| |
Rachel opened her eyes and saw a woman seated in Al's chair. She too wore blue jeans, and her dark hair was cut in a bob. A broad smile broke out across her face as they made eye contact.
"Well, I see you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"
"Fine, I guess." Rachel's eyes swept the room. "So where's Al?"
"He went downstairs to get some dinner."
"Really? So, what time is it anyway?"
The woman glanced at a clock mounted on the wall. "It's going on seven."
"Wow. So I guess time really does fly when you're having fun." Rachel looked at her visitor again. "You know, you look familiar to me for some reason."
She nodded and smiled. "We've met, but it was a long time ago, and you're all grown up now."
"Okay, let me think for a minute." Rachel placed her left hand over her brow. "Didn't you once have really long hair? Almost down to your waist?"
"I sure did, but that was some twenty years and forty pounds ago."
"So you would be Sherry, right?" A bright smile broke out across her face as she remembered. "Is it really you?"
Sherry smiled in return as she walked up to the bed and hugged her, being careful not to disturb the sling. "Yes, Honey Bun. It's really me."
"Wow. And you remembered my nickname too." Rachel squeezed Sherry's hand and smiled again. "Now, let's see how well I can connect the dots together. You were Al's girlfriend."
"That's right."
"And you really loved kids. Anywhere we went, if someone had a baby, you went nuts, and you always treated me as if I were your own."
Sherry's face beamed. "Guilty on all counts."
"But then Al moved to New Mexico. Later on, my mother told me he'd gotten married, but she never said to whom, so I'm glad it was you." Rachel suddenly felt sad as the memory played back in her mind. "All she said was he'd gotten married, and I wouldn't be seeing much of him anymore."
"Your dad moved here because he got a job offer he simply couldn't refuse. As you know, he's an artist who loves motorcycles, and when he got the chance to work for a shop doing custom paint and graphics for motorcycles, he jumped on it. A few years later, his boss decided to sell the business. Your dad ended up buying it, and he's done really well with it, which is how he was able to help you with your college expenses."
"For which I will always be grateful. I'd just wish we'd been able to see each other more often while I was growing up."
"I know. We would have liked that as well, but we were told you'd bonded with Bruce, and even though your mother never came out and said it directly, we knew she wanted us to stay in the background. Apparently, she was having issues with some of the family."
Once again, Aunt Laurie's comments played back in Rachel's mind. She tried to brush it away. "You know what I wish? I wish we could all go back in time and do things differently. There were times when I was growing up when I truly felt that my father had abandoned me." Rachel sighed. "But then, when I started college, and Mom told me he was the one paying for most of my tuition, I started realizing it wasn't the case. You may recall it was when I started reconnecting with him."
"I remember. Your dad missed you as well, and he was much more at peace once you two started talking again."
"I'm glad." Rachel's eyes suddenly turned misty. "You know, I'd hoped to land a job in Albuquerque when I graduated, but I ended up taking that job in Reno instead." She looked down at her arm, covered by the sling. "It's a mistake I'll pay for, for the rest of my life."
"None of this is your fault, Rachel." There was a no-nonsense tone in Sherry's voice. "Apparently one of his articles is in the current issue of The American Chronicle, and all of the talking heads on Fox and CNN are speculating about how such a well-respected journalist could have had such a dark side."
"Aw, jeez." Rachel shook her head in disgust. "So now he has the fame and recognition he's coveted for all these years, and he got it at my expense. The man tried to rape me, and he nearly killed me, and now it's being plastered all over the national media? Wow. So, once again, Craig Walker wins. Even in death, Craig Walker always wins."
"I wouldn't call it a victory. Not by a long shot. For one thing, he's dead, so he's hardly able to enjoy the fame, or should I say, the notoriety, he's earned. Nor has the media been kind to him. They've labeled him as the sexual predator he was, and some of his former girlfriends are coming forward with their own horror stories about him. And earlier today The American Chronicle announced that they've pulled his article from their website, and they won't be publishing any of the other articles he wrote for them. So don't go getting yourself all worked up. They're all trying to distance themselves from him, while you're going to make a full recovery and enjoy the rest of your life."
A young nurse entered the room, greeting her a smile as she made some notes in her tablet. Another nurse came in to join her. She carried a small tray loaded with supplies and a freshly folded hospital gown.
"My name is Beth," said one of the nurses, "and I'll be changing your bandages while Stephanie removes your catheter. We'll only be a few minutes, and I promise none of it will hurt."
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No, Sherry, you're good," said Rachel. "I just hope the damage on my face isn't too horrific." She laid still as the nurses went to work.
"Your face is actually healing nicely," Beth finally said.
"Will I be scarred?"
"Hopefully not. As soon as I get the rest of these bandages off, I'll put some antibiotic ointment on it and cover it with a fresh bandage. You'll need to keep it bandaged for about a week after you get home."
Rachel remained still as the nurse finished bandaging her face. "Are we done?" she finally asked.
"Almost," said Beth with a smile. "As soon as we take care of your wrists."
Rachel watched closely as Beth unwrapped her left wrist. Once the bandages were gone, she gasped in horror.
"It's okay," said Beth. "It's healing quite nicely as well, and it'll fade over time. It doesn't need to be bandaged anymore and we'll put a little Vaseline on it to keep it moist. I'll leave the tube here so you can apply more later on." She gently removed the bandages on Rachel's other wrist. It too was red, but not as much as her other wrist.
