Love's Magic Collection - Books 1-5

Chapter 2

The next day passed quietly. Dana and Mary met in the cafeteria again and shared a table. They talked more about their children and their lives in Denton. They found out they had a lot in common. It helped both of them to have someone, who understood what they were going through, to talk to.

Mallie and Daniel spent their time together on their private beach. They sat and talked about their dreams and hopes. Mallie leaned on Daniel and he sat with his arm around her. He was beginning to have very strong feelings for her, and she seemed to be getting closer to him. He hoped so. He couldn’t stand to think the feelings were all one sided. Daniel rubbed his chin in Mallie’s hair on top of her head.

Mallie and Daniel spent their time together on their private beach. They sat and talked about their dreams and hopes. Mallie leaned on Daniel and he sat with his arm around her. He was beginning to have very strong feelings for her, and she seemed to be getting closer to him. He hoped so. He couldn’t stand to think the feelings were all one sided. Daniel rubbed his chin in Mallie’s hair on top of her head.“I guess we need to get back,” he said.

“I guess we need to get back,” he said.“Yes,” Mallie agreed. She took the hand he extended and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. They walked back, slowly, holding hands, enjoying being together. When they stopped and turned to face each other, Daniel leaned forward and gave Mallie a gentle kiss. Mallie felt her toes curl into the sand. She looked down in surprise.

“Yes,” Mallie agreed. She took the hand he extended and allowed herself to be pulled to her feet. They walked back, slowly, holding hands, enjoying being together. When they stopped and turned to face each other, Daniel leaned forward and gave Mallie a gentle kiss. Mallie felt her toes curl into the sand. She looked down in surprise.“I don’t have any shoes on,” she said in surprise. She looked at Daniel’s feet. “You don’t either.”

“I don’t have any shoes on,” she said in surprise. She looked at Daniel’s feet. “You don’t either.”Daniel looked down and grinned. “I guess we didn’t think that we needed them,” he said. “When I decided I wanted to go to the beach, I just thought about pants and a shirt, and suddenly I was wearing them.” Daniel replied. I never thought about shoes until you mentioned them.”

Daniel looked down and grinned. “I guess we didn’t think that we needed them,” he said. “When I decided I wanted to go to the beach, I just thought about pants and a shirt, and suddenly I was wearing them.” Daniel replied. I never thought about shoes until you mentioned them.”“I didn’t either. I wonder if we are getting sand on our hospital sheets.” Mallie laughed at the thought.

“I didn’t either. I wonder if we are getting sand on our hospital sheets.” Mallie laughed at the thought.“I don’t think so. I think that we are only here in spirit.” Daniel said, sadly.

“I don’t think so. I think that we are only here in spirit.” Daniel said, sadly.“Well,” Mallie continued, gazing into Daniel’s eyes. “However we got here, I’m just glad that I can be with you.”

“Well,” Mallie continued, gazing into Daniel’s eyes. “However we got here, I’m just glad that I can be with you.”“Me, too,” said Daniel, holding Mallie close for a few minutes. “We had better go in.” Mallie disappeared and Daniel followed quickly.

“Me, too,” said Daniel, holding Mallie close for a few minutes. “We had better go in.” Mallie disappeared and Daniel followed quickly.* * *

Bob Jenkins entered Mallie’s hospital room quietly. He knew he might not be welcome, but he just couldn’t stay away.

Dana looked up as Bob entered. She had a surprised look on her face, but she didn’t seem to be bothered that he had come to visit again.

“Hi, Bob.” She rose and took Bob’s hands as he extended them towards her. “It’s good to see you,” said Dana. I keep sitting here, waiting for some sign from Mallie. There has been nothing.”

There were tears in her voice. Bob pulled her into his arms and held her close for a minute.

“Mallie is going to be alright. You have to give her time to heal. She is a strong girl and she is a fighter like her mom. With you in her corner, she will be better in no time.”

Bob tightened his arm for a moment in reassurance and then released Dana and moved back slightly.

