Here With Me (6 page)

Chapter Seven

“I’m actually kind of insulted you think I’d gloat about being right.”

“I find that hard to believe.  You’re rarely insulted.”

Mallory was staring at Cole from across the table.  They were tucked away in a booth in the back and she’d finally told him about Ryan.  He hadn’t gloated like she’d expected.  In fact, he didn’t seem to react at all. 

It’d been a week since Ryan came
by and she was fine.  There was no reason she shouldn’t be.  One date was all they’d been on, and while it’d been great, she was hardly going to let the fact they hadn’t gone out again affect her life.  It’d been a fun night, but that’s all it was and she’d returned to her daily life.  When Cole called suggesting dinner and a movie, it sounded good and she’d agreed. 

“Well, I am insulted this time,” he continued. 

“You’ll get over it just like I got over the fact I’m too much of a loser to date,” she laughed as she took a sip of wine. 

“What was the reason again? 
Work?”

“I don’t know.  None of it really made sense. 
Something about his complicated life and work.  Blah, blah, blah.  I really don’t care.  At least he had the decency to tell me in person.”

“After three days of nothing.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?  You just love to be right.”

“If you’d just learn to listen to me, you’d avoid half the bad decisions in your life.”

“I wasn’t aware I’d made that many poor decisions.” She finished off the last swig of wine and set the glass down.

“You’re the queen of mistakes,” he laughed.

“Name one of my so-called mistakes.”

His eyebrows furrowed as he thought and then a grin spread across his face.

“Breaking up with me.”  They both started laughing and she cocked her head to the side as she brushed a piece of hair from her face.

“You’re never gonna let that go, are you?”
             

“Not till you come to your senses,” he grinned and then looked down at his watch. “We’d better get going or we’ll miss the movie.”

****

“How was the movie?”

Mallory sat next to her mom on the couch and Cole had made himself comfortable in the recliner.  The ninth inning of the Red Sox and Orioles game was buzzing from the TV.

“Not bad,” Mallory answered.

“I’m glad you two got to go out.  I haven’t seen you enough since you’ve been home, Cole.”

“Not by my choice, Claire,” he said, focusing his attention on Mallory. “If your daughter knew how to let go and have a little fun, you’d see a lot more of me.  I’m surprised she actually agreed to hang out tonight.”

Mallory just stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed.

“She thinks she has to babysit me,” her mother said. “I try and tell her I’m fine, but she doesn’t listen.”

“I’m sitting right here, ya know.”

“It’s more fun talking about you like you’re not,” Cole said and she just shook her head. 

“It looks like the Sox have this one in the bag, so I think I’ll head up to my room to read,” her mother said, picking up the remote control.  Once the TV was off, she put her hand on the armrest and tried easing herself up.  Her face grimaced and what little progress she’d made in getting herself off the couch was crushed as she fell back to her seat.  Both Mallory and Cole jumped up.

“Let me help, Claire,” Cole said as he gently gripped her elbow. 

“You’re as bad as she is,” she said, eyeing her daughter, but using a gentle voice with Cole.  She always snapped at Mallory when she tried to help, but she would never speak that way to Cole. 

“Please, let me help you,” he said as both he and Mallory took an arm and raised her to her feet.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, not looking at Cole.  She was too embarrassed and hated for anyone to see her like that.  Mallory handed her mother her cane, and she took it begrudgingly as she walked slowly towards the stairs. 

“Do you need help, Mom?”

Turning to look at Mallory and Cole, she shook her head in a way that told them both not to ask her again.

“I’ll be fine.  Good night.”

They both sat silently on the couch as her mother made her way up the stairs, sluggishly and painfully.  Mallory knew every step her mother took was agony and she would give anything to make her well again.  Some days were good and some days were bad and there had been more bad than good lately. 

When she’d
finally made her way up the stairs, Cole turned to Mallory with a sad frown on his face.  Cole had always been fond of her mother, probably because his own mother was so different than Mallory’s.  Cole’s mother was always busy and seemed more focused on her own life than her children’s.  He’d had a nanny from the day he was born and he loved how fun loving Mallory’s mom had always been. 

“How is she?  Your mom?” he said quietly, wanting to make sure his voice didn’t carry upstairs. 

“She thinks she’s fine, but she’s not.”

“I’ve never seen her like that.  It’s gotten worse then?”  She nodded. “Is there anything that can be done?” he asked.

