"Along the Road" PART SEVEN
(final part)
Saturday came and went with little regard to the fact that Alice was still missing. The APB had not yet paid off and Laurie Maston's worries continued to escalate as the hours wore on. Yet both Molly and Katheryn hoped that the time she had spent with them both at church the following morning had done the young woman some good. Pastor Roscoe even took special time out of his sermon to pray for Laurie and her young daughter before dismissing services. There was also a joyful prayer of thanks to God for bringing Trent back to them all. Still the entire congregation prayed that he'd be there in the physical with them all again before long.
Carlos was the first to stand up and out of the pew as he stepped up alongside Katheryn as the pews behind them filed out and into the midday beauty just outside. He paused to give Pastor Roscoe a firm handshake as the minister greeted the Malloy family and offered Laurie another encouraging word. By the smile on her face, it must have done her a world of good.
"Be assured, the Good Lord is watching over little Alice as we speak," Roscoe smiled as he clasped Laurie's hand in his firmly. "And with the help of these fine young people helping you out, I don't think that young man has a chance to get very far."
Laurie suppressed a light chuckle as she looked into Roscoe's eyes. "Thank you, pastor. You don't know what it means to hear you all say that."
"Oh, I think I do." Roscoe's smile wavered just a bit. "At least I know what it's like for someone to go after your child. Thankfully the evil ones at fault got a taste of Trent and Carlos' fine defense skills."
Laurie glanced around herself and could feel the tears threatening her moment of joy. "Thank you all so much. I don't know what I would have done without you all."
"It's our pleasure, Laurie." Katheryn leaned into the young woman for a warm embrace. Just as she did, Carlos felt his phone vibrate inside his suit coat pocket. His smile faded as he reached for the device, flipping it open and putting it to his ear as he turned around to pace the church aisle. Katheryn tried to listen in but couldn't tell who was on the other end.
"Alright, thanks." Carlos hung up and turned back to them, his eyes mostly on Katheryn as he spoke. "That was Ranger Hunt. The APB paid off. Andy's truck was just spotted about thirty miles north of Dallas at a motel in Parker."
"Well, let's go." Katheryn gave Laurie one last reassuring comment followed by another embrace before she bid Molly and the rest of the Malloys goodbye. She traced a swift path next to Carlos as they arrived at his Crown Victoria, Katheryn rounding the front to the passenger side with a fleeting thought that she was rather glad she had worn slacks and flats instead of a skirt suit and heels. It wasn't the most prime fighting attire. But it would have to do. If they were to get to Andy before he made another run for it, there wasn't any time for changing.
They arrived at the said motel about twenty minutes later, scanning the outside with a warried glance or two as Carlos and Katheryn emerged from the vehicle and gave the outside yet another onceover as they tried to search for Andy's pickup from a distance without looking so obvious.
Katheryn spotted the vehicle first, nodding barely just enough for Carlos to see as she looked towards the motel room door that was directly in front of the truck. "That's it isn't it?"
"Yep." Carlos nodded and slipped on his shades.
It complimented his Sunday clothes rather well, Katheryn thought as she glanced him over before they continued side by side up the sidewalk, following the shaded path all the way to the other end where the truck sat.
Carlos gave the room's door a few knocks, before he back away and smiled towards Katheryn. "You're looking rather nice today, Miss Beaumont."
Katheryn tried to stay focused, leaning to her right to try getting a glimpse inside the room. Suppressing her disappointment as the curtain blocked her view, Katheryn stood back straight and returned his smile. "Why thank you, Mr. Sandoval."
Carlos may have been harboring another comment in his mind but it was stopped as he jerked back around towards the sound of the door easing open.
A young man fitting Andy's description given by Jo peeked out, not unlatching the lock. "May I help you, sir?"
Carlos lifted his head slightly as he reached inside his trouser pocket for his badge. "DPD. I'm Detective Sandoval and this is private investigator Beaumont. We'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."
"Sure." The young man nodded and smiled. "I'm always happy to help out law enforcement." With that he shut the door, presumably to unlock it fully. Yet a minute passed as Carlos and Katheryn's apprehension grew.
"Andy?" Carlos knocked on the door a few times. "Andy, open up." He then reached for his weapon and held it steadily elevated as he reached for the doorknob. He let of a quick silent countdown for Kath to see before he flung the door open and extending the firearm into the open air. He sighed roughly and holstered the weapon. "Clear."
