Game On (14 page)

“Isn't that the truth?” The nurse looked back at Nikki. “Your body has been through trauma, Nikki. Give yourself time to heal.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Not really. Doctor's orders.” She gave a little wave and walked out of the room.

The door opened back up.

A little gray-haired lady walked in.

More than a little shocked, Nikki stared. She hadn't seen her in sixteen years.

The woman walked up to her. “Ms. Kent, I'm Isabella McMann, Lucas's mother.”

“I know who you are.” Nikki didn't have the energy to play games. “I just never expected…what are you doing here?”

“I came to make sure you're all right. I was worried after Lucas told me about your ordeal.”

Why would the woman worry about her?

Mrs. McMann's gaze moved to Cassie.

Nikki didn't want Cassie near any of the McManns.

The woman turned back to Nikki. “Lucas will be along in a few minutes, but I had something I wanted to say to you. In private.”

“I can take a hint.” Cassie stood up.

It was almost as if the woman was warning Nikki.

“Cassie, you need to get back to school anyway.”

The high school was only a block away from the hospital and Cassie had walked over during her lunch.

“But I have a good excuse not to go. The teachers won't mind.” She smiled at Mrs. McMann. “But that's OK. I'm going.”

“Stop back after school and bring me something good to eat. This place doesn't know the meaning of
seasoning
.” Nikki made a half-hearted motion towards Cassie. “This is my niece.”

“I know exactly who she is,” Mrs. McMann said, her articulation clear and crisp.

Nikki stared. Did the woman really know who Cassie was? That was impossible.

“I've heard her sing several times at different functions. You have the voice of an angel, my dear.”

“Thanks, Mrs. McMann. Gotta go. I don't want to upset my auntie by not going to school.” Cassie walked out of the room.

Nikki found it difficult to meet the older woman's gaze.

“I am so sorry about all of this. It must have been perfectly horrible. I'm so glad you survived.”

“Me too.”

“I wanted to come see you before Lucas arrives.” Mrs. McMann cleared her throat and then met her gaze head-on. “I owe you an apology.”

“It's not your fault. You didn't shoot me, and I'm pretty sure you didn't hire them to shoot Lucas. Unless you have a confession you'd like to make.”

Mrs. McMann laughed. “I can assure you I had nothing to do with that. That's not what I'm apologizing for.”

Nikki's heartbeat ramped up. “Oh.”

“I came to apologize for what my husband and I did all those years ago. For paying your parents to keep you apart. I hope you'll forgive me.”

Anger raised its ugly head. Several responses came to mind. None of them had anything to do with forgiveness, but Nikki was tired of her anger, her bitterness. Tired of letting other people's actions control her emotions. Nikki stared at the woman who had changed the course of her life without one bit of concern. She had a choice. Stay stuck in the past. Or forgive.
God, help me do the right thing.
Nikki took a deep breath. “That was all a long time ago, Mrs. McMann.” A lifetime ago.

“Call me Isabella.”

“As I said, no apology is necessary, Isabella.”

“An apology is exactly what is needed. Because it happened a long time ago doesn't mean it doesn't matter. I could blame it all on my husband.” The woman sighed. “But the truth is I agreed with him. I'm sorry for any pain our actions might have caused you.”

It hadn't just been the McManns and her own parents. It was time she accepted some of the responsibility for her life choices as well. After all, she'd gone along with them. “Thank you so much, Isabella.” Nikki meant the words.

“From what Lucas tells me, you are quite the remarkable woman.”

“I don't know about that. He was the one who saved me.”

“My son is a good man.”

“I can't argue that point. It was very nice of you to come. I accept your apology, even though it wasn't necessary.”

The woman nodded. “That is very kind of you. Thank you for helping Lucas. That was so incredibly gracious of you, considering everything.” She turned to leave but then turned back to Nikki. “Lucas is lucky to count you among his friends.”

