Not Alone

by Amber Nation

  “Thanks Maggie. I’m Emmalynne, as I’m sure you already know by my chart, but you can call me Emmy. I haven’t seen a Doctor come in yet. Can you tell me the extent of my injuries and when I’ll get to go home?”

  “Well as you can see,” gesturing towards my arm, “you have a fractured forearm, the ulna and the radius were both broken. The doctor set the bones back in place, so you’ll have to wear that cast for about eight weeks.” I took in the purple cast that decorated my left arm. Tucker and I would be matching if he hadn’t had his removed a few weeks ago. The cast started at my hand and extended past my elbow, my arm being placed at a right angle. There went baking for the next eight weeks, unless I could get Tucker or Tessa to help out. Ugh, it was even the Holiday Season, my favorite time to bake. Ok I was annoyed. If Corbin weren’t incarcerated I might have been forced to inflict some bodily harm on that asshole.

  “And you have a few bruised ribs, but still it can get pretty uncomfortable. We’ve wrapped your ribs with some bandages, to help relieve some of the pain. We had to stitch a gash in your forehead, right near your hairline. It took about six stitches, and once they are removed, the scar should hardly be noticeable. You do have some bumps and bruises across your face and torso, as well as a concussion, so the Doctor will want to monitor you another night, then you should be set to go.”

  I couldn’t keep it bottled up. “You know, I’m not a hateful person by any means, but I hate Corbin Montgomery for doing this to me. I’m sorry I hurt his pride by turning down the date he offered, but he creeped me out. And that warrants an attack? He needs a freaking straightjacket and a first class ticket to the looney bin.”

  I saw Maggie try to hide a smile, but I really wasn’t trying to be funny.

  ---~~~---

  I was on the verge of drifting off to sleep after Maggie gave me a little more pain medication through my IV line. The gang had yet to return with my food, not that I was hungry anyways.

  Getting comfortable wasn’t an easy task. Yes, it was a hospital, so the bed left much to be desired, but with each and every movement, excruciating pain ricocheted through my head and torso. I could normally tolerate pain. I had endured eighteen hours of hard labor without an epidural with Tucker…enough said, but this pain was in a league of its own. I guess I’d just have to lay the way I was and deal with the misery.

  Closing my eyes and heading towards dreamland, to hopefully dream of happier times, I heard a sharp gasp, then a broken sob. Opening my eyes, it was someone I really didn’t expect to see.

  “Daddy…”

  “Oh, pumpkin,” he whispered as he rushed to my side. I got a good look at him and he actually looked great. He seemed to have lost some weight. It was pushing eight weeks since I’d seen him, and that was entirely too long. I wish this reunion would’ve taken place under better circumstances, but I’d take what I could get, especially if it meant having my dad back in mine and Tucker’s life.

  “I’m ok dad, just some jackass who didn’t like being rejected very much. But he is currently sitting in jail in Vegas, so I’m in the clear now.” I tried to keep things about as tight-lipped as I could, I didn’t want to bring everything down on him right now.

  “I should’ve been there for you, Emmalynne. There is absolutely no excuse for my actions. But I can tell you that I went to a thirty day inpatient drug and alcohol program, and I’ve now been sober for seven weeks. I would’ve been to see you sooner, but I was too stubborn. Then Toby called me and filled me in with what happened. So much has gone on with you and Tucker and I wasn’t there for you to lean on. If I could take all of your pain away, I would sweetheart. A broken heart and now broken bones, it’s just too much.”

  I could see that Toby had been running his mouth. Well, never mind about keeping my dad in the dark about things. It seemed Toby had already spilled. I would have to remember to thank him properly, later on, in the form of a nice ass kicking.

  “I’m so proud of you daddy. Tucker will be so excited to see you again. With you…” I reluctantly said, “leaving and then Grady, he’s been pretty down. I talked to him earlier and he wants to come see me, but I just can’t bear to have him see me this way. I want to wait a week to at least let the bruising fade a little.”

