In All My Wishes

by Ciara Knight

  Liam’s steps echoed behind her, but her mind continued to drift to the past. His uncle. Liam’s uncle was here that day, and said…what did he say?

  Liam placed a hand on the small of her back. “What is it?”

  The memory faded along with the glory of the building as reality crept back in. “I don’t know. I think something happened between my mother and your uncle before we moved. I’m not sure, but it might be the reason why we left. Why we never returned.” She shook her head and chuckled. “I don’t know. It sounds silly now that I say it out loud.”

  Liam huffed. “No, it doesn’t. I have haunting memories of those few days before you left. And I still can't figure out why my uncle never told me you came to find me? Why didn’t you ever receive my messages after you moved? I kept thinking that maybe they kept us apart. It’s the only thing that makes sense, but why?”

  Anna’s phone sounded in her purse, breaking their moment of reflection. She snagged it and saw Cynthia’s number. “Hello? Cynthia? Everything okay?”

  “Yes. I thought you’d want to know that they’ve moved up the surgery time. The doctor is due to arrive in the next hour.”

  “We’re on our way.” Anna hit end. “We need to go.”

  Liam only nodded, but she knew his mind remained in the past. His mouth was pressed in that thoughtful half-smirk, his brow furrowed in that Indiana Jones way he had. She’d missed that look.

  During the short drive to the hospital they remained silent. She knew they were both retracing their past with new scrutiny. She flipped through memory after memory and little bits started to become more important. Things she’d dismissed as trivial now seemed to have relevance. That night Liam’s uncle came over late and woke them up. Her mother ushering him outside for them to talk about something. She’d snuck downstairs and peeked through the storefront window. He’d paced back and forth, his hand in his hair in obvious frustration. Her mother stood with chin held high, but Anna had noticed her lip tremble.

  Liam pulled into the hospital parking lot and stopped in front of the main entrance. Putting the car in park, he remained silent for a moment then said, “Why do you think they kept us apart?”

  Anna took a long breath, savoring the calming scent of Liam’s cologne. “I don’t know.”

  “Do you think they were in love?” Liam asked.

  An ambulance went speeding by, allowing her a few extra moments to think. “If they were, why weren’t they together? My father left when I was little, and your uncle never married so there was no reason they couldn't be. It doesn’t make sense. Perhaps it was something else, like a business decision. Maybe your uncle wanted to sell the building, but she begged him not to.”

  “No. That doesn’t make sense either. He didn’t sell the building for almost three years after you both left. It was as if he held onto it, hoping you’d return. The day after he sold it, he told me to move on, that it was time to face the fact that the Baker ladies had moved on with their lives and weren’t coming back.”

  A honk behind them urged Anna from the car. She grabbed the bag from the backseat. “I’ll see you upstairs. We need to concentrate on Andrew today. We’ll have plenty of time to talk about what happened after.”

  Liam snagged her hand. “Will we? Will you stay long enough to figure this out? Figure us out?”

  Another honk gave Anna the much needed excuse to escape. And escape she did. She hurried toward the elevator, riding it to the pediatric ward where she found Cynthia before Liam could even park the car.

  “What is it?” Cynthia asked.

  Anna shook her head. “Oh, nothing. Nothing important. Here are your clothes and Mitchem’s. How’s Andrew?”

  “Good. Walk with me.” Cynthia took the duffle and slung it over her shoulder before placing a hand in the crook of Anna’s arm. “Let’s talk.”

  Anna stopped in her tracks. “Now isn’t the time. This isn’t about me.”

  Cynthia smiled, her friendship smile. The one that spoke volumes of her dedication to her friends. “Please? I need to concentrate on something besides Andrew for a moment. You’ll be doing me a favor. Trust me, I need the distraction. Now, tell me why you look like you’ve been visited by the ghost of Christmas past, present, and future?”

  “Because I have.” Anna laughed, the strange mix of happiness and fear meshing into a high-pitched sound of stress.

