Look to the Rainbow (35 page)

     Casey finally spoke. “I still can’t believe that happened.”

      Tara agreed. “I know. If I saw a reporter or photographer right now I would lose it. I really would.” She looked at Casey’s bandaged arm. “Are you in pain?”

      “A little. My head hurts some too, where they stitched it up. How did we survive that, Tara?”

      “I don’t know. I was praying as the car started spinning. Do you think that really saved us?”

      “I was too. I’m sure it did. Otherwise, how could we explain it?”

     Mary Katherine sat beside Evan as slept. He had been mostly asleep since she and Kel had left the others. The bruises on his face had darkened to a deep purple, as had the ones spreading across his chest. Even in his sleep his face was etched with pain. She had been glad to hear that the broken bone had been set without the need for surgery and that he had no internal injuries. She had yet to see the news reports showing the car and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Only now did she allow herself to be angry at the photographers who has broken so many traffic rules and put Evan and Casey and Tara at such a risk. They had all known that Tara was being harassed, but none of them had taken her distress as seriously as they should have. Her cell rang and she saw that it was her mother. She almost didn’t respond, but she decided it was better to talk to her now.

     “Hello, Mother,” she said, hoping that this wouldn’t last long.

      “I saw on the news that Evan and that girl Kel is dating were in a car accident. Why were they together?”

      “Don’t you even want to know how Evan is?”

     “Oh, well, yes, was he hurt?”

      Mary Katherine willed herself not start an argument. “He was. He has a concussion and a broken sternum. And they weren’t alone, Casey was with them. He had gone to pick them up when they had walked downtown and were being harassed by a number of photographers.”

     “I don’t have to tell you this doesn’t look good.”

     “What are you implying?” Couldn’t her mother show
any
compassion toward Evan, ever? Not even today?

      “My dear, three of my friends have already called wondering about the impropriety of him being alone with her. What should I tell people?

     “You can tell them Evan is a gentleman and was helping friends, or tell them nothing at all. It’s none of their business.”

      “And you should see that expensive car you bought him!”

      Mary Katherine closed her eyes and counted to three. “Mother, I have to go. I could care less about rumors or the car as long as my husband and friends are okay.” She ended the call without saying goodbye as Evan stirred.

     “Who are you talking to?” he asked, the first clear sentence he’d put together since coming in. He reached for her hand and she took it.

      “No one now. I was just telling my mother to mind her own business.”

      “Well,” he said as he closed his eyes again, “it’s about damn time.”

      And it really was, she thought.

      Kel stepped in front of the microphone and spoke to the astoundingly large number of media people gathered.

      “I will not be taking questions. This is my turn to speak and I don’t want what I have to say being misinterpreted or restated. Today three people that I love very much were in a car accident caused by members of the press. Two of those people were injured and I am told that the driver of one of the cars that hit them was killed and the other also injured.A few months ago I asked you to stop harassing Tara.  I was naïve enough to think that you would, because I had not been hounded by the media as she was. What happened today was completely unnecessary. It should never have gotten to this point, where lives were endangered simply for you to get a photograph. Your relentless pursuit of her as cost her a job, needless stress, and strain on our relationship. She is not a celebrity, she didn’t ask for this kind of attention. You chased her, you followed her every move and you put her life in danger and I am asking you now for it to stop.” His voice broke a little. “The story is over. There’s nothing left to cover. Please just leave her alone and respect her privacy. Find something else to report.”

      They tried to get him to talk some more, to answer questions, but when he walked away, they filed their reports and disbanded.

      He and John stopped back in to check on Evan and found Skip sitting with Mary Katherine.

     “How is he?” Kel asked. Seeing Evan injured and in pain, essentially because of him, wasn’t any easier this time.

     “Still pretty much out of it, but they say that’s normal and he can go home in about an hour.”

      “Skip, can you help Mary Katherine any way she needs you tonight?”

       “Sure Kel. How did the talk with the press go?”

      “I talked. Hopefully they listened.” He sighed. “I would give anything for this not to have happened. I should have done something before now. It might have kept this from happening. It might have saved mine and Tara’s relationship. But I’ve got a feeling that she’s really leaving tomorrow and it’s over.”

      John put a hand on his shoulder. He wanted to say something to give Kel some hope, but he’d seen the look on her face and he thought that it was over as well. “Let’s go see how everybody’s doing at our house. We’ll check on Evan later.”

     They drove in complete silence. It had been a long stressful day. No one had seen something like the events of this day coming, but they all should have. She had told them time and time again what was happening, but they had all just assumed it was annoying, and a handful of tabloid reporters.  Kel had not realized how many people were involved, how popular a subject she had become. And all because he’d been careless enough to kiss her in public. He should have been more discreet, he should have kept their private lives private. He knew the truth now. She loved him, but she couldn’t live like this.