  “I understand. Do you think I could take him for the week? I’ve missed him so much, and we will have about eight weeks-worth of catching up to do.”

  “I think that’d be great. I know he will be excited. Since tomorrow is Monday, I’ll let him know that you will pick him up from school. You’ll get to hear about the exciting way he broke his arm, and had to sit most of the soccer season on the bench. He is an absolute mess.”

  “I missed his first broken bone.” It was a statement. If it was possible, dad seemed to look even sadder. I didn’t get it with boys and their fascination with broken bones. I guess it was a guy thing.

  “So, Emmy, honey, how are you, really?” he asked with nothing but concern in his eyes.

  “I’m fine, dad,” I said as I start to reach for my necklace, but it wasn’t there. I’d have to remember to ask about where it was later.

  “Yeah, fine in women’s lingo is code for not fine.” Damn, he had me there.

  “Ok, I’m not fine. I’m anything but fine. I’m hanging on by a freaking thread here. I like to be in control and this is anything but in control. My life is so out of control that I feel as if I’m drowning.” I felt myself start to get choked up. Hopefully, sometime soon, I would be able to get through the day without crying. But that day was not today.

  “Emmy, if you can overcome all that the bastard, Bryce threw at you, then you can get through anything. I still feel somewhat responsible for that whole ordeal. If I would’ve known what he was doing to you, I think I could have stopped it. But you kept everything so tight-lipped that no one knew. We just thought you were voluntarily pushing us away. If I would’ve known…”

  “Dad, it’s over, if anyone is to blame it’s me for sticking with him all those years. I thought I knew what love was, but I was wrong. Until, Grady barged in and threw my life completely off track. My love for him is so much stronger than anything I ever felt for Bryce and that’s what makes this heartbreak even harder. I was just so stupid to get involved with him, deep down inside, I knew he’d break my heart. I just wish he hadn’t made me feel so special, then maybe this would be easier to bear.”

  Not wanting to go on further, I pressed the call button to get a hold of the nurse.

  “Yes?” Maggie’s small voice chimed in through the speakers.

  “I need to use the restroom and I um… need some help.” I knew it was going to take every effort to just move an inch.

  “Just a sec, Emmy,” she replied.

  It hurt my pride to ask for help of any kind but I had to get out of this bed.

  I threw back my covers and tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed but the sudden movement caused my lungs to seize up and my ribs screamed out in pain.

  Maggie came in, along with Tessa, Brock, Toby, and Mikey.

  Maggie and Toby immediately flanked my sides to help me get to a standing position.

  Once my feet touched the floor, my left leg immediately buckled. Regaining my balance, I felt rather than saw Tessa come up behind me to close the back of the gown.

  Shuffling towards the en-suite bathroom, I looked at the floor because if I saw even an ounce of pity in their eyes, I would completely lose it.

  Accidentally looking at my dad I didn’t see pity lurking in the depths of his eyes. No, what I saw was, was anger.

  Finishing my business, which proved to be no easy task, but I did it and by myself, I stared at the horrific scene reflected back at me in the mirror and let out a gasp. My face was completely ashen, there were deep purple shadowed bruises underneath my eyes, as well as various other bruises dotting around my face, along my hairline was a gash sutured with six stitches and my hair was matted and dreadful.

  Now I can see why it was anger in their eyes an
d nothing more. I felt my blood pressure rise and I was feeling pretty irate myself.

  I silently and slowly made my way back to the hospital bed so I could spend the remainder of my stay resting, all because of Corbin Montgomery.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Emmalynne

  Yesterday was Thanksgiving and Tucker and I happily spent it with my dad. Several times I caught myself wanting to send a quick text to Grady to wish him well and to have a good visit with his mother, then quickly shaking myself free from those thoughts because: 1. I didn’t even know if she still planned on joining him, and 2. He really must not care about me because I hadn’t seen or heard a peep out of him since he had been by the hospital when I was still unconscious.

