“I’ll try.”
Isabella pushed up into a crawling stance and grasped his shoulders. “Now,” she managed to get out before another coughing spasm tore through her lungs.
Inch by inch they worked their way toward what she hoped was the exit. Her foggy brain told her there were more voices in the room, but she had no way to help them. She blocked the sound and continued her efforts to get her and the fireman to the exit. “One more time,” she encouraged herself and him after each attempt.
The last one took all her strength and she collapsed on top of her charge. She could swear a voice shouted as blackness descended.
“Over here. I’ve found someone. It’s a woman and Pete’s with her. Get that oxygen mask over here, now!”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The doctor shook his head and ran a weary hand through the little tuft of hair left on top. “I’m sorry folks. There’s been no change. I suggest you all go home and get some rest.”
A sob escaped Angela Girardi and her husband pulled her into his arms. “Shhh, Precious. No change is better than one for the worse.” He stroked his wife’s hair in an effort to sooth. “Thank you doctor, but we will stay for now.”
No, they weren’t going anywhere. The past thirty-six hours Galvin huddled with the core group of Angela, Lou, Gino and Nonna in the uncomfortable waiting room with assorted members of the family and Tom, Gino’s main support, floating in and out. Helplessness assaulted him, as well as the rest of the assembled group slumped in the various seating arrangements and perched on any piece of furniture that would support them. This was a new emotion and he didn’t care for the feeling at all. Did mortals feel this way in all difficult situations in their lives? Would he, when he became one of them?
“Nonna, can I get you anything?” He stood behind the old woman’s chair and gently massaged the frail shoulders. The feisty Italian lady had disappeared, now replaced by this little shrunken shell.
“No. I be okay.” She reached up and patted his hand. “You good boy, Galvin.”
Gino called from across the room. “Galvin, I’m going down to the cafeteria to get some coffee and snacks. Want to help?”
“Sure.” He followed Isabella’s brother to the elevator relieved to have something to do instead of watching the pain on her family’s faces.
Some brilliant mind situated the hospital food area in the bowels of the building. The décor reflected the other floors, stark and bleak. There was nothing cheery to perk up the patients able to come down, or visitors who spent time within its walls.
The two men walked down the dingy pea green hallway until they came to the set of swinging double doors that took them into the large open room serving as the lunchroom. They worked their way through the sterile metal tables with uncomfortable chairs grouped in fours around them to the food line.
“Let’s get a cup of coffee and talk for a while.” Gino pulled two white ceramic mugs from the rack stacked by the coffee urns and handed one to Galvin.
Seated with their hot brew in front of them, Gino started the conversation. “Have you heard anything more about how this happened?”
Closing his eyes, Galvin tried to block the pain squeezing his heart. “I talked to the fire chief earlier today.” He swirled the black liquid around in the cup, with no intentions of drinking. “The police interviewed Sam. He admitted to being drunk.”
Sam’s finding out about the affair between his wife and her co-anchor pushed the poor man over the edge. Mortals seem to take a less liberal view of any dalliances their partners participated in. A lot of the people in his world considered sexual variety a normal happening. Most chose not to comment when their spouses strayed to play in other pastures and yet, some stayed faithful, never needing to test the greener grass theory.
“The Chief thinks Sam was smoking and in his drunken state probably flipped a cigarette butt across the room. It smoldered there while Sam continued to drink himself into oblivion until he passed out in the chair by the door.”
“Damn.” Gino slapped the table in frustration. “I didn’t know the man had a drinking problem. Bella never mentioned it.”
“A lot had happened in his personal life recently and I guess he sought escape in alcohol.” Galvin didn’t think his place was to share the station manager’s problems with the rest of the world, even to Isabella’s brother.
“How did Bella get caught in this?” Gino scowled.
“Sam kicked everybody out of the newsroom earlier. According to the weather intern, Isabella told her to leave and then went into the soundproof booth to record some info spots for the radio stations they support. The fire alarm in there didn’t work for whatever reason, but I’m not sure why she didn’t look out and see the smoke.”
Why, my darling did you not notice? Were you that caught up in your work?
“Sam Kent better be glad one of the people he kicked out earlier gathered enough courage to venture back up to the newsroom.” Galvin didn’t try to keep the anger from his voice. “That’s what saved him, but no one knew about Isabella. Two firemen went in to get him out and one tripped over something on the floor and fell as they headed for the exit. He told his partner to keep going with Sam and he’d follow.”
Gino shook his head. “Man, my hat’s off to those guys. They put their lives on the line every day.”
Galvin nodded in agreement. “The problem with that plan was he’d broken one leg and twisted the other knee. When he took his oxygen mask off for a better look he somehow lost it. Then the heat exploded something and the fire spread rapidly. The fireman was overcome by the smoke and in his condition; he wasn’t able to move very well.”
Galvin’s voice shook when he spoke the next words. “That’s when Isabella appeared, determined to help him.”
The men sat silently, each lost in their own thoughts.
“Galvin.”
He looked into Gino’s red eyes. “Yes.”
“Do you think she’s going to make it?”
