by Long, Marie
Kevin rubs his hand over his hair, looking distraught. “Damn. I never thought this would happen again. That we’d be in a hospital again, y’know?”
I purse my lips. I know what he’s getting at, and it sucks that we’re both thinking about it. I remember that day at the children’s hospital, where I had to go through so many tests I felt like some science experiment.
“Pops didn’t win this round, by the way,” Kevin says, breaking me from my thoughts. “So don’t you start thinking he did.”
I grit my teeth. I’m sure Pops is happy that I’m feeling miserable right now. This whole night has been emotionally exhausting. How could he have not won? Someone valuable to me has been hurt, and I can’t do a damn thing about it right now.
* * *
I wake up to the sound of Kevin’s voice. “We need to go to the cops about this, man.” Yawning, I check the clock and realize I slept in the same position in a waiting room chair for six hours. I stretch and turn to my brother, who still looks whipped.
Cops. Oh yeah. That shit happened. And still no one has given us any updates on Denise’s condition. “Yeah, we definitely need to. Whether or not the cops do anything about it is a different story.”
“I’m sure they will. They’ve been taking rape cases seriously, especially this time of year near the end of the spring semester with all the parties.”
“Yeah, but won’t Denise have to say something to the cops, too? What if she doesn’t remember anything?”
“It’s worth taking the chance that she will, li’l bro. Now come on.”
Before leaving, I give the receptionist my number, telling her to call me as soon as there is news on Denise’s condition.
* * *
We’re at the police station for what seems like hours reporting the incident and filling out tons of paperwork. It’s almost noon Saturday, and while we’re getting a bite to eat, I get a call from the hospital about us being allowed to see Denise. We haul ass back to the hospital. I make a quick stop at the gift shop to buy some roses and a teddy bear.
The receptionist allows us through the emergency room’s double doors. Inside, we pass by the nurse’s station and one of them looks up at us cheerily. “Good afternoon, sirs, may I help you?”
“Hi, I’m looking for Denise Ramsey,” I say.
She gets up from her chair and comes out from behind the desk. “This way.”
We head down a long hallway of curtained-off rooms. The lights are dim, and my skin still tingles from all the sickness and despair everywhere. The muted sounds of coughing, talking, and groaning fill my ears.
The nurse leads us to Denise’s room and peeks through the curtain. “Miss Ramsey, you have some visitors.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I smile, noting the life that’s returned to Denise’s beautiful voice.
The nurse steps out of the way. “Go right in.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“No problem. If you need anything, let me know. My name is Paulette.” She leaves.
For a moment, Kevin and I stand before the closed curtain. My heart pounds.
Kevin nudges me with his elbow. “You go first,” he whispers.
I nod, open the curtain, and slowly head inside. The room is big enough for a bed, a small table, and a chair. Denise is there in bed, wide awake. Her face is no longer pale, and her eyes are bright and cheery.
She looks great.
My throat tightens. “Denise.”
She smiles. God, I missed that beautiful smile. “Dominick!” She moves to get up from the bed, but I sweep in beside her, presenting her the flowers and stuffed animal.
“No, don’t get up,” I say, setting the vase atop her bedside table. “You need to get as much rest as you can.”
She eyes the flowers and cuddles the bear. “Those are beautiful. Thank you.”
Kevin pokes his head from behind the curtain. “Hey.” He waves and approaches the foot of the bed.
Her face softens. “Hi, Kevin. Or do you prefer ‘Kevitron’?”
“Ah, ‘Kevin’ when I’m not on stage.”
I gently run my hand over her arm, my mind going over last night’s events. “How are you doing?”
She looks down at her lap. “I’m okay.”
The curtain opens again, and a woman enters the room, clipboard in hand. She wears a stethoscope around her neck. A plastic nametag hangs from the front pocket of her white overcoat—Dr. Cindy Bannerman. She adjusts her tortoiseshell glasses as she looks over the three of us cheerily. Her gaze settles on Denise. “Hello, young lady. How are you doing?”
