With the nurses� voices behind him still marveling at the fact that he had somehow managed to coax information out of the young drug addict, Luca shuffled slowly toward his room. The experience had drained him, both physically and mentally, and he was eager to lie down and rest for a while, yet at the same time he felt deeply satisfied that his hospital stay had yielded positive results in the life of a very needy girl. It reminded him of the time he had spent in Vice; difficult times wrought with frustration that he had been unable to help all of the addicts who had crossed his path, but nothing could equal the satisfaction he had felt whenever he had busted a dealer who was selling to kids or managed to persuade an addict to seek treatment.
His mind was preoccupied as he turned into the doorway of his room, and as a result he nearly collided with his mother, who was on her way out. They both stopped abruptly and stepped backward in surprise.
Mariana recovered from the surprise first. �Dominic! I thought I heard your voice out here. What are you doing out of bed!� She seized his arm with surprising strength for such a small woman, and guided him into the room. �You must come back inside at once!�
Luca gave a wry smile, thinking how vehemently Cassie had complained about her parents always telling her what to do. At her age, it had bothered him too, but now he found Mariana�s love and concern very comforting. �Yes, Mama,� he said, obediently. �Did I ever tell you how much I love you?� he added, bending to kiss her on the cheek.
She beamed with pleasure at his display of affection, and her eyes became misty. �Not very often, but I do love to hear it. Now, back to bed!�
Isabella had been sitting in one of the chairs waiting for him to return, and she stood up to help him off with the robe. �Mama�s been frantic ever since we got here, wondering where you were,� she told him.
�I was not!� Mariana quickly denied the claim. �It just gave me a turn to come in to your hospital room and find your bed empty.�
�I just took a little walk down the hall,� he explained. To his sister, he added, �I thought you were flying back to New Jersey today.�
�It isn�t until this afternoon. I wanted to see you once more before I left.�
�Well, as you can see, I�m coming along wonderfully.� He stepped out of the slippers and climbed back on the bed. He released a contented sigh as he sank back on the pillow. �Ahh, that feels good.�
Mariana bustled around, pulling the sheet up to his waist and tucking him in as if he was a small child, and he allowed her to do so without commenting, but exchanged a knowing smile with his sister while his mother�s attention was focused on straightening the sheets and fluffing his pillows. �They need to replace your pillows,� she declared as she wrestled with one of them, trying to make it plumper than it actually was. �They�ve all gone flat!�
�I think they�re all that way,� Dom told her.
�You must be doing a lot better if they�ve allowed you to take a walk by yourself,� Isabella commented.
�Yeah, they said I could get up and move around, and they even let me take a shower by myself this morning. I figured that the sooner I start taking walks to start getting my strength back, the sooner they�d let me out of here.�
�How about this morning?� asked a masculine voice from the doorway.
Doctor Windom had entered the room unnoticed, and as they turned to face him, they saw that he was watching the Luca family with a smile, clearly amused at the way Mariana was fussing over her son.
Luca hardly dared to believe he had heard correctly. �You mean it? I can leave this morning?�
�There really isn�t anything more we can do for you here. You�re back on your feet, you�re eating solid food, you�re off the i.v. The only catch is that you must either get someone to stay with you for the next couple of weeks or so, or that you stay with someone for that time. You�ve made great progress, but you�re not ready to be totally on your own yet.�
�You will come stay with me,� Mariana spoke up. She had paused in her attempts to plump the pillows, and now resumed the task with enthusiasm. �Your mama will take care of you.�
Luca hesitated. Staying with his mother was not exactly what had had in mind. �No, that�s okay, Mama. I wouldn�t want to put you to any trouble. I�m sure I can find someone to stay with me for a few days.�
�Nonsense,� Mariana scoffed, failing to comprehend the true significance behind her son�s protest. �You won�t be any trouble to me at all. You can move back into your old bedroom, and I will take care of you. There will be no argument from you, Dominic. You will stay with me and that�s final.�
Isabella was grinning, understanding that her youngest brother had other resources in mind as caregivers during his recuperation, but knew also that her mother would not be put off. �Better just accept it, Dom,� she advised. �You know she�s going to win in the end, so you may as well save your breath.�
�I think it�s an excellent idea,� Doctor Windom said. �There is no care in the world to equal that of a mother. In fact, I prescribe two weeks of rest under your mother�s care and good cooking.�
�How did you know she�s a good cook?� Luca asked.
�I�ve never met an Italian woman who wasn�t a good cook!�
Mariana beamed with pleasure.
