At Last

by JM Dragon

  “As fortune would have it, the paramedics immediately noticed the signs of the distress of an imminent heart attack. He should make a full recovery. Smoke inhalation can do this I’m afraid.”

  Max clutched her hand smiling, encouragingly as tears flowed.

  “Thank you. Can I see him?”

  He shook his head. “I’d wait until the morning. He needs to rest right now.”

  Dee nodded. “Yeah, yeah.” Max squeezed her hand.

  “Thanks, Doctor. Any chance she can have a quick peek just to make sure?” Max asked. “It’s been a hell of an evening.”

  The doctor frowned then looked directly at Dee. “I’m sorry. Were you in the fire too?” Dee nodded. “Of course, of course.” A nurse was passing by. “Nurse Franks, please show these visitors to the ICU for Mr. Lawrence. This is his daughter and...”

  “Sister-in-law,” Max replied.

  “Excellent.” His beeper went off and he looked at the message. “Sorry, I have another emergency,” he said before rapidly leaving the area.

  “This way, please.”

  They followed Nurse Franks.

  †

  Gene woke and frantically looked around her for anything familiar. There wasn’t anything. She was in a strange bed in a sterile room. Thankfully the blasted oxygen mask was gone, and the only other living body she saw was from an odd angle in the room that allowed her to see a nurse talking on the phone at the reception area.

  Where was Dee? If she were okay, she’d be here. Gene knew she would. Maybe she didn’t mean all the things she had said. Was it really her grand-mère at Desrosiers or a figment of her imagination, because surely she would have been here? What about Felix? He hadn’t looked well and that was an understatement. I guess I’m alone. Why I feel that is a surprise. I deserve it, my god it should have been me, not poor Charles.

  The sound of the door closing broke her out of her angst and she swallowed hard at the sight of the visitor.

  “Grand-mère,” she whispered.

  “Ah, at last you are awake. I was beginning to think you didn’t want to rejoin the real world.”

  There was a low chuckle and she knew that this was real. Memories could trick you, but no one could ever mimic that tone.

  “Grand-mère, have I been asleep long?”

  “Yes, Cherie, twenty-four hours to be precise. I don’t know what you had been doing before the fire, certainly it expended all your energy.” The older woman sat and placed her cane alongside the chair near the bed.

  “Impossible I only sleep for about five hours a day. They must have given me drugs.” Gene shook her head.

  Raised eyebrows greeted the suggestion. “Perhaps. However, you are awake now.”

  “Have you been here all this time?”

  “Many hours, but I needed sleep too, and you were well taken care of.”

  “Yes, I’m sure I was. After all, this is a hospital.” Gene’s heart sagged.

  Her grand-mère shuffled around in the chair, possibly to get comfortable, then quietly replied. “Oh, I didn’t mean the hospital. Your Dee was by your side when I couldn’t be.”

  “Dee was here?”

  “Don’t sound so shocked. You said she was special in your life and she certainly is. Her father is in intensive care. He had a heart attack from the fire. Dee has great courage.”

  “Felix had a heart attack? Is he going to be okay?” Gene fought with the covers to extricate herself from the bed. “He saved my life. I need to see him.”

  A frail looking but strong hand held her back.

  “He is going to make a full recovery. Dee will be back in,” she consulted her watch, “about now.”

  The door opened and Dee breezed in.

  “Sorry I was so long, Amalie. Here you go, coffee black. I had to go to the café across the …Gene, you’re awake.” Her eyes widened.

  Gene saw Dee’s hands tremble as she placed the two coffee cups on the table and then moved to the opposite side of the bed from her grand-mère.

  “Thank god you are awake. Hell, Gene, when you didn’t wake I thought I’d lost you.” The emotional reply accompanied tears and her hand was clutched tightly.

  “I’m sorry.” Pathetic, sure.

  “I said to Amalie that if you didn’t wake soon, I’d try to wake you.”

  “How would you do that?” Gene smiled.

