Trouble Don’t Last Always (18 page)

“That sounds beautiful,” Lilly said.

Adam thought so, too, but he’d planned on having an active part in the planning of the garden. Even with Samuel’s helpful hints, he couldn’t judge distance. He wanted to “see” the placement. “It’ll wait for a few months.”

“Yes, sir.” The disappointment in the elderly man’s voice was evident.

“Thanks for coming up,” Adam told him.

“No bother. I was just trying to tame those red-tipped photenias on the east side of the yard,” the gardener said. “They’re over six feet and blooming. We had a mild winter and the yard did well.”

“Samuel, why don’t you write down what you plan and we’ll discuss it?” Adam offered, suddenly anxious to make amends for his earlier abruptness.

“Yes, sir. I’ll do that.”

“In the meantime, have you given any thought to taming the acres at the back of the house?” Adam asked, wanting to give the man something.

“I have. It’ll be kinda like little clearings of flowers so you never know what you’re gonna find, short mixed with tall plants and flowers. There’ll be paths wide enough for two people, so you could walk and enjoy them. No sense having flowers if you can’t enjoy them,” Samuel mused. “Be nice to bunch delphiniums, roses, daylilies, and variegated irises in long, curved borders. It’ll take muscles, time, and money, but it’ll be worth it.”

Thoughtfully Adam rubbed his chin. “An iris-lined pond in a quiet nook with a series of waterfalls would add serenity to the gardens.”

“Yes, sir, it would.” Samuel’s voice sounded eager already.

“Then get started right away. By this time next year I’ll be able to see what progress you’ve made.”

Samuel waited a second too long before he replied, “Yes, sir.” Lilly knew it the instant she saw the harshness in Adam’s face replace the speculation.

Outside the door, she and Samuel were quiet as they walked a few feet down the hall. “I’m sorry. I thought taking an interest in what was going on around the house would be good for him.”

“Not your fault. It was mine.” Samuel gripped his straw hat in his hands. “He kinda threw me off when he said he’d see the gardens. Mrs. Wakefield said the doctors weren’t sure.”

“He hasn’t given up hope.”

“A man’s gotta have hope, Miss Lilly.” Nodding, he went down the hallway.

Sighing, Lilly went to Dr. Wakefield’s room and knocked.

“What is it now, Lilly?”

She opened the door. He stood in the exact place they had left him, his chin thrust forward belligerently, his shoulders thrown back. He was freshly shaven, wearing a melon-colored Polo shirt and stonewashed jeans. He looked fit and handsome. “You could always come outside and walk the grounds.”

His lips tightened. “A waste of Samuel’s time and mine.”

“He doesn’t mind.”

“I do.”

The last days had been calm. She’d almost forgotten how temperamental Dr. Wakefield could be. But at least she now realized he would never harm her. She walked to him, close enough to see her reflection in his shades when he turned toward her. “You enjoying the new tapes?”

“Not especially.”

“Why?” she asked, trying to figure out where this particular mood had come from.

“The woman’s voice is irritating.”

Glancing around for the tape recorder, Lilly walked over and hit the PLAY button. In seconds she understood and hit STOP. “I bet Edgar Gunn wanted to commit murder,” she said, referring to the author.

Adam’s lips twitched.

Seeing it, she came to a quick decision. “I was planning on going into town this afternoon. Why don’t I pick up the book and read it to you?”

He shrugged. “You couldn’t do any worse.”

“Dr. Wakefield, you are too kind.”

What had seemed like a good idea to Lilly hours earlier no longer seemed that way.

“Are you going to read or stand there?” Adam asked sharply.

“In biblical times, didn’t royalty throw people who didn’t please them to the lions?” she asked, only half-teasing.

Adam’s mouth twitched. “The only lions around here are the stone ones by the pool.”

“I guess I’m safe then.” Picking up a footstool that had been pushed against the wall, she placed it near Adam’s feet, sat down in front of his chair, and opened the book. “Do you want me to start at the beginning?”

He frowned. “You’re on the floor?”

“Footstool. I’ll put it back,” she quickly told him. “Mother Crawford always liked me to sit close so she could catch the words faster.”

“Interesting way of phrasing.” Folding his arms, he leaned back in his chair. “All right, scare me.”

She did, using the inflections of her voice to show the different characters and the terror. She might have read longer, but she yawned.

“What time it is?” Adam asked.

“Twelve-thirty,” Lilly answered around another yawn.

“Go to bed,” Adam instructed. “We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Fighting another yawn, Lilly replaced the footstool. “Good night, Dr. Wakefield.”

“Will you be able to sleep?” he asked.

