Swept Away (20 page)

Josie’s grip on him tightened. Tucker scowled. “I’m fine. Believe me.”

“Go back and rest. Please.”  She kissed his cheek.

He sat back in his wheelchair. It broke his heart to go, but he had no choice but to allow the guard to roll him away. They were halfway down the hall when Murray came running, catching up with him. “Josie doesn’t want you left alone.”

“Did you tell her I’m fine?” Tucker asked.

“Yeah, I told her. Women just worry.”

Tucker nodded. They made it to his room, and he climbed back into bed. The nurse seemed to jab him a few more times than necessary to get the IVs back in. Once she had him hooked up and pressed the buttons on his medication, she tucked the blankets around him with enough force to stretch the rigid cotton. She gave him a stern look and said, “Move out of this bed again, and I’ll have you strapped down.”

Tucker let his head drop on his pillow. He felt drained. Or drugged.

***

When Tucker woke, Josie was sitting beside him, using his mattress as a pillow.

He stroked her hair, and she looked up. “You’re awake,” she said.

“Was I asleep long?”

“A few hours.”

“Any word on when they’ll let me out of here?”

Josie shook her head. “The only person who checks in is the bitchy nurse, and honestly? I’m afraid to ask her.”

He scooted over and patted the bed. “Come, lay with me.”

“And let bitchy nurse catch me? No way.  I’m fine right here.”

“You need sleep. The baby needs sleep.”

“I’ll be fine. I met with an OB, Dr. Simon, and he said the baby’s fine. Said they shouldn’t even have wasted their time on the ultrasound. He said I can come to his office next week and will probably be able to hear the heartbeat. But everything else looks normal.”

He smiled at her. “Good.”

Brushing lint from his blanket, she said, “I was worried. The paramedics had you ready to go before I could even say good-bye. I was afraid I’d never see you again.”

He gave her a grin and tried not to flinch as he pulled her toward him for a kiss. “It’s over. You can relax.”

She shook her head. “You tried to warn me—“

“Stop, Josie. Trust me, I never dreamed that psycho bitch would show up with her boyfriend and try to kill us. I swear—I never saw that coming.”

Josie pressed her lips together for a moment, then busied herself with smoothing the edges of his pillowcase. “I know I didn’t. I was never close to my mother, but I never dreamed she’d hunt me down and try to kill me.”

“I suppose as far as future in-law introductions go, it went well, don’t you think?”

Josie laughed. “Jokes, Tucker? You’re making jokes?”

His grin grew. “My mother always said I didn’t have good timing.”

“No, your timing is perfect. I’d be lost without you, literally.” Her attempt at levity fell flat. As soon as the words left her mouth, she broke down in tears. “I thought I’d lost you forever.”

“Come here. Screw the bitch nurse.”

Josie scooted her seat closer. Tucker shook his head and patted the bed. “Lay with me. I want to hold you.”

Sobs racked her body. He only had to give her a slight tug to get her to curl up next to him. Brushing away her tears, he tried to calm her, even though his own mind was cluttered with the horror of what happened, and worse…what could have happened.

After a few minutes, she rubbed her cheek gently against his shoulder, snuggling as close as she could without hurting him. “She told me it wasn’t personal. It was only for the money.”

“I suppose she didn’t trust you to stay dead on your own.”

“Evidently not.”

“So, who the hell was the guy helping her?”

“Greg Walker. He’s a cop. He shot at Rob the night I ran away. He must have been working with my mother, even then.”

He smoothed her hair. “Rob? My dad?”

“Yeah. I’d called Gloria when my mom left me alone the night I got home from the hospital. I was talking to her when Jeb started pounding on the door, so she sent Rob right over. It was my mom who shot me. My mom.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. So, you remember?”

Josie nodded. “It hurt so much to remember that. That must be why I blocked it. All night long, I’ve been remembering little snippets of what happened that night. It was…is terrible.”

“Look at me.”

She smiled up at him. It was a weak, teary-eyed smile.

“You need to call someone? A professional?”

“It hurts, but I’m fine. Actually, I feel stronger than ever. I fought like hell that night, Tucker. I wasn’t a wuss. And tonight, I didn’t run.”