"This one's healing too. They'll put a cast on your wrist in the morning, before you go home."
"I'm leaving tomorrow?"
"It's what we're hoping. Now comes the fun part. Stephanie and I are going to help you out of bed, and you're going to do a little walking. Are you ready?"
"I don't know. What about the back of my gown?"
"Not to worry, we'll cover your back with this other gown."
"And I have something for you as well." Sherry picked up a large shopping bag resting by her feet. "Your dad and I thought you might feel better if you had something nicer to wear, so I've brought you some pajamas."
"Gosh, Sherry, I don't know what to say, other than thank you."
"Enough talking, young lady," said Stephanie. "Up you go."
"Wait." Sherry reached inside the shopping bag. "Don't forget her slippers. I hope medium fits."
Rachel nodded as Sherry handed the slippers to Beth, and the nurses helped Rachel sit up. She groaned as they got her on her feet. She felt unsteady, but they stood on either side of her, grabbing her IV pole and helping her walk back and forth between the bathroom and her bed. Al stepped back in, handing Sherry a sandwich and a soda as the nurses got her back in her bed.
"You know what I'd really like?" said Rachel. "I'd really like to take a shower. I feel pretty grungy, and my hair feels like it's still full of dirt from the fall. The rest of my family is on their way from Tucson, and I'd like to look presentable when they get here."
"I'll see what I can do," said Beth. The two nurses stepped out as Al made himself at home in the other chair.
"So," he said, "I take you and Sherry have been getting reacquainted."
"Yes, we have," said Rachel.
"And she remembers me." Sherry set her sandwich aside and took the pajamas from the shopping bag. "I took a guess and got you the medium size."
"That'll work."
"Both pairs are cotton, so they should be comfortable. Do you prefer the pink with the kittens? Or the white with the pink roses?"
"I think I'll go with the white," said Rachel.
Sherry nodded. "I like those better myself." She reached back in the bag. "I also got you a few toiletries. A toothbrush, a comb, a little bottle of shampoo—"
"Oh, thank goodness," said a relieved Rachel. "I just want to feel clean again."
A female aide arrived a short time later. Her name was Candace, and she brought a plastic cover for Rachel's sling. "I heard you want to take a shower," she said, "so I'm here to help you."
Rachel smiled with delight as Candace helped her from her bed. "You know, it's really not so bad the second time."
Rachel grabbed her IV pole as Sherry handed the bag off to Candace. Closing the bathroom door, Rachel caught her reflection in the mirror. It shocked her to her core. Her hair was stringy. A large bandage covered her bruised and swollen right cheek. Her eyelid was also swollen, and she had a huge black eye. She shook her head stunned in disbelief.
"This can't be me. I look like a monster."
Candace wrapped her arm around her shoulder. "It's okay. You've had a very serious fall, but it will all go away, I promise. Now, let me help you out of your gown, and we'll cover your sling."
Rachel gazed in horror at her naked body in the refection. Her arms and chest were covered with big, dark bruises, and Craig's fingermarks were still visible on her forearm. Once again Candace tried to comfort her.
"I'm so sorry, but it really will heal, I promise. In the meantime, a nice, warm shower will help you feel a lot better." She led Rachel into the shower stall, sitting her down on the ledge and turning on the water. Ten minutes later she wrapped her up in a clean towel as someone knocked at the door. Another aide was dropping off a hair dryer.
"Perfect timing," said Candace as she began combing out Rachel's hair. "You've got some beautiful highlights."
"Thanks. I had them done the day of my...accident. It was my sister's wedding day. I was her maid of honor, and I was wearing this beautiful blue dress. I wonder what became of it." She looked closely at her hands. "Well, I'll be damned. I got my nails done the same day and look. After everything I've been through, none of the polish has chipped off." She sighed. "Too bad the rest of me didn't fare so well." She remained silent as Candace turned on the blow dryer.
"I'm afraid I'm not much of a stylist, but at least your hair will be clean. Maybe your mom can take you to the hairdresser once you feel up to it. A day of pampering would do you some good."
"Maybe." Rachel thought it over for a minute. "She's actually my stepmother."
"Really? I would have never known. She's a lovely woman."
"She is indeed." Rachel kept to herself as Candace finished drying her hair and helped her into the pajamas.
"These look pretty on you," said Candace. "The pink flowers go nicely with your complexion."
"Thanks, but somehow I doubt I'll ever be pretty again."
Candace put her hand on Rachel's shoulder. "The swelling in your face will go down. All the bruises will fade, and your broken bones will all heal. Now, let's get you back to bed."
Al and Sherry looked up and smiled as Rachel emerged from the bathroom. Candace helped her back to her bed and stepped away.
"So, how are you feeling?" asked Sherry.
"I don't know. I just saw my reflection in the mirror."
"You're alive," said Al. "Trust me, just seeing you here is the most beautiful thing I think I've ever seen in my entire life." He introduced another visitor who had arrived while Rachel was in the shower.
"This is Les Sorenson. He's one of my biker buddies and he's also an attorney. The police detective will be back within the hour, and Les will be here while she talks to you."
Les extended his hand. "Your father filled me in about what happened with you and Mr. Walker before you were pushed out of the truck. He kidnapped you at knifepoint, and the marks on your wrists speak for themselves. And while I highly doubt they would ever charge you, I also have to agree with your father when he says stranger things have happened. So, before she gets here, I want to go over what you should, and should not, say to her."