Inked by an Angel (18 page)

He didn’t say a word as he threw the car in reverse and started driving.

After several miles, and a few giggles, her stomach gave a noisy grumble. Michael glanced over. “Hungry?”

“Starved,” she admitted. “I guess I haven’t eaten since, well, I’m not sure.”

He signaled and turned into a fast food restaurant. “I’ll get you something to eat. What do you think you can handle?”

“A moose.”

He smiled. “How about a salad or a small burger? Maybe a milkshake? Something not too big on your stomach to start with?”

He drove up and placed an order. Kyle idly wondered what her family would think when they found her missing from her hospital room. Hopefully they wouldn’t blame Michael, though her mother probably would.

“Here you go.” He handed her a bag of divine-smelling food and a small milkshake.

“Thank you, Michael. I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.”

He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I can do.” He started driving again while she rifled through the bag and pulled out their food.

She unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. “Oh, my goodness. I think this may be the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

“So, Miz O’Neill,” he asked between swallows. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“What’ll you do if we get all the way there and we still can’t find out anything about Jed? What then?”

She nibbled the end of her straw. “I have no idea, Michael. I can’t believe that’ll be the case.”

He glanced over at her. “Why is it so important to you? I didn’t think you even liked each other. Has something changed between the two of you?” His knuckles turned white where he gripped the steering wheel as he waited for her answer.

She dropped her half eaten sandwich back in the bag and turned to look out the window. “Yeah, something’s changed, Michael. I’m just not sure what.”

Two and a half hours later, thanks to rush hour traffic and a minor fender bender sitting on the side of the road causing some rubber-necking, Kyle and Michael finally made it to Brackenridge Hospital.

Michael led her in and Kyle felt herself suddenly losing her nerve. What if Jed didn’t want to see her? Worse yet, what if he was barely clinging to life? What if . . .?

She gnawed the inside of her cheek and turned to Michael. “I’m not so sure about this anymore. Maybe it’s not such a good idea. We’re probably invading his privacy.”

He shook his head, refusing to let her pull away. “No way. We came this far, we’re going to at least see what we can find out.” He dragged her toward the volunteers’ desk.

A white-haired lady smiled up at them, deepening the lines of her face. “May I help you?”

Michael leaned on the counter with a charming grin. “Yes, please. We’re looking for a friend who was in a bad car accident. His name is Jedediah Gentry.”

The woman turned to a computer screen and clicked some keys on the keyboard. “Yes. There he is.” She glanced up at them. “Are you family?”

Kyle felt her hope sink. They were never going to get to him.

Michael shifted his weight. “Well, no, ma’am, we’re not. But this here is his lady.” He hiked his thumb in Kyle’s direction.

Her mouth dropped open to protest, but the old woman smiled and nodded, looking back down at her computer screen. “Well, your young man is in Room 306. I hope he gets to feeling better very soon. Y’all have a good evening now.”

Michael grabbed her hand and led her toward the bank of elevators. He hit the ‘up’ button, whistling like he was very pleased with himself.

“You lied to the woman,” she hissed at him when the doors slid open and they stepped inside.

He looked like she’d wounded him. “But, I thought . . .”

“Never mind.” She pressed the button for the third floor. “At least you got the room number.”

The elevator doors parted when they reached the third floor and the first thing Kyle saw was the glass partition of a small waiting area. Behind the glass, Jed’s mother sat alone dabbing her face with a tissue. Should she go to her? Would Mrs. Gentry welcome her comfort? She glanced up at Michael. With a silent tip of his chin, he indicated for her to go in the room while he stayed back to give them privacy.

This was her chance to find what she’d come here for. She braced herself and stepped across the threshold of the elevator onto the softly carpeted hallway. She made her way toward Jed’s mother. The woman she’d met at the country club was gone, the polish and upper-class perfection totally chipped away. All that was left was just another worried mother with a pale, drawn face and flat hair.

Paula Gentry looked up when Kyle approached. She stood and pressed down the legs of her wrinkled jogging suit. She eyed Kyle up and down. “You were with him?” she finally asked, her voice wobbly with tears.

