After All These Years (36 page)

“But I still didn't have proof he was in on the drug thing.”

“He wouldn't necessarily know that. Could be his kid and friends. Some of them aren't from Valley Oaks. Maybe it's them and not Mitch. You look like you're fading. I suppose you left some of your blood beyond that door. I think it's time for a search warrant.”

Cal gave him a weak thumbs-up. “Go get 'em, pal.”

Lia hugged Chloe until the little girl protested.

“Aunt Lia! Where's Soot?”

“Sleeping with Nutmeg in the kitchen. Go.” She smiled and then fell into her mother's embrace. It was the most comfortable place she'd been since falling asleep on her couch as Cal whistled his way downstairs.

Lia almost gave way to tears again. She was so grateful to be alive…so grateful for her parents' love…so grateful for Chloe. But she held back, afraid that if she started crying once again, she would never stop this time.

“My daughter, the heroine.”

“Oh, Mom.”

“Why don't you go see him? Chloe and I will unpack and fix dinner.” They were moving into Isabel's house. Her father hadn't been able to come, but her mother was staying until Monday.

“There's just too much to do with the store. And he's still in intensive care. Visitors are restricted.”
Only
fiancées
are allowed to visit.

“But he'll want to thank you.”

“That can wait. I need to get back over to the new store. It's really a makeshift affair, but I think it can work for a short while. Mom, you won't believe how people are helping.”

“Lia, they like you here. Don't give up too soon.”

She had told her mother over the phone that she had decided to sell the business. “We'll see. Are you sure you'll be fine?”

“Isabel said to make myself at home, so I plan to do just that. We've brought food. Chloe and I have shopped. You both have new clothes. We'll get organized.”

Lia smiled. “Thank you, Mom. Chloe's going to use the spare bedroom. It's small, with a single bed. You and I are out here on the hide-a-bed.”

“Suits me just fine. Your friend Isabel is a gem to welcome us this way.”

“She is that. God is good.” Lia said the words because she accepted them as fact, but it felt as if her rock-solid faith had liquified. Why had God opened her heart only to break it?

Isabel perused the mail at the radio station, waiting to identify the station and give a weather update at 5:00. That week had been a topsy-turvy chain of events.

Exhaustion had set in after she brought Lia home from the hospital. Between Saturday's short night and Sunday night's vigil for Cal, she had been running on empty. Not to
mention Tony's abrupt, angry departure sandwiched in between…

She ached for him, berated herself for letting him down. She prayed nonstop, almost mantra-style, “Lord, heal Cal. Lord, heal Tony's soul.”
Lord, heal Cal. Lord, heal Tony's soul.

She exchanged her early morning shift with another announcer and slept away much of Tuesday, as did Lia. She was an easy house guest. They both recognized their nerves were worn raw. They were content to snack instead of cook real food and to sleep rather than chitchat. The air was heavy with Tammy's announcement.

It was Thursday already. Susie Neuman had arrived with Chloe that afternoon. Isabel already knew Chloe and Lia were delightful. After meeting Susie, she concluded delightful was a family trait. Isabel had a distinct impression that they would be fed well, the house would be cleaned, the laundry would be folded and put away.

And…Cal had woken up.
Thank You, Lord. Heal him completely. And heal Tony's soul.
Too many emotions swirled through her.

A letter caught Isabel's eye. It was some sort of a general announcement about a new Spanish-speaking station soon going on the air in the Chicago area. They needed announcers.

Isabel dropped the paper as if it burned her fingers…as if it were a burning bush.

It happened that instantaneously. She knew her life would never be the same again.

Cal stared out the window and thought about how grateful he was. He was alive. He didn't feel as bad as he did yesterday. He was out of ICU and sitting up in a bed near a window. Benny had found traces of his blood in the basement of the video store. Mitch was under arrest. His finger-prints had been found on both handles of the basement door as well as the latch of the half door in the pharmacy.

He thanked God for all these things, and then he faced what he could no longer ignore. He had to break things off with Tammy. Poor girl was here all the time.

And Lia wasn't.

He tried not to dwell on that fact, but it bothered him. He couldn't help wondering why she didn't come. Of course she would be busy recovering herself, not to mention regrouping business-wise. Tammy said that Dot was working today, Saturday. They were opening next door to Aaron Thompson's office.

Then, too, Lia was independent…impressively independent. Nothing like Tammy…

Also, visitors had been restricted in ICU. Even Brady, who should have been nearer a family member than Tammy, was only allowed five minutes, just long enough to let him know he talked often with Cal's mother. Her health wasn't the best, and it was difficult for her to leave home in Florida. Cal had talked with her himself yesterday, assuring her that she needn't come.