  It’d been two weeks since that fateful night, when I was brutally attacked by Corbin. My bruises had faded immensely and were now a faint yellow in color. My ribs still caused some discomfort but seemed to be healing quite nicely. And my arm would be in a cast for several weeks yet. My dad and Tucker verbally addressed their unhappiness at having to help out getting things ready for Thanksgiving dinner. It would have been easier to handle it all myself but giving the circumstances I decided to bask in their misery.

  Tessa called me bright and early this morning, telling me that I had to come to Finnegan’s tonight because she had a big announcement. It honestly could be a number of things but I was thinking she’d finally tell me she was pregnant. I’d noticed the subtle changes in her over the past few weeks. Not only in her appearance, but with the way Brock comforted her. She had been my best friend for two decades, how could I not notice these things?

  I was getting ready, taking a little extra time in my appearance. Even though my bruises had drastically faded, I didn’t want people to outright gawk at me, so I applied a little concealer to hide the discoloration. I arranged my hair to fall to my shoulders in soft waves rather than my untamed mass of curls, which was hard with one hand and just the tips of my other fingers. Needing to feel good about myself tonight, I paired my slimming jeans along with a black open knit top with sequins settled overtop a black camisole. The top was lacy and see-through and for me was an absolute splurge. Of course I wore my mother’s necklace and top it all off with a simple pair of hounds tooth flats. I guess I looked as good as it was going to get, with my deep purple cast on my arm sticking out like a sore thumb.

  Tucker would be staying with my dad tonight. He hadn’t wanted to leave his Pappy’s side since he came back into our lives, so he jumped at the chance to stay with him. On the way to Dad’s house, Tucker was quiet and looked deep in thought.

  “What’s on your mind kiddo?” I asked as I looked into the rearview mirror at him in the backseat.

  “Mom, can I be straight with you?”

  Being caught off guard by the seriousness in my nine year olds tone, I answered, “Of course, Tuck, what’s going on?”

  “Why aren’t you with Grady? You were the happiest I’ve ever seen you while you were with him, and now that you’re not. You’re the saddest.”

  My heart broke a little more, if that could even be imagined. “Tucker, it’s not that simple—“

  “Seems pretty simple to me. Just talk to him and see what he has to say. Get him back mom, so I can see you happy again.”

  Bless his little heart. “I’ll try to talk to Grady, but really I am happy with you, Poppy, and our friends, but most especially with you.”

  “I know you’ll always be happy with me mom, but your heart deserves to be even happier. Do you promise to talk to him?” he said to me and I took in his puppy dog eyes, that reminded me so much of his father, but I ultimately could not refuse.

  I’m conflicted, but nod my head while I said, “I promise.”

  I arrived at the bar a little later than I had planned on, due to my dad talking my ear off about trying my best to have a good time tonight. Promising yet again today, and I didn’t make it a point to break a promise, but I wasn’t going to go out of my way to find and talk to Grady. I was sure I’d have a good time, considering I was with my best friends. Finding a parking spot in the midst of more cars than I had ever seen occupy Finnegan’s at any given time, was difficult to say the least. I noticed that the usual Finnegan’s bar sign was taken down. That was odd.

  I took a deep calming breath and released it before I pulled open the door. Walking into the bar the first thing that hit me wasn’t the massive amount of noise, which was way more than normal, but the décor. The actual bar was now in the shape of a rectangle in the middle of the floor rather than the one-sided counter it was before, opening up more seating along the extra countertops. The liquor was lined up on a new display case, which looked like it was intricately carved out of wood. It was amazing. All of the tables and chairs had been replaced along with the décor. Taking in all of the new rustic accents it made it strangely warm and welcoming. I could tell that Mac and Grady had been extremely busy in the past few weeks, and as much as I hated to admit it sort of, I was really proud of Grady.

  Spotting Tessa, who was on her feet doing a half dance half wave of some sort, I made my way through the throngs of people.

  “Hey girlie!” She threw her arms around me in an all-encompassing hug. “Glad to see you here. Better late than never!”

  I rolled my eyes because usually it was us waiting on Tessa, who seemed to never be on time. I let her comment slide this one time because I could tell she was super excited for her announcement.

