Gates of Paradise (Casteel 4)

maybe it was something I had only wished to see. I lay there, the side of my face to the carpet, my

body crunched up, crying and moaning for Luke. It

was the way Tony found me.

"Oh, poor Annie," he said. "You fell out of bed.

I just knew something like this might happen. It's my

fault. I should have fastened the side guards to the

bed."

"YOU MONSTER!" I screamed. "How could

you send him away? You know how long I have been

waiting for him to visit me. You know how important

it is to me. How could you do it? How could you be

so cruel? I don't care what's wrong with you or how

sad and tragic your life has been. That was vicious,

terribly vicious! I hate you for this! Go get him. Make

him come back. MAKE HIM COME BACK!" He ignored my outburst as if I were the t ad one

and he the sane one.

My body shuddered with sobs as he put his

hands under my arms and lifted me from the floor. He

carried me back to the bed and got te under the

blanket, tucking it tightly around me once more. Then

he stepped back to catch his breath.

"You shouldn't do this to yourself, Annie.

You'll only make yourself sicker and sicker. Try to

rest. You know I want only the best for you, only the

best for my little Annie."

"I'm not your little Annie. I want Luke to come

back," I muttered. "Luke will be back . . . he'll be

back."

"Of course. You'll get better and he'll return. If

you'll only listen to me, have you up and around