Had she and Lucas renewed their friendship in the middle of the chaos they'd shared? She wouldn't have thought it possible a week ago, but Isabella might be right. “Thank you for coming, Isabella.”

“You're welcome.” Mrs. McMann turned back. “Your…niece is lovely. If she ever needs anything, you be sure to let me know. I'll be glad to help her in any way I can.” Mrs. McMann turned and left the room.

The woman couldn't possibly know that Cassie was her granddaughter.

Nikki lay back against the pillow, thinking about Isabella's apology. The situation seemed so much clearer. After all the years of anger and bitterness, she could see her own part in it. How she'd gone along with the plan. At any time, she could have gone to Lucas. Told him she was pregnant. For years, she'd been angry because he'd abandoned her. But he hadn't done any such thing. She hadn't given him the chance to do the right thing.

A sense of calm—of peace—enveloped her. Her Christian mentor was right. Forgiveness wasn't about letting the other person off the hook—it was about giving up the anger. It wasn't about the person she forgave. It was about her. Letting go of that anger gave her back the freedom to be herself. She closed her eyes, savoring the feeling.
Is this what forgiveness feels like?
Nikki smiled. She liked the feeling. She was still basking in it when the door opened.

****

Lucas walked into Nikki's hospital room, carrying a huge bouquet of red roses.

Her eyes were closed, but she looked at peace. Almost angelic. She definitely looked better than the last time he'd seen her.

God was so good to keep her safe.

She opened her eyes. “My goodness. Did you leave any at the flower shop for anyone else to buy?”

“Not a one.” He placed the vase on her tray table. “And you deserve every one and more.”

“They're beautiful, Lucas.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” The doctors had assured him there'd been no major damage from the bullet. They expected a full recovery. “How are you?”

“I'm alive and feeling pretty grateful about that.”

“I'm very grateful for that as well.”

“That you're alive?”

“Very funny.” Did she have any idea what an amazing woman she was? Strong. Brave. And a good sense of humor. She'd be so easy to love. “No, I'm very glad that you're alive.” He stepped closer. His hand reached out to caress her cheek, but Nikki grabbed it and moved it away. Her action startled him back to reality. Nikki would be easy to love, but he wasn't the one to do it.

She smiled at him. “Oh, well, thanks for that. And for the flowers. They're beautiful, but it wasn't necessary.”

“You're very welcome. I would have been here sooner, but it was family only in the ICU. Can you believe they wouldn't make an exception even for me?”

“Must be losing some of your influence.” She smiled. “By the way, your mother was here a little while ago.”

“Really?”

“She apologized for paying my parents to keep us apart.”

He sat down in the chair by her bed. “I can't believe that. We haven't even discussed it in years.”

“You could've knocked me over with a feather. If I'd been standing and not stuck in this bed.” Nikki hit a button on the side of her hospital bed. It moved her to a sitting position.

“I hope it didn't upset you too much.”

“Not in the least. She was quite gracious. Your mother is a very classy lady.”

“It sounds as if you were nicer to her than to me when I apologized.”

“Maybe so. But I'll be glad to rectify that. I'm over it, Lucas. Over all of it. You are more than forgiven.”

“Ah, shucks.” He smiled, wishing it were true. “You're just saying that because I saved your life.”

“It has nothing to do with that. The past is the past and I'm looking forward to the future. At least I will be as soon as we catch the bad guys. How's that going?”

“Not so good.” He could see the peace in her eyes. All the anger was gone. She even looked younger. For a moment he was whisked back to the past—their past. All those feelings bubbled up. “You really forgive me?”

“Actually, I don't.”

“But you just s—”

“I don't forgive you, because I came to the realization you did nothing that needed to be forgiven.”

His gaze held questions.

“Your parents, yes. My parents, yes. Maybe even a little bit me. But you. You were as much of a victim as I was. Maybe more. You had no idea of the deal between our parents, but I did.”

“I don't know what to say. That's wonderful, Nikki.”

