by AJ Newman
The nurse said, “Remember, only one person after 8:00 pm. That was two hours ago. Hurry up and go home.”
Jere broke free from his mom and jumped in bed with me to give me a hug. “Uncle John, you and Doc saved us from those bad men.”
I appreciated the hug, but it caused my head to throb. “Thanks, Jere. I heard that you saw the bad men and told Tally and Doc. If you hadn’t done that, I’d been by myself. Thanks. I owe you. Tell Doc to give you free ice cream.”
Jane came over to the bed and leaned over me to kiss me on the forehead. “Thanks for saving Jere and the other kids from those thugs. How do you feel?”
“Well, I’d say great, but my head thinks otherwise. I can see and hear fine, but the headaches are pretty bad.”
Cindy said, “They don’t like to use pain killers when dealing with a possible brain injury, Dad. However, no one said you had a brain. Getting your butt kicked by professional killers is not the trait of a wise man.”
“Hey, I’m alive, and what happened to the two men who tried to kill me?”
“We know. You killed your two and had to save Doc’s ass,” Cindy huffed.
Jane sat down beside me. “You were brave, and I guess you had to rush into danger, but your luck could run out.”
“I think you just scolded me. My feelings are hurt.”
Cindy spoke before Jane had a chance to reply. “I’m going home to change into some comfy clothes and come back and spend the night. Jane, I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Cindy took Jere with her, and the room was silent. I’d been thinking about everything that had happened. “I’m sorry for placing you and Jere in danger. I don’t blame you if you hate me.”
Jane took my hand. “John, you’ve been so good to us. I know you never meant for us to be in danger.”
I squeezed her hand, and Jane leaned over, touching her lips to mine. I could feel goosebumps tingling all over. My chest tightened, and my heartbeat increased. I pushed my lips against hers, and she held me tight. I was ecstatic and confused at the same time but knew there was a magnetic attraction to this beautiful woman.
Warmth spread over my body just when I heard, “John! John, who is this wench? Get off my husband.”
A second later, I heard my nurse yell, “Mr. Logan! Mr. Logan! I guess we know what caused your heart monitor to go crazy.”
Jane started to move away. I held her hand. “Jane, this is my ex-wife. She is Cindy’s mom and a pain in my ass. What do you want?”
“Well, I didn’t expect to see you playing kissy-face with one of your students. Go to hell,” Sally said as she stormed out of the room.
I was speechless but still had Jane’s hand in mine. “Please don’t let the bitch bother you.”
Jane took her hand away and sat beside me. “John, I was your student a month ago. We need to back away.”
I was literally a physical and emotional wreck and wanted the woman before me more than any before. I chose my words carefully. “Jane, maybe this is wrong, but it feels good. We’ve been through a lot together, but that doesn’t change the strong feelings I have for you.”
“I have feelings for you, too. Perhaps we cool it a bit and see if the feelings go away if we’re not working so close together. You’re going to finish whatever Mike and you decide to do with New Wave, and maybe I’ll work at Mike’s lab.”
It might sound corny, but I hurt more from my heart than my head because of her words. “I agree. I don’t want to hurt you or Jere.”
I closed my eyes and was soon asleep. Well, I pretended to be asleep. Thoughts about Jane filled my head even when I tried to think about anything but her. Sleep evaded me until Cindy returned. She cautiously walked into the room and saw Jane asleep in the chair beside me. She saw I was awake. Cindy whispered, “Jere is with Talley for the night. I thought I’d have to run Jane out of your bed.”
I made the time out sign with my hands and whispered, “No such luck. Your Mom came in and kinda … well, … kinda caught us kissing.”
“I know! She called me twice last night. She had a cow! She told me you two were having sex in your hospital bed. I’ve never seen her with a loss for words. Tell me what really happened. Did she smack you or Jane?”
“No! Your mom lied. She was furious and said some derogatory comments about a student and me. By the way, how would she know Jane had been my student?”
