by Krista McGee
“We didn’t want to.” Kara smiled. “But Jonathon forced Addy, who forced me.”
Chad laughed. “Ouch.”
“You okay?”
“Just a cracked rib. And a bruised ego.”
“I understand that.” Kara knew Addy was referring to her stint in the hospital after being bitten on the rear by a brown recluse spider.
“But what are you doing here in Orlando?” Chad looked at Kara.
She had already decided she didn’t want to tell Chad about the show. If she told him and she didn’t make it, she’d be humiliated.
“I’m just hanging out with Addy.” Not a lie. Just not the whole truth.
“I wish I’d known,” Chad said. “I would have invited you over.”
“It’s not too late for that.” Kara grinned.
“Actually”—Chad took an unsteady breath—“I’ve got a thing in Phoenix at the end of the week.”
“A thing?”
“Yeah, a thing.” Chad smiled.
Perfection. “Can you sing with a cracked rib?”
“Are you kidding? No way.” Chad held his side. “But I’m not singing for this event. I’m visiting a little boy who has leukemia. We’re just hanging out for the day. But I can’t postpone it. This little boy has been waiting for a while. And he isn’t doing well.”
Kara pictured one of her little nephews being in that position. A thought she did not want to dwell on. “So I’ve read what the blogs are saying. But what actually happened? ”
Chad closed his eyes. “What are the blogs saying? ”
Kara held up one finger. “You and Derek got into a fistfight.” Kara held up a second finger. “You got angry at a guy for singing one of your songs so you got into a fistfight with him.”
“Do they all end with me getting in a fistfight?” Chad interrupted Kara as she lifted a third finger.
“Not all.” Kara walked to the foot of the bed. He even looks good with bruises. “One blogger said you faked it because you’re trying to promote your new album.”
“Which isn’t out until January.”
Kara held up her hands. “Hey, you asked.”
“Forget I asked.”
“So, what really happened?”
“I got pounced on by a huge fan.”
“I did hear that story.” Kara walked closer. Only Chad Beacon could look hot in a hospital gown. “Does that happen often?”
“Girls breaking my rib? No, that was a first.”
“Crazy girls trying to get to you?”
Chad closed his eyes. “Sometimes.”
Kara looked at Addy. “Look at him, trying to be modest.”
Addy touched Chad’s arm. “The reason we’re here is because Jonathon sent us to check up on you. I have orders to report back.”
“Orders, huh?” Chad pushed the button on the bed so he could sit up. “Tell him I won’t recover until he has that talk with his dad.”
“What talk with his dad?”
“The talk about not going into politics.”
“Oh, that talk.” Addy raised her eyebrows.
“I don’t know why he’s so scared.”
Kara read the cards on the flowers by the window. “His dad is president of the United States. I’d be scared too.”
“But he doesn’t want to be president,” Chad said.
“Easy for you to say.” Kara walked back to the bed. “You’re living your dream.”
Chad’s smile melted away. “You’re right.”
“That wasn’t a criticism.” Kara looked into Chad’s hazel eyes. She hated the thought that she may have hurt his feelings.
“I know.” Chad’s gaze seemed to go straight through her. Kara couldn’t look away.
Chad cleared his throat. “I thought of you last night. I was watching TV.”
He thought of me. Last night.
“There’s this show on called Broadway Bound. Have you heard of it?”
The show I should have chosen? The one I might have actually had a chance to win? “Yeah, I think I’ve seen an episode or two.” Or every one, sometimes twice. But whatever.
“You seem very dramatic.” Chad smiled. “I bet you could do something like that.”
Addy looked at Kara over the hospital bed. “She definitely could.”
Kara shot a warning glance at Addy. “I don’t know.”
“But you like performing?”
Just dig that knife in a little deeper, Chad.
Addy glared at Kara again, a “Why don’t you just tell him?” look on her face.
“Doc says you are free to go. Your brain is going to be all right,” a gray-haired nurse announced in a loud voice, pushing her tray past Addy and, thankfully, putting an end to the conversation.
