skin grafts. Gauze treatments soaked in saline solution . . . antibiotics . . . anesthetics. Disgusting protein shakes, even in the middle of the night. The fever, the chills.” He withered against the pillow.
So, that explained the unusual warmth in the room. “I’m sorry.” Was that all she could think to say? She squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you, Randall, but with time, you’ll heal. You’re alive.”
“Yeah, alive. I’ve seen my face, if you could call it a face. I’m disfigured, and no amount of healing is gonna change that.”
“Surely, the doctors—”
“They’re killing me in here. Savages, the lot of ‘em, ripping and tearing at my skin.”
“I’m sure they’re just trying to help.”
“Help me right into the grave . . . and the sooner, the better, I say.”
“Hold onto hope, Mr. Laverty.” Laughable words.
Who was she to dispense hope when she could barely muster it for herself?
“Even if I did have a wife, she wouldn’t want me in this condition.” His gaze bore into her.
What did he want from her? She had nothing to offer this man.
She shouldn’t have come. Throat constricting, she struggled to breathe. She needed air. She needed to leave. Now. Time to escape the suffocating heat in this room.
Perhaps Laverty was right. If he were Joe, would she have stayed?
She started to inhale a deep breath, but caught herself. The stench of rotting flesh and medicine sickened her. She rubbed the back of her latex hand. Had Joe lived and endured Laverty’s fate, it would have changed his entire life and hers as well.
Who was she kidding? Her life was changed.
“I’m sor . . . I mean, I really need to be going. You look like you could use some rest.” She stood and offered a sympathetic smile.
“Thanks for stopping by.” His gaze never left her face.
She frowned and nodded. Reaching to pat his arm, she halted. Not a good idea. “Bye then.” She turned and headed to the door.
“Tater Tot.” The whispered words passed by her ear when she tugged at the door.
Joe? She glanced over her shoulder. No phantom image this time. Just those familiar words, hovering in the air. The words she loved best, besides “I love you.” She
shook herself. Would she hear them in her imagination for the rest of her life? She flung the door open and hurried down the hall.
CHAPTER TEN
“There you go, making me cry again.” Celeste stepped out of a hug. What a warm woman—that Barbara Kelly.
“It’s so good to have you back in class.” The older woman studied Celeste’s face.
Amelia, with books in tow, appeared from the adjoining room. Mouth curved into a grin, she set the stack on the counter and took Celeste in her arms. “Welcome back. We all missed you.”
That was a surprise, coming from Amelia—a woman of few words and not one to show a great deal of affection.
“Thanks. It’s good to be back. I was going stir crazy all by myself after a month at home.” She clamped her mouth shut. Enough said. Time to focus on her children, not herself for a change.
“If you ever need some company, give me a call.” Barbara picked up a wooden puzzle from a table. “And I mean that.” She flashed a trigger finger at Celeste.
“Gotcha.” Celeste pivoted at the scuffing sound and faced the door. My children.
With open-mouthed grins, Mark and Linda nearly
tackled her. Luke, Jocelyn, and the other students huddled around, smiling shyly, waiting to be acknowledged.
“Group hug.” Celeste motioned with her hands, and all the kids shuffled close. All except Teddy, who stood by the door rocking. Amelia ushered him to his seat by the blackboard.
In the midst of the embrace, a petite woman with mousy brown hair popped in the door. “Mrs. Tatem?”
Ignoring
So, that explained the unusual warmth in the room. “I’m sorry.” Was that all she could think to say? She squared her shoulders and cleared her throat. “I can’t imagine how hard this is for you, Randall, but with time, you’ll heal. You’re alive.”
“Yeah, alive. I’ve seen my face, if you could call it a face. I’m disfigured, and no amount of healing is gonna change that.”
“Surely, the doctors—”
“They’re killing me in here. Savages, the lot of ‘em, ripping and tearing at my skin.”
“I’m sure they’re just trying to help.”
“Help me right into the grave . . . and the sooner, the better, I say.”
“Hold onto hope, Mr. Laverty.” Laughable words.
Who was she to dispense hope when she could barely muster it for herself?
“Even if I did have a wife, she wouldn’t want me in this condition.” His gaze bore into her.
What did he want from her? She had nothing to offer this man.
She shouldn’t have come. Throat constricting, she struggled to breathe. She needed air. She needed to leave. Now. Time to escape the suffocating heat in this room.
Perhaps Laverty was right. If he were Joe, would she have stayed?
She started to inhale a deep breath, but caught herself. The stench of rotting flesh and medicine sickened her. She rubbed the back of her latex hand. Had Joe lived and endured Laverty’s fate, it would have changed his entire life and hers as well.
Who was she kidding? Her life was changed.
“I’m sor . . . I mean, I really need to be going. You look like you could use some rest.” She stood and offered a sympathetic smile.
“Thanks for stopping by.” His gaze never left her face.
She frowned and nodded. Reaching to pat his arm, she halted. Not a good idea. “Bye then.” She turned and headed to the door.
“Tater Tot.” The whispered words passed by her ear when she tugged at the door.
Joe? She glanced over her shoulder. No phantom image this time. Just those familiar words, hovering in the air. The words she loved best, besides “I love you.” She
shook herself. Would she hear them in her imagination for the rest of her life? She flung the door open and hurried down the hall.
CHAPTER TEN
“There you go, making me cry again.” Celeste stepped out of a hug. What a warm woman—that Barbara Kelly.
“It’s so good to have you back in class.” The older woman studied Celeste’s face.
Amelia, with books in tow, appeared from the adjoining room. Mouth curved into a grin, she set the stack on the counter and took Celeste in her arms. “Welcome back. We all missed you.”
That was a surprise, coming from Amelia—a woman of few words and not one to show a great deal of affection.
“Thanks. It’s good to be back. I was going stir crazy all by myself after a month at home.” She clamped her mouth shut. Enough said. Time to focus on her children, not herself for a change.
“If you ever need some company, give me a call.” Barbara picked up a wooden puzzle from a table. “And I mean that.” She flashed a trigger finger at Celeste.
“Gotcha.” Celeste pivoted at the scuffing sound and faced the door. My children.
With open-mouthed grins, Mark and Linda nearly
tackled her. Luke, Jocelyn, and the other students huddled around, smiling shyly, waiting to be acknowledged.
“Group hug.” Celeste motioned with her hands, and all the kids shuffled close. All except Teddy, who stood by the door rocking. Amelia ushered him to his seat by the blackboard.
In the midst of the embrace, a petite woman with mousy brown hair popped in the door. “Mrs. Tatem?”
Ignoring
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