“Great, Cindy. Thank you. Will I finally be leaving now?”
“You definitely will. And it looks like you have two handsome princes here to take you home.” She nods to Kevin and me.
Denise chuckles, and Kevin and I grin. I like this doc. Reminds me a lot of my nurse when I was in the hospital, Shevonne Holsen. She always made her young patients laugh and gave them a lollipop before they left.
“All right,” Cindy says. She scribbles something down on her clipboard, then clicks the pen and sticks it in her front pocket. “What I recommend for you is lots of rest and to make an appointment to speak with a counselor.” She pulls out a sheet of paper from her clipboard and hands it to Denise. “Here’s a list of counselors in the area. If you’re looking for someone close to the campus, this one has an office only a few blocks away.”
I glance at the name she points to and recognize it as the same counselor Kevin and I had. On her right hand, Cindy wears a silver ring with a teddy bear symbol on the inset. I recognize that symbol as one some of the doctors and nurses at the children’s hospital used to wear on lapel pins or on their name tags. I look up at Kevin, and we lock gazes for a moment. He must’ve seen the ring, too. Perhaps he’s thinking the same thing I am about the doc.
“And these,”—Cindy pulls out two business cards from one of her coat pockets—“are numbers to the rape and sexual assault hotline and the crisis center that’s not far from here. Please don’t be afraid to call them. I know it’s never easy to talk about this kind of thing, but please remember that help is only a phone call away.”
“Thank you.” Denise takes the cards.
Cindy smiles warmly. “You are very welcome, Miss Ramsey. Now, then. I will get your discharge papers ready, and you will be all set to go.” She turns to leave.
“Ah, Cindy?” I call.
She looks over her shoulder. “Yes?”
I lick my dry lips. I’m so curious about her now. “Did you use to work at the children’s hospital?”
She nods. “Yes, a long time ago. That’s where I started. I still go there from time to time to see old friends and colleagues.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know a nurse named Shevonne Holsen?”
Cindy’s eyebrows raise. “Shevonne? I know her very well. She still works at the children’s hospital. We used to work very close together. A very sweet lady, she is.”
“Yeah.” I feel a little choked up. “If you ever see her again, can you tell her ‘Dom-Dom’ said hi?” Even now, I still haven’t forgotten the ridiculous nickname she’d given me, like she had done for all her patients.
“‘Dom-Dom’?” Cindy chuckles. “That definitely sounds like her doing. All right, I will be sure to let her know if I see her again.” Cindy leaves, closing the curtain behind her.
Denise gives me an amused look, and I shake my head. “It’s a long story.”
“A long, but cute story, considering the circumstances,” Kevin says. “Man, I swear, that woman knew how to turn any bad situation good.”
“I’d love to hear it sometime,” Denise says.
I smile. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you.”
Kevin turns to leave. “All right. I guess I should give you two some privacy. I’m gonna go wait in the car.”
I nod and watch him leave. The curtain closes, and I return my attention to Denise. Sadness begins to fill her eyes. Just seeing this makes my eyes st
art to burn, too.
There’s so much I want to ask her. I don’t know where to begin.
“Please say it was all just a dream,” she whispers, hugging the bear to her chest.
I purse my lips to stave off tears. So she remembers? “I wish it were. Then we could move on with our lives. But unfortunately, that’s not the case.” I take one of her hands, interlocking my fingers with hers. “Do you remember anything?”
She nods slowly. “He was so forceful. He looked so dangerous. So scary. Like a changed man. I’ve never seen him like that before.” A tear rolls down her cheek. “I don’t remember anything after that.”
There is one question still floating in my mind. An important one, because it would mean an even greater trauma for her—and for me—if I was too late to stop it. But I’m not sure how to ask her. “Denise, did he, that is … I … um … ”
She squeezes my hand. “No, he didn’t get that far, thank goodness. The doctors who checked me out said they saw no signs of intercourse.” She stares deep into my eyes. “Dominick, I owe you my life for saving me. You’re like … a guardian angel. I can’t believe you were there. I looked for you at the party but didn’t see you. How did you even know where I was?”