�Now, you�ll need to take it easy for a while, but that doesn�t mean bed rest,� Windom continued. �You can get up and move around, just don�t do any driving for another week or so, and no heavy lifting or strenuous activity for about six weeks.�
�Okay. What about exercise? Can I start taking walks?�
He gave a single nod. �You can start easing into it slowly, maybe walking to the end of the block first and then gradually increasing the distance. We�ll send you home with some pain pills and some written instructions. I�ll want to see you again in a few weeks to check your progress. Other than that, I think you�re good to go. I�ll get your release papers in order, and you can get out of here in about an hour. How does that sound?�
�Sounds great!�
�That�ll give you just about enough time for breakfast before we let you go.� He stepped forward, his hand outstretched, and Luca accepted the handshake. �It�s been a pleasure knowing you, Officer Luca. The best of luck to you.�
�Thank you.�
With a wave, Doctor Windom made his departure, leaving Luca alone with his mother and sister.
Mariana was still standing at his bedside, obviously pleased that her youngest child would be staying with her for a few weeks. With probing fingers, she tried to straighten his unruly mop of hair. �Dominic, you need a haircut.�
�It�s just curling from being washed, that�s all,� Luca told her. �I forgot to have you bring a hair dryer.� He fell silent for several moments, thinking, and turned his attention toward the window, but all he could see was the blue sky and the edge of an adjoining building. �Mama, do you remember that old patchwork quilt that you used to wrap around me whenever I was sick?�
�Yes.�
�Do you still have it?�
�I think it�s in one of the closets. Why?�
�I was wondering if maybe I could use it while I�m there.�
�Of course you can. But why would you think of that old thing after all these years?�
�When I was in recovery, the nurses put a heated blanket over me. It just reminded me of that old quilt. It was so . . . warm and comforting. I can�t explain it. I just want to be wrapped up in it again, like when I was little.�
Mariana smiled fondly at her son. �I will fix you a nice spaghetti dinner while you wrap yourself up on the sofa with the quilt. It will be wonderful having you home again, son.�
Even though it wasn�t quite what he�d had in mind, Luca had to admit that it would be nice being at his mother�s house again for a few weeks, enjoying her company and her good cooking. �That sounds good, Mama.�
�It sounds real good,� Isabella agreed. �I wish I could stay and enjoy it with you, but I have to be at the airport by twelve thirty.�
�You could change your flight,� Luca suggested.
She smiled fondly at him. �I wish I could, Dom, but now that you�re back on your feet, I really need to get home. Rick and the kids are probably living on canned soup and peanut butter sandwiches!�
�Well, we can�t have that!� he teased.
�No, we can�t,� she agreed. �So, I think I�ll make a pot of spaghetti too. Mama�s recipe, and we�ll all be thinking of you when we enjoy it.�
As the thought of her homemade meals entered his mind, so did the aroma of the breakfast cart in the corridor; quite inferior to Mama�s food, of course, but pleasing enough to make his stomach rumble eagerly. Within minutes, a student nurse came inside carrying the breakfast tray.
�I understand this is your last meal with us,� she said cheerfully as she placed it on the table in front of him. �I hope you enjoy it.�
He grinned happily at her, his eyes clearly enjoying her long blonde ponytail and trim figure beneath her crisp white uniform. �Oh, I�m sure I will.�
She smiled back, lingered briefly as if to admire his good looks a bit longer, then turned to leave,
Smiling to himself, he lifted the cover on the plate and looked at the scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage that awaited his pleasure.
�That smells pretty good,� Isabella said.
�Want some?� he offered.
�No, we�ve eaten. It just looks better than I expected.�
�Actually, it looks better than it is,� he told her, pushing the runny eggs around with his fork. �But when you don�t have anything else, you just eat it.�
�Just wait until I get you home!� Mariana declared.
�Can�t wait!�
-()-
A little over an hour later, an orderly entered the room pushing a wheelchair. �You ready to get out of here, Officer Luca?� he asked in a cheerful voice.
�You bet I am!� came the enthusiastic response.
Isabella rose from her chair, digging her keys from her purse at the same time. �I�ll bring the car around.� She picked up one of the largest of the flower arrangements and the teddy bear SWAT officer. �I�ll take these with me, so there will be less to carry.�
After she had gone, Mariana bustled around the room gathering up the rest of her son�s possessions while the orderly assisted him into the robe and then into the wheelchair. The tape recorder and tapes were placed in Luca�s lap, and Mariana held the other flower arrangement.
�All set?� the orderly asked.
�All set,� he replied.
The chair was pushed through the open doorway, and was wheeled past the nurse�s station. Most of the staff had dispensed since he had seen them earlier, and only one nurse remained at the desk, a telephone propped against her shoulder as she sorted papers in search of an apparently requested bit of information. She glanced up as he was wheeled past, and raised her hand in a farewell wave before returned her attention to the caller.