Cindy almost fell out of her chair, apologizing. “Dad, I told Mom that a gorgeous ex-student was working with us. Nothing more. I certainly didn’t mention any hanky-panky.”
“Hon, there hasn’t been any hanky and certainly no panky in my bed. I think we both have strong feelings but need to figure out what that means long term.”
“You love her. Dad, you love Jane, don’t you?”
“Daughter shut up. I think she got scared and backed away. Please don’t tease her.”
“Dad, I’d never do that now that I know how serious this is.”
I started to speak when Jane sat upright. “Cindy, we were just kissing when your Mom walked into the room. There hasn’t been anything wrong with what we’ve done. Apparently, she still thinks she owns your father. John and I’ll decide what we are to each other when we’re ready.”
Cindy thought she’d overstepped her bounds. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”
“Yes, it is your business. You’re my best friend, and I was kissing your Dad. I’m confused, but I’m just grateful that both of you came into my life. I care deeply for both of you.”
Cindy and Jane hugged with tears flowing. “Ladies, I’m also grateful that both of you and Jere are in my life. Jane, I want your friendship even if …”
Jane had moved close to me and placed a finger on my lips. She kissed me on the forehead and left the room.
Chapter 26
Bay Pointe Hospital – Mobile, Alabama
The sun rose and found Cindy asleep in the recliner across the room from my hospital bed. It was cold in my room, and the air was heavy with the odor of hand sanitizer and a hint of some kind of pine smelling floor cleaner. The room was white, the bed was white, the curtains were white, and the privacy curtain was white. Boring! I would have thought I woke up in a snowstorm if not for my daughter’s blue jeans, green sneakers, and red top sticking out from under a white blanket. I wanted to go home.
I reached for the phone and dialed Mike’s number. “How’s it hanging, asshole?”
Mike replied, “If you’re cranky this morning, I’m hanging up on you.”
“I’m bored, not cranky a bit. What do we do about New Wave?”
“Don’t worry, I called them early this morning and made up an excuse for your absence. Brunner didn’t ask, so I didn’t dwell on the topic. I did set up a meeting for us tomorrow at about nine o’clock.”
That piqued my interest. “What are we going to talk about?”
“I told them we were close to validating the process and planned to be there three more days. You would be writing up the final report, the process was now theirs, and we get our million dollar bonus.”
I got greedy, “And I get two hundred and fifty thousand of the bonus for pain and suffering.”
“Keep dreaming, asshole. You get fifty K and two hundred shares of J&M. I think that’s more than fair.”
I was happy until I remembered a little detail. “Hey, we’re not a publically traded company. What’s a share worth, and why not just give me the dough?”
“John, because I’m not letting you make another mistake like you did when you sold me most of your share of the company. This will put you at ten percent ownership of our company.”
“Oh! Now I remember why you’re my ‘favoritest’ best friend.”
“Someone has to look out for your dumb ass. Seriously, you saved me from being in the hospital and all of the thug shit. It’s the least I can do. See you at Long John’s at seven o’clock.”
I laid the phone down and apparently sang aloud, “I’m in the money! I’m
in the money!”
Cindy rubbed her bleary eyes and stretched. “So, Uncle Mike is giving us a bonus? You’ll have to give me some because you don’t want to be lying when you award Jane a bonus.”
“Brat!”
A thought hit me between the eyes. I placed my finger to my lips and got Cindy’s attention. I had to think about what I said during my conversation with Mike. I was relieved when I realized I’d said nothing that would be of much interest to Bruner and their thugs. I was lucky that morning because Cindy pointed to the door. I saw a dark spec.
Cindy wrote me a note, “Dad, the tiny drones and Nanobots don’t have cameras. Yet!!!!! We can pass notes.”
“Great news. We don’t have to hide in my SUV all the time.”
“We do at home and Long John’s because they have hard-wired bugs and cameras.”
“Crap. Please chase the Doctor down and get me home. I need to see Jane.”
