Page 69 of Working for the Mob

“Have you heard anything?” Genevieve asked Lucy, but she shook her head.

“Cissy came out an hour ago to let me know there were no changes. The doctors told her that there hasn’t been a change in his status. We gave her some lunch too. Now, we’re just …”

She trailed off. Bloodshot eyes with bags under them told me everything I needed to know. She was exhausted.

“Waiting,” Henry finished for her, and hugged Lucy closer to him.

Those were the most words we said for a few hours. We mostly sat in silence, staring at the damn corned beef sandwich.

Every time I caught Genevieve’s eye, she blushed and turned away. What did she think we were now? Did she think I was courting her? Did she expect dinners and flowers? Did she expect me to bring her meals and comfort her in public like Henry did with Lucy?

But I couldn’t offer what she wanted. No, today was a one-time thing. I am too dangerous for anyone to be around. I can’t have real relationships. Jamie proved that last night.

The sun fell in the sky and cast an orange glow in the lobby. People came and went. Some checked in, families visited their loved ones, and a couple patients even left on their own. No one bothered us in our corner of the lobby.

Lucy eventually fell asleep on Henry’s shoulder and snored so loud that Genevieve elbowed her in the gut. The sun set, and dinner time came and went.

“Should I go out and pick us up something to eat?” I asked, not daring to offer Genevieve to come with me.

“I’m not hungry,” Genevieve said, and Lucy woke up to our voices.

“What’s happening?” she asked, groggily. She sat up and her unfocused eyes searched from Henry to Genevieve.

“Would you like me to go pick up food?” I asked her, and she slumped back in her chair.

“Oh, no. I’m not hungry,” she said

“What time do you two want to go to bed? I could drive youbothhome,” I said, clear enough for Genevieve to understand I wasn’t asking for a quick romp under the sheets.

“I can drive them home,” Henry said, automatically.

“No, that’s alright. I want to stay here,” Lucy said, and put her hand on Henry’s knee.

“Me too,” Genevieve said, and I nodded.

The double doors to the sick ward opened, and Cissy walked through. Lucy stood immediately, but I put my hand on her shoulder; we didn’t want to overwhelm her. Cissy surveyed the room, spotted us, and ambled over.

I didn’t want to be the first to ask, so I studied her face for any indication of Jamie’s health. Her tear-stricken cheeks still kept their rosy hue, but her small smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She took Lucy’s hands in her own and said, “He woke up.”

Lucy shrieked and hugged Henry. Genevieve sat down in relief, and I gave Cissy the biggest hug I ever gave anyone.

“That’s fantastic,” Lucy said, once she calmed down. “Can we go in and see him?”

Cissy shook her head. “The ward is for family members only. The nurses have been annoyingly strict about that. But I wanted to come out and tell you guys. The doctors said we’re through the worst of it.”

“Can we get you anything?” I asked, and Cissy shook her head.

“I have my sister coming in with a change of clothes and his razor. We’ll be fine. You four should go home. I’ll let him know you were here,” Cissy said, and gave each of us one last hug. “You’ve got to make sure that café is still there when he’s on his feet again. He asked about it as soon as he woke up. I think returning there’s the only thing that pulled him through.”

Chapter 20 – Genevieve

“What is going to happen with the café now that Jamie is in the hospital?” Lucy asked, before Art sat down in his car on our way home from the hospital. The slight drizzle did little to elevate our moods.

Henry had left separately at Art’s request to run a couple of errands. The poor guy definitely looked downcast he wouldn’t be riding back to Lannington with Lucy.

Henry was definitely growing on me. I’m glad Lucy wasn’t at the hospital by herself while I let Art sleep this morning.

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