Read Miracle Woman for Free Online Page B

where a pot of coffee was still hot. She got out a mug for herself and turned around as though absent-minded.
    â€˜Anyone else for coffee?’
    The old man studiously ignored her, the woman nodded gratefully.
    â€˜Milk and sugar?’
    â€˜Yeah, please, I could do with the energy boost.’
    Lara carried the two mugs over and sat down near enough to the boy’s mother. She looked wrecked.
    â€˜That’s good, thanks,’ she murmured softly. ‘You got a kid on the floor too?’
    Lara’s eyes widened and she thought rapidly.
    â€˜No, I don’t. My cousin’s on the fifth floor but the coffee machine’s broken there.’
    The other woman thought nothing of it.
    â€˜Have you got a child here?’ Lara asked.
    â€˜Yep, a boy, Timmy. Got knocked down in Easton on Saturday. The car ran right over him.’
    â€˜Oh, I’m sorry, how’s he doing?’
    â€˜Not too good. They had to remove his spleen, bleeding everywhere, lacerations to his liver, a punctured lung, broken pelvis and fractured thigh and ankle bone,’ she said, then shuddered. ‘Doctors thought at first he wouldn’t make it and had him on one of those life support machines, but thank God he stabilized earlier today.’
    â€˜I’m glad,’ said Lara. ‘What about the driver?’ she asked.
    â€˜By all accounts she’s fine! My kid’s half dead, but there’s not a scratch on her. Said she didn’t see Timmy at all, that he just cycled out of nowhere.’
    Lara nodded sympathetically.
    â€˜My other boy Ralph was with him, he said that Timmy almost died out there, would have died too only that this woman – she’s actually a neighbour of mine – apparently she just would not give up on him. The ambulance men, the nurse, the paramedics and my older boy all thought Timmy was dead, but Martha, that’s her name, just kept on trying to help him, laying her hands on him, talking to him real slow, telling him he had to live, and then out of the blue he suddenly began to breathe again!’ Her voice broke with raw emotion. ‘I owe my son’s life to her. Whatever she did, it was some kind of miracle, I guess!’
    Lara smiled easily, trying to hide the growing excitement she felt.
    â€˜And you say she’s a neighbour of yours?’
    â€˜I don’t know her that well but the McGills live on Mill Street just two streets away. Timmy’s in school with one of their kids.’
    â€˜Wow, this lady just came out of nowhere and touched your son and . . .’
    â€˜I know, it’s like some kind of miracle. My husband Paul and I can scarcely believe it ourselves, but lots of people saw it. She must have some kind of rare healing gift.’
    Lara could tell Sue Lucas was being totally sincere. She didn’t strike her as the kind of woman given to sensationalism or exaggeration; in fact if anything she was probably too honest and truthful. She was simply dressed, wearingwell-pressed denim jeans and a white T-shirt, her dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail and her face without makeup except for a trace of mascara which accentuated her dark brown eyes.
    The door of the family room opened and a sandy-haired nurse popped her head around the corner.
    â€˜Mrs Lucas, I just came down to get you,’ she said. ‘Mr Franklin, the orthopaedic surgeon, is up with your son at present and he’d like to talk to you.’
    Sue Lucas jumped up immediately and Lara caught her purse as it tumbled to the floor. The boy’s mother’s face had drained of colour and she swallowed hard.
    â€˜Lots of luck,’ offered Lara.
    â€˜And lots of luck with your cousin.’
    Sue Lucas was gone from the room before the flush of embarrassment tinted Lara’s face. She hated deceiving people and lying to them, but it seemed to be a prerequisite of her career. She needed to develop a thick skin if she wanted to make her mark in