“No.  Just manage the pain and hope for good days, which seem to be fewer and fewer lately.  I don’t think she’ll be able to work at the diner much longer, but don’t tell her that.  She refuses to believe she has limits, but as you can see, she does and being on her feet eight hours a day doesn’t help.”

“It’s what she knows, Mal.  I’m sure it makes her feel normal.”

“I get that, but it’s not realistic.  I just wish she’d start accepting that she can’t do everything she wants to anymore and I really wish she’d start letting me help her willingly.  I know I shouldn’t let it bother me, but I hate when she snaps at me when I try and help her.”

“She was fine when we helped.”

“Yeah, because you were here.  She’d never snap at you.  She adores you, but with me, she resists help all the time and it pisses me off because I just want to help her.  She doesn’t know what I’ve given up for her,” Mallory began to ramble as the resentment began to spew from her mouth.

“She might not show it, but she appreciates everything you do for her and I admire you for taking care of her.  She’s lucky to have you because your deadbeat sister sure doesn’t help.”

Mallory smiled appreciatively at Cole.  He always knew how to make her feel better and he was as unimpressed with Paige as she was. 

“I know she appreciates it even if she doesn’t say it, but still, it’s frustrating because…oh, never mind,” she said, stopping herself from going into a rant of complaints. 

“You don’t need to stop talking on my account.”

“I don’t need to go on about what could’ve been.”

“Does this have to do with that Doctors Without Borders thing again or working in some inner city hospital?” Cole’s tone was uncertain.  He’d never come right out and said it, but she knew he thought she was crazy.

“You don’t get it, Cole.  You’ve been able to do whatever you want your whole life.  Nothing’s ever held you back and while you might not understand, it’s my dream.  I never imagined I’d still be in Kennebunkport without having ever done anything besides go to college.”

“Don’t say that.  Think of all the good you do every day with your work.”

“I love my work, but it’s all I have.  You’ve done so much.  You’ve been everywhere and I’ve never been further west than Pennsylvania.  You could
never
get it.” She stared over at him and she knew he couldn’t say anything because it was true. “Your life is just too different.”

“I know,” was all he said and
then leaned back on the couch, surprising her by not defending his privileged upbringing.  Instead, he reached down and picked up the remote control.  He turned the TV back on and started watching the post-game show while she leaned back beside him.

“That’s for dragging me out tonight,” she said a few minutes later. 

“No problem.  We should do it more often.”

“Definitely,” she agreed.

“Mallory, a gunshot wound’s coming in!”

Life had been rather boring since Ryan dumped her, so when she heard her co-worker, Savannah’s words, her head jerked up in disbelief.  Mallory set the
patient charts she’d been reviewing on the counter and stood up.  The ER in Kennebunkport was usually quiet and she couldn’t recall the last time a gunshot victim had been admitted. 

“Gunshot?” she asked as her heart began to pound from the adrenaline. 

“Yes.  Dr. Shaver said to meet him outside.”

Mallory
followed Savannah to the entrance of the emergency room where Dr. Shaver was waiting. 

“What do we know about this?” Mallory asked as they waited.

“Not much.  The ambulance said there was an incident on the Bush estate,” Savannah began.

“The
Bushes?  It’s not one of them, is it?” she gasped.

“No,” Savannah answered quickly as the sound of sirens drowned her out.
  It pulled in and an EMT got out.  He walked to the back of the ambulance and opened the door.  Another medic was inside and Mallory noticed a pair of polished black shoes at the end of a gurney.

“What do we have here?” Dr. Shaver asked the EMT.

“Gunshot wound to the shoulder.  Patient is conscious.  Vitals are stable,” the medic answered as he pulled the gurney from the ambulance.  The other EMT jumped out and they rushed the gurney into the ER.  Dr. Shaver was at the patient’s side talking hurriedly with the medics.  Mallory followed hastily behind as the gurney was settled into the ER.  She walked quickly to the side of the bed to begin the routine of collecting vitals, but as she reached down for the blood pressure cuff, a familiar pair of green eyes met hers and she froze. 

****

S
taring into the window of his room, she still couldn’t believe it was Ryan lying in the bed.  He was still out from surgery and she couldn’t take her eyes from him as he rested.  His chest moved up and down gently.  Dr. Shaver had been able to remove the bullet and he would make a full recovery, but that still couldn’t help ease the fear she’d felt when she’d realized it was him lying on the gurney. 

