Marla Jean whirled around, blindly grabbing for the flapping edges of her gown, and scooted backward toward the bed over by the window. Libby was in the bed closest to the door, so Bradley’s attention immediately switched to his fiancée as soon as he spotted her.
“Oh Libby, sugar, what happened?” Panic laced his question.
Bradley was joined by Ellie and Sheriff Watson, and Jake. They all crowded into the room, talking over each other, asking questions. It was all too much. Marla Jean climbed back into her bed and pulled the covers over her head. Her skull felt feel like a melon cleaved open with a machete, and all she wanted to do was sleep. Nobody would let her. Every time she’d drift off a nurse would come and ask her to count backward or name the President of the United States. That was bad enough, and now this. All these people yammering on and on.
She heard Jake’s voice. “Are you all right, Aunt Libby?”
“I’m fine, Jake.” Through the layers of linen she heard Libby from the next bed. The scratchy sheet tickled her nose, but she didn’t care. “What is everyone doing in my room? Ellie, I told you I didn’t want to talk to Bradley tonight.”
“Well, that’s too bad, Libby.” Bradley’s voice came through loud and clear and full of hurt and indignation. “First, I hear you’ve been in an accident, and before I can recover from the shock of that, before I can even find out if you’re okay, you announce that our wedding is off and that you’re not going to talk about it. I don’t think so, Libby. I don’t think you can stab me through the heart like that and not tell me why.”
Almost at once the distinct sound of sobbing commenced. Oh wonderful. Libby was turning on the water works again. Not that she blamed her. Calling off a wedding was a big deal. She’d give her that. It wasn’t a decision one came to lightly. But she’d been in Libby’s company going on four hours now, and she’d been bawling for roughly three and a half of them.
She closed her eyes, waiting impatiently for the ensuing fireworks that would surely follow Brad’s bold pronouncement. Jake would tell Bradley to leave his aunt alone. Bradley would yell some more. Sheriff Watson would tell them all to settle down, or he’d haul everyone down to the station. Maybe then she’d get some rest.
Instead, she felt a hand grab the edge of the sheet and pull it back from her face. The hand belonged to Jake. “Marla Jean, good God, are you okay? What in the world are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story,” she muttered. It seemed she was capable of being embarrassed and happy to see someone at the same time. Her heart swelled at the sight of him, and for now his gaze was filled with worry and concern. He probably wouldn’t feel the same once he found out she’d run his aunt’s Bookmobile into a ditch. “It was a stupid accident, but I’m fine. Hit my head, so they want to watch me for a bit. I hope Libby is okay.” Before she could say more a new voice interrupted the proceedings.
“Sheriff Watson, can I get a comment about this evening’s foiled kidnapping attempt of Libby Comstock?” Alarmed, Marla Jean glanced over to see who the new voice belonged to. Snoopy Boggs, a reporter for the Everson Daily, was standing in the doorway holding a notepad in one hand and a camera in the other. She pulled the sheet back up over her face. Great. A nice write-up in the paper was all she needed.
“Kidnapping?” Bradley jumped from the bed. “What’s he talking about, Sheriff?”
“Now Bradley, wait a minute—” Libby interjected, trying to get his attention, but he’d honed in on the newest development and wasn’t listening.
“There wasn’t any kidnapping, Snoopy.” The Sherriff growled his disapproval at the intrusion. “And you don’t need to be barging into hospital rooms looking for stories. Go on, now. Get out of here.”
Before the reporter could even think about leaving Genna Stanley pushed him aside and rushed into the room. “Oh Lordy, Miss Comstock, are you okay? I was a witness. I saw the whole thing.”
Marla Jean stuck her nose out from the sheet and rolled her eyes. Genna was starting to get on her last nerve. She watched as she hurried over to Jake and grabbed his arm. “Oh, Jake, honey. I’m still shaking. I’d just pulled into the parking lot at Lu Lu’s when I saw your aunt and Marla Jean get into the Bookmobile. Marla Jean was driving and that seemed peculiar, so I followed them. It’s a good thing I did, too.”
She did a half turn toward the door and flashed a smile for the reporter who was busy snapping photos. With disgust Marla Jean noticed that Genna had somehow found time to freshen her bright pink lipstick and fluff up her blonde hairdo before making an appearance at the hospital. Meanwhile she’d caught a glimpse of herself in the bathroom mirror earlier and knew her own curly hair stood out at odd angles from her head and the black smears of mascara under her eyes were the only bits of makeup left on her face. Perfect for her pending mug shot.
