Destiny by chance: A Contemporary Romance Fiction Novel (3 page)

The final stop on their list of places to go was the cemetery.  When Andy parked near the graves, they both sat in the car, quietly pensive.  Destiny looked down at her hands, toying with them.

“If you’re not ready, we can go.”

Destiny sat still for many moments, then nodded as she drew in a deep breath.  “I’ll be okay.”

Her hand tentatively reached for the door handle.  Finally, she pulled it and the door released; her heart racing faster and faster as she slowly stepped onto the freshly mowed lawn.  Grasped tightly in her hands were two small bouquets of fake flowers that they had just purchased.  The Cemetery Association had a firm rule about not leaving real flowers, except those from the funeral. 

Destiny looked up.  It had been exactly three days since the funeral, and the flowers were still there.  Many of the arrangements had fallen over or fallen apart.  Beautifully hand-designed displays now lay in disarray on both graves.

Andy walked around her and stopped at Rhett’s grave.  He stood the sprays up that had fallen and then collected the wilted and fading roses scattered on the ground.  Destiny joined him, kneeling between the graves, picking up the single flowers that were now refuse.  When she found several flowers that had not yet ruined, she gathered them into a small bouquet which she set aside.  Then she placed the fake flowers at the head of each grave in small vases she had brought.  The headstones ordered, including brass vases for the base of each stone, wouldn’t arrive for at least a month.

Destiny kneeled between the graves and looked down at her hands.  As she closed her eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks.  Andy stood behind her, his hand on her shoulder.  Her hand moved to his, holding it for many moments.  Destiny took a deep breath and stood.  She picked up the small bouquet of flowers that she had gathered before turning to her brother.  “I’m ready,” is all she said, before walking back to the car and getting inside. 

They rode in silence the thirty-minute drive home.  When they arrived at her house, Destiny put the bouquet into a small vase which she usually kept under the sink.  Then she fluffed and trimmed the flowers until they made a beautiful arrangement, adding water before placing it on her kitchen counter, centered perfectly between her coffee maker and her KitchenAid mixer.  Satisfied with her work, she turned to her brother and told him she was going to soak in the bath.

Andy offered to rent a movie and pop popcorn, but Destiny insisted on a rain check.

Destiny took a tranquilizer and soaked in a bubble bath until she was pink and pruned, then toweled and changed into her pajamas again before cleansing her face.  She wiped the mirror with her hand, then picked up her towel and moved it across the glass in sweeping circular motions, rapid at first, then more slowly as she looked into it, her image disfigured.  The more she stared, the faster her heart beat.  Her breathing became labored.  Destiny rubbed the glass harder, but the distortion became no clearer.  The towel dropped to her side as she stared at the fogged reflection.  Though she wanted to close her eyes and look away, the stranger before her held her gaze.  The mist ran down the glass like rain, making it harder to see.  Her breathing quickened.

“Daddy,” Rhett asked.  “Why can’t I have a puppy?  Penny Piper has a puppy.”

“Penny Piper has a puppy,” Phillip repeated with a smile.  “Say that fast five times,” he laughed.

“Penny Piper has a puppy; Penny puppy has a puppy, Penny Piper’s puppy has puppies,” Rhett stumbled.  “I can’t do it,” he whined.  Then he tried again more slowly.  “Penny Piper has a puppy.”

“Try Penny Piper has a pink and purple polka-dotted puppy,” his father teased.

“Honey,” Destiny prodded.  “Don’t confuse him.”

“I’m not trying to confuse him,” Phillip reasoned.  “It helps with his diction.”

Destiny rolled her eyes as her son continued to try and do the tongue twister from the back seat.  “Sure you are.”

“If I wanted to be mean I’d teach him, ‘I slit a sheet, a sheet I slit, and on a slitted sheet, I sit.’”

“You’re so bad.”  Destiny slapped his arm, then glanced out the passenger window.  “I wish you’d slow down, Honey.  It’s really coming down out there, and the roads are slick.”

“Yes, Dear,” he replied as monotone as he could muster.