Katheryn proceeded inside, putting a hand to her hip as she scanned the well-kempt room before them. She scoffed as she looked up at the open window above the air conditioning unit by the other side of the bed. "Well he couldn't have gone very far." With that, Katheryn took off, leaping through the window before Carlos had a chance to stop her. Instead, Carlos followed.
Catching a glimpse of a man on the run with a child in his arms to her left, Katheryn picked up her feet, accelerating herself as fast as she could, her arms pumping by her sides as she pursued the young man. He then disappeared around the corner of the motel office by the street, heading back to the parking lot around the front. Yet Kath didn't have much time to sort the man's logic and simply kept running, rounding the corner also seconds later.
Carlos finally caught up to Katheryn as she stopped at the office entrance, working to catch her breath as a housekeeper came out of the first room, blocking their way with her cleaning cart and a bright smile that Katheryn feigned in return. She stretched over the woman's cart to see where Andy was heading. He was headed straight for his truck. Katheryn tried to be patient with the woman, but it was becoming difficult. After the lady offered a hastened apology in her native Spanish tongue, Katheryn shot passed her in good faith that Carlos was still behind her. For she had no reason to doubt that he wouldn't be. Yet both of them let out a stream of aggravated sighs as he spun his tires, backing out of the driveway and speeding onto the highway away from them.
"Let's get him!" Carlos shouted behind him, doubling back and arriving to the car first. He slid into the seat, shutting the door behind him just as Kath was doubling back while setting aside her shaken thoughts.
Once Katheryn was safely inside the vehicle, Carlos too spun his tires, backing out of the parking space and driving onto the highway with an unspoken moment of thankfulness that the road was clear. Upon flipping his siren on in the dash, Carlos proceeded to chase Andy along that two-lane rural road for several miles before the chase finally ended at what appeared to be an old, abandoned farm by Katheryn's quick estimations.
Andy came to a screeching halt just outside the dilapidated barn and reached for Alice, clasping her to him as if a shield while letting a few bullets stream behind him towards his pursuers as he ran from his truck, abandoning it for the barn's shelter up ahead.
The unmarked police issue's siren came to a halt as Carlos put the car in park, sending his door wide open before he crouched low behind its shelter with his gun outstretched above the door. Katheryn too drew her weapon, entering the gunfight as she bent low against the grasses below her feet while getting off a shots in the wake of Andy's stream of gunfire in their direction.
Bullets continued to be exchanged before Katheryn looked through the car to Carlos, her eyes squinted as she shouted above the firing. "I'm going to try flanking him! Cover me!"
Carlos offered a nod and continued to watch Katheryn from the corner of his eye as she eased away from the vehicle's protection. He freely let a stream of bullets go to detract the fire as she crouched low and hurried across the yard.
Katheryn had almost made it completely to the other side of the barn when she simultaneously heard the echo of another gun, its distant echo merging with the pain that suddenly seized her own body. She jerked slightly under the impact, feeling her weight collapse beneath her as she fell to her knees. Her weapon fell from her hands as she reached up to where the pain was the worse as she cringed, hoping the feeling would pass. But it didn't. Instead it seemed to worsen as she gasped for breath and tried raising her head far enough to call out to Carlos. As she did, her vision seemed to blur. But through the hazy fog, she could barely make out the form of two vehicles coming to blazing halt nearby. One was Walker's Dodge while the other was a second unmarked police issue. She thought she could hear voices but wasn't sure. The urge to close her eyes was as strong as could be as numbness overcame her shoulder. The last thing she remembered was Carlos' voice above her, his arms lifting her off of the ground as she finally gave in and slipped into the sleep that she had almost no control over.
##
"Somebody call an ambulance!" Carlos' voice hovered over Katheryn as he pressed his hand on the bloody wound at Katheryn's chest. He kept his other arm beneath her neck, cradling her body in his arms while he watched from the corner of his eye as Walker and Trivette pursued a now surrendered Andy and a frightened young Alice Maston whose cries mingled with Carlos' voice and the distant sound of another police car arriving on the scene with lights ablaze.
Detective Theresa Kelly was by Carlos' side as quick as she could after doubling back to her car upon arriving on the scene. She quickly took notice of Carlos' face. His eyes were narrowed and his forehead creased as he held Katheryn in his arms, uttering words here and there to a now unconscious Katheryn.
Kelly glanced briefly back at the Rangers as they led Andy in handcuffs to Walker's Dodge before she turned back to Carlos. "The ambulance is on its way."
Carlos nodded briefly to acknowledge Theresa but kept his eyes on Katheryn. "Hang in there, Kath! The ambulance is on its way."