Cindy’s head dropped a bit, and her cheeks glowed red. “Dad, Jane has gone to stay with her mom for a week. She told me to tell you she needed time away to be able to think.”
This bit of news was an unwelcome surprise. I literally felt sick at my stomach. For the first time in years, I knew what I wanted and hoped I could find a way to get it.
Cindy helped me into her Jeep, and we left the hospital. I noticed the Jeep was relatively new. “Cindy, how old is your Jeep. It looks like it’s in great shape.”
“It was two years old when Eric bought it for me last year. Why?”
“Is it in your name, and do you like it?”
“It’s titled in my name and I kinda sorta like it. I love Jeeps but hate Eric and anything to do with him. He’s a perv.”
“He hasn’t done …”
“No! And don’t go shoot him. I just catch him leering at me from time to time. I’m never alone with him.”
I said, “Now, what would you drive if you had your choice?”
“Probably one of the Jeep pickups or one of those new Ford Raptors.”
Damn, the Raptor would cost about sixty to seventy grand where a nice Jeep truck would run forty-five less her Jeep in trade. “I was just wondering how you liked the Jeep since it was a gift from Eric.”
My Home – Dauphin Island
We arrived at home, and Punk nearly knocked me down, greeting me at the door. I sat in my favorite chair, rubbing her ears while Cindy walked over to the restaurant to get lunch. Punk had become very protective of me, and I didn’t have the heart to get rid of her now. She was my dog or perhaps more accurate, I was her human.
I called my buddy Brad at the local Jeep - Chrysler dealer. “Hey Brad, I want to surprise my daughter with a new Jeep truck for her birthday. Can you bring three of them down to Long John’s and park them between my home and the restaurant?”
“I’ll do about anything to sell a truck this close to the end of the month. What trim and what color?”
After lunch, I sat on the deck under an umbrella brooding between Talley, Doc, and Mike, trying to visit with me. I sucked at brooding. I’m a problem solver, not a brooder. I missed Jane and ached for her to be near. Cindy tried to keep me company but wasn’t very good at getting my mind off Jane. I even tried to catnap but daydreamed about Jane. That certainly didn’t help matters.
The only thing that caught my attention that day was thinking about how to stop Brunner and his henchmen from committing genocide. I came up with a slew of options but always came back to one issue. I could easily finish the chemical process or shoot some key characters, but that left my loved ones, friends, and me at risk of retaliation. I brooded about Jane and mulled over Brunner and New Wave the rest of the afternoon. I knew I had to solve the Brunner issue and use that as an excuse to get Jane back in my life. I knew just how to get that done.
“I’m hungry! Let’s go eat!”
“I’ve got to dry my hair,” Cindy yelled from the bathroom.
Even though it had been a bummer day, I was a bit excited about Cindy picking her new truck. Brad had reduced the price by ten percent and wanted fifteen thousand cash difference. The most difficulty in making the deal was getting Brad’s guy down to look at Cindy’s Jeep for the trade. He told me the three trucks Cindy was to choose from were close enough in value that the deal would stand regardless of which one she wanted.
Twenty minutes later, we left my house and walked across the street to the parking lot. I ignored the trucks that were parked fifty feet from us. Cindy saw them. “Dad, you asked me what I would like to drive. Well, you can buy me the black one.”
We walked over to the three trucks, and I could see Cindy drooling already. “They’re all just alike except the color. Darn, they’re all loaded. Hum, maybe the white one would be better down here on the beach. Oh, well, I have plenty of time to decide.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I don’t what?”
“Have time to decide. The dealer takes your Jeep, and you get one of these for your very own. No payments and I’ll keep paying your insurance. Happy birthday!”
“Dad, my birthday isn’t until next month.”
“Ok, we’ll wait until then.”
“No, I want the silver one.”
“The keys are in it. It’s yours.”
Cindy was ecstatic and sat in her new truck with me for a half-hour before she could bear to leave it. I made her let up a bit on the bear hug due to my bruises but was still aching after she finished. All Cindy could talk about was her new truck. I knew I’d lost her brainpower in finding a solution to my Brunner problem.