      John pulled into his driveway half expecting to see reporters camped everywhere, but there were none.

      “Kel, this wasn’t your fault either.” he said quietly.

     “It was John. Indirectly, maybe, but still my fault.” He looked at John, with sadness and regret in his eyes. “I think I’ve lost her.”

     “Maybe not. Or maybe she’ll just need a little time once she gets home.”

      “I gave up being an idealist a long time ago, John. At least in matters of the heart.” He got out of the car and walked into the house. After a minute or two, John followed him.

      Skip helped Evan out of the car and did his best to make that as painless as possible and while Evan didn’t complain, both Skip and Mary Katherine knew every movement hurt. Taking the stairs was a slow process but they’d decided the best course of action was for Evan to go on upstairs rather than stay downstairs for a few hours and then move again. After getting Evan settled in bed, Skip went for takeout and Mary Katherine and Socrates settled themselves beside Evan. The little dog seemed quite concerned about his beloved master. Mary Katherine told Evan they had the only dog in the world who could manage to look worried. Socrates had wanted to lie next to Evan with his head resting on his chest, Mary Katherine had to move him twice before he seemed to understand he couldn’t do that and he moved to Evan’s feet and lay down there, continuing to anxiously keep watch.

     Mary Katherine had gently climbed up beside him, much the same as he had when she had been going through chemo. He lay back against her and asked her to turn on the television. She hesitated, knowing that the news reports would all be about the accident.

     “Go ahead, darlin’,” he said. “ I want to see what they’re saying.”

      One of the reporters had managed to get a live video of the accident as it happened and watching, Mary Katherine found she was holding her breath. The cameras continued to cover the aftermath of the accident, the mangled car, Tara and Casey, Evan being removed from the wreckage. Mary Katherine was incensed that they had been allowed to film it. It was the top story on every channel, followed by a replay of Kel’s statement. Mary Katherine hated to see Kel so upset and obviously so certain that he and Tara were finished. She understood what he meant when he said “The story is over.”

     After watching the coverage, she turned the television off. She didn’t think she could view that over and over. “Evan,
how
did you survive that? How?”

      He was closing his eyes again, slipping back into sleep, but he answered. “As soon as I saw the car coming toward us, I started to pray. That’s all I remember.”

     Her fingers raked gently through his hair and he shifted slightly, gasping a little in pain when he moved.

`     “Is it really bad?” she asked, knowing he couldn’t have anything for several more hours.

      “It only hurts when I move or breathe,” he said.

     “Sleep a little. We’ll wake you up.”

      She eased him gently out of her arms and onto the pillows they had propped up. By the time Skip arrived with dinner, he was out of it again.

      Skip spread the food out on the coffee table between the sofa and easy chairs in the sitting area and they talked quietly as Evan slept.

     “He thinks prayer saved them,” she said.

     “You don’t believe that?” Skip asked.

      “I don’t know what I believe. Evan believes it. You do too, don’t you?”

     “Yes.  Having seen the photos I don’t see how there could be another answer.”

     “I know my husband is alive when he should have been dead. I know he prays. I don’t know if the two things are related.”

      “Evan doesn’t accept things as coincidental,” Skip pointed out.

      “No.” She reached for one of the containers of Chinese food.

      “I know he prays a lot, Mary Katherine. I know you don’t share his faith. But you love that about him, don’t you?”

      “I love everything about him Skip. His strength of character, his patience and understanding, his sense of right and wrong.”

      “All that stems from what he believes. It’s all because of his faith. That’s what you like about John and George, even if you don’t realize it.”

     She nodded. “Maybe. It’s something to think about.”

     “I’ve found out I need to rely more on just plain prayer this year.”

    He  looked suddenly very sad and serious and Mary Katherine’s heart went out to him. Of all the O’Brien children, aside from Casey, Skip was the one she loved most, and she would have to say she loved them all. “But you
are
doing better?”

     He smiled a little. “Yes. One day I might even be able to date again.” They fell silent and finished their dinner. She knew where he was. When Harry had died, she hadn’t thought she would ever have the courage to date anyone else. She glanced over at Evan, sleeping, and nearly cried looking at his bruised and swollen face. Somehow, someway, she’d found her way into the life of this wonderful man and she’d almost pushed him to the breaking point before she woke up and came to her senses and understood how truly wonderful he was. It seemed as if fate, or some higher power perhaps, was constantly trying to remind her of what she had lately. She rose and went to wake Evan, relieved when he roused out of his deep sleep and talked to her for a few minutes before drifting off again.