  Taking my seat next to Charlie, which happened to be the only unoccupied seat, I thought things would be awkward between us, but things couldn’t be better. He had become a really good friend over the past two weeks. I owed him everything, but he said that my friendship was more than enough. And the ability to keep his secret job just that, a secret. He draped his arm around my shoulder and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. I smiled at him, expressing just how grateful I was towards him, but also knowing that nothing will ever come to be between the two of us, and I think we were both ok with that.

  “Alright Tess, we are all here, now SPILL!” Toby muttered rather unenthusiastically, earning himself one of Tessa’s famous death glares.

  “How do you do that? Your death glare even scares me,” Charlie said.

  Looking at her fingernails, Tessa replied while shrugging her shoulders, “What can I say, it’s a gift.”

  “Ok, Tess and I do have a major announcement,” Brock said, looking down rather adoringly to his wife. “Honey, go ahead and put them out of their misery.”

  “We’re having a BABY!!!” she shouted, raising her hands in the air!

  I jumped up and made my way over to her, throwing my arms around her in another massive hug, “I knew it! I’m so happy for you both, you will be amazing parents! We’ve got to get busy shopping!” I was so excited for my best friends, it couldn’t have happened to more deserving people.

  “How did you know?” Tessa asked, her brows raised questioningly.

  “Tess, you do know that I’ve been your very best friend for the past twenty years, so not much gets by me.” I winked at her.

  “Except the things that actually pertain to you,” Toby said quickly then looked in the other direction.

  The congratulatory praises die down and we each order our drinks, which was just a simple water for me. I’d already lost weight during the past few weeks due to stress and just the inability to eat anything, but now I was going to try and lose some weight, not for anyone else but for me. And I tried my best to nonchalantly look around the bar for Grady, but came up short.

  Mac appeared on stage. “Good evening everyone and welcome to our reveal of the new décor of the bar! Since Grady is taking over the bar for me, he thought it would be only fitting since giving the bar a facelift to also give it a new name. Grady declined coming up here and revealing the new name sign himself. So we have enlisted the help of our favorite local band, The Nation’s Capital to unveil it, before they put on a rocking show for us.

  I continued to
look around for Grady but quickly my eyes sliced to Toby and they narrowed. Of course Toby ignored me as he made his way to the stage with the rest of the band.

  Leaning in towards Tessa, I whispered, “Did you know anything about them renaming the bar?”

  “Shh…just watch,” she said as she cut me off.

  The four members of the band brought out the new signage that would be put up in place of the old Finnegan’s Bar sign, but it was covered with a piece of cloth.

  Toby took the microphone, no doubt to make a grand speech.

  “Alright everyone! Uou know I’m known for my fabulous speeches, but this one will be short, sweet, and to the point. We are so excited to be unveiling this new sign, not only because this place will always be considered home to us, but also because the new name is very near and dear to our hearts. So without further ado, I give you the new Finnegan’s Bar…”

  Charlie and Mikey each took an end to the cloth and pulled it off. Immediately the crowd erupts in joyous claps, but I couldn’t get over my shock of seeing what was displayed on the sign. Surely my eyes were deceiving me. Blinking, trying to get my sight focused and my wits about me, I took in the sign again and sure enough the name was still there, staring back at me. Lit up in bright red fluorescent letters, the name Emmy Lou’s was illuminated within the darkness of the bar.

  Grady named a bar after me?

  Why?

  “Did you know anything about that?” I asked Tess in a clipped tone.

  The look of sympathy in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. Grabbing my coat and my purse, I made my way out of the bar, not focusing on anyone or anything in particular. I knew I had to get out of there.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Grady

  Taking in the progress that Mac and I had made with the bar in such a short amount of time, made pride fill my chest. I didn’t have anything else to do with my time so I worked ‘round the clock to get everything finished. Even getting back into woodworking, which was something I had enjoyed in high school. Making the liquor display case wasn’t an easy accomplishment, but it came out better than I had imagined.