“Hon, I’m glad you love the truck, but I’m starved. Can we eat before you sleep in it tonight?”
“Thanks again for loving me enough to get me the truck. Now I need a bed cover, vent shades, those fancy floor mats, and larger tires.”
“Darlin,’ help me figure out how to write the report and move on to the next job, and I’ll buy all of that for you.”
Cindy frowned, which took me by surprise. “Are you bribing me to keep me from running home to mom in tears?”
“What’s wrong, girl? I thought this made you happy.”
“What about Jane? I know you plan on rewarding her also.”
“I do. I have to reward her out of my own money. Mike plan’s to give us all a bonus when we finish the project, but he won’t reward Jane for leaving before we’re done. We know she’ll come back and work for J&M, but the bonus is for completing the project. I’ll do the best I can for her out of my bonus.”
She smiled and said, “We need Jane to brainstorm with us. We need to get her back. Can you promise to keep Jane and Jere away from danger?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Then I’ll handle getting Jane back, but first, how much would Jane get for staying to the end and contributing?”
I knew Mike hadn’t really said anything about a bonus for the girls. Now I’d screwed myself, but it was for a good cause. “Would five thousand be reasonable?”
“I think so. It would also be a big help to her.”
I casually said, “That would be great. I have a boneheaded idea for the report, but Jane could be of great assistance.”
“Yunh huh”
“Daughter, it’s funny when I mock Mike. I wouldn’t advise you to do it around him.”
“I’ve got Uncle Mike wrapped around my little finger.”
“Watch out! There’s a big difference between wrapped around your finger and having a tiger by the tail.”
No! I don’t think money solves everything but try to live without it. I went on about my day wondering if I’d become a money grubbing asshole like my ex-wife.
Chapter 27
My Home – Dauphin Island
Dressing early, I sat on the deck drinking my first coffee of the morning with Punk lying on my feet. I usually had three or four cups before lunch. The coffee didn’t taste as good this morning because it was already warming up and terribly humid. There was a gentle breeze from the Gulf, or I’d already be cov
ered in sweat. The gulls were flocking around my darned parking lot because someone had thrown some french-fries away. I hate the airborne rats. They bothered people and crapped all over the place.
Jane kept popping into my thoughts, but I knew I’d have to move on. I wasn’t all that good about moving on since I still brooded about Sally’s infidelity. I hate change. There I said it. That’s why I put up with Meagan so long. Well, in addition to the great sex. God knows it wasn’t for the intelligent conversation. I thought about looking at one of those dating sites, but that made me feel needy and not the stud I knew I was.
Cindy was inside, drying her hair before dressing. The sun was still hiding behind the pine trees when I saw Jane pull up to the daycare center across the way. Her old Ford fogged the parking lot and had a loud clicking noise. It sounded like a Chevy. I smiled and was excited to see her again, even if it was only a business relationship, as she’d told Cindy when they talked.
Jere saw me on the deck, yelled something, and waved. I waved back. Jane’s old Ford smoked and rattled a bit but ran great. She maintained it herself thanks to her dad’s insistence on even girls performing maintenance on their own vehicles. She parked it and walked up the steps with a concerned look on her face.
“Hi, Jane! I’m glad you could come back and help us.”
Jane didn’t say anything at first but pulled a chair close to mine. “I need to know if I’m really needed, or you just want me near you.”
“Jane, I’ll never lie to you.” I was going to lie but looked into her blue eyes and said, “Yes, and yes.”
“Did you make up the bonus just to get me back?”
“Yes, but listen. I know that you know I helped Cindy buy a new Jeep. I told her it was a bonus, so she’d feel good about taking the gift. Then we talked about how to proceed with New Wave, and we both knew we needed you. So, I kinda thought maybe we could tempt you to come back with a bonus. Jane, you are the best student I ever had and were a huge help at New Age. Mike saw it as well as I did.”