Her green eyes sparkled. “It was probably the best thing for everyone involved anyway. Our parents were probably right even if they did it in the wrong way. The truth is we were both way too young to be involved in that intense of a relationship.”

“Oh, you remember that, do you?”

Her face turned rosy pink.

“Behave.” She gave him a playful tap on his arm and then her expression turned serious. Her eyes probed his. “How are you, Lucas?”

“I didn't get shot. I'm fine.”

“I don't think you are.” Her voice was quiet.

“What's that mean?”

“It means you need to give yourself a break.”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.”

“Oh yes, you do.”

Their gazes met. It was as if she could see deep inside where all his secrets were. “You getting shot was my fault. They were after me, not you.”

“I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about Victoria.”

Pain coursed through his heart. “That was my fault. And this is my fault. If I hadn't contacted—”

“It's not true, Lucas. You are not God. You don't get to control everything. Everything bad that happens in this world is not your fault.”

He couldn't speak.

“I forgive you. God forgives you. Isn't it about time you forgive yourself?”

“I don't want to talk about this.” He stared at her and sat down. “But I do want to talk with you.”

“About what?”

“Flower farms.”

Her eyes widened. “Flower farms? Why on earth would you want to talk about that?”

“In the cave, you said that you would love to live on one. I want to make that happen.”

“I don't understand.”

“What's not to understand? You want to live on a flower farm and I want to buy you a flower farm. When you're better, we'll start hunting—”

“You can't buy me a flower farm.”

“Of course I can. End of discussion. Did I tell you I have bodyguards around the clock?”

“We're not done discussing flower farms.”

“They follow me around like puppies.”

“How many? I would have thought you rated at least three.” She grinned.

“Three it is, one for each eight-hour shift. I've arranged for private security for you when you get out. Until they find out who's behind this.”

“I don't need any security. You're the target.”

“You're probably right, but I'm not taking any chances.”

“I don't need security, Lucas. And that's the final word, so un-arrange it. Please.”

Didn't she understand he wanted to keep her safe? He wanted… “That's not a good idea. Someone shot you, Nikki.”

“But the bullet was meant for you. You're the one who needs security, not me.” Lucas reached for her hand, but she picked up her glass of water. “But—”

“Lucas. Lucas. Lucas,” a loud voice yelled from the other side of the door. “They won't let me in.”

“Apparently, my security's doing their job.” He held up a finger. As Lucas opened the door, a woman threw herself into his arms. “Are you all right? I can't believe you didn't call me. I had to see it on the news. I was worried to death.”

“As you can see, I'm perfectly fine.” He moved out of her embrace and turned towards Nikki. “This is my assistant, Elizabeth Roar. And the beautiful woman in the bed is my dear old friend, Nikki Kent.”

“Who are you calling old, mister?”

“So true. I am older than you.”

Still holding Lucas by the arm, Elizabeth's gaze landed on Nikki. “It must have been a harrowing experience.” She turned back to Lucas. “It's lucky Lucas was with you. He's quite the hero, you know. The TV reporters say he ran through the woods as the men chased him just to get help for you.”

“I didn't know that. Why didn't you tell me that, Lucas?”

“The TV exaggerated. I'm not the hero—you are.” He turned back to Elizabeth, not quite sure why she'd come. A phone call would have been more than enough. “The FBI finally believes me.”

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. “It's about time. I'll make sure someone gets fired over this.”

“That's not necessary.”

“Well, someone has to pay.”

“Elizabeth's the only one who believed me from the start.”

“I must admit you seemed rather paranoid when you first walked into my office.” Nikki adjusted her pillow. “I wasn't quite sure myself.”

He laughed. “I knew you didn't believe me.”

“True, but I was willing to do my best to discover the truth.”

Elizabeth moved closer, still holding his arm.

He took a step away.

“I knew Lucas couldn't make up such a thing.” She patted Lucas's arm. “So, when are you coming back home? I…we miss you.”