said.
And then he was gone.
Long after Gracie had gone to bed, she kept going over the day in her head, and the one thing that stood out was what it felt like to stand within the circle of John's embrace. It should have been awkward, but all it had felt was right. Like it was where she belonged.
It was after midnight, and John still sat on the back deck in the dark, watching the stars, listening to the night birds, and thinking about Gracie. She was the most broken soul he had ever known, and he already knew he would love her.
Forever.
Even if she never loved him back.
Chapter Fifteen
Joel was out of surgery and in a room, and Mamie was at his side, listening to all the machines hooked up to his body, beeping out pulse rates and heartbeats. They were talking to Mamie, telling her about him, while she kept watching his every move as if it might be his last.
The police had taken her statement.
The assailant had been transported to another hospital. She had no idea if he was alive or dead and didn't much care, as long as she never had to see him again.
Neighbors had helped clean her up and then had brought her to the hospital. One had stayed with her until Joel came through surgery, and now Mamie was alone.
She'd called her "best" friends, thinking they would flock to her, but she'd been wrong. They'd voiced sympathy, offered prayers, and then nothing. She kept thinking of what Joel had said. Maybe you need new friends. Maybe he was right.
What she did know was that right now, at this moment, she would give up every luxury they had to get Joel well and healthy, and the guilt was killing her. This was karma. Her karma for what she'd done to Gracie. And Joel was paying for it. It had yet to dawn on her that she'd saved both their lives.
She kept asking the police, even after they'd taken Joel away, how had the man gotten inside without setting off the security alarm? When they told her it had never been set, guilt ate at her again. Joel always set it, but they'd been fussing when they'd left to go to counseling. So, their discord had added to the chain of events that had let a monster into their home.
She had also not missed the coincidence of two people in the Dunham family suffering stabbings.
Mama had stabbed Gracie, and she'd fought back and saved herself.
A stranger had stabbed Joel, and Mamie had fought him, and because she had, she and Joel were still alive. She raised her chin and straightened the slump in her shoulders. Maybe she wasn't as useless as she'd believed herself to be.
Her phone vibrated. She glanced down at the screen. It was Daphne. Finally, she thought, and pulled up the text.
Oh my God! Mamie! I'm just catching up on messages. I ran over my phone at noon. Destroyed it. Spent the whole afternoon getting a new one and trying to transfer data, and your message pops up and I nearly had a heart attack. I'm texting instead of calling because I'm guessing you're in the hospital. Is Joel okay? Are you okay? Do you need me to come to Austin?
Mamie sighed. So, the question of why Daphne had never responded was now cleared up, and once again, she was reminded of how alone Gracie must have felt, going through one crisis after another alone. She took a deep breath, and then messaged her sister back.
He's out of surgery. No organ damage. I wasn't injured. Yes, I'm in his hospital room. He's sleeping. I'm not leaving here without him. No, don't come. After what I did to Gracie, I do not deserve the consideration of family to keep me company. I will let you know when we go home. Love you.
She hit Send, then dropped her phone back in her purse. Daphne sent another message, but Mamie didn't read it, and she didn't respond. This was her redeeming moment, and she wasn't going to screw up again.
Daphne was stunned by Mamie's refusal. Growing up, Mamie had never been able to do one thing on her own. She'd always had to have company along, telling her what was right and what was wrong. And she'd been just selfish enough to ignore anyone who told her something she didn't want to hear.
Daphne wasn't sure about Mamie assuming all of this was the hand of God