Genna, finding an interested audience, launched into storytelling mode. “Marla Jean was driving like a crazy person, starting and stopping then rolling backward for no good reason. I could tell something was wrong. And sure enough not two minutes down the road she drove off into that ditch. I saw it all and called 911.” She sounded like she expected a medal.
“Excuse me.” A deep bass voice cut through the buzz of conversation that filled the room. “Pardon me. Can I get through here?” Judge “Pinkie” Pinkerton pushed his way through the crowd at the door. The judge was a short man of florid complexion who favored pink suspenders and tall women. Besides presiding over the municipal court he performed civil marriages when there was a need. “I was told this was Libby Comstock’s room.” Spotting her in bed he made his way to her side. “There you are, Libby. I got your message. Now what’s this about calling off the wedding? Are you injured? Do we need to postpone?”
Sheriff Watson cleared his throat. “I think we need to clear out and let these people have their privacy. Come on, everyone, let’s go.”
The sheriff started herding everyone out of the room, including a protesting Ellie.
“Remember, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Libby,” her sister called out as he nudged her out the door.
The door closed on the chattering group, leaving Marla Jean stranded in the room with the judge, her ex, and his emotional wreck of an intended.
Libby sniffled. “Judge Pinkerton, I hate to do this at the last minute. I know how much work has gone into the arrangements, but I can’t go through with the ceremony. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t listen to her, Judge. She’s just shaken up from the accident, and she’s got a case of the pre-wedding jitters. That’s all. We still want you to perform the honors tomorrow just the way we planned.”
“I’m not marrying you, Bradley.” Libby sounded stubborn now.
“Libby, please.” Bradley sounded pitiful.
Judge Pinkerton spoke up. “Now Bradley, why don’t we listen to what Libby has to say?”
“Okay, I’m sorry. I’m listening, honey.”
They were talking quietly now, and Marla Jean could hear Libby explaining things to Bradley and the judge. But it was still the absolute last place on earth she wanted to be. She used the blanket like a shawl, swung her legs over the side of the bed, and tried to stand. The room swam around her, and when her stomach lurched in a dangerous way she sat back down. Before she could try again, the door swung open and Jake came striding back into the room. Marla Jean caught her breath at the sight of him. He seemed so intent, so purposeful, and he headed straight for her.
He smiled and asked with a wink, “You wanna get out of here?”
“Are you offering to spring me?” She launched herself from the bed, hoping not to fall, but he caught her, lifted her into his arms, and started for the door. She laughed and then winced when it made her head hurt. She closed her eyes and hung on to Jake for dear life.
Before they could get out the door Bradley stopped them. “What’s going on, Jake?”
She opened her eyes in time to see Jake glare at Bradley. “Marla Jean doesn’t need to be stuck in here while the two of you work out your problems,” he said.
Bradley had the decency to look embarrassed. “You’re right. Marla Jean, Libby told me some of what happened. She said she wasn’t in any condition to drive and you tried to help. I appreciate it.”
Libby sat up in her bed, her lip trembling. “I’m awfully sorry, Marla Jean. This whole thing was my fault.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Marla Jean said. “And don’t start crying again. Please. Just marry the man and put him out of his misery. Not that you care, but you both have my blessing. I’ll even walk Bradley down the aisle and give him away to you personally if it helps, Libby.” The room was spinning again, so she laid her head on his shoulder. “Can we go now, Jake?”
He shifted her in his arms so he could grab the door handle. “We’re already gone.”
Sheriff Watson stood right outside the room, but thankfully the rest of the crowd seemed to have disappeared. The sheriff told Jake his mom had gone to find coffee. If he thought it was odd for Jake to be lugging her around like a sack of potatoes he didn’t mention it, but he blocked their path as they came out the door. “I need to have a quick word with Marla Jean.”
Jake immediately objected. “Can’t it wait, Sheriff? Marla Jean needs to lie down.”
“Hold onto your britches, son. This will only take a minute. I’m closing the book on this one, Marla Jean. I checked with Mike, and he said you weren’t drinking. Libby’s account backs up your story as well. As for the damage to the Bookmobile, I’ll leave that up to the insurance companies since no one else was involved.”
“So that’s it?” She sagged with relief.
“That’s it. Take care of yourself.”
“I’ll try, Sheriff. Come see me next time you need your ears lowered.”
“You bet, but stay out of trouble until then.” With a little wave the lawman sauntered off toward the elevators.
“It’s about time someone around here showed with some sense,” Jake snorted. He headed toward the small waiting room at the end of the hall. “Let me get you situated, and then I’ll go find a nurse. And by the way, I called Linc. Your family should be here soon.” The worry in his voice washed over her like a soothing balm.
