Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (9 page)

Jimmy swung her chair in my direction and took a seat. “I can show you to your room when you’re ready.”
I wasn’t going to be ready. I’d stay here with David. I took a gulp of the coffee to make sure I’d stay awake. Then I heard myself whisper, “How did this happen?”

He shook his head and turned his gaze from David to me. “We don’t really know. Something went wrong. They were attacked, and David was hit. There was an explosion, and the force of it knocked him into a muddy river. Eduardo was able to get him out, but infection set in. It took a couple days to get out of there. It’s called sepsis. They’ve got to figure out what drugs will work on the infection. Probably some weird bugs.” He put his coffee down and rubbed bloodshot eyes.

I thought Jimmy must be like David. He was obviously very strong and fit and tough and serious. But I could see there was a nice man in there somewhere.

Chapter Six

The noise blasted me awake, and I lifted my head from the edge of the bed to see Jimmy running into the room followed by several nurses. “Get her outta here!” one of them said.

Jimmy lifted me out of the seat, and I struggled so hard he had to put me down in the hallway so as not to break me. “I’ll take you to your room.”

“No!” I freed a hand and swung in an effort to get away. He grabbed me as I noticed Dr. Earle and Nita race into the room followed by more people and equipment. “David!”

He subdued me into a lonely chair in the corridor. “David! What happened? David!”

“It’s his blood pressure. His blood pressure’s too low. The infection, it’s messing up his blood pressure and his heart. They’ve got to get it under control. That’s all. Let them do their job.”

Nita

Debbie was hysterical by the time Dr. Earle and I arrived back in the hallway to explain to everyone what was going on. Earle managed to quiet her enough to be heard, and reported that the diagnosis was now septic shock, a grave condition. They were working to tweak the drug regimen, and it would still be some time before they’d be positive what drugs would work against all the invading pathogens.

For the moment, David was somewhat stable. Debbie was not. It was obvious she desperately needed sleep. Jimmy carried her to her room as she wondered aloud why we wouldn’t give him penicillin.

After an hour of cajoling, and pleading with her, I tucked Debbie into her bed and headed back down the hall to David’s room. Exhaustion overwhelmed me. The sound of Eduardo sobbing stopped me in the doorway. He and Jimmy stood at the foot of David’s bed. I knew Jimmy was trying to comfort him, but he was crying too. Eduardo and David were lifelong friends, closer than most brothers. I couldn’t begin to know all the thoughts and feelings that must have been overtaking him. I was just too tired to even try to help.

Cat couldn’t get here fast enough. The “white-haired angel” she’d predicted had shown up in the person of Debbie. But this angel seemed to have more faith in the drugs working than God. It didn’t seem too promising. But as Cat always reminded me – God’s ways are not our ways.

Debbie

I dozed a little while and then took a cool shower to wake up. Back in my wrinkled dress, I stole down the corridor to David’s room. He was still motionless, with more tubes and equipment surrounding him. I took his hand and willed him to wake up. Wheezing and beeping machines were my only answer.

As I dragged the chair close to the bed, I heard voices in the hall. It was David and Eduardo’s families. Before I could decide what to do, Dr. Earle appeared and frowned at me. “Miss Aldridge, it’s 4:45 in the morning. You need your rest. Shall I call someone to help you back to your room?”

I slunk out the door into a mob of people speaking Spanish and English. General Pearson was trying unsuccessfully to create some order. Eduardo was wrapped in a crowd being kissed and hugged to death. I stepped backward to avoid being trampled, and almost knocked over a pretty blonde girl who had to be five or six inches shorter than me.

“Debbie.” She smiled, and her eyes riveted me. They were the deepest blue of a night sky when the moonlight is brightest. A color I’d used only recently in a painting I did for David. But mostly, her eyes were friendly, tranquil, and oddly joyful. I couldn’t quite understand those eyes. It was like we were friends for a hundred years. In the midst of the confusion I felt strangely serene.

