Chapter 51

An hour later, Angel was reunited with Total. Total flew into her arms, bad leg and all, and they both cried a river of tears.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Total exclaimed. "I thought I was a goner!"

"Um, Total,… you were unconscious," I reminded him.

"Hmmph," Total pouted as he curled up in Angel's arms. "Well at least Akila was here to listen to me. She understands my pain."

This was too easy.

"That's because Akila can't talk," I said. "But I am sure if she could talk, she'd tell you to quit your whining."

"Max!" Angel exclaimed.

Whoops. There's that effect of no sleep for approximately forty-eight hours coming back to haunt me. Normally, I would have kept thoughts like that to myself. I bent down next to Total and stroked his head.

"Sorry, Total," I said quietly. "I know this has been an ordeal for you. And I am glad to see you are in better spirits."

He gazed at me with his large round puppy-dog eyes and decidedly licked my face. I made an ick face, then realized Total may not appreciate that so I patted his head and stood up before I turned around and dramatically scrubbed the dog germs off of my lips.

We had gathered in the waiting room of a modest-sized veterinarian's office. My mom embraced me with a bear hug that I would never tire of.

"What happened to you?!" she gasped. One look at mine and Fang's discolored facial features explained the delay of our phone call.

"Ran into some old friends," I said quickly.

"Well, I'm glad to see you in one piece," mom offered quietly. "Let me introduce you to Dr. Lydia McKenzie. She is an old friend of mine from college. And she assisted with Total."

Dr. McKenzie held out her hand and I shook it.

"You must be Max," she stated warmly. "Dr. Martinez has told me all about you."

I glanced at my mom skeptically.

"She knows about the wings, Max," my mom replied as she gently grazed my purple-tinted jaw. "I had to fill her in a little after we got Total on the table."

I nodded as my mom continued with introductions of the flock. They all shook Dr. McKenzie's hand as well – even Fang. Dr. McKenzie turned back to me.

"I recognized Total as soon as he was brought in," Dr. McKenzie explained. "I saw you on the six o'clock news last week." I observed her readjust as she attempted not to let too much awe creep into her voice. "You're amazing."

An awkward silence followed. I looked around the room and my eyes laid rest on Ella who was sleeping peacefully on a love seat.

"I'm sorry about tonight," I said quietly.

"Ella and I are fine," my mom said knowingly. "And it's certainly not your fault. What happened back there anyway?"

Just then, Jeb and Dr. Papa entered the waiting area through the lobby entrance. Dr. Papa was fiddling with his cell phone.

"I still can't get a hold of Melanie," he declared, placing his cell phone in his back pocket.

I tensed and looked at Fang.

"Don't think that's going to happen," I stated flatly as I returned my gaze to Dr. Papa. He scrunched his nose narrowed his eyebrows. I continued, "She set the bomb."

My mom gasped as Dr. Papa's eyes grew wide. Jeb's face registered a hint of surprise.

"How?" Dr. Papa exclaimed incredulously. "Why?"

I slowly explained our confrontation with Melanie. As I finished, Dr. Papa lowered his head and shook it.

"Brigid was supposed to accompany me on this trip. Melanie coerced me into bringing her," he said quietly as he looked at us. "I'm sorry. I had no idea."

"None of us did," I responded. I sort of half-wished Brigid would have been here instead too.

A moment later Dr. Papa glanced around at all of us and said, " I guess I need to get back to the city. I have a two o'clock flight out of JFK this afternoon."

"Oh, dear," my mom said quickly. "Ella. I need to get her back today." She glanced at her watch. "We're supposed to leave around noon. Maybe I can reschedule our flight."

An emptiness began to creep its way into my stomach. It could be a long time before I saw my mom again. I swallowed hard and turned to my mom.

"Guess you should get going then," I said quickly.

She took my hand and gazed at me.

"I'll meet you out in California in a few days," she reassured me and pulled me into a long embrace. "We'll have another double date."

I felt Fang glance my way and saw Iggy's ears perk up as a hint of a smile crept onto my face.

I stamped out Iggy's thoughts quickly as I shook my head and said," Just Ben and Jerry, Ig." I licked my bottom lip and sighed. "Mmmm… Ben and Jerry's."