Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57201 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 286(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“Ms. Smith insisted on coming to see her granddaughter herself,” the nurse explains, looking very stressed. I can almost feel a smile pulling at my lips. I can only imagine what kind of fit Hazel threw. She might be old, but she is stubborn and likes getting her way—one way or another.
“Darn straight I did. How’s my baby?”
“No changes, Miss Hazel. We’re just waiting.”
Her eyes move over to me with a frown. “You look like you need sleep.”
“That’s what I told him,” Mom chirps up.
“I’ll sleep when we know Katie is okay.”
“She would have been fine if she hadn’t tried to save me,” Hazel mutters, guilt laced in her voice.
“What do you mean?” I ask, my gaze going back to Katie. I love Miss Hazel and Mom, but I wish they would leave. I’m calmer when I’m here alone. I don’t have to keep my guard up or reassure other people of shit I’m not positive is true.
“The car was headed right for me. Katie took it upon herself to turn the car, so it’d hit her side. It was all a blur, but I saw what she did and yelled for her to stop, but…”
“She’s stubborn. When she gets something in her head, she doesn’t listen,” I whisper, reaching up to slide a lock of her blonde hair off the bandage on her forehead. She’s covered in scratches, bruises, and bandages. She looks so small and weak in the bed that it’s killing me.
“She is, Jake, but it’s that same stubbornness that is going to bring her back to us.”
“Not so sure she wants to come back to me,” I mutter. “Pretty sure when Katie left the house yesterday, she didn’t care if she ever saw me again.” I reach out and grab her hand and hold it gently in mine. I don’t plan on giving up and somehow, I’ll convince Katie that we need