Tender Love: A Christian Romance (The True Love Series Book 1)

by Juliette Duncan

  “I don't know. We were playing a game, and then he just collapsed.”

  “What were you playing?” Ben put the phone on hands free and pulled out of the drive-thru line and turned back out onto the road. Burgers were the last thing on his mind now. Jayden had been perfectly fine this morning.

  Neil hadn't answered his last question. “What were you playing, Neil?” Ben repeated.

  “We were just daring each other.” His voice had lowered, and Ben turned the volume up to hear him.

  “To do what?”

  “We found some old pills and were trying to see who could take the most.”

  “You what?” Now Ben was yelling.

  “I think he took too many.”

  “Okay, listen to me. Don't leave him, Neil. I'm almost home. I’ll call the ambulance.”

  Ben hung up and dialled the emergency number, sending up a quick prayer as he waited. “God, I trust You, but please don't let my son die.”

  Chapter 20

  As Ben turned into the street, the ambulance was already parked in his driveway. Across the street, his neighbour he hardly knew had stopped watering her front yard and stood on the footpath watching the scene.

  “What happened?” she called out as Ben jumped out of his car.

  “My son had an accident,” Ben answered hastily, not wanting to engage her at all.

  “Oh my! I hope he’s not too bad.”

  Neil and his seventeen-year-old brother, Owen, were sitting on the porch steps being questioned by a woman paramedic holding a clipboard.

  “Do you know what kind of drug he took?” the paramedic asked.

  Neil shook his head. He was rocking back and forth and sweat ran down his forehead.

  “It was Serepax and something else,” Owen said evenly, his eyes wide, staring at nothing.

  “So he was taking two different kinds? Where did he get them from?”

  “In the house,” Owen replied.

  “They were mine,” Ben said as he approached. “I was taking Serepax and Norpramin for anxiety and depression. They were prescribed, but I should have thrown them away.”

  “Is Jayden going to be okay?” Neil asked. His face had turned white.

  Just then, two other paramedics emerged from the house carrying Jayden on a stretcher. A breathing tube was in his mouth and covered his nose. His lips and fingertips were blue and the rest of his skin pale.

  Ben grabbed hold of his hand. Cold and limp. “Jayden, can you hear me? I'm right here.”

  Jayden didn't respond.

  “His heart beat has slowed considerably,” the woman paramedic said. “He isn't in a coma, just unconscious right now. We need to get him to hospital as quickly as possible to have him treated properly.”

  “What about these two? Do they need to be checked out?” Ben pointed to Neil and Owen, both still sitting on the step, staring into space.

  “Yes, just in case. They seem okay, but you never know. We’ll take them in the other ambulance. Their parents have been called.”

  The paramedics gently, but quickly, loaded Jayden into the back of the ambulance. Ben climbed in and sat beside him, holding his hand the whole way to the Wesley Hospital. The entire trip, he prayed that the drugs Jayden had taken wouldn’t do any long-term damage to his body. He thought about whom to call and immediately sent a text message to Tessa asking her to pray.

  Once at the hospital, Jayden was wheeled behind large double doors into an operating room. Ben wanted to follow, but he was directed to an almost empty waiting room.

  “I know you're concerned, but there's nothing you can do at the moment, Mr Williams,” the woman paramedic said. “You'll be able to see him once he's resting in his room. Is there anything I can get you?”

  “No, I'm fine.” But he wasn’t.

  The paramedic brought him some water anyway. “Just in case.” She set the paper cup and some napkins on a table. “Try to relax. Trust me, your son is in capable hands.”

  Ben forced a smile. Besides the receptionist behind a computer desk, he was the only one in the waiting room. He paced back and forth, watching the clock. After thirty minutes had passed, he sat down and tried praying again.

  His mind wandered to what had happened in his house. Jayden knew better than to go around taking pills that didn't belong to him. He wasn’t too worried about Neil – he and Jayden were the same age and had been best friends since their kindergarten years. Neil was funny and talkative, and Ben didn't mind them hanging together, but it was Owen who concerned him. Four years older than Neil and Jayden, he’d dropped out of high school and had already been in trouble with the police for drinking and driving and selling illicit drugs to his former classmates.

