"No, we're not engaged. We've just been each other's best friend since before we started school." I glanced at Robin and saw a soft smile. "But it may become more. We're going to see where it goes."
When I was almost finished with the paperwork, I asked Robin to gather up what few things I had in the room, noting that Aunt Sophia, along with Quinn and Nathan should be there any time. I signed the last page and handed Nancy the clipboard back. "There you are, anything else?"
A knock sounded on the open door to the room, I looked up and found Sophia standing there, my cousins right behind her.
"Perfect timing." Robin said.
I stood and hugged each of them as they came close.
Nancy watched the exchange then spoke up, "Let me go get a wheelchair and we can get you on your way."
"Wheelchair?" I asked.
"Hospital policy, sorry." She gave me a sympathetic smile. "We don't want you falling and getting hurt on your way out."
"Okay." I relented, "let's get it over with."
"All right, then." She said on her way out.
"Mom, give me the keys. I'll go get the truck and pull it up to the door." Nathan held his hand out toward Sophia. "Then you won't have to wait for someone to go get it before we can load up."
Sophia handed him the keys, he gave me another hug, and a kiss on the cheek then turned to leave.
While we waited for Nancy to come back with the chair, I gave the room and the bathroom a quick once over, making sure Robin hadn't missed anything. I picked up his Diamondback's cap, still holding his sunglasses, and handed them to him. Once I was confident I wasn't leaving anything behind, I stood at the foot of the bed, leaning my butt against the footboard.
"I don't want to even think about dealing with the insurance company or shopping for a new truck right now. What a pain in the butt," I said.
Quinn gave me a funny look. "You have no hesitation about getting behind the wheel again?"
"No." My look told him how crazy I thought that was. "Why should I? Sure, I know what could, and almost did, happen to me. But, I've known death can happen at any time, without warning, since I was four. I have no memory of the accident and other than some almost healed cuts, a couple nasty bruises, both of which will be gone in time, I have no evidence of it on my body."
"Nasty bruises?" Robin cut in, concerned. "Why didn't you tell me? And why didn't you tell the doctor about them?"
"Because it's obvious where they came from. I assume the doctors know because I'm sure they did a thorough examination while I was out. I'm not concerned about the bruises, they don't even hurt, and they just look nasty."
"How nasty? And what do you mean it's obvious where they came from?" Quinn frowned.
I pulled my shirt and bra strap off my left shoulder, exposing a piece of the bruise. "It stretches diagonally across and down then back across my lap, like a sideways check mark." I followed the path of the bruise, over my clothes, with my hand. "It isn't sore but it's obvious that the seat belt that saved my live wanted to make sure I didn't forget it too soon."
"Is that all?" Robin was scowling.
"Except for some scabs from a lot of small cuts that are almost completely gone now and some random, smaller and less severe bruises, it's all I've found. But I can only see the front half of me."
"Maybe we should have the nurse check you again before we leave." He suggested.
"No." My voice was firm. "I'm going home. I can find a mirror and check the rest once I'm there, or someone else can check for me." I looked him in the eye, hoping he would understand I meant him. "But I'm going home. Today."
Before anyone could say anything more to try to convince me otherwise, Nancy came back in, with the wheelchair.
"Here we are," she said. "Do you want me to drive or do you want one of your entourage to do the honors?"
"I'll push." Quinn volunteered as I carefully sat in the chair.
"No wheelies!" I warned, scowling up at him.
"Aww, man!" He grinned. "You suck all the fun out of things, Sam."
We started out of the room. Once we turned down the hall, I reached up and took Aunt Sophia's hand. She looked down at me and I smiled. She smiled back, seemingly reassured. With Nancy's company, we made our way out of the hospital.
Quinn pulled the wheelchair to a stop beside the Suburban and Robin asked, "Where do you want to sit?"
"Middle." I said without hesitation.
"Are you sure, dear? You're more than welcome to the front," Aunt Sophia asked.