"Would you like me to do anything else?" Detective Kelly hopelessly asked, wishing she could do something else to help.
"Yeah," Carlos finally managed to face his partner briefly. "Call the Malloys and let them know what happened."
"Okay. You have the number?"
Carlos nodded. "In my car."
"Got it." Theresa hurried away and back to Carlos' Crown Victoria just as distant sirens alerted them all.
"How is she, Carlos?" Walker towered over the young Detective.
"She's still alive, Walker. She's still alive." Carlos fought his emotions, swallowing hard as they welled within him.
Walker squeezed Carlos' shoulder softly before two paramedics rushed between them. Carlos knew he had to let go and did so quickly, standing back to his full height as the man and woman did their job…saving a life.
Their voices seemed to jumble in Carlos' mind as he watched from the side. Both Walker and Trivette stood by his side as they waited for whatever would come next.
They quickly loaded her into the ambulance, the young brunette paramedic turning to Carlos. She hesitated a moment as she noticed the emotion in the man's eyes. "Would you like to ride along?"
Carlos didn't hesitate, nodding and following her into the back of the ambulance, leaving Walker and Trivette as they watched the vehicle speed away and into the distance with little hope left in the wake of its departure save that of a little girl who would be back in her mother's arms that very hour.
##
Carlos lingered at Katheryn's bedside, the hospital monitors' steady beeping slowly lulling him into another level of exhaustion. Several nurses filed in front of the door attending to other patients while the room settled into a calm all of its own. Yet despite the envied silence, Carlos looked to be sure they were completely alone before he gently reached a hand to stroke Katheryn's pale cheek just as he smiled.
"You know Trent's getting out of the hospital tomorrow. I know you wouldn't want to miss that." His smile tapered into a straight line, his gaze drifting away from the still unconscious young woman. A slight scoff played at his lips. "Before you came into my life I really wasn't sure what I was looking for in a girl. All I knew was that she was out there. And if I kept searching, I'd find the one. But then you came to me." Carlos laughed a bit, feeling a little foolish for talking that way. "Listen to me," he chided himself.
His thoughts seemed to drift at that point, his mind remembering the first day they met.
(flashback to "One Last Love")
Katheryn had estimated an approximate twenty minutes passed as she waited. She grew restless at one point and even contemplated following the detective. But she remained obedient nonetheless for her own good. She didn't want to jeopardize her own safety nor her acquaintanceship with the Rangers and the detective. She enjoyed the rush of battle and the heroic rescues. Katheryn chuckled to herself as she continued to wait. Perhaps the thrill was just the storyteller side of her speaking.
Her thoughts nearly roamed onward but were interrupted as she looked up to see Detective Sandoval returning to the car.
"Is everyone all right?" she asked with care as the detective got into the car and shut the door.
He nodded. "Yeah. One of the patrons had gotten into a fight with one the robbers in efforts to defend the place. But he will be alright." Sandoval reached a hand to put the car in drive but hovered over the device apprehensively. With a wrinkled forehead and tightened lips, he slowly drew his hand back, unable to complete the task.
"What's wrong?" the young woman grew concerned.
"Um," the detective tried in vain to dismiss the thought as he reached to put the car in drive once again. And again he could not.
A parting in the clouds above allowed a flood of Texas sunlight to beam down upon where they sat helpless to the unknown thoughts at hand.
He sighed. "I just wanted to say I'm…I'm proud of what you did today."
Katheryn lifted her eyes to meet his as surprise beset her.
"You didn't…shriek…or anything," the detective continued cautiously, scratching his head softly as a diversion.
"Why would I have done that?" she raised her eyebrows playfully.
"It's just," he struggled to find the words, "Not many…women…act that way."
"Act what way?"
"Calm," he quickly interjected but then drew back. "I've yet to know many young ladies who could be calm under fire except those few that are in the police force." He concluded with a sigh as if those words had been built up within him for hours.
"I see," she responded, turning her head to look out of her passenger window. She smiled. Little had she known how good of a reflection the window could put off. Her smile faded evenly on purpose as she returned to face the detective. "I must be honest also. My opinion of law enforcement has been blemished too. I used to think that the only friendly kind were the ones on television. That it couldn't exist in real life. I, um, I was wrong about that."
He nodded, absorbing her words as she spoke. "Well, all I know is that if you ever want to try your hand at entering the police force, I won't stop you."
Katheryn chuckled. "I don't know about that." Her laugh faded into a smile. "I think I would best be suited supporting someone else who was in law enforcement…as—as a—as a friend." She tried in earnest, hoping her words had not sounded like what she feared.