They turned the corner and moved down the adjacent corridor toward the public elevators. A �ding� announced the arrival of the elevator, and a moment later, a middle aged man and woman hurried around the corner toward them, their expressions very anxious. They glanced quickly at him and the man gave a quick nod as they approached, but neither spoke. A moment later, they turned into the doorway where Cassie Edwards was recovering from her drug addiction, and Luca heard their exclamations of both relief and concern as they saw their daughter.
�Stop here for a moment,� Luca said when they drew even with the door.
The orderly did as directed, and although Mariana was surprised by the unexpected pause, she instantly saw that something had attracted her son�s attention and remained silent, as his attention was riveted on the scene inside the room were the man and the woman were embracing the girl in what appeared to be a joyous and tearful reunion.
The woman was weeping. �Oh, Cassie! We�ve never been so worried in our lives! We imagined all kinds of dreadful things had happened to you!�
�Why didn�t you think you could come to us, Sweetheart?� the man added. �We would have helped you through this.�
�I�m sorry I put you through all that,� Cassie said meekly. �I guess I didn�t want to admit that I had become a drug addict. I was afraid you would hate me when you found out.�
�We could never hate you, darling!� he exclaimed. He affectionately brushed a lock of hair from her forehead with his fingers. �We don�t understand why this happened, but you�re our daughter! We love you! Nothing could ever change that!�
�I love you too, Dad,� she said, choking on her tears. �I know I put you through a lot, but I guess I didn�t want to admit that you were right about Michael.�
�He�s the one who got you started, isn�t he?�
�Yeah.�
�What made you change your mind about him?�
She glanced toward the door and caught sight of Luca watching and started to speak.
He placed a finger to his lips, urging her to remain silent. There was no need for anyone to know that the decision to notify her parents had been pressed upon her by a well meaning stranger. Better to let them think it was her idea.
She nodded her understanding, and looked up at her father again. �I guess I just realized what kind of person he really is. And I know now that family is the most important thing in the world, and I really don�t want to lose that.� Her voice broke and tears welled in her eyes. �I love you both so much, and I�ve missed you.� Succumbing to her tears, she began to cry, and her mother bent over to embrace her while her father reached for her hand.
Satisfied that Cassie was going to be all right now, Luca motioned to the orderly to continue, and he responded by pushing the wheelchair forward again.
As they proceeded down the hallway, Mariana glanced over her shoulder at the doorway, curiously. �Who was that girl?� she asked.
�You�re the one who convinced her to let her parents know, weren�t you?� the orderly asked almost at the same time.
�Yes, but no one needs to know that,� Luca replied. �She has her family with her, and that�s all that matters.�
�She was brought in last night. From what I heard, she was going through a dumpster behind a restaurant, and the owner called police. They were worried about her because she had obviously not eaten in a long time, so they brought her here to have her checked out. She came in kicking and screaming. Man, she was one of the most combative patients we�ve ever seen with a pretty good right hook! One of the cops has a black eye, and she gave the E.R. doctor a fat lip! She tried to make a break for it at one point. That�s why she was tied down. They were going to notify the juvenile authorities this morning.�
�I wondered about that.�
�Well, thanks to you, things worked out for her. She�ll be a lot better off with a loving family.�
Luca grasped his mother�s hand and pressed it to his lips with great affection. �Like she said, family is the most important thing in the world. I hope she�ll let them help her through this.�
�Looks like she�s starting to get a handle on it,� the orderly said as they turned away from the public elevators and made their way down another corridor. �Oh, by the way, here�s a prescription for you and some instructions for your care the next couple of weeks.� He reached into his pocket and withdrew a slip of paper, which he passed to Luca. �Doctor Windom said to get the prescription filled today.�
Luca accepted the small prescription slip and the larger instruction sheet which detailed the dos and don�ts of his recovery period. �Thanks.�
They came to a halt at another bank of elevators. �This elevator will take us right down to the patient discharge area.� The orderly punched one of the buttons, and they waited for the doors to open. When it arrived, Luca was wheeled into it, and he pressed the button for the first floor.
It felt strange to be sitting in a wheelchair, his line of vision well below that of everyone else. The orderly stood behind him, his hands resting on the handles of the chair, while Mariana stood to her son�s left, still carrying the flower arrangement. All three of them tilted their heads to watch the lighted display which counted off the floors, one by one, as they made their descent.
At last, they heard the �ding� of the elevator bell, and the doors slid open to reveal the corridor which led to the patients� exit area, and the orderly pushed him at a brisk pace with Mariana hurrying along behind.
Isabella was waiting beside the car in the patient pick-up area, and she opened the passenger door for him. The orderly wheeled him beside it, and Luca stood up to transfer himself from the chair to the cushioned seat of the car, but he did not immediately get into the vehicle. Instead, he stood for a moment in the warm sunshine, enjoying the feel of the gentle breeze against his face as it softly rustled his hair. It was a beautiful day, a perfect day for driving over to the beach or spending an afternoon at the pool.
