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 Hannah should be back tomorrow.
 Good.
Mary hadn t talked to Dace since their uneasy parting, and she d only seen him at a distance
earlier this morning. Over the weekend she d had a lot of time to think. When she came back to
work, she d assured her boss that she could return and have no problems. One more thing needed
solving before she could have peace of mind.
 Did you hear? Coreen said as she stopped by Mary s desk.
Mary sighed. She didn t want to hear it. Her fingers flew over the computer keys.  What?
Coreen s inky black hair dipped over her cheek as she leaned forward on the high counter and
glared down at Mary. Her brown eyes held a cold, calculating measure that she couldn t hide
under any pretense. At least, not to Mary. She could read this woman like the proverbial book.
When Coreen didn t respond, Mary looked up in exasperation. The damn woman stayed right
where she was, her eyes twinkling with mischief.  Coreen, I have a couple more reports to finish
before I leave today. If we could cut right to the chase...
 Dace was hurt on a call a couple of hours ago.
Mary s entire body froze. She couldn t look away from her computer screen.  What?
 They took him over to the hospital for observation. For once Coreen didn t have an insolent,
superior look on her face.
Worry bit into Mary with sharp teeth.  How bad is it?
 Like I said, I don t know. I ll keep you posted. Coreen left the room.
 Right, Mary said to herself. She snatched her phone and started flipping through her phone
book.  What the hell is the phone number for the hospital?
Before she knew it, she d located the number and dialed. On pins and needles didn t quite
describe Mary. No, her heart pounded too hard, her pulse fluttered too much, her stomach
clenched tight. Despite all that, numbness took hold until she reached the front desk at the
hospital and they passed her along to the emergency room. It took some doing but she reached
Kelso.
 Is Dace all right? Panic rose despite her efforts to force down her wild feelings.  Coreen told
us he was hurt.
 He s damn good considering he had a hand grenade tossed out the window at him.
 What?
 Yep. Crazy jerk on the north side decided he d resist arrest, and we set up shop when he
barricaded his house.
 Oh, God.
 Dace got his bell rung and a bruised rib, but he s excellent. They re letting him out of here.
She sighed in relief.  That s good news.
 Hey, you get off in about a half hour, right? I ll stall him until you can get here.
 Stall him?
 I know you want to see him. The doctors don t want him to drive and they want him to stay
home for a day. He ll need a babysitter.
Kelso s blatant and not so blatant meaning came through loud and clear.  I ll be there as soon as
I get off. Don t let him escape.
 Not a chance.
* * * *
As Mary walked into the hospital, she knew what she had to say to bring closure to a part of her
life that had almost caused her to lose someone very dear. She hated the hospital, but then so
many people did. Here, people found hope, they suffered, they found a cure, they sometimes
died.
The dying part bothered her the most.
Because thinking about Dace leaving this earth without her having him in her life first... Well,
the thought tore a hole in her that couldn t be mended.
She found him in the emergency waiting room parked in a wheelchair, without Kelso to pin him
down. Surprise, surprise. A television high in one corner played one of those repeating
broadcasts that screamed the latest health scare. Reading a car magazine, Dace seemed oblivious
not only to the news but the full waiting room around him. From here he looked in one piece--no
bruises, no cuts, no bandages that spoke of damage. Relieved, she hurried forward.
At first he didn t see her.  Dace.
He looked up, and his expectant and pleased expression eased some of her worry.  Hey. Took
you long enough. Her mouth popped open. Before she could speak, he smiled.  I m kidding.
Kelso gave me some crap about having to leave and that you d be by to get me.
She returned his grin.  He s good at that, isn t he? She squatted down by his wheelchair and
clasped his forearm.  How do you feel?
His smile flashed as if he hadn t almost lost his life.  I feel damn good. My ribs are sore, but
other than that, I m wonderful.
 Kelso said you were knocked out.
He shrugged, then grimaced.  All of two minutes. Don t worry. My brains aren t turned to mush.
Yet. He winked.  I ve still got my mojo.
She laughed.  If I didn t know you, I d say the blast turned on your inner comedian.
 When I woke up and realized my ass hadn t been blown off, I made a vow. I decided I m
lightening up. I feel like I ve blocked too much fun from my life. He covered her hand.  I ve
been too willing to pass by the small, good things.
 Such as chocolate ice cream? she asked.
His gaze turned hotter, more purposeful.  With whipped cream.
Oh, yeah.
She swallowed hard and stood up.  Ready to go?
 They have to wheel me out. Hospital regulations.
She let the nurse at the front desk know she d arrived to get him, and another nurse they both
knew wheeled him out to Mary s car. By the time they left the parking area and negotiated the
snowy streets, a strange silence settled over them. Now that she had Dace in the car, she couldn t
seem to form a sentence. Finally, they reached his house.
 Come in for a while? he asked as they parked. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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