  “Well everyone knows, don’t they? With a kiss of course.”

  Gene looked at her grand-mère and she saw something she wasn’t expecting, a smile so wide it lit the room.

  “If I fall asleep, do you think you could try?”

  Dee laughed and bent closer. “I love you, and I’d prefer you awake.” Then she kissed Gene and her life stopped in that moment. This was real, nothing to do with money or prestige or anything else, it was simply love.

  †

  Quinn leaned into the warm body that clasped her in a gentle hold. If anyone had told her that in the space of four days, she would have found love, almost lost her life in a fire, and made friends that would last a lifetime, she would have told them they were crazy. Then again, some like Charlie, who would never be forgotten in her lifetime, would not be surprised. She looked at Simone’s profile. They say you can learn a lot from someone sleeping, and she hoped that was the case because this woman, almost joined to her hip, looked happy. There was a slight curve to her full lips as she slept with an adorable snore. I wonder if she knows she does that? Quinn smiled and gently traced the smile and was surprised when her finger was taken into Simone’s mouth and nipped gently.

  “Hey, I didn’t think you were awake. Sorry if I woke you.” Quinn moved closer and their eyes were barely inches apart.

  “If it’s you I don’t mind at all. However, we’ve been in bed for almost a day and I need to eat. What can I get you?”

  “I thought I was feast enough.” Simone giggled, and the happy sound made Quinn’s heart swell. “An omelet, and I guess I should check my phone to find out if anyone cares if I’m still alive.”

  “Quinn.” Simone left the bed, and reached for a robe before a sad expression covered the beautiful face.

  “I’m sorry. I guess I still have this singular attitude.”

  “Do you want to continue with that or accept that some people in your life are here to stay and…love you?” Simone had her back turned unable to see Quinn’s reaction.

  What a question.

  “I guess you do. Omelet it is then.” Simone left the bedroom and Quinn had time to reflect on what her answer would mean to the rest of her life. Then she scrambled out of the bed and looked around for her clothes but didn’t see anything, so she dragged the sheet off the bed, draping it around her, and then headed for the only room that emanated any sound.

  Opening the door, she smiled as she saw Simone cracking eggs at the kitchen bench counter.

  “Simone.” There was no response except what she thought was a stiffening of her back. “I hate being tied down…”

  Simone raised tear-filled eyes and began to speak and Quinn held up a hand.

  “Let me finish please.” There was a faint nod. “I come from a background of controlling people. I have a few friends and when I say few you can count them on one hand in fact probably a couple of fingers. I’ve had a damn sight more lovers and that isn’t a good thing believe me. What I want to say is if you are prepared to make a go of this, I want to also…believe me…I do.” She held up her hands and the sheet fell. Scrambling to retrieve it her hands were taken, and she was pulled into a close embrace.

  “Leave it. I adore you naked and I’m one of those that love you, Quinn Merchant.” Their lips locked and nothing else mattered.

  †

  Megan bit the bottom of her lip as she stared at Felix. He was sleeping comfortably the nurses said. That didn’t dissolve the guilt she felt that gnawed at her soul for not even knowing he had been in trouble until the morning. In the space of a few hours she could have lost not only Felix, but Dee as well. She
had been too drunk to know a terrible event happened suddenly, involving the ones she loved the most.

  “What kind of wife and mother does that make me?”

  She lifted the bandaged hand closest to her and placed it to her lips. “I’m sorry, Felix, I promise never to drink again. All I want is for you to come home to me.” Tears slipped down her cheeks and some landed on his hand.

  “If you stop drinking, who will I share our Sunday wine over dinner with?”

  The words were the last thing she expected, and they disarmed her. True, they sounded weak, but she looked up into the loving eyes of the man she had married decades before because of just that trait. She let out a sob and moved closer to touch his pale face.

  “I thought I’d lost you when Max told me what happened.”

  “Well never believe anything Max says, unless it’s about coffee,” Felix rasped.

