“I guess I’d better talk to Cara. Would you send her to me?” She made a face. “Though I should really get up and go to her. It’s ridiculous that I’m still lolling in this bed. I shouldn’t have given in and let you talk me into a full exam. You know those idiotic tests aren’t going to find anything, Joe.”
“Can’t be too careful. I figured it couldn’t hurt. You’re always too busy to go in to see the doctor.” He headed for the door. “We’ll get the results in another hour or so.”
“Joe.”
He looked over his shoulder. “Yes.”
“Come back here.”
He tilted his head as he saw her expression. “Delighted.” He whirled, and the next moment, he was beside her, lifting her, kissing her. “Hey, did I forget something?”
“No, I did.” She kissed him again. “I forgot to tell you that most of the time you meet my every wish and that I’m damn grateful.” She pushed him away. “And that I love you, Joe Quinn.”
“Most of the time?”
“You were supposed to stay in San Francisco at that hospital. Instead, you came flying up here smack in the middle of the fray. That was definitely not according to what I wanted, and you know it.”
“Yep, but you knew there was a strong possibility. I’ll just have to make it up to you in other ways to lull you into forgetting it.” He straightened and turned toward the door. “And I’ll start doing that right away, after I send Cara in to see you.”
*
“So what do you say, Cara?” Eve asked quietly. “Is it something you might want to do?”
She didn’t speak for a moment. “I’d live with you?”
“At least for a while. You wouldn’t have to be committed to us for the long haul. We could try it out and see how you liked it.”
“And how you’d like it.”
Eve nodded. “We’re pretty much strangers. I don’t see why we wouldn’t get along, but it’s better that we make it a trial run.”
“You wouldn’t send me back to Mexico?”
“No, that wouldn’t be best for you. Why? Do you wish to go back?”
“No, Elena told me that I mustn’t ever go back there.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember anything about it except being with Jenny and Elena. But she said it would be bad for me, that I would be hurt.”
“Joe and I think that’s true. But it might be difficult for us to keep you from being sent back. That’s why we thought that you should change your name. Okay?”
“Again?” Cara nodded. “If that’s what you want. I don’t care.”
“Does that mean that you’re willing to come to live with us?”
“Of course it does. I told you that I wouldn’t leave you, that I’d hold on as long as you let me.” Her voice was suddenly fierce. “And I don’t care about all that trial business. I’ll be so good that you’ll want to keep me. Jenny told me that you’ll need me, and I have to be there for you.”
“Cara, come here.” She held out her hand. “It goes two ways.” She drew the girl into her arms and held her. Cara didn’t fight her, but her body was stiff and unyielding. It might be a long time before she would be able to physically respond to anyone after the death of her Elena. She had told Joe it might be difficult to bring her into their home. Don’t force her. Everything must be slow and easy. She released her and smiled into her eyes. “I know you love Jenny, but this is between you and Joe and me. Can you start thinking of it like that?”
Cara nodded jerkily. “If that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want.” She kissed her on the cheek and released her. “Now let’s make a list of everything that you’ll need from your apartment. Don’t worry about clothes. We’ll take care of that when we get home to Atlanta. Any personal items?”
She shook her head. “I don’t need anything. Only my violin. Elena would have taken it, but you said everything in her car was burned.”
“Yes, it was. We’ll get you another violin.”
A brilliant smile lit her face. “Thank you.”
They couldn’t take away the music, Jenny had said.
And no one must take away Cara’s music, either.
“You’re welcome. I look forward to hearing you play.”