Dana wiped her eyes and sniffed back more tears. She smiled slightly at Bob.

“Thanks, I’m sorry for crying all over you. Sometimes it gets to be too much for me.” She started to turn away but Bob held her arm gently.

“You can cry on me any time you need to. I will always be here for you and Mallie. You both mean a lot to me.”

Dana smiled up into Bob’s face as she studied him to see if he was sincere. He seemed sincere to her. She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Thank you, Bob.” She was glad to see she wasn’t the only one with feelings.

“Why don’t you let me sit with Mallie while you go home, take a shower, and get into some clean clothes? I promise that if there is any change, I will call you back immediately.” Bob told Dana. “You will feel much better able to cope with everything after a shower.”

“Are you trying to tell me I smell bad?” Dana smiled at Bob.

“No,” said Bob with an embarrassed look on his face. “I just thought you would feel better, and I know you don’t want to leave Mallie.”

Dana patted his arm. “I know. I was just teasing. If you are sure you don’t mind, I could use a shower and a change of clothes. I can bring some clothes back with me for me and Mallie. There is no way she can wear what she had on at the time of the accident. They were destroyed. When she gets ready to come home, she will need something to wear.”

Bob gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “You run along. Don’t worry about Mallie. I’ll be right here.”

Dana gave Bob a quick hug and hurried from the room after squeezing Mallie’s hand and telling her she would be right back.

After Dana left, Bob settled into the chair at Mallie’s bedside.

“I don’t know if you can hear me Mallie, but I wanted to tell you that I am in love with your Mother. I have been for quite a while. I don’t know if she feels the same. As soon as you are better, I’m going to ask her out. I want to see if there is any chance that we could make a future together. I know how close the two of you are and I would never try to change that. I just want to be a part of both of your lives. We are both pulling for you to get better.” Bob reached for Mallie’s hand and gave it a squeeze. He then settled back to wait for Dana’s return.

Dana hurried into her small house. She quickly got a small overnight case and gathered a change of clothing for Mallie and herself. She put in a couple of gowns, a robe, and some slippers for Mallie. She included a brush and a few articles of makeup for Mallie to use when she woke up. After placing the case by the front door, she hurried to take her shower. Feeling much better, Dana decided to eat a sandwich before returning. Quickly, she put together a ham and cheese sandwich and a glass of milk. She made quick work of eating, rinsed the plate, and left it in the dish drainer. Dana grabbed the case, locked the door and headed back to the hospital. She had been gone less than an hour, but it felt much longer. She was anxious to get back to Mallie. It was sweet of Bob to help her take a break. She smiled. Maybe when this was over, and Mallie was all right, they could get together sometime.

“Hi, I’m back,” said Dana as she entered Mallie’s hospital room.

“That was quick,” said Bob. “You look like you feel much better.”

“I do. A shower and change of clothing were just what I needed. Thank you so much for staying while I was gone. Has there been any change?” Dana asked anxiously.

“No, everything is the same and I was glad to be able to help. Mallie and I had a nice little talk. Of course, I did the talking. She just listened,” replied Bob.

Dana smiled. “I have been doing a lot of that. I don’t know if she can hear me, but I want her to know someone is here for her. I don’t know if it helps her but it helps me.”

“You keep right on talking. No one knows how much a person in a coma hears.” Bob gave her hands a reassuring squeeze. “I have to get back to work. If you need anything give me a call. I’ll check back later, if that’s alright.”

“That’s fine. Thank you so much for staying. You are welcome any time.” Dana gave him a hug as he left.

Dana settled back into her chair at Mallie’s bedside. She took Mallie’s hand and looked at her closely. She had color in her face. It looked almost as if she had been out in the sun instead of being stuck in a hospital bed.

“Well, Mallie how would you feel about your mom going out with a real estate business owner? I really do think he likes me. Would you listen to me? I sound just like a teenager. I guess we never get too old to feel attracted to someone. If you were awake, I would never be talking like this. I am too old for this teenage nonsense. I do think he likes me though.” She gave a soft giggle.