Kyle nodded.

“Are you hurt badly?” Tears streaked down the older woman’s face as she gently touched one of the bruises on Kyle’s arms.

“I had a concussion. Got tossed around a bit. I’ll be fine.”

On a gasp, Mrs. Gentry threw her arms around her and squeezed. Kyle felt his mother’s hot tears soaking through her T-shirt as she hugged her back.

Eventually, Mrs. Gentry let her go, but took her hand and led her to sit next to her on a small sofa. She searched her eyes, concern evident. “Are you sure you’re all right, Kyle?”

“Yes. But nobody can tell me what happened to Jed. Please, how is he?” she implored.

“Oh, dear. How frightening for you.” She squeezed her hand. “He was pinned in the car for over an hour after they got you out.” Fresh tears welled up in her eyes. “He had a major concussion. His left leg was severely shattered. He needed several hours of surgery and a blood transfusion. But he hasn’t been awake the few times they’ve let me in to see him so I don't know what he remembers.” She took a deep breath to stall the tears that were threatening. “But it was a miracle, really. I was told, with the accident the way it happened, that neither of you should have survived. Someone was watching out for the two of you.”

“Oh, my God,” Kyle whispered. She had no idea. Not really.

His mother reached for extra tissues and handed Kyle one. She hadn’t realized that she’d started crying.

“I’m glad you’re here, Kyle,” Mrs. Gentry said around her tears and a watery smile.

Kyle didn’t know what to say to that. She simply nodded.

“He’s been my rock since my husband passed away, you know,” his mother continued. “I was an absolute wreck.” She looked at Kyle with true remorse in her eyes. “I cursed God for taking him away. I couldn’t understand. I just didn’t know how to be alone in the world. I’m sorry for that now.” She bowed her head and took a breath. “But I think my son blamed his father.”

“Why?” How could Jed blame the man for dying?

Mrs. Gentry shrugged sadly. “My husband was a precious man, but he had no sense of urgency about things. So when the doctors told him about his heart condition, he didn’t take it seriously.” She dabbed her eyes. “I think my poor child can’t get over the fact that his death broke my heart.”

“Oh. I’m sure he would’ve done it differently had he known.”

Mrs. Gentry smiled softly. “Who knows? I’m sure he’s happy wherever he is now. And I’ve found some peace with it now. I just wish my son could.” She stretched her neck and squeezed Kyle’s hand. “We could never have any more children, you know. I got uterine cancer when Jedediah was about four years old and had to have a hysterectomy.” She gave a nostalgic little laugh. “He was enough of a handful. I didn’t really worry about having more. And we never really talked about adoption. My two men were enough for me. Now my one man is enough.” She took a watery breath. “I just need him to be okay.”

“I’m sorry.” Kyle offered the only platitude she had.

“You’re probably wondering why I’m telling you all of this.” She shrugged. “I’m just emotional I guess.” She dipped her head and wiped the fresh tears that were spilling over. “He’s my baby, Kyle.”

She patted Jed’s mom’s hand, offering what little comfort she could. “I know.” She wondered how to get her mind on happier things. She gave a small, rueful smile. “Did you know Jed pierced my ears, Mrs. Gentry?”

His mother looked up. “No. Let me see.”

Kyle turned her head from side-to-side to show off the blue stones.

“Pretty.” His mom gave a sly smile. “Did you know Jedediah gave me a tattoo?”

Kyle’s mouth fell to the floor. “You’re lying.”

“Nope.” She stood and rolled down the top edge of her jogging pants. There, on her hip, was a tiny red heart with the initials
JJ
in fancy curly script.

“Well, I’ll be,” Kyle said with a laugh. “You are, hands down, the coolest mother I’ve ever met.”

Mrs. Gentry sat back down. “I don’t know about that. But I had the coolest husband and I have the most wonderful son around.” Her smile turned serious. “And I don’t know how I’ll survive if I lose him, too.”

“Well, Mrs. Gentry, I’m sure—”

Her thought was interrupted by the intercom as the mechanical voice overhead announced a Code Blue in Room 306.

