Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight Page A

eat took me further by surprise, and the relief I was feeling had to be written on my face.
     
    “ I’m always up for a greasy cheeseburger. If you’re near Tasty Burger, stop by and tell everyone that I’m doing okay.” Seth got up, stretched his arms high into the air and then leaned into me with a smile, put his lips to my ear, and whispered, “I miss you already.”
     
    As Seth approached the door to exit, Mom walked in. I could see her surprise at seeing Seth. He gave her a quick hug and told her I was doing better, that he would be back soon.
     
    She watched him disappear through the door, “Well, I guess I don’t have to ask you how you’re feeling. There is a spring in his step, so you must be in pretty good shape! Did he spend the night here after all?”
     
    “ I think so, I woke up sometime after midnight and he was in the chair.”
     
    “ I’m so glad, Lauren. I didn’t want to leave you alone last night in this place. I’m glad Seth is less fearful of your wrath,” she added with a smile. “Where is he off to so early?”
     
    “ I dunno, he just said he had an errand to run and asked if I wanted a cheeseburger.”
     
    She shook her head at me and added, “Well, you must be doing well if he’s running errands and getting you greasy food. You know how he hates fast food.”
     
    “ Dad says to tell you he loves you. Can I get you anything? Fluff your pillow, rearrange your flowers?” She was so nervous she couldn’t even make eye contact with me.
     
    Without sounding too abrupt, I asked, “Okay, Mom, I can tell when something is eating at you. Are you going to share it with me willingly or do I need to pull it out of you?”
     
    “ I’m fine. I’m glad to see you aren’t as groggy as yesterday. Do you feel better?” She seemed upbeat, but I could tell she had something she desperately needed to say.
     
    “ Mom, why do you do this? You know I can read you like a book. What’s wrong?”
     
    Her nervous smile subsided, and she admitted defeat, knowing that trying to hide anything from me was fruitless. “Oh, Lauren, we are all so worried about you. What with the television crews camped outside the house and the entrance to the hospital…The phone has been ringing non-stop; I had to call the phone company to put a block on our line for incoming calls. The police have come by the house several times to give us updates on their progress. They have a man in custody for shooting you.”
     
    “ Really, the police caught him already? That’s great! When?” No one had talked to me about the shooting since it happened, and I was thrilled with this tidbit of information.
     
    “ A few hours after it happened, I guess, while you were still in surgery. The mayor’s office called and wants to give you some sort of an award. The police said they need to take a statement from you when you are up to it. I have to confess I’m a little frazzled. Coming to the hospital to see you is the most peaceful part of my day.”
     
    I knew she was telling me what was on her mind, but she still didn’t hit the part that was bothering her. “There’s more that’s bothering you than phone calls and interviews. What else?” I hated dragging it out of her. I wished she would just get it over with and tell me why she was so upset.
     
    “ I never could hide anything from you, could I? I look at your indifference to the whole situation - I just don’t know if I should hug you for being so brave or shake you for putting yourself in that kind of danger. What could have possessed you to jump in front of a man with a gun?”
     
    The way she described it, I did sound reckless. “I’m sorry, Mom,” my voice hardly audible.
     
    “ I’m not looking for an apology, I just don’t understand. What possessed you to do such a thing?”
     
    “ I wasn’t trying to be a hero. I just knew that guy was dangerous and frustrated with the little kid standing by him. It didn’t seem like all that much of a