“Good to know,” Chad said.
“You never know about falls. Concussions don’t always show up right away. That’s why we needed to keep you overnight for observation.”
“You sure he should go already?” Kara eyed Chad. “I heard lunch was mashed potatoes and lime Jell-O. Don’t want to miss that.”
“All right, girls,” the nurse said. “I’ve got to do some looking. You better get out so this young man doesn’t lose his dignity.”
“Right.” Chad glanced down at his hospital gown. “I’d hate to lose my dignity.”
The girls said their good-byes. Kara hoped to get some more time with Chad. At least give him a chance to ask for my number, she thought. But the nurse made it clear it was time for the visitors to leave.
Buckling up in Addy’s car, Kara sighed. “You’re welcome, by the way.”
“Really?” Addy pulled out of the parking lot.
“Not just any friend would come out to a hospital to see a hurt friend. But I’m just great that way.”
“Yes, I know it was difficult for you.”
Kara closed her eyes and thought of Chad. She could still feel his skin on hers when she patted his hand goodbye. “You have no idea.”
Chapter 26
Welcome back, Kara,” Flora greeted from the kitchen. Today she was wearing a vintage floral 1960s maxidress. “Did you have a good morning?”
“Very good.” The girls were given a free day, but Addy had to get back to Tampa to help a friend. So Kara decided she’d spend some time in the pool. Daydreaming about Chad Beacon.
Flora took a chicken from the refrigerator and laid it in the sink. “Now for the pot.” Flora turned faster than her dress did, and when she took a step, her leg twisted and she came crashing down on the tile floor.
“Oh no.” Kara knelt beside the housemother. “Are you okay? You fell hard.”
Flora tried to push herself onto her knees. Her dress turned into a burrito and Flora fell on her back. “It was just a minor accident. And you know what Aristotle says about accidents: ‘The ideal man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace, making the best of circumstances.’”
Kara pushed Flora’s dress up and looked at her leg. Her ankle was already starting to swell. “This is not time for your authors, Flora. We need to get that ankle taken care of.”
“No, no. Aristotle was a philosopher.”
“Really?” Kara walked to the freezer for ice.
“Oh yes. You should have studied him by now. What is education coming to?”
“Flora, the ‘really’ was as in, ‘Really? You’re going to discuss philosophers while your ankle swells up?’” Kara wrapped the ice in a towel and laid it on Flora’s foot. “We need to get this leg propped up. Keep the ice on it. I’ll get a chair ready for you to sit in.”
“No, I’ll be fine. Go ahead out to the pool.”
Kara looked down at her bathing suit. “I’m not going to the pool when you’re hurt. Now give me your hands, but don’t put any weight on your foot. Ready?”
Kara steadied herself and helped the small woman stand and hop over to the waiting chair. Kara placed Flora’s injured ankle on the seat across from her and positioned the ice back on Flora’s foot.
“All right. N
ow stay there. I’m going to call my mom.”
“Why would you call your mother?” Flora asked. “I just slipped. No problem.”
“My mom’s a nurse. And your ankle looks bad. It may be broken.” Kara ran back to her room, threw a shirt and shorts on, then walked back to Flora, dialing her mother’s number as she walked.
Her ma, a registered nurse working at a hospital for more than thirty years, was immediately in medical mode.
“Yes, Ma, I have it elevated and iced.” Kara cradled the phone between her jaw and shoulder. “Hang on.”
Kara knelt by Flora’s leg. “I’m going to have to poke around a little.” Pushing the speaker button on her phone, Kara handed it to Flora. “Okay, Ma. I’m here. It’s purple.”
“Where?” Ma asked.
“Right by the ankle bone.”
Ma’s voice crackled over the cell phone. “All right. It could be a break or just a sprain. Touch around the ankle, Kara. Gently.”
Kara barely touched Flora’s skin when the older woman sucked in a deep breath.