Jed fought to open his eyes. He felt like he’d had too much to drink.
Way
too much. His throat felt like a big cotton ball, his eye was swollen and pulsing with each heartbeat, and he could tell he needed a shave because he itched like the devil. And damn it, if he wasn’t in some major ass pain!

Finally, he was able to crack open his non-swollen eye and get a look around. Tubes and wires connected him to monitors beside his bed and a small table held a white water pitcher next to him. He tried to sit up, but a weight tugged his left leg down, trapping him. He pulled back the sheet.

“Son of a bitch!” He reached down and tapped the cast that enclosed his leg from foot to groin. “What the hell?”

He heard a faint alarm ringing in the background and people bustling outside his door, but he paid it no mind as his newest discovery under the sheet had him baffled. Then disturbed. By the time the group of harried looking people in scrubs came bursting into his room, he was downright pissed off.

They stopped short with the big rolling cart and stared at him, their mouths agape. “Uh,” one of them stammered.

“Did they call the wrong room?” someone asked as they darted out the door.

“He’s looks pretty responsive to me,” another smartass said.

“Damn right, I’m responsive.” Jed kicked at the sheet with his good foot so they could get a good look at his dilemma. “So will somebody please tell me
why
I’m wearing a dress?” He raised an eyebrow and lifted a piece of the offending fabric. “And
why
in the
hell
I have a fucking tube stuck in my
dick!
” His voice rose with each word.

Nobody said a word.

Overhead, clear as day, the detached voice announced, “Code Blue, Room 306, all clear. Code Blue, Room 306 is now all clear.”

One of the women in the group stepped forward while everyone else cleared out with the big, clunky cart. She pulled the sheet back up to cover him. “Mr. Gentry, that’s a foley catheter. It’s draining your bladder since you’ve been mostly unconscious since your accident.”

“Accident?”

“Don’t you remember?” She studied him with kind, green eyes before she moved to examine his monitors and machines.

He thought about it. His head hurt. An accident? What kind of . . .
wait a minute
. It was coming back. “A car accident?”

She smiled and adjusted something on his IV. “That’s right. A pretty bad one from what I’ve heard. You were lucky to survive with just that broken leg and a concussion.”

He gripped her hand urgently as the memory flooded back. “And my . . . friend? What happened to her?”

The nurse furrowed her brows. “Friend? I hadn’t heard of anyone else being brought in from your accident. What’s her name?” She moved to her computer screen.

His stomach churned nervously. “Kyle O’Neill.”

She clicked a few keys. A few more. A confused expression crossed her face. She turned back to him. “I’m sorry, Mr. Gentry. There’s nobody by that name here in the hospital. Maybe she . . .”

He closed his eyes as his heart sank.

“Maybe she was taken to another hospital?” she offered.

He nodded. “Thanks.”

But maybe not.

Jed agonized through the longest hour of his life after the nurse left the room. The pain coursing through his body was overrun by the sheer terror of not knowing what had happened to Kyle. He’d begged his nurse to help him dial the stupid hospital phone as he plugged in his mother’s number, but her cell rolled over to voicemail.

The door opened and he looked over expectantly. But it was only his nurse again. She’d forgotten something and she scribbled some notes down on a pad and double-checked his IV fluids. She offered him a half-hearted smile that really said
I’m busy and overworked
and hustled back out the door with a promise to return with some Jell-O and broth. Yummy.

He closed his eyes and wiggled his toes at the end of his cast. It felt weird to be so heavily weighed down. He tried to remember the accident. All he could recall was the huge red truck barreling for them, slamming on the brakes to try and avoid the impact, the spinning, and maybe the first roll of the car. After that, nothing.

Man,
just the thought of his car brought on a whole new kind of ache. Poor, poor, baby. She was irreplaceable.

But so was Kyle.

The door opened again, but he didn’t open his eyes this time. Probably the Jell-O run.
Mmm Mmm, good
.

A small, warm hand clasped his. “Jedediah?”

He opened his eyes. “Mom.”