“If you hear footsteps thundering down the hall coming this way, it will be me,” she told him with a laugh.

“Maybe you should read
Silent Prey
after lunch?” he suggested.

“I don’t mind an hour after lunch, but mystery stories are best just before bed.” She opened the door.

“Leave it ajar if you want.”

The offer surprised and delighted her. “I think I will. No sense being like Julia in
Silent Prey
and fumbling with a doorknob while the killer is coming.”

“You’re scaring yourself.”

“It’s all right this time.”

“Why?”

“Because I have you to protect me,” she answered simply and left.

Adam sat in his chair, thinking of what Lilly had said and totally unaware of the pleased expression on his face.

Despite reading
Silent Prey,
Lilly had no difficulty sleeping that night or the next. She began to look forward to the times she and Adam had together after lunch and at night before bed. From his reaction, he enjoyed their times together as well. In a week, she had finished one book and started on
The Being.

Samuel interrupted one afternoon a week later. His hat in his hand, he came in and perched on the edge of an armchair. “I drew up the plans for the back, and I thought you might like to hear them. But if you don’t mind, I’d just like to wait until next summer and you can walk the grounds with me. There’s a couple of places that the lily pond might go, but I wanna be sure. Is it all right to wait?”

“Next summer would be fine,” Adam said flatly.

Samuel pushed to his feet. “I better get back to work.”

“He’s a good man,” Lilly commented after the gardener had gone.

“Did you put him up to this?” Adam asked, his voice like chips of jagged ice.

Lilly’s eyes widened. “No.”

Adam came to his feet. “Wasn’t that another ploy to give the poor old depressed doctor a way to be useful, to give him hope?”

“No.”

“I don’t believe you. He’d never come up here on his own.”

“Why would you say such a thing? He admires and respects you.”

Adam whirled, his fists clenched. “He pities me and it probably sickens him to see me this way, just as it sickens me to have him see me.”

Suddenly a scream, a real one, ripped through the house. It was chilling and full of pain and fear.

Lilly and Adam froze.

“Help! Help!” Samuel’s frantic yell boomed through the house.

Lilly flung open Adam’s door and raced down the hallway toward the stairs.

“What is it? What happened?” yelled Adam from behind her.

She never paused. “I don’t know!”

Lilly hit the stairs running. She didn’t stop until she barreled into the kitchen. On the floor flat on her back Odette moaned and whimpered. Samuel, her hand clutched in his, knelt by her side. A few feet away were scattered mixing bowls and an overturned step stool.

“Lord, help me!” she cried.

The plea spurned Lilly into action. Rushing across the room, she knelt on the other side of the housekeeper and took her free hand. “Lie still, Odette. Where do you hurt?”

Tears streamed down the woman’s face. “Oh, God, all over. I hope I didn’t break my hip like Sister Jackson.”

Lilly’s frightened gaze flew up to Samuel.

“Hush that nonsense,” he chided, his voice unsteady. “You just got the wind knocked out of you. You should have waited for me to put up the mixing bowl, woman.”

“I hurt, Samuel. I hurt!” she cried, a stream of tears rolling down her face. “Go get Dr. Wakefield.”

“Odet—”

“I want Dr. Wakefield!” she cried, cutting off her husband. “He’ll know what to do.”

Samuel’s callused hand tightened on his wife’s for a second; then he nodded and lifted his head. “Go get Dr. Wakefield.”

Lilly looked from husband to wife; their eyes were pleading for her to do as they asked. “He may not come.”

“He’ll come.” Odette drew in a deep breath. “Just go tell him. He’ll come for me.”

“He’ll come,” Samuel confirmed.

“Maybe we should just call an ambulance,” Lilly suggested, trying to remain calm.

“Oh, my Lord! I want Dr. Wakefield,” Odette sobbed.

“Hush that crying, woman, or you’ll get your pressure up. Miss Lilly is gonna go get him, and I bet you he’ll say you’re just fine.”

Odette closed her eyes, tears leaking from beneath the lids. “I want Dr. Wakefield.”

“I’ll go get him.” Lowering Odette’s hand gently to the floor, Lilly dashed out of the room.

“What’s happening? Someone answer me!” yelled Adam.

Lilly heard Dr. Wakefield’s voice the moment she rounded the corner of the hallway leading to the stairs. It appeared she wouldn’t have to go get Dr. Wakefield. He was coming to them. Or so she thought until she reached the base of the stairs and saw him, both hands clutched around the newel cap.

Cautiously he stuck one foot out only to withdraw it. Even from the foot of the stairs, she could see the fear in his face. The reason that he never wanted to leave his room was suddenly answered.