She took my hands and looked up at me. “I’m Catherine Connors, David’s cousin, Cat. I’m so pleased to meet you at last. You do have the most beautiful hair.”

Cat the Prayer Warrior
. At last she was here. She blew me away. How would she know I even existed? And who’d ever think my hair was beautiful? It was practically colorless, and so fine I could hardly do a thing with it.

Before I had time to try and understand, she introduced me to David’s parents, her aunt and uncle. Then Eduardo appeared and swept her up into an emotional hug. His eyes were wet and the pain in them plain to see. Cat was so petite, I thought he might crush her.

When all the hugs and introductions were complete, Dr. Earle updated us on David’s poor condition, and explained septic shock. He told us being a young man in top physical condition improved his chances of fighting the overwhelming infection. But things didn’t look good at the moment. Partly because he’d fallen into mucky water, and then was without specialized care for so long, the infection had messed up his lungs, as well as traveled all through his body in his blood.

David was in a coma, and was having extra strong oxygen pushed into his lungs. Also they were still doing tests to find the very best drugs to fight the infection. Once they got those drugs going though, I thought David would be fine. Dr. Earle said he could be fine with the very best drugs. They didn’t even seem worried about the gunshot wounds healing.

Like General Pearson, he stressed the need for quiet and suggested only David’s parents and Cat could spend any length of time in the room. Before I could protest, David’s mother took me by the hand. “Debbie may join us. Cat told me all about her.” She brushed me by General Pearson on the way into the room. He looked as confused as I was. I wished Grammy was here to tell me how all this stuff works.

After we had cried for a while over David, the rest of the group was invited in to pray. David must have known his cousin Cat was Cat the Prayer Warrior. Why did he hide her from me?

Nita

We all gathered around David’s bed, and Cat began to pray. “Abba! Dear Abba…”

George Aldridge whispered loud enough to be heard by all. “Abba? Who’s that? I thought that’s the Muslim guy…”

Marion quickly spoke over him, I supposed in an effort to shut him up. “I don’t know, George, isn’t that Allah?”

I leaned over. “Abba is a term of endearment and familiarity with our Christian God the Father.”

As George opened his mouth again, Cat turned in our direction, and she looked at George and Marion, not with disgust or resentment, or even the impatience I was feeling. She looked at them as though she was seeing Jesus. It shut them both right up. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Cat began her prayer again, those amazing eyes focused on the Aldridges. She listed every name for God I’d ever heard and more. Cat used any opportunity as a teaching moment.

“Abba, Dear Abba, our Father, who art in heaven, holy is Your name. Elohim, The Creator God, Yahweh, The Loving Redeemer, Adonai, The Lord God, we surrender to You. El Shaddai, The God Almighty, You are the God Who provides, Jehovah Shalom, The God Who is Our Peace,  Adonai Rapheca, The Healing God
…
”

I heard Eduardo let out a snore – his idea of being funny – but I let him have it with my elbow.

“Owww!”

Cat turned her gaze toward him, with a vague smile reminiscent of David’s sarcastic smirk. “Lord God have mercy on us.”

“Amen!” Eduardo was obviously feeling back to his old self. Nothing could erase his sarcastic humor. His mother, Camellia, shot him a look I hadn’t seen since he’d left. No one, especially her son, would even remotely joke about or with God in her pious presence. He’d be needing mercy. Cat was always on point.

Then Cat turned her attention back to David, and laid her hands on him. “Abba, Dear Abba, you are love itself. We enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise. We praise You and we thank You for Your child David. We know You love him with a love that is beyond all our comprehension. He is fearfully and wonderfully made. Let him know Your love in his inmost being. By Your grace and by the Precious Blood of Jesus, heal him of all his injuries, all illness and disease, all iniquity. Lord, You are the One who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. You are the One who raises the dead. We give thanks to You who is good; Your love endures forever. We cry out to You, Lord in our distress, and You deliver us, You save us. Bring David out of his distress. Save him and deliver him from evil. You are faithful through all generations, Father. You forgive all our sins, and heal our diseases. You redeem our lives from the pit. You are faithful; You are compassionate; You are the God who heals us. Heal your child, David. In Jesus’ name we pray.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead.