She hadn’t spoken to him.  He’d passed out just as she pulled herself out of the shock of seeing him and began collecting his vitals.  She’d assisted in the surgery, going through the process numbly and she had to hold back her excitement when Dr. Shaver declared the surgery a success.  He’d be alright and she couldn’t be happier. 

“Is he awake yet?” Savannah appeared next to her and stared into the room.

“Not yet,” she answered quietly.

“That was kind of exciting, don’t you think?”  Savannah asked and Mallory had to nod in agreement.  Although she’d been frantic when she discovered the gunshot victim was Ryan, she couldn’t deny once she’d removed herself from it personally, the surgery had been exhilarating.

“I’m glad he’s going to be okay,” Savannah continued. “He’s
kinda cute.”

Savannah was grinning and Mallory nodded again.

“I know him.”

“You do?” she asked.

“We went on a date a couple of weeks ago.  I didn’t think I’d see him again.”

“You must’ve been surprised when it was him pulled out of the ambulance then.”

“Surprise is an understatement,” Mallory said, shaking her head. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”

“He was lucky.  A few inches in another direction could’ve been a whole other story.”

Mallory nodded and swallowed through the lump in her throat because she knew Savannah was right.

“Has anyone been asking about him?” Mallory asked, looking around for Nate.

“There were a couple of guys in suits talking with the FBI.  It was all real official looking,” Savannah answered and Mallory’s mind began racing, trying to figure out what was going on.  How had Ryan got shot and what was he doing on the Bush estate? 

She looked down at her chart and then up to Savannah.

“It’s time to check his vitals,” Mallory said and quietly pushed the door open. 

He was still sleeping as she approached quietly.  He looked so peaceful, which was a relief to see after the pain that had been flowing from him when he was first brought in.  She wrapped his arm in a blood-pressure cuff and checked his oxygen levels and temperature.  Everything was normal.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t, she reached down and took his hand, squeezing gently.  He was all alone, and despite how things had ended between them, she wanted him to know someone cared.  She wondered if she should try and contact his father or brother, but then quickly shook her head.  He was a patient, plain and simple, and she needed to treat him as such.  It wasn’t her job to notify next of kin.  It was her job to take care of him, that was it. 

Squeezing
his hand once more, she noticed his eyes flutter for a second.  She pulled her hand from his and carefully brushed his hair off of his forehead before turning and leaving the room.

****

The FBI and the two men in suits were there when Mallory returned to the nurse’s station.  She knew immediately the tall suit was Nate and his eyes grew large when he saw Mallory.  Ignoring him, she went to the computer to enter Ryan’s information, but kept a discreet eye on Nate as she did so.  The discussion looked intense, but it eventually disbanded and everyone, aside from Nate, headed towards the exit. 

He looked nervous, but he finally approached Mallory.

“Hey,” Nate said timidly.

“Hi,” she said and couldn’t help but take notice at how different he looked
in the pristine black suit.  Serious and older than at the clam bake.   

“I hear Ryan’s going to be alright.”

“Yes.  He’ll be fine,” she said, grabbing some charts and standing up.

“I’ll bet you’ve got a lot of questions,” he said as he walked beside her down the hall.

“It’s not my business.  I’m not owed any explanation,” she lied.  She was dying to know what was going on. “I’m just glad he’ll be okay.”

“Thanks for taking such good care of him.”

“I don’t need any thanks.  It’s my job.  It’s what we do here.” She knew she was being curt.  She just wanted to put this past her. “Now, I’ve got patients to look after.  If you’ll excuse me.”

Nate nodded and Mallory kept walking.

****

“He’s awake and he’s asking for you,” Savannah said as Mallory was thumbing through
a magazine during her break.

“He is?” Savannah nodded and Mallory sighed.
“Okay.  I’ll be right there.  Thanks.”

Savannah left and
Mallory put her magazine away before walking into the bathroom.  Looking in the mirror, she smoothed the hairs back that had escaped from her ponytail.  After straightening her scrubs, she took a deep breath and headed nervously towards Ryan’s room, not knowing what she would say to him. 
I’ll keep it professional.  I’ll ask him how he’s doing.  That’s it.  Nothing more.
 

He was sitting up when she walked in and he looked up when he heard her footsteps.  The door shut slowly behind her and she waited a few moments before making her way to his bed.  The color was returning to his face and he was smiling.  It was an unsure smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. 

“How’re you feeling?” she asked, once at his side.

“I’ve been better,” he laughed nervously, carefully reaching up and patting his bandage.

“How’s the pain?”