  “Max’s been a rock to me, as well as Alice and Dee. Last night she sat in the corridor, with Dee or on her own when Dee went to see Ms. Desrosiers.”

  “Is Gene okay?”

  Megan frowned at the familiarity. “Yes. Felix, when you feel better, I need to tell you something important.”

  Felix sighed. “I’m sure there are lots of important things, love, but right now I can’t seem to keep awake. Will you be here when I wake?”

  Megan smiled and squeezed his hand. “Always.”

  He smiled and drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter Twenty-six

  A week after the fire…

  Gene gazed at the ruins of her business and wondered what she’d done to anger fate. The State Police were involved in the investigation. Her life hit rock bottom when they’d asked her if she’d been responsible so she could get the insurance money. If it hadn’t been for Dee’s support sitting in on that conversation, she’d have accepted her fate. Dee’s strength and belligerent attitude had absolved them both of any wrongdoing. Except deep down she knew that Charles’s death had been her fault. How could it not be when he was her employee and a friend? She should have made him leave with the others in the beginning. She walked closer to the ruins.

  “Gene, it’s still too dangerous.”

  She glanced at the speaker and smiled. “I know, but Matriarch was the heart of our business and Beautiful was the crowning glory of the future. It’s important to me to see this.” Her hand was taken.

  “You aren’t the only one who loved them, Gene. Will you let me do this with you?”

  Gene reached up her free hand and smiled through tears. “I’d like nothing more. Thank you, my darling.” She bent and kissed Dee softly on the lips. “Let’s find them and say farewell.”

  Together they entered the area, carefully picking through the debris of broken windows, furniture, and surprisingly, a fair amount of water. The acrid smell of smoke lingered as they walked gingerly toward the lab. Remarkably it didn’t look as damaged as the other lower floor areas and she reached out a hand to push the partially open door.

  A sob escaped her lips as she saw the overturned tables and dead plants, gasping as she saw the tangled remains of Beautiful. Dee squeezed her hand. She blinked back tears and gave a tiny smile to the woman at her side. What would she have done without Dee’s support and, most importantly, her love?

  “We can come another day, Gene.”

  The soft entreaty was sensible, but this wasn’t a sensible situation. How many people would even care if plants died? She did. They were her life, at least until now. She glanced at Dee’s profile.

  “I’d like to do this now and then move on. If you want to go, I’ll understand.”

  Dee shook her head and gently pulled her closer. “I love you, Gene Desrosiers, and the way you care about life, all life, and that’s just one of the many things that makes you special.

  “I’m not sure I can do this, Dee.” Gene kissed Dee’s lips fleetingly and their foreheads touched. Tears dripped down her cheeks.

  “It’s okay, together we can do anything. Trust me.”

  Gene pulled away slowly. “Trust you? Yes, always. I told your dad as much during our time together here, trying to get out of the building. You make me stronger than I thought I ever would be.”

  They moved toward the area Matriarch lived and there was no sign of the old rose.

  Gene frantically combed the area, turning to Dee she threw up her hands. “She’s gone?”

  “She can’t have. Unless...”

  “Unless what, Dee?”

  “That was the reason for the fire. They stole Matriarch and to cover their tracks they set the fire. It’s plausible, Gene.”

  “No, no, she wasn’t worth anything.”

  “Yes, but we, and maybe Larry, were the only ones who knew that. It was always a comment in the staff canteen that without her the business would be nothing. Maybe someone thought that she was valuable.”

  Gene placed a hand to stop the moisture running down her cheeks. “Charles died for this, Dee, it isn’t fair.” Her voice was desolate.

  “No, no, it isn’t, wait…” Dee dropped her gaze and then began rummaging in the mess on the floor. Eventually she held up a piece of paper.

  “Charlie would never have left paper on the floor, he was too damn tidy.” She held it out.

