Chapter Fifteen
Ally
I barely remembered the ride to the hospital the day I was rescued at mile marker eighty-six while I was walking to work and got caught in a horrific Midwestern storm. I just remembered how gently Jonah held me and how the feeling of being safe for the first time in years had temporarily hushed my fears. I went to sleep nestled against his chest. When I woke, it was in the emergency room at Wordly General Hospital. People were rushing around, barking orders for this and that, and I could smell that awful antiseptic aroma that was standard at all hospitals. It made me feel like puking. And oh god, the lights. The ceiling was filled with lights that were too bright and too white, thanks to my headache. I had to keep my eyes closed.
One thing stayed with me though. During the chaos of tests, IV’s and orders, there was a calming presence with me the entire time. At first, I couldn’t place what would cause me to feel secure in the manic frenzy, until I felt the squeeze to my hand and the reassuring words to my ears. Jonah never left my side for a minute. Not a single second.
In the end, I was lucky and only suffered a minor concussion, a badly sprained ankle and eighteen stitches to my palm. There were many tiny cuts, scrapes and bruises but the exposure paired with the concussion, sealed my fate – two long, never-ending days in the hospital.
The plus side? Pain medicine was freaking awesome. I just wanted to sleep, but the damn nagging nurses kept waking me the first day to check my pupils. By the midday on day two, I was released and ready to go home.
But that news incited a huge argument amongst my friends, giving me a new headache. Everyone, from Frannie, Frank, Jonah and even Bella, demanded that I go home to recuperate with them. Of course, they all had specific reasons and wanted me to hear them all out before I decided. I knew I was loved now. Sam and I had family. I wouldn’t have exchanged this rowdy bunch for anything in the world. I did consider all their points but informed them that Sam would be making the decision along with me, since it may mean uprooting him from his home and bed. I asked them all to leave us for a bit so we could talk it out.
“Hey buddy, come sit with me on the bed, so we can talk about everyone fighting over us,” I asked with my arms outstretched to him.
He said, “Mom, I don’t want to hurt you so maybe I should sit over here.” He looked sincere, but a little sad as he quirked his head to the side pondering his own statement.
“Oh baby, I’m ok, promise. Come sit with me and let’s talk about what we are going to do. I need help for at least a few weeks.” I hushed him with two fingertips from my good hand and continued, “Honey, I know you will help me with anything and everything. But you must go to school and then I would be all alone. That won’t work right now. I am sore all over and don’t think I could even stand long enough to cook for us. We need help. What do you think would be the best solution?”
I removed my fingers from his mouth. He sat there for a few minutes thinking about it. Sam was wiser than a boy should be at his age and I wanted to hear his thoughts and feelings about this. Sam jumped up suddenly and started to pace back and forth in the bleak, colorless, tiny hospital room.
“Ok, Grandpa Frank would be totally awesome to stay with but I think he works too much, Mom. He wouldn’t be home with you when I was at school. So, Grandpa Frank is out,” he stated plainly.
He continued, “Bella lives with a friend so that wouldn’t work, right?” I shook my head as he commented feeling proud that he was using logic and reason at the age of seven, soon to be eight.
“Grandma Frannie’s would be good Mom. I think we should go there,” he said with confidence.
He paused in his musings, “But, Jonah said he would come stay with us so we could sleep in our own beds. That sounds good to me. I like my bed and all of my stuff is there.” Finishing with a shrug he said, “I don’t know, it’s gotta be Grandma Frannie or Jonah. And with his superpowers, he can carry you everywhere, Mom!”
I couldn’t hold it in and grabbed him when he got close and squeezed him and laughed.
“You are right on the mark with Grandpa Frank. He does work long hours. He means well but we will have to pass on him. Bella was sweet to offer but she does have a roommate which would not leave room for us. Grandma Frannie would have been a great option except she works part-time and her bathroom is on the second floor along with the bedrooms.” I finished and he nodded his head in agreement.
“That leaves us with Jonah. We would both get to sleep in our own beds. The bathroom is right there along with the tiny kitchen. This is one time our tiny abode will come in handy.” We both chuckled.
“But where would he sleep? That is the problem.” I wondered thinking out loud.
Jonah must have been listening at the door, because he came in and said two words and I could have sworn his chest was puffed up like a peacock strutting his stuff, “The floor.”
“You cannot be serious Jonah? The floor is concrete with only a layer of carpet on it,” I blurted in amazement.
“Baby, I was in the Navy for twenty years and have slept in trees, holes dug in the ground, on a raft in the middle of the ocean, even. Sleeping on your floor is a walk in the park and besides, I will bring my blankie and pillow to make me all comfy,” he said with a smirk on his face.
I bellowed at the blankie and pillow comment. Did he just make a joke? I just sat there in my peekaboo hospital gown grinning like a fool at him. Sam thought it was the funniest thing ever and practically rolled on the floor with laughter.
“Are you sure you want to do this Jonah? Be sure and think about it. You would be helping take care of Sam too, not just me. That is a lot to ask of one person and what will you do about work? Damn! You must go to work. I guess we will stay with Frannie. It’s the best option for now,” I said shyly and turned my head away in embarrassment.
“Like hell, you will woman!” He walked around the ancient hospital bed so he would be standing directly in front of me and said, “I can work from your place without a problem. I have my laptop, Wi-Fi and phone for everything. You know, there are perks to being the owner of your own business and my partner can handle anything that would be need to be done in person.”
By that time, I could see Sam jumping up and down with his hands on his mouth just bursting with excitement. Laughing at the silly sight, I said to him, “Spill it mister!”
