Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Summer staggered to her feet. Her mother and Tina flew to the side, all braced for the impending explosion from Bill’s rigged device.
Nothing.
Summer flew down the stairs, then stopped in horrified shock at the gaping hole in the main floor.
The two men had fallen straight through to the basement below. Heart in her throat, she dropped to her knees at the torn, splintery edge. “Joe!” she cried.
From the terrifying black silence came a beam of light. Kenny was down there, on his knees, speaking into his radio, calling for an ambulance. His glasses were crooked, his face filthy when he looked up.
“Kenny,” she cried urgently. “There’s some sort of a device—”
“I got it.”
“Joe—”
“I’ve got him too. Listen to me, Summer. All of you. Back up away from the edge.”
He didn’t want her to see, which meant it was bad. Her mom had dropped down next to Summer, gripping Tina with one hand, her daughter in the other. Summer looked into Tina’s blank and shocked eyes, and then back at her mom.
“I love you both,” Summer said fiercely, knowing she’d never hold back those words again. Not ever. And then she ran for the stairs that would lead her down to Joe.
Kenny quickly moved to block her way. “Summer—”
She shoved around him. Joe lay on his side, covered in dust and debris, eyes closed. “Oh my God.”
“Don’t move him.”
“I won’t.” His big, long, beautiful body was far too still. Whipping around, she searched out Bill.
He was there sitting up, his back to a wall, his leg bent at a funny angle, cradling his arm, his face pale and clammy, eyes closed. Summer didn’t waste another second on him and turned back to Joe, dropping to her knees at his side.
In the distance came the sirens, and she nearly cried in relief. “Hang on,” she told Joe. “You hang on.” She covered one of his hands with hers. It was warm with life, and she bowed her body over his, as if she could protect him, but it was too late for that. He’d put it all on the line.
For her.
“I love you.” She stroked a light finger over his jaw. “Joe. I love you so much. Please hear me.”
Pounding footsteps hit the stairs, and then there were more lights, and she was gently shoved out of the way. The paramedics moved Joe onto a stretcher with a c-collar and a firm backboard, immobilizing him, and then began an IV.
Surrounded by her mother and Tina, Summer watched him being loaded into the ambulance, then Bill into another one, with a police escort.
“I’ll take all of you to the hospital,” Kenny said.
Her mom hugged him hard, then cupped his face and kissed him right on the lips. “Yes, take us to the hospital. And then you can take me. Anywhere. I’m yours.”
Kenny let out a rough sound and hauled her close for a tight, hard hug.
At the hospital, the doctor came out and looked at Summer. “Mrs. Walker.”
“Yes,” she said without a qualm. “Tell me.”
“He’s in ICU. Stab wound to the thigh, broken sternum, three cracked ribs, and we’re watching his O2 stats to make sure his lungs are okay. He’s also got a severely bruised spinal cord and a concussion. No elevation of intracranial pressure so far, which is promising.”
Summer covered her mouth, nodded her head. “Can I see him?”
“One at a time for brief periods.”
He lay so still in the bed, one arm and shoulder in a sling, the rest of him covered in sheets and bandages, and connected to all sorts of machines that bleeped and blipped. But his chest rose and fell, and keeping her eyes on that, she sat next to his bed and stroked his fingers.
“That was a damn stupid thing to do,” she told him.
“I had things under control. You didn’t have to be the hero.
You didn’t have to try to save me.” She stared at his far-too-still face.
“I’ve been so stupid, Joe, so slow, and all along, the truth was there.
” She leaned in, close to his ear. “You are my whole life. I don’t know how I ever lived it without you.
” A tear escaped and she sniffed, wishing she had a tissue but not wanting to leave his side for a second. “Are you listening to me, Joe Walker?”
“Hard not to.” Eyes still closed, he grimaced and licked his dry lips. “You’re shouting.”
“Oh my God. Joe! I love you so much.”
“Well, look at that,” he said slowly, eyes still closed. “You didn’t…choke over it.”
