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No, just a friend. Of her sister.
If you re not family, I can t tell you any more.
Sorry. The clerk dropped her voice. I think she
went to the cafeteria after I gave the boy with her
an old shirt to wear. If you want, you can probably
find them there, she pointed down a hallway. If
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not, you ll just have to wait here. There s nothing
else I can tell you.
I guess it s good that Annie s not in the OR?
Jackson commented, trying to worm more
information out of her.
Irritated now, the desk clerk snapped, I ve
already told you more than I should have. Go sit
down.
Instead, Jackson took off for the cafeteria,
finding Ricky and Lena sitting at a small, scarred
table. Two empty Styrofoam cups and shredded
napkins littered the tabletop.
Hey, Ricky greeted Jackson, who dropped his
many grease-stained bags of food on the table.
Ricky, your car s in the parking lot now. Here are
your keys. I brought something to eat, figuring
everyone might be hungry.
Lena wrinkled her nose and pushed the bags
away, but both Ricky and Jackson opened theirs.
Ricky beamed to find two cheeseburgers, promptly
wolfing them down. Jackson ate his burger and fries
less enthusiastically, his eyes on Lena. He nudged a
bag in her direction.
Eat something. I m sure you can use it.
Thanks, but I m not hungry.
You look pretty good in that sweatshirt, you
know, he said with a smile.
Lena shook her head at Jackson s outlandish
assertion. That s doubtful. In any case, you
probably look better in it than I do.
Not to me. Jackson pushed the unopened bag
of food closer. I figured you for a cheeseburger
fan, hold the fries. Am I right?
A genuine smile broke out on her face. Yep.
And thanks, she added as she removed her
sandwich from its wrappings. This does look good.
Bennie s burgers are better than the average fast
food.
Yeah, all the flavor and twice the grease, as the
saying goes.
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I ll tell you one thing, Lena commented after
three quick bites, This is the best food I ve tasted
all day. Even though SweetKakes desserts are the
best in New England.
Jackson didn t take the bait. How s Annie?
Lena s face drooped. Setting her food down, she
commented, Broken leg, has to stay overnight, no
permanent damage expected.
No permanent damage? That s great news.
Lena bowed her head for a moment, then
choked out, Excuse me. Both the men watched
her walk to a window, trying to hide the fact that
her index finger was quickly wiping tears from her
face.
Pretty broken up, isn t she? Ricky commented.
That s to be expected. Jackson studied the
woman s shoulders, which stubbornly refused to
bow under the weight of her troubles.
Mr. P, she talked earlier about having no car. I
don t suppose you d know where she could borrow
one? She wouldn t accept mine.
Jackson s sad smile said it all while he shook his
head. If she wouldn t take yours, you know she s
not going to take mine.
I don t think it s personal. I think she doesn t
want any charity, that s all, Ricky said.
In that case, she really doesn t want mine. I m
her main business competition, and you don t
accept charity from your competitors.
Ricky nodded, finally understanding as Lena
returned to the table and started eating her food
again as if nothing had happened. Jackson went to
buy bottles of water for everyone, then sat quietly
while the other two finished eating, sneaking looks
at Lena when he could. Though she had streaks of
cold soup in her matted hair, she was still the most
beautiful woman he d ever seen. Tess had been
beautiful on the surface, but this one had an inner
loveliness that surpassed even her considerable
outer beauty.
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She finished her food, swigged the water, and
then stood. I m going to see if they ve assigned
Annie a room yet. She waited a beat before asking,
Are you two coming?
Jackson pointed to his pile of sweats. Want
some dry clothing first? You, too, Ricky.
She opened her mouth to speak, but then shut
it. Nodding, she grabbed a T-shirt and sweatpants
from the pile. Thanks. I ll meet you back in the
waiting area of the ER. For the first time, both the
men noticed her limping as she walked away.
Jackson wondered to himself what might have
happened as Ricky said, She looks hurt.
Maybe it s just her shoes. Wet shoes with no
socks can cause a heck of a blister. Ricky, go
change, quickly now because I ve got an idea. I ll
meet you back in the waiting area. Don t let Lena go
without leaving word which room Annie s in. That
desk clerk won t tell me anything. I guess I didn t
make a positive impression.
___________________
Lena felt better to be full and wearing dry
clothes. Her shoes, though, were rubbing her feet
raw, and she must have turned her left ankle at
some point, because now it was swollen and sore.
Doing her best not to limp, she obtained Annie s
room number, inviting Ricky to come with her.
When he said he needed to wait for Jackson, she
shrugged and went on. Her sister s condition and
care were the only things that mattered to her right
now.
The warming blanket was gone, but Annie had
been given a mild sedative. She wore a goofy grin,
slightly slurring her words. Heyyy, sis, feelin
awriiight nowwww.
Dropping her damp clothes in a corner, Lena
fussed, tucking the blanket around Annie, then
tapped her cast lightly. Have they let you try
crutches yet?
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Nawwww. Said only for fewwww weeks,
thennnn I get walllkkinggg cast.
Lucky you, no roommate. The other bed s
empty. Want me to stay here with you tonight?
Annie looked beyond her sister, laughing.
Naaawww. Wannnt Riiickyyyy. Kiiissss me, you
fooolllll.
In Jackson s clothing, Ricky looked like a little
boy wearing his father s duds, but sweet concern for
Annie radiated from his face. Aw, Anna-banana,
how re you doing?
Kiiissss meeeee! Annie insisted. When he
complied, Annie grabbed his buttocks, making him
jump and blush. Jeez, not in front of your sister.
She giggled again. Sexxxyyyy thinnnggg.
Lena smiled at Ricky. It s all right. I was young
once.
You still are.
She whirled to face Jackson, who was holding
out a plastic bag from the hospital store. Go on, it s
for you.
Lena pushed it away, sniffing, Darned silly time
to bring me a gift. It s my sister who s in the
hospital bed.
It s not a gift, it s something you need, trust
me.
She snorted. Taking the bag, she held onto it for
a few minutes, talking with her sister before looking
inside. Warmed by what she saw, she commented
simply, Thank you. How did you know?
I ve done my share of walking around in wet
shoes. No fun, Jackson said as Lena sat down,
eager to remove her shoes and wear her new
bedroom slippers. Her heart sank as she noticed the
size, but she tried to fit her feet in them anyway.
What s wrong? Jackson said, Do they hurt?
No, it s just, well, you bought the wrong size.
My feet are, er, not a size 7 to 8 .
Herrrr feeeet arrreee huuuuggggeee! Annie
burbled.
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Let me take them back. What size do you
wear?
Lena s ducked her head. Never mind. I ll wear
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