She leaned down and brushed her lips to his forehead. He could tell she’d been crying. “I’m glad you’re awake. You’ve been out every other time they’ve let me in. I’ve been so worried.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re looking much better.”

“Well I feel like my car chewed me up and spit me out.” He rubbed his free hand across his stubbly face. “Which I hear is pretty much what happened.”

“Yes, sweetheart. You and Kyle were both very, very lucky.”

His eyes flew to hers. “Kyle? Have you heard from her? She’s all right?”

She gave a small, knowing smile. “Yes, son. She was here. She came to check on you.”

He breathed his first truly deep, relieved breath that day and relaxed back into the pillow.
But, wait . . .
“You said
was
here. Did she go?” He needed to see her. He wanted to lay eyes on her to make sure that she was alive and well for his own peace of mind.

His mother sat down next to his bed looking decidedly nonchalant, but he was sure she had something up her sleeve. “I’ll check in a minute. I have some things I want to talk to you about first.”

“Mother.”

She maintained the eye contact with a sigh. “Listen, Jedediah, I know this may not be the best time and place for this, but I really think it’s important. Especially given what you’ve gone through and . . .” She rubbed her thumb across his knuckles as if to soothe him through what she had to say. “And now that I’ve had a chance to get to know Kyle a little bit, well I don’t think we can put this off any longer, sweetheart.”

His heart began to pound painfully. “Put what off, Mom?”

“We had a nice long chat, Kyle and I. Once we got over the panic when they called the Code Blue to your room, anyway. The rude nurses at the front desk wouldn’t let us through until everything was settled down.”

“That was a mistake.”

“We figured that out soon enough.”

He raised a brow. “What did you talk about and what does this have to do with anything?”

She crossed her legs and assumed her perfected
Mother
pose. “It was a woman-to-woman thing. But, what I will tell you is that I believe that girl has feelings for you that are much stronger than friendship. She deserves the truth from you and either your heart in return or a gentle heartbreak. But don’t keep her in the dark, Jedediah. It’s not fair to her.”

“Where’s all this coming from, Mom?” He studied her reddened eyes. She’d never been one to nose in on his love life.

“Sweetheart, I’ve sat back and let you take care of me this past year and a half or more since your father died—”

“But that’s my—”

“Wait! Let me say my peace,” she interrupted. “I know you think it’s your job. And I know you love me and I also know you’re angry with your father for leaving us and for what he did to me, in particular, by dying.” She leaned over and brushed a kiss to his knuckle. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be stronger. I was a wreck.”

He couldn’t deny the truth of her words as the pain roared back as fresh as the day they buried his dad.

“But,” she continued, “I need you to understand something. I loved your father. I still do. I’m not angry with him for dying.” She caught his eye. “You need to let it go. Move on with your life.” She brushed her thumb along the back of his hand. “And, for what it’s worth, I hope it’s with Kyle. I think she’s great. I hope you do, too.”

He blinked. What could he say to that?

But she was wrong about one thing. He’d actually forgiven his father a long time ago. And he wasn’t ever particularly angry. He was frightened that he could cause someone that kind of pain. Especially someone he loved. Or that they could do it to him first.

His mom stood. “Now. Would you like me to go see if Kyle is still here, sweetie?”

He glanced up. “Please.”

A few minutes later, a soft knock sounded on the door. He turned his head as Kyle peeked in.

“Your mom said you wanted to see me?” she said in a soft, hesitant voice.

He met her eyes. Her face was a welcome ray of sunshine in his dreary world. He held up his hand. “Took you long enough. Get the hell over here, baby.”

She didn’t need any more encouragement than that. She rushed through the door and over to his side to take his hand. He yanked her onto the bed, and with her halfway into the bed, halfway out, he wrapped his arms around her and held tight.

She held on just as tight. Tighter even, as she snuggled into his chest and pressed her face into his neck and wiggled up further into the bed. “I hope we don’t get into trouble,” she whispered as she finagled her way around his IV tubing.

