CHAPTER NINE

August 12,

It’s been about a week now since Derek woke up. I thought every day when I was with him before the accident that I had never experienced such joy…but today he caused me to surpass that. His dad was visiting him and he asked for me. He actually said my name! It’s the first words he’s said out loud since they took the tube out. He was able to breathe on his own right away, which is fantastic news and he seems to remember who we all are.

He uses a tablet with text to voice to communicate and every morning when I go in to see him he says, “Good morning, I’m so happy to see you!” It’s a little strange that it’s in someone else’s voice, but still very nice to hear. His motor skills are shaky, but the doctor says that’s normal. The therapists have been exercising his legs and he’s starting to move them on his own now. That was another huge relief as they weren’t sure if he had any nerve damage or not that might cause him to not be able to walk. They’re going to get him up tomorrow and see if he can walk. They said most likely he’ll need to re-learn some things and walking might be one of them. That’s okay though; I’m staying positive…he’s alive. I never saw anything as beautiful as when he opened his baby blues and looked at me that first time about a week ago. My heart actually skipped. I thought that was just a wives tale for hopeless romantics.

When he asked for me today, Kevin came out in tears. At first, I was worried that he was upset because Derek was asking for me and not him. I quickly figured out that they were happy tears. He told me that hearing him ask for me was like hearing him say his first words all over again, thirty one years later. When I went into the room, he actually smiled. His facial muscles hadn’t seemed to be working at first. He lifted his fingers off the bed and I took his hand and he said, “Chloe.” His speech was slightly slurred and his voice sounded weak and shaky.

My name never sounded so sweet.

He arranged his letters on the board and asked me what happened. We knew that would be coming and we had decided as a collective group to only tell him there was an accident. The police called Kevin last week and told him that the brake lines had definitely been cut and all the fluid drained. We know it was Jesse…but he was careful.

No one saw him and there was not even a trace of the fluid in the driveway. There were no fingerprints or hairs or fibers like you see on shows like CSI. Jesse was too smart for all of that. It makes me wonder how elaborate his plan is for getting rid of my body once he finishes with me. If they ever do catch him, all he can be charged with is Chantelle’s attack. Kevin tells me that will be his word against hers because in that case there are no other witnesses or evidence either. Since she is my best friend the defense attorney would try and make the jury believe he was set up. It’s not likely a jury would buy that, but when your father is the D.A. and your mother is still pushing for him to help you…you just never know. I can’t wait around for that to happen.

The doctor said they’re hoping to move Derek out of the ICU by the weekend and into a regular room. He’s getting better every day although he has some problems that the doctor says he’ll probably have to be transferred to a rehab hospital for. The speech is one of them. He can say my name and he’s trying to say other things, but the doctor says it’s likely the nerve that controls his speech was partially damaged but will repair itself over time. The brain is a remarkable beast. The doctor says that in time, the brain can incorporate a new nerve or a new pathway for his speech to follow. He did say it would be difficult and required a lot of hard work, but this was the most successful businessman on the east coast we were talking about. He’s starting out with more brain power impaired than most people have on a given day, I would be willing to bet. He can do this. I have no doubt.

I’m ecstatic about him getting out of ICU also because each time he passes a level of care that brings him one step closer to going home. Samantha and Trevor came into the city to see him a few days ago and Samantha talked to Kevin about taking him home to their house when he was ready. Kevin had been planning to take him to the mansion and hiring a nurse, but Samantha was offering to care for him herself and Kevin like that idea better. I like it too. I’ll be able to spend more time getting to know my family while Derek heals. Before any of that happens, I have to deal with Jesse. This has to end.

