Killer Cupid (The Redemption Series: Book 1) (24 page)

“David, the Aldridges invited all of us to their home this Sunday. You’ll be able to see Debbie then. I’m sure you can make arrangements to see her on a regular basis. She’s just not ready to be married. She needs time to grow up a bit.”

“She can grow up with me.”

“David. Please.”

“No, Papa. It’s her father that’s keeping her sick and unhappy enough to want to starve herself to death. You see how she cowers when he’s around. And Marion certainly won’t stand up for her. All she’s worried about is what’s proper. They can’t see any of it. They can’t even see what they’re doing to her.”

“And you’re going to rescue her?”

“I guess so.”

“David. Is that any way to begin a marriage? It’s enough of a challenge between two adults who love each other. Don’t cause yourself heartache.”

“The only heartache I have, Papa, is to be without her.”

“Look, for now, just spend time with her, dating. Don’t worry about marrying her.”

Overcome with nausea, David sunk into a chair and held his head in his hands.

Glori

I sat by the pool with a magazine and my phone while Cindy and Raphael splashed around. Dottie ran out to us looking pretty flustered. “Cindy! Glori!”

“Are you okay, Mom?” Cindy sat on the step, wiping her face with the towel Raphael gave her.

“I just got a call from Bud. The Aldridges got back home today, and they weren’t there an hour when Debbie had some kind of heart attack. Arrhythmias or something like that, he said. I’m on my way to the hospital. Your father is there with them.”

Cindy clasped her hands to her chest in panic. “Is she going to be okay, Mom?” Cin could barely speak.

“I don’t know, honey. I don’t think they know yet. When Bud called, he said they were still working on her.”

Raphael pulled Cindy to him, to comfort her. We all got dressed and then drove to the hospital in a procession of cars and bodyguards. Debating with himself throughout the trip, Raphael finally decided he’d call Eduardo when they spoke to Debbie’s doctor. He worried what David would do when he heard the news.

***

Dr. Gallagher came to the waiting room, not long after we arrived.  George stopped his pacing to glare at him, and Marion wrung her hands. “Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge, Debbie’s condition seems to be stable at this point. Her cardiologist is still with her. He thinks she can pull through this, one more time. He’ll be out to talk to you in a little bit. I’m not sure when you’ll be able to see Debbie. She’s going to be asleep for a while, I expect.”

George began to cry. Startled by his response, Dr. Gallagher excused himself. He probably had enough of old George’s tirades the last time Debbie was here. But George must’ve realized everyone was shocked to see tears, so he left the room next. Bud and Dottie offered Marion what reassurance they could.

Cin and I went with Raphael to the lobby to make the phone call to Eduardo. Raphael explained the situation, and worried about David’s reaction. He winced into the phone.

“What’d he say?” Cin couldn’t wait.

Raphael smirked. “It really boils down to who you want dead. If he tells David about this, he’ll kill George Aldridge. If he doesn’t tell him about this, he’ll kill Eduardo.” Raphael laughed out loud. “So now you know why I called you first, Eduardo.”

Raphael was serious again. “So what do we do?”

“You’ve got to tell him.” Cin whispered at him, and I nodded.

“Yeah, I know he’s gonna flip out.” Raphael nodded, trying to conduct a four-way conversation. “Yeah, right. George and Marion will realize the error of their ways and beg David to marry their daughter immediately. Eduardo!” Raphael raised his voice, “Let’s be realistic.”

Eduardo

He spoke with General Pearson and Dr. Earle. Both men agreed Eduardo could drive David to Beverly Hills for a brief visit with Debbie. Grateful for their cooperation, he reluctantly went to find him to deliver the news.

He found David in his room with Cisco and Cat. Momentarily perplexed, he noticed Cat was holding David’s hand to comfort him. Then he knew Cat had prepared the way for him.

“David, I need to talk to you.”

“It’s Debbie, isn’t it?” David’s voice was remarkably calm.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess she’s having problems with her heart again.”