Tammy had been granted special privileges because for some reason they believed she was his fiancée. One of the nurses had referred to her that way when they moved him this morning. Now that he thought about it, she did act more possessive than ever, as if they
were
engaged.

Well, he'd had enough. Why should he be chasing a passing fancy rather than the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with? That lesson had hit home about the time he passed out on Lia's basement steps.

A knock woke Cal from one of his perpetual naps. “Come in.”

It was Brady. “Hey, bud. I hardly recognize you without all the tubes. And sitting up even.” He walked over to the bed and grasped his hand. “Man, I'm glad to see you're coming back. You sure put us all through one rough week.”

Cal grinned. “You think you've had it rough?”

Brady laughed.

“Combining over?”

“It's raining.”

He glanced out the window. The sky had grown dark and a steady rain beat against the window. “Hmm. Guess I missed that development this afternoon. I sure hope this sleepiness goes away soon. Is it still Saturday?”

“Last I checked it was.”

“So what are you doing here? If you're not in the fields, you should be with Gina. Win back that woman's trust.”

Brady's grin widened. “Already did.”

Cal held up his palm for Brady to slap. “What's your secret? More flowers?”

“No way. Flowers wouldn't touch this one. God had to intervene. She went to Isabel's youth group. I don't know
what happened there, but she said it helped her understand more about trusting God instead of people. And then after this incident with you.” He shook his head. “I don't know. It really scared all of us, but she said it also woke her up. She took time off from work for a week just to ride around in the combine with me.”

Cal let out a mellow whoop.

“We're going out for a special dinner tonight. I'm going to propose to her all over again, this time in private, on my knees.”

“Congratulations, Brade.”

“Thanks. You're still planning on being my best man?”

“It'd be an honor. Just give me a few days to get back on my feet.”

Brady smiled. “Just a few days, huh? So where's your sidekick? Tammy has been here every time I've come by.”

“Well.” Cal took a deep breath. “Got a little catching up to do with you. This morning I broke off whatever it was she thought we had going between us.”

“What?”

“You know I wasn't in love with her. We had some good times together. But after I met Lia, I knew the difference between a good time and sharing a life. I haven't stopped thinking about Lia for weeks now— What's wrong?”

“Cal! You're not this callused, I know. I mean, I don't hold it against you. We all make mistakes, but you made a commitment to Tammy.”

“I did not. The nurses seem to think we're engaged, but that's hogwash.”

“You can't turn your back on her now!”

“Brady, what is it I'm missing here?”

He groaned. “Oh, man, she didn't tell you.”

“Tell me what?”

“Cal, Tammy's pregnant.”

Lia sat beside Chloe on the bed in Isabel's spare room, snuggling. It was Tuesday night, just over a week since they had been alone, but it felt like months.

Her mother and Isabel were gone: her mother back home after nourishing them for five days with her marvelous cooking and infectious laugh; Isabel to Chicago for a job interview. The healing had begun.

She opened the pharmacy on Saturday. It was a drugstore in the strictest sense. There were only drugs available. Smoke and water from the sprinklers had ruined everything. The Christmas inventory stacked in the back room had been destroyed by the fire.

Insurance money would carry her for a while, hopefully long enough to sell the business and at least break even. After closing Saturday afternoon, she let Dot go. She couldn't afford her financially. That morning she realized that neither could she afford her emotionally. The woman informed her that Tammy had suffered a miscarriage, but Cal was sure to stay loyal.

Lia hugged Chloe tightly, shutting out those details. “So tell me. How was the visit with your dad?”

“He was nice.”

Well, that wasn't much information. “Did you meet his family?”

“No. Just the two of us went to dinner and the zoo. He said his other kids were busy, but maybe next time they could meet me.”

Next time?
Lia groaned to herself.

“Aunt Lia. I've been thinking. Do you think I can call Mommy Mom? Mandy doesn't say mommy anymore.”

“That's a good idea. Your mom would like that.”

“Aunt Lia?” She raised her face, those big blue eyes boring into Lia.

“Hmm?”

“Sometimes I call you my mom when I talk to the other kids. Is that okay?”

“Sure, honey. I'm your adopted mom, even though I'll always be your aunt.” She hugged her silently for a few moments. “Did your dad say he would call you?”

“Yeah. Can I see him again?”

“Do you want to?”

“Yeah. I mean, yes.”

“We'll see. You better get to sleep now.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Love you, too, sweetpea.”