AloneatLast Read Online Free PDF Page A

got both kids with her. Come on, let’s go.”
    Royce didn’t have to say the words twice. Jill dashed for
the closet.
    “I’m coming too.” Ken held up a hand to stop any protests.
“You two have been drinking. Plus, that’s my patient we’re talking about.”
    “Good enough.” Royce yanked up his boxer briefs while Jill
hauled on a pair of jeans. She watched his gaze wander to the present on the
bed. His eyes widened in horror. “Oh hell, the house!”
    “Don’t worry. Jerry will mobilize the crew and have it back
to normal in no time. I won’t be long.” Ken hurried away, yelling instructions
to the elves in the background.
    “Who are these mysterious people?” Jill knew it was
fear that made her ask the question after all this time. She was scared to
death about David and seized on anything to shove the devastating scenarios
running through her head to the background.
    Royce tugged on a yellow polo shirt. He was down to shoes,
socks and his pocket junk. “They’re people just like us, sweetheart. Everyone
works together to help set up scenes. Ken and Jerry have been a part of the
community for some time. I’ll be returning the favor soon by helping set up for
others. It’s the least I can do after all they’ve done for us today. Don’t
worry. I intend to stay in the background. I’m not interested in physical
participation.” He was beside her now, cupping her neck in his sweaty palm.
“You’re the only one I play with and I prefer to keep it that way.”
    He kissed her, then hugged her tight. His arms shook. His whole
body shook. Jill knew then how very frightened he was.
    She slipped her arms around him. “He’s going to be all
right. You know how much head wounds bleed.” Jill wondered how she knew that.
“Davy was conscious, screaming his lungs out, and your mom was driving him
rather than having called an ambulance.” How could she be so calm and rational
when she was screaming inside?
    “Van’s in the driveway and running.” Ken delivered the
sentence and left.
    Royce broke away from her. “We’re coming.” He shot Jill a
glance. “You ready?”
    She stabbed her feet into sandals. “Go. I’m right behind
you.” She frantically searched for her purse while she buttoned her blouse,
only to remember it was still in her car. She grabbed a hairbrush, pulling it
through her hair as she ran to the garage.
    Three men and two women swarmed her living room. Already
half the satin was packed away. No one acknowledged her, much less spared her a
look. It was as if she were invisible.
    Jerry cut her off halfway to her goal. Her purse dangled
from his fingers. Jill grabbed it with a muttered thanks and darted for the
front door. There she paused and turned to the workers. “And I thank all of you
too.”
    They glanced up, smiling, giving nods. That was all any of
them, or Jill, had time for. They’d meet again in the future. Maybe she could
volunteer her services as background elf for them. Everyone needed a little
magic in their lives, like the magic Royce had created for them.
    No one said anything on the ride to the hospital. Jill sat
in the second-row bench seat watching Royce bounce his leg—fear and
helplessness at not being able to do something. He stared out the window,
scrubbing his hand over his chin, running his fingers through his hair, rubbing
the back of his neck. Jill fed off his nervous energy. With every block, the
knot in her stomach grew. Those scenarios she’d tried to shove aside returned
with a vengeance. Concussion and coma ran circles through her brain while the
specter of death laughed from the sidelines.
    They reached the hospital in record time. Ken whipped into
the first parking space he saw. He tossed the keys to Royce and was out the
door. Jill and Royce had to run to catch up to his long-legged stride.
    She spied her mother-in-law’s car, saw the bloodied
handprint emblazoned on the pearl-white side and the trail of droplets leading
into the ER. It