"Well, you haven't proven me wrong," he chuckles, "I this is the first time I’ve seen you out of this bed in months and you could use a couple cheeseburgers."
"I guess you're right," I sigh, pulling my hand from his.
"You were in a coma for three months, Macy. Despite everything, you look completely normal," he whispers, his hand latching onto mine.
"I wouldn't say completely...." I grumble, lifting my mangled arm as I collapse against the pillow. Horrendous, half-healed scars cover the remaining part of the useless limb, causing me to wince any time I look at it.
"You're normal, Hon," he tells me, his hand reaching out to trace the scars. The warmth of his touch eases my nerves and I raise my face to look up into his dark, hooded eyes.
"I'll never be the same though," I whimper, lowering my eyes to stare at my lap.
"It's a good thing you've got me around then. I'm not going to let you mope around for a single moment. I don't want those thoughts floating around your pretty little head for one second," he scolds me before leaning down to kiss a scar on my half arm.
"Have I ever told you I love you, Dennis Walker?" Mom asks from the edge of the bed.
I turn to look at her and notice the happy, beaming smile plastered to her face. It finally dawns on me that this is the first time she's smiled like this since the accident. It's also the first time I've smiled as well. Denny can do that to me. Even when I'm at my lowest, he's one of the only people in the world that can pull me one of my moods.
"Of course, you have, Mom," he chuckles before leaning over to pull her into a tight hug.
I smile as I look between my best friend and my mother. Little did I know all the way back on that fateful day in kindergarten, that the fates would bestow a brother on me. It doesn't matter that we aren't blood related. I would do anything in the world for Denny and he would do anything for me. I think that's what makes our connection so special. We don't have any official obligations to each other, but it doesn't matter. Denny is the sibling I never had.
"Now, let’s see about getting you out of that bed and some food into you, Sleeping Beauty," Denny says as he turns to me, a mischievous smile plastered on his face.
Chapter Four
Denny’s been my constant companion over the last few days. He also convinced Mom to go back to work the next morning.
So, we've been able to lounge around the hospital room with no filters between the two of us. I didn't know that I could ever need him as much as I do now, but I'm so glad that Denny decided to crash my pity party. I called Dad, letting him know that I had company over the weekend, so he could wait to come see me. He didn’t need to miss more work than necessary.
"God, did you see the ass on that one?" Denny asks with a harsh whisper while pointing out the door of my room to the nurse’s station across the hall.
Denny's taken to people watching while we've laid around. So far, he's told me what he would do to three of my nurses and my physical therapist, Joshua. I'm not the one to judge someone, but Denny needs to slow down. I think it's a work of God that he doesn't have a platoon of lovesick partners stalking him. He's always been the kind to love them and leave them....
"Yes, I saw him, just like I've seen the last twenty people you've pointed out in the last hour...." I sigh, pulling the covers up to my shoulders. I hate this hospital, it's too fucking cold. I'm shivering so hard that I can't even read the book in my hand.
"Sorry, it's just so boring here!" he whines.
"I know, hopefully I'll be out of here soon," I say, thinking of all the things I would rather be doing than laying in this bed.
"Macy, what are you going to do once you break out of here?" Denny asks.
I look up from the book I'm reading to see him slouched in the uncomfortable looking hospital recliner. I pat the mattress, inviting him to lay down with me. These beds are huge and there's more than enough room for the both of us. It'll just be like old times.
"Honestly, I don't know," I confess, "Nothing feels right anymore."
Denny lifts the sheets and slides onto the bed. I lay my head on his chest and sigh as the tears begin to build. God, I'm so tired of crying.
"What do you want to do?" he asks as his fingers play with my hair.
The long curls that once nearly fell to my waist now barely brush my shoulders. Apparently, sleeping for nearly four months can do a number to your hair and after fighting with the tangles for weeks, I just decided to cut it. Mom was able to sneak her stylist in and she cut away enough hair to make me cry. So, now I'm sporting a mess of short curls.