“I’m sorry.” Kara pulled her hand back.
“No, no.” Sweat was beginning to bead up on Flora’s forehead. “I’m sorry.”
“That was very painful?” Ma asked.
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” Flora said. “But it isn’t Kara’s fault. I’m afraid I just don’t do well with pain.”
“Oh, honey, none of us likes pain,” Ma said. “You just relax. Tenderness and bruising, huh? How about swelling? Kara, compare Flora’s injured ankle with the other one.”
Kara moved around the chair to look at Flora’s left foot. “Oh wow. That right ankle is a whole lot bigger than her left.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“She’s a little lady, Ma. Not much body fat. Her ankle bone on the left foot really sticks out. Like a mountain. The ankle bone on the right looks more like a little hill.”
“That’s not good,” Ma said. “She definitely needs to get checked out. You got someone there who can take you to the doctor?”
“We have a driver,” Kara said. “But I don’t know how to reach him. Flora?”
“No.” Flora straightened herself in the chair. “I’ll be fine. I don’t need to go to the doctor.”
“Yes, you do,” Ma and Kara said in unison.
“The sooner you get this taken care of, the sooner you’ll be up and around,” Kara said.
“All right.” Flora sighed. “The driver’s name is Harold, and his number is on the pad of paper in the drawer next to the silverware.”
Kara called Harold, hanging up right as Sophie came in the kitchen.
“What happened to you?” Sophie barely glanced at Flora before opening the refrigerator.
“She’s hurt.” Kara folded her arms, watching with disgust as Sophie opened the fruit and vegetable drawers in her search for the perfect snack.
With a bright red apple in her hand, Sophie walked out. “Hope you feel better.”
Kara looked around. A couple more girls were by the pool. There’s a sliding glass door right there. Why aren’t they helping? And the girls in the living room are just watching a movie. I know they can hear us. I can’t believe this.
“I’m sorry, Flora.”
Jillian walked in as Kara replaced Flora’s ice.
“Oh no.” Jillian stopped. “What happened?”
“Nothing, nothing,” Flora said, her head down.
“She hurt her ankle,” Kara said. “I called Harold, the driver. He’s on his way.”
Jillian knelt to look at Flora’s ankle. “That looks terrible, Flora. Have you taken anything? I have some ibuprofen in my room.”
“Normally, I try to avoid medication,” Flora said. “But I might make an exception. Just for today.”
Harold rang the doorbell just a few minutes later.
“Jillian, can you help me get Flora to the van?”
“Of course. I’m coming with you. She takes such good care of us. I wouldn’t leave her when she is in need.”
“All right, then,” Kara said. “Let’s get you out to the van, Flora. Don’t put pressure on that ankle, okay?”
The girls helped Flora into the van, and Jillian buckled the small woman’s seat belt.
“I can do that,” she said.
“I know.” Jillian smiled. “But I don’t want you to have to strain yourself.”
“I hate to be such a bother.” Flora looked at her ankle, propped between the two front seats on a cooler.
“You’re not a bother.” Jillian put her hand on Flora’s arm. “I’m going to be praying that you get better soon.”
“That’s the best medicine you could give me.” Flora settled in as the van took off. “We have a few minutes. Why don’t you tell me about how you came to know Jesus, Jillian?”
“What?” Jillian looked at Flora.
“You told me you are a believer. I’ve been looking forward to hearing your testimony.”
“Oh, my testimony.” Jillian relaxed. “Yes. I’d love to share that with you. I was raised in church. Both my parents are very good people. They taught me to obey the Bible.”
“Wonderful,” Flora said. “What church do you attend? ”
“W-well, it’s in San Diego,” Jillian stammered. “I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”
“You’d be surprised. I have traveled quite a bit. San Diego is one of my favorite cities.”
“Oh, well, it’s a small church. Um, Central Christian.”
“You’re right,” Flora said. “Never heard of it. But I’ll look it up next time I’m there.”