  Ben ran his hand through his hair and chastised himself. I should have stopped Jayden from hanging around with him ages ago. Once Jayden recovered, he’d talk to him about not hanging around with Owen, and he’d also need to talk to Owen and Neil’s parents. Ben stopped. Strange they weren’t here.

  “Ben, is Jayden going to be okay?” Ben looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Eleanor Scott was striding towards him, with Telford and Tessa not far behind. Tessa carried a bunch of blue iris flowers and a Get Well card.

  “We prayed as soon as Tess told us what happened,” Telford said, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. “Since we didn't hear back, we thought we’d come by to see if we could do anything to help.”

  “Ben, where is he?” Tessa asked, quickly scanning the room.

  “In the operating room. They said he should pull through, but he was still unconscious when he got here.”

  “Jayden's a tough kid, I'm sure he'll be just fine,” Telford said.

  “Thanks, Telford.” Ben gave Telford a weak smile. Eleanor and Tessa both wanted to know all the details and Ben relayed all he knew. “I should have thrown those pills away.” He let out a self-deprecating sigh and glanced at Tessa. “I wasn't using them anymore.”

  “Don't blame yourself.” Tessa sat down beside him. “No-one could have foreseen this happening. Hopefully Jayden will learn a lesson from all of this.”

  “I hope so. I won't be letting him hang around Owen anymore, that’s for sure. He's a bad influence.” Ben glanced at the clock on the wall. Nearly two hours had passed since Jayden had been taken behind the large double doors he wasn’t allowed to enter. How much longer could it take? He reached out and took Tessa’s hands without even thinking what she or her parents would think. It was the most natural thing to do. Having her here made the waiting bearable.

  The four adults sat and chatted in low tones about the general events of the day and about their families.

  “Do your parents live nearby?” Eleanor asked.

  “They used to, but both my parents have passed away.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, Ben. I shouldn’t have asked,” Eleanor said, patting his hand lightly.

  “It’s okay, Eleanor. My dad died quite a while ago. He had a major heart attack. Totally unexpected. And my mum. Well, she had an accident a few years back and she died from her injuries.”

  “That’s so sad, Ben,” Eleanor said.

  Ben let out a deep sigh. "Yes, but at least I know my mum went to a better place. Not sure about my dad.”

  “It must be hard on Jayden not having any grandparents around.”

  “Yes, he cried for days when my mum died. Besides Kathryn, who isn't involved in his life anymore, I'm basically the only family he has.”

  Tessa gave Ben’s hand a squeeze. “And you’re a great dad, Ben. Jayden couldn’t ask for anyone better.”

  Just then the doctor came in, followed by a nurse, and they all looked up expectantly. The doctor stood for a moment in silence with his hands in the pockets of his long, white jacket.

  “Anytime a person under the age of eighteen overdoses, we take it very seriously,” he said gravely. “Mr Williams, is your son unstable? Does he have a history of mental illness, bipolar disorder, or anything of the sort?”

  “No, he's p
erfectly normal and healthy.”

  “Do you believe his overdose was a suicide attempt?”

  Ben jerked his head up. Suicide attempt? “No. Absolutely not. He was playing a stupid game with some friends and things got out of hand. That’s all.”

  “Is Jayden alright?” Tessa asked the doctor.

  “I'm getting there, ma’am,” the doctor replied. He turned his attention back to Ben. “We pumped your son’s stomach and gave him some activated charcoal. He’s conscious, but he’s sleeping at the moment. When he wakes, he may still feel a bit sick and weak, but those physical symptoms should be gone within a week.”

  Ben breathed easier at hearing this good news. Tessa took his hand and gave it another squeeze.

  “We considered putting him on psychiatric hold, but as he doesn’t have a history of mental illness and since you don’t consider him suicidal, we’ll only keep him overnight to monitor his stability. We expect to release him tomorrow morning.”

  “Can we see him now?” Ben asked.