"If you say so." detective Sandoval freely put the car in drive and accelerated. A smile played at his lips as they propelled forward. His eyes glanced to his right side only once as admiration overcame him.
(end flashback)
Carlos felt a gentle touch hovering over his hand, bringing him out of the deep reverie from the past. He smiled broadly, turning to see Katheryn's eyes gently opening towards him. Carlos sniffed hard and sat up a bit straighter, tightening his grip on her hand with little suppression of the joy he tried to stifle. "Hey, there. Welcome back."
Katheryn turned her head gently and felt the tears welling to her eyelids, blurring her vision as she saw Carlos' smile and felt his hand secured around hers. "Hi," she managed weakly. Then the entire ordeal came rushing through her mind, reminding her with the subtle sting of pain that seized her right arm and shoulder. She was thankful that her left side had not been effect as she continued to feel Carlos' grip. Somehow she didn't ever want him to let go.
"Is Alice okay?"
Carlos stifle a chuckled, reaching his free thumb to banish a tear that tried escaping. "You almost died in my arms, and you still think of others."
Katheryn tried smiling but found it difficult. "Well? Is she okay?"
Carlos finally nodded. "Yeah. Walker and Trivette took her back to Ranger Headquarters to meet up with Ranger Hunt and Laurie." He glanced at his watch. "Alex took them both to her apartment to stay so that Molly could come up here."
Katheryn wrinkled her forehead. "How long have I been asleep?"
"About twelve hours. The doc had to take that bullet out. You've been in recovery from surgery since this afternoon."
"What time is it now?"
"Almost midnight. The Malloys headed for home around nine. Molly didn't want to leave you, but I promised I would take good care of you."
Although she wanted to insist Carlos go home and get his own rest, Katheryn couldn't take her eyes off of Carlos' gentle smile as he got her caught up on the hours she had missed. "What about Andy?
"Walker and Trivette transferred him to DPD. He's probably warming a bunk of jail cell right about now."
Katheryn's eyes lowered. "How's Josephine dealing with it all?"
"The judge released her into Alex's custody. She's staying at the H.O.P.E. center last I heard. She'll have a hearing before Judge Ortiz next week hopefully."
"That's good," Katheryn let herself relax, closing her eyes gently as she let the weight of her head sink into the pillow. Everything seemed to be back to normal, at least for the world outside. Still she stirred inwardly, questioning why she was laying in the hospital bed instead of helping Alex with Jo or seeing to Trent as he was discharged from the same hospital. And yet despite all her anger, she couldn't help but feel a bit of remorse. For she was alive. And if for nothing else, for that she had everything to be thankful for.
Opening her eyes once more, she decided it was well worth the effort to try giving Carlos' hand a slight squeeze this time. She waited for him to lift his gaze back to her, taking notice of the pleasure in his eyes before she spoke again. "You know, you owe me a kiss."
"Oh, I do?" Carlos raised an eyebrow, stroking her hand with his other free hand while keeping a broad smile at bay as he remembered what he had said while they were in pursuit of Andy that morning.
"Yep," Katheryn grinned.
"Well," Carlos fixed his eyes on hers. "Looks like you have something to get better for."
"Are you saying I have to wait?"
Carlos raised Katheryn's hand to his lips and kissed it before letting it go quite reluctantly, those few moments of utter horror from early today playing over and over in his mind like a nightmare he wished he could get rid of forever. "Yeah." He ambled across the hospital room, pausing in the doorway to look back at Katheryn with yet another smile playing at his lips. "You rest. Because the sooner you're better, the sooner I can square my account."
##
Alex Cahill traced a firm step across the halls of the Tarrant County courthouse, her eyes narrowed and her stride even while she prepared herself for the moment she would finally be putting Anderson Faulkner in his place once and for all. With all the evidence they had, it would be him losing the case this time. Even as she strode around the corner and caught a glimpse of Faulkner and his client huddled by the courtroom entrance, she could sense the tension between them. Faulkner was clearly nervous, his eyes batting open and shut as he tried calming his angry client down when it was really himself who was the more nerved of them both. Either way, he knew he was fighting a losing battle. Faulkner paused, raising a hand to Daniel to be quiet before he looked at Alex, those piercing green eyes giving Alex a chill up her spine as she stood motionless afar off.
