Looking For You All My Life Part 27

you. I remember how touched Phil used to be when Spence

would brag about how his dad was the best cop in all of L.A.

County."

"Yeah, I guess I missed out on all that. But even though

it feels good now, it's kind of scary and overwhelming some-

times.. and I'm just not sure I can deliver or live up to her

expectations...

"Don't worry, Jed. You can deliver. Just be yourself.

That's all any of us want from you. Some of us believe that

simply being Jed Whitewater is pretty special."

His eyes lit up. "Thanks, Magpie. That means a lot, espe-

cially coming from you."

Maggie made the appropriate phone calls, first rea.s.suring

Audrey, then Abigail, that Spencer was going to be just fine,

and then she asked for everyone to pray for him and Daniel.

Just as she hung up the phone, Daniel's grandparents came

out of the ER and she rushed to meet them. "How is he?"

Suddenly the grandmother began to sob, and the grand-

father answered, "He's going to be okay. He may have a

cracked rib or two, but they've ruled out any internal injuries

for the time being, although they'll keep an eye on him for

the next couple of hours. He's on his way to be x-rayed as

we speak."

Maggie put a comforting arm around the older woman's

shoulders. She'd only met her once, but she understood

exactly how she felt. "It really could've been so much

worse," she spoke soothingly.

"Yes," she sobbed. "I was just so terribly worried. I guess

it's all coming to the surface now. Thank goodness they're

both going to be all right."

Loo~ing for You All My Life47

"And no more little foreign cars for my boy," steamed his

grandfather. "When Daniel gets better we'll buy him a tank

if need be!"

By three o'clock Spencer was released from the hospital with

a cast on his foot. His ankle was broken, but the doctor a.s.sured

him it would heal faster and more completely than a sprain, and

then he told Maggie to keep an eye on him for the remainder

of the day in case he exhibited any more signs of concussion.

As it turned out, Daniel had only one broken leg; the other was

just badly bruised. And the doctor convinced Daniel's grand-

parents that the facial lacerations were clean cuts that would

pro bably heal up just fine without the aid of any plastic surgery.

But they decided to keep him overnight, just to observe him for

any possible developments of internal injuries.

Jed drove Maggie and Spencer home. Then, leaving

Spencer in his grandmother's diligent care, Maggie went

back to town to fill his prescription for pain medication and

crutches. At the tiny drugstore, she noticed a copy of today's

edition of the Pine Cone resting on top of the pharmacy