Gun Games - Faye Kellerman [130]
“Yes, it is.” The ponytailed piano teacher was in his fifties. He came over to Gabe’s bedside. “How are you doing?”
The question seemed to stump him. “I dunno.” A pause. “I feel kinda . . . high.”
“High is okay. You just get better,” Nick told him. “This morning’s phone call took ten years off my life.”
“Both of us,” Rina said. “It was . . . shocking.”
Gabe reached for his glasses, but winced in pain. Rina put his glasses on for him.
The boy grinned at his teacher. “Nick, Nick, Nick.” He giggled. “I fucked up big time, didn’t I?”
Nick said, “You are floating, my boy.”
“I think so, my man, I think so.”
“Demerol,” Rina said.
“I’m sorry I fucked up.” Gabe let out another giggle. “Jeff must be real pissed!”
“Jeff, like me, is concerned about your welfare, Gabriel.”
“I think we’re okay, then.” Gabe held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. “See. No collateral damage.”
Nick kissed the boy’s forehead. “Just get better.”
“Aw . . .” he said. “You care.”
Nick smiled at him. “I do care. I may be a stern taskmaster, but I do have a heart.”
“What a guy!” He gave a goofy grin. “Rina is kicking me out of the house. Can I live with you?”
“That is neither accurate nor fair.” She kissed his hand again. “No, you cannot live with Nick. We’ve already made arrangements with your dad.”
Nick said, “Anything you need, Gabriel?”
He started to say something, but his eyes stopped his mouth. Yasmine had walked through the door with her mother. She was still wearing her uniform from this morning. Her mother was wearing leggings under a shiny tunic and had on heels. Mom looked pissed off. He grinned at Yasmine. “Hi.”
“Hi.” There were tears in her eyes. “How do you feel?”
He let out a giggle. “It’s tolerable as long as I don’t move.” A deep blush rose in her cheeks. Uh-oh, he thought. Shouldna said that. But he couldn’t censor his mouth. “Isn’t she beautiful!” he said to no one in particular. “Isn’t she sexy!”
Nick extended his hand to Yasmine’s mother. “I’m Nicholas Mark, Gabriel’s piano teacher.”
The smile was tight. “Sohala Nourmand.” To Rina: a courteous hello.
Yasmine’s voice was small. “This is my mother, Gabe. You met her once before.”
“Hi, Mother.” Gabe gave her a lopsided grin. “You’ve got a beautiful daughter!”
Sohala said, “Thank you very much for helping her. I will never forget your bravery and kindness.”
Gabe continued to stare at Yasmine. “She is so gorgeous! So sexy!” He looked at Sohala. “I just love her!”
Sohala said, “I hope you get better very soon.”
Gabe’s eyes returned to Yasmine. “I love you.” A smile. “I totally . . . love you.” But instead of being happy, Yasmine started to cry. Gabe felt his own eyes watering up. “Ah . . . don’t cry, cuckoo bird. Everything is going to be terrific!”
Sohala said, “Please feel better, Gabriel.” She held her daughter’s hand very tightly. “I am so sorry for your pain. You know it has been a very long day. We must go now.”
“So soon?” Gabe’s voice fell.
“Another minute, Mommy,” Yasmine pled. “Please!”
“I’m sorry, but my family is waiting and we have much to explain,” Sohala said. “We come back another time.”
But Gabe knew there wouldn’t be another time.
“Mommy, please!” Yasmine begged.
But Sohala was resolute. She continued to grip her daughter’s hand. “Say good-bye, Yasmine, now!”
Yasmine swallowed back tears. “I love you, Gabriel.”
Gabe had turned somber. “I love you, too, Yasmine.” Sohala whisked her away. “Ba-bye,” he said to the empty doorway. Wet rills coursed down his cheeks. “Well, that totally sucked.”
Rina sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
Silence. Then Nick said, “I’ll come visit you once you’re out of the hospital.”
Gabe was still staring in space. “I’m moving to Nevada, remember.”
Nick turned to Rina. “Realistically, how long will that be?”
“I don’t know, Nick. It’s up to the lieutenant, and it’s also up to Gabe’s father.”
Nick nodded.