“Seriously! Mom! Our hero is moving in with us! The Flash! Boom, babeeee!” His fist pumped in the air. Sam proceeded to bop around the room like a crazy person. Jonah and I just laughed with him.
“Well, I guess that settles that. I have no idea exactly when they will discharge me. I have not been able to get a straight answer all morning. So, we get to sit here watching the paint dry on the colorless walls. Hey, Sam why don’t you and Jonah go inform everyone what the decision was please.” Laying back in the bed I sighed and continued to wait to go home.
After what seemed like endless hours of waiting, I finally signed the papers granting me my freedom. After being wheeled out to the entrance, we waited out front for Jonah and Sam, who went with him to get the Suburban, to pull up. The nurse said she forgot my prescription and would be right back. I sat there and took in the breeze blowing at my messy hair. God what I wouldn’t give for a hot shower and to shampoo the filth from my hair. The nurses had done their best to clean me up, but my hair was left a mess.
They had given me a comb for the mess of hair I had. Once it had gotten wet in the rain, of course my curls and frizz came back. Thankfully, one of the nurses gave me a rubber band she had in her pocket so I could at least pull it up into a messy bun. Everyone had now seen my naturally curly hair and exclaimed about how much they thought it suited me.
Just then the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. As I scanned my surroundings, there were people milling all about visiting friends or relatives, employees going on break and then I saw him. He was just sitting in that dark van staring at me with that fucking sneer of his. Who the fuck was he? I looked around again, this time trying to spot Jonah. My heart was beating a mile a minute but then I finally saw them heading my way. I looked to where the van had been and it was still there. Fuck. What should I do? Tell Jonah now? No. Not right now. But soon.
Jonah and Sam pulled up. They both hopped out of the car at the exact moment the nurse came back and handed me my prescription for pain meds. Jonah took it and when he did he noticed my hand shaking and looked at my face. I looked to where he had been parked and the son of a bitch was gone. Jonah had noticed me looking over and had walked to that side surveying the land. He turned his head and I shook my head silently and glanced at Sam. He gave a slight nod in understanding.
“Let’s go, Ally. Time to get you home where you belong,” he said as he came stalking toward me with a mischievous grin that made me tilt my head, wondering what he was up to. In mere seconds, Jonah picked me up with all of the gentleness one reserved for a newborn baby and set me in the backseat with Sam. I was floored. He picked me up as if I weighed nothing and I certainly was not a small woman. I felt my face heating in embarrassment. I looked over at Sam, who gently lifted my leg with the sprained ankle and set it on a pillow on his lap. My baby had a fierce but gentle soul and some woman in the future would have one hell of a husband.
As we rounded the corner to our tiny duplex, I saw Frank and Frannie standing outside waiting for us. My heart swelled at the sight of them. I gripped the door handle on my side when Jonah stopped and parked in my driveway. Frank and Frannie came up to me right away, taking turns telling me all they had done to get things ready for us. Frannie had made a trip to the grocery store, while Frank had prepared several meals for us so that Jonah would only have to heat everything up. He had even brought over an old cot for Jonah so he wouldn’t have to sleep on the floor.
Jonah reached in to lift me again and I firmly told him no. I was not about to let him get a hernia by picking up my chunky body. I swore to myself that I would find that gym as soon as I could walk again.
“Please get my crutches from the back, Jonah. I want to walk into my own home.” He looked a little spurned, but did as I asked. Thank God. I scooted to the edge of the seat with Sam’s help and then looked down at the ground.
I moaned out loud and Sam was right there asking, “Mom? Are you ok?”
“I’m fine, buddy, but this darn Suburban was made for giants not short people like me,” I said reluctantly looking at Jonah, blushing as I asked, “Would you mind helping me down off this mountain, please?” He and everyone else chuckled at me, which just made me blush more. So much for getting going on my own. Ugh.
Once he put me down gently on the ground, he kept his hands around my waist to steady me as Frank held up each of my crutches for me. Taking each one, I put them securely under both arms, and realized how much I would need to use my hand with the eighteen stitches in it. Smart thinking, idiot I thought to myself as I realized I was not going to be able to do this. I looked up and everyone just stared at me. Crap.
Jonah just stood there with his arms crossed, making his biceps more prominent. A smirk quirked up his lips as he raised an eyebrow. Leaning towards me, he pointed to one of his ears. Was he really going to make me apologize first? Seriously? He just stayed in that position until I relented. “Sorry,” I mumbled. But his stance didn’t alter. Apologizing wasn’t good enough either!
“Jonah, I am sorry I refused your offer to carry me into the house. But in my defense, I didn’t want you hurting your back picking my big butt up again,” I commented, knowing I blushed yet again furiously.
“Are. You. Kidding. Me. Ally? I am six foot two and over 220 pounds. You, my beautiful lady, are freaking perfect. You literally take my breath from me when I look at you.”
At the same moment, Frank stepped forward putting either hand on my crutches as Jonah gently picked me up and took me into the house, setting me gently on the bed as if I was light as a feather. I just stared at him as he smiled down at me.
Frannie picked that moment to come in and bark orders at all three men. Jonah was to pick me up and put me in the tub, which now boasted a shower chair and a new shower head with a hose attached so that I could hold it myself. Wow. They had been busy over the last couple of days. She ordered Sam to work on his homework and Frank was to warm up our dinner while she bathed me and helped me wash my hair.
Grandma Frannie turned out to be a bit of a drill sergeant herself and that made me laugh.