Alex took a deep breath before pressing a free hand against the courtroom door, making her way into the rather cool and vast room as she firmly strode up the aisle to her place at the front of the courtroom on her left. She gave Laurie's shoulder a brief squeeze, offering a bit of a smile as she stopped next to her and set her briefcase on the table. She reached inside to retrieve the necessary article, scattering them in an orderly fashion before as she always did just in time as Judge Prather entered the courtroom.
"All rise for the honorable Judge Prather!" the bailiff announced in a loud, thundering voice.
Alex and Laurie stood immediately, their eyes following the judge respectfully as he settled into his place on the bench while Faulkner and Daniel rushed to secure their posts, having been caught late. At least that would be the least of their concerns, Alex briefly thought as she cast a glance their way, watching as Faulkner nervously fumbled to contain the case he knew was lost.
"You may be seated," Judge Prather cleared his throat and slipped on his reading glasses, allowing for a moment of tension-filled silence while he read over the papers in front of him.
"Miss Cahill," the Judge lifted his gaze to the right with his hands folded in front of him. "I understand you have evidence you wish to present in the case of Maston versus Daniel. Am I right?"
"Yes, your honor." Alex stood to her feet and picked up the first paper in her small stack, slipping out from behind the desk and making a straight line for Judge Prather. "This, your honor, is the testimony of a young woman named Josephine Morris who was involved with a young man of whom it is believed that Mr. Anderson Faulkner used to sabotage this case for his own good."
Various mumbles of shock drifted throughout the now still courtroom. It was clear that a strong allegation had been dropped by the defense counsel in lieu of a chance at compromise with the other side.
"Miss Cahill," Judge Prather sighed. "Do you realize the nature of your accusations towards your opponent?!"
Alex remained unmoved, her eyes set upon the judge. "Absolutely, your honor." She then turned briefly to face Faulkner. "I take it very seriously when a man stoops to a new low just to win a case and gain accolades."
"Objection, your honor!" Faulkner sprang from his seat, sending the chair tumbling behind him as he pleaded with the judge, arm outstretched.
"Be seated, Faulkner!" the judge demanded with a soft scowl beneath his breath, sighing upward as he turned back to Alex. "Miss Cahill, such strong allegations must be backed by sufficient evidence that this case has been sabotaged. And the word of some young woman won't do."
"I understand," Alex exhaled and returned to the desk, reaching inside her (file holder) to where a small notebook remained. She returned to the bench with a sly smile gracing her lips as she extended the item to the judge. "This was found among the belongings of a young man who was apprehended several days ago for kidnapping and a connection to the illegal dealings of Mr. Anderson Faulkner."
The judge took the item from Miss Cahill and flipped through it, surveying its contents and studying it very thoroughly before his mien seemed to change. His eyes were brighter and his posture light. After several intense moments of silence, Alex returned to her place by Laurie, offering the young woman a promising look of hope as they watched Judge Prather take a deep breath.
"It is the opinion of this court that enough evidence exists to take Mr. Faulkner into custody on the charge of conspiracy to kidnapping. Therefore, that leaves you without proper legal counsel and no claim to a proper case in my courtroom." Judge Prather struck his gavel down with a loud thundering echo. "I am dismissing this case, leaving custody of Alice Maston to her mother for the time being until you can show this court that you have suitable representation."
Miss Cahill and Laurie were all smiles as they embraced quickly before watching as Faulkner was led away in handcuffs by security, leaving Daniel in a heap of anger and shock as he uttered a few unkind comments towards anyone who happened to be listening before resting his gaze on Laurie.
Little Alice ran to her mother from her place in the audience next to Ranger Trivette and leapt into her arms, wrapping her hands around Laurie's neck with little thought to letting go for a long time to come.
"This isn't over." Daniel snarled beneath his breath.
"Oh, yes, it is." Laurie forced a smile as she proceeded away from the courtroom alongside Miss Cahill. For in her mind, this was an affair of the past. Although for a brief moment she couldn't deny the fear that perhaps one day her ex-boyfriend might try to come for Alice again. It was something she may indeed have to face again. Until then, she knew there was much to be done in her own life to get it on the track it needed to be on.
Also, Laurie couldn't help but wonder if Josephine Morris might need the support of someone who knew what she was going through. She made an effort to tuck away that thought in her mind, promising herself that she'd support Jo in any way she could as the date for her hearing drew nearer and her road to a better life slowly opened before her...if only Jo would be willing to take that first step and let them help her just like Laurie was helped those few years ago.