He whipped back the sheet so she could join him under the covers and silently cursed the damn dress he was still wearing. Thank goodness she didn’t seem to mind. “I don’t care what they say, darlin’. I’m just glad you’re finally here.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, eyeing the nasty purple bruises blooming on her flesh. “Are you all right? You weren’t hurt badly, were you?”

She caressed the koi fish on his forearm. “I had a slight concussion and some bumps and bruises, but I’m fine now. You’re much worse off than I was.” She stretched up and kissed his chin. “I was so scared I’d lost you, Jed.”

Something in his gut clenched as he realized he’d had the exact same thought minutes ago about her.

She reached down and tapped the thick cast. “Oh, my goodness, Jed. Your leg.” She looked up at him. “Does it hurt?”

“No,” he lied.

She linked their fingers. “Well, at least it wasn’t your arm. So you can still work, right?”

He wished she’d quit wiggling. It was beginning to make other parts of his anatomy hurt. “Yeah. As soon as they let me outta here.” He loved that she was trying to find the bright spot in all this for him. But she didn’t need to do that because she
was
the bright spot.

“When will that be?” She brushed her lips to his cheek.

He caught a hint of soap. A different scent for her. Where was her usual perfume? “Not sure.” But he couldn’t really concentrate as she continued to press butterfly kisses along his jaw and neck.

He used the arm he had wrapped around her waist to press her harder against him and grip her hip possessively. When she found his ear with her mouth and gently tugged on one of his earrings with her teeth, he bit back a groan.

“Am I hurting you?” she whispered in his ear.

“No.”

Her breath was hot and moist against his skin. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No.”

“Good.”

She disentangled their hands and cupped his face to bring his lips to hers. She ran her tongue along the inseam of his mouth first, then dipped inside and deepened the kiss as if it was their homecoming. And, he supposed, it was.

Between kisses, she murmured sweet nothings that didn’t register to him as he basked in the warmth of her. She felt so right in his arms. In his bed. In his heart.

The door to his room
swished
open. He pulled back and looked down into Kyle’s face. Two sides of his heart were at war without him realizing what had happened.

His nurse cleared her throat. “You must be Kyle?”

Kyle jumped up like she’d been shocked by electricity and he let her go as she scrambled from the bed. “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry.”

The nurse smiled sweetly. “It’s okay. I know Mr. Gentry was worried about you. I’m glad that you’re not hurt. But I thought he said you were his
friend
?” She tilted her head and looked pointedly at Jed.

He shrugged and yanked the sheet over himself. “Did you bring my Jell-O? I’m getting hungry.”

“I sure did.” She pulled off the foil lid and handed him a plastic spoon. “Hope you like orange. It’s all I’ve got.”

He took a big bite. “It’ll do.”

“You need any pain medicine?” she asked.

He shook his head. He didn’t want to be groggy again. “I’ll live.”

“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind.” She made a cursory glance at his machinery doomaflichies and left the room.

Kyle sat down in the chair next to his bed and waited while he ate his liquidy snack. She seemed at a loss of what to say, which was fine with him. He needed time to think. His heart was thundering in his chest as he tried to deal with the realization that
something
was happening. He just didn’t know what to call it.

He glanced down at the koi fish on his arm. He’d been down this road before. He would not screw up like that again. Not for any woman.

He looked her in the eye and thought about his mother’s words.

“I believe that girl has feelings for you that are much stronger than friendship. She deserves the truth from you and either your heart in return or a gentle heartbreak.”

The trouble was, he didn’t do gentle. But he could save her.

“So, listen, Muffet,” he started, steeling himself against the pain that was sure to come.

She sat up straighter in her chair as if sensing the change in his mood.

“I’ve been thinking,” he continued, “this thing between us is never gonna work out.” He glanced at her. “As much as I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. We’re just too different. You understand, don’t you?”

She simply stared at him. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I don’t want to hurt you.”

She stood, shock and disbelief coloring her face. “Well, you’re hurting me now.” She paused a moment as if hoping he’d say it was just a joke. When he said nothing, she turned to go. “You know, Jed, we may be different, but I’m not the one with the problem with it. You are.”