"I want to go home and never leave. I can be a hermit for the rest of my life," I tell him, pressing my head against his warm chest.
"We both know you can't do that. You'd go crazy being cooped up all the time and you're too pretty to be a hermit. Maybe a lady with a million cats, but not a hermit," he jokes, eliciting a small smile from me.
I lay against him comfortably for a few minutes, simply listening to the sound of his heartbeat. Thoughts of everything that's changed about my life swirl around in my mind, trying to pull me back into a pit of despair.
I lost Henry.
I'm missing a semester of college.
If I don't get out of here and find work soon, I won't have a home to go to when I'm finally released.
My life has completely fallen apart.
"I don't know what to do, Denny. Where do I start?" I ask, the tears beginning to fall down my face.
"How about this. Take it one day at a time? The first few days that you’re released from here, how about you stay with one of your parents and I can stay at your house? I’ll clean it up for you, make it a little easier to come back to. I'll be there for you as much as I can," he says, kissing the top of my head a moment later.
"Sounds like a plan," I sigh, nuzzling his chest as I think of what he said.
He's right. If I look at things puzzle to be solved, it will overwhelm me in an instant. Instead, if I focus on the pieces one day at a time, maybe the heartbreak won't overwhelm me. That's what I'll do. Dammit, Denny. You're too smart for your own good.
"I love you, Denny...." I mumble into his chest.
"I love you too. Now get comfortable, I'm taking a nap and this bed is way more comfortable than that stupid plastic recliner...." Denny jokes before pulling me closer to him and nuzzling his face into the top of my head.
I close my eyes and for the first time in a while, I fall asleep without my heart feeling as though it's in a vice.
∞∞∞
"Knock knock...." a voice announces, pulling me from the deepest slumber I've had since waking from my coma.
I lift my head from Denny's chest to look at the door, a smile spreading across my face when I notice Dad standing in the doorway. His copper colored hair curls around his head, framing his broad face with a halo of fiery strands.
"Dad!" I exclaim as he walks into the room, a large stuffed wolf in his hands. I cringe inwardly, thinking of the animal that caused all of this. But, I swallow the panic in my gut and smile widely at my father.
"Hi, Mr. Brooks," Denny croaks from behind me, his voice thick and groggy as he tries to wake up.
"Hi there, Dennis," Dad says with a tilt of his head to my friend, "And hello there, Buttercup," he coos, a broad smile across his face as he leans down to kiss me on the cheek.
"Lean up, Macy. I've got to piss," Denny whines from behind me.
I scoot forward to let him up and wrap my arms around Dad's broad shoulders. He buries me in a soft, huge hug and holds me as if he thinks I'll disappear. His eyes, exact copies of my own, are red from crying. He looks so pained and I don't like it one bit. He looks especially pained when he looks at it...my stump. I pull the hospital blanket over my arm and turn my face away from him.
“That’s all better,” I mumble. He doesn’t seem to notice my embarrassment and simply wraps his arms around me, his hands playing with my short hair like he did when I was a little girl.
“
You’ve lost too much weight since you’ve been in here. Do I need to sneak a steak in for you? They must be starving you,” he jokes, causing a fit of giggles to escape my lips.
He knows that I have been embarrassed about my weight for some time. I’m rather small framed, but sometimes I’m painfully thin. It’s nearly impossible for me to gain weight. Dad’s always thought I was too skinny. Henry or he would almost always bribe me with junk food or steak, my biggest weakness.
“Daddy, I need to ask you something.” I ask him as I twist my sheets in my hand nervously.
“What do you want to know?” he asks.
"Where have you been? I mean, I know that you were going to visit a few days ago. But, I’ve been awake for a while now. I know work can tie you up, but I missed you…." I ask, finally summoning the courage to look him in the face.
"I'm sorry I haven't been by in a while," he sighs, his hands rubbing along his scraggly jaw. "Work has had me traveling all over the place. I knew you had your mother and Dennis here to take care of you. Plus, I figured you wouldn't want to see my ugly face."