“I’m good.  I’ve got this handy drip I can push any time I need a hit to take the edge off.”
He laughed again and held up a button attached to his IV. 

It got quiet
and she looked around.  She knew this hospital like the back of her hand, but for some reason she was intent on finding something new to catch her interest to avoid meeting his gaze.

“I’m glad you were here when they brought me in,” he finally said, drawing her attention back to him.

“I’m glad I was here to help.” She was being distant, but she didn’t know how else to act. 

“I suppose yo
u want to know what happened and how I got myself into this situation.”

“Like I told Nate, it’s not my business.  You don’t have to tell me anything.”

“No, I guess I don’t, but I should.”

As she stared down at him,
he looked uneasy.

“Then go ahead. 
How does a security company worker find himself shot while at the home of the Bush family?”

Ryan took a deep breath and then looked up at her.

“I don’t work for a security company.”

“Oh, so
you’re a liar then?” she smirked and folded her arms.

“I only lie when it’s necessary.”

“Okay.  You’ve piqued my interest.  If you made up the whole story about the security company, then where do you really work?”

The room grew quiet again as she waited for his answer.

“I work for the Secret Service.”

She
felt her mouth open, afraid she’d misheard him.

“The Secret Service?” she asked quietly and he nodded.

“Yes.”

“And Nate too?” she asked, thinking back to her conversation with him earlier. 
The FBI agents.  The men in suits.  It made sense.

“Yes, Nate too.
  We’ve been assigned to the former President Bush and his family.  That’s why we’re here in Kennebunkport.”

H
er mouth opened and closed as she tried to think of what to say, but nothing came out.

“There was an incident at the estate today,” Ryan continued when he realized Mallory was tongue-tied. “Some crazy guy with a gun tried to get past the gates, which is how I got shot.”

Sighing, she reached for the chair against the wall, pulling it over and sitting down.

“I hadn’t heard of any incident happening.  You’d think that would be pretty big news.”

“You’d be surprised how much stuff happens that the public doesn’t know about.”

“So all the conspiracy theories are correct then?” she grinned.

“Well, not all of them,” he laughed.

“Why didn’t you come out and tell me what you did from the beginning? 
Why the ruse?”

“My job…it’s not something I go around broadcasting.  We keep it as quiet as possible, especially when it comes to an assignment like this.  We don’t just protect the President physically, but we have to maintain his privacy as well.  The less people know, the better, which is why I didn’t say anything.  If you didn’t know, you wouldn’t ask questions.”

“It makes sense,” she said softly.

“It’s just easier to stay anonymous.” 

The room was quiet again.  Her fingers strummed anxiously on the arm of the chair and when she looked up, Ryan was staring at her.

“So,” she finally began. “Was any of it real?  Was anything you told me the truth?”

“Yes,” he said quickly. “Everything I told you was real, aside from my job.  My time in the service, my growing up in Arizona, my dad and brother…all real.”

“Well, that’s good to know,” she said as her anxious fingers stopped.

“I only told you about the security company because I didn’t expect to go out with you.  When Nate and I ran into you and Kenna at the bar, I thought we’d have a couple drinks, nothing more.  I never intended to go to the clam bake.  We weren’t going to go, but the more I told myself I shouldn’t go, the more I wanted to see you again, even though I knew I shouldn’t.  It’d just be easier to stay away.  Nate did everything to discourage me from going.  In our profession, we barely have time for ourselves, let alone a personal life.  He knew it was a bad idea, but I figured we’d go to the clam bake and that would be it.  But, obviously it wasn’t and now here I am laid up in a hospital bed and my nurse just happens to be a beautiful woman I thought I’d talked myself out of ever seeing again.”

Mallory felt her cheeks burning and she looked away for a moment before turning back to him. 

“Well, that is a complicated story just like you said it was when you came by to blow me off,” she said and he grinned.

“I’m sorry I lied.”

“So that’s why you disappeared after our date?  This was the complication you told me about.”

He sighed and nodded.

“President and Mrs. Bush had to leave town suddenly and I had to go with them.”

Looking at him now, seemingly so helpless on the hospital bed, she knew he was sorry and he hadn’t meant to hurt her. 

“I can see why you lied,” she began. “But thank you for telling me the truth now.”

“When I looked up and saw you when they brought me in, I figured it wasn’t a coincidence.”

“You don’t believe in coincidences?”

“Not really.  I think there’s a reason for everything and seeing you again wasn’t a coincidence.”