The firefighters heartwi.., p.23
The Firefighter's Heartwish, page 23
“Gard, honey, are you all right?” Astrid asked, alarm in her voice. “You’re ghost-white and dripping with sweat.” Taking a tissue from her purse, she smoothed it across his forehead. “It’s the PTSD again, isn’t it? Is there something I can do?”
Gard grimaced, working to shove the unsavory emotions from his head...his body. There was no time for him to languish in unwanted thoughts and fears. He’d live. He’d be fine. But if he didn’t get his shit together—fast—Sabrina would die.
“Fine, I’m fine,” he insisted, doing his best to convince his mother as much as himself. Beneath his breath, Gard muttered the mantra designed to help keep him in the here and now. “Home...Glassfloat Bay. I’m here...I’m here...” He gazed at the hospital room across the corridor. “This is a good spot. We’re close enough to Sabrina’s room to see what happens after I make the wish.” He lifted his ring hand, watching it shudder.
“You need to sit down.” Laila clasped Gard’s hand between hers to still the shakiness. “It’ll be easier for you.”
Annalise and Astrid looked around them. The only chairs were behind the nurses’ desk several yards away, and those were already occupied.
“Where?” Astrid asked.
“Right here.” Laila plopped down on the floor. After digging in her large tote, she fiddled with her phone until, a moment later, the calming sounds of an instrumental filled the space around them.
Annalise angled her head while listening. “Is that...do I hear dolphins?”
“And ocean waves?” Astrid added.
“It’s the ocean Zen music Zak likes to use for meditation. Now sit.” Laila patted the floor next to her and they all joined her. “Gard, you sit in the middle. We’ll make a circle around you.” She held out her hands and the women all clasped each other’s. “We need to hurry...Sabrina is fading fast.” Laila turned to Gard. “Just take a few deep breaths,” she instructed, demonstrating.
Too filled with angst and pressed for time to think about deep breathing exercises, Gard shook his head back and forth. “I don’t have time for this, Laila. I just need to make this wish before we lose Sabrina.”
“Breathe!” Laila ordered in a no-nonsense manner. And Gard did. It took just a few deep breaths and a matter of seconds before he felt better and more in control.
Resting his elbows on his crossed knees, he raised his ring hand. It still trembled. He gripped his wrist, trying to steady his hand. In a moment he felt the five women wrapping him in their arms, holding him close as the sounds of dolphins and ocean waves soothed them.
He looked at each of them and nodded. “Good. That’s good. Thanks...I can do this now...with your help.” They remained clustered together on the floor, ignoring the curious looks of passersby. Gard engaged in a long blink and silent prayer before speaking the most important words he’d ever utter.
“The wish I make now,” he began, his voice as shaky as his hand was a moment ago, “comes from the depths of my heart and soul. This is Harry’s wish too.” Gard felt himself growing stronger, more confident as he spoke. “I wish that vibrant life be restored to Harry’s mother, Sabrina Hanklen, so that she is alive, completely and entirely healthy, and that she will live a long and happy life surrounded by those she loves, and who love her.”
The six of them watched, stunned, as a blue-white light originated from the heartwish ring like a streak of electricity, zooming into Sabrina’s hospital room. In an instant, her hospital bed was aglow with the same light. They chorused a gasp and could clearly hear the unmistakable sound of raised, astonished voices coming from medical personnel scurrying around Sabrina’s room as it illuminated and the machines next to her bed went crazy, beeping and ringing, with chart lines zigzagging like mad.
People outside the room, both hospital staff and visitors, mingled and muttered, wondering what had just happened. “Must be an electrical malfunction,” one nurse told another, exiting Sabrina’s room.
The hospital room was soon filled with more medical personnel who rushed by the six still seated on the floor, leaving the door to Sabrina’s room open.
“This can’t be right,” they heard one of the nurse’s say, her voice coming out a near screech.
“It’s not possible,” another said.
“Incredible...the patient was no more than a blink away from death.” The last comment came from an astonished sounding Dr. Kang.