##
Very little could keep the Malloy kids on the veranda next to Molly, Roscoe, and Adam as they spotted Carlos' Durango nearing 118 Providence Way. Tandy's eyes lit up with an equally broad grin while Ty smiled and waved, barely seeing his mom's figure in the passenger seat of the vehicle as the twosome bounded from the porch and scurried across the yard to the driveway just as Carlos brought the SUV to a stop.
Carlos couldn't hide his own smiles as he removed his keys from the ignition and opened the door, the little one's shouts of joy becoming louder as he did so. Mrs. Malloy had since made her way from the other side of the vehicle to Carlos side as he opened the backseat door for Trent before slipping away to the rear of the vehicle to quickly retrieve a wheelchair.
Trent squinted a bit as he glanced weakly over the lawn before noticing Tandy and Ty's bright smiles shining upon him. For a moment he wasn't sure if the sunlight or their faces were shining brighter. With his mother's help, Trent slowly stepped out of the backseat onto the paved driveway, his eyes briefly scanning upward at the welcoming committee on the porch before Carlos arrived with the wheelchair.
Carlos hurried to help Mrs. Malloy, directing Trent into the wheelchair where Trent gladly let his weight fall.
Trent could feel a touch of anger rising in him as he realized just how weak he really was. But the smiles coming from all around him wouldn't allow him to stay depressed for very long. He instantly knew with a renewed flash of a smile shining across his face that he wouldn't stay weak for long with all the love and support he had around him. He then felt a bit foolish for even letting the thought come into his mind that he wouldn't be able to recover. Can't would never find a proper place in his vocabulary.
"Welcome home, Trent!" Roscoe called as he descended the steps and met Trent with a firm handshake while Carlos wheeled him to the side entrance.
"It's good to be home, Roscoe." Trent smiled and shook Roscoe's hand twice and strong before getting hugs from Tandy and Tyler. "Oh, I've missed you two," he chuckled. "You haven't been getting into any trouble have you?" Trent shook hands with Tommy before the younger reached in for a quick hug.
"No, not that much. Except…I did get my driver's license. So you never know." Tommy feigned a maniacal laugh as Trent punched him gently on the shoulder.
"Geez, I get laid up for a week or two, and you all go and change things on me." Trent turned a smile to them all.
"Oh, not that much has changed," Molly assured Trent with a pat on the shoulder, pausing to look him lovingly in the eyes.
"You just have to focus on getting well so that you can testify at Foley's trial in a few weeks," Carlos was sure to mention as he slapped Trent on the shoulder from behind.
Tommy raised his eyebrows in unison. "And you'll want to be able to travel to San Antonio to cheer on Sally next week, right?"
Trent nodded, unable to say no by a long shot.
"That means total bedrest," Mrs. Malloy added, squeezing Trent's shoulder softly.
"Guys, I've been in bed long enough," Trent argued.
"Uh-uh! No arguments!" Tandy pointed her little finger at Trent. "If you're gonna get better, you have to do what we say."
"Alright, then." Trent lifted both hands in surrender, letting Carlos wheel him carefully into the house. He glanced a bit longingly at the staircase as Carlos passed it by, wishing he could be in his own room instead of the makeshift one set up in the living room off of the dining room. But then he thought back on Tandy's words with a grin and concluded he'd make do and count his blessings.
"How's Katheryn?" Katie took advantage of the moment as Carlos stopped by the kitchen a few minutes later to get Trent a glass of water.
Carlos managed a smile. "She'll be okay, thank God. Doc says she can go home in a few days if she stays on this track."
"That's good," Katie smiled. "I can't tell you how much fear I felt when Detective Kelly called us yesterday. It was almost like when we found out Trent…" She paused, unable to complete her sentence. "That girl is family, Carlos." Katie reached out a hand to his arm. "You two are so blessed to have each other. Don't take a day of life for granted. Don't take her for granted either."
Carlos sniffed a tear away, feeling his macho self slowly slipping from his grasp as he took in Mrs. Malloy's comforting words. "Believe me, that girl means the world to me."
Katie simply smiled, conveying her approval with that one simple gesture before she slipped back across her home to be with the rest of her family. She found Tandy and Ty talking Trent's ear off with every little story of what had happened in their lives during the short time he was in the hospital. From school report cards to scraped knees…nothing was left out.
Carlos stood in the entrance of the Malloy's kitchen unable to stir for a brief moment as he looked upon the distant scene taking place in the sun-lit living room ahead. He scoffed gently amid a smile as he took a moment to breathe a prayer of thanks that he'd been given his two best friends back when he thought they both were gone from his life. For the love of family whether kin or not, he concluded with a gently-growing smile, is the greatest love there is.
