Tara
I am finally alone in my hospital room. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate Bud and Mildred being here but I need some alone time to try and figure out my feelings about what Rome said to me.
The two of them finally went to the cafeteria to get something to eat so I have a few minutes to examine my feelings. I am a person who needs to think. I have been attracted to Rome since I first met him. I have tried to fight it and then to just put it up to hormones. How many healthy twenty-two-year-old women have only had sex when they attended high school with one boy? That’s right, boy not man and Rome is all man.
Can I lean on him and let him take care of me? That’s where all my question come from. This is not the type of person I want to become. I want to be independent and support myself but it might not be so bad to share the responsibility for just a little while. I can find ways to help Rome, too. I don’t know anything about Rome or his life. This is something we will need to discuss. My mind is muddled with this argument in my head when my door opens and I don’t pay any attention to it until I see who is standing at the end of my bed. There stands the woman I have called mom for twenty-two years, but after yesterday, I think she is no more than a stranger. What happened to my mom?
“We don’t have very much time so you need to get dressed. I am getting you out of here.” What is mom talking about?
“I’m not going anywhere with you! You sat in that diner while Liam beat my head up against a wall and then you left with him.” My mom looks at me like I am crazy.
“Young lady, you will not talk to me that way! You will respect me! Now get up and help me find your clothes. Are they in your closet?” Mom opens the closet and she finds it empty. “Where are they?”
“Mom, Mildred took my clothes to try and get the blood out. I’m not going anywhere, I still have an IV and the doctor says he won’t release me for another day or two. They are still watching the swelling.” Then something comes to me. “Where do you want me to go and why? I have taken care of myself since I have been capable, so what is up?” My mom stops and looks at me.
“Liam needs to have a talk with you. He thinks you may have misunderstood the conversation the two of you had.” I can’t even understand this woman nor do I want to.
“Are you crazy? Liam tried to kill me. Do you not understand that, mom? I have staples in my head where he was beating it up against a damn wall. I have bruises and choke marks. This was not a talk. You talk with your mouth not your hands. You taught me this when I was three.” I can’t believe this woman.
“There you go. Only thinking about Tara. Liam is going to help your sister and I get a better place to live and help us financially. We will be set. No more struggling. You just need to get on board with this. Liam needs us to help him and his partners with a few things.” This woman has lost her mind.
“Did you know what Liam was going to do to me yesterday?” Mom looks at me but takes a minute to answer me.
“Let’s face it, Tara, you can be a little hard headed. Liam was just giving you a good talking to. Sometimes you need a stern hand.” I don’t even know what to say to that.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” It’s all I can say. My head is in a whirlwind.
“Why can’t you be more like your sister? Sheila knows what is important in life.” My mom is delusional.
“You know that you and Sheila could be held as accomplices.” Mom glares at me.
“Have you spoken to the cops yet?” I know now why mom is here. “We are family. There is no talking to the cops.”
“Liam is not my family and as soon as someone gets here to take my statement, I will tell them exactly what happened.” Mom puts her hand on her hip.
“Have you given your statement yet, Tara?” Mom is getting more upset.
“I told you, not yet.” I move my hand to the nurse call button and push it. I don’t think mom notices.
“Liam is going to marry your sister. He will be taking care of us, so he is family.” I don’t know who is more delusional, mom or Sheila to think Liam is going to take care of anyone but Liam.
“Note to Mom, Liam is already married. He told me that Sheila was a piece on the side and called her a cunt. Does that sound like someone who is going to take care of anyone but themselves?” Sometimes I think my mom is so naive.
“Get dressed, Tara. I am getting you out of here, now! Sheila can only distract the biker trash for so long.” I pick up the nurse call button off the bed and push it over and over. I sit up too fast and my head throbs.
“That biker trash, as you put it, has shown me more consideration than you have my entire life. GET THE HELL OUT!” I have never yelled at my mom. The room door is pushed open and Bud pushes through, with the man Rome left in the hall right behind him. “My mom is trying to make me leave with her.” I see a nurse come in behind the biker.
“What is going on in here? You have to keep it down or I will be forced to call the security.” The nurse says.
“We need security,” I tell the nurse. The biker pushes my mom down in the chair. She tries to stand up and he pushes her back down. If things weren’t so serious I would find the look on my mom’s face funny. The nurse walks out of the room. I look at Bud. “She’s trying to make me leave so Liam can talk to me again.” Bud looks at my mom.
“Are you crazy, Lena? Liam could have killed Tara.” Bud is furious but it doesn’t change my mom’s mind.
“Tara is being a damn drama queen. Tara and Liam just had a misunderstanding. Liam wants to clear it up and offer Tara a better job than that menial job she has at the diner. One she can support her family with.” Mom is trying to insult Bud but he doesn’t even waver.
“What? Pushing drugs?” That is the first words the biker has said and it leaves everyone speechless. What is he talking about?
“That is ridiculous! Liam is a businessman.” The door opens and the nurse and two security men walk in and suddenly, my room seems small. I look at the security officers and back to my mom. The security officers are eyeing Rome’s friend but that is not happening. I know now why Rome was concerned. I never thought I would need to be protected from my own family.
“I don’t want my mom or sister allowed in here. Can you remove my mom? She was trying to make me leave against my will.” I tell anyone who will listen.
“I want everyone cleared out of here but my patient.” The nurse says. Bud looks at the nurse.
“We’ll go but that woman is going first. Tara, we will be right outside until they clear this up.” My mom doesn’t look like she is going anywhere without a fight. I look at the biker.
“What is your name? Rome never introduced us and your name isn’t on your vest.” When he smiles at me I realize how handsome he is. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before now. He has the looks you would see on the front of a magazine. His body isn’t as big as Rome’s but it is very impressive.
“My name is Cricket and I already texted Devil. This hospital will be crawling with Feral Steel members in minutes.” His voice is deep.
“Will you call Rome and let him know my mom is here causing trouble?” That gets my mom’s attention. She is on her feet and rushing for the door. The security officers wait for Bud and Cricket to follow out through the door.
“We are right outside, Tara.” Bud tries to reassure me. I feel better knowing Rome will be here soon. The nurse closes the door as everyone leaves.
“Ms. Blount, that was exciting. Now let me ask you this. Who is not allowed in your room?” I just wish I knew what to tell her.
“My mom, her name is Lena Blount. My sister, Sheila Blount, and Liam Davis for now.” I feel awful having to put my mom and sister’s names on that list.
“I am going to let one visitor back in here with you but if there is any more excitement, then they will be asked to leave the premises. This is a hospital.” The nurse is preaching to the choir. All I want is my nice, quiet life back. The nurse walks out and just for a few minutes I have my quiet.