By the time Cat finished her prayer, everyone was in tears. The entire family filed by David’s bed and said their own silent prayer, kissing him on the cheek and forehead. When the procession was complete, David’s face and shoulders were wet. He never moved a muscle. Dr. Earle, General Pearson, and the chaplain had watched us, and I could see their relief as Cat and I finally escorted Debbie from the room.

To avoid the inevitable barrage of questions from my parents, I told them I needed to freshen up and ran back to my room. Eduardo was right on my heels, having extricated himself from General Pearson’s grip.

I took a washcloth and ran some cold water. He appeared in the bathroom door as I applied it to my face.

“Well that went well. Pearson’s got his knickers in a twist over how Cat knew about Debbie,” he said.

I didn’t need to see his face – Eduardo’s default communication style was always sarcastic humor. At least he was back to his old self.

“What did you say?”

“What could I say? Just said that Cat’s the Prayer Warrior in the family. Then I bolted. That’s not gonna fly.” He came up behind me and put his arms around me.

“Eduardo, this is not the time to cause more trouble when your father or mine comes in here looking for us.”

He backed off. “Yeah, this isn’t gonna be fun. Everyone packed in here, with all this stress – and did you see that candy striper staring at Paulo? When did he grow up anyway?”

I giggled. “He’s sixteen now, and girls are throwing themselves at him every chance they get. Camellia keeps a tight rein on him. But she’s so upset today, I’m sure she didn’t notice that girl ogling her baby.”

“Well, her baby is now six feet tall,” Eduardo said.

“With those big blue eyes and the guitar over his shoulder, you’re right. You do have trouble on your hands with the candy striper. But I’m sure that’s the least of your problems right now. I think as Cat has time here with David – and everyone else
—
Pearson is bound to be intrigued.”

“Yeah – intrigued. And what’s the deal with that rock on her left hand?”

I’d wondered how long it would take for him to notice the ring. “Cat and Cisco are engaged.”

“No kidding! He finally got the nerve.” Eduardo’s smile broadened. He was as big a gossip as any woman. “Wait’ll David hears that one.”

“What do you mean? David will be as thrilled as the rest of us. Cisco was always Cat’s hero, especially when David left. And Cisco’s loved her forever.”

“Yeah, he loved her forever and dated half the women in England,” he quipped.

“And you and David had one-night stands with the other half.”

His jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe I said that – not today. And I couldn’t believe he thought I was that naïve.

My voice rose. “I’m not a fool, Eduardo. At least David never pretended to be a knight in shining armor. Women knew what they were getting from him—and no commitment!”

He grabbed me by my shoulders. “Nita!”

I pulled away and composed myself. “I know the life you lead. Maybe not the details, but I know what’s important. I love you despite everything that’s happened. And I always will. Right now, we need to take life one day at a time. That’s what I’m doing.”

It was rare that Eduardo was silent. I took the time to brush out my hair and catch my breath. He stood like a rock in the middle of the doorway, until I went to leave.

“Nita.” He took me in his arms. “I – I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you. I’m sorry. I need to start over.”

I could see the pain in his eyes. “I know, Eduardo. I know you’ve been through hell. And so have I, and so has everyone in the entire family. So, yes, let’s start over. But right now, you can start by spending some time with your brothers. Paulo has pretty much grown up without you. And Cisco has lots to tell you, I’m sure.”

It didn’t take Eduardo long to resume his usual demeanor. “Damn! He must’ve spent a year’s salary on that ring.”

I led him out of the cramped bathroom, turned to face him squarely in the eye, and rested both hands on his shoulders. “Eduardo, your big brother Cisco made over fifty million dollars last year.”