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She gave an abrupt nod, and he took the small suitcase out of her hand and cupped her elbow as they hurried down the flight of stairs to the apartment parking lot. During the ten-minute drive to Sea-Tac International Airport, Carla could feel her father’s concerned scrutiny.
“Are you going to be okay, Princess? Do you want your mother with you?”
“No, I’m fine,” she said, and with a sad smile amended, “I think I’m fine. If anything happens to Philip, I don’t know that I’ll ever get over it.”
“Cross that bridge when you come to it,” he advised. “And phone as soon as you know his condition.”
“I will,” she promised.
—
Jeff was nervously pacing the tiled airport floor when Carla spotted him just minutes after stepping off the plane. Without hesitation, she ran to him and gripped his forearm. “How’s Philip?” Her eyes pleaded with him to tell her everything was fine.
“There weren’t any complications. But apparently I misunderstood him. He said he didn’t want you to know.”
“Didn’t want me to know?” she echoed incredulously. If that bullet didn’t kill him, she would. Philip was lying on a hospital bed wanting to protect her from the unpleasant aspects of his occupation. It infuriated her, and at the same time she felt an overpowering surge of love.
“Just before I left, the doctors told me it would be several hours before he wakes.”
Carla weighed Jeff’s words carefully. “Take me to the hospital. I want to be there when he wakes.”
A smile cracked the tight line of Jeff’s mouth. “As the lady requests. Tell him the decision was yours and I’m not responsible.”
“I’ll tell him,” she said and winked.
“Great.” He looked at his watch. “I’m afraid I can’t take you to the hospital personally; I’m still on duty. But another friend of ours will get you there safely. If you like, I can take your things and drop them off at Philip’s condo.”
“Yes…that’ll be fine.”
Jeff introduced Bill Bower, a ruddy-faced officer Carla didn’t recognize from the previous weekend. Bill nodded politely, and after saying good-bye to Jeff, the two of them headed for Bill’s car.
“Can you tell me what happened?” she asked Bill when they were on the freeway. During the flight, she had prepared herself to hear the details of what exactly had gone wrong. In some ways, Carla realized that she didn’t want to know. It wasn’t important, as long as Philip was alive and well. There would be time for explanations later, when Philip could make them himself. But knowing that he would make light of the incident, she’d hoped to get a fuller version of the story on the way to the hospital.
“I wasn’t there,” Bill stated matter-of-factly, “so I don’t know how it happened. But Philip was in tremendous pain, and Jeff may have saved his life by getting him to the hospital as quickly as he did.”
Carla paled at the thought of Philip in agony. He’d be the type to suffer nobly. Her lips felt dry, and she moistened them.
The stoic-faced officer must have caught her involuntary action. “I wouldn’t worry. Philip’s healthy and strong. But he’s bound to be in a foul mood, so don’t pay any mind to what he says.”
“No, I won’t,” she replied with a brave smile.
—
The hospital smelled faintly of antiseptic. Carla was admitted into Philip’s room without question, which surprised her. Seeing him lying against the white sheets, tubes coming out of his arms, nearly undid her. She sank gratefully into the chair beside his bed.
“The doctor will be in later if you have any questions,” the efficient nurse explained.
“I’ll be leaving now,” added Bill. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. Jeff will be back later tonight.”
“Thanks, Bill.”
“All the thanks I want is an invitation to the wedding.”
“It’s yours.” She tried to smile, but the effort was painful.
Still wrapped in the warm comfort of sleep, Philip did little more than roll his head from one side to the other during the next two hours. Content just to be close to him, Carla did little more than hold his fingers in hers and press her cheek to the back of his hand.
“Carla?”
