He looked startled by her outburst. "Shes in surgery. She—"
"Katie!"
She heard Chad call out her name and she turned, seeing him run into the lobby. They came together as naturally as wind and rain, clinging to each other.
"How is she?" he whispered against her ear, his voice as fragile as she felt.
She drew back. "In surgery. Thats all I know. But shell be fine. Bullets cant stop a storm. "
"Shes not as tough as she pretends to be. We both know that, dont we, Kate?"
She swallowed, nodded. In an awkward silence they stood together, bound by the invisible threads of their mutual concern. She saw it in his eyes, as clear as day; he did love Tully, and he was scared. "I better go call my mom and dad. Theyll want to be here. "
She waited for him to respond, but he just remained there, glassy-eyed, his hands flexing into fists at his sides like a gunslinger who might soon have to draw his weapon. With a tired smile, she walked away. As she passed Johnny, she couldnt help but say, "Thats how real people help each other through hard times. "
At the bank of pay phones, she put in four quarters and dialed home. When her dad answered—thank God it wasnt her mother; Kate would have lost it then—she gave him the news and hung up.
She turned around and Johnny was there, waiting for her. "Im sorry. "
"You should be. "
"One of the things about this business, Katie, is that you learn to compartmentalize, to put the story first. Its a hazard of the trade. "
"Its always about the story with people like you and Tully. " She left him standing there and went to the sofa, where she sat down. Bowing her head, she prayed again.
After a moment she felt him come up beside her. When he didnt say anything, she looked up.
He didnt move, didnt even blink, but she could see how tense he was. He seemed to be holding on to his composure by a rapidly fraying thread. "Youre tougher than you look, Mularkey. "
"Sometimes. " She wanted to say that love gave her strength, especially during a time like this, but she was afraid to even say the word while she was looking at him.
He sat down slowly beside her. "When did you get to know me so well?"
"Its a small office. "
"Thats not it. No one else knows me like you do. " He sighed and leaned back. "I did put her in danger. "
"She wouldnt have it any other way," she conceded. "We both know that. "
"I know, but . . . "
When he let his sentence trail off, she looked at him. "Do you love her?"
He didnt respond at all, just sat there, leaning back, with his eyes closed.
She couldnt stand it. Now that shed finally dared to ask the question, she wanted it answered. "Johnny?"
He reached over for her, put an arm around her shoulder, and drew her to him. She sank into the comfort he offered. It felt as natural as breathing being beside him like this, though she knew how dangerous that feeling was.
There, saying nothing more, they sat together through the long, empty hours of the night. Waiting.
Tully came awake slowly, taking stock of her surroundings: white acoustic-tile ceiling, bars of fluorescent lighting, silver rails on her bed, and a tray beside her.
Memories trickled into her consciousness: Beacon Hill. The mini-mart. She remembered the gun being pointed at her. And the pain.
"Youll do anything to get attention, wont you?" Kate stood by the door, wearing a pair of baggy UW sweatpants and an old Greek Week T-shirt. As she approached the bed, tears filled her eyes. She wiped them away impatiently. "Damn. I swore I wouldnt cry. "
"Thank God youre here. " Tully hit the button on her bed control until she was sitting up