"Thanks."
She smiled and left the room.
Jeri sat back down in the chair and took hold of Keith's hand, not daring to look into his eyes again. "We were worried about you, Keith."
He rubbed his other hand across the stubble on his chin, careful not to pull on the tube. "I'll be fine. I survived worse."
The fear she felt when she first saw him after the shooting came back. He was unconscious and was hooked up to so many machines. Tears flooded her vision as she stumbled towards him and took hold of his hand. Her heart felt like someone ripped it out of her and left to die with him. Keith was a fighter who didn't go down so easily. When they unhooked him from the respirator Jeri herself felt like she could finally breathe.
She tried to keep the fear out of her voice. "You still scared us. You were so lucky. There were others they attacked who didn't survive."
The tear-filled eyes killed Keith more than the bullet wound. Tears for him. He didn't know why he should have mattered to her so much. He was cold, heartless at times, and covered by battle scars. Bullets and bombs seemed to be attracted to him. How many more times would he be hit before one day a bullet would put him in the ground? He couldn't do that to Jeri. His conscience wouldn't allow him to have to her go through the terror and sorrow time and time again. Now he would definitely be more of an invalid in her eyes. She would be better off with another man, someone who would be less of a liability and who had less baggage than he did.
He ground his teeth and looked at her. "Jeri..."
She looked up at him with unshed tears.
Damn it! He wanted her to come lie in his bed next to him so he could wrap his arm around her, bring her in close and caress that soft cascade of silky goodness.
His heart grew heavy as his conscience yelled at him to let her go.
"You should not have come." He turned away from her to hide from the pain that he caused her.
She let go of his hand. A moment later the door to his room slammed hard and he closed his eyes and sighed. Everything hurt, including his heart, especially his heart.
***
Jeri's feet pushed her forward. She had to get away from him.
That asshole! She drove over 150 miles to be there for him and he had the gull to tell her he didn't want her there?
She made a left and tried to convince her stomach she had to eat something. Okay, maybe just grab a drink so she could sit down for a while and try to rein in her anger.
When she grabbed a bottle of orange juice she swore she heard her name. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a woman in her sixties with gray hair walk towards her, arms waving.
Jeri nearly dropped the bottle as she came face to face with her ex-mother in law, Martha Livingten.
"I thought that I saw you here, dear!" Her soft gentle voice was hard to hear over the cafeteria noise. Jeri knew that she really didn't want to hear anything the woman wanted to tell her.
"Hello, Martha," she coldly told the woman as she tried to walk around her.
Martha didn't let her go and stepped in her path. "What are you doing here? I would have never expected to see you here."
She's not going to let this go. "I would say the same to you."
Martha beamed. "Oh, well, I had to come here because my daughter had another grandchild, a girl, and she named her Krista. Can you believe this is her third child? Oh, my children never have a hard time conceiving."
There it was. The woman always bragged about her own children like they were God's gift to the world, but anyone who married into the family was treated like a second class citizen. Every year she bathed her children with gifts on their birthdays, but when it came to Jeri’s birthday or the other in-laws, there was nothing, not even a phone call. And holidays were the worst. The woman always gave her children elaborate gifts and the in-laws were lucky if they got anything more than a pair of socks. The slimy bitch would always use some 'Poor me' tactic on her kids, which always made them cave into doing what she wanted. Jeri asked Jake numerous times not to tell his mother about her medical problem, but he of course caved and told her everything. The sad part was Jake never saw his mother's manipulation and never defended or even backed up Jeri. He really was a dumb bastard, and Jeri felt blessed to not have to deal with him or this woman anymore.
And now here she is, trying to make me feel like shit again.
"Congratulations." Jeri pushed her aside and walked to the cashier.
"And what about you, dear? I heard you were a farmer. How's that working for you?" She sneered through her gold rimmed glasses.
If it was any other day she would have let it go. She spun around, her teeth ground and her hand clenched the juice like a stress ball.
"You know what, Martha? I don't have to tell you shit! Whatever I say to you you'll just spin it around and make it sound like my life is just totally worthless because I'm no longer part of your wonderful little family!"
Her mouth dropped. "Watch your language, Jerilind! Just because I am no longer your mother-in-law doesn't mean that you should talk to your elders that way. Your mother raised you wrong!"
Jeri saw red and stalked closer towards her. "Elders? Really? Well, an elderly person who was raised right would have treated her daughters and sons-in-law like they were her own children and not like trash! Nothing matters to you except your kids. You don't give a crap about anybody else outside of your family circle!"
Her mouth moved but nothing came out.
"Not only were you a lousy mother-in-law, you're a self-centered and selfish person who manipulates her children with tears and sad excuses to get what you want! I'm glad I'm out of your little clique, Martha. I couldn't be happier."
She spun around and darted to the cashier.
How long had she wanted to tell her off like that? Felt like forever, and damn did it feel so good.
She thanked the cashier and put her change into her pocket. Now she had to figure out what to do with Keith. She headed out of the cafeteria so she would not get cornered again by Martha and headed towards one of the staircases to find some peace and quiet to think.
.