She wasn’t able to resist wrapping herself in his quiet strength. “Thank you, Jake.”
“You’re welcome.” The words were a whisper against her hair. He put her down on the sofa in the waiting room at the end of the hall. “I’ll be right back.”
She reached out a hand to stop him. “Sit with me for a minute, please?”
He sat down beside her so she could lean against his shoulder.
“Do you know why Libby wasn’t going to marry Bradley? It was so silly. It was because he wouldn’t give me the money he owes me for the house. Can you imagine?”
“Maybe that’s reason enough. Maybe it shows he’s not the kind of man she thought he was.”
“Except the only reason he wouldn’t give me the money right now was because he wanted to lavish her with this ridiculously overpriced wedding so everyone in town would see how much he loves her. I’ll get my money eventually, but he’s putting his new life with your aunt first. For Bradley, that’s actually a step in the right direction.” She felt woozy, and closed her eyes.
In a quiet voice he said, “I would have loaned you the down payment money for the house. Hell, I would have given it to you.”
“Thanks, Jake, but I don’t want any special favors. It’s time for me to stand on my own for a change.”
He picked up her hand and held it gently, “Marla Jean, maybe we should talk about what happened at the barber shop.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his suggestion. She’d wondered when they would have this conversation. The one where he said it had been a big mistake. The one where he said it wouldn’t happen again. The one where he said he was so, so sorry.
And she didn’t want to hear any of it.
Especially his apology. Not now. Not while her head hurt so badly she wanted to bawl. Not tonight of all nights. She was too bruised and battered, and that conversation demanded she be operating at full strength.
So she stopped him, cut him off before he could start.
“Don’t be silly. There’s nothing to talk about.” Her voice sounded thin as morning mist when she needed to sound breezy and assured. She took a half breath and pushed on. “No strings. No worries. Remember? That’s what I promised, and I meant it. And everything’s working out perfectly for me. I’m thrilled with my new apartment. And my new life in Derbyville is about to begin.”
Before he could respond the elevator doors opened, and her entire family poured out, surrounding her with cries of comfort and concern.
“Jake called us and told us what happened. Linc’s been beside himself since you disappeared from Lu Lu’s,” Dinah said fretfully.
Linc leaned down and gave her a hug and then punched her softly in the arm. “You all right, sis?”
“I’m fine, Linc. I’m sorry I worried you.”
Her dad squatted at her feet. “How’s my baby girl?”
“I’m okay, really, Dad.”
Jake stood up and offered his place on the sofa to her mother so she could fuss over her properly. “Why in the world are you out here in the hallway? Where is that doctor? I’m going to have a word or two to say when I get a hold of him.”
“What in tarnation are you doing out of your room, young lady?” Nurse Bloomfield came storming into the waiting room and advanced on the group with a frown on her face. “I came up from emergency to check on you, and this is what I find? You’re out here having a party instead of resting?”
“My room was a little too crowded,” Marla Jean said meekly.
“Humph. We’ll see about that.” She gave everyone a disgusted once over and marched off toward the nurses’ station.
Half an hour later, Marla Jean was installed in her own private room, happily leaving Libby and Bradley to hash out their marital future alone. Linc had taken Dinah home. Bitsy was crocheting in the chair next to her, and Milton was napping on the extra bed.
Jake stuck his head in the door. “Looks like you’re settled in for the night.”
“Gosh, I hope so. Don’t you want to ask me what year it is or if I can name the President of the United States?”
“And give you a chance to show off? Not a chance. I’m going to make sure my mother gets home, and since it looks like everyone’s in good hands now, I guess I’ll call it a night, too.”
“I’m in the best hands possible.” Marla Jean smiled over at her mother, who reached out to pat her on the knee. “But thanks for everything, Jake. I was ready to jump out a window when you showed up.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.” He shuffled his feet like he had more on his mind but finally just said, “Well, good night then.”
“Good night, Jake. Hey, what’s the word on the wedding?”
He looked as if he didn’t know if he was delivering good news or bad. “It’s back on.”
Marla Jean nodded. “Well, you better get on home then and get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow.”
“Looks like it. I’ll check on you tomorrow then?”
“We’ll see. Weddings tend to be crazy chaotic, so if not tomorrow, we’ll talk soon.”
His eyes met hers and held. “Count on it. Good night, everyone.”
Marla Jean watched the door shut behind him. “Good night, Jake,” she said, though it felt more like good-bye.