  “Why, Anna Baker, you look and sound less than perfect. I like it.” Cynthia hip-bumped her. How did the woman still have a sense of humor with all the pieces of her life falling out of a once carefully constructed puzzle?

  Anna stopped in her tracks again and her mouth opened as if the Riverbend Damn had sprung a leak. “Liam and I were remembering our past. We talked about what happened. He says he tried to find me and that he never loved another woman. We think my mother and his uncle tried to keep us apart, but we don’t know why. Liam wants us to try again. He wants me to give up everything I worked for and stay here with him. To believe that he loves me and no other, to believe that he wants us to have a life together here. For me to turn the old Historic Hall into some sort of fashion boutique.”

  Cynthia dropped the duffle by her side and took both Anna’s hands. “Breathe, hon. Take a long breath before you pass out.”

  Anna forced one, two, then three long breaths into her lungs and she closed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I can’t believe I’m dumping this on you right now. I’m the worst friend ever.”

  “No, Anna. You’re the greatest friend ever. I’m not stupid. You didn’t keep coming back here for a break. You kept coming to Riverbend for me. You pushed and pushed until I took a chance on Mitchem, on love. You told me he wouldn’t care that I couldn’t have children of my own. You pushed me to get my master’s degree. You pushed me to take a chance on life, and now it’s my turn to push you. I’ve seen the way you look at Liam. You’ve never looked at another man that way. Heck, I’ve never seen you look at another man period. Despite all your rich boyfriends and jet-setting, you always come home. This place is forever in your heart, whether you want to admit it or not.” Cynthia squeezed her hands. “Do you love Liam? Aren’t you ready to give up a life that leaves you empty inside?”

  Anna opened her mouth to protest, but the stern professor look on Cynthia’s face told her she’d see through the excuses. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve enjoyed my career. I’ve done well.”

  “Done well? You’ve built an empire, hon. You’re richer than I can even imagine. But is that what you want? You’ve climbed that mountain, conquered your fear of being left behind, but you need to realize that Liam is not your father. He didn’t leave you behind like your father left your mother.”

  “Cynthia, are you trying to tell me I have daddy issues?” Anna laughed.

  “Yes, you do. Why do you think you won’t give Liam another chance? You know he loves you. That he’s always loved you.”

  Anna shook her head. “I don’t even remember my father, so there are no bad memories or lost hopes that Daddy is going to walk through that door again. And as for Liam… No, he moved on. You were with me when we went to the university, remember? I saw him.”

  “That was after he’d already spent years trying to find you, to win you back. He was willing to give everything up―college, the respect of his uncle, the man who raised him, his friends―all to be with you. That doesn’t sound like a man who moved on to me.”

  Anna grasped for another argument. “He’s a player.”

  “Ha! And you haven’t been? You both tried to bandage your valley of loss by filling it with empty companionships. But now it sounds like Liam is ready to move past that, to have you. The question is, do you still want to be with him?”

  Anna bowed her head. “I want to say yes, but it’s complicated. If I give my heart to him again—”

  “And he breaks it? You fear you’ll never recover. That you’ll become your mother.” Cynthia shook her head. “You’re nothing like her. Take a chance. Trust me
, the reward is worth the risk. You deserve your own happily-ever-after.”

  “Cynthia Gold, please report to room five-eighty-three,” a deep voice sounded over the speaker.

  Cynthia glanced at the ceiling, worry instantly filling her eyes again.

  “Go. Andrew and Mitchem need you.” Anna grabbed the duffle and handed it to Cynthia.

  “It’s okay. I told them to page me when the doctor arrived. Just promise me you’ll think about it.”

  Anna only nodded, the words too impossible to say aloud. But she knew one thing. She wanted answers from her mother. Every time she tried to ask her mom about why they’d left Riverbend, her mother ended up back in bed. But now it was time. She would demand answers now that she knew Liam wasn’t the one who lied. Her own mother had been lying to her for years, and she wanted to know why. The one person in the world she thought she could trust unconditionally was her own mother, yet she’d deceived her. How could she ever trust anyone again?

