Outlaw (28 page)

“Well, you don’t be shy about helping yourself to
seconds, now,” she replied, beaming.

“I don’t usually get home cooking like this.”

“Really?” Natalie asked, sliding a look at Angel.

Just then Angel heard TJ crying, and got up to check
on him.

Cole turned, and watched her leave.

“Angel knows her way around a kitchen, too.”

Cole smiled. “I’m sure she does.”

“She made apple pie for desert.”

“Did she now? I’ll have to have some.”

Angel walked back in. “He fell back asleep.”

While they ate, Natalie told Cole about the area.
Having grown up in Arizona, she knew just about everything there was to know
about the state, including its history. Angel was afraid she was boring him,
but Cole seemed truly interested. Even asking her questions now and then.

Natalie looked up at the clock. “You better hurry,
if you’re going back up to the hospital tonight.”

“We are,” Angel replied.

Cole wiped his mouth with his napkin, and tossed it
on his plate. “I’m ready when you are.”

She took their plates to the sink.

Cole stood up, pushing his chair in. “That was
delicious, ma’am. Thank you,” he complimented Natalie.

“Why, you’re welcome, Cole. It does my heart good to
see a man eat.”

“Come on. I’ll drive,” Angel said, grabbing her
purse off the counter.

“We’ll save the pie for when you get back,” Natalie
called after them.

Cole followed Angel out to the driveway. She climbed
into an older model SUV. Cole got in the passenger seat.

She backed out, and headed down the street.

“Not exactly the type of vehicle I pictured you
driving,” Cole remarked.

Angel turned to look at him. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, considering your job selling high-end
imports-”

She cut him off. “I had a company car, but I lost
that job.”

He looked over at her. “What? Why?”

“They said I missed too much time off work. They’re
probably right. Between Melissa’s treatments, and hospitalizations, and flying
out to California-”

“What a bunch of assholes. Your kid’s fucking sick.
Don’t they even give a shit?”

“Well-”

Cole continued on, “Can they even do that? Isn’t
there some kind of protection against an employer doing that?” He asked
incredulously.

Angel shrugged. “Maybe, but I don’t have the time,
or money to fight them right now. I have to concentrate on Melissa, and getting
her through this. I can’t deal with anything else now.”

“What about your health insurance?” he asked.

“Well, I had to pick up the full premium to continue
it. It’s gonna run my savings down pretty quick. Between that, and the medical
bills that I already owe, I’ll probably have to declare bankruptcy.”

“Damn, baby. That sucks.”

“But this is a happy day,” she said, turning to look
at him. “You’re here, and Melissa is going to get her transplant tomorrow.”

He nodded.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the hospital.
Angel parked in the parking garage, and they headed toward the skywalk that
would take them across the street to the hospital.

Cole stopped before they left the open air parking
deck. “Can you give me a minute?” he asked Angel.

She turned to look at him. She hoped he wasn’t
changing his mind now. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Nothing. I just don’t like
hospitals. Never have.” He lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag off it.

Angel crossed her arms. “You have got to be kidding
me?”

He shook his head.

“Your daughter has been through more crap, and been
so brave about it, and the big, bad biker can’t even walk in the building?”

He took a hit off his cigarette. “Thanks for making
me feel like a complete jerk.”

“Get over it.”

He looked at her, and took another hit off his
cigarette.

“We have a saying out here, ‘cowboy up’. Know what
it means?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

“Well?”

He tossed the cigarette down. “Yeah. Okay.”

She led the way.

He followed her through the maze of hallways, and
nurse’s stations, amazed that she could remember the way. He couldn’t have
found the room with a map and a GPS.

They took an elevator, and he found himself on the
pediatric floor. Everything was painted in bright colors, and there were
cartoon drawings on the walls.

Angel stopped in front of a door that had pictures
of kittens taped to it. “Ready?” she asked.

He nodded.

She opened the door, and walked in.

He followed behind her, taking in the room. There
were two beds in the room.

Angel walked to the second bed.

A small, practically bald child turned to look. Cole
could see where her hair had started to grow back after the treatments had
ended. He understood she was now in remission, and was only back in the
hospital for the preparatory treatments needed for the transplant. Her head was
covered in a blonde downy softness that reminded him of a baby chick. He
watched as her face lit up in a smile when she saw her mommy. Her thin little
arms lifted up, reaching for her.

“Hi, baby girl. Mommy’s here,” she said, bending
down to hug her tight.

Cole looked around at the IV’s and monitors
surrounding the bed.

Just then a nurse came through the door, and checked
on the other patient in the first bed. Then she came around the curtain that
separated the beds. “She’s had a real good night, so far, Ms. Wells. Ate most
of her dinner, too.” The nurse checked her IV bag.

“That’s great, Mary. Any nausea?”

“Some, but that’s to be expected. Is this our
donor?” Mary asked.

Angel turned to Cole. “Yes. He’s the one.”

“It’s a good day. A real good day,” Mary said.
“We’re all real glad you’re here, sir.” She headed out the door.

Angel sat on the bed next to her daughter. “Melissa,
this is a friend of Mommy’s. He came all the way from California just to see
you.”

Melissa’s wide eyes looked over at him.

Cole looked at his daughter. “Hi, sweetie.”

She just stared at him.

“I hope you feel better real soon, okay?” he said,
reaching down to rub her little hand.

