by Colora, R.
“The first thing I want to tell you is that Stephanie is just my friend. I didn’t bring her to the house to make your mom upset, or you upset, her fiancé was meeting her there. I am trying to help them find a house. I would never do anything to hurt your mother. You and your mom are the most important people in the world to me. I love your mom, but I know now that when you guys walked in it looked bad. The most important thing I want to tell you is I’m sorry that I drank. I didn’t think one drink would affect my medication as much as it did. I said something really hurtful to you, and I want you to know that I really didn’t mean it. I’m not going to lie to you. I did tell your mom to have an abortion. I didn’t think I wanted to be a father, but the minute I had time to really think about it I was destroyed when I thought she had gone through with it. Things were never right for me after that.”
“It’s because Aunt Maggie cursed you,” MJ says, looking at his feet.
“I don’t believe in curses, but I do believe at the time I was a selfish jerk and I hurt someone who I loved more than life itself. When your mom is better, I’m going to make it up to you. I can’t tell you that it’s going to be great all the time—my illness sometimes makes things hard—but I promise I will do everything I can to make sure that I never hurt you or your mom again.”
“What if she dies?” he says as his throat hitches.
“MJ, your mom is really strong. She is going to do everything she can to come back to you.” With those words, I hold my son tight to my body, hoping I’m right. It’s a few hours before Stephanie steps through the doors of the waiting room causing every single person in the room to stand at attention.
“She is in critical condition, but she is fighting. We have put her in a medically induced coma because she has some brain swelling. And she has some rods and pins in her left leg and arm, but the plastic surgeon came in and did a fantastic job. He was able to fix a lot of cuts on her face; he says there will be little to no scarring. She is going to be moved to ICU after she comes out of the recovery ward. I promised MJ I would come back for him, so I am going to take him back. Once she is moved, they will only let two people in at a time.”
MJ walks to Stephanie, and she grabs his hand. “I told you she was going to fight to come back to you. I want to tell you something before you go back. Your mom has a tube down her throat helping her breathe, and she has a lot of things bandaged up, so you have to be gentle. Are you ready to go in?” I see MJ nod his head, and they disappear through the door.
Chapter 14
MJ Blackwell
When I see my grandfather and grandmother at the door of the community center, I know something is wrong. I can tell by my grandma’s face she’s been crying. I see my grandfather signal Ian over and say something, but he is trying to be quiet. The minute my grandma starts crying I rush over.
“What’s going on? Where’s my mom? She is supposed to pick me up.”
“Your mom’s been in an accident. We need to head to the hospital,” my grandfather says.
When we get to the hospital, I see my dad, and I just want him to tell me it’s going to be OK. I prayed the whole way here that if God saved my mom I would forgive my dad. When I see Stephanie I’m confused until I see she is wearing a doctor’s outfit. She walks me to a set of doors, and we wait. They roll my mom by, and I can’t really tell it’s her she is covered in blood, but still I step forward and look back at Stephanie. She nods. It’s OK for me to go near her.
“Hi, Mom, I’m here. I’m going to wait for you. They said you are having surgery, so Dad and I are going to wait here until you’re done. Everyone is here; we are all waiting for you. Mom, I forgive Dad. I know he didn’t mean it. I love you, Mom, please be OK.”
I step back, and they roll her through the doors.
“You did awesome, MJ. I’m going to walk you back to your dad and then I’m going to sit with your mom. I’m gonna tell her all about how brave you’re being.”
When I walk back into the room, I sit next to my grandparents. I see my dad, but he is in the corner, and he is praying.
Chapter 15
Stephanie Mullins
Mac and Michael are laughing so hard in the front-seat about how picky I’m being they don’t even see the accident scene the street over. When I yell for him to stop, and I bolt out of the back-seat, I’m heading in knowing that there is a huge chance the person in the truck is already gone. Once I get up close, I see the wreck in its entirety, and I’m trying to find an access point. I see one female in what’s left of the driver’s seat. People are already on the phone the driver of the semi is sitting on the curb crying. He says he just dozed off.
