A nurse eased Sara away. “Mr. Mackenzie, you’re in recovery. How does it feel to wake up surrounded by women, a dream come true?”
I sighed. As she checked my vitals, I closed my eyes.
Someone patted my cheek. “No more napping, Mr. Mackenzie. C’mon, open up. I want to see those big brown eyes.”
It seemed to take all of my energy, but I opened my eyelids.
“How do you feel?” the nurse asked.
“I’m . . . I’m fine.”
“Yes. You will heal. Physically. But mentally, I’m not so sure. You’ve got a chest wound that’s a long way from being healed and what do you do? Some little birdies told me you snuck out of a Columbia hospital way before you should have and got shot twice more. Men.” She huffed. “The Bible has got to be wrong. Eve and her bevy of beautiful sisters had to be living in paradise enjoying bliss when they were invaded by men from outer space. It had to have happened like that. Men can’t be from this world.”
Mom laughed again.
“Ladies say good-bye to the holey one. I’ve got to get him up to a room, and settled in, then we’ll call you.”
Several naps later, I woke up again and my dream had turned into reality, Sara was there. She was sitting on the edge of my bed holding my hand.
She leaned down and softly kissed my lips. “From now on, Mick Mackenzie, I intend to greet you just like that every morning for the rest of your life.”
“This . . . this has to be a dream. You, you can’t be-“
“Fortunately for you,” Dad said from somewhere in the room. His head appeared above and behind Sara, next to Mom. “They have you strapped down. If you could move, your body would quickly let you know this isn’t a dream. Welcome back, son. It makes all of us so happy to see you.”
“Umm-hmm,” Mom said throwing me a kiss.
I refocused on Sara. I did my feeble best to squeeze her tiny hand. “Did you mean what you just said?”
“With all my heart,” Sara said, gently squeezing my hand in return.
“But . . . but you’re, you’re-”
“Married.” she finished for me. “No, I’m not.” She glanced over her shoulder.
Lieutenant Commander Wayne Hodges stepped next to the bed and saluted.
I tried to return the salute, but as I started to raise my right arm a jolt of pain took my breath. I glanced at Dad.
“Easy, there, Lieutenant,” Hodges said. “You don’t need to salute a fellow officer anyway.”
“Lieutenant, officer?” I questioned.
“Yeah, while you were taking a couple of days off, the Marines thought that First Lieutenant Mackenzie would look better on all the newspapers’ headlines carrying your name for the past week.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t . . . it’s good to see you, Hodges.”
“You may not think so after I set the record straight. I’m the one who shot Kate in the leg. I felt I had no choice. The thug who grabbed her was going to shoot us. But that probably got her killed.”
“Kate told me, when we were trying to get to the car, she was being bribed and then blackmailed by the mob. They threatened to kill her father. If you hadn’t shot her, whose knows what would have happened. In my judgment, probably both you and Kate saved my life that day. You did what you had to do, Lieutenant Commander.”
“Thanks, Mick.” He shook my hand. “Now for the good news. Do you remember that folder Sara took with her from the apartment?” he asked.
“Sure,” I wanted to nod, but thought better of it.
“That information was enough to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of both the Venturini and Trafficante families. And when the FBI breached the Venturini mansion in Youngstown, Johnny and several of his gang put up a fight and were killed.” Wayne released a long breath. “No. Sara is no longer married. And the government has exonerated her from any and all charges in exchange for her testimony. She truly is a free woman, except for the round-the-clock security she’ll have until at least the trial is over and probably longer.”
Sara’s smile excavated dimples and made her blue eyes glow. “Did ya hear that, Mick? I’m a single lady.”
I eased my head off the pillow, eating the pain, and kissed her.
I had kissed a lot of girls before, but only one woman.
“Not for long,” I said.
THE END
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading my novel. A ‘comment’ on Amazon at the book site would be greatly appreciated.
Please review the descriptions of my other published books listed on the next page. Perhaps you will find another story of mine that peaks your interest.
Respectfully,
Dave McDonald
Dave McDonald’s Books:
“Kugi’s Story”
“Dead Winners”
“Sam’s Folly”
“Death Insurance”
“More Than A Game” by Mark Collins/Dave McDonald
“Too Many”
“A Common Uprising”
“Killing by Numbers”
“Indentured”
About the author:
A romanticist at heart, with a deductive mind, I am a graduate engineer who traveled the world keeping commercial jet engines flying safely.
I thought I loved my first career until I found my second, writing. In retrospect, my first profession incited me via information; the people, sights, smells, emotions, experiences, and stories for my second career.
I’ve written thirteen novels (ten either published or in process), with several more in seed.
I live with my wife, Linda, and dog, Bentley, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
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