"I'm sure. I want plenty of room to move around, to doze if I want to. You sit in front, let Nate or Quinn drive. That way you don't have to deal with traffic and you can relax too. Though, I'm glad that the bench is in the middle and not the rear. I don't really feel like climbing back there."
"I'm already here, I'll drive. If no one else minds that is." Nathan looked at us in turn, watching for any objections.
I looked at Quinn. "So that just leaves you. Are you gonna climb in the back before I get in or are you riding in the middle too?"
"Doesn't Robin get a choice?"
"Nope," I said. "Not this time. He's gonna sit with me and possibly pretend to be my pillow again."
I saw a spark of interest light in Quinn's eye as he looked back and forth from me to Robin for a few seconds. "Get in, I'll sit in the middle too, but I'll use the other door."
7
We settled in the truck, buckled our seat belts, and I watched Nancy take the wheelchair back into the hospital.
Nathan pulled out of the parking lot and took a right onto Campbell. "Do we want to stop anywhere before we head home?"
"What's the flavor of the month?" I asked, knowing they'd all know what I meant, and that Nate especially, would have the information I wanted.
"Black cherry." Nathan is almost as big of Eegee’s fan as I am.
"Is there one between here and the freeway?"
"No, but there's one not far out of the way." He paused a moment, "Since I need to stop and fill this thing up before we head out, it's even less so."
"Then I'd appreciate if we could stop. I don't get over here often and I love those things." I smiled, knowing that before we left, everyone would have one of the fruit flavored ice treats.
"No problem." He said.
Before we made it as far as the stoplight at Broadway, Quinn turned to look at me. I was leaning against Robin's side, not because I needed the support but because it felt good.
"So, what was that about Robin pretending to be your pillow again? Is there something you need to tell us?" Quinn lifted on brow at me.
"Not that it's any of your business, but he slept beside me last night. I woke up this morning feeling better than I have in months."
"He slept with you, in the hospital where you were trying to heal?" Quinn was clearly becoming angry.
"Yes. He lay in my bed and held me while we both slept. He was there at my request. So back off, Barbie." I responded to his anger with some of my own.
"Calm down, Quinn. I sent him over to be with her last night, after she asked me to. She needed him there." Sophia turned part way in her seat so that she could look him in the face.
Quinn looked over my head at Robin and pulled the big brother act. "You had better not hurt her."
"I have no intention of it." Robin's tone was serious. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to lean closer against him.
I gave Quinn a not-quite-gentle kick in the shin. "So what if he does? It's none of your freaking business." I was still a little angry over his attitude. "Think about this, Mister run-my-life. Robin's been my best friend for as long as we can both remember." I shifted my body so that my leaning into Robin wasn't quite subtle anymore but I was turned slightly away so I could see Quinn easily. "Who do you think comforted me when I was being bullied by my three adopted brothers? Who do you think encouraged me to stand up to you three and your pranks?" I continued, calming some as I vented my anger at his suggestion that Robin mi
ght hurt me. "Where do you think I learned to fight dirty and even the odds? Do you really think the person who did all that would ever willingly hurt me?"
"You've made your point, Sam," Quinn said. "I'm not sure I like the idea, but you've made your point."
"Get used to the idea, Quinn. 'Cause it's my life and my decision, not yours, and I'm not letting it pass me by anymore."
"Okay, point taken. I'll keep my mouth shut on this one," Quinn replied. "At least until I can be rational and not just react. Remember, you're still a sister to me, Sam, I can't just stop that. I don't even want to."
I turned and caught Nathan's eye in the rear-view mirror. "What about you? Do you have anything to add?"
"Do I look stupid? I know better than to try to tell you what or whatnot to do. Especially if Robin is anywhere nearby. I know he was responsible for at least a couple of those black eyes I sported growing up, even if it was your fist dealing them." Nathan spoke over his shoulder as he maneuvered the SUV over the bridge that crossed the interstate and into the Diamond Shamrock on the corner. "Does anyone want anything from inside?" He asked before opening his door.