“Odette fell off the folding step stool, and she’s asking for you,” Lilly explained, continuing up the stairs.

Adam jerked back. “Me?”

Praying she was doing the right thing, Lilly came up beside him and took his free hand so that he was between her and the stair railing. “You. She’s frightened. She became worse when I mentioned calling the ambulance. Samuel is concerned about her blood pressure.”

“I–I can’t.”

“Dr. Wakefield!” Samuel’s voice called from below.

“They need your help.”

His face furious, Adam turned on her. “I can’t even help myself.”

“Then help someone else. Forget yourself and go help Odette. Calm her enough so I can call the ambulance.”

“It’s not—”

“Nothing is easy. I know. Now come on and take my arm. You lead off.”

For a moment she didn’t think he would do it; then he took her arm, drew a deep breath, and stuck a foot out.

“We’re coming!” Lilly yelled, praying Dr. Wakefield wouldn’t give up. He didn’t. Lilly prayed each step, giving out a progress report as they went.

As soon as they entered the kitchen, Odette cried, “I knew you’d come. I just knew it.”

“Odette. I–I don’t know how much help I can be.”

“I’ve been here praying, and I know you can help,” Odette told him.

Adam didn’t move.

“You are going to help her, aren’t you, Dr. Wakefield?” Samuel asked, his leathery brown face showing fear for the first time.

Adam lifted his hands. Hands that he couldn’t see.

To be needed. He was a doctor. A surgeon. Once he had been on his way to being the best in his field.

“Please,” Lilly whispered. “Please.”

“Take me to her side.”

Lilly complied, leading him to Odette and then stopping so he could kneel by the fallen woman. He was barely settled before Odette reached out and tightly grasped his hand.

Adam folded his other hand over hers. Slowly he moved his fingers to her pulse. Satisfied with what his fingertips told him, he ran his hand up her arm to her face. Cool. Not sweaty. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

“My back. My head. My sit-down. My legs.”

“Let’s start at the head and go down.” His hand went to her head and felt the cloth. “Wearing your turban?”

“I washed my hair and didn’t have time to press it out.” Despite the situation, she sounded chagrined.

“As I recall, you always looked rather stately in your turban.” His hand gently slipped the covering off and checked her head for lumps. “Do you recall hitting your head?”

“No, but it happened fast. That’s how Sister Jackson broke her hip.” She sniffled.

Adam’s examination moved to her shoulder. “I think we can rule that out. Hip fractures are very painful, and every movement would be uncomfortable. I’m not hearing the hitch in your voice.”

Odette closed her eyes. “Thank the Lord.”

“Let’s see about the rest of you. Here we go. Neck. Right arm. Left arm.” His fingertips followed the map his words described. “Lilly, let me know if she shows any signs of pain.”

Adam waited, listening to Lilly’s calm voice reporting Odette’s reactions. “Move the leg that doesn’t hurt first. Start with the toes, then ankle, knee, hip.”

Odette had no difficulty with the left leg. She got as far as her ankle on the right leg before she cried out.

“Stop,” Adam ordered. “Help me to where her leg is,” he told Lilly. She did as instructed and he immediately felt the warmth, the slight distension. Without waiting for assistance, he found the left ankle, compared. “You injured your right ankle, Odette. I can’t tell how badly, but Lilly was right in wanting to call the ambulance.”

Samuel was already getting up to call.

“Notify Dr. Brown, too, Samuel. Lilly, get two quart bags and fill them with crushed ice. Then, see if you can find a couple of ten-pound bags of sugar or flour to hold them in place. I don’t want her ankle to move more than necessary. That should be good enough until the paramedics get here and splint it.”

Samuel came back to his wife’s side. “The ambulance is on the way and I called your doctor. Thank you, Dr. Wakefield.”

Adam nodded. “Lilly, you better go wait by the road. This place is not the easiest to find.”

“I’ll go,” offered Samuel.

“Stay with Odette,” Lilly told him.

“And I’ll stay here and let Odette hold my hand,” Adam said, giving the woman’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Now, what have those rambunctious grandchildren of yours been up to lately?”

It seemed forever instead of the ten minutes it took for the ambulance to come. Lilly waved them down. The ambulance stopped even with her. A young black woman jumped out.

“Hi. Where’s the person needing help?”

“Up at the house,” Lilly answered.

“Hop in.”

“Thank you.” Lilly scrambled inside.

“She fell off a kitchen stool?” the female attendant asked.

“Yes. Dr. Wakefield thinks she did something to her ankle.”

“A doctor has already seen her?” asked the burly male ambulance driver.