Others are attending to him, and I know I need to get in the truck and see if the driver is still alive. Once I’m in, I see the driver’s chest rising and falling. It’s labored, but she is breathing. I crawl toward her to make an assessment and try to make her a stable as possible when the glint of a bracelet catches my eye. Oh, fuck. Please, please, please... I look around for a purse, and I dig around with one hand until I find a wallet. When I open it I have to blink away the tears; it’s Katie Blackwell—Michael’s Katie. I have to go out there and tell my friend that the women he loves is in this wreckage.
I call for Mac because I’m a coward. This is why I’m leaving Boston; I can’t detach myself from patients, and I take every loss hard. I ask Mac to tell Michael because I can’t do it. Instead, I stay and keep Katie’s neck steady and talk to her. I tell her all about how Mac and I met and how Michael never got over her; how he was miserable at school without her; how he would get drunk and cry about her and his baby. I tell her that this is Michael’s and her time, and she needs to be strong for her son. I’m trying not to cry, but I think about the day I got the knock on the door that my parents and sister had been killed by a drunk driver. I don’t want that to happen to MJ; I don’t want anyone else to live that horror. Katie blinks. She can’t focus her eyes, but I know she can hear me. Her breathing increases and she is trying to say something, but I tell her not to talk.
The EMT’s are here and are gonna get her out and get her help. It feels like hours before they are able to get her out. When Michael finally sees her, he wants to rush, but now I’m in full doctor mode. I give him instructions and load in the ambulance. I assist the EMT’s even though I know they can get in trouble. I note all her injuries, and when we arrive at the ER bay, I give them her vitals, her injuries, and I feel her grab my hand. I lean down to tell her I will bring her son to her. She can’t speak but blinks her eyes.
The nurse comes to me with some scrubs that I’m so grateful for. I wash my arms and hands of Katie’s blood and make my way to the waiting room. I need to do this; I need to comfort the family, assure them that everything is being done and bring MJ to see his mom.
When I walk out, the room is packed. I usher everyone into the surgical waiting room and tell them I will sit with her.
Once MJ sees his mom, he makes me promise to hold her hand, so she isn’t scared. I realize just then that I don’t want to wait anymore. I want to get married, and I want a baby. I don’t care that Mac isn’t established yet. Watching Katie fight for her life is all the motivation I need.
Once the staff finds out Katie is basically a Kerrigan, they bend over backward for her. I scrub in and sit on her right side. I hate just sitting here; the only sound is the machines and instructions being called out. I signal the nurse, and she laughs and steps out for a moment. When she comes back, she has her personal iPad. Her Kindle app is open; the rest of the nurses and even the doctor start giggling when I look at the titles to choose from. It’s all smut, and I can’t help but laugh
“Oh, Katie, I hope you can hear me. You’re in for a treat.”
I turn to the nurse. “Which is your favorite?” she comes over and points, and I open the book.
“Okay, Katie. Get ready for some shifter romance.” I start reading, and as I get to the sex I can’t help but look over at the doctor who is repairing Kat
ie’s arm.
He doesn’t even look up, but says, “I’m waiting to see how Colt is gonna ravish the young virginal Samantha.” I continue reading, and the doctor finishes up. He tells everyone to take a break, and he is gonna update the family. I ask if I can do it.
“Sure, as long as you come back and finish reading. I’m getting all kinds of information I plan to use later. And you, Nurse Jackie—“ he points “—I would have never guessed.
The grey-haired nurse just shrugs. “Just because I’m quiet doesn’t mean I’m a nun.”
I update everyone and come back in for the second part of the surgery. In the eight hours in that room, we read a story about bear shifters, undercover billionaires, and a Russian crime boss. Katie was going to make it. I had never been so happy to walk into a room with good news in the two years I worked as a doctor.
Chapter 16
Michael
It’s day one of Katie’s ICU stay, and I haven’t left her side. MJ has gone to my parents’ house, and they are bringing him back as soon as he gets some rest.
