Mike opened his eyes and saw Maggy smiling down at him. 

“Well, if it isn’t Rumple-Stilt-Skin. Welcome back to the land of the living,” she said.

He glanced around the room. It was already dark, the room lit only by the bedside lamp.

“What time is it?” Mike asked.

“Six.”

“Jeez,” Mike noticed. “I slept an awful long time.”

“Longer than you think,” Maggy said and smiled mischievously.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s six o’clock Thursday evening.”

“What? I’ve got to get out of here. I have things I need to do.”

He tried to rise and noticed the striped sleeve. He looked at Maggy. “Whose?”

“The pajamas are Chief’s. When we all realized you could be sleeping here for quite awhile, Doc suggested we change you into something that would afford a little more circulation.”

“I see,” Mike said quietly. “And who–?”

“Why, I did, my darling. And I might add, I thoroughly enjoyed it.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

She answered him with a smug smile.

“You are kidding?”

This time a nod and an arch of a brow accompanied the brilliant smile.

“Terrific,” Mike muttered.

Maggy’s expression turned serious. “How do you feel?”

“Fine. Could you help me up?”

“No. You are not to leave this bed. Doctor’s orders.”

“Maggy, will you help me up, please?”

“I told you–”

“I know, but you don’t expect me–”

“Yes, I do. I’ll bring up your supper and you will eat in bed. There is no reason for you to get up.”

Mike stared at her, then in a calm, direct voice he said, “Maggy. I need to use the bathroom. Will you please help me up?”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess that’s different.”

She helped him to a seated position. “I made you a sling for your arm. Stay put and I’ll get it along with a robe.”

Maggy was gone only briefly before returning with a plaid wool robe and an altered pillow case. She tied the linen around Mike’s neck and helped place the arm into position.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked as he winced.

“Not much,” he lied.

After the arm was set into the sling, Maggy draped the robe around Mike and again sat down facing him.

“Are you sure you’re all right? I could get a bed pan–”

“–Don’t even,” Mike broke in, “finish that sentence.”

Maggy nodded. When she continued to delay her aid, Mike prompted her by attempting to stand on his own. Noticing his move, Maggy placed herself under his uninjured arm and pulled him to his feet. Together they left Kelly’s room and made their way down the hall to the bathroom.

Once there, Maggy opened the door and led him inside. Mike, bracing himself with the washbasin, waited for her to leave.

“You going to be okay in here? I could get Joe to hel–”

“Maggy,” Mike answered in the same uncompromising tone he used earlier. “Leave me just a little dignity, will you?”

She smiled and nodded, then turned to leave. “Call me when you’re through,” she said over her shoulder. She paused at the door and turned to face him. “And don’t lock the door, just in case you fall on that fool head of yours.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Joe and Kelly were keeping themselves busy at the kitchen table. Kelly, who had long since finished the homework Joe had brought for her, was coloring in a book- careful to stay as far out of the lines as possible. Joe was reading a comic book. They both looked up when Maggy entered and watched her as she went about preparing Mike’s supper.

“He finally up?” Joe asked.

Maggy turned and nodded him the affirmative.

Kelly began to rise from her chair when Maggy halted her.

“Don’t you go bother him, now,” she said. “He still needs his rest.”

“But I just want to talk to him.”

“He’s going to eat, then go back to sleep. Doctor’s orders.”

“Yessum,” Kelly answered, slipping back into her chair and resuming her scribbling.

Maggy returned to Kelly’s room and set the tray on the bedside table. Then she made her way back down the hall.

At the bathroom she knocked quietly on the door.

“C’mon in, Mag,” Mike answered.

He was at the washbasin, his legs slightly spread for balance, as he splashed his face with cool water. She handed him a towel and watched him dry off.

“Did the water help any?” she asked after putting up the towel and once again taking his weight.

“No. I still feel like shit.”

“I brought up some soup, it should make you feel better.”

Mike stopped his efforts at walking, forcing Maggy to stop. She turned to face him. “What’s the matter?” she asked. Mike noted the concern in her eyes.

He smiled. “Soup wasn’t exactly what I had in mind to make me feel better.”

The arm around Maggy’s neck pulled her closer as Mike leaned against the wall for additional support. The hallway was dark, only the somber light of Kelly’s bedroom lamp filtered into the darkness.

“Come here,” Mike whispered. He drew her to himself and their lips met. The pain in Mike’s arm was pushed aside. He felt his heart beat faster, pumping his blood through his veins. He pushed his tongue into Maggy’s mouth and played with her tongue. The feeling of her warm body was almost more than he could take. He became light headed and dizzy. He pulled away and drew in a lungful of air. He whispered. “Maybe I’d better go lie down.”

Maggy took his weight once more and led down the hall. She noticed Mike trembled slightly. She pushed the door open wider and led Mike to the bed where she lowered him gently. Then she helped him out of the robe and pulled the blanket up to his waist. Once he was settled back against the pillows, she put the tray onto his lap.

