Page 600 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Judith cleared her throat. “I can’t even begin to imagine how you must be feeling. As you know, your father and I didn’t always see eye to eye. I know I’m not the easiest person in the world to get along with. I don’t have Susan’s gift for openly expressing my feelings. I’m only going to say this once. I will always be here for you. I wanted Avery to send you to me right after Susan died.”

Judith paused, her voice heavy with regret. “The Lord has sent you to me. I don’t care how much it takes. I’ll spend every dime I have if I have to. I’ll do whatever it takes to get you well.” Her voice caught. “Just please don’t shut me out.”

The conviction of Judith’s words penetrated Cindy’s outer shell like a tiny ray of light and went straight to her heart. Tears trickled from under Cindy’s bandages. Judith placed her hand on the bed beside Cindy’s. Finally, Cindy moved her hand a fraction and clasped her aunt’s hand. They sat there, holding each other. It was the only thing in the world that either of them had to hold onto.

Cindy grippedthe sheets of her hospital bed while she listened to Dr. Anderson’s instructions.

“As you know, Dr. Stanton did the reconstructive surgery on your face. He’s here with me to check your progress.”

Cindy nodded. Her face was completely covered in bandages. Today, the doctors were removing them. Her face felt like it was swollen to the size of a watermelon. She could only imagine how she must look. In a few more minutes, all the guessing would be over. She would know.

“Your surgery was successful,” Dr. Stanton said. “Your face will remain swollen and tender for another week or so. That’s normal. But today you will be able to get a general idea of how you now look.”“Are you ready?” Dr. Anderson asked.

Panic fluttered in Cindy’s stomach, and she searched the eyes staring back at her from around the room until she found Judith’s. She made eye contact with her aunt. Judith’s expression suggested that everything would be okay. It was the reassurance Cindy needed. “I’m ready.”

One nurse handed Cindy a mirror while another started carefully removing her bandages.

“Now remember,” Dr. Stanton warned, “your face is swollen and bruised. This will subside, and you will look normal.”

The room became deathly silent when the last bandage was removed. Cindy raised the mirror, and one of the nurses gasped. Cindy’s hand began to shake. She touched her cheek and the bridge of her nose.

Judith rushed to her side and clasped her other hand.

“What have they done to me?” Cindy whispered.

“The swelling will go away,” Judith said.

“This is not me! I want my face! This is not my face!”

Judith touched Cindy’s arm, but Cindy pushed it away. A muffled sob escaped her throat and then rage boiled up in her chest. She threw the mirror, sending it flying across the room where it shattered.

Cindy’s reaction sent the nurses scurrying. One went to clean up the glass and the other to retrieve a sedative.

“Cindy, you’re being irrational. You need to calm down,” Judith said.

“The bones in your face were shattered,” Dr. Anderson said. “Dr. Stanton had to reconstruct them.”

“But I look like Judith! I used to look like my mother! I want my face back!”

Cindy started crying hysterically. The nurse returned with a needle. Cindy thrashed like a caged cougar.

The scene was toohorrific for Judith to watch. She left the room.

She leaned against the wall outside Cindy’s room for support. Judith couldn’t get the image out of her mind. Her niece, so tiny and vulnerable, lying there with the bandages on her face and her blonde hair spreading like silk over the pillow. Then lashing out in pain and anger at her altered appearance.

Yes, she admitted to herself, she’d been jealous of the family that Susan had, the family that she could never have. But, she didn’t want it like this. Not like this.

She thought back to the day when Avery had accused her of trying to steal Cindy away from him. He called her an ice queen. How she wished she could freeze her heart now and shield itfrom the pain she was feeling. Then she’d gotten Avery’s letter. If only she’d gone that very day and gotten Cindy.

“The nurses gave Cindy a sedative.”

Judith looked up at Dr. Anderson. He had followed her into the hallway. He shook his head. “This is what I was afraid might happen. It was against my better judgment to make her look so much like you.”

Judith’s lip tightened. “She’ll be all right.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m not so sure.”

Doubt crept up her spine. Maybe the doctor was right. She felt tired—tired and defeated. No, she wouldn’t give in to such thoughts. She straightened her shoulders. Cindy would be okay. She was strong—strong and resilient like herself.