“I don’t know, Gino. I honestly don’t know. But if she doesn’t, I don’t want to live either.”
“Here, Ma. Eat something. You haven’t eaten anything for two days. You can’t live on coffee. Especially the rot-gut stuff they have here.”
Galvin grinned at Gino’s attempts to coax his mother into eating. Bella’s brother had no more success in his efforts with Angela, than he was having with Nonna Piccoli. “Pia, you have to eat to keep up your strength. Here, just one bite, for me.” He gave her his best smile and received a quiver from one corner of her mouth.
She reached over and took the half of turkey sandwich he held and nibbled at the edge. “You know, Galvin, you are like him?”
Puzzled, he watched her play with her food. “Like who, Pia?”
“Ahhh.” She looked over his shoulder and instead of answering his question said, “I think you have company.”
He turned to see what the old woman was talking about; sure that her lack of eating caused her to see things.
“Loki.” Galvin stood. “Excuse me Pia. I’ll return shortly.” He pointed to the sandwich. “Eat”
She nodded; a secretive smile twitching the corners of her lips, then took a bite of sandwich.
Grabbing the little man who stood by the entrance of the waiting room by the arm, Galvin steered him around the corner. “Loki, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see how things go with Isabella. Your mother is also concerned.”
None of the usual mischief danced in the black eyes and Galvin believed he spoke the truth. “Not well, I’m afraid. The doctors said her lungs were badly damaged.”
He bit his lip in an effort not to cry in front of another deity. The urge to shed tears was another new sensation for him and one he wasn’t sure he liked. “She is in a coma, the sleep of the undead. They say…” he took a deep breath “…the doctor says she may not come out of this and will…” Galvin fought to force the words out. “…she will die.”
“There is nothing the doctors
can do? I thought many medical advances have been made in this world.” Loki shook his head sadly.
“The scientific discoveries in this world have helped with a lot of things, but not this. All we can do is wait. Thank you for your concern and thank my mother, also.”
Galvin turned and headed back to join the Girardi family, puzzled by Loki’s whispered comment.
“Wait if you choose, Galvin. I prefer action.”
Loki ignored the snarling wolf when he entered into Valhalla. He didn’t understand why Odin kept that nasty tempered animal to guard the entrance to his hall. Stupid beast probably scared off more visitors than those who actually had the courage to enter through the door.
Watching two young immortals feed grapes to the God of Wisdom and War, Loki considered which approach to take in order to get the needed results.
Should he make his plea based on family ties, love or courage? By Hades, he would use any and all cards available. All was fair in love or war and this was both. He was going to battle for the happiness of Sif’s family.
“My Lord.” He bowed deeply before Odin’s throne.
“Loki.” Delight sounded in the god’s voice and he pushed away the cluster of fruit dangling before him. “Get up from there, my friend. Since when do you bow before me?”
“When I appear before you on official business, Great One.”
Odin’s good eye focused intently and the Sly One sensed the room going warmer.
Loki held up his hand to shield his own orbs. “Please, Wise One, could you tone down the eye a little? The glare is killing me here.”
“My apologies.” The sun glare from Odin’s good eye dimmed. “What is this business you wish to discuss, my friend of tricks?”
“I prefer we speak in private.” He cast a glance at the group of women lounging around the throne.
The God of Wisdom sighed. “Oh very well, if you insist. Leave us my dears.” The women filed past Loki on their way out, several awarding him with venomous glares.
“Now, what is so important?” Odin rose from his seat of gold and walked down the steps.
“I have come to ask you to make someone a Valkyrie.”
“You what? This is another of your jokes, right?” The sun started to rise in the god’s good eye.
“No. Wait. Hear me out.” If he wasn’t careful, he would go out of here blind and all from trying to do a good deed. “Your grandson, Galvin is in love with a mortal. Do you remember how that feels, Great One?”
The sun receded and Odin appeared lost in thought. A smile played across his lips. “Yes, I remember.” He nodded his head and sighed. “Galvin is the brightest of my grandchildren and he will find a way far better than we did to deal with his love.”
We, what is this, we? I didn’t have anything to do with the way you handled your love of Pia.
“Tell me, what does the making of a Valkyrie have to do with my grandson being in love?”
“The woman he loves lies dying. The doctors of earth cannot help her.”
Odin directed his full attention to Loki. “How did this happen?”
“She performed a brave act that put her life at risk in her efforts to save another.”
“There are many such acts, done each day. I cannot make Valkyries of them all.”
Time to try another tactic. “Are you aware, Wise One, that Galvin’s love of this woman is so powerful he wishes to give up immortality?”
“Don’t talk foolishness. He would never do that.”
“I think he is serious. Ask your son, the Thunder God. Galvin spoke of this desire to Thor and Sif. His next action will be to come to you.” Loki paused. “He would have been here already, but for this tragedy.”
“Thank you for telling me of this. I will be prepared when he does approach me. I shall convince him otherwise.” Odin walked back up the steps and sat again on his throne, looking every bit the god he was.
“You would condemn your grandson to the pain you have felt the past sixty plus earth years? You denied yourself the love of a mortal woman when you sent Pia Bartolo to wed a man she did not love.” Loki played his trump card. “Would you force your grandson and her granddaughter to endure the agony you subjected on the two of you?”
