Breath of Scandal(128)

Jade gazed down at her former classmate, her rapist, Hutch had never been handsome, but he looked pitifully ugly now. The bones of his large face were grotesquely pronounced, his cheeks sunken. His pallor clashed with his rusty-red hair. He had always been a strong, robust athlete;



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now, oxygen was being pumped into his nostrils. Medical technology was performing for him the functions his body no longer could.

While his vital signs were being electronically monitored and recorded, while he was struggling for life, the two attending nurses discussed the stifling heat outside and the Civil War epic starring Mel Gibson that was being filmed on location nearby.

"Only two or three minutes, Ms. Sperry," one said as they withdrew.

"Yes. Thank you."

She must have struggled subconsciously with the decision all night, because the knowledge that she would drive to Savannah and see Hutch had awakened her that morning. It wasn't that she doubted the severity of his condition. She certainly hadn't changed her mind about having Graham tested as an organ donor. She simply felt compelled to come and confront Hutch, for what would probably be the last time.

She had talked her way into the ICU. Luckily Donna Dee hadn't been there to dispute her claim that she was a relative who had come all the way from New York City to say goodbye to Cousin Hutch.

She was glad she had come. Hate required energy. Sometimes her hatred for the three men who had caused Gary's suicide was so consumptive, it left her replete. After today, she would have more energy, because it was hard to work up hatred for the man in the bed.

Suddenly he stirred and opened his eyes. It took a moment for him to focus on Jade, and even longer for it to register with him who she was. When it did, his dry, chalky lips parted, and he rasped her name in disbelief.

"Hello, Hutch." "Jesus. Am I dead?" She shook her head.

He attempted to wet his lips, but his tongue looked pasty. "Donna Dee told me you were back."

"It's been a long time."

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He gazed at her for a moment. "From what I can see, you look terrific, Jade. Exactly the same."

"Thank you."

There was an awkward pause. Finally Hutch said. "Donna Dee said you've got a son."

"That's right. "A teenager. "

"He'll be fifteen his next birthday."

He squeezed his eyes shut and grimaced as though in pain. When he opened his eyes again, he had no trouble focusing on her face above him. "Is he mine?"

"How would I know, Hutch, when three of you raped me?" He groaned like a man in spiritual torment. "He's mine," she stressed. "I don't want to know who his father was. "

" I can't blame you, I guess. I'd just like to die knowing. "That's not going to happen if you live for another fifty years. "

He wheezed a mirthless laugh. "I don't reckon that'll be the case."

-Ms. Sperry, I must ask you to leave now."

Jade signaled to the nurse that she understood. Quietly she said, "Goodbye, Hutch."

"Jade?" He raised one needle-bruised arrn to detain her. "Donna Dee got this harebrained notion. She was going to ask your son to donate a kidney to me."

"She's come to me twice."

Again he looked pained. "I told her not to. Hell, I'd rather die than involve that boy. If he is my son, I wouldn't put him through an ordeal like that. Don't let her talk you into it. Don't let her bother the boy."

His vehemence surprised her. The tears that filled his eyes were incongruous with his masculine face. He swallowed convulsively several times. "If he is my son, I never want him to know about me . . . about what I did to YOU." Tears rolled down his gaunt cheeks. "I wish to hell I could undo it, but I can't. All I can say is, I'm sorry, Jade.-



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, ,It's not that easy, Hutch."

"I don't expect you to forgive me. I don't even want your pity. I just want you to know that our lives were never the same after that night.

"My daddy knew he'd done wrong by you and never got over it. We didn't talk about it-I just know. Lamar was sure as hell punished. That train got even with Ivan and Neal for you."

"Neal?" "He's sterile. Can't have kids. Nobody is supposed to know. Even Donna Dee doesn't know. Neal told me by accident one night when he was drunk." He took a moment to garner breath and strength. "What I'm saying, Jade, is that we all suffered for it."

"You may have suffered, but Gary died."

He nodded remorsefully. "Yeah, I gotta die with that on my conscience, too." He blinked more tears out of his eyes. "I never planned on hurting you like I did, Jade. For all of it, I'm damn sorry."

They exchanged a long stare.

It was broken when Donna Dee burst into the ICU, looking flushed and breathless. She stumbled to a halt when she saw Jade at her husband's bedside. "If you came to gloat, you're out of luck," she said defiantly. "Hutch has got a donor. "

She rushed to the opposite side of Hutch's bed and raised his pale hand to her chest, cradling it. "A twenty-year-old male had an accident on his motorcycle just before dawn this morning. " She smiled down at him through glad tears. "The tissues are a pretty good match, so your doctor has given the go-ahead. They'll be in shortly to start prepping you for surgery. Oh, Hutch," she whispered, bending down to plant a kiss on his forehead.