Chapter 54
The card of recovery, the Four of Swords indicates it is time for rest and recuperation.
CAL
The following afternoon, I’m relaxing on my sofa while Danny, Marci, Jim, and Gwen hover over me.
“Would you like another cup of tea?”
“Is that pillow comfy enough for you?”
“Here’s a book you might like, or would you rather watch a movie?”
“Do you want to take a nap, now?”
Two hours later, I’ve had enough pampering. I shoo all the mother hens out of the house except for Marci. Danny protests but I promise he can come over later.
I survey the living room. Everything is in order. There are no signs of the violence that had taken place the day before. Biz had a Crime Scene cleaning crew working all night long to erase all traces of broken glass, blood, and Juliet’s brain matter. Biz herself sanded the surface of the coffee table to smooth out the gashes where Juliet had stabbed it with the scissors. The coat of varnish was still a little tacky to the touch. A new rug covered the floor where my and Juliet’s blood discolored the brick.
It occurs to me that all the busy bees in my hive are people that I love deeply and who love me. Even Biz.
“Biz let me watch the video of last night,” Marci confides.
“She did? That seems contrary to police procedure—that’s the evidence that will exonerate me.”
“Well, she didn’t exactly let me watch it. Maybe I sort of took her phone while she was in the bathroom at the hospital and watched it.”
Marci starts crying. She holds up two fingers an inch apart. “You came this close, babe. This close.”
“I know. I can’t believe it myself. I keep reliving that last moment when Juliet’s head exploded all over me and Danny.” I shudder. “Can you stay with me tonight? I don’t think I can be alone tonight.”
“We are not letting you stay alone for a while. One of us will be here every night for the next few weeks.” Marci pauses. “Unless you don’t want Biz to stay.”
“No, I think I’d like to get to know her better.” If it weren’t for her, I would be dead. “She is obviously very important to Danny, so I’d like to spend some one-on-one time with her and get to know her.”
For the next week I do nothing but let my friends wait on me hand and foot. They watch over me as I toss and turn fitfully at night and scream and sob in my sleep. One especially difficult night I got up and went into my closet. Sitting in the chair, I began a calming meditation. Peace descended over me as I chanted mantras. When I opened my eyes, Biz was sitting on the end of the bed looking at me in awe.
“That is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard. And you are…. glowing. Can you teach me how to do that?”
“Chant or glow?”
“Both.”
“Yes. On one condition.”
“Name it.”
“Will you let me love Danny, too? I don’t want to interfere with your friendship, and I realize how important it is to both of you. Is there room in your heart for me, too?”
Biz gives me a fake sigh. “I guess so. Otherwise, he’ll mope around and make my life miserable.”