  Chapter Eight

  An orderly wheeled a young boy about Andrew’s age past Anna and Liam as they sat in the pediatric waiting area. Too nervous to sit, Mitchem and Cynthia paced up and down the hallway.

  “When can I play football again?” the young boy asked.

  A woman, whom Liam assumed was the boy’s mother, walked alongside him with a shrug. “Don’t know, little man. We have a follow-up in six weeks.”

  “Six weeks?” The young boy slumped in the wheelchair. “That sucks.”

  They continued down the hall, their voices fading then disappearing completely at the sound of the elevator door rolling closed.

  “How long do you think it’ll be until Andrew can play the violin again?” Cynthia asked, her voice wavering.

  “I don’t know, but he’s tough. If they say six weeks, he’ll do it in three.” Liam stretched, then rested his elbows on his knees.

  Mitchem paced by the double doors, stopping to peer through the narrow windows as if he would be able to see his son. “How much longer do you think the surgery will take? It’s been over an hour since the nurse updated us last.”

  Anna sat tall in the chair at Liam’s side. “Andrew has the best surgeon in the country. He’s just taking his time and doing it right.”

  “I wish we’d hear something soon, though. This is torture.” Cynthia collapsed back into the waiting chair next to Cathy West who wrapped her arm around Cynthia.

  “Now, darlin’, you know that boy has his daddy’s gumption. He’s probably already awake and telling them what they need to do,” Cathy said, her voice booming through the waiting room and echoing down the hall.

  Liam eyed all the friends and family that had arrived to show their support. Cathy and Devon refused to leave until the surgery was over, and Judy Benjamin only left an hour earlier because she had to pick up her granddaughter. Her husband, James Benjamin, who insisted on being part of the surgical team, had arranged for the doctor to fly in for Andrew.

  Liam only hoped Anna could see the love of those who lived here, despite them not exactly being neighbors.

  Mitchem wrung his hands and peered through the glass again before turning his worried gaze on the group gathered in the waiting room. “They said the surgery would take four hours. It’s been five.”

  Anna stood and pointed to the door. “I think we’re about to find out how it’s going. Here comes James.”

  They all turned. Cynthia bolted from her seat to join Mitchem, and they both clung to each other. The elevator dinged. A phone rang in the distance, but not one of them turned their attention from James.

  He pushed through the doors with a doctor’s blank expression on his face. Dressed in scrubs, with protective sleeves over his shoes, he held a surgical mask in his hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t come out here sooner to speak with you guys, but I wanted more information first. There’s good and bad news.”

  Mitchem held tight to Cynthia and nodded to James. “Go ahead.”

  James took a long breath. “Andrew’s doing great, and I’m happy to say he will be able to keep his hand.”

  Cynthia gasped and Mitchem cleared his throat. “Will he be able to use it again?”

  James smiled. “Yes, but we won’t know to what extent until he’s in physical therapy. The bad news is that the damage was extensive. That’s why this is taking so long. The doctor had to repair more than he’d anticipated. It’s going to be another hour or two until everything is wrapped up. The good news is that he’s the best doctor and if anyone can have Andrew playing the violin again, it’s Dr. Hester.”

  Cynthia took James’s hand. “Please thank him for us. And thank you for bringing him here.”

  “Of course. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get back in there. I’ll make sure to report back to you in another hour.” James disappeared through the double doors.

  Cynthia clutched Mitchem’s jacket. “He’s going to be able to play again. I know he will.” Mitchem drew her into his arms, and they held tight to each other.

  Liam crossed the room and tapped Anna on the shoulder. “Why don’t we go get some food for everyone?”

  Anna nodded and followed him to the elevator. “Do you think Andrew will truly recover? James sounded optimistic, yet there was a hint of doubt in his voice.”