"Dad, you know I want you here. Why would you say that?" I ask, reaching out for his hand.
"I've not been the best father. I just thought you'd want people here that have never let you down.... Plus, Theresa…. Let’s just say that I think it’s best that I’m not around her much. I still love you both…so much. Knowing that you were both hurting and that there’s nothing I could do…it terrified me. I nearly lost my mind being away from the two of you,” " he says, his eyes glimmering with tears, “I wanted to be here, Macy. I promise.”
"Stop that!" I sigh, "I don't know what you're going on about. We've moved past all that years ago. You’re here now and that’s all that matters. I'm sorry work's been moving you around the place. I wish I could have seen you sooner."
Dad pulls me closer to him and his hand runs through my short, incredibly curly hair. Fresh tears spring from my eyes and I can feel my body beginning to shut down from exhaustion. I snuggle into his chest and simply lay down for a moment listening to the reassuring sound of his heart beating.
“I’m here baby,” he coos into my hair. “I’m back and promise that I won’t leave you again. I missed a lot of work while you were in the coma and I have a few extra bills to pay right now. So, I had to get back to it. I had some vacation time, so I took it to come see you this time."
"Did you finally get that boat you've been looking at for the last few years?" I tease him.
"Actually, I didn't. Macy, I've been taking care of your bills. The mortgage is paid up to date and I've kept the other bills afloat. Can't say that I can do this forever, but I will help as long as I can...."
It feels as though I swallowed a mouthful of sand and I have to swallow the tears that threaten to fall down my face. How did he accomplish all of that? I know he has a hard-enough time making ends meet with his current salary.
"Dad, you didn't have to do that!" I tell him.
"It's the least I could do to take care of my little girl. Now, why don't you tell me how everything's been since I've been gone while we pack your things? I’m actually here to take you home."
The hours pass quickly with multiple visits from physical therapists and my doctor coming in to check on my arm. They’ve all complimented me on how well I’m healing, but I only wish my arm could grow back.
Dad walks into the room, a wide smile plastered to his face. “I just spoke with your doctor. All that’s left is a few more papers left to file and I’m breaking you out of here.”
“Awesome!” I exclaim, a squeal escaping my lips. I jump from the bed and begin gathering all my belongings that are scattered throughout the room.
“Now, question is…do you want to call your mother and tell her that I’m bringing you home or do you want me to?” he asks from beside me as he shoves some clothes into a duffel bag.
“Actually, would you mind if I stayed with you for a little while? Denny’s taking care of my house and Mom’s missed so much work that I really don’t want to bother her. She’s worried over me too much already,” I confess.
Dad looks at me oddly, his eyebrows scrunched together while he looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head. I’m sure he wants me to stay with him, but this is the first time in my life that I’ve chosen him over Mom. My insides twist as I think of what she will say about this. I don’t want to be another responsibility for her, as she already has so much going on.
She works for a law firm in the middle of the city and shirked her duties for too long when she was by my side. Mr. Heiman is a great guy and I appreciate all the patience he had with her while she was by my side. She needs to concentrate on what’s good for her right now.
“I would be more than happy for you to stay with me, Sweetie. What about your mother?” he asks. I really don’t want to be the one to tell her, but I won’t put him through that.
“Honestly, there’s too many memories of Henry at Mom’s house,” I confess. “I need some time before I face those memories. Plus, I would like to spend some time with you. We haven’t spent this much time together in ages.”
Dad’s eyes shine with understanding and he reaches for my hand to give it a gentle squeeze.
“Alright, Sweetheart, but I’m not going to be the one to tell her,” he jokes. I pull him in for a hug and thank him. This will be good for us.
Dad and I work together to gather all my belongings and before long we are done. I have about five bags full of stuff piled beside the door and the trash can’s full of wilted flowers. I’m gathering my toiletry items from the bathroom when I hear a knock at the door.
“Dad, can you get that?” I call as I attempt to shove my shampoo and conditioner into my over-packed duffel bag.