“I don’t know that I’m proud of you for that,” he said, holding her a bit tighter.

“I’m not a coward. That night, I fought Jeb with all my might. It wasn’t my fault he was three times my size—I fought. And fought. He’d take pictures of me, and use them to make me feel guilty. He threatened to show the pictures to my mom. I was so ashamed. I couldn’t even tell Maddy what he was doing. But, I was just a girl. It’s not my fault.”

“Of course it wasn’t. My sweet Josie.”

“I tried to tell a teacher once, but she called Mother and Jeb. I got punished for lying.”

Tucker swallowed the lump in his throat. If only he could take all her pain, he would.

Josie took a harsh breath. “Oh well, that’s the past. Mother will pay now. So will her boyfriend.” She sighed. “That night? She walked in while
her husband
was holding me down on my bed, and she yelled at me. Blamed me for all of it.
You friggin’ bitch
. That’s what I thought that night. I remember that now. I don’t remember if Jeb let me loose, or I got away, but I ran across the room, and I punched her in the face.”

“You did?”

Josie nodded. “I did. I was done being abused. I no longer cared what she thought of me; what anyone thought of me.  I was leaving. I’d go live with Rob and Gloria. I’d tell them everything, and they’d help me. I ran out of the room and was halfway down the hall when she shot me. It was surreal. I heard the bang, and I turned. I expected to see Jeb, but it was my mother. I lost my footing and I fell down the steps. That must have been how I got the gash on my head.”

“Christ.”

“It’s all right. Jeb jumped her. They were wrestling over the gun in the upstairs hall, so I got up and ran to the garage and stole Jeb’s car.”

“That explains your blood in his car.”

Josie nodded. “Rob met me at the bottom of our hill. Greg, the cop, was also turning into our drive. Rob got out and waved to him. Greg pulled his gun and aimed it at Rob. Rob was quick. He flung open the door and told me to get in. Then he drove like hell until we were out of Pennsylvania. I remember him telling me he didn’t know how many cops Jeb owned. I never told Rob it was my mother who tried to kill me. That’s a hard thing to admit, you know? I guess that’s why I blocked it all out.”

“I understand.” He kissed her hair. “Moms are supposed to protect their children.”

“I’m nothing like her,” Josie said.

“That’s for damn sure.”

“I suppose Jeb will now go free. The police know I’m alive.”

“Hell with him. As long as he doesn’t come near us.”

“He killed Maddy. He needs to pay for that.”

“It’s out of your control, Josie. You have to let it go.”

She nodded, but he didn’t get the feeling she was going to let it go.

“Tonight, my mother pretended to be Maddy. She had Maddy’s necklace. It was hanging on the post on the porch. I heard someone calling my name, so I went outside to see who was there. I saw the necklace, saw a woman in the shadows. I thought it was Maddy, so I called to her, but she ran, so I followed her.”

“You really should’ve woken me up.”

“I know.”

“No more, Josie. No leaving…ever again…without telling me.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “I won’t. I swear.” She felt her pocket. “Oh no! I don’t have it. I lost the necklace.”

“It’s all right.”

“But Maddy loved that necklace.”

“When I get out, we’ll look for it. Maybe you dropped it on the road.”

Josie nodded. “I asked my mom how she got the necklace, and she said she found it in Jeb’s trunk. That’s proof that he killed her, right?”

Tucker’s mouth formed a hard line as he shook his head. “I doubt they’ll consider the word of a lady who tried to drown her daughter as proof.”

Josie shook her head. “It’s just wrong. Maddy deserves justice.”

“There’s an ultimate justice no one escapes. You have to trust that.”

“True. But it just doesn’t seem right that Maddy suffered….”

“Maddy’s fine. She’s in a good place.”

Josie gave him a quizzical look. “How do you know that?”

A flush crept up his neck to his cheeks. “I don’t know…I just have a feeling.”

Her smile was slow, and her eyes shined. “Even if you’re making it up, thank you. You’re precious to me, Mr. Boone.”

“I know. I’m a rare find. You better hold onto me tight.”