“Would you like me to feed you?” she teased, arching her eyebrows at him.

Mike cracked a smile. “No, but I think I would like another kiss.”

“Why, Mike Flannery, you are shameful!”

“Easy, Mag, I’m injured. You wouldn’t want to stunt my recovery, would you?”

“No.”

“Then kiss me.”

She sat at the edge of the bed and leaned over the tray, careful not to upset its contents. Then she kissed him, full on the lips, passionately, lovingly. The events of the last few days were forgotten in the kiss. All that mattered was that they were together, finally, alone in the safety and warmth of the lamplight and the fading sun outside.

Maggy felt Mike’s hand gently stroking the back of her head, playing with her hair. Her skin tingled at his touch. That quiver spread through her, forcing the small hairs on her arms to rise. Her toes curled uncontrollably. Her heart raced. It was as though a current ran through her, put in motion by his touch. She surrendered to his gentle touch as she began to ache for him.

Maggy pulled away and looked deeply into his eyes. He gently caressed her cheek.

“I love you,” he whispered.

At first Maggy just stared, trying to understand the whirl of emotions and sensations that were flooding her brain at once. Then she again leaned in and kissed him softly. “I love you too,” she whispered in his ear.

Maggy sat back into the rocker. “You better eat now,” she said quietly, her voice trembling as she attempted to regain her composure. “You need to get your strength back.”

Mike nodded and set his spoon into the bowl. He had swallowed several spoonfuls before regarding Maggy. She was flushed and her hair was slightly out of place. To Mike she was radiant.

“So fill me in on the last thirty hours. Where’s Chief?”

Maggy looked at him. “Well,” she began. “Just about the time Kelly came down to inform us you had nodded off to oblivion, the hospital called–”

“Hank’s out of his coma?” Mike interjected.

“Yes. Chief and Sergeant Moss went down to question him yesterday afternoon. They didn’t get back in until well after nightfall. They went straight to Chief’s office and closed the door. Two hours later Chief came darting out; went straight to the phone and placed a call to Melrose. He set up an appointment with Dr. Freedman.”

“Freedman? What’s going on?”

“I don’t know. They haven’t said anything to me about it. They’re in Melrose now.”

Mike nodded. “I see,” he whispered, feeling sidelined. “So what else is new?” he asked to change the subject.

“Not much. Miss Elly came over to finish her sewing. She kept an eye on you while I took Kelly with me into Springdale.”

“What for?”

“Pick up your tux–”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“For all I knew, you could have slept clear into Friday and not have been able to do it yourself. Besides, I wanted to get Kelly out of the house. I think she’s going stir crazy.”

Mike smiled. “Well, thanks for the favor.”

“It was my pleasure.”

“So, who really dressed me in these?” Mike said indicating the pajamas.

Maggy laughed. “It really bothers you, doesn’t it?”

“I just don’t want to feel I missed anything. Had it been you, I’d feel quite disappointed at missing the event.”

Again Maggy laughed. Then, shaking her head at him, she answered, “Doc did the honors. Chief and Sergeant Moss had already left for the hospital. He went up to check on you before leaving himself and decided you’d sleep a lot better if your blood was able to circulate, especially seeing as you had precious little of it left.”

Mike nodded. “I see,” he said. “So what else went on while I was busy circulating blood?”

Maggy continued to fill Mike in on the events of the previous day, while Mike finished his soup. She described her day in Springdale with Kelly and the numerous errands they ran, which concluded with sharing ice cream at the Springdale Ice Cream Shoppe. Her narration continued with Middleton gossip and numerous other chitchat. Mike didn’t pay as much attention to what she said as he did to the way she said it; the sparkle in her brown eyes, the creases at the corners of her lips when she smiled and the way the light pulled honey highlights from her rich brown hair. Her voice rose and fell with the musical rhythm of Mozart’s Sonata. He was deeply contemplating another kiss when there was a quiet tap on the door and Joe stood in the doorway.

“What is it Joe?” Maggy asked.

Joe darted a look at Mike, then turned to his sister. “I think you’d better come down.”

“What’s happened?”

Mike caught a twinge of fear in her voice.

“It’s Kelly–”

“Is she all right?”

“She’s...well.....”

“What Joe?”

“She’s in a fight.”

“A fight!” Maggy exclaimed. “With who?”

Again Joe glanced at Mike. “With..uh..”

“Joey!” Maggy broke him away.

“Miss Celban.”

“What!” Maggy turned to Mike. “Excuse me, Mike.”

He nodded but didn’t fail to catch the humor in the circumstances. Maggy flashed him a sharp look, which was unsuccessful at wiping the smile from his lips.

© Copyright 2025 C J Driftwood. All rights reserved.