Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

THREE

I knew that people were talking to me and around me, but I had no idea who they were.

"I'm not leaving her side."

Tom? Wendy? Everything was so dark, and vacuous.

"Why can't you tell us more about what happened?"

Their voices were muffled, as if I were underwater and they were talking to me from above. If there is such thing as a state of near non existence, I was in it.

"I'm so sorry, Max."

"I love you."

***

In the morning, the hospital room door opened and Wendy came through, quietly talking on her phone. She looked like she was on a mission and gave him a pointedly harried look as she shoved a cup of coffee into Tom's hand.

She scribbled something onto a notepad, next to Max's bed.
"Yes, sir...absolutely...six p.m? I'll send a car...ok...you're welcome. Bye for now, Ellis."

She hung up the phone, and looked at Tom, wide eyed, then spoke.

"Are you ready to meet Mister and Missus Mitchell?"
Tom took a deep breath, and pondered the thought.
"I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?"
"No. Not really."
"So, they'll be here at six?"
"Yep. They've been in La Paz since October, said they were 'right tired of South America' in Ellis' words." she held up air quotes and he nodded.
"I take it they're going to stay at Max's."
She nodded.
"We should probably talk to a nurse and see how our girl is doing, then go check out her house. I can imagine it's not in very good shape."
"Good thinking."
Just as if they'd subconsciously summoned a nurse, one came through the door to switch Max's IV and check her vitals.

"How long is she going to be kept sedated?" Wendy asked.
"Her white blood cell count is just a bit high, and her blood pressure is not very consistent yet. Just to be safe, we're going to give her some antibiotics and keep her quiet until she evens out."
They both nodded to her, and she continued.
"Her surgeon is going to be here sometime tomorrow morning, so we will know more then."
"Thank you so much, ma'am. We will be stepping out for a bit, to take care of a few things. Will you please call us if anything comes up?" Tom requested.
"Yes of course."

They left the hospital and got into a cab that was waiting outside.
"Forty ninth and tenth, sir."
The cab lurched forward and eventually brought them to Max's townhouse. Her place looked so normal and unassuming on the surface, but Tom knew what had happened there, and it made his skin crawl.
"You ok?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah. No. I think so." He stated, as he motioned to the front door. "Shall we?"

Their jaws both dropped when their eyes took in the sight that was her living room and kitchen.
"What the--"
"Bloody hell." Tom finished Wendy's expression.
"We can not leave it like this..." She stated.
"No. Especially not if her family is going to stay here. Did anyone ever tell you who's responsible for all of this?"
"No, not yet but I'll give you one guess."
"That mother fucker." He said in a low voice.

They worked together, sweeping up and removing the shattered glass and plates and put most everything back into its proper place. Each thing that had been thrown out, Tom made a mental note to replace it for her.

"Where did it happen?" Tom asked, quietly, while scanning the room.
Wendy shrugged, but after a moment said, "Probably upstairs...I suppose we should go take a look, huh?"

Tom laid eyes upon the scene of Max's bedroom and immediately felt sick. There was terrifying evidence of her struggle everywhere he looked. Two separate pools of blood on the floor, only minimally cleaned up had left deep stains in the hardwood. She had seemingly dragged herself to the bed, as there were blackened blood stains streaking the rug, bedskirt and comforter. The blemishes on the bed and rug were a crass contrast to the billowy softness that the room usually had. He cursed Paul again, internally and began to tear up. Wendy appeared at his side, crying as well and hooked her arm into his and they just stood there for a moment, absorbing the shock.
"She must have been so scared." Wendy said, in a tiny voice. Tom nodded in agreement, feeling unable to speak, the tears pouring from his eyes.

After a fragile and sad moment between the two of them, they moved into action. Tom pulled everything off of the bed, to find that it was stained down to the mattress.
Mental note: Order new bed
"Wendy? Would you be a dear and find a rubbish removal service? Maybe someone to have a look at the hardwoods too?"
"Of course." she was stuffing all of the stained textiles into trash bags, then into the elevator.
"I need a moment, ok? I'm going to go call Macy's and replace all of the things we've thrown."
"Tom, don't worry about it. I can do that, I've got Max's Macy's card."
"No. I'd like to take care of it." he said, as he left the room, thankful for a break from seeing her home in such an upsetting state.

***

"They're almost here, are you ready?" Wendy asked Tom. He was seated next to her bed, as always, while she slept. He stood up and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"I love you. I hope you were planning on introducing me to your family." He kissed her cheek and turned to leave the room.

Tom. I love you.

"Wendy, I'm going to go get some air, make myself scarce. Would you just give me a heads up, let me know when to come back?"
"Sure thing. See you in a bit."

Tom left the room and Wendy sat down in Tom's place."He loves you so much, you know." she said, and took hold of Max's hand.

I wanted to squeeze her hand, but I couldn't.

She sat in silence for a moment's time, until her family came in, filling the room.

Max's father, Ellis grabbed Wendy into a tight embrace, even though they'd only met once before.
"Bless your heart for being here for her, Wendy." Jane moved immediately and swiftly to Max's side, and began crying into her hair.
"My sweet Maxine. I'm so sorry this happened to you."
Tabatha, her sister, stood weeping at the foot of the bed. Jane outstretched her hand, asking Tabatha to come sit with her.
"Maxi, we're here now. Until you're all better, we aren't leaving." Tabatha whispered to her sister. All the while, Ellis stood at Wendy's side with an arm around her shoulder. The immediate sense of love and belonging filled every space in the room. In that moment Wendy felt, in her heart, somehow that everything was going to be alright.

Mom, Dad? Tab? I can hear you. I love you.

Wendy gave Max's family every detail they knew so far. How she'd required a number of blood transfusions, how she'd been in surgery for hours upon hours and about how the only way the police would release any details about the incident was when Max could speak to them herself.

Paul. It was Paul. He's dead.

"We've gotten Max's home all ready for you to stay in. If there's anything at all that you need, please let me know. I'm still learning about her place, but I can be pretty resourceful if--"
"We?" Tabatha cocked her head, looking curious.
"Oh--uh..." Wendy sat forward in her chair, feeling a tad uncomfortable suddenly.
"I knew Max had a boyfriend! Where is he?" Tab stood up, went to the door and opened it, where Tom just happened to be waiting outside.
"He's...just...There he is." Wendy babbled.
"Hello." He nodded, as he entered the room.
"Ellis, Jane and Tabatha. This is Max's boyfriend, Tom Hiddleston. Tom, meet The Mitchell family."