There was a knock on the door. Josie was up and off the bed in the blink of an eye. Tucker chuckled. “It’s not the nurse. You’re safe.”

Josie turned as Murray and Hetty walked into the room. Poor old Hetty looked wiped out. She’d probably walked more today than she had in years. Murray shuffled in and gave Josie a fatherly rub across her shoulders. “You had anything to eat today, Josie?”

Josie thought a second, then shook her head.

“Well, you and Hetty go get a bite to eat. I’ll keep Tucker company for a bit.”

Josie looked like she was about to argue, but Tucker sat up a bit straighter and said, “Josie, come on. You have to think about the baby.”

“Yes, I suppose I should.” She placed a hand on her belly.  “I’ll go eat. You’ll take good care of him, Murray?”

“Of course,” Murray said, taking a seat and rifling through the newspapers on the table next to him.

“Shooey.” Hetty pulled out her hanky and patted her upper lip. “I hope to goodness the cafeteria is close. I swear to God, I need to lose some damned weight.”

“Come on, Hetty. Maybe I could find you a chair?” Josie offered.

“The hell you will. Good Lord, a whippersnapper like you could never push me. Even if we could find one I’d fit in. No, I’ll walk. Come on, gal. Let’s get going.”

Once Josie and Hetty left, Murray pulled the door closed, and then he hurried back to Tucker.

“Something up?” Tucker asked, sliding himself against his pillows and clutching his bandaged side with the effort.

“Nothing to worry much about, but I wanted to let you know Josie’s mom hung herself in holding.”

“That chicken-shit bitch. How’d you find that out?”

Murray scooted himself forward. “Smitty—the deputy is a friend—he said she did it right there in Hyde County. I’d like to think she was feeling an ounce of guilt, but I’d say it was more fear of knowing she was exposed. The queen of the prom was a scumbag, and the world was about to hear about it.”

“Why didn’t you mention this while Josie was here?”

“I wasn’t sure if that would her. She’s already been through a lot.” Murray leaned his elbows on his knees.

“She’s tougher than you think, but I appreciate you told me first.”

“Here,” Murray handed him a piece of paper. “This is the number of a good lawyer. Ella says she’s tops in the state. And Hetty and me rented you kids a place. We don’t want Josie going back to the island.”

“You don’t want her back? What the hell?”

“Oh no, not forever. Just for a while, ‘cos of the baby.”

“What’s with the baby? She said everything was fine.”

“Things look good. Hetty pointed out that if she did have any problems, there are no clinics on Ocracoke, no emergency rooms. Hetty had three miscarriages before she had Bobby, and she’s always thought if she could have gotten to a doctor in time, she’d have had more kids.”

“But they didn’t see anything wrong?”

“No, Josie checked out all right. But she was underwater a pretty long time before we pulled her out. She had to be resuscitated.”

Tucker rubbed his face, the stubble bristling against his hands. “No, I didn’t know. You’re right. She needs to go home and rest.”

“Good luck with that while you’re here.”

“Then I need out of here. You need to find my doctor so I can talk to him.”

“They’re not going to let you out. We’ll take care of her. You just rest and get better.”

Tucker shook his head. “You just get me some clothes, and I’ll get myself out of here.”

“Now dammit, I only told you ‘cos I want you to trust that I’m honest with you.”

“You’re right, you’re right. But I’m done with this shit.” Tucker muttered as he picked at the tape the nurse wisely wrapped round and round his arm to secure the IVs, “She needs to be in bed, not sitting in a chair all night.”

“Well, I’m not breaking you out of here again. And I warn ya, I’ll march right down the hall and tell Josie you’re being mule-headed.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me, son,” Murray said, crossing his arms across his chest.

Tucker gave him a dirty look, but settled himself back against his pillow.

In the midst of an awkward silence, Murray cleared his throat and asked, “Have you called your people?”

“My what?” Tucker asked.

“Your folks? Let them know what’s happened?”

Tucker shook head. His mother was going to flip.

“At least you can tell her you’re fine. You want my cell phone?”

Tucker took a deep breath. “It’s late. I’ll call her in the morning.”

“Might want to call tonight. It may make the morning news.”