Chapter 10
Keith was ready to buzz the nurse to get him another pillow. Not so he could lie on it, but to try to smother himself out of his misery.
"Are you even listening to what I am saying, Keith?" his mother's shrill voice asked.
He inhaled and tried hard to keep his anger at bay. It was bad enough getting lectured at, but it was worse when it was by an empath. "Mom, I am not moving."
Donna Brinks sat up straighter on the chair, which caused her immaculate blonde, bobbed hair to bounce. Her eyes narrowed and her hand instinctively wiped away a nonexistent speck of dirt from her apple red suit. People tended to drop everything and do whatever she asked. Keith wasn't one of those people. Ever since his mother and sister dropped in during the morning his mother had commanded that he come back to New York.
Rose Brinks sat in the chair on the other side of the room, typing on her cell phone. Rose dealt with Donna a lot more than he did, so he was sure Rose was happy Keith was now Donna's main focus.
Keith looked at the clock. It was almost 9 o'clock. Where were Jeri, Dean, and Anne? Last night Jeri had come back in a dark mood and sat silently next to him while Dean and Anne kept the conversation moving. When visiting hours were over Dean slapped Keith’s shoulder and told him they'd be back in the morning. Anne gave him a gentle hug and Jeri...
He looked over at his heart monitor. Would it show how bad his heart ached? Jeri turned and left without saying goodbye. It hurt more than he expected, but it would have hurt more if they got involved and had to break up.
"Keith, there's nothing left for you here." Donna broke his thoughts.
He looked over at her. "I have a life here."
"A life? Really?" She got up and wiped the wrinkles from her skirt as she positioned herself in front of his bed. "What kind of life is this?" She
extended her hands around the room. "Do you see a girlfriend here? Or some friends?"
"My friends will be here," he muttered as he tried to keep his disappointment from surfacing.
"And they still will be there for you when you're in New York." She started to walk around the room, her stance authoritative. "Now, I already talked to our VP of Sales and there is a position that's about to open for a sales manager."
"Not interested."
"I didn't even finish, Keith. The position pays very well, with excellent benefits which would cover your prosthesis and any future problems you may have with it. There is travel involved, but it's clearly safer than what you are doing now. With your gift I know you'll be able to get the best deals closed."
Keith ground his teeth. He didn’t like the idea of using his powers to make a company rich. "Mom, I'm not interested."
Donna stopped as her hands went to her hips. "Keith, you're not yourself, and you can't make a decision right now, but you need to start thinking of the future." She placed her hands on the bed frame and leaned forward. "You have nothing here anymore. No girlfriend, no apartment, and after this accident probably no job. You might as well come back home and take this job. You can stay with me until you can find an apartment for yourself."
The heart monitor started to race. He hated when his mother tried to run his life. That was part of the reason he’d moved here after the accident when he was released from duty. He wanted a clean slate to start a new life, and he did with Jeri's help.
From the moment he arrived at the airport she made sure he had everything he needed. She even drove him to some of his physical therapy sessions. Not once did she ever complain or pity him. Her encouragement was what helped him move on and realize there was more out there than the military. She gave him hope.
A pair of hands took hold of his. He looked up to see his mother. She always looked like a young woman to him when he was growing up, but now he saw the fine lines that were scattered around her face.
"Keith, please think about this. I truly want what's best for you. I want you to be happy, and I think you will be back in New York." Her soft hands squeezed his. "Look, stay at least a year. The change will do you some good."
Keith's back started to hurt again and he moved slightly, but then another bolt of pain shot through his body. Donna let his hands go.
"Do you need me to get the nurse?"
Keith shook his head. "No, Mom, I'll be okay. Just need to move a bit." He took the bed remote and moved the mattress up to ease the pain. Crap, this was going to be his life for the next few weeks. He closed his eyes and sighed. The pain started to slowly subside. He hated to admit it, but his Mom might be right. He didn't have anywhere to stay. He was going to couch surf with Daniel and his girlfriend until he could get an apartment, but now just thinking of having to sleep on a couch made him get goosebumps. He wouldn't be able to sleep. Maybe if he took some painkillers, but that would only make him really groggy in the morning and he wouldn't be able to function.
A year wasn't that long. It would probably take him that long to fully recover. He could take the sales job and just sock the cash away and quit if it didn't fit him.
He looked around the room and saw some of the flowers and balloons. Most of them were from those he worked with and a couple were from some of his former team members. His eyes glued on the potted gardenia on the table. Jeri had brought it over as soon as he was removed from ICU. When she visited she would stand next to it and rub its leaves, probably because it helped her with her energy. She was the one he really wanted to stay with, but he couldn't be an added weight to her, and that's what he was now.
His heart ached and he reluctantly knew his mother was right.
"A year..." He began as he looked at his Mom. "I'll stay a year, and then if I don't like it I can go where ever I choose and you will support my choice, agreed?"
A smile formed on his mother's face. "Yes, agreed. "
Rose opened her mouth to say something but a knock at the door interrupted her.
Dean poked his head in. "Hey, Keith, can we come in?"
"You don't need to ask, Dean, you know that."
