arefully wheeled her outside and into a truck. Ray went with her. He held her hand the entire way, saying nothing. Once in the hospital he stayed at her side offering as much information as he could, making sure the nurses took good care of this woman who he thought was so pretty, even with swollen eyes and a fat lip. He also didn’t hesitate to mention the name of Joshua Hewitt.
In times of crisis everyone should have their own Ray Peppers around. I don’t care what the situation might be; a level head is hard to come by. I couldn’t say I would have stayed in such control had it been me who found Diamond in the shape she was in.
“I’ll tell you what, Marty.” He chuckled a little, rubbing the back of his neck. “When that girl got her wits about her I was sure she was going to start spitting nails. Concussion or not, she was not going to just sit back and play the victim. I don’t think your brother realized who he had tried to mess with.”
“My brother rarely thinks. You know that, Ray.”
Ray went on to describe Diamond’s chilling narration of what had happened to her. The set-up in the alley, the blow to her head, the alcohol and humiliation and then leaving her to choke to death, bound and gagged. My heart broke as Ray told me and I felt responsible for the whole thing. Sure it wasn’t really my fault. Joshua was a grown man who had chosen this path of depravity and narcissism. But somewhere deep down I couldn’t help but feel the nagging truth that we were related. How come he ended up this way? And was there even the slightest chance that that beast inside him was also lying dormant inside of me? Could I just wake up one day and feel the need to conquer whatever and whoever is in front of me? Was it in our blood? Was it in our DNA? Was it inevitable?
“It isn’t your fault, Marty.” Ray said putting his hand on my shoulder. I had mentioned before that Ray had the uncanny gift of reading my mind.
“Common sense tells me it’s not. But there are two beautiful women in the hospital right now who might not be there had I taken the action I did sooner.”
“You know what the authorities would have said to you if you tried to do anything without proof of some kind? They would have said sorry, pal. With all your money you’re still not happy and want to lock up your brother in the loony-bin? You cold hearted bastard. That is exactly what they would say. And then they’d run to the tabloids.”
“I suppose.” I said, still feeling the guilt.
“Well, you’re not going to get that pretty mama to accept that ring if you show up with a face like that. Come on, Marty. This is an exciting day.”
Ray was right. I could look at the situation around me like things were coming to an end or I could see it all as a new beginning.
“How do I look?” I said, turning to Ray.
“Like a million bucks.”
“221.4 million To be exact.” I said, smiling.
Ray rolled his eyes.
“And what about the ring?”
I reached in my pant pocket and pulled out a small red velvet box. It was Worn around the edges from years of being in a safety deposit box along with my father’s gold pocket watch, the cuff links he wore when he got married to my mom, the mortgage papers of their first home. It had cost them $25,000 to buy their house. In the suburb it was in now homes were selling for almost half a million dollars. I pulled open the lid and revealed a solitary two-karat diamond.
“For those days a ring this size was a waste of money.” I said to Ray. “But my mom always said that now a days the bigger the ring the shorter the marriage. Do you think she’ll like it?”
“I think Natasha would like it, even if it was a Cracker-Jack prize.” Ray said, closing the little box and handing it back to me. “Now, moving on to more important topics. What are you going to name the baby?”
I laughed out loud.
We left my home in Ray’s pick-up truck and headed to the hospital. I had both Natasha and Diamond transferred to Southeastern University Hospital for not just the best care after what they had been through but also because I had donated to them and was confident the ladies would be comfortable. It took a little sweet talking to get them hospital rooms right next to each other but since they weren’t in intensive care we got luck.
I walked in feeling nervous and excited and scared like I was a teenager getting ready to stand in front of the entire assembly and give a speech. As usual, a couple of the medical staff members called me by name and the administration crawled out of the woodwork to shake my hand and ask me how my friends were feeling. They assured me they were getting the best care as they would if they were friends of mine or not.
Ray had his arms full of boxes of chocolates for the nurses to indulge in at the nurse’s station. Another couple of bouquets of flowers had been delivered to them as well.
My father always said if you have to stay in the hospital to remember the nurses. “The doctors stop by for a couple minutes just to look at you. It’s the nurses who do the real work while you’re getting better. Don’t forget to say thank you.”
“Good morning, Mr. Reid. Mr. Pepper.” They would all say as we walked by. Funny. I was the one there on a mission and Ray seemed to be especially eager to make his way to Diamond’s room. He nodded his head and in a few long strides had reached her door.
Pushing it open quietly I saw the flowers I had ordered for her had also been delivered. Her room was a vision in yellow. Roses, carnations and daisies brightened up the private room and balloons floated happily around the ceiling reminding Diamond to get well soon.
“Hello?” Ray said quietly.
“Hi!” Diamond said, rubbing her eyes and smiling. She winced a little as she scooted up in the bed. “Hi, guys. Oh, Marty, the flowers are so beautiful. They really make a difference.”
“Hey, I’m a cheapskate. The daisies and carnations are the only ones I sent.” I said, clapping Ray on the back. He shook his head, looking down in an attempt to hide his cheeks that flushed a bright pink.
“Is that so? Well, thank you, Ray. The roses are the most beautiful flowers I’ve ever gotten.”