“You’re kidding me.” Tucker’s head whipped toward Murray to see if he was joking. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Tucker wondered if they’d ever have peace.

“Nope. Hetty and I passed two news trucks on our way off the island, and I don’t think they’re there for Ocracoke Days.”

“Well hell, I suppose I better get it over with.”

Murray handed him his phone. Tucker dialed, then rested his arm above his head and closed his eyes. His mother answered. Even in the middle of the night, she sounded wide awake. “Hello?”

“Hey Mom, it’s Tucker.”

“Tucker? What’s this number? Where’s your phone? Did something happen?”

“Everything is fine, but I’m in the hospital at Elizabeth City.”

“What?”

“I’m in the hospital.”

“Why? What for?”

“I got into a fight and needed stitches.”

“A fight? Oh, dear Lord, what’s gotten into you? Was it over the girl?”

“Yeah, you might say that.”

There was a large sigh on the other end, followed by a mumbled, “I knew finding Rob Morgan would cause nothing but bad. It wasn’t enough that she’s your sister?”

“She’s not Maddy. She’s Ariel Stone. Listen, Mom, -it’s a long story, and I feel like shit. Can I explain later?”

“You swear you’re all right?”

“I swear.”

“Then get some sleep. Call when you wake up.”

He was exhausted when he handed the phone back to Murray. His eyes felt grainy and sore, so he closed them for a second.

Two hours later, the doctor knocked on the door. Murray told him to come in. Tucker woke, shocked he’d fallen asleep. 

“Good to see you awake, Mr. Boone. I’m Dr. Morris.  I patched you up. You’re a lucky man.” The doctor, a tall, lanky fellow with dark thinning hair, walked to the foot of his bed and checked over his chart. “Looking pretty good. You’ve not requested any pain meds?”

Tucker shook his head. “It’s not too bad. Only when I twist.”

“Well then, Chubby Checker, don’t twist.”

Murray laughed at the old rocker joke.

Tucker sat up straighter. “I was wondering when I could head home?”

“Let me have a look at you, and we’ll see.”

Tucker nodded. Dr. Morris checked his breathing, the stitches.

Dr. Morris finished, put his stethoscope in his ears, and placed it along Tucker’s back. “Deep breath in…out slow. Everything looks good.”

“So, you think I can go?”

“I don’t see why we can’t let you go in a day or two.”

“Day or two? Screw that. I was thinking today.”

Dr. Morris chuckled. “You were stabbed three times, son. I need you on IV antibiotics at least a night.”

“Would you change your mind if I told you I didn’t have health insurance?”

“No,” he said flatly.

“What if I told you my…Josie, my girlfriend is pregnant, and she was beaten and half drowned, and she’s going to insist on staying here with me, and I need her at home resting?”

Dr. Morris wrapped his stethoscope around his neck and stared down at Tucker. Feeling the doctor weaken, Tucker plowed forward. “We rented a place nearby, so if there are any troubles, we’d be right back. And I could take pills.”

Dr. Morris checked the bag of meds hanging from his IV pole. “Tell you what, finish this round of antibiotics, and then we’ll switch you over to an oral regimen. That will get you out by noon.”

“Thank you, Doc, I owe you one.”

“I’ll let them know to start getting your discharge ready. No twisting. No heavy lifting. No sex. Go home and rest. See me in a week, and we’ll go from there.”

“Not a problem. Murray, can you get me some clothes, or do I need to wear my dress home?”

“I can get you some ER scrubs, but just remember, no playing doctor,” Dr. Morris said with a wink.

“It’s a deal.” Tucker felt energized. He had things to take care of. Jeb Stone would probably be getting out of prison, so Josie would need a restraining order. He didn’t want that son of a bitch to so much as call her on the phone. Next thing he wanted to do was marry her. He hated calling her his girlfriend. It seemed like an insult. He wanted her as his wife. And he needed to visit the attorney Ella suggested. He couldn’t imagine Josie being in any legal trouble, but after last night, he wasn’t taking anything for granted. Everything looked like it was falling into place, but Tucker needed to be sure. Happily ever after came with too many damned caveats lately.