After a round of noes from everyone inside, he got out and filled the tank.
"I was responsible, huh?" Robin grinned down at me.
"Yeah, apparently it's was your fault they picked at me until I fought back," I shrugged.
"Oh, no," Quinn groaned. "This is only going to make the two of you gang up against us worse."
"Our two against your three is us ganging up on you?" I laughed. "Someone needs to check his math." I tilted my head back until it rested against Robin's shoulder and waited for a response.
"Why would that change?" Sophia asked from the front seat. "Robin's never been anywhere but squarely on Sam's side in any confrontation with the three of you. If you ask me, she needed someone on her side. Besides, you still have three against two, since when is it the smaller group that gangs up on the larger one?" She lifted one brow at her son.
Quinn made a disgruntled noise, but let the subject drop.
8
An hour and a half later, we were almost to Texas Canyon when I looked up from the bottom of my Eegee’s cup.
"Can we stop at The Thing, please?" I asked Nathan. "I need to pee."
"Can do."
"Guess you shouldn't have downed that Eegee so quick. How bad you gotta pee, Sam?" Quinn reached toward me to poke me in the belly.
"Don't even think about it, Quinn." Robin warned from my other side. He used the arm he'd resting across my shoulders to pull me against him and block Quinn's probing hand.
"Why the hell not?" Quinn demanded. "Am I not allowed to tease and pick at her anymore?"
"Bruises." Robin only had to say the one word.
Immediately Quinn looked repentant. "Oh, shit, I forgot about them. Sorry."
"Bruises?" Nathan looked at me in the mirror, concerned. "What are you talking about?"
"You'd already gone for the truck when it came up," Quinn filled him in. "Sam has a nasty pair of bruises from the seat belt. She showed us a piece of one while we waited for the nurse to get the wheelchair."
"They sent her home anyway?" Nathan was clearly upset at the idea.
"They're just bruises, Nate." I rolled my eyes. "There's nothing they can do about them. They just have to fade with time." I shrugged. "They don't hurt anyway, not even with pressure. They just look ugly. I'm fine, honest." I held my hand up in the Girl Scout sign, despite having never been a Girl Scout.
"How do you know they don't hurt with pressure?" Quinn tilted his head to one side.
"My guess is," Robin gave me a knowing look, "when she discovered them, she poked at them, just to see. Didn't you?"
My blush answered for me.
"Why on earth would you do that?" Aunt Sophia asked.
"I wanted to know if they were sore or just discolored." I couldn't help defending myself.
"That is so truly and perfectly you." Robin murmured before kissing my ear.
Nate pulled off the interstate and parked in front of the Dairy Queen attached to the little tourist shop that is known far and wide as The Thing?.
"Are we just peeing or are we getting food too?" He asked.
"Um." I felt my face heat.
"Go use the restroom and meet us in the restaurant, and we'll get you something to eat. After all, all you've had is hospital food and an Eegee," Robin laughed. "Besides, it's almost lunchtime, anyway."
"How did you know?" I asked Nathan as I slid out of the truck.
"If you just wanted to pee, you'd have asked to stop at the rest area a mile back. Stopping here means you want food."
I couldn't help laughing a little as I walked into the little store and made my way to the restroom at the rear.
***
By the time I made my way back to the restaurant, everyone sat at a small table with drinks in front of them, except Robin had two drinks in front of him.
I walked over and slid into the seat next to him. "Are we ready to order yet?"
"Nope, already ordered, just waiting for it to be ready." Robin laid an arm along the back of the bench behind me.
I looked at him, one eyebrow lifted. "What exactly did I order? Since I don't seem to remember doing it."
"Same thing you always get here, or at any Dairy Queen with hot food. A chicken strip basket, with fries. Here," he slid one of the drinks over in front of me, "is your kiwi-lime slush."
