The Color of the Season by Julianne MacLean Read Free Book Online Page B

now?”
    “Pretty much,” Marie replied. “The reporters were outside for the first few days, but they’re gone now. I’m sure they’ll be back when they hear you’re awake.”
    I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m not really up for talking to reporters. I haven’t even tried to walk yet. And I could use a shower.”
    “Don’t worry about any of that press stuff,” Marie said. “We’ll handle everything and tell them how you’re doing. There are a lot of concerned people out there, you know. All kinds of flowers were left out front. People were lighting candles and praying for you constantly.”
    I thought about my strange experience in the operating room and couldn’t help but wonder if it was all those prayers that had brought me back. I probably should have said something to my family about what occurred, but for some reason that morning, it seemed less real than it had when I first woke up to the bright pen light shining in my eyes.
    Maybe it was just a dream. Maybe that was the light I saw…
    “Have you talked to anyone yet?” Marie asked.
    I laced my fingers together on my lap. “About what?”
    “About what happened when you were shot. Did you know the carjacker’s in custody?”
    “He’s alive?” I was relieved to hear it.
    “Yeah, he’s fine. You shot him in the leg and he was released from the hospital after a day or two.”
    “What about Scott?”
    “He’s fine, too,” Marie replied. “He was lucky the guy had such terrible aim. It was just a surface wound on his arm. The woman is okay and feeling very grateful for what you and Scott did for her. She said the carjacker stole her van while she was pumping gas. He forced her inside, then got behind the wheel and kept the gun on her. Turns out he was running from some drug dealers he owed money to. The woman came to visit you a few days ago. Those are the flowers she left.”
    Marie pointed toward the window.
    “That was thoughtful,” I said.
    Mom leaned over the bed to kiss me on the cheek. “We’re just glad you’re all right. We’ve all been so worried.”
    She stepped back when two nurses entered the room with towels and a pan of water. “Good morning, Officer Wallace,” one of them said cheerfully. “I’m Terri. Are you ready for a bath?”
    “I thought you’d never ask,” I replied.
    My family went for coffee.
    o0o
    After a light lunch of vegetable soup and more Jell-O, which I kept down without any trouble, the two young nurses returned to coax me out of bed and take me for a walk down the hall.
    “The sooner we get you moving the better,” Nurse Becky said as she lowered the bedrail. “It’s been five days since your surgery, so we don’t want to hear any excuses. No more lying around.”
    “Believe me,” I said, tossing the covers aside, “no one wants to be out of this place more than I do. No offense to you and Terri.”
    “None taken,” Terri replied with a grin.
    I had no intention of complaining, but it seemed a gargantuan effort just to swing my legs off the bed and set my feet on the floor. All my muscles felt rubbery.
    “It’s perfectly normal to feel a bit weak at first,” Terri said, “but you’ll be fine once you start moving.”
    “No problem,” I said. “I got this.”
    Nevertheless, it took me a minute or two to take the first step and walk fully upright, and I didn’t enjoy having to shuffle down the hall like a senior citizen, but I was determined to get back on my feet so I could be discharged as soon as possible.
    “You did great,” Nurse Terri said when we returned to my room. “I hope we didn’t wear you out too much.”
    “Nope,” I replied as she helped me back onto the bed. “So tell me, Terri. What are the odds of a tasty steak dinner tonight? Maybe some mashed potatoes and gravy? A little red wine would be nice.”
    She glanced up at me flirtatiously as if I’d just asked her out on a date, when all I was referring to was the supper tray that would be delivered