“Flora.” Kara leaned toward the older woman. “What did you do before you were our housemother?”
“This is Jillian’s time to talk.” Flora patted Kara’s knee. “We can talk about me later.”
“I was wondering the same thing.” Jillian spoke quickly. “We know you traveled. And you know so much about books. What else?”
“One more question for you, Jillian, then we can talk about me. All right?”
Jillian gave a slow nod.
“Tell me something wonderful Jesus has done for you.”
Jillian’s face turned white. “Something wonderful? ”
“Yes.” Flora smiled. “There are so many things, I know. But tell me just one. I love hearing how he is working in the lives of other believers.”
Jillian looked up. “Jesus, um, he got me an audition on this show. Out of the thousands of girls who tried out, he helped me to get chosen.”
“And why do you think he allowed that?”
“I don’t know.” Jillian shrugged. “Because he knows how much I want this, I guess.”
“All good and perfect gifts come from above.” Flora nodded, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. “That is true.”
“Okay, ladies.” Harold leaned back. “We’re here. Are you okay on your own? Some of the girls want me to take them to the outlet stores this afternoon. You can just call me when the little lady is all patched up.”
“Sure, Harold,” Jillian said.
The emergency room smelled like sweat and Pine-Sol, and Kara put a hand to her nose to keep from gagging. Her other arm supported Flora. Jillian was on the other side of the injured woman, and the pair managed to get Flora into a brown plastic chair, with another chair set in front of her for her leg.
“Wait there,” Kara said. “I’ll get you signed in. Do you have your insurance card?”
“Yes, let me just find it.” Flora tried to bend down and reach for her purse, but the pain on her face reflected how difficult that was.
“I’ll get it.” Jillian lifted the large woven purse into Flora’s lap.
Kara walked to the front desk and wrote Flora’s name on the sign-in sheet, handing over Flora’s insurance card and ID. I can’t believe I’m at the hospital for the second time in two hours. Too bad Chad has already checked out. I sure wouldn’t mind popping in to see him again.
“So, about how long will the wait be?”
Kara asked when the receptionist finished making copies.
“Half an hour or so.”
Kara walked back to Jillian and Flora.“The receptionist said half an hour. In ER time, that means about two hours.”
“You seem quite at home here.” Flora took the insurance card from Kara’s hand.
“Oh yes,” Kara said. “Emergency rooms were my second home growing up. I’ve broken two bones, had stitches three times, and I’ve had two concussions.”
Jillian looked at her. “Daredevil?”
“That and just dumb.” Kara laughed. “When I was seven, I was totally into Tarzan, so I decided I’d make myself some vines like he had. I got rope and tied it to a tree in my backyard.”
“Oh dear,” Flora said, her eyes wide.
“Yeah, the rope was about eighty years old. I found it way in the back of the storage shed. I got a ladder and tied it to the tallest limb I could find, then I climbed up on the roof of my tree house.”
“Was that the concussion or broken bone?” Jillian leaned in.
“Actually, it was all three—broken leg, eleven stitches in the back of my head, and a concussion.”
“How terrifying for your poor mother.”
“She says she used her nursing skills on me more than she did with all the other kids combined.”
“That sounds very much like a boy I know,” Flora said.
“Really?” Kara asked. “Who?”
“A friend.” Flora cocked her head to the side. “He grew up on a—well, a farm of sorts. His parents would go looking for him, and he’d be out climbing trees or swimming across lakes. He only had a couple trips to the ER, but that was just from luck, not because he was careful.”
“Sounds like we would get along well.” Kara laughed.
“Oh, I daresay you would get along splendidly.”
“All right.” Kara scooted her chair closer to Flora. “We’ve got time, and you have no excuses. Tell us who you really are.”
“I am Flora Lopez.” She sat up straight.
“And what did you do before you came here?”
“I work as an assistant to a business owner.”
“What kind of business?” Kara probed.
Flora shook her finger. “The kind that prefers to stay anonymous.”
“The mob?” Kara jumped up.