I manage to smile. Her guardian angel. I like the sound of that. “How? Well, I, uh, kind of shamelessly stalked you. I hated William the first time I met the bastard. Even Kevin agreed that you two didn’t look right together.”
She wipes away her tears. “I really should’ve insisted Trinity talk to me when I sensed something was bothering her.”
“I think you might’ve been drugged. I’m not sure.”
She averts her gaze. “Yeah, Cindy said I had GHB in my system. I don’t understand how. I mean, I didn’t put my drink down or anything. Do you think William really drugged me?”
“Well, the other day at work, I overheard William talking on the phone to someone named Nick about buying some G’s. Nick was one of the guys manning the bar, so it could’ve been him that put something in your drink.”
“Nick. God, I know him. He’s such an ass. He had a thing for me, but I wouldn’t give him the time of day. I can’t believe he would do that to me.”
My blood boils. “I’ll find him and give him a piece of my mind. And my fist.”
“No, he’s not worth it.”
I sigh. “Well, I at least reported the incident to the cops. You may have to go down there and give your report, too.”
“All right.” She frowns and lowers her gaze. “How could I have ever loved him?”
I kneel at her bedside and tilt her chin over so that she looks at me. “Hey. It’s not your fault. You deserve a better guy than William. And when you find that guy, he better treat you right, or else I’ll kick his ass, too.”
She looks amused. “I think I’ve already met a guy who’s a million times better than William.”
I blink. “Have you?”
Her eyelids flutter downward again, and she leans her face closer to mine, her lips parting. “Yes.”
My lips slowly part as well, but I don’t advance. Holy shit. This is real. Is this what she wants? I stare at her full lips. I don’t want her to feel obligated to me, but … I lean in to her, our lips meeting halfway. Her soft lips touch mine, and I taste her. Beneath the remnants of salty tears, she tastes better than any candy in the world. So sweet. So innocent.
No. This is wrong. I have to stop.
But I can’t bring myself to pull away—I don’t, and neither does she.
Chapter 19
It’s almost three o’clock in the afternoon by the time we finally leave the hospital. Denise is in scrubs, as her old clothes were confiscated by the hospital staff to be sent to the police. We head to where Kevin’s car is parked. Denise walks close to me, never letting go of my hand.
Kevin’s laid back in the driver’s seat, fast asleep. Poor guy. I reluctantly rap on the window, and Kevin jerks awake. He rubs his eyes, fixes his ball cap, and opens the door for us.
“About damn time,” he says groggily.
“Sorry, we had to wait on the doc to finish all the paperwork. Need me to drive?”
“Naw, I’m good.”
I climb into the backseat with Denise.
Kevin’s keys jingle as he takes them out of his pocket. “So, Denise, you gonna be okay if we take you back to your place?”
Denise looks ahead toward my brother and bites her bottom lip. “Um … ”
I give her hand a small, reassuring squeeze. I know she’s probably still feeling scared. Scared that William might come back. Scared of the dreams—nightmares—she’ll have playing over and over of that horrifying moment. “I understand if you don’t want to go back right now. Being alone there, and such,” I say.
“Well,” she says. “Lauren will be there, though she might start asking questions. I really don’t want to talk about that with her right now. Especially with how uptight she can get sometimes.” She looks at me hesitantly. “Would it be okay to stay with you tonight?”
I blink. The question comes as a great surprise. But she needs me to be strong for her. She needs me to be her guardian angel.
* * *
Before heading to my place, we stop by the police station so Denise can give her report. She’s hesitant about it at first, but decides it is probably best to get it over with. I’m there with her for almost an hour while she gives her statement and fills out paperwork.
By five thirty, we pull up to my duplex, and I notice Adrienne’s car parked out front. Fuck. I don’t feel like dealing with her drama. I only hope that she and Chris are too busy with each other to notice Denise and I come in.
