Tuesday Tales - Finger

Tuesday Tales - Finger

Billy slid the card back into the envelope. Within seconds, he stood at her side. Alexandra opened and closed her eyes. She seemed to be having a hard time keeping them open. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he waited until her eyes opened wide and her lips curled at the side.

“How are you feeling?” Billy asked, resting his hand over hers.

“I’m sure better than you look.” Alexandra stiffened her legs and let out a sigh. “I want to go home.”

“I know you do. We just have to wait for the doctor to come in. I think he wants to keep you for another day or two,” Billy said, pushing the one strand of hair off her face.

“Are you all right?” Alexandra asked, squeezing his hand.

“Yes. But believe me, I would trade places with you any day. I hate to see you like this. You should have never gotten shot.”

“I was protecting you,” she said, a smile appearing on her lips.

Billy’s eyes bulged wide open, and he lifted both his hands and covered his face. Now all the pieces started to come into place. Just by the way Alexandra spoke, Billy knew that she took the bullet for him. He should have realized it when she got hit standing directly in front of him.

“I am so sorry,” Billy said, tears escaping from his eyes. “I’m supposed to protect you.”

“You are, by getting me out of here.”

“Looks like someone is feeling better,” the doctor said, standing in the doorway.

“I want to go home.”

The doctor walked over to the bed and opened her chart. “It seems that everyday is fine,” he concluded, shutting her chart, “but I’d like to keep her here for a few more days.”

“Why?” Billy challenged him. “There’s no reason why she can’t come home with me day, or tomorrow.”

The doctor placed the chart on the hook at the bottom of her bed. “I feel it’s best that Alexandra’s monitored for another couple of days.”

Billy pointed his finger at him. “I suggest that you let them know at the nurses station I am not leaving her side until she is discharged.”

“Unfortunately, that’s against hospital regulations.”

Billy bit his bottom lip. No sense in causing a scene. That would cause more attention to him. Maybe he couldn’t stay in her room, but he wasn’t leaving the hospital, not until he found out where the flowers came from.

Instead he asked, “When can she come home?”

“I’ll run a few tests tomorrow morning and if everything comes out fine, than I will send her home sometime tomorrow.” The doctor walked to the doorway and turned around as if to say something, but changed his mind and walked away.

When Billy was sure no one could hear him, he spoke to Alexandra. “You have to be very careful. I’m not going anywhere. I will be right down the hall if you need me. I am not going home until I bringing you with me.”

“What’s wrong?”

Billy thought for a second. There was no need for her to know about the flowers, especially the card. He had to keep her safe, and didn’t need to have her worrying.

When the announcement came that visiting hours were over, he leaned over her and kissed her forehead. “You have nothing to worry about. I’m sorry if I gave you that impression.”

Alexandra reached out and touched Billy’s face. “I love you. Please be careful until the police find the person who shot me.”

“Love you too.” This time, he kissed her lips as she held his face between her warm hands. “I’m going to leave your cell phone under your pillow. If you need me, press the side button. It’s a walkie-talkie. Okay?” he whispered, sliding the phone under her pillow.

“I’ll be fine. “ Touching his face, “go get something to eat. You look pale. I need you to keep up your strength if you’re going to help me finish getting the café together.”

“You don’t stop. That’s what I love about you. I think I’ll take you up on that. I’m going to go get myself a bit to eat and a cup of coffee. Do you want anything?”

“I’d love if you got me an Almond Joy.”

“You got it. I’ll be back in a few.”

When he left the room, he glanced over his shoulder at the nurse station. That’s when he caught a shadow coming from the room behind the desk. He couldn’t make out who stood there, and wondered if it was a good idea going downstairs to the store.

Billy looked at his watch and knew he had no more than fifteen minutes before the store in the lobby closed. He’d only be gone for a few minutes, and besides he needed the caffeine to keep him up.


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After the untimely death of her husband in the line of duty, Nikki Petrino still grieving three years later, goes on retreat to Mexico to finish her novel, where she meets musician Drake Dente a 90’s rock icon working on lyrics for his comeback CD.

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