David swallowed hard and coughed into his sleeve. His voice was barely a whisper. “Will you take me to her?”

“Sure.”

***

Raphael stood in the hall with his arms around Cindy. “Her condition is better. The doctors think she’s doing pretty well now.”

“That’s great.” Eduardo drew a sigh of relief. Wordlessly, David walked into the Mildred Walcott suite, and the others followed.

He walked passed George and Marion to Debbie’s bedside and took her hand.  Her eyelids fluttered and her eyes half opened. “David.” She smiled at him.

David spoke to her softly. “Sweetheart, I’ll be right here with you. You mustn’t worry. I shan’t leave you again.” He straightened the loose ring on her finger.

***

Raphael yawned. “Eduardo, it’s almost nine o’clock. We need to get going. I’ve got an appointment first thing in the morning.” He helped Cindy and Glori from their seats.

“Yeah, sure.” Eduardo rubbed his eyes. “Have fun in San Diego. And don’t worry about things here. It’s gonna be okay.”

“Well if you need me, just call.” They walked to the elevators and said their good-byes.

Eduardo wandered back to Debbie’s room. Peering in the door, he found the Aldridge’s had left. David sat silently watching Debbie sleep. He noticed Eduardo at the door, and motioned him in.

“You don’t need to stay here, Eduardo,” David whispered.

“Yeah, well you’re not supposed to be staying here either. I promised Earle and Pearson I’d get you back by now. Where are the Aldridges anyway?” He kept his voice hushed.

“They went to get something to eat. They’ll be back shortly. I’m staying here, but you should leave. Go get some rest. Did Raphael leave?”

“Yeah. They just left. The others left hours ago. Ya know Pearson’s gonna be bullshit if I come back without you.”

“It won’t be the first time.”

“I guess. So are you gonna let George live?” Eduardo smiled.

“Maybe.” David grinned back at him.

***

General Pearson and Dr. Earle were not pleased, and not surprised, Eduardo returned alone. His family was relieved that Debbie was recovering, and David had controlled his temper. They planned to visit the hospital to see her the next morning, and hopefully reason with David.

Eduardo had other plans for Saturday. He easily convinced Nita to go to the ocean. It had been way too long since they’d been sailing. He deliberately drove past the marina where David’s boat was docked, and located the General’s personal boat that he had so generously offered for the big day.

“Ahh, this is the life.” He looked up at the cloudless sky and kissed Nita. “Ya wanna do it in a sailboat?” he whispered into her ear.

Laughing, she stretched her body cat-like against his. Finding this irresistible and encouraging, he skillfully unbuttoned her shirt.

“Eduardo, why do I have the feeling we’ll have the Coast Guard and the Navy here watching us?”

“Ooo kinky,” he breathed into her ear.

They whiled away the day on the sailboat, talking, making love, enjoying each other’s company, and the deep blue ocean rising up to meet a flawless sky. He felt truly relaxed for the first time in a long time. Eduardo decided the moment had come.

He took a small box from his backpack. Nita watched him with a curious look. She smiled as he put his arm around her pulling her close.

“Nita, I’m not the greatest when it comes to poetry, but I want you to know how important you are to me. How much I love you. I’ve always loved you, for as long as I can remember. We’ve been apart way too long. I don’t want to be apart again. I want us to spend our lives together. Marry me.” He kissed her and opened the case to reveal the diamond ring.

Tears came to her eyes. “Yes, Eduardo, yes, I’ll marry you.” He put the ring on her finger, and she said she loved it. They admired how it sparkled in the sunlight. And he noticed the tiny rainbow appeared.

Glori

Cin and I went to the hospital with her parents and the Aldridges early Saturday morning. David was beside Debbie, dozing, his head on his arm, propped on the side of the bed. Debbie was sound asleep.

George and Marion left the room to meet Dr. Gallagher in the hallway, and I stepped to the door to listen in to what the doctor had to say. Eavesdropping was always one of my specialties. Cin thought maybe General Pearson would have a position for me.

