Read Online I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Francis Ray - Free Book Online Page B

Crane, the hospital spokeswoman, had been there and immediately obtained a wheelchair to take Vanessa back to the conference room.
    While Vanessa reclined on the couch, three of her friends arrived. Instead of helping, their presence caused Vanessa to cry more. A.J. had been totally inept at comforting his wife. Madison couldn’t help but think, if only he’d touch her, hold her, perhaps it might help. It flashed through her mind that Wes wasn’t much of a toucher himself unless they were making love. The thought made her feel guilty and on edge.
    When Ms. Crane asked if she felt up to going with her for a brief news conference, Madison was more than ready. When she stepped on the elevator Zachary was by her side. He’d said he’d stay with her and he had, comforting her, helping her. “If you have trouble, focus on me,” he said.
    She hadn’t thought she would need to take his advice since she made her living being in front of a camera … until the reporters began asking questions about the extent of Wes’s injuries, and Dr. London began explaining in detail about the surgery. Five minutes into it, she stood, looking blindly for an exit.

    Thankfully, Ms. Crane and Zachary were there. They took her to a small enclosed garden. She sat on a stone bench beside a pool of goldfish and cried until her eyes and body ached.
    Afterwards, they went back upstairs to the conference room where a chef waited to serve them. A.J. and Vanessa and their guests, who now numbered eight, were already seated around the oblong table, eating. Madison ate because she hadn’t eaten earlier when Zachary had taken her to the hospital cafeteria. She now realized she had to, and not just because Zachary kept putting small amounts of food on her plate. She assumed Wes’s father had ordered the food until the waiter presented the bill to Zachary. A.J. and Vanessa both stopped eating and pushed their plates away.
    As the waiter began to clean up, Zachary said he was going to check on Manda. With an hour before the next visiting time at eight, Madison hurried after him.
    In Manda’s room they found her fretful, but not crying. She finished off a bottle Madison fed her in nothing flat, then, with her tiny hand clutching Madison’s blouse as if to keep her there, she went to sleep.
    â€œShe likes you,” Zachary said.
    Madison, in a rocking chair, glanced down at the peacefully sleeping infant, then looked up at him and smiled. “You’re not the only one children like.”
    â€œI see,” he said, returning her smile.
    When they arrived back at ICU five minutes before the last visiting hour was to begin, Vanessa was apologetic for taking up all the last visiting time and pleaded to go in first. After being with Manda, Madison felt sorry for Wes’s parents and allowed them go in. The last visiting hour was only forty-five minutes.
    Finally, the door opened and Wes’s parents came out ten minutes before visiting hour would be over. Vanessa was crying softly. Madison rushed by them. A.J. was finally touching and hovering, as were Vanessa’s friends who had followed her to the waiting area.
    Aware of Zachary beside her, Madison walked to the bed and stared down at Wes. His bruises appeared more pronounced. Her finger gently stroked his cold hand. “Everything will be all right. Don’t worry. Manda is all right, too. You have to get well so you can see her.”

    His eyelashes fluttered, then lifted. Her finger stilled. “Wes. I’m here. Everything is going to be okay.”
    His tongue came out to moisten his dry lips. His mouth worked for several seconds before words emerged, hushed and raspy. “P-promise me.”
    Madison’s heart leaped with joy. He was going to be all right. “I promise. We’ll go to Chicago. I’ll get a job there and it’ll be the way it used to be. You’ll see.”
    With an effort he shook his head.