With a sigh, he slowly climbed into the vehicle, wincing slightly at the tugging sensation in his abdomen. He wouldn�t be spending time at the pool or at the beach for a while, not until he was fully healed. Dr. Windom would flip out, and his mother would have a coronary if he even suggested it.
When he was settled, the orderly pushed the door closed, then turned to retrace his steps back into the hospital. Mariana placed the flower arrangement in the back seat beside the other one, then got in directly behind her son. Isabella took the driver�s seat and started the engine.
�All set?� she asked.
�You bet I am. Let�s get outta here!�
-()-
The ride to Mariana�s house was blissfully uneventful. Luca sat quietly in the front passenger seat, gazing out the window at familiar sights as if he was seeing them for the first time. It had not been that long since he had seen Mama�s neighborhood, just a few weeks, yet being in the hospital was like being in another world, far removed from the sights and sounds to which he was accustomed. Somehow, it made everything on the outside seem new and different, even though very little had changed: the lawn on the corner still needed mowing, as it did most of the time, children were playing in the parks, people were walking their dogs. He made an occasional comment about what he was seeing, but mostly he was content to simply sit back and observe.
When they arrived at the house, Mariana opened his door for him against his objections that he should be opening the door for her, but she said, �Nonsense!� and reached for his arm to help him from the car. He could have managed on his own, but of course he allowed her to assist him, and she continued to hold on to his arm as they walked up the sidewalk to the front porch.
Isabella opened the door, and Luca stepped into the house in which he had been raised.
Mariana followed him in, and quickly set aside her purse. �Just lie down on the sofa,� she urged. �I�ll put clean sheets on your bed and run the vacuum cleaner in your room. It will be ready for you whenever you�re ready to take a nap.�
Still standing in his pajamas and robe, Luca started to protest. �Mama, please don�t go to any --- �
With a stern expression, she raised her hand as she had often done when her children were small. It was a signal for immediate silence, and Luca had been conditioned his entire life to instantly comply with that wordless command. �You just lie down and rest, and let Mama do what needs to be done.�
Luca did not argue any more. He was feeling very tired, and as much as he hated to admit it, he needed to lie down for a while, and the sofa was starting to look mighty inviting. He sat down on it, yawned, then pushed off the slippers and tipped over, resting his head on the throw pillow.
Satisfied that she would get no further argument from him, Mariana stopped at the linen closet for fresh sheets, then proceeded down the hall to the room he had used as a boy. Isabella followed to help, and working together they had the room cleaned up and ready for occupancy in just a few minutes.
Left alone in the living room, Luca raised up slightly and fluffed up the throw pillow a bit, It was small and rather flat, but it plumped up a bit, so he repositioned it and laid his head back down and closed his eyes, feeling content and happy to be out of the hospital. Within moments, he felt his body begin to relax and knew that he was about to drift off. He welcomed it, but just as the warmth of sleep began to blot out all other sensations, he felt something heavy and warm settle over his body.
Curiously, he fought back the sleepiness and opened his eyes. Mama was standing over him, tucking the old patchwork quilt around him. Drowsily, he said, �You�re going to spoil me.�
�That is my intention,� she replied with a smile. �Now, your bed is turned down in case you want to go to bed, but you are more than welcome to nap here if you prefer. Isabella and I are going shopping so I can make you a fresh batch of spaghetti for supper, then I am going to drop her off at the airport on the way back, so you just sleep as long as you want.�
He lifted his head from the pillow again. �You�re not coming back to the house?� he asked.
Isabella shook her head. �No. I need to get to the airport to get checked in.�
He tossed back the quilt against his mother�s and Isabella�s protests that he need not get up, but he wanted to say a proper goodbye to the sister who had flown all the way across the country to be there for him and assist their mother during those first frightening days.
�I�m glad you came, sis,� he said, drawing her into his arms.
Isabella leaned into her youngest brother�s warm embrace. �Promise me you won�t put us through something like this again!�
His hesitation before answering reminded her that the nature of his profession placed him in dangerous situations, and the reality was that a promise of that nature was one he might not be able to keep. �I promise I will do my best to make sure nothing like this happens again.�
She drew back to look into his dark brown eyes, and felt her eyes well with tears. �Well, I guess I�ll have to be satisfied with that. You take care of yourself, little brother.�
�I will, big sis. Say hi to Rick and the kids for me.�
�I will. We�re coming back for Christmas this year, so I�ll see you then.�
�See you then.�
After one more embrace, Isabella gathered her suitcase and purse, and she and Mariana went out to the car, leaving Luca alone in the house.
With nothing else to do, he lay back down on the sofa and pulled the quilt over him again. Then he snuggled down beneath it�s warmth and soon fell asleep.
Go to Chapter 17