“How is she?” I hear a voice ask from the doorway, it takes me a second to recognize that it’s Percy.
“She’s fighting,” I say in a somber tone.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get here. The Red Cross had to come get me; I was off the coast of Antarctica.”
“I know. Katie told me you were out there working for a whale sanctuary.” She nods before she moves toward Katie. Grabbing her cousin’s hand she quietly starts to pray.
She sits back and closes her eyes trying to keep the tears at bay, and when I lean over she rests her head on my shoulder. We sit in silence for a long time.
“I’m going to get some coffee,” she says. “Do you want anything?”
“Yes, whatever you’re having.” Once she exits, I move the chair close to Katie, and I think about all the things I never got a chance to say to her. So, I start talking.
“The day of our very first date I was so nervous I spent most of the day throwing up. I was so nervous, I thought I was going to get to your house and you wouldn’t want to go out with me. My dad finally took pity on me and called your dad. When he told me you were getting ready, I was finally able to relax. I acted like I was so confident but you scared the hell out of me.
“The first time you kissed me I got so excited I came in my pants. You were my very first kiss. I lied to you when I told you I had made out with tons of girls. You were the first, and the minute your lips touched mine I knew you would be the only girl I would ever love.
“The first time we had sex. I told you I was going to the bathroom to get rid of the condom, but I actually went in there to cry. I hated that I hurt you, and I felt like I didn’t do enough to satisfy you, I felt like a failure.
“I don’t have any excuse for our break up other than I was a complete asshole. I was selfish I was only thinking of myself. Everyone was talking about going away and how things would be so great, but once I got to college things were horrible and they just started spiraling more out of control. I met Stephanie; we dated, but I could never bring myself to sleep with her because she wasn’t you and because every part of me was still with you in Denver.
“When I found out about MJ, I hated you. But, then I realized that it wasn’t you I hated it was me, that my choices had led us down his road.
“I was trying to finish up my contracts for the week so I could take you and MJ away for a long weekend. My plans were to ask you to marry me. That’s why I had the drink after work. I was so nervous, the ring was burning a hole in my pocket, and I was so scared you would tell me no I thought I just needed to take the edge off. I messed this up so bad. It seems like I can never get it right with you. But, I promise when you wake up, I’m going to slip this ring on your finger, and we are going to be a family, I just need you to wake up, baby.”
Percy came back in the room. “Michael, go shower and come back. You have been in the same clothes for two days. Go spend some time with your son. I will sit here with her.”
I place a soft kiss on Katie’s cheek. “Thanks, Percy, I will be back in a little.” It took every part of my willpower to drag myself away from Katie’s side.
Eight days. That’s how long Katie has been lying here. They say she will wake up when she is ready, but I think with every day that passes we lose a little hope.
MJ has been by his mother’s side every day, today he seems nervous.
When everyone leaves, MJ blurts out. “Lacey Billings kissed me today when we were in the art closet. “ I see his cheeks go red instantly.
“Oh, did you want her to kiss you?” I try to think what the proper reaction is for this kind of situation
“I don’t know,” he says, looking out the window of the hospital. “But I wiped her kiss off and told her she was gross. I made her cry, and now I feel like a jerkface. She wouldn’t even sit with me at lunch and we have been sitting together every day since kindergarten. When I went to sit with her she got up and ran away. How do I make her not be mad at me anymore, Dad?” he asks bashfully
“Well, I’m the worst person to ask for advice, but if I was gonna give you advice I would write her a letter, maybe tell her she isn’t gross and that you really miss her being your friend.”
“I don’t think she is gross, Dad. She is just my friend, and friends don’t kiss. I only want to be friends,” he adds sadly
“Don’t listen to your dad, he gives bad advice.” We both jump up at the sound of Katie’s voice.
I hit the button on the wall and yell that we need a doctor. I watch Katie hug MJ with her good arm, and I feel like my heart is going to explode.
When the doctor comes in, he asks what her pain level is on a scale of 1-10, and she says fifteen, so he goes to get her some pain relief.