Dr. Gallagher said, “Debbie’s doing much better now. Fortunately, she’d been gaining some weight and some strength since she left here the last time. Dr. Larson feels it was, perhaps, some sudden shock that threw her heart into an arrhythmia. We’ll examine her again, but I expect we could discharge her later today or tomorrow morning. She will just need rest, and some good nutrition.”

George’s voice was strained. “I’m afraid I’m to blame for this episode, Dr. Gallagher. I forced Debbie to leave that military base, well, suddenly, yesterday. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t know what is best for her at this point.” Marion put her hand on his arm.

Dr. Gallagher sounded curious. “I didn’t know Mr. Henning was in the military. Debbie did see more of him when she left here in January?”

“Yes, yes.” George looked startled, like he gave away some state secret. But it did feel like forever since we’d called him “Henning.”

“Yes,” he blustered. “Debbie has fallen in love with him, I’m afraid, and I don’t think she needs a boyfriend or a husband at this point. But what do I know?” He rubbed his chin, and fell into his own thoughts.

Marion piped up. “Dr. Gallagher, we do want to do what is best for Debbie. Do you think it would help her heart to marry this young man?”

Gallagher’s mouth dropped open. “Well, Marion, I don’t really know. I would think it could help. I mean she’s been gaining weight, doing better since she left here. And if that’s been because of him, well…”

“There’s a big problem here, I think, Doctor. He’ll probably be leaving the country. I don’t know if she could take that. I mean she would be in a strange place, with a foreign language. What should we do?” Marion looked up at him imploringly.

“Why don’t you ask Debbie that, Marion?” Duh.

“Debbie?” Marion and George spoke at once. George was ready to yell again. “Gallagher, how is Debbie going to know what is best? She is a child! I don’t know how many times I’ve told you. She doesn’t even know enough to eat! How is she going to know?  She has stars in her eyes. She’s in love. Or she thinks she is. What I worry about is six months from now and she’s off in some foreign country somewhere homesick, not eating, then what?”

“Mr. Aldridge, I really can’t tell you. But something must be able to be worked out. Would you be able to visit her? Or perhaps her friends could visit her, too. And if her maid, Sally, went with her, well she may be just fine. I know Sally’s been with her forever. She’d be a comfort to her. In any case, Mr. Aldridge, Debbie’s anorexia is a chronic disease. Debbie will need to combat this for the rest of her life. It won’t matter where she is
—
the most important thing is the love and support she gets.”

As they stood thinking, I noticed Frederick and Maria Lambrecht getting out of the elevator, Frederick’s arm around his wife’s waist. David’s parents – they knew what a good marriage was. From everything I could tell, they had a great relationship. Especially for all the stress they were under. Marion waved to them to get their attention.

George called out to them. “Frederick, Maria! Thank you for coming.” He shook their hands vigorously, and I was surprised that he was so glad to see them. Marion actually hugged Maria.

“How is Debbie?” Frederick asked.

“Much better today, thank you.” George took Dr. Gallagher by the arm to introduce him to the Lambrechts.

“Nice to meet you.” Gallagher shook their hands, not knowing who these people really were.

Realizing the name confusion, George explained, “These are, uh, Mr. Henning’s parents.”

“Oh, oh I see.” Dr. Gallagher nodded, smiled, and excused himself.

“The last we checked, David was asleep in the chair in Debbie’s room, dear,” Marion said to Maria.

Maria smiled at her. “I’m relieved he didn’t make trouble here, for you and George. I hope he behaved as a gentleman. I know he was so very upset yesterday.”

“Yes, he was very angry at us, dear. He barely said a word to us. I suppose I understand. We probably did the wrong thing by taking Debbie home yesterday. Well I guess she loves him so much, well her heart almost gave out from the shock of being taken from him.” Marion was becoming emotional. Maria put her arm around her shoulder and guided her to a chair.