We get out of Kevin’s car, and I tap on the driver-side window. Rolling it down, Kevin gives me one of those “concerned big brother” looks.
“Thanks, man, for all this,” I say.
“You sure you two will be okay?” Kevin asks.
I nod. “Yeah, man.” I glance over my shoulder at her, and she smiles.
“All right.” He stares ahead, out the windshield. “I got a call while I was waiting at the hospital for you guys. Got this huge gig at a radio station down in Portland next Wednesday, so I’ll be gone. But I’ll be back by Friday.”
“Wow, Kev, that’s great! I’m happy for you, man.”
“Thanks.” He looks back at me. “Take it easy, li’l bro, okay?”
I nod again, slowly. While I’m happy that he’s got more work, it sucks that he’ll be gone again. “You, too.”
We do our secret handshake, and I watch him drive off.
“Kevin seems really nice,” Denise says, resting her head on my shoulder.
I wrap my arm around her waist. “Yeah, he’s cool.”
I lead Denise around the side to the backdoor leading into the kitchen.
Denise pulls out from under my arm and sighs. “All I want to do is take a nice long shower and lay down.”
“I hear ya. Well, the bathroom with the shower is this way.” I lead her out of the kitchen and down the hall, stopping before the bathroom door across from Chris’s room. His door is closed.
I turn the bathroom light on for Denise. She scrutinizes the small space and then nods.
“It’s not much,” I say, “but it’s got a shower.”
“This is fine, thank you.”
I look her over thoughtfully. “I’ll try and find some spare clothes you can wear. There’s a clean towel and washcloth under the sink you can use.”
She smiles graciously. “Thank you, Dominick.”
I leave her to do her thing and rush upstairs to my room. I set the flowers and teddy bear on the night table, and then turn my closet upside down looking through the smallest shirts I own. I find a pair of basketball shorts and an old football jersey that actually used to be Chris’s. When he decided he didn’t like the player any more, he gave it to me. Go figure.
Bounding down the stairs, I hear the shower going. I go to the kitchen and fill up a small baggie with ice from
the freezer. Holding the makeshift ice pack to my sore arm, I head to the living room and flip on the TV. I sprawl out on the couch, kicking off my shoes and propping my feet on one of the armrests, and stare idly at a home gym infomercial that’s showing. My mind continuously goes over last night’s events. The more I think about what might’ve been, the angrier I get. Now with William out of the picture, things are definitely going to be different. And what am I going to tell the guys at work when William doesn’t show up?
Chris’s door creaks open, and I snap out of my thoughts. I peek over the couch toward the hall, and Chris trudges in looking worn, his long hair unkempt. “Dom?”
“’Sup.” I turn back to the TV.
Chris moves my feet aside and sits on the armrest. “Dude. We need to talk. Seriously.”
I sigh and look at him. “Yeah, I guess we do.”
“Why the hell did you leave so early? The party was just getting started.”
“I had things to do,” I say simply.
Chris scowls. “That’s bullshit. You told me you were at the damn hospital. And then you go and leave me hangin’ and not even say which hospital! Seriously, dude. I thought we were like this.” He crosses his middle finger over his index.
“I know, man. I’m sorry. So much shit went down tonight, and I’m still rattled from it.”
“So enlighten me.” He glances toward the bathroom. “Who’s in the shower?”
“Denise.”
Chris’s eyes widen. “Seriously? Wait. Doesn’t she have a boyfriend?”
“She did. Long story.”
“And you brought her here?”
“Yeah, and I’d appreciate it if you and Adri left her alone right now. And tell Adri to leave me alone, too.”
“Adrienne’s so over you. She was drunk that night at Chauncey’s and was feeling in a feisty mood—at least that’s what she told me.”
“Right.”
“So, yeah, back to Denise.”
I mute the TV.
“What the fuck’s going on, dude?” He looks at me with a serious expression. It’s rare that he ever gets like this with me. So yeah, it’s definitely for real.