Destiny rolled her eyes again.  Just then Rhett leaned over her seat.

“Here, Mommy, I made this for you.”  Rhett proudly handed her a picture he’d created on the drawing pad they kept in the car for road trips.

Destiny turned suddenly.  “Rhett Curtis Hering!” she exclaimed.  “Buckle yourself up right now, young man.  You know you aren’t supposed to get out of your seatbelt.  It’s dangerous.”

Phillip turned around to scold his son.  “Rhett!  Now! You never—” he began.

Destiny turned to look out the windshield just as the car beside them moved over in front of them and immediately stepped on the brakes. “Phillip!” she screamed.

Phillip turned back around, but his reaction time wasn’t quick enough to avoid the collision.  Instinctively, he slammed on the brakes.  The car immediately began to skid.
 
Destiny grabbed the dash to keep from hitting it.  The impact was quick; the airbags inflated into their chests upon contact.  She remembered how painful it was.  She remembered seeing something fly past her on the left as the car stopped only momentarily as they hit the Suburban in front of them.  Their car swerved and spun.

Destiny closed her eyes, gasping for breath as she saw and felt it all unfold again in front of her.  Then she heard the ominous sound of metal on metal, scraping, and crushing.  Her airbag expanded, almost in slow motion, though it only took a fraction of a second.  Destiny covered her ears as she heard the airbag explode again—as she heard Rhett scream and her husband moan.

Suddenly, Phillip’s side of the car was hit by another vehicle that didn’t expect them to be in their lane.  Water ran down her face like tears as the rain poured through the shattered windshield.  She tried to open her eyes but couldn’t.  She wanted to cry out for Phillip and Rhett, but she couldn’t.  Destiny began to shiver as she attempted to free herself.  The door was locked.  Why couldn’t she make the door handle work?  Their vehicle seemed misshapen or was it the confusion in her head from hitting the side window?

Destiny tugged on the door, disoriented and in pain.  It wasn’t moving.  She tried to disconnect her seatbelt, but her fingers didn’t want to work.  She tried pushing the door with her shoulder, but the action was more painful than she could endure.  Destiny twisted under the belt trying to free herself.  She could move her arms just enough to bang on the glass. Her hands beat harder and harder against the glass as she screamed for help.  “Rhett?  Phillip?” she called out, to no answer.  Destiny closed her eyes as she beat on the window, flat-handed.  “Please,” she cried, “please help me!” 

She hit the glass harder, again and again.  When she was just about out of energy, she hit the glass as hard as she could, and it finally broke.

The Tuesday following the funerals, Lisa finally went back to work.  The Salon,
her
salon complete with twelve designer stations, and a full day spa sat in the heart of “hippie town” in Austin.  The spa not only catered to the weird but the swanky and the wannabes.  After assuring everything was running smoothly, she left early to pick up gourmet pizza from her favorite pizza place in Westlake for dinner and then headed for Destiny’s home, nestled close-by in the foothills of Austin. 

Destiny’s demeanor changed so drastically after the funeral that Lisa had become concerned.  Her friend went from grieving widow to removing everything of Phillip’s from their bedroom and avoiding going into Rhett’s room.  They had prepared themselves for her to grieve for months, but not prepared for this. 

Andy greeted Lisa with a hug and took the pizza box from her hand.  “She’s soaking in the bath.”  He kicked the door closed behind him.

“How did she do today?”

“Not bad.  We changed over accounts at the bank and went to the Social Security office, then to the cemetery.” 

“And?”

“And she did okay.”

Lisa shook her head and sighed.  “I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation.”  Her hand blindly reached into the cabinet and took out the first three cups she found.  “It still doesn’t feel real.”  Then she walked to the refrigerator, reached in and took out a Zinfandel wine that Phillip had been saving for their next dinner party.  “I need a drink!” she exclaimed.  Andy took it from her and poured them each a glass.

“To Phillip.”  Andy handed Lisa hers and tapped her glass.  “A helluva man.”