  “Yes, but as I said, he’s sleeping, and it’d be best not to wake him.”

  “He's in Room 262,” the nurse added. "I'll take you there.”

  “Thank you,” Ben said, shaking the doctor's hand. Tessa picked up the flowers and card and they all followed the nurse to Jayden's room.

  Chapter 21

  The small hospital room was crammed with a bed, a chair and table, a closet, and several blinking, beeping medical machines. A television sat in the corner of the room. As the doctor had advised, Jayden was asleep. Some of the colour had returned to his skin and his cheeks were flushed. An IV hooked up to his arm pumped clear liquid into his body. Ben went up to the bed and kissed the top of Jayden’s head.

  “Let me pray for him,” Telford said. Ben nodded his agreement. The four adults gathered in a semi-circle around the bed and held hands with bowed heads. “Heavenly Father, we thank You for preserving Jayden's life. Heal him physically and heal him spiritually as well. Jayden’s a good child, but his heart is prone to wander. Even though he hasn’t yet believed in You, we know that He’s Yours. Help us as his friends and family to help him through his confusion and pain. However, we can’t save him - only You can do that, and so we pray that You’ll open his eyes and heart to Your love. Have him to come to You. Draw his heart close to Yours and keep him safe in Your hands. In Your precious Son’s name, Amen.”

  “Amen,” Eleanor, Ben, and Tessa repeated.

  “Thank you, Telford.” Ben’s eyes had blurred with tears. “And thank you all for coming, and for your support.”

  Eleanor hugged him. “It’s the least we could do, Ben.”

  Ben smiled warmly at this woman he was coming to admire greatly. What a fine example of a Godly Christian couple she and Telford were. Ben turned his attention back to Jayden and lightly touched Jayden’s cheek. What was he thinking, taking those tablets? Ben couldn’t believe his son had been so stupid.

  “He’s looking okay, Ben.” Tessa stood behind him. Her voice was soft and caring.

  Ben nodded. “Yes, looks like he’ll pull through, thank the Lord.” He turned and came face to face to Tessa. Their eyes met briefly, and gratefulness for her support, and that of her parents, warmed his heart. Tessa shifted back, allowing him some space to move.

  “Have you eaten, Ben?” Eleanor asked.

  “No. I was getting burgers when I got the call.”

  “Why don’t you and Tessa get something to eat while Telford and I stay here with Jayden? We don't have any place important to go.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to put you out any further.”

  “It’s fine, and you’re not putting us out,” Telford said, glancing at his wife. “I’ll just grab another chair.”

  “Let me,” Ben said, already heading out the room. He returned a moment later with another chair which he squeezed into the space at the end of Jayden’s bed.

  “It's been a challenging day for you, Ben. Take your time—we'll call you if Jayden wakes up or if there are any changes.” Telford squeezed Ben’s shoulder.

  “Thank you, Telford and Eleanor, I appreciate it.”

  Ben ruffled Jayden’s hair lightly as he placed another kiss on Jayden’s cheek. “Get well son. I love you. I’ll be back soon.”

  Tessa suggested they go to one of the restaurants on Park Road, not far from the hospital. Ben agreed, and they drove the short distance in Tessa’s car. The popular dining street was lined with an array of restaurants, and even though it was a Tuesday night, most were bustling with diners enjoying the balmy late summer evening.

  They chose the French restaurant ‘Rue de Paris’, tucked away behind a small replica of the Eiffel Tower, and sat at a table surrounded by lattice work covered in sweet jasmine and wandering allamanda. Water from a large fountain in the middle of the courtyard trickled down the figurine of a Roman lady holding a basket of fruit. Soft music played in the background.

  “This is lovely, Ben. I haven’t been here for a long time.”

  “Neither have I. I used to come here with Kathryn…”

  Tessa touched Ben’s hand lightly. “I’m sorry, Ben, you should have said.”

  “No, Tess. It’s fine, it really is.” He took her hand and stroked it gently with his thumb. Tessa’s pulse quickened. They’d avoided touching since the day at the beach, and now the feel of his warm hand on hers stole her breath away.

