“Liz, look at me. Mrs. Honey wants you to go home. She was awake for a little but she’s asleep again. She said you had classes you needed to worry about.” A slice of relief fills me at what she said because it sounds like something she’d say.
“She’s really fine?” I ask, and worry nags at me. I can’t leave unless I’m sure.
“Yeah, they want to keep her a few days because she’s older just to be safe, but she's going to be fine.” The woman next to Mike reaches out and touches my shoulder.
“It’s because you found her.” She adds and gives my shoulder a squeeze.
Waiting for the ambulance felt like an eternity. I swallow the lump in my throat but still a tear slips free. I can’t help it because I’m so happy that she’s okay.
“Thank you for letting me know,” I tell them both.
“Come on, we’re going to take you home,” the woman says. “I’m Sherry, by the way, Mike’s wife.” She smiles at me as we walk out together.
It isn’t until we’re in the car do I think to ask why they were there. “Did you know Mrs. Honey?”
“No. I just got word there was an ambulance outside the house,” Mike responds.
“Oh.” I wonder who would have told him that.
“I keep a watch on the place since you’re a single woman alone and all.” I watch his wife smile over at him proudly.
I smile at the reminder that there are good men out there like Mike and Rocco. Not everyone is a Gabe.
“That’s sweet of you,” I tell him, appreciative that he would take the time to care about me without really knowing me.
“We watch out for our own.” He shrugs like it’s no big deal. I’m not sure how I fall into whatever group he considers his own and I don’t ask because I don’t want to be rude. My own parents don’t check on me, so it’s nice someone does.
They didn’t even bother to ask if I wanted to come back home after what happened with Gabe. All I got was, “I’m glad you’re okay,” and, “you need to do a better job at watching out for yourself.”
“Did you shovel my driveway?” I don’t know why that pops into my head. He nods and I lean back in my seat.
“Thanks.”
“Like I said.” He shrugs. “We take care of our own.”
When we pull up to the house I step out and Mike rolls down his window.
“Liz, if you see anything funny you let me know. I gave you my number for a reason.” I nod that I will. “Liz, look at me.” I lift my head to look at him and our eyes meet. “I’m serious. I know you might not get this, but I need you to let me know if someone is fucking with you. It’s more important than you realize.”
For some reason I know I have to tell him about the guy from the other day. It’s been bugging me and I think it might be a problem. I tell him about the lawyer showing up and how he made me feel. Mike sits quietly for a minute while I spill the whole incident. Afterwards he’s silent for a beat then nods.
“All right. I know you already know, but set the alarm when you go in.”
“I will,” I tell him. I wave goodbye, walk up my sidewalk and unlock the door, pausing to do as I’ve been instructed. Afterwards, I walk over to the sofa and drop my purse on the floor.
When I sit down Rocco’s letters fall out of my purse onto the floor. I lean down and pick them up, knowing right now this is the one thing that will make me feel better. I grab my pen and paper and decide to write to him.
Today was another reminder of how short life can be. It makes me want to go and see him now, but I know that’s not how this works. There are so many things I want to tell him about how I feel, but I don’t want him to think I’m crazy. I also don’t want to worry him.
I do the best I can as I let my pen drift across the page and I pour out whatever comes to mind. I decide it’s best to write whatever comes from my heart because that’s what he deserves.
My heart has belonged to him since the day he saved me, so there’s no use in trying to deny him it now.
Ten
LIZZY
I smooth my dress out as I stand in front of the mirror in the master bedroom. I scrutinize the outfit and wonder if this is the one I should go with. It’s a soft peachy pink and I love the way it fits tight at the top and flares out around my waist. It’s soft and pretty and I know it fits the guidelines I have to follow to be able to go see Rocco. I don’t want to break any of the rules. I’d be devastated if they denied me a visit.