The woman turned to look at them and Will's heart stuttered. She was exactly as he remembered. A bit older, yes, but just a beautiful.
She frowned, obviously wondering why two shabby, homeless men had been allowed into the room. She looked between them, her gaze returning to Will a second time. There was a flare of recognition.
Instantly she was on her feet and in front of him. Pounding her fists on his chest, she cried out, "Why didn't you save him? Isn't it bad enough you let my brother die? Now my son?" She continued to beat his chest for a long moment. Then, sobbing uncontrollably, she fell against him.
He wrapped his arms around her, murmuring, "I tried, Mira. God, how I tried. Even though I didn't… I didn't know who… I tried."
"He did," Mick said quietly, "but…"
Mira glanced at him before looking up at Will. "Who is he? He's so young. Why is he with you?"
Without replying, he took her hand and led her back to the chair beside Kevin's bed. While she sat, he stood, looking down at the badly beaten young man. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked her, trying to rein in a sudden flare of anger.
"How could I? You disappeared right after Danny was killed. I didn't—" she took a deep breath, "—I didn't even know I was pregnant when…when that happened."
"I'm sorry," Will whispered. "I tried to help him but I was too late. Too late."
"You're always too late," she replied scathingly.
"No, he's not!" Mick took two steps closer to where she sat. "He's helped… He saved a lot of people."
She gave him an angry look. "What do you know about it?"
"I've been with him for a while now. He saved a boy from being kidnapped. He saved—" Mick's eyes widened suddenly, "—saved me from ending up just like your son because…because he saw what was going to happen." Turning to Will, he said, "Didn't you?"
Will nodded, his gaze still locked on Kevin. Gently he touched his cheek as he asked Mira, "What do the doctors say?"
"He'll heal. It will take time but there's no permanent damage."
"Thank God."
"Physically," she said. "Mentally…" Her eyes welled with tears again.
"I know. I know," Will replied softly. "But he'll have you to help him through."
Mira closed her eyes for a moment, obviously trying to regain her composure. "And his father?"
"How can I?" Will asked, as he searched for the words that he needed to say. "Look at me, Mira. Do you think he'd want me in his life?"
"Don't you think that's for him to decide?"
Will shook his head. "I wish it was."
She looked bewildered. "Why isn't it? Just because you're…you're…" She seemed to be looking for the right word.
"Homeless? A bum? A leech on society?" Will smiled slightly. "Shall I go on?"
"You don't have to be," she protested. "You were a good man once. You can be that man again."
"He is a good man!" Mick stated emphatically. "He took me in and is helping me make something of myself."
Mira looked at Mick doubtfully but still smiled a bit. "He has that sort of instinct. That's why he was…"
"A teacher," Will said emphatically, praying Mira wouldn't make a liar out of him.
"Yes," she said hesitantly, her gaze questioning him. "A very good…teacher."
No comments:
Post a Comment