Mallie smiled softly to herself. She was glad her mother was about to crawl out of the shell she built around herself after the death of her husband. It was time for her to find some happiness. She thought about Daniel and smiled again. Maybe they were both ready for happiness.

* * *

Daniel and Mallie were on their beach again. Mallie was leaning back against Daniel and he had his arms around her. Mallie told Daniel about Bob and Dana and how she hoped they could get together. Daniel agreed. He thought it would be great for Mallie’s mom.

Daniel and Mallie were on their beach again. Mallie was leaning back against Daniel and he had his arms around her. Mallie told Daniel about Bob and Dana and how she hoped they could get together. Daniel agreed. He thought it would be great for Mallie’s mom.“When this is over, will you go out with me?” he asked Mallie.

“When this is over, will you go out with me?” he asked Mallie.“I would like that,” said Mallie, snuggling closer to Daniel.

“I would like that,” said Mallie, snuggling closer to Daniel.“Ouch!” Mallie exclaimed, sitting up and looking at her arm.

“Ouch!” Mallie exclaimed, sitting up and looking at her arm.“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked.

“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked.“I don’t know. I felt as if I were getting a shot.” Mallie quickly got to her feet. “I had better go and see what’s going on.”

“I don’t know. I felt as if I were getting a shot.” Mallie quickly got to her feet. “I had better go and see what’s going on.”“Ok, I’ll wait here for you,”

“Ok, I’ll wait here for you,”“Alright,” Mallie answered.

“Alright,” Mallie answered.She disappeared and was back in her hospital room listening to what was happening. The nurse was talking to Dana.

“Why are you giving her a shot?” asked Dana.

“We are going to take her down to x-ray and see if the swelling is going down. We want her relaxed while we do the scan.” The nurse was busy preparing Mallie to be moved while she was talking. “We won’t be long, about thirty to forty-five minutes. You can wait here if you want to.”

“No,” replied Dana. “I’m going down with you.” She gave the nurse a determined look as if daring her to argue with her.

The nurse looked at her hard and then shrugged her shoulders. Let someone else deal with the patient’s family, it wasn’t her job. She rolled Mallie’s bed out in the hall. An orderly was there to help take the patient down for tests.

Mallie flashed back to Daniel. She snuggled into his arms.

Mallie flashed back to Daniel. She snuggled into his arms.“They are taking me down for some tests. The nurse gave me a shot to relax me.” Mallie yawned sleepily. I guess the shot is working,” she said. She leaned into Daniel’s arms almost falling asleep.

“They are taking me down for some tests. The nurse gave me a shot to relax me.” Mallie yawned sleepily. I guess the shot is working,” she said. She leaned into Daniel’s arms almost falling asleep.Daniel pulled her closer towards him and held her as she fell asleep in his arms. Mallie was asleep for almost an hour before she started to stir. She yawned widely. Daniel grinned at her.

Daniel pulled her closer towards him and held her as she fell asleep in his arms. Mallie was asleep for almost an hour before she started to stir. She yawned widely. Daniel grinned at her.“It’s good to have you back,” he said, holding her close. “I can tell you now that you don’t snore,” he teased.

“It’s good to have you back,” he said, holding her close. “I can tell you now that you don’t snore,” he teased.“I could have told you that,” she teased back. “Thanks for taking care of me.”

“I could have told you that,” she teased back. “Thanks for taking care of me.”“My pleasure,” he replied.

“My pleasure,” he replied.“I had better go see what the tests show.” Mallie gave his arm a squeeze and disappeared.

“I had better go see what the tests show.” Mallie gave his arm a squeeze and disappeared.Daniel sat waiting for Mallie to return.

Daniel sat waiting for Mallie to return.“I guess I need to see what’s going on in my room,” he thought. He disappeared and was soon in his bed.

“I guess I need to see what’s going on in my room,” he thought. He disappeared and was soon in his bed.