I have a semblance of a plan in my head. When I spoke to Lexi a few days ago, she told me that she and Brock were going to Arizona in a few weeks for his cousin’s wedding. They would be gone four days. Somehow, I need to make sure that Jesse knows that. I’m pretty sure that he’s still following me, so that shouldn’t be too hard. The hard part will be giving Kevin and Jake the slip. They keep a tight rein on me and I do appreciate it…but this started with me and Jesse and that’s how it has to end. At least once a week I still meet with Max. He referred me to a gym here in New York too, so I’m still working out every day. I’m strong and I’m ready…I hope.

Roxi called a few days ago to see how things were going with Derek and to tell me that they are having a going away party for Mike on Saturday night. Mike got an actual DJ job on the radio. I was really happy for him. He’s a great guy. She told me that they’re all meeting at her friend's bar Club 234 at ten. I haven’t talked to Jake about it yet, but if Derek continues to improve, I would like to go. I thought that when I finally got the chance to escape that nightlife, I would never look back. But I realized that most of the people working in those types of clubs, that they were just like me…doing only what they had to in order to survive. They’re good people at heart and although I don’t miss the disgusting, perverse clients even a little bit, I do miss my co-workers and my boss.

I’m headed back to the hospital now. I get to watch Derek’s therapy session today. His therapist thought me being there when he tried to walk would motivate him. I hope so. I want him back worse than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.

**

Derek was taken to the therapy room by wheelchair. He was able to stand and transfer into the chair with the help of his therapist and his assistant. Chloe followed them, anxious to see how he was going to do.

“Derek, before we begin I want to just tell you what we’ve assessed so far about your condition. Your head injury seems to be located in the vestibular system. That’s a tiny little mechanism at the back of your skull here,” the therapist touched Derek’s head to show him. “That’s what shows up damaged on the MRI’s that you’ve had done. What this means is that you will very likely be strong enough to stand and walk and your body will likely remember how to do that. What you will probably have difficulties with is your balance. You’ll feel a little bit dizzy and like you’re going to fall. While we’re here in the therapy room, you don’t have to worry. We won’t let you fall. You can’t push yourself too hard either. Your body needs to be rested in order to recover so when you’ve had enough, let me know. If I see that you look exhausted or your limbs are trembling badly, or you look like you’re in pain, I’ll stop the session. Okay?”

Chloe almost danced with happiness when he nodded his head. That was the first time she had seen him do that.

“Good, okay. So, all we’re going to work on today is balance. I’m going to have you walking between the bars here so you can hold on in case you begin to fall, or you get too tired.” He wheeled Derek over to a set of bars that were hooked together on either side and a path stretched out through them.

“Okay Derek, you’re going to grab each side of the rails with your hands and pull yourself to your feet. Don’t worry if you can’t do it the first time; you’ll get stronger. Okay…go!”

It was both agony and ecstasy to watch him. His shaky arms reached for the rails and gripped onto them. Then with what looked like excruciating effort, he began to rise up out of the wheelchair. It took a really long time for him to stand up but he did. He stood there on shaking legs, gripping onto the bar. His face looked determined, but his eyes looked frightened. It was so hard for Chloe to stay where she was and not go over and try to help him. For the first time ever she realized what it must be like to be a parent. You have to let them do things for themselves in order to learn…but it must be so hard to sit back and watch them struggle. Derek was definitely struggling, but he completed his therapy session and never gave up. Chloe was as proud as a parent. This man is amazing she thought to herself.

After his physical therapy, they let him have an hour rest and then they took him to speech therapy. So far they just had him making sounds; vowel sounds, and consonants. He was doing well, but the best part was at the end of the session when he looked at me and said, “Chloe,” and then smiled at the therapist. She was impressed with him as well. After speech therapy, he needed another rest break. I sat at his bedside and held his hand.

He kept looking at me and I finally said, “You need to rest, baby. You worked hard today. Close your eyes.”

He gestured for his tablet. I rolled my eyes, but then I smiled and handed it to him. He typed in something and hit send. The robotic voice said, “I love you. Thank you for everything.”

My heart stopped for a few seconds. I squeezed his hand and said, “I love you too, and thank you for everything.”