She nodded, and her eyes looked sleepy.

Angel reached down, and kissed her forehead. She
dropped off to sleep. Angel sat with her, rubbing her hand over the soft hair
on top of her head.

Cole could see the love she felt. He looked again at
the sick little girl laying in the bed. His daughter. His eyes started to fill
with tears. He walked out of the room.

There were fifteen more minutes until visiting hours
were over, and Angel stayed with Melissa until they were up. Then she stepped
quietly out of the room.

Cole was leaning against the wall, just outside the
door.

“You okay?” she asked.

He looked over at her, and she saw the torment in
his eyes. He shook his head. “I don’t know what I expected. She looks so weak,
and helpless.”

“The leukemia is in remission from the chemotherapy.
That’s why she’s okay to have the transplant now. But part of the conditioning
or preparative regime for the transplant is that she has had to go through
several days of chemo to make room for new marrow. The dosages are stronger,
and they are really kicking her little butt. She’s really weak right now, and
it’s also making her irritable and nauseas. The catheter you saw? It’s the
central venous line they inserted into a vein in her chest just above her heart
to administer her meds and blood, if they need to. Tomorrow the marrow will be
infused intravenously just like blood, right there, in her room.”

He stared at her, amazed. “How do you do it?”

She shrugged. “I do what I have to do. I don’t have
a choice. I’m all she’s got.”

“No.” Cole shook his head. “Not anymore.”

Angel lost it then. She nodded, her eyes filling
with tears. Her face crumpled. He pulled her into his arms.

“Not anymore,” she choked out, her face buried in
his chest.

They drove back to the house. Neither one of them
said much on the way. Angel pulled into the drive, and parked. She turned the
engine off, and sat.

Cole looked over at her.

“I just want you to know how much I appreciate you
doing this for her,” she said, reaching over, and touching his hand.

He looked down at their hands. “Of course. She’s my
daughter.”

She nodded. “I know. But there are men that wouldn’t
have.”

He raised his eyes to hers. “I’d have done it for
you, even if she wasn’t mine.”

She closed her eyes, and then turned, and got out.

He followed.

They went inside.

“Come on.” She led him into the kitchen. “Sit.”

He sat. A minute later she set a piece of pie and a
glass of milk in front of him.

“Thanks.” He looked up at her.

She got her own, and sat next to him.

He took a bite, and looked over at her. “Not bad,”
he commented.

She smiled, a suspicious look in her eye. “Did
Natalie tell you I made this?”

“Yeah.”

“I didn’t. She did.”

“Hmm. How ‘bout that. Lied straight to my face.” He
smiled at her. “Wonder why she did that?” he asked, knowing the answer. “She
must think I like pie.” He shoved another forkful in his mouth. “Hmm. Yum.”

Angel rolled her eyes.

“Does she do that with all the men you bring home?”

“All the men?” she repeated.

“You know what I mean. Your dates.” He took another
bite of pie.”

“Dates? Who has time?”

“Come on. There have to be men coming around you
like bees to honey.”

She shrugged. “A few.”

He nodded. “Anyone serious?”

“There was. Not anymore.”

“What happened?” Cole murmured, not liking the
troubled expression that had crept into her eyes. And really not liking that
there had been someone serious.

“He couldn’t handle it. My having a sick child.”

Cole looked at her, and nodded. Then trying to
lighten the mood, he grinned, and said, “You should have told him to ‘Cowboy
up’.”

She laughed, and shook her head.

“He was the wrong man for you anyway.” Cole shoved
another forkful of pie in his mouth.

Angel huffed out a breath. “How would you know?”

“Because he wasn’t me, babe.” He smiled at her with
a mouthful of pie. “Did I tell you this is really good pie?”

*****

That night, Cole lay on the bed in the guestroom,
the small bedside lamp burning. It was near midnight, but sleep eluded him. His
shirt was off, and his jeans were unzipped. He had opened the sliding glass
door that led out to the patio, to let some cool night air in. He lay smoking a
cigarette, staring at the ceiling, soft music playing on the stereo.

He heard a tap at the door, and glanced at it. He
put his cigarette out, and got up, zipping up his jeans as he crossed to the
door. He opened it, and there stood Angel, wearing an old football jersey that
fell to her thigh. She had her arms crossed over her chest.

Cole leaned against the doorframe, and smiled down
at her. “If I’m dreaming, don’t wake me up.”

“I…I saw your light on. Can I come in?”

“Yeah. Sure,” he said softly, and stepped back.

She moved into the room.

He closed the door with a soft click, his eyes
studying her. “Cute outfit.”

She looked down. “The jersey? I’ve had it since high
school.”

“Dated a football player, huh?”

“Yeah.” She smiled, walking further into the room.
His wallet, keys, helmet and riding glasses were lying on top of the low
dresser, along with the handgun he was never far from. Her hand skimmed over
them, lightly touching each item.

He watched her, silently.

She turned back to face him. Seeing the questioning
look on his face, she searched for something to say. “Are you nervous about
tomorrow?”

He looked away, and blew out a breath, shrugging his
shoulders.

Angel knew he wouldn’t admit it if he was. “You
don’t have to be, you know. They’ll put you under. Then after it’s over, you’ll
have some soreness in your lower back, some tiredness and-”

He cut her off. “I know. They explained it all to me
at the facility in California.”