He was black and blue. Every move he made throbbed. He didn’t understand why they were making him stay. He was fine, nothing broken. They wouldn’t even let him get out of bed, let alone leave the room.
The last thing he remembered was Lucille’s scream and glass flying everywhere, showers of glass like hard rain. There were flashes of other things, but nothing clear, nothing as clear as that piercing scream.
Someone saying, “He’s alive”, Lucille barking some orders with a white cloth turning red on her head, and Jamie…he remembered something about Jamie. It was all a confusing mess. Where were they going? Why were they going? What exactly happened and where was everyone now?
“I see you’re still breathing.”
David looked up and there she stood; Lucille, bandage across her head and a black eye. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“Not disappointed, relieved.” She sighed. “One less tale I’ve got to spin.” She walked over and to his surprise tenderly straightened the bedclothes. “Do you remember anything?”
“Very little.”
“Good. Keep it that way.” She pulled a chair up beside the bed and eased herself uncomfortably down. “No matter what happens, no matter what anyone asks you, you don’t remember a thing.”
“That should be easy.” He looked at her, always the spinning webs, but always to keep things headed in the direction they needed them to be. “Jamie?”
“Pretty bad.” She looked at the floor. “Went through the windshield. Even if he makes it, he’ll never be a leading man again.” She looked back at him with cold concern. “Good thing the movie’s in the can.”
“Do they know…?”
“The press? Only about you, so far…he’s an unidentified companion. I’ll keep it that way as long as I can.”
“What if?”
“We’ll deal with that only if we have to.” Lucille leaned close. “Look, I know you think I’m heartless, but there’s a loose cannon running around and as long as the paper’s don’t know about Jamie, especially what we were doing in the car…”
“What were we doing in the car?” He asked.
“You really don’t remember?” She finally believed him. “That’s good. If you remember, keep your mouth shut until you talk to me.”
David painfully nodded his head. “When can I go home?”
“Don’t know, maybe tomorrow but I’m pushing for a few days. It might get nasty and if you’re here you can’t be connected.”
“What are you planning?”
“Cleaning up another mess.” She smiled and stood. “It’s what I do, don’t concern yourself. Just make sure you don’t get released until I say you get released.”
He nodded his head. “Will they keep me posted on my…uh… unidentified companion?”
“Only if you ask.” She walked toward the door. “If you do, make sure you refer to him as the driver.”
“The driver?”
“New guy we just hired. He’d only just started that morning.”
“Just started?”
“Yeah, explains why the idiot didn’t make a right turn in the dark. Blatant stupidity equals no more questions to answer. Understood?”
“Understood.”
Lucille reached for the door.
“Wait…where’s she?”
“That’s the loose cannon.” Lucille smiled and was almost out the door.
“Mr. Turner?” The nurse was standing there when Lucille opened the door. “Are you feeling up to a phone call?”
David looked at Lucille for permission. She stepped right in. “Who from?”
The nurse gave her a dirty look. “His wife.” She had obviously already tangled with Lucille and lost.
“He’ll take it.” She snapped and marched right back over to his bedside, as the nurse shut the door.
The heavy black phone by the bed clanged. Lucille picked it up and held it for David, pressing in closely to hear the conversation.
“Hello.”
“David?”
“Yes.”
“I know she’s listening.” She said sternly on the other end. “That’s fine. It’ll be the last time.”
“Where are you?” Lucille hissed.
“Shut up.” She hissed back. “David, listen closely.”
“I am.” He said.
“Lucille?”
“What?”
“This is the last thing you’ll ever hear from me, after this I’m gone.”
“Promises, promises…” Lucille sneered.
“David. You have a son, a perfect baby boy. Goodbye.” The line went dead.
David and Lucille looked at each other, clunky receiver between them.
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