Page 80 of Lorna's Savior
“Ronnie.”
“Oh.” He didn’t say anything more. When it came time to eat, he only picked at his food until his youngest sister, Liv cocked her brow at him.
“If you don’t eat to keep up your strength, how are you going to be able to take care of Lorna when she gets out of the hospital.”
“You’re right.” Andy picked up his fork and began to eat.
“Darn right I am.” She grinned when everyone laughed. They stayed up until well after midnight, and all went to bed.
*****
The next morning, Andy stumbled out of Lorna’s bedroom, and found his mother at the counter with several bottles of lotion sitting on the surface. “What are you doing?”
“Is this what Lorna uses?”
“Yes, why?”
“Because, I think she’s going to have minimal scarring, like the doctor said. Not to toot my own horn, or anything, but this is the good stuff. Not that I make bad stuff, but it works.”
Andy only rolled his eyes, and shook his head as he grabbed the coffee pot. “Whatever.”
Sunshine laughed. “Mark my words, it’ll work. I’ll make a believer of you yet.”
Andy chuckled. “Tell you what, Mom, if that shit works, and Lorna isn’t scarred for life, I’lllookinto opening a store here in Montana.” At her expression of joy, he held up his hand. “I said I’d lookintoit, not that I’ddoit.”
“Okay.” She laughed and did a happy dance. “You’ll see. Mark my words. It’ll work.”
* * *
For the next two weeks, Andy spent all his days at the hospital. He even set up a small office, using the rolling tray in Lorna’s room. His parents and siblings rotated as to who would sit with them. Andy was able to close several cases as well as be there for Lorna. He constantly talked to her. Three days after her last surgery, Andy had just stood to stretch when he looked over at the bed, and sucked in his breath when he saw Lorna’s eyes were open.
“Lorna,” he breathed as he rushed to her side. He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips to kiss her palm. “Don’t talk, let me go get the doctor.” He hurried out and came back with both a nurse and a doctor. After taking her vitals, they waited until she’d taken several ice chips. With Andy at her head, they all looked at her, but she kept looking at him, so he moved so he could see her.
“How long have I been out?”
“First, do you remember what happened?” Andy asked.
“I remember everything up to the point of that man cutting me.” She lifted her arms and saw the bandages. “I passed out from the pain. When I thought I couldn’t take the pain any longer, Patch was there, then you were.”
“Good, we can fill in the details later, but let me catch you up on what’s been happening since you’ve been here. It’s been three weeks since you were taken. Rio Santos had you for close to eighteen hours. While he had you, he also abducted three other women.” Andy studied the woman he loved, and took both her hands in his. “While Santos had you, he hurt you.”
“He cut me.”
“Yes,” Andy said, and held her hands when she tried to touch her face. “You’ve had six surgeries, and were sedated until three days ago. So far, you’re healing nicely and continue to heal. How do you feel?”
“I feel pretty good, a little stiff and sore, but not like I was when you found me. Are the surgeries done?”
“They are,” the doctor said. “If you continue to heal, you should be out of here within the week.”
“Thank you.” Lorna said, and watched as they left. She studied Andy and reached up, took his cheek in his hand, and wiped his tears. “I’m fine. I hurt, but it’s not as bad as I thought.”
Andy smiled and chuckled. “You’re been given some heavy drugs to help with the pain. I don’t have to tell you that Marvin flew in the best plastic surgeon in the country to stitch you up. That’s why so many surgeries. He wanted to do them in some sequential order. The drugs may still be in your system, maybe not, but I’m glad you feel good.” He sat there and studied her face. Shaking his head, he looked deep into her eyes and said, “I don’t know how to tell you how sorry I am about everything. But I never, never used you in my investigation of your mother. I got all my information from Annie, and took it from there.”
“Mother’s housekeeper?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, shit,” Lorna cried out as she tried to sit up quickly, but Andy shook his head, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. “What about Mother? I heard her, she hired Rio to kidnap me.”
