Part 9 (1/2)
”It's been hard, Luke; especially when I'm awake and I can think and remember. All I do is cry,” I whimpered, and I began to cry again, to really sob as Luke sat on the side of the bed and comforted me with his strong arms. We remained like that for a long time, until my heart got stronger and my tears receded.
”I wish there was something more I could do for you.” He looked down and then looked up quickly. ”I dreamt I had gone to college and become a doctor and I was able to treat you and make you well again very quickly.”
”You would be a wonderful doctor, Luke,” I said as my sobs subsided.
”I wish I was one now.” He fixed his eyes on me.
”Everyone's been wonderful,” I insisted. ”Drake comes every day, and Tony is really doing a lot for us.” He nodded. ”Anyway, I'm finally going to Farthy. I just wish it were for different reasons.”
”I'll come see you, Annie. If they'll let me.” ”Of course they'll let you,” I a.s.sured him.
”As soon as I get my first opportunity. And if you're still in a wheelchair, wheel you all about and we'll see all those places we dreamt about. We'll even go to the maze and--”
”Perhaps you'll take rue to their grave site, Luke. If I don't get there before you come,” I said solemnly.
”Oh, I'd like that, Annie. I mean--”
”Maybe soon be able to wheel myself, so we can separate and try to find each other like we dreamt we would,” I said quickly. It seemed to wrong to turn Farthy into a sad place, especially after we had built it up to be so fantastic in our minds.
”Yes, and we'll go down to the big pool and the tennis courts--”
”And you'll still be my prince?” I teased.
”Oh, more than ever now.” He stood up and took a princely pose. ”My lady,” he said with a wide sweep of his arms. ”Might I wheel you through all the gardens this morning? We'll go to the gazebo, where we'll sit until the sun goes down, talking softly and drinking mint juleps.”
”Afterward, do you promise to sit with me in the concert hall so we can listen to music by the grand piano, Prince Luke?”
”Your wish is my command, my lady,” he said, kneeling beside the bed and taking my hand to his lips. He kissed my fingers and stood up. His eyes dazzled as another fantasy returned.
”Or we can be Southern aristocracy again,” he offered.
”And get all dressed up for elegant dinner parties?” I asked smiling.
”Of course. wear a tuxedo and you'll come floating down the long stairway, looking like Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind with your dress trailing behind you. And you'll say--”
”I'll say, 'Why, Luke Casteel, it's so nice to see you.'”
”Annie, you're looking more beautiful than ever,” he recited, imitating Clark Gable in the movie. ”But I must keep my wits about me. I know the way you manipulate men with your dazzling beauty.”
”Oh, not you, Luke. I would never manipulate you.”
”Oh, but Annie, there is no one I would rather have manipulating me,” he said with such sincerity in his eyes, I was speechless for a moment.
”It's not good if you let me know you know I'm doing it, Luke Casteel,” I finally responded, my voice breathy.
We laughed. And then I looked up.
”Luke, there's something else I want to see; something I want to see very, very much now.”
”What?” he asked, his sapphire eyes sparkling.
”A cottage that is on the other side of the maze. It's something I feel I've got to see. It's something I feel I've got to do.”
”So we'll do it. Together,” he added confidently.
”I hope so, Luke.” I squeezed his hand for emphasis. ”Promise me, really promise.”
”Every promise I make to you, Annie, is a real one,” he said hoa.r.s.ely, looking more mature and more determined than I could ever remember. For a moment our eyes remained glued together and I saw his love for me like a warm cleansing lake, big enough to swim in. Then Mrs. Broadfield returned, bursting in on us like a cold wind.
”Time to change your head bandage,” she announced.
”Just wait outside a moment, Luke.”
”I'll go check on my mother. She might be turning this place upside down by now.”
f.a.n.n.y and Luke returned for a while after lunch, and before they left, Luke and I agreed on a time when he would call me the next day to read me the final version of his speech.
”I've added something to it,” he said.
”Something I want you to be the first to hear.”
Later than afternoon Tony and Drake arrived.
”I heard your aunt was here visiting,” Tony said as he came through the door.
”Yes.” I turned right to Drake. He was dressed so handsomely in a silk black-and-white pinstriped suit just like the ones Tony wore. I thought he looked years older already and very mature and successful. ”Drake, Aunt f.a.n.n.y wants to move into Hasbrouck House to watch over things. I said it was all right for her to do so.”
”What? Now wait a minute, Annie.”
”Now, now,” Tony interjected. ”That's a big house, from what I hear.” I saw the look he gave Drake, the look that said, ”Don't do anything to disturb Annie.” The fire in Drake's eyes extinguished quickly. He shrugged.
”That's true. I suppose it's all right. For a while, anyway. I'm going to be too busy, and you'll be at Farthinggale, so she can't bother either of us.”
”She's trying to do something decent, Drake.” I tried to defend f.a.n.n.y, wanting so much to believe the best of her. ”She wants family again. I believe her, and I just didn't have the heart to turn her away. Not now.”
He nodded.
”That was very kind of you, Annie,” Tony said. ”To be thinking of other people's needs while you have so many yourself. It's going to be refres.h.i.+ng to have a person such as you at Farthinggale. You'll warm the place as it hast't been since . . . since your mother lived there.
”And now,” he added quickly, ”I have a surprise. Dr. Malisoff tells me that you can be released by the end of the week to continue your recuperation and begin your therapy at Farthinggale. Isn't that wonderful?”
”Oh yes. I can't wait to get out of here!” I exclaimed.
Both Tony and Drake laughed, Drake s.h.i.+fting his eyes to Tony a split second beforehand to see if he would laugh first. I was amazed at how quickly Tony had made a disciple of Drake. How different Drake was with Tony! I had never seen him so deferential to anyone!
Tony took my hand. ”I hear what a wonderfully cooperative patient you've been. Why, Mrs. Broadfield just raves about you,” he added, looking toward her. Instead of flas.h.i.+ng one of her imitation smiles, she looked at me and nodded, her eyes full of real appreciation and warmth.
”Thank you,” I said, smiling at my nurse. ”However, Annie, there is something very important that you have been hiding from me,” Tony said.
”Hiding?”