She let out a laughing sob. “No, I didn’t choke on it.”
“How bad is Bill?” He spoke very softly, as if it hurt to talk.
No doubt, it did. It must hurt to even breathe. “Just a few bumps and bruises. He’s going to jail.”
“Tina?”
“Joe, please,” she begged. “Don’t worry about any of us. Just rest.”
Opening his eyes, he took in her face, then blanched. “You’re crying.” He closed his eyes again. “Oh, Christ. I finally get you to say you love me and I’m dying.”
“You’re not—”
“My head’s going to fall off. And I have this pain in my chest—”
“That’s the concussion and the broken ribs.”
“No. I see a bright white light. You’d better devote yourself to me for the few minutes I have left. Let me die a happy man. Just say you’ll marry me. Then I can let go.”
“Joe.” She had to laugh. “I’d promise you the moon, but—”
“Red.” His pupils weren’t the same size and there was a world of pain swimming in those whiskey orbs. “Just say ‘yes, Joe.’”
Her heart stopped. “Are—are you serious?”
“As serious as falling thirty feet.”
Her heart kicked back into gear, slamming against her ribs. “But we can’t—you can’t just—”
“I’m dying,” he reminded her.
“You’re not—”
“Humor me.”
“Okay, but my job—”
“I don’t care. I don’t care if you come and go daily. Just mostly come, and be mine while you’re at it.”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t want to go at all. I want to stay here in San Diego and run day trips. I want to be home every night. I want to be with you every night—”
“Excuse me, Mrs. Walker.” His nurse rushed into the cubicle, followed by the doctor. Both shooed her out of their way and began asking Joe questions. Did he know where he was? Did he know what year it was? Could he see clearly?
“All I know is that I hurt like hell and you’re blocking my way,” he said. “I’m trying to talk to my almost fiancée.”
The nurse frowned. “You’re already married. You don’t remember?”
A slow smile broke out over Joe’s face as he studied Summer. “Oh, yes. It’s all coming back to me.”
“Excuse me,” the nurse said to Summer. “You’re going to have to leave now.”
“Don’t go far,” Joe said. “Wife.”
Summer looked back at him. Though his eyes were closed again, his mouth was shooting her a crooked smile that flashed his dimple. “I love you, Joe.”
“Hold that thought. You’re good at that.”
Unbelievably she laughed through her tears. “Maybe I was, but no more. Life is too damn short. I’m not holding back on anything, not ever again.”
“I’ll take that in writing,” he said, just as the nurse pushed her out and slid the curtain shut in her face.
“I love that woman ridiculously,” she heard him say to the doctor, and her entire heart just tipped on its side.
She turned and saw her mother waiting, her hand in Kenny’s.
Next to her stood Tina. Chloe and the twins had shown up too, and they had their arms around their mom.
Chloe chomped on a big wad of bubble gum, Diana clutched a magazine, and Madeline had her head on her mom’s shoulder.
The whole gang. The whole family.
Rallying for one of their own.
As she moved toward them, Summer realized they’d all stiffened, their faces drawn with fright and concern. And she realized she had tears streaming down her face and that she must look like a complete wreck. “It’s okay,” she said. “He woke up.”
They let out a collective sigh. Everyone hugged, and then Summer took her mom’s hands. “I’m going to stick around for a while. What do you think?”
Her mom cupped Summer’s face. “I think I could get used to that.”
“Me too,” Summer said, and turned when the nurse stuck her head out of Joe’s cubicle.
“Mrs. Walker? We need you back in here. He won’t cooperate unless he can see you.”
Indeed Joe was arguing with another nurse over something, and just the sound of his voice made her heart sigh. She could get used to that too, she decided. Very used to that.
Summer moved to stand at his side. “Problem?”
“Tell me again,” he demanded and gripped her hand tight. “I want to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.”
Her heart melted. “I love you.”
He sighed, relaxed, and let out a smile. “So it was real.”
“As real as it gets,” she promised and sat at his side.