He said he did that for another FBI agent who’d been shot, and sure
enough, the other agent got married on the date and in the church
that Savich picked. He said it was a special calling of his.”
“My folks?” Adam said. The pain was getting worse, that
damned broken rib was digging into him like a sword, dragging
him under, and he wanted to howl with it. The novelty of having
himself distracted was losing its touch and wearing thin. But he
knew he had to hold on, just a bit longer. He wanted to look at
Becca, just look at her, hear her voice, perhaps have her kiss him
again. He wanted her to kiss him all over, that would be very nice.
He tried to smile up at her but it was a pathetic effort. Thank God
she was safe. He wanted to lie very quietly and keep knowing that
she was safe and she was here and that was her hand on his face.
“But Becca, I have to ask you to marry me before Savich can
find a church. What if you say no?”
“You already sort of asked me when we were at your house. But
I want the real words now. Ask me, Adam, and see what I say.”
“I hurt real bad but will you marry me? I love you, you know.”
“Yes, of course I will. I love you, too, more than even I can
imagine. Now, Savich has already spoken to both your mother and
your father. In fact, the last time I checked in, they were sitting on
either side of him. Ah, I like them, Adam, very much. There are
brothers and sisters and all sorts of second and third cousins coming
in and out. They seem to be on some sort of rotation schedule.
Oh yes, everyone is sticking his oar in about church locations and
dates. I didn’t know you had such a large family.”
“Too large. They refuse to mind their own business. Always underfoot.”
He coughed and it hurt his rib so badly he thought he’d
expire on the spot. He couldn’t control it any longer. The pain in
his rib and in his arm was slicing right through him, pulling him
down and down. He -was going to sink under and never come up.
Then he heard the nurse say, “I’m going to give him some morphine.
He’ll be okay in just a moment. I guess he forgot it was
there. Then he needs to rest.” He hadn’t forgotten, he just knew he
wouldn’t have been able even to push down the button because he
was just too bloody weak. His arms were limp at his sides. He
hated needles and there were two of them sticking out of his arms.
Jesus, he was a mess but he’d be okay. Becca loved him. He said, his
voice slurred, “I’m glad you love me. That makes two of us now.”
He thought he heard her laugh. He knew he felt her palm
against his cheek.
And then he drifted away, the pain pulling back, like a monster’s
fangs pulling out of his flesh, and it felt blessedly wonderful. Then he
was asleep again, deeply asleep, and it was black and dreamless and
there was nothing there to hurt him and that was a very good thing.
Becca slowly straightened over him.
The nurse smiled at her from the other side of his bed. “He’s doing
great. Please don’t worry, we’re taking really good care of him.
I hope he’ll sleep now. He should, since the pain has lightened up.
You need to get some rest, too, Ms. Matlock.”
Becca gave Adam one last long look, a last kiss on his mouth, then
walked out of his room, down the corridor to the small sitting room
with two windows looking onto the parking lot, pale yellow walls
dotted with Impressionist prints. That small room was filled with the
latest batch of relatives. There was Adam’s mom, Georgia, playing
with Sean, while Sherlock and Savich were laughing, taking turns
announcing yet another church and yet another possible date for
Becca and Adam’s wedding, only to have a boo from one relative