“Katie, I’m so sorry.” I lean in and give her a kiss. She scrunches her nose.
“Don’t kiss me, I’m gross,” she says, moving her head
“You’re not gross you’re perfect, and I’m kissing you.” I lean down and plant my lips firmly against hers.
Within hours, everyone is flooding the room to talk to her.
They want to keep her for a few more days just until she can manage her pain, and then they suggest a rehab facility, but I let them know she will be coming home with me. I have already hired round-the-clock care, and we are meeting with a few psychical therapists once she is settled in. I’m not giving her any choice; Katie is mine, she has always been mine, and if I have to take her hostage until she sees that for herself then so be it. I make my plans, and I wait for them to fall into place.
Katie doesn’t argue when she realizes we are going back to the condo. I’m not sure if it’s pain or the drugs that keep her silent. She seems so small and feeble in the wheelchair. Once I show the transport team where her room is I help her get settled and then start dinner. I know she is going to be too tired to sit at the table, so I bring in her tray and MJ, and I sit with her while she eats. The next few days consist of the same routine. I have left Stacy and my assistant to handle all of my appointments so my main focus can be on Katie.
MJ and I are sitting at the table working on his homework when we hear a crash come from Katie’s room. The nurse is attempting to help Katie up, but she just keeps fighting.
“Sir,” the scared nurse says. “I checked on her then came out to get her something to drink with her medication, and when I got back she was standing looking in the mirror. She picked up the vase and broke the glass. She won’t let me help her.” The nurse is frantic.
“I got her. If you can clean up the glass, I can tend to Katie.”
I find Katie on the floor crying. Every time I try and touch her she attacks me crying.
“Katie, it’s okay, baby, your face is going to heal. You’re going to heal.”
“It’s not my face,” she cries. “I had to use the restroom, and I thought I could make it, but it was too hard, and I peed on the floor. I can’t do anything. I can’t ev
en make it to the bathroom. I can’t take care of my son. I can’t work. I can’t do anything! I’m fucking useless.”
I pick her up and sit her in the shower chair and tell her I will be right back.
I run to the kitchen and grab a few trash bags and some duct tape and scissors. I tell MJ to keep working on his school work, and I run to my room and put on some swim trunks. When I walk into the bathroom, Katie is still crying. I pull her nightgown over her head and give her a towel to cover herself since I know she is feeling self-conscious. I wrap her arm up, and I wrap her leg twice making sure her casts are protected. I then set the water and step into the shower with her. I take my time scrubbing her body and washing her head. She keeps her eyes closed the whole time. When I put soap on the wash cloth, I hand it to her, but she is still having trouble washing her intimate parts, so I help her. Once she is clean, I dry her hair with a towel and dry her body. I help her put on a fresh nightgown, and the nurse has changed the sheets on the bed. Clearing away all the clutter, I place Katie back on the bed and remove the garbage bags.
“Thanks so much, Michael,” she says. “I feel human again. I’ve only had a sponge bath it feels great just to get clean.”
“I’m coming right back.” I run up to my room and quickly change into sweats and t-shirt and make my way back to Katie’s room. When I walk in, I find MJ curled up next to his mother. I get in bed also and turn on the TV.
“You know it’s Shark Week?” MJ says. “It’s Mom favorite thing to watch.”
I open up the menu on the TV screen. “Well, it looks like we are in luck: the Megalodon show is coming on. Why don’t I grab us some snacks and drinks and we can all watch together?
“Sir, please let me,” the nurse, Iris, says from the door.
“Iris, I’m sorry,” Katie says.
I see the nurse smile. “You’re allowed a few meltdowns.”
When Iris comes back with the snacks, we settle in to watch the show. Sometime around 2 am I walk up to find MJ gone, and Katie is holding my hand. I move closer to her and just enjoy lying next to her. When my alarm goes off, I know I have to go get MJ up for school. I kiss Katie on her nose and try to move, but she snuggles closer.