Unconsciously Lilly shifted closer to the door. The man had a surly bulldog look about him that reminded her too much of Myron. “He lives there. He told us to call the ambulance.”

“Lucky for her,” the woman said.

The ambulance came to a halt directly in front of the steps. The wail of the siren faded, but the red light continued to flash. Piling out of the vehicle, the attendants went to the back for their case.

“Lilly, what happened? Is Adam all right?” Eleanor cried, running from around the side of the house.

“He’s fine. Odette fell and he had us call the ambulance.”

“Adam?” Surprise flashed across her face.

“Which way?” asked the male attendant, his broad face unsmiling.

“This way.” Lilly led them to the kitchen, then stepped aside.

“I think I’m about to be replaced.” Adam came to his feet, reaching out his hand. “Lilly.”

“Coming, Dr. Wakefield.”

The male attendant stopped, the emergency case banging against his leg. “He’s the doctor who told you to call?”

“Yes,” Lilly answered.

“You got to be kidding. That guy is blind,” the male attendant said, his voice filled with derision. “I’m sick and tired of all these false runs. This is the fourth one today.”

“My son is a prominent neurosurgeon,” Eleanor declared. “If he said to call an ambulance there was reason.”

“Mother?” Frowning, Adam turned toward her voice. “When did you get here?”

“I—” Eleanor hesitated. “We’ll talk about it later, once Odette is taken care of.”

The male attendant turned to go. “This is a wash. I’m not taking the advice of a blind man.”

“Samuel?” Odette whimpered in pain and fear.

Samuel came to his feet. “I called the ambulance and I’m telling you you’d better take my wife in, and you had better do it to the best of your ability, as limited as it seems to be. I already called my wife’s doctor and he’s expecting her and we’re going in that ambulance.”

“It’s your money to waste,” the surly man said.

“John,” the female attendant hissed in warning.

“I’ll go get the cart,” John said and left.

“Take me to my room,” Adam ordered, his voice tight and strained.

“I’m sor—”

“Now,” Adam said, cutting Lilly off.

“Come on.” She hooked his hand through her arm and led him out of the room.

“Adam—”

“Not now, Mother.”

Her hands clamped together, Eleanor stepped aside and let them pass.

Lilly glanced around as the sound of the gurney rolling over the hardwood floor faded into silence when it reached the area rugs. His lip curled, the attendant stared at them. Lilly mouthed,
bully
and led Adam up the stairs.

Eleanor was so angry she was trembling. Too angry to stand still, she paced the length of the counter in Adam’s kitchen, the telephone gripped in her hand.

“Eleanor, what is it?”

“Jonathan, I’m so angry I could spit.”

“Then spit and tell me how I can help,” he told her.

His calm, reassuring voice almost made her smile until she thought of Adam’s face, the look of defeat, when he left the kitchen. Quickly she told Jonathan what had happened, ending with, “Please check on Odette and get me the name of that attendant. He hasn’t heard the last of this.”

“I’ll call the ER to see who is on duty and check on Odette. As soon as I can, I’ll leave here and go over there personally,” he told her. “And leave the attendant to me.”

Eleanor heard the tightness in Jonathan’s voice, and oddly, it eased some of her anger. He was the first person she had called when the hospital notified her that Adam had been hurt. He’d chartered a plane and been there in four hours as calm and reassuring as he was now.

“How did Adam take you being there?”

“Not very well,” she admitted. Jonathan always seemed to know the things she didn’t have to speak. “Perhaps I should have gone as he requested.”

“Adam loves you, Eleanor. He’s not angry at you, but at the situation.”

“I know, but it’s just so hard.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why?”

“Would knowing the answer make any difference? Would it make this any easier on any of us?”

“No,” she answered softly. She forgot at times that she wasn’t the only one suffering. “I’ll let you get back to your patients.”

“I’ll be out after I leave the hospital.”

“You don’t have to do that. It’s a long drive.”

“I’ll see you around seven. Good-bye.”

Eleanor hung up the phone feeling better. She wasn’t alone. As long as she had Jonathan she wasn’t alone.

Going to the foot of the stairs, she stared up. If only Adam had someone who would stand by his side no matter what he said or did. To let him know that he mattered. Nicole certainly wasn’t that person. She was an intelligent, beautiful, ambitious woman. She’d tried, but she hadn’t been able to stick. Few women could have when nothing was being given in return. It took unconditional love and understanding to keep caring for someone without expecting anything in return. Eleanor had been aware of that when she walked away from a medical career and married Randolph. He’d shown his love in countless small ways: notes on her pillows, impromptu rendezvous, midnight suppers. But she’d always been aware his career came first.