Aris Returns (39 page)

“I wanted to wait until today but I just couldn’t. I told him last night and Sarah,
he cried. I would never have thought a big, tough lout like Bob would shed a tear,
but he cried.” She was laughing as Sarah wiped the tears from her friend’s cheek with
a napkin she found on the cutting board.

“Well, little momma, you’ve got mascara all over you right now. Go fix your face.”
Taking the spatula from her hand, she spun her friend toward the door. “Go on. I’ll
man the kitchen for now.”

The microwave beeped. She turned to open the door to remove the little hot dogs wrapped
in pastry. She placed them methodically, one by one, on a serving dish. Hearing the
sound of the door behind her, she turned quickly, expecting to see Colleen, clean
faced and ready to reclaim the kitchen. She was not surprised though to see Carlos.

He looked strange as he crossed to stand just in front of her. “What’s the matter?”

“There is nothing that is the matter now.”
His voice was deep, unlike his own.

She gasped and dropped the plate. “Aris?”

He nodded.

“But how, how?”

“How is not important, this is.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist. Bending to kiss her, his lips neared hers. Her
heart raced. Was she mad? Was this possible? Then there was no thought, just the feel
of his warm mouth on hers, the scent of his sweet breath, the feel of his arms around
her.

“Whoa!” The sound of Colleen’s voice brought her back to her senses. She pushed him
gently from her, quickly bending to pick up the broken pieces of the plate and the
ruined little hot dogs. “Sorry I barged in like that.” She sounded embarrassed and
tickled at her intrusion.

“It’s fine.” Sarah kept her head down so her red cheeks were visible only to the floor.
“It’s fine.”

“Yeah,” Carlos stooped to help her, “its fine. Not a problem, just a little friendly
welcome smooch.”

And that was how Sarah found Aris had not gone forever, that he still lived and breathed
within this young man who had just taken her breath away with a kiss.

#

She hadn’t slept very well the previous night and she was already on her second cup
of coffee. She yawned loudly as she reached for her phone.

“Sarah, there’s a woman on your line. She says she’s a friend of Carlos but she won’t
tell me her name.” Maggie’s voice had an edge to it. “What should I do with her?”

“Put her through.”

#

She knew she had to get away from her office, from thoughts of the strange phone call
she received that morning. She said goodbye to Maggie and headed for her car. Sarah
was grateful that the receptionist at the hair salon was able to fit her in among
her hairdresser’s already scheduled clients of the day.

The sound of the scissors and the feel of Nina’s hands shaping Sarah’s hair made her
feel more calm, almost relaxed. The buzzing of the salon was comforting. She chose
the sisterhood of the salon hands down over the gym as a place to hide out. She needed
some time to think.

Her eyes closed as the blow dryer puffed warm air onto her forehead. The wonderful
tingling feel of the hairbrush against her scalp was familiar, reassuring.

Inside the steady hum of the blow dryer, she remembered the feminine accented voice
on the telephone warning her that Manu meant business. She said she didn’t want to
see Carlos get in any more trouble. Her Latino accent was thick as she told Sarah
Manu would kill her or Carlos without a second thought to keep Carlos from giving
evidence against him.

“Who are you?” Her only answer was a dial tone.

She phoned both Colleen and Bob. Neither one of them was available. She waited impatiently
to hear from them.

She leaned back in the chair. It took all her effort but she was able to move her
focus to the music in the background, the sound of the dryer and Nina humming along
with both.

#

Reluctantly she returned to her office for her four-thirty appointment. It was an
easy session and when she was finished with her client, she walked her to the door
and said goodbye just as her phone rang. Reaching across the desk, she snatched it
from the cradle before it stopped ringing.

“Sarah?” Bob’s voice was excited as he spoke. “We just picked up Manu.”

She sat down. A welcome sense of calm settled over her at his words. “What happened?”

We found evidence that he was involved in a drive by, pretty strong evidence, so we
picked him up. He had a gun in his car and
it’s the gun that was used.”

“What’s next?”

“He says it’s not his, of course. He said he found it. There are no prints on it and
it’s not registered but we’re working on it. Sarah, I need you to help me find Carlos.
Manu is using him as an alibi on the night of the shooting.”

“Bob. I don’t know where he is any more than you do. Have you tried the half-way house
or his job?”

“I checked both places. He hasn’t been around the house and he took a week off work.
I’ve got to find him. We need someone who will tell the truth about this guy or we
have to let him go.”

The office was silent. “I’ll try to find him but you realize the position this will
put him and his family in, don’t you? It isn’t just Manu, it’s his whole gang.”

“Sarah, we need help with this from someone who has been involved and no one else
is going to witness.”

“Bob, I said I’d talk to him and I will. I’ve got to go.”

“Are we seeing you on Saturday for dinner?”

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” They said their goodbyes and she returned the phone to its
cradle.

She spun her chair to face the window and for the first time, she found no solace
in the city. Her thoughts skimmed the last few months of her life. So many changes,
so much drama. Part of her longed for the calm, quiet of her existence before Carlos
entered it, yet she also knew a perverse excitement at the life she now shared with
him.

She sat staring out the window until heavy clouds moved in and covered the sun.

#

“I thought Saturday would never get here.” Colleen slid open her kitchen window to
let out the heat from the oven. “This whole week was one big blur.” She chopped vegetables
for the salad
while Sarah sat in one of the tall chairs on the opposite side of the breakfast bar.
“So what’s up with Carlos? How did you find him? What did he say?”

“He said he’d think about it. He said he’d call me soon. It’s not just about him,
Colleen; it’s about his whole family. He’s worried about what they might do to his
brother.”

