Chapter 57: Waiting Room
*It’s OK to speak up for yourself, be assertive and refuse disrespect. It doesn’t make you a bitch. It makes you someone who is setting healthy boundaries. – Karen Salmonsohn*
Helen was made to go sleep in the hotel room for a while. Reese was able to get her to stay in bed for about four hours of exhausted sleep. She was back at the hospital before five on Friday morning.
The nurses made sure that both Jolene and Helen were comfortable. Willow showed up around seven with breakfast for everyone that was staying at the hotel and hospital. At nine, Colleen came and checked on Jolene before sending her down for surgery.
Along with Helen and her family, Reese, Dean and Cheryl sat in the surgical waiting room. His sisters rotated through, making sure everyone had everything they needed. They had weathered many storms before and were prepared for anything.
JD and Dean were watching a movie on a laptop in the corner. Cheryl was talking with Bunny about her pregnancy. Jaxon was half-heartedly participating in the conversation and getting angry with whoever he was texting. Reese was sitting on a couch with Helen in his lap, coaxing her to relax and go back to sleep.
Ty walked in, followed by the rest of the truck crew. He walked over and kissed Bunny and then Jaxon. There were a few looks from around the room, but they brushed them off.
“Have you heard anything, yet?” Ty asked quietly.
“Not yet.” Jaxon said just as quietly.
“She’s a fighter. If she has half the stubborn streak that you have,” Ty smiled and Jaxon smirked, “she’ll be bratting it up in no time.”
The radios chirped reminding the crew that they were still on duty. There were quiet murmurs of apologies and well wishes. Then the truck crew was gone.
The room returned to the soft murmurs and quiet conversations.
“Why is Hank still in jail?” Bob demanded as he entered the waiting room.
“Because he beat your daughter so bad that he nearly killed her.” Jaxon countered angrily. “And I already told you, if you cannot support her, you’re not welcome here.”
Bob turned and faced Helen who was now trembling in Reese’s lap. “You did this! The only thing that you had to do was give me legitimate sons. What do you give me? A queer, a bitch that doesn’t know her place and a snot nosed brat. I still say that my father paid too much for you.”
He had been approaching them as he spoke. The whole time, Reese had been holding her tight and whispering assurances in her ear. But once he stopped in front of them, the kind Dom left, and the protector came out.
“Step back.” Reese growled.
“Or what?” Bob taunted.
Gina walked in and gave her brother a quiet warning at the look on his face. She looked over at Willow who signed something to her. She signed back why and her sister just grinned.
“You think I don’t know about you?” Bob continued. “You can have her. She’s an unresponsive bitch in the bedroom. Her brother failed her training there. But at least her stepmother beat her into submission. I should have kept up those beatings.”
“Touch her and it will be the last thing that you do.” Reese warned.
“I didn’t want to touch her when we were married.” Bob sneered. “At least Hank didn’t have to imagine someone else to get it up. Should have held out for more for her.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Jaxon demanded.
“You think anyone would marry your sister after seeing your fat ass mother?”
“You sorry assed motherfucker!” JD said joining his brother.
“Hey,” Gina called. “I think you need to know that the press is outside. Between him and Hank’s dad, the press has been convinced that it’s all a big misunderstanding. And that Jolene is being over dramatic.”
“Bitches need to learn their place. Sometimes a good beating is what’s needed.” Bob told her.
That comment seemed to snap Helen out of her fear. She pushed up out of Reese’s embrace and moved over to stand in front of her ex-husband. Sneering down at her, he was not expecting her to fight back. Surprise kept him unable to stop her hand as she slapped his face.
“You sold our daughter! And you were fine with him beating her! What kind of a monster are you?”
“One that kept you fat and taken care of.” He spat back.
“All I ever wanted from you was a little kindness. Why couldn’t you give us that?” a single tear slipped out of her eye.
He sneered at her. “I never wanted you. You were trained, well behaved and obedient. All you had to do was give me legitimate sons and stay the hell out of my life.”
Reese wrapped an arm around her and pulled her into his chest. “She and her children are no longer your concern.”
“Don’t expect me to be upset over that.”
“Why don’t you leave before I find a reason to arrest you.” Gina advised.
“If you give the press any information,” Reese warned, “I’ll slap you with a slander and defamation lawsuit.”
“Maybe I should press charges for assault.” Bob rubbed his cheek.
“I’ll take them gladly,” Helen replied, “if they get you out of our lives for good.”
Bob looked at Gina who shook her head.
“I saw an emotional situation where you were antagonizing your ex-wife. And it appears that there was abuse on your part during the marriage. I would say psychological and financial. Then you threatened the life of her child.”
“This would fall under the domestic violence survivor’s law. There’s nothing to file charges on.”
“You’re just saying that because he’s your brother.” Bob insisted.
“I’m saying that because it’s the law. Also under the same law, since you knew about the abuse and did nothing to protect your daughter, I can charge you as an accomplice.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“It’s commonly referred to as Grace’s Law or the Grace Stoubaugh Law.” Willow said. “Look it up. Check with your lawyer.”
Gina nodded with a little smile. Bob gave a huff before storming out of the room.
Reese pulled Helen back into his arms and held her tight. Jaxon went back to Bunny who held him. JD grabbed Dean by the hand and drug her out of the room.
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