Chasing Luck Read Online Free PDF
Author: Brinda Berry
wasn't alone. I'm William Vandol.”
"Yeah, God wasn't helping her out. And she almost got herself killed in there. She must have been half-crazy over her uncle, because she ran straight at that shooter to take him out."
The old man grimaces. "She's a foolish girl. Was JT already dead?"
"Yeah." I continue to rub my neck, needing to get out of here. "There wasn't anything anyone could have done at that point. That maniac with the gun had a restaurant employee as hostage and had shot your friend."
The old man's eyes water and I can sense he's going to cry. I don't want to deal with seeing this man break down in front of me.
I look away. "Here, Mr. Vandol, why don't you have a seat?"
"Call me Billy." The old man gives a crooked smile. "And thank you for staying with Malerie." He places a wrinkled hand on my shoulder for a second.
"Anyone would have done the same." I shift from foot to foot, look at the exit, and then back at him. He's got this grateful expression, like he owes me something—which he doesn’t. I am relieved I can leave and Malerie will have somebody looking out for her.
The sooner I can leave the hospital, the better. The place closes in on me like the lid on a pine box.
"Don't forget that bag. She was seriously jonesing for it and I brought it to calm her. She even asked for it in the ambulance." I nod at the bag. The nurse is back to her paperwork and computer screen. The gift bag waits on the counter.
I shove the bag in his direction, like pushing a chess piece, signaling it's his move. Take over. I'm out.
"It's her birthday," he says.
"Helluva bad birthday." I'm looking at the exit again.
Billy lowers his graying head and peeks into the bag, fishes his hand inside, and pulls out a wood box. He examines it quickly, and then tucks it back into the bag before shoving the bag under one bent arm. "You may have saved her life."
"Maybe the doctor did, but not me." I laugh awkwardly and shake my head.
His hand trembles slightly. "I know you may have somewhere to go. I appreciate what you did—staying with Malerie. She's special and she's been through a lot in her lifetime."
"No problem. Anyone would've done the same." That's a lie. The world isn't full of people who do things for nothing. But I don't want anything from the girl or the old man.
Billy holds out his hand to shake. "We'll never forget this. Can I get your name again?" He pulls a pen from a shirt pocket and a wallet from his pants.
I shake my head and hold up a hand, "No, no. Like I said, it was nothing."
"Could I ask for one last favor?" Billy's question hangs in the air, more a demand than a question. His watery eyes are red-rimmed and tired.
"Of course." I don't hesitate for even a second. I look at the age spots on the hand of the old man now holding the brown bag Malerie thought so important. The hospital is quiet as a morgue at midnight and the nurse now stares at us, willing us to find a waiting area instead of holding our conversation near the nurse's station.
"Would you mind keeping details of tonight to yourself? Malerie and I would appreciate it if you don't talk about it to the press. We keep a quiet life and you'll be asked a lot of questions by people trying to make a dollar."
I look at the old man, surprised at the request. "The press wouldn’t ask me anything."
"Yes, they will. JT was Malerie's guardian and extremely wealthy. And there will be speculation about JT's wealth. It could be very hurtful to her. She was like a daughter to him. She's been somewhat sheltered."
"Yes, I could see they were close. You can trust me." I look at my watch pointedly. "Take care of yourself and Malerie. I'm very sorry for your loss."
I recognize the doctor in the blue scrubs walking toward us. It's my cue to leave and I'm glad to escape.
5
Malerie
“ B itter taste in my mouth , drink this poison with me. My world is black and blue. Be a good friend and let me be. Hiding all alone in my world of bruises.” ~Jelly Bean
"Yeah, God wasn't helping her out. And she almost got herself killed in there. She must have been half-crazy over her uncle, because she ran straight at that shooter to take him out."
The old man grimaces. "She's a foolish girl. Was JT already dead?"
"Yeah." I continue to rub my neck, needing to get out of here. "There wasn't anything anyone could have done at that point. That maniac with the gun had a restaurant employee as hostage and had shot your friend."
The old man's eyes water and I can sense he's going to cry. I don't want to deal with seeing this man break down in front of me.
I look away. "Here, Mr. Vandol, why don't you have a seat?"
"Call me Billy." The old man gives a crooked smile. "And thank you for staying with Malerie." He places a wrinkled hand on my shoulder for a second.
"Anyone would have done the same." I shift from foot to foot, look at the exit, and then back at him. He's got this grateful expression, like he owes me something—which he doesn’t. I am relieved I can leave and Malerie will have somebody looking out for her.
The sooner I can leave the hospital, the better. The place closes in on me like the lid on a pine box.
"Don't forget that bag. She was seriously jonesing for it and I brought it to calm her. She even asked for it in the ambulance." I nod at the bag. The nurse is back to her paperwork and computer screen. The gift bag waits on the counter.
I shove the bag in his direction, like pushing a chess piece, signaling it's his move. Take over. I'm out.
"It's her birthday," he says.
"Helluva bad birthday." I'm looking at the exit again.
Billy lowers his graying head and peeks into the bag, fishes his hand inside, and pulls out a wood box. He examines it quickly, and then tucks it back into the bag before shoving the bag under one bent arm. "You may have saved her life."
"Maybe the doctor did, but not me." I laugh awkwardly and shake my head.
His hand trembles slightly. "I know you may have somewhere to go. I appreciate what you did—staying with Malerie. She's special and she's been through a lot in her lifetime."
"No problem. Anyone would've done the same." That's a lie. The world isn't full of people who do things for nothing. But I don't want anything from the girl or the old man.
Billy holds out his hand to shake. "We'll never forget this. Can I get your name again?" He pulls a pen from a shirt pocket and a wallet from his pants.
I shake my head and hold up a hand, "No, no. Like I said, it was nothing."
"Could I ask for one last favor?" Billy's question hangs in the air, more a demand than a question. His watery eyes are red-rimmed and tired.
"Of course." I don't hesitate for even a second. I look at the age spots on the hand of the old man now holding the brown bag Malerie thought so important. The hospital is quiet as a morgue at midnight and the nurse now stares at us, willing us to find a waiting area instead of holding our conversation near the nurse's station.
"Would you mind keeping details of tonight to yourself? Malerie and I would appreciate it if you don't talk about it to the press. We keep a quiet life and you'll be asked a lot of questions by people trying to make a dollar."
I look at the old man, surprised at the request. "The press wouldn’t ask me anything."
"Yes, they will. JT was Malerie's guardian and extremely wealthy. And there will be speculation about JT's wealth. It could be very hurtful to her. She was like a daughter to him. She's been somewhat sheltered."
"Yes, I could see they were close. You can trust me." I look at my watch pointedly. "Take care of yourself and Malerie. I'm very sorry for your loss."
I recognize the doctor in the blue scrubs walking toward us. It's my cue to leave and I'm glad to escape.
5
Malerie
“ B itter taste in my mouth , drink this poison with me. My world is black and blue. Be a good friend and let me be. Hiding all alone in my world of bruises.” ~Jelly Bean