“It’s a hard situation but Manu used Carlos for an alibi. Manu’s prints weren’t on
the gun. We can’t prove it’s his. Without Carlos, we’re going to lose and the scum
will walk.” She tossed the salad then placed the utensils in the sink. “Sarah, I hate
to tell you this, but they had to let him go. He made bail and until Carlos tells
the truth, he’s walking around outside again.”

Sarah stood and paced the floor. “That’s bad news, really bad news.”

#

The ringing of the phone roused her from a restless sleep. She sat up, snatching it
from its cradle.

“Sarah?” Colleen spoke with a measured calm. “Sarah, I need you to wake up.” She waited
for an answer.

“Colleen, I am awake. What is it?” Her heart was racing as she reached to turn on
the light. “What’s going on?”

“Carlos has been shot.”

“How bad is it?” She had to remind herself to breathe as she stood. She hit the speaker
button on the phone. “Where is he?”

She grabbed her jeans from the chair next to her bed.

“It’s pretty bad. We’re at St. John’s Hospital.” Her voice broke as she continued,
“you’d better get here right away.”

“I’m on my way.” Sarah fought panic as she finished dressing then hurried to the parking
garage. She glanced at her watch. It was just past three in the morning and she was
grateful there wouldn’t be much traffic at that hour

As she opened her car door, a sob tore from her throat. He
couldn’t be that bad, he couldn’t die. He could not die.

#

Colleen was pacing the floor of the lobby when Sarah stepped through the automatic
door.

“How is he?” Sarah gripped her friend’s arm.

“He’s out of surgery.” Colleen evaded Sarah’s eyes as she guided her to the elevator.

“Colleen,” she stopped walking. “Tell me the truth. How is he?”

Tears poured down the parole officer’s cheeks. “Honey, they don’t think he’s going
to make it.” Her shoulders shook in silent sobs.

Sarah stepped inside as the elevator doors opened. They rode up the three floors without
speaking. When the doors opened again, Colleen took her hand as they hurried down
the hall.

“He’s awake but he’s really groggy. He’s loaded with pain meds. His insides were pretty
torn up.” A nurse left the room as they entered.

His eyes were closed and his breathing was labored as she stood silently at the foot
of his bed. “Carlos?”

At the sound of her voice, he turned to look at her. He was deathly pale, his golden
beauty torn from him. His belly was wrapped in bandages and tubes were in his arms
and nose. He looked like a frightened injured boy as he lay in the hospital bed.

“Sarah?” He smiled a slow, drugged smile at her.

She went to him, carefully taking his hand in hers. “I’m here and I’m staying here
with you until you’re well.”

He tried to laugh but it sounded like a gurgle. She fought tears, forcing a smile.

Even through the medication, he grimaced in pain. “I give up. I’m through fighting.
It’s all been just too much of a battle.”

“You can’t give up. Your life is worth the fight.”

“I’m not going to get well.” His voice was soft and the words were slow in coming.
“It’s going to be over soon, I can feel it.” His eyes
closed and he willed them to open so he could see her.

“No, no, you can’t think that way.”

“Sarah, this is the only way out for me and for my family and to keep you safe. I’m
going to take it.”

She was silent, unable to speak without crying.

He tried to talk but his voice was so low, she had to lean her ear close to his mouth.
He struggled to make himself heard. “Now, maybe you will let me tell you how much
I love you. How grateful I am. You are the first good thing that ever came into my
life.”

“Carlos, please.” She bit her lip to help hold back her sobs.

He grimaced as another wave of pain swept through him. “Sarah, will you hypnotize
me one last time? Count backwards for me . . . ”

A nurse and doctor hurried into the room. The doctor lifted his patients closed eyelids
then released them. They looked at the displays of the machines that surrounded him
and hopelessly shook their heads at her.

“Yes.” And she began the familiar induction. As she counted backwards, taking him
into a final calm and peaceful state, all of the sounds of the life-monitoring equipment
in the room ceased.

“No. No. No.” She shook her head as sobs tore from her throat. Colleen gathered her
into her arms to comfort her. The nurse moved to draw the sheet over him when suddenly
the heart monitor began to beep, softly, slowly at first, then growing stronger with
every electronic sound.

Everyone in the room stood still, unable to move, unable to believe their ears. The
doctor moved to the bedside.

“He’s breathing. His heart beat is getting stronger.” He turned to face her, an incredulous
look in his eyes. “I don’t know what just happened but if this miracle continues,
he just might have a chance.”

Sarah sank down into the chair by the bed and cried thankful tears of hope.

S
he was awakened by a soft groan. Disoriented for a moment, she glanced around the
room. Carlos was awake, watching her. He smiled as she stood to move closer to him.
She reached to take his hand in hers.

“Sarah, my Sarah, I touch you at last.”

She gasped. She dropped his hand.

“Aris?” she whispered.

He didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Her eyes closed as she moaned, sliding to the
floor in a cold faint.

“Sarah.” He raised himself from the pillows and pressed the button to summon the nurse.

#

The nurse stood by as the doctor checked his pupils and his vital signs. “This is
uncanny. I don’t understand it.” He opened the dressings that circled the abdomen
of the injured man. He stopped, unable to move or speak.

“Doctor, what is it?” Sarah stepped closer to the bed.

“This man’s wounds are healing, rapidly.” He whispered the words in disbelief. “What
happened here?” He turned to the nurse. “Get him to radiology immediately.”

#

Bob and Colleen sat on either side of her as they waited for Carlos to return. The
stunned doctor had no explanation for the smooth, wound free abdomen of the man who,
the night before, had a bullet hole in him.