Gard and the women got to their feet, watching the flurry of activity as Sabrina was thoroughly checked from head to toe and back again.
“Her heartbeat is strong and regular,” a nurse said, her tone agitated. “I don’t understand. What just happened here?”
One by one her vital signs checked out as normal with staff in her room stating their confusion and amazement.
“Sabrina’s eyes are still closed. She still seems to be comatose,” Gard noted as they peeked into the room. “Do you think it worked?”
“Definitely.” Astrid’s smile was bright and confident. “Sabrina was so close to death that it may take a while for her body to fully recover, but recover she will. Absolutely. Positively. If she just got better like that,” she snapped her fingers, “it would create too much of a commotion, too many questions that can’t be answered. Don’t worry, Gard. It worked. It worked!”
Gard glanced up at the wall clock. It was five minutes past midnight, Christmas day. He closed his eyes and let the joyful laughter bubble up from his chest, spilling forth from his mouth. “Merry Christmas,” he said, then looked at the women. “If only Harry could have been here to see it for himself.”
“He would have witnessed a Christmas miracle,” Astrid said, tears in her eyes as she added, “just like we all did. I’ll never forget this day for as long as I live.”
“You can say that again,” Annalise agreed. “Oh my God, I have my sister back!” She wrapped her arms tight around Gard. “Thank you, Gard. Thank you so much. I was so afraid I was going to have to make those awful calls to my parents and my brother.”
“Incredible,” Reen whispered, clasping Laila’s hand. “Just as amazing as when it happened to you and Zak.”
Weeping happy tears, Laila nodded.
“Merry Christmas and happy birthday, Harry!” Gard said, mentally reaching out to the heart of the frightened little boy, hoping that somehow Harry would instinctively know his mom was okay. “We did it, kid. Your mom’s going to be just fine. How’s that for the best Christmas-birthday gift ever?”
“I’m so damn happy I could cry...and laugh...and sing.” Annalise twirled in place.
“You did it, son,” Astrid said, clasping his arms and shaking him. “You saved Sabrina.”
“It wasn’t me,” he protested, “it was the ring’s healing magic.”
“The ring’s magic,” Laila said, “combined with the power of your wish and Harry’s.” She cupped the side of Gard’s face. “Wishes created with two hearts full of love.”
“Seven hearts full of love,” Gard amended. “Harry’s and mine along with all of yours. I couldn’t have done it if the five of you hadn’t been here with me, sending me positive vibes and love.” He offered Laila a grateful smile. “I swear I’ll never make fun of Zak’s meditation stuff again. The dolphin ocean Zen music really helped.” He gave each of them a kiss on the cheek.
“No doubt about it,” he said. “This heartwish was definitely a joint endeavor.”
Happily smothering each other in a group hug, the four of them laughed and cried together.
Chapter Seventeen
~<>~
“YOU CAN GO ahead and say it now, honey,” Astrid told Gard, patting his back as the group of six walked out of the hospital. “You have my permission.”
Gard furrowed his eyebrows. “Say what, Mom?”
She turned to her son as they reached the parking lot. “That Stuart Hanklen is a lying sack of shit.” She gave a sweet smile.
Gard couldn’t help the rush of surprised laughter that escaped after hearing his mother so eloquently express her feelings. It was rare for her to say anything so off color.
Annalise grumbled, kicking at a stone on the pavement. “Ooh what I wouldn’t give for five minutes alone with that jerk.”
“Tell me about it,” Gard agreed. “I have never wanted to break every bone in someone’s body until today.”
“You know the huge new dough mixer I told you about,” Laila said, “that was delivered to my bakery this morning?”
“The one with the gargantuan dough hook?” Reen grinned.
“You mean that big-ass mixer that’s large enough to hold a grown man?” Annalise asked.
Delaney rubbed her hands together briskly. “I like where this is headed.”
“That would be the one,” Laila confirmed. “I’ve just thought of the most creative use for that piece of machinery.” She gave them all a shrewd look.
“Gard,” Astrid said matter-of-factly, “after you break all of Stuart’s bones, you can help me and Annalise stuff that son of a bitch head first into the dough mixer so we can take him for a little spin. All right son?”