“A helluva man,” she agreed, taking a sip.  She leaned her glass against her lips, pensive.

“You know she still hasn’t even gone into Rhett’s room.”

Lisa shook her head.  “I think that’s the moment that will break her.  I just hope one of us is here when she is finally ready to go in.”

Andy nodded his head, then downed the rest of his glass.  He moved to the pizza box and lifted the lid.  “Mmm.” After reaching in, picking up a piece and taking a bite, he began making yummy sounds as he chewed.  “This so hits the spot!”

“Made it myself,” she teased.

“You should give up hairdressing.”  Andy took another bite.

She laughed.  “Yeah, except I’d eat up all the profits.”

“I’d help,” he mumbled, his mouth full of pizza.

Suddenly they heard the sound of glass breaking.  They both turned toward the hallway, then back toward each other.  Andy dropped the pizza into the box, wiping his hand on his jeans as they raced down the hall. 

“Destiny?” Andy called, as he approached the bedroom door.

“Dee?” Lisa shouted.  “You okay?”  She turned the doorknob, but the door was locked.

“Destiny?” Andy said, louder.  “Unlock the door!”

“Dee?  Honey, can you hear us?  Honey.  Open the door!”

Andy wrestled with the doorknob in frustration.  Lisa continued to bang harder on the thick wooden door and yelled again for her friend to answer.  Andy stepped back and rammed it with his shoulder.

“Ow!” he exclaimed, grabbing his arm.  He stepped back, hesitated and began kicking the door repeatedly until he broke it open.

They both rushed in, calling her name.  The bed was empty, so they ran to the bathroom door.

“Destiny?  Can you hear us, Honey?”  When she didn’t answer, Lisa turned to Andy.  He nodded and Lisa turned the knob.  It was unlocked.  She pushed it open, but it wouldn’t open all the way.  There was glass and blood on the floor.  “Oh, my God!” Lisa exclaimed.  “Call 911!” she screamed.  Andy pushed the door as hard as he could to move Destiny’s body aside.

“Oh, God!”   Andy hurriedly took the phone from his pocket as he helped Lisa push his sister with the door so that they could get in.  Blood and glass were everywhere.

“Dee!  No, Dee!” Lisa felt her friend’s carotid artery for a pulse. Then she grabbed the towels on the floor, carefully placing one under Destiny’s head.  Her hands searched Destiny’s arms and wrists to see where the cuts were.  Lisa began to cry.

“We need an ambulance at 605 Oak Knoll Drive.  My sister—” Andy began, then started choking on sobs.  “She’s hurt,” he added, trying to speak clearly through the emotion.  “My sister, Destiny,” he answered.  She’s bleeding.  She’s cut.” 

Lisa turned to him.  “There’s so much blood!”

“Thank you.  Please hurry.”  The phone slipped from his hands and fell to the floor while the dispatcher was still talking to him.  As he lifted Destiny into his arms, Lisa wrapped towels around her wrists.  When he picked up his phone, his hands were covered with Destiny’s blood.  “Yes, I’m here,” he sobbed.  “Please hurry,” Andy cried, holding his only sister’s head to his chest.

Destiny woke, feeling nauseous.  It took many moments for her eyes to focus clearly on anything.  Nothing was familiar.  She sat up slowly and looked around, disoriented.  Andy was asleep in the chair beside the bed; Lisa rested on the long sofa against the wall. Destiny glanced down at her forearms, bandaged from her hands to her elbows.  Plus, there was a blood pressure cuff on her left arm and an IV in the crook of her right elbow.  As she brushed back her hair, she tried to remember what had happened and why she was in a hospital again. 

The blood pressure cuff slowly began to inflate, becoming tighter on her arm.  It felt like it would never stop, becoming annoyingly painful.  She ripped it off before it could complete its process.  The alarm on the machine began to beep, causing Andy to stir.  Destiny tossed it away from the bed, rubbing her arm.  When she looked up, Andy was sitting.

“I gotta pee,” she murmured.

“Just go.”  Andy stepped to her bedside.  “You have a catheter.”