  “I’ve really enjoyed these past few weeks, Tess, getting to know you and your family. Although I may never fully understand how or why Kathryn decided to leave not only me, but Jayden, I’ve forgiven her, and I’m ready to move on.” Ben’s soft eyes gazing into hers were melting her heart.

  “Before we met, Tess, I was depressed about the future, but now I’m full of hope, even with what’s happened today.” Ben paused and sucked in a deep breath.

  Tessa squeezed his hand. He must be feeling terrible about Jayden.

  “I appreciate your kindness and concern for others, Tess. And I admire your devotion and your faith in God. It inspires me to be more dedicated to my own faith.” He paused again and held her gaze. His Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat when he swallowed. “And these are just a few of the reasons I'm hoping you'll allow me to court you properly.” He put a finger to her lips when she tried to speak. “Let me finish.”

  “Tess, I don’t ask this lightly. I don’t want to enter into a relationship without you being clear of my intentions. I wouldn’t consider dating anyone if I couldn’t see myself married to them. I thank God for bringing us together. Take as long as you need to think about it, but when I talked to you at that first puppy training class, I knew then that someone seriously special had just stepped into my life. I was, and still am, mesmerized by your laughter, and your joyful enthusiasm for living.”

  Tessa couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Had Ben mentioned marriage, or had she misheard?

  His grip on her hand tightened. “I know it’s asking a lot of you, Tess, not only because of our age difference, but because I'm a divorcee, and because of Jayden. You’d be taking on a package deal, and I don’t know how you feel about that, especially after today.” Ben let out a slow breath and held Tessa’s gaze.

  Tessa’s mind was working overtime. Her mother’s words rang in her head… ‘…he’d be hard work.’

  “I don’t want you to rush into making a decision, but know this, Tessa Scott, I’m falling in love with you, and I’m hoping you feel the same about me.” Ben squeezed Tessa’s hand gently as he gazed into her eyes. “Now you can speak.”

  His cheeky grin broke the moment, but a hard lump had formed in Tessa’s throat and she could barely speak. Over the past weeks she’d been asking herself and God those very same questions. Although Ben wasn’t asking her to marry him yet, it was almost the same thing. If she agreed to let him court her, how old fashioned is that? She giggled at the thought of being courted, it would lead to marriage unless something unforeseen happened. Ben was the most loving and kind ma
n she’d ever known, and having spoken at length with Pastor Stanek about the divorce issue, she had peace in her heart, and could imagine herself married to Ben and sharing her life with him. Being a mum to Jayden would be a challenge, but with Ben by her side and God in her heart, she could face whatever that might entail. Her heart overflowed with love for him. Yes, she would allow Mr Ben Williams to officially court her.

  Tessa took Ben’s hands in hers and smiled into his eyes. “Ben Williams, yes. I do feel the same about you, and yes, I’d love you to court me.”

  Ben leaned forward, and taking her in his arms, kissed her for the first time on the lips. Tessa responded, not caring what the other diners might think.

  When Ben and Tessa returned to the hospital, they peeked into the room before entering. Eleanor was watching television, Telford was leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, and Jayden was still asleep. Tessa knew her face was flushed and her mother would know exactly what had happened the moment she saw her. After dinner, she and Ben had taken a stroll along the river. She’d never felt so alive nor so much in love. With Ben’s arm around her she felt safe and secure, and she knew she would agree to marry him whenever he decided to ask.

  Eleanor looked up as they entered, her eyes widening before she broke out into a delighted smile. Telford stirred and sat up.

  He cleared his throat. “He hasn’t woken up,” he said, glancing at Jayden lying in the bed.

  Ben walked to Jayden’s side and lifted the boy’s hand. Such tenderness and love. Tessa gazed at the man she loved and warmth spread through her body.

  “Thank-you for staying with him.” Ben lifted his head and looked at Eleanor and Telford.

  “Our pleasure, Ben.” Eleanor’s eyes had watered. She took a handkerchief out of her bag and dabbed them.

  “What are you crying about, love?” Telford placed his arm around Eleanor’s shoulder.