“Anything you say, Mom.”
The laughter washing over them was the stress breaker they sorely needed after the tension of some mighty serious heartwish making.
“Should we go to Stuart’s hotel to let him and Harry know about Sabrina?” Annalise asked.
“It might be best if we steer clear of Stuart for a while.” Gard fished his phone from his pocket, checking the time. “It’s nearly one a.m. Probably best if we wait until morning.”
“I’m sure the hospital will contact him to let him know Sabrina’s stable,” Astrid said. “God only knows what might set him off and I don’t want it to be us.”
Once they’d reached Astrid’s car, they stopped.
“I just wish we could visit my sister to see firsthand how she’s doing,” Annalise said
“And to let her know we love her,” Laila added.
“I’ll be doing that in the morning,” Gard assured them.
“You can’t,” Delaney reminded him. “We’re been removed from the approved visitors list, remember?”
“Yup,” Gard met her gaze, “I remember.” With a secretive wink he waited for them to get into Astrid’s car, then twirled his keys around his finger, whistling as he walked to his vehicle.
~<>~
“I remember Annalise saying Sabrina always had a book with her and spent her breaks at the café reading,” Gard said to Tundra as they ran along the sand early Christmas morning. He barely got any sleep after getting home from the hospital. Although dead tired and emotionally drained, he suddenly found himself infused with Christmas spirit, staying up most of the night stringing colored lights around Bekka House. The couple hours of sleep he got were restful and free of nightmares. When he awoke it was with a renewed sense of vigor...and hope.
“So I thought I’d bring a book and read to her,” Gard advised Tundra. The tongue-lolling dog looked up at Gard as if he understood. “How does that sound, Tundra?”
With his dog’s amiable bark of agreement, the two of them concluded their run, heading home so Gard could grab a cup of strong coffee and prepare for his hospital visit.
Last night he dragged out boxes of family decorations, doing his best to make the house look Christmassy. While design wasn’t his strong point, he thought he did okay, mimicking some of the things he remembered his mother and sisters doing in previous years.
Since Bekka House was the meeting place for family, friends and neighbors on holidays, Gard wanted the place to look inviting. He figured his mom and sisters would probably be over early to decorate, assuming Gard had let the chore go. Thinking of the surprise they’d find made him smile.
Thirty minutes later he entered the hospital wearing an old paint-stained jacket, oversized sunglasses and a ball cap with the bill pulled low to help disguise his identity from staff members he knew. Walking toward Sabrina’s room he felt his heart stutter when he saw the room was empty. At the nurses’ station he asked where they’d moved Sabrina.
“She was moved from SICU,” the nurse said. “Let me see what room she’s in now.” A moment later she looked up at Gard, her smile gone. “Are you a family member?”
“Yes.” He kept his head down. “I’m Stuart Hanklen. Her husband,” Gard lied without blinking an eye.
The nurse’s smile returned. “I needed to ask because Mrs. Hanklen’s visitors are restricted, as per your request, Mr. Hanklen. I see that we called you several times this morning, trying to reach you. We left you a message with your wife’s new room number, explaining she no longer needs to be in SICU. She’s still in a coma but doing much better.”
“I’m very glad to hear that. You probably have my work number there instead of my personal number,” Gard said. “What number do you have listed for me?” The nurse read it and Gard made a mental note to remember it. “Right, just as I thought. Here, let me give you my regular cell number.” Gard proceeded to give the woman his own phone number.
Once he was a few feet from the nurses’ station, he put Hanklen’s phone number in his phone before he forgot it.
He was able to enter Sabrina’s new hospital room without any trouble, simply telling the people at the desk that he was Stuart Hanklen. Gard felt certain he wouldn’t have any problem executing his devious but well-intentioned plan. One look at Stuart’s face and the speed with which the guy had bolted at the first sign of any medical trouble last night convinced Gard that Hanklen wouldn’t be around to visit his wife anytime soon.
Sabrina looked peaceful and serene. Some color had returned to her cheeks. The atmosphere in the room was different, more positive somehow.