  “Honestly, I don’t think anyone can answer that. Only time will tell. I can tell you one thing, though. That little godson of mine will take whatever life gives him and make it work. He’s already lost a mother, practically took care of his dad on his own, found him a new wife, all while learning to play the violin and getting straight A’s in school. Trust me, the kid’s got his act together.” They stepped onto the elevator and Liam pressed the first floor button.

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “I know I’m right.” The doors slid shut. “Even if he didn’t have the strength or will, he’s not alone. There's an entire town, and even more in Creekside, that will do anything to help him. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s no lack of love around here. It’s part of the reason I returned after college. There’s no place like Riverbend in this world.”

  Anna held tight to her purse strap as if worried a mugger would snatch it at any moment. “I noticed. I’d forgotten about the town family. It’s been so long.”

  “Yes, well, you’re here now.” Liam wanted to pull her into his arms, the way Mitchem had with Cynthia, but he didn’t want to push too hard and drive her further away.

  The doors opened into a much busier section of the hospital. A group of doctors on lunch break, dressed in scrubs and lab coats, entered the elevator as they exited. A man with a bright smile and carrying flowers joined them. Liam guessed he was probably a new dad, the way his eyes twinkled, yet his face was tense.

  “I tried to call my mother,” Anna said, her eyes focused straight ahead.

  Liam held open the cafeteria door for her and grabbed a tray as he entered after her. “And?”

  “When I mentioned your name, she said she had to go and hung up. I have a feeling the only way I’ll ever get answers out of her is to lock her in a cell with an interrogation expert.” Anna grabbed a bowl of fruit and set it on her tray. “Liam, I’ve never pushed for the truth because every time I tried, she’s gone comatose on me. I mean, bedridden, nonresponsive, I-have-to-take-care-of-her comatose. I worked for two years, taking care of her every need when I was only sixteen years old.”

  Liam took her hand, his heart breaking at the thought of how hard her life had been. “I’m sorry, Anna. If I would’ve known…”

  “You couldn’t have done anything. You were a child yourself. Even after we moved to Arizona and she got a job, if I mentioned your name, she’d leave the room and not talk to me for days.” Anna shook her head. “I know I’ll never get the truth from my mother. Whatever happened all those years ago, we won’t get answers from her.”

  He snagged a few ham and cheese sandwiches, as well as a couple of turkey, and put them on the tray. “Do you think we can move forward with
out ever knowing the past?” Anna reached for her wallet, but Liam covered her hand. “I’ve got it.”

  She smiled and tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. “I don’t know if we can. I want to know what happened. It’s eating me up inside, but at the same time, I want to let it go.”

  He paid the cashier, and they headed back to the elevator. “Then let it go and concentrate on now.”

  Anna sighed. “I wish I could. I remembered something, though. It makes me think my mom and your uncle were more than landlord and tenant.”

  Liam elbowed the button to return to the pediatric floor. “What did you remember?”

  Anna scratched her temple and shook her head. “It’s gonna sound crazy, but I swear I heard your uncle say something like ‘he’s dead now,’ and told my mom she didn't have to worry.”

  “Dead? Who?” Liam asked.

  “I don’t know. But think about it. My mother flees Riverbend, is bedridden each time I mention this place, you, your uncle, or anyone else from this town. I don’t know who died, or how, but I can’t help thinking that’s why we left and why she’s wanted to keep me away from here all these years.”

  The elevator doors opened and they headed for the waiting room. “Maybe the past is better left alone, but I have to admit that I’m intrigued now. I can’t even imagine how someone dying had anything to do with you leaving. There was no reported death in town at that time that I can remember. I could ask Cathy West, though. She knows everything about everyone. If someone died, she’d remember, but are you sure you want to know?”

  Anna straightened and pushed her shoulders back. “I’ve longed for answers all these years. I can’t turn away from them now.”

  Liam paused at the edge of the waiting area and lowered his voice. “Then we’ll face the truth together. I’ll search for answers as long as you want. I’d call my uncle, but I don’t even know where he is, and he wouldn’t speak to his worthless nephew anyway.” He walked across the room and handed a sandwich to Mitchem then one to Cynthia.