Tim and I were both released from the hospital the next afternoon. His arm was in a sling, but he looked great. I, on the other hand, looked like I’d been run over by a Mack truck. I did feel a little better, though. The doctors had poked and prodded and x-rayed me from one end to the other, and basically the diagnosis was cracked ribs, severe contusions, and exhaustion. They pumped me up with painkillers, gave me some intravenous fluids, and, to treat my lack of rest, woke me up every two hours to ask if I wanted something to help me sleep. Go figure.
My theory on the whole matter was that they make you feel so bad while you’re in there that just being released makes you think you are cured. The nurse wheeled me down to the lobby in a wheelchair after I’d signed the papers promising to turn over my first born child in the event that I was unable to pay my bills. Since I wasn’t planning on having kids, I figured what the hey. As long as they didn’t take Delbert. I couldn’t wait to get home and see the big guy.
Charli and Tim sat chatting on an upholstered bench waiting for my mom and dad, who were driving us home, to pull the car up to the front door. I thanked the nurse, maneuvered out of the chair, and eased on the bench between them. Tim reached over with his good hand and clasped my hand tightly. We sat there waiting for my folks, holding on to each other for dear life.
“Thank God it’s all over,” I said. “I still can’t believe that Dicey killed them.”
“Me either,” Charli said. “It’s like the worst nightmare ever.”
Tim let go of my hand. “Yeah, it is. Dicey was the last person in the world I’d have suspected. Well, except for Charli.”
Charli beamed at him. “That’s so sweet, Tim.”
I shifted so I could look at him. It hurt like hell. “Charli? What about me? You wouldn’t suspect me would you?”
Tim changed the subject. “Hey, I heard they caught Art. He was holed up at his cousin’s hunting camp over in West Virginia.”
“Really?” I said. “That’s good news.”
“Yeah,” Tim said. “He’s one sorry son of a gun. Speaking of sorry sons of guns, one of the nurses told me that you sent Ol’ Ricky Ray packing. I heard he high-tailed it back to Nashville with his tail between his legs. Bet he won’t be back around here anytime soon. What did you do to him?”
“Who me? I didn’t do a thing.” Tim’s my best friend, but he doesn’t need to know every little detail of my personal life.
Tim slung his unbandaged arm across my shoulder and patted my head. “Like I’m gonna believe that one. I also heard that your boyfriend is leaving town. I’m really sorry. He was a nice guy.”
My mood sagged a bit. “It really sucks. He found out last night that his company was bought out by one of those even bigger media conglomerates. They promoted him to president so he’s got to move to Seattle. But I guess it’s better now than later. They had a rule about employees dating each other anyway. It was going to be really hard to see him and know that I couldn’t go out with him.”
“At least you got a job out of it,” Charli said. “Morning drive.”
I groaned and buried my head in my hands. “Don’t remind me.”
“But I thought it was your dream job,” Tim said. Full-time, benefits, big raise. What’s wrong now?”
I gave them Mom’s ‘shoot me now’ sigh. “Kyle sort of forgot to mention a couple of minor little details when he made the offer.”
Charli stood up and yawned. “Oh really? What were they?”
“Well, first of all, he didn’t tell me that they were keeping Herb on as the station manager.”
Tim began to chuckle. “You and Herb, together again. That’s effing great!”
“Just effing super. But that’s not the worst of it. He also forgot to mention who my on-air partner is going to be.”
Charli’s jaw dropped. “You don’t mean…”
“Yep. Starting three weeks from Monday, Giselle St. James and I are going to be the co-hosts of WRRR Morning Drive Live. They think our rivalry will bring in big ratings.”
Tim laughed so hard I thought he was going to pass out. Personally, I didn’t think it was even remotely amusing. I rubbed my eyes and attempted a stretch. Ouch.
“God, I wonder what’s taking Mom and Dad so long?” I said. “This bench might as well be made out of granite or something.”
“I know,” Tim said. “My back is killing me.”
Charli peered out the door. “They probably had to park over by the clinic or down in the hotel parking garage. Wait, there they come now.”
Tim carefully pulled me to my feet and we went outside. I saw something strange out of the corner of my eye. My mouth dropped open and I blinked hard. I rubbed my eyes again and did a double take. She was gone.
“Tim, did you see that?” I asked
He looked around. “See what?”
“Over there. By the bus stop. I swear I saw a woman dressed in one of those crinoline dresses, wearing a jester’s cap on her head, and carrying some sort of wand. She looked like that woman who does those lottery commercials.”
“Marty, I think you’ve let this Lady Luck, bad karma stuff go to your head,” Charli said. “It’s one thing to have bad dreams about her, but now you’re starting to see things. Either that, or you desperately need some sleep.”
Tim and Charli helped me into the backseat of Mom and Dad’s car and then crawled in next to me while Mom fussed over us. “Marty, dear, did Charlene tell you her good news?”
I arched a brow at my sister. “What good news?”
Mom didn’t wait for Charli, she spilled it herself. “John and the children are coming home tomorrow. Isn’t that wonderful?”
“That’s better than wonderful. I’ll bet you can’t wait,” I said to my sister.
“But that’s not all,” Mom interrupted. “Her neighbors held an emergency meeting and elected your sister president of the neighborhood alliance!”
I tried to laugh but it hurt too much. “Lucky you,” I said to Charli.
“Oh, yeah. Lucky me.” My sister looked glum.
I watched out the window as Dad drove past the place I thought that I’d seen Lady Luck, but didn’t see her again. Maybe Charli was right. I was three days past exhaustion, taking some seriously strong pain killers, and I am a wee bit prone to letting my imagination run away with me. Just then, the woman appeared again, and this time she pointed her wand right toward me and waved it around. Then she began to do this bizarre little tap dance.
“There, there she is,” I shouted.
“Where who is, honey?” Mom asked.
“Lady Luck. Chance. Destiny. You know, one of the Divas of Doom!”
Mom and Dad both stared at me. “Don, do you think we should take her back inside?” Mom worriedly asked my Dad. “I think she’s hallucinating or something.”
“No, I’m not. She’s right over there, dancing around. Don’t y’all see her?”
Tim looked to where I was pointing. “I don’t see anyone. Do you Charli?”
Charli said she didn’t see anyone either.
“What I think, Marty,” Tim said, “is that you could use a bowl of Dave’s potato soup and a great big root beer float with a double dip of chocolate ice cream. Tell you what, if your Dad will stop at Pilazzo’s, I’ll treat.”
“Finally,” I said, and even though she was watching me, pointing that stupid wand right at me, preparing to split the uprights with my head, I went ahead and said it anyway. But, then, some people just never learn, you know?
“It’s about time I had some good luck.”