Chapter 61: Hospital Days
*It’s okay to cry when there’s too much on your mind – the clouds rain when things get heavy. – Amina Mehmood*
Jolene opened her eyes and looked around the unfamiliar room. It was a very white and sterile room with something green and red that was very blurry. She looked at the bed that she was in and recognized her Jack Skellingto blanket from her teenage years.
Her throat burned and breathing hurt. She tried to move and winced. Every inch of her body hurt. Slowly it all came back to her. Tears began to slide down her face.
“Oh, sweetheart, you go ahead and cry.” A woman said as she gently wiped Jolene’s cheek. The woman pushed a button on the side of the bed and voice answered. “Hi, umm, she’s awake and I think she’s trying to talk.”
“We’ll be right there.” The voice said.
“You want me to call your momma?” the woman asked, and Jolene nodded. “I thought so.” She held her phone up to her ear. “Hey, daddy. No. No. King, shut up. Your princess is awake. OK. I’ll see you in a few.”
The woman was putting her phone away when a nurse in superhero scrubs came in.
“Hi. Don’t try to talk.” The nurse grabbed a notepad and a marker. She held the notepad and handed Jolene the marker. “Write down what you want. And we’ve already established that you want a divorce.”
Jolene looked at the notepad. It had one word written multiple times. Divorce. Moving slowly and carefully, she wrote out T H I R S T Y
“I can take care of that.” The woman said and disappeared from the room.
“Are you in pain?” the nurse asked, and Jolene nodded. “OK. I’m going to give you some pain medicine that will take the edge off. I’ll call your doctor and let her know that you’re awake.”
The door opened and Helen rushed in. The nurse moved out of the way for her. Both mother and daughter were crying.
“I’m so sorry. I went across the street for a shower.”
A very large man with tattoo sleeves on both arms moved to the other side of the bed. “Hi, princess.” He said gently as he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
“Dad.” The woman from before said handing over several juice boxes. “She said she’s thirsty.”
“Well, let’s take care of that.” He accepted the boxes and held them up one at a time until Jolene nodded her head. “Alright, apple juice it is.” His large hands easily opened the straw and punched it into the little foil covered hole. “Small sips, princess.”
“Alright, Miss Jolene.” The nurse said as she put a clear liquid into the IV tube. “This is going to take the edge off, but not knock you out. Today is Wednesday, and my name is Betty. If you need anything, just push the button. Dr. Williams will be up just as soon as she can.”
As the nurse walked out, JD and Jaxon walked in. They both came over and gently hugged their sister. The sounds of a juice box being sucked dry caused them all to stare over at Reese before they all started laughing.
“Damn, brother. I thought I was good at sucking things.” Jaxon said.
“I was in the Navy.” Reese replied with a wink.
“Don’t ask him about the third Thursday of the month.” Cheryl joked.
“It was Friday.” Reese sighed dramatically. “I remember when it was my day in the barrel.”
“Reese!” Helen hissed as her sons and his daughter laughed.
“Princess, don’t talk.” Reese said holding a different notepad. This one also had divorce written on it several times. “Your throat is still healing. Write it out.”
C L O S E T – O U T ?
“Oh yeah. Lots has happened in the past year you’ve been out.” Jaxon teased.
“Jaxon Daniel.” Helen warned.
“It’s been less than a week, but a lot has happened since Hank started isolating you. Mom has a boyfriend,” JD pointed at Reese, “Bunny is pregnant, and it may be Jaxon’s and I’m kind of dating a girl.”
“Told you.” Cheryl said from her chair.
Reese glared at her before turning his attention to JD. “You and me, we’re going to have a talk later.”
“She’s right. You can be scary.” JD shuttered involantarily.
An evil grin took over his face. “Good.”
“Bubs, quit scaring the boy.” Colleen said as she stepped up to the foot of the bed. “Dr. Bush has said that you are not to talk for a while. Some damage was done when your attacker pushed the rag into your throat and while he choked you. I see that you can write, and that’s good. Scale of one to five, using your fingers, five being you hurt so bad that you want me to knock you back out and one being bearable and the bird being piss the fuck off. Where is your pain?”
Jolene held up two fingers.
“That’s good.” The doctor smiled. “Betty said that she gave you some pain medicine.”
“I heard she’s awake.” Dean said bouncing into the room.
“Why are you not at school?” Reese asked her.
“School lost power so they closed.” She replied sliding an arm around JD’s waist. Reese gave her a knowing look and she smacked JD on the chest. “You told him!”
“Actually, I told my sister, he just happened to be here.” JD corrected.
“Don’t worry, little princess. We’d already figured it out. It was only a matter of time.” Cheryl grinned. “Willow wants to know if your claiming Bunny as a princess too.”
“It’s a fair question, King.” Colleen said.
“Why have you all started calling me King?” Reese demanded.
“That’s probably my fault.” Dean admitted. “I have you in my phone as King O and I have been informed that it’s a bit pervy.”
“And quite fitting.” Jaxon snickered.
“Don’t need any assistance, switch.” Reese told him.
“Not my Dom.” Jaxon said.
“No, he’s mine.” Helen blushed.
“Well, that’s completely gag-tastic.” JD said.
Jolene tapped her mom’s hand with her good hand. Helen smiled as she looked at her daughter.
“He doesn’t hurt me.” Helen assured her. “He takes very good care of me.”
“As lovely as it is to hear about my father’s sex life, and in case anyone is wondering, it’s not, I’m being asked if anyone is hungry. No offense aunt Colleen, but the hospital food sucks.”
“Agreed.” Colleen said. “She can have anything that she wants. See if Michele will make her some soup.” Jolene nodded. “Yeah, you’re bound to be hungry.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