  Gene took it carefully and read the message…

  Dear Gene, if you get here in time and wonder where Matriarch is, know that she’s safe unless the whole damn building goes up. I figured our symbol of hope deserved saving. I placed her in the dangerous substances cabinet with water for a few days. My wife was the gardener, sorry if that wasn’t enough. Tell Felix, if I haven’t already, that I saw that scoundrel Riggle running like hell from the chemical compound when I came here.

  Hope she makes it. Hope we all do. Charles

  “Dee, we need to find the dangerous substances cabinet. Charles tried to save her.”

  “Charlie was one hell of a guy.” Dee gave her a surprised look.

  “Yes, he was. He also saw the person who did this.”

  †

  Max curled and uncurled her hands as she waited for Felix. He was recovering well and even cracked the odd joke. That wasn’t something she associated with him, but maybe it was simply that they hadn’t known or wanted to know each other enough to make this happen.

  “Alice said you needed to speak to me.” Felix slowly walked into the room, sitting down in the nearest chair.

  “Yeah, yeah, I do.” She balled her fists and sucked in a deep breath. “About twenty-five years ago I was hoping to ask you this, but things didn’t work out, and…”

  “You want to marry my sister.”

  Max’s jaw dropped seven stories. Did he gain second sight with that heart attack? Eventually composing herself she replied. “Yes. As the next of kin, I wanted to do it right. Alice deserves that and more.”

  “You should have had more courage when I was belligerent. Then my sister wouldn’t have been living in sin all these years.” Felix scratched his head.

  “Hell, I didn’t think you approved. You said as much at Dee’s birthday party and after that we had no contact. What kind of person does that make you?’ Max demanded.

  “An idiot. I’m sure that’s lukewarm in your opinion.”

  Max turned away and headed for the door. He was the jerk, he always had been, and a smartass to boot.

  “For the record, Maxine Reed, I’d welcome you as part of my family. We do stupid things when we are younger, or simply because we are blinkered. I’m not blinkered anymore.” He stood and held out his hand. “I think you should marry my sister as soon as possible. Alice has been waiting a long time.”

  Max’s heart flipped at the words. The tone was most significant, full of warmth when he said Alice’s name. She swung round.

  “Well actually we married ten years ago when it became legal. Alice has always thought it wasn’t real because her family wasn’t there. I’d love to have a second ceremony and make it right for her.”

  “Make it happen.
Now you owe me a beer.”

  Max shook her head. “Nope, water for you, my man. I’ll organize the ceremony when you can lift a schooner or two. Deal?”

  “Deal.”

  †

  Sheila Sutter walked into the office and Quinn’s back stiffened. They’d given her leave for a week after the fire trauma, but she was now back and expecting…well, who knew.

  Claudia pushed her favorite coffee toward her, giving her a sympathetic look.

  “Hey, Sheila, great day, what’s new?”

  “What’s new? Tim, what’s new? My god you need to keep up to date. We’ve lost the Driscol account for sure and you ask that.”

  Tim Andrews shriveled like a mollusk back into his chair.

  Quinn waited for Sheila to censure her. For sure she would blame her—it wasn’t a great leap.

  Sheila’s shrill voice floated around the room as she talked but Quinn wasn’t listening. Her life had changed dramatically in the days she’d spent at Grady. Desrosiers, Charlie, and Simone had entered her life.

  “Don’t you have anything to say, Quinn?” Sheila growled.

  Quinn looked at Sheila. “Sorry you lost the account.”

  She watched as Sheila went from beige to a ruddy red complexion. Heart attack symptoms, and I don’t give a damn. She’d lost a friend, one she hadn’t known for long but long enough to know he would have been part of her life forever just like Tay.

  “You are responsible, Quinn, you had it in the bag. Even Samantha Driscol was going to be there to promote the brand. You should have done better.” She snarled.

  Quinn closed her eyes and slowly took in a calming breath. “Are you accusing me of setting the fire and killing a person…no, a friend?”

  Sheila muttered several things, none of them audible, then glared at Quinn. “If the shoe fits.”