Destiny sat up and hung her legs over the edge of the bed.  Suddenly lightheaded, she took a deep breath, then scooted to the edge of the bed.

Andy reached over with his arm to prevent her from standing.  “You have a catheter, Destiny,” he repeated. 

Destiny sighed, finally comprehending what he was saying, then nodded. 

She reached for a cup on her bedside stand.  Andy reached over ahead of her and handed it to her.

“I can do it myself,” she snapped.

Destiny took a sip of water and lay back, trying to adjust the bed by raising where her head was.  When he saw her fumbling with the controls, Andy reached over to help her. 

“Thank you,” she said more calmly.  “How long have I been here?”

“Three days,” he replied, looking down and shuffling his feet, arms crossed.

Destiny looked at her forearms again, then ran her fingers gingerly along the bandages, carefully feeling them.  There was no pain at the moment, just throbbing.  Her heart started to race as she contemplated the seriousness of her injuries, of why she was there.  Her eyes were searching his, afraid to ask.  Afraid to know.  When Destiny opened her mouth to speak, she somehow couldn’t find the words, her eyes never leaving his. 

The nurse came in to check on her and replace her blood pressure cuff.  Lisa sat up when the nurse turned on the overhead light, stretched and then joined Andy at Destiny’s bedside. 

“Welcome back.”  The nurse smiled sweetly, as she checked Destiny’s IV and glanced at her vitals.  “I’ll let the doctor know you’re awake.”

Destiny could feel their eyes on her, making her feel even more uncomfortable.  She pressed the buttons to lower the head of the bed just a little, and she settled uncomfortably.  After pulling the covers up to her chest, she turned to face them both.  There was an awkward silence as she contemplated what to say.

“So, what do I have to do to get room service around here?” she finally asked.

A small grin grew on Andy’s face.  “As a matter of fact, I was just about to call down an order before you woke up.”

Lisa turned to Andy, mustering a small smile.  “I’ll fly if you buy.”

“Red Robin,” Destiny smiled sweetly.  “I’d kill for some of those onion strings right now.”

Lisa looked at her watch.  “You got it.”  Then she picked up her large purse, carefully pulling it over her head and adjusting it on her shoulder.  She fluffed her long colorful locks until they fell delicately around her face.

“Burger all the way,” Andy requested.  “Cooked medium.  Onion strings.”

“Double that order.”

Lisa winked.  “Same for me.  Call it in.  I’ll be back in an hour.” Gingerly, she walked out the door, leaving them alone.  Andy looked up the number on his cell phone, placed the order and dropped back into the chair beside Destiny’s bed.

Destiny looked up at the television as if interested in whatever should be playing on the dark screen.  Andy watched her, knowing what he wanted to say, but not quite how to say it.  He scooted the chair closer to the bed, leaned over and put his hand on the bed beside hers.  Destiny’s fingers crossed the short distance to his and enveloped his hand in hers.  Her chin began to quiver as she turned to him. 

Andy dropped his head onto her hand.  When he looked back up at her, tears welled in his eyes.  “I can’t lose you, too.  I can’t.”

Destiny saw how hurt he was, how scared.  His head fell back to her hand, and he kissed it. Slowly her hand moved to his head, gently stroking his soft red hair. His tears continued to wet her hand.  Moments later he raised his head and looked at her, again.  “I know you are hurting, Destiny.  I can’t even comprehend how much you are hurting.  I don’t even dare to say I do.”  Andy leaned his forehead against hers.  “But you have to trust me.”  His eyes pleaded with her.  His heart pleaded.  “You have to know that I will do everything,
everything
in my power to see you through this.”  Her hand lightly brushed his cheek, and he held it there.  “Please, Destiny.  We can get through this.”

A tear slid down the side of her face.  She bit her lip and tilted her head.

“Promise me,” Andy sobbed.  “Promise me you’ll never, ever…” he stammered.  Overwrought with emotion, he was unable to continue.

Destiny dropped her head to his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.  “I promise,” she whispered.  “I promise.”