He walked into the room, holding a small decorated pine tree. Anne and Jeri trailed behind him. He extended his hand towards Donna.
"Mrs. Brinks, I'm Dean Miller, Keith and I served together."
She smiled and shook his hand. "Yes, Keith has talked about you so much. It's nice to finally meet you."
Dean moved aside. "This is my girlfriend, Anne Stevens and my sister Jerilind."
Donna shook Anne's hand. "You're the movie star, right?"
Anne smiled. "Yes, I am."
"Don't take this wrong way, dear, but I haven't seen any of your movies." She released her hand.
"I know not everyone watches movies, so I don't take any offense," Anne assured her politely.
Donna turned to Jeri. "So you are the Jeri I’ve heard so much about." She shook her hand. "Keith talks a lot about you and your farm."
Jeri cracked a smile. If she was nervous about meeting his mother she really didn't show it.
"I'm sure he does. It's nice to finally meet you, Mrs. Brinks."
Donna let go of her hand and motioned to Rose, who stood up to greet them.
"This is my daughter, Rose."
They all exchanged greetings and Dean took the pine and placed it on the windowsill. Anne took a seat at one of the chairs, Donna sat on the foot of Keith's bed and Rose went back to her chair. Jeri went to stand by the side table with the gardenia plant. Keith glanced in her direction and saw her gently caress the leaves. Her long fingers took hold of one shiny leaf and her thumb ran across the top as if wiping off some dirt.
This was definitely tense for her. Part of it was his fault. Why did he tell her he didn't want her there? He always wanted her close by. He could be himself around her and he felt so alive and whole. But he wasn't whole, he was broken, and she needed someone better than he was .
"Anne said you needed some holiday cheer." Dean told Keith when he went to stand next to him.
"Shit, that's right, Christmas is what, two weeks away?"
"One week," Rose told him from her chair.
Keith looked in Jeri's direction. If he could have one Christmas wish it would be to spend it with her.
Donna was the first to break the silence. "It is very nice of all of you to visit Keith." She reached over and patted Keith's covered leg. "I hope that all of you will stay in touch when Keith moves back to New York."
Jeri stopped caressing the leaves and looked coldly at Donna.
Dean jumped up and looked over at Keith. "You're moving to New York?"
Keith nodded his head. "Yes, I'm moving back." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Just for a year."
"A year? Why?" Jeri asked, her ice cold gaze looked in his direction. She wanted answers.
Donna chimed in. "I have a job lined up for him in New York. It's a wonderful sales position that he will be great in. Keith can start right away once he heals."
"Wow, that's a big change," Dean commented . He walked over to the other side of Keith's bed and leaned against the bed frame. "Are you sure about this?"
Keith looked over at his friend and nodded. "Yeah, I have nowhere to stay right now and with this new injury I have no idea if I'll be able to get back on the force. This is really the only option I have at this point."
"You can stay with me."
All eyes turned to Jeri as she released the plant and looked squarely at Keith. "I can take care of you."
Keith couldn't believe she offered to help him. After he’d been such a jerk to her she still wanted to help him. There was no way that he deserved someone like her. "Jeri, I can't ask you to do that. I..."
"I want to..."Jeri walked up to Keith. "You're my friend."
Friend. Keith smiled. I want to be more than just a friend to you.
His heart started to race and scream to
tell her yes, but his mind kept flashing him a big 'No' sign. He knew it would be a bad idea.
"Jeri, dear..." Donna began. "Keith will be fine with me in New York. You helped him enough when he first came back. It's too much for someone like you."
"Someone like me?" Jeri snapped back at her and looked her square in the eye. "What exactly do you mean by that? Do you think I'm not strong enough or perfect enough to help your son?"
Donna visibly took a step back, not realizing she touched on a really sore subject. "No, dear. I'm just saying..."
"Don't bother." Jeri swung around and raced out of the room as fast as she could.
Keith's head whipped towards his mother. "What the hell did you mean by that, Mom?"
Donna looked slightly embarrassed. "She would be exhausted taking care of you, Keith. You'll need the care of a couple of nurses..."
"Mom, you underestimate Jeri. She's the strongest woman I have met in a long time and I..." He pushed the warm emotion down to cover his true feelings about her from his mother. "I will take her up on her offer and stay with her until I get better."
Donna's eyes widened and Keith swore inside. She must have caught his feelings before he was able to squash them.
"Keith, I don't think that's a good idea. I can hire nurses..."
"I'm going with Jeri."
"Sweetheart, you're not thinking straight." Donna looked frazzled. Why did his emotions towards Jeri scare his mother?
"Mom," Rose chimed in. "Let Keith make his own decision. You pushed Jennifer at him, and look where that got him."
Donna spun around and glared at her daughter. "Are you saying I'm responsible for their break up?"
"No, I'm saying butt out," Rose calmly told her. "Keith and I know you love us, but you have to let us live our lives."
"Ha! And how well is that working for you, Rose? Why don't you have a full time job? Why aren't you married?"
Keith wished the bed had controls to wheel him away. From the looks on Dean and Anne's faces he could tell they were just as uncomfortable as he was.
Growth 0f Love Page 6
