“That’s because I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Bennie smiled, but it faded as they reached the lounge. She could see Mary’s teary family through the glass window. “I hope she’s going to be okay.”
“Me too,” Declan said quietly, opening the door.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Mary didn’t open her eyes, though her head felt better. They’d told her that she wouldn’t need surgery but had to be monitored, with “neuro checks” and “serial CT scans” administered at regular intervals. She couldn’t eat in case she had to go to surgery, but she wasn’t hungry anyway.
She was so tired, but she could hear all of the people she loved around her, and she listened to their quiet voices as if it were the most beautiful music she had ever heard. Anthony was talking to her mother-in-law El Virus, her mother was praying softly, and her father was whispering for the first time in her life. Mary heard Bennie, Declan, and Judy too.
Mary waited to hear Simon’s voice, but she didn’t, and it nagged at her as she drifted in and out of sleep. She worried about Feet and Rachel, wondering how they were. She assumed The Tonys were with Feet.
Mary knew it must be daytime because she felt a warm square of sunlight on her bed, though she didn’t know what time it was. Her head felt heavy and her throat hurt. She could feel the oxygen tube lying against her cheek and aplastic clip around her index finger. She knew she would look horrible, but luckily she was among family, which was best defined as people who love you no matter what you look like.
She drifted back to sleep to the lullaby of everyone talking, and the next time she woke up, she recognized another voice: Simon’s. Mary worried that Simon wouldn’t be in the room long, since he had Rachel and Feet to take care of, so she tried to wake herself up to talk to him.
“How’s Rachel?” Mary opened her eyes enough to see them clustering around her. But no one answered her question about Rachel. She felt a tingle of concern that there was bad news and they were keeping it from her.
“Simon, how’s Rachel?” Mary asked again, dry-mouthed.
“She’s fine,” Simon answered, materializing at Mary’s side and giving her arm a reassuring squeeze.
“For real?”
“Yes, absolutely. They think they might have found a new donor. We have only one more test to go, then we’ll know for sure.”
“That’s wonderful.” Mary felt the news suffuse her with joy. “And your father?”
“Dad’s still stable. He might get a stent. He’s worried about you.”
“We’re all worried about each other.”
“That’s love.”
“Yes, it is.” Mary felt a familiar grasp on her hand, but this time it felt different than before. It was Anthony. “Anthony, you okay?”
Everybody smiled, and Anthony answered, “Now I am.”
“Good. Love you.” Mary let herself drift back to sleep. She didn’t need to hear Anthony tell her he loved her. She already knew.
She was lucky and blessed in him and all of them, and when she finally succumbed to sleep, she felt in a state of grace, even on Earth.
Because Heaven was right here.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Bennie and Declan didn’t get back to her house until dawn, and Bennie shut the door behind them, exhausted and in some pain. The Advil and adrenaline had finally worn off, as if her body knew it was finally time to let down, and as she turned away from the door, she felt a deep ache from her broken ribs.
“Hurting?” Declan asked, concerned. “Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down? I can make you some eggs and bring them up.”
“No thanks, I’m not hungry.” Bennie trundled to the staircase. “All I want is to get out of these disgusting clothes, take a shower, and sleep for a month.”
“Go right ahead. I’ll be up in a minute. I’ll make you a cup of tea.”
“That would be nice.” Bennie kicked off her shoes and trudged up the stairs, feeling achy with each step, holding on to the banister for support. She reached the top, headed into the bathroom, and closed the door behind her. She flipped on the light and avoided the mirror, knowing it would give her nightmares.
She took off her blazer, which was stained with blood that had dried in stiff patches. She was about to drop it on the tilefloor when she noticed that one side of the blazer was heavier than the other. She realized something was in the pocket and she put her hand inside, surprised to find Mo’s burner phone still in her pocket. She must’ve left it there.