While still too thin, she no longer looked so frail.
Pulling a chair close to her bed, he sat. “Good morning, Sabrina, it’s Gard. Merry Christmas.” He heard what sounded like a sigh. “You can probably feel it deep inside but just in case there’s any question, I want you to know you’re going to be fine soon. You’re going to live a long, happy, healthy life, Sabrina.” He slipped his hand over hers, clasping it gently. “I promise.”
Gard could no longer deny his feelings for Sabrina. He loved her. When making his heartwish he wished for her to enjoy a long, happy life surrounded by those who love her...and those she loves. He hoped that might include him.
He didn’t believe Stuart’s claim that Sabrina was calling off their divorce. Although she’d told Annalise she was following through with it, he needed to hear it directly from Sabrina, and she wouldn’t be able confirm his suspicion until she was out of the coma. Because that drip she was married to didn’t like hospitals, Gard would make sure she wasn’t alone, with nothing but medical people popping in and out of her room.
“I haven’t seen Harry yet this morning,” Gard told her, “but I think he knows you’re going to be okay.” He shook his head back and forth, chuckling at the ludicrous statement about to come out of his mouth. “You see, Sabrina, Harry and I made a wish. A wish for you to be well.”
He gazed at the heartwish ring still snugly affixed to his finger as he held Sabrina’s hand. The stone glowed like soft candlelight. No matter how many times he saw the ring glimmer, it was still unsettling.
“I made it using my magic heartwish ring.” Just hearing himself say it made him wince. “I know how crazy it sounds, but it’s true.” He sat silently, watching her. If angels came to earth they’d look like Sabrina, he thought.
He couldn’t help wondering, for the umpteenth time, what she’d ever seen in Stuart Hanklen. The guy must have been vastly different when they first met. A charmer. Maybe even a good guy. Maybe Hanklen was okay until his son came along and stole some of Sabrina’s attention. Gard felt his eye twitch at the thought.
Or maybe Hanklen had always been a conniving son of a bitch who put on a great front, persuading Sabrina he was quality husband material—just like the eye-popping show he put on for the doctor in Sabrina’s room last night.
He groaned aloud at his unsavory thoughts, only to hear a soft moan coming from Sabrina. Her eyes remained closed. She could hear him, most likely. He wondered if she could also sense what he was thinking or feeling.
That was enough to snap him out of his melancholy thoughts. He was here to keep Sabrina in good spirits, not depress her.
“Annalise said you like to read so I brought my Kindle. I’ve got a copy of one of my sister’s Delaney’s Diary books on here. It’s collections of humorous stories from her newspaper column and website.”
Gard could swear he caught the slightest hint of a smile across her lips as he spoke.
“We Malones think laughter’s the best medicine,” he went on. “No matter how bad I feel, if I can laugh, it always helps.”
Not one for small talk, Gard was surprised at how the words kept flowing. Maybe it was because he could talk to her without fearing he’d put her to sleep...since she already was. He was tempted to groan aloud again, this time at his seriously bad pun.
“Anything mildly amusing that my sisters, brother, or my mom do ends up in Delaney’s column, exaggerated for laughs. Same for her husband. Poor Varik.” Gard laughed. “Delaney has a knack for turning our family’s most embarrassing moments into comedy sketches.”
Gard sat forward in the chair. Resting his elbows on his knees, he just kept talking. The more his jaws flapped, the easier it got.
A quick glance at the clock surprised him. He’d been jabbering away for close to an hour. Talking to the lovely Sabrina came so easy, whether she was asleep or awake.
“Remember at the open house when you asked about the vintage aluminum Christmas tree in the family room? I told you there was a long story behind it. Delaney’s first husband was a stodgy English professor who didn’t like Christmas, Delaney’s favorite holiday. He wouldn’t allow a Christmas tree in the house. As soon as they got divorced my sister found the silver tree discarded by a neighbor at the curb. She dragged it into the house, fixed it up, and adopted it as her own. She hasn’t taken it down since, and refuses to let anyone else take it down either.”