“What is this of which you speak, Twisted Tongue?” Odin’s face paled and he stood.
“Your grandson loves the granddaughter of your only true love.”
“Galvin, Galvin. Where are you?” Isabella wandered through the darkness shivering with cold. If she could find him, she would take any time they could have together if it wasn’t too late. Had she destroyed any chance of happiness because of fear?
“So dark. So cold. Where am I? This feels like I’m trapped in the subway with no lights or trains.” Reaching out with her foot, she tried to locate a track. “Oh my God, I’m floating. Am I in space? How did I get here?”
Fire. There was a fire and she’d tried to get out. “Wait, there’s more than my attempting to escape. I heard someone and I tried to help him. A fireman. I helped him to…where? I don’t remember.”
A pinpoint of white light drew her attention. “I’ll go there. Someone can tell me where I am and maybe there’ll be heat. I need to get warm.” She concentrated on floating through the black void toward the single speck of light. Closer, the glow beckoned. A soothing sensation filled her, all thoughts of Galvin forgotten. A ship, she was a ship lost in fog and the only way home was the searching beam from the distant lighthouse showing her the way.
Drawing closer she could see a doorway. The soft illumination encouraged her to enter and she would never know pain again. Allowing herself to drift closer to the promise in the light, she felt a sudden blockage. Something prevented her from going forward.
A brilliant blaze appeared and she placed one hand over her blinded eyes. Slowly, she lowered her hand as her eyes adjusted to the dazzling rays. Someone floated between her and the door. Did she see a man with one eye that glowed with the brilliance of the sun? Did he speak to her or was all of this a dream?
“NO!” The man shouted the word.
He did speak to her, but why did he shout?
His next words came softer. “No, Isabella. You cannot enter through the door of snowy light. Your courage has earned you something more.”
“Courage. What courage?”
“The selflessness you showed when you risked your own life to save that of another. To save the life of one who daily risks his for others.” The golden orb moved closer and a hand reached out and touched her. “You are mine. I claim you for my army of Valkyries and immortality.”
A flow of energy started in her toes and moved upward through her body. Heat shot through her pores, the urge to dance and run stronger than when she was a child. A sudden tug propelled Isabella through the darkness and she landed with a thud and a loud gasp of breath.
“Miss Girardi. Isabella, how do you feel?”
She opened her eyes and an unknown face appeared to swim above her. The man with the sun eye was gone. This one wore a white coat and a concerned look.
“Fine.” Her voice sounded scratchy and rough from lack of use. She swallowed and tried again. “Fine, really good.” One hand attempted to reach out to the doctor. “Except my wrists feel heavy.”
“I’ll be damned.” He shook his head and took her hand. “Where did these gold bracelets come from? Your family shouldn’t put such expensive jewelry on you. Is this some sort of religious rite they believe in strongly enough to break hospital rules?”
Isabella raised her arms and stared at the bands of gold encircling her wrists. Looking into the face of the man standing beside her bed, she saw her own shock reflected in the doctor’s eyes. “I have absolutely no idea. If these are associated with my religion, that’s news to me.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Bella, you need to rest.” Angela turned down the covers on the bed and fluffed the pillows. “You should have come home with us so Nonna and I can take care of you.” Her mother pause
d. “Or, I can stay with you for a few days.”
“Ma, stop fussing. I don’t need anyone taking care of me.” Isabella stopped her mother’s fluffing and gave her a hug. “Now, you and Pop go home and get some rest like Nonna and Gino are doing. Come on.” She put an arm around Angela’s shoulders and directed her to the living room. “Pop. Take this woman home and both of you relax.”
“I don’t know Bella. Your mother is right. The doctor shouldn’t have let you come home so soon. You just came out of a coma this morning.”
“The doctor discharged me because I would have walked out if he refused.” She kissed her parents and maneuvered them toward the door. “I’m fine. I’ve never felt better. You two, go.”
“You were on your death bed a few hours ago.” Angela leaned against the door, stopping Isabella’s attempt to open it. “We thought we were going to lose you.” She blinked several times before tears trailed down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry for the scare, Ma, but as you can see everything is great now.” She kissed her mother’s wet cheek and moved her aside. “You don’t want me to worry about you like that do you? And I will if you and Pop don’t take care of yourselves.”
“Okay.” Angela accepted defeat and allowed Isabella to open the door without more resistance. “Galvin will be here soon. When we insisted on bringing you home, he said he would run an errand and then come over.” A long sigh escaped the lips of the older woman and she stepped out into the fading sunshine. “He has been really good to us. Don’t let this one get away, Bella.”
Several more hugs from her parents and Isabella closed the door. She stood for a moment enjoying the quiet and thinking of Galvin. Her parents never shut up on the trip home about how wonderful he had been to them. There was no doubt in Isabella’s mind, her mother planned to see this man became a member of the family. Angela couldn’t have said it louder is she had shouted the words. “I’ve already started to plan the wedding. Don’t screw up this time.”
Nordic Heat Page 21
