh, they’re beautiful, thank you.” She knew better than to chastise him for spending precious money. An occasion like this justified flowers and, as she painfully readjusted in the bed, she’d earned them. He bent to give her a kiss.
“How do you feel today?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck. My ankle doesn’t hurt so bad in comparison.” She smiled. “Come sit by me, Jean.”
Jonathan lifted him up and sat him carefully on the edge of the bed by Ava’s legs. He took a long look at her stomach and all around the tiny, curtained cubicle.
“Where is the bebe?”
Ava opened her mouth to speak but stopped, her eyes darting to Jonathan. “Did you tell him?”
“No.” He grinned. “I thought I’d let you do that.”
“Ah. Well, the baby will be here in a few minutes.” She craned her head to see past the curtain. “Or at least it had better be. That nurse is taking forever.”
He wriggled with anticipation. “So, you are not going to tell me if I have a brother or a sister?”
“Nope. You have to wait.”
“If I guess will you tell me?”
“No,” Ava said. “But I do want to thank you.”
His eyes popped wide. “Thank me? For what?”
She motioned him closer and he moved cautiously.
“I know what happened the other day was very scary.”
“When the bad man came,” he whispered.
“Yes, when the bad man came. You were so brave. You stayed right by me, even after I fell.”
He dropped his eyes down. “I went away one time.”
“You did. But it was to get something to protect us with. I wanted to thank you for that, too.”
He was upset, biting on his lip. “I didn’t even know how to use it.”
“But you knew to get it when we were in danger. And I could have used it, if I needed to,” Ava said.
He raised his head and faced Jonathan. “You aren’t angry at me for getting it? You told me never to touch the gun.”
“Well, not this time, no, I’m not angry at you. You did the right thing. But I do think it’s time I teach you how to use it properly. Maybe we can go out into the woods sometime soon and start practicing.”
Jean sat up a little straighter and beamed as the nurse pulled the curtain back. “Here you go, sorry for the delay, dear. Delivery’s really busy with that full moon tomorrow.” She moved close to the bed and transferred the baby from her arms to Ava’s.
“Jean, meet your little sister.” She pulled the blanket back from the baby’s face and Jean stared for a moment.