“Do you need help with anything?” Denny asks from the doorway, nearly making me jump out of my skin in terror. The bottle in my hand slips to the floor, rolling to his feet.
“Jesus! Denny, you scared me!” I mumble, my hand spread across my chest in an attempt to slow my heart.
“Sorry,” he says sheepishly, his hand disappearing into his hair as he scratches the back of his neck.
He’s a handsome guy with shaggy, dark brown hair that hangs down into his face. He has a few more facial piercings than I find attractive, but they do a lot to accentuate his face. A stud shines just underneath his lower lip and a ring hangs from underneath his nose. That type of nose piercing always has reminded me of a bull ring. I look at newest piercing, which is a simple bar passing through his eyebrow. I swear, every time I see him there’s another piece of metal sticking out of him.
His warm, brown eyes stare at me affectionately as he bends down to retrieve the bottle.
“So, your dad just informed me that they’re letting you out of here finally,” he says as he shoves the bottle in the bag and zips it closed with ease.
“Yeah, it’s great, isn’t it?” I ask. I can feel my spirits trying to lift at the prospect of being able to finally leave this depressing place.
“So, I know you aren’t coming back to the house right away,” he starts. “Are you sure you don’t mind me staying there?”
“Of course not!” I exclaim, “I honestly feel better knowing you’re there and it will be a lot easier having you around when I finally go home. I mean, you basically already live there, so this isn’t any different. I’ll just be away for a little while longer,”
“Okay, cool,” he breathes. “I’ll be there for anything you need. Your dad and I have cleaned up a bit. Got to say, the place reeked from all of the spoiled food in the fridge.”
“Oh gross,” I mumble, my nose screwed up as I imagine the stench he must have had to endure, “Thank you for taking care of everything.”
“No problem. Is there anything here that you would like me to take back to the apartment?” he asks.
I think of all the bags sitting by the door and nod. He follows me as I pull a few bags to the side that I would like for him to take home.
<
br /> “You can just sit them on my bed,” I tell him before plopping on the small recliner pushed against the window.
I gaze down at the city below me and a sigh escapes my lips. I’m ready to leave this place, but I don’t know how to cope with the real world yet. Since I’ve been stuck in here, I haven’t had to concentrate on much except my health. How do I move forward with a life that doesn’t contain Henry?
“You have that look on your face again,” Denny informs me. I look up at him, a frown pulling at my lips.
“What look would that be?”
“The look that says you’re trying to talk yourself into something,” he admits.
I look to the door and watch as Dad grabs my bags. “You know me to well,” I mumble.
“I’m going to go ahead and put these in the car. Call me if you need anything, okay?” he says.
“Okay, Daddy,” I sigh. He’s been an amazing parent the last few days and I’m slightly excited to spend some more time with him.
∞∞∞
It’s been about seven hours since Denny left me to finish up cleaning the house and I’m finally free. There was a small problem with some of the paperwork associated with my discharge, but they eventually fixed everything and I’m finally home free. It might have taken all damn day, but I’m finally on my way home. Well, Dad’s house.
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to control my jagged breaths as I look out the car window. I don't know where I would rather be right now. The thought of spending another day in that dreary hospital room makes a shiver run down my spine. But, knowing that I'll be stuck in this deathtrap on wheels for moment makes my breakfast want to crawl up my throat.
Dad is being completely patient with me as I have mini panic attacks with every traffic light we pass. I know I’ll have issues driving for the rest of my life, but I’m doing a lot better with it than I expected.
When he told me I was going home, I never thought of the car ride. Hell, I didn't think it would bother me this much.
We are finally pulling onto his road and I grab my purse from the floorboard. I know that it contains enough pain medications to sedate an elephant and instructions typed out step-for-step about how to change my bandages. All I really want to do right now is to have a real shower and sleep in a real bed. It doesn’t feel as though I’ve been alone since the accident and I’m ready for some time to mourn by myself.
The Dying Fate (The Umbra Chronicles Book 1) Page 4
