“How do you figure?”
“You finally got the girl.”
I did.
Her smile disappears and she adds, “Just your luck, Mike. After all these years, you get the girl—and it turns out the girl is broken.”
I close my eyes and feel an enormous lump in the back of my throat. I look into her tear-filled eyes and say, “You’re perfect, Rosie. You’ll always be perfect.”
We cast a longing look at each other. Then the nurse knocks on the door again and pokes her head inside. “You really should get going, Mr. Daley. Ms. Fernandez needs to rest.”
“One more minute.” The nurse leaves. I turn to Rosie and say, “Anything else I can do for you tonight?”
“I don’t suppose you can come up with a cure for breast cancer?”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I take her hand and say, “You’re going to be fine, Rosie.”
“How do you know?”
I give her a knowing smile and say, “I made a deal with God.”
This gets a grin. “Another one? What deal did you make this time?”
“If God lets you get better, I promised not to screw up our relationship again.”
“You had a lot of help from me last time.”
“We’ll do better this time.”
“Did you promise anything else?”
“I promised God that I would love you for the rest of your life.”
She’s blinking back tears. “What did God say?”
“It’s a deal.”
“Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.”
“It’s nice to know all those years in the seminary weren’t a total waste.”
We sit in silence for a moment. Then she looks at me and says, “Will you do something else for me?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“Will you hold me for a few minutes?”
“I don’t know if there’s room in that hospital bed for two people.”
She lowers the safety gate and says, “We’ll make room.”
I climb into bed with her and gently put my arms around her. She rubs my cheek with her hand and deadpans, “No funny business tonight, Michael. You don’t get any farther than first base. It’s only our first date.”
I kiss her softly on the cheek and say, “Okay, Rosie. Besides, the warden will be back in a few minutes to send me home.”
Her eyes get a faraway look. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had somebody to hold me. I missed that.”
“It’s nice to be here,” I say.
She kisses me gently on the mouth. Then she yawns and says, “Could you get the light, Michael?”
“Sure, Rosie.” I do as she asks. She falls asleep a few minutes later and I gently ease out of her bed. Then I sit in the chair for a few minutes and listen to her rhythmic breathing. Although her chest is covered with bandages and her arm is attached to a machine, there is a smile on her face. I touch my finger to her lips and whisper, “Pleasant dreams, Rosie.” As I’m reaching for the door, I turn around and look at her. I say, “I love you, Rosita.”
Her eyes are still closed when I hear her say, “I love you too, Michael.”
*****
Acknowledgments
Many readers have noticed that I tend to write lock acknowledgments. Writing is a collaborative process for me and I get a lot of help from people who know more about the criminal justice system than I do. I’m going to try once again to thank as many of you as I can.
To my wife, Linda, who has been helping me write stories for more than two decades, and to our twin sons, Alan and Stephen, who are very patient when I’m on deadline and who will be writing books of their own in the near future.
To Neil Nyren, my tireless and patient editor, whose thoughtful comments make my stories far better than the drafts that find their way into his inbox. Thanks also to the hardworking team at Putnam. You make my life a lot easier and I’m very grateful.
To my extraordinary agent, Margret McBride, and to Kris Wallace, Donna DeGutis, Sangeeta Mehta and Renee Vincent at the Margret McBride Literary Agencyu.
To my mentors, Katherine V. Forrest and Michael Nava, and to the Every Other Thursday Night Writers’ Group: Bonnie DeClark, Gerry Kolr, Meg Stiefvater, Kris Brandenburger, Anne Maczulak, Liz Hartka, Janet Wallace and Priscilla Royal.
To Inspector Sergeant Thomas Eisenmann and Officer Jeff Roth of the San Francisco Police Department, and to Inspector Phil Dito of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
To Sister Karen Marie Franks of St. Dominic’s Convent in San Francisco.
To my wonderful friends and colleagues at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton (and your spouses and significant others). In particular, thanks to Randy and Mary Short, Cheryl Holmes, Chris and Debbie Neils, Bob Thompson, Joan Story and Robert Kidd, Lori Wider and Tim Mangan, Becky and Steve Hlebasko, Donna Andrews, Phil and Wendy Atkins-Pattenson, Julie and Jim Ebert, Geri Freeman and David Nickerson, Kristen Jensen and Allen Carr, Bill and Barbara Manierre, Betsy McDaniel, Ted and Vicki Lindquist, John and Joanne Mjurphy, Tom and Beth Nevins, Joe Petrillo, Maria Pracher, Chris and Karen Jaenike, Ron and Rita Ryland, Kathleen Shugar, John and Judy Sears, Dave Lanferman, Avital elad, Mathilde Kapuano, Jerry Slaby, Guy Halgren, Dick Brunette, Aline Pearl, Bob and Elizabeth Stumpf, Steve Winick, Chuck MacNab, Sue Lenzi, Larry Braun and Bob Zuber.
To my supportive friends at my alma mater, Boalt Law School: Kathleen Vanden Heuvel, Leslie and Dean Bob Berring, Louise Epstein and Dean Herma Hill Kay.
To the generous souls who patiently wade through the early drafts of my stories: Rex and Fran Beach, Jerry and Dena Wald, Gary and Marla Goldstein, Ron and Betsy Rooth, Rich and Debby Skobel, Dolly and John Skobel, Alvin and Charlene Saper, Doug and JoAnn Nopar, Dick and Dorothy Nopar, Angele and George Nagy, Polly Dinkel and David Baer, Jean Ryan, Sally Rau, Bill and Chris Mandel, Dave and Evie Duncan, Jill Hutchinson and Chuck Odenthal, Joan Lubamersky and Jeff Greendorfer, Tom Bearrows and Holly Hirst, Melinda and Randy Ebelhar, Chuck and Ann Ehrlich, Chris and Audrey Geannopoulos, Julie Hart, Jim and Kathy Janz, Denise and Tom McCarthy, Raoul and Pat Kennedy, Eric Chen and Kathleen Schwallie, Jan Klohonatz, Marv Leon, Ken Freeman, David and Petrita Lipkin, Pamela Swartz, Cori Stockman, Allan and Nancy Zackler, Ted George, Nevins McBride, Marcia Shainsky, Maurice and Sandy Ash, Elaine and Bill Petrocelli, Penny and Tom Warner, and Sheila, Alan and Leslie Gordon.
To Charlotte, Ben, Michelle, Margaret and Andy Siegel, Ilene Garber, Joe, Jan and Julia Garber, Terry Garber, Roger and Sharon Fineberg, Jan Harris Sandler and Matz Sandler, Scott, Michelle, Stephanie, Kim and Sophia Harris, Cathy, Richard and Matthew Falco, and Julie Harris and Matthew, Aiden and Ari Stewart.
Finally, thanks to my readers, who have been so enthusiastic, and especially to those who have taken the time to write or e-mail. Most lawyers don’t get fan mail and I’m very grateful.
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