"Ehh," I pretended to consider it. "I guess I can live with that." I acted as if it wasn't what I order every single time, but Robin was right, it was. I took a sip from my drink, it was perfect even though I almost always had to tell whoever was working how to make a kiwi-lime slush, since the flavor syrup comes in kiwi-strawberry and lemon-lime. Apparently, Robin had taken care of that too. It really wasn't all that hard to figure out that you just use half of each but most had to be told. "So, what're everyone's plans once we get home?"
"Well," Quinn looked at his watch in his wrist, "we should get home around two or two-thirty. If I go right to bed I can get enough sleep to make tonight's shift."
Quinn works at the state prison in Safford, about an hour's drive from Duncan. I worry more about his safety than I do about Robin's brother Bruce, who's a Greenlee County Sheriff's Deputy. Quinn faces a lot more criminals on a daily basis and he does it without a weapon. It takes a lot braver soul than I am to walk into that situation willingly.
"I have today and tomorrow off, I start days on Sunday," Nathan put in. He's a truck driver at the mine. The mine is about thirty minutes in another direction from the prison and the truck he drives is huge. You could stack my house on top of itself and still not be as large as that truck. He has a bizarre rotating schedule of twelve-hour shifts. I know there has to be a pattern to it, but I haven't found the logic behind it yet.
"Unpack, start the laundry." Aunt Sophia spoke up. "I think I'll start planning this week's family dinner. I'll need everyone's schedule so we can all be there."
I turned to Robin, "You?"
"I thought I'd get you settled in, then call Bruce and check on how things are going with the farm. All the fields were planted for the year, we just have to make sure they get enough water. The hands can deal with most of that with minimal direction. Bruce has been handling all of it while I've been with you, but I need to check in. I'll probably take it back over tomorrow." He made a face. "I also need to check on my pick-up and decide if I'm gonna replace the damned rotor, if Bruce hasn't already done it for me, or replace the whole thing so there aren't any more problems with it." He wrapped one arm around me and pulled me against him. "Then I want to sit down and have a nice talk with you, somewhere comfortable where we won't be interrupted. We also need to look into replacing your Jeep, at least temporarily, or else you'll be stranded and I doubt you'll like that much."
I dropped my head back onto the top of the bench seat behind me. "I don't want to think about car shopping."
The counter staff called
out a number behind me. "Hey, drama queen, our food is ready. Do you want to help me fetch and carry?" Nate slid out of his chair and heading for the counter.
I got up and took the second tray, stopping on the way to grab a stack of napkins and several salt packets off the condiment counter. I sat down at the table and we started sorting out the food, passing it around the table.
"You won't have to car shop for a while yet." Nathan slid back into his chair. "I'm sure the insurance company will cover a rental car, at least until they determine if the Jeep's totaled or not and make a payout. That usually takes at least a couple of weeks."
"Well, that's better than having to do it tomorrow, I guess. It gives me some more time to get used to the idea and to think about what I want versus what I can afford."
We finished eating, loaded back into the suburban and got back on the road. I wasn't the only one eager to get home.
9
It took some argument, but I convinced Aunt Sophia they didn't have to stay and get me settled in. I wanted them to drop me off, I told them that we would be fine. I think what finally tilted the scales was when Robin said he was going home with me, that I wouldn't alone. I didn't really care if I was alone as long as I could sit in a chair that wasn't moving. I wanted some time without the conversations of four other people swirling around me to collect my thoughts before I had to do much more. I loved my family but by the time we got home, I was on my last nerve. I needed some space.
Nate pulled into the driveway of the house I'd inherited from my parents and Robin and I gathered our trash and my bags to take in with us. I only had my purse and the bag from clothes that Aunt Sophia had bought for me the night before. All it had in it was the hairbrush and a few toiletries they'd given me at the hospital.
Robin's Nest Page 5
