Page 32 of Saving Veronica
“Really? Only a penny? I’m worth at least a nickel.”
“Oh, baby girl, you earned yourself a raise, you’re worth at least a dime by now,” Gerald said. As soon as he heard the standard response from his granddaughter, he fell to his knees in relief. He didn’t care he was in the middle of his barn, and his neighbors and hired hands were watching him. They gathered around, but he held up his hand.
“So when did you wake up?” As soon as he said that, everyone around him stopped, and then grinned at each other.
“About an hour ago. Doctor said if I continue to improve, I can be released on Friday.”
“Excellent. Is Grandma there with you now?”
“She is.”
“Good. I’ll finish up here and make my way there. Do you need anything from home?”
“Yes. In the bottom drawer of my dresser, left-hand side are a pair of gray shorts, they’re made of stretch material. Could you bring those? And maybe one of your tee-shirts to fit over my chest cast?”
“Absolutely. Any particular color?”
“Blue. My cast is pink. Eww.”
Gerald threw his head back and laughed, and didn’t care his face was wet with tears. “I can do that. I’ll see you in four hours.” He paused and before he hung up, he said, “I never said this enough, but I love you, Ronnie.”
“Love you too, Grandpa.” They ended their call. Gerald looked around and grinned at the people around him.
“My baby girl is awake.”
Everyone congratulated him, and it was Hector that squatted down, and asked, “Was there something Ronnie wanted you to bring her?”
“Oh, yes, something about a pair of gray sweat pants or shorts in her dresser. And she’d like one of my blue tee-shirts to go over her cast.” They all nodded, because they had been told the extent of her injuries, and how she had been patched up. Gerald jumped to his feet and hurried out to his truck, then drove over to Ronnie’s, quickly finding what she asked for. Back at his house, he looked at his house guest, and grinned. “Ronnie’s coming home!” He wasn’t worried that he didn’t get a response, he figured in a couple of months his house guest wouldn’t shut up, so he’d take the silence for now.
Chapter 11
Finn swore under his breath as he tried to get through a doorway with his crutches. “Shit,” he said, as he stumbled, and when he heard a giggle he looked up and tried to glare, but he couldn’t do that to his father’s personal secretary.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, trying to get used to these is a pain.” He finally made it in and grinned. “Dad available, Sarah?”
“He’s free for the next hour.”
“Thanks, I know you work for him, but could you hold his calls?”
“Certainly. Go on in, Finn.”
“Thanks, Sarah.” He started forward, and sighed in relief when she opened the door for him. He saw his father look up, and smile as he tossed his pen down to lean back, to watch his son.
“Looks like you’re getting better with the crutches, Son.”
“Thanks,” Finn said, as he fell in a chair across from his father’s desk and sighed in relief. They waited until Sarah closed the door. “Got a minute?”
“I believe so. What’s up?”
“Lots of things. I’d like to throw some things by you, if I could.”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I’ve been here in the office for eight days. You know I’m trying to put together that fundraiser for Grady Appleton.”
“Yes, do you need help? You know you can ask anyone to help you.”
