The Reunion

“Press here!” she directed her father. For the first time in her life, she saw fear in his eyes. She knew it was not because of the men with guns. He’d faced that fear before. Now his family was involved, it was hitting too close to home.

“How is she?” asked Gateway, his voice quivering.

“She’s alive, Dad,” said Becky again checking Kathy’s pulse. “Other than that I wouldn’t want to guess. She’s hurt bad. The bullet went all the way through. It appears to have missed the heart, but I can’t tell if there’s any artery damage.”

“She’ll be okay though, right?” asked her father.

For the first time Becky heard her daughter crying behind her. She turned to find Sarah in the arms of Catherine Smith. She returned her attention back to the wounded woman. She was handed more linens which she placed on the exit wound as she rolled Kathy onto her back.

“I hope she’ll be all right, Dad,” she said pulling his hand away from the wound. “She’s hurt bad and needs to get to the hospital before I can tell for sure.”

Blood was soaked through the folded linen napkin. She removed it looking at the wound closely. The bleeding appeared to be slowing. She held her hand out. “Can I have more napkins, please?’

Several napkins were placed in her hands, which she placed on the wound.

“Thank you,” she said simply.

“You’re welcome,” responded a familiar voice with a thick Irish accent.

Becky froze, not wanting to look up. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them. She found herself face to face with her ex-husband. He stood over her smiling, handsome as ever. Standing next to him was the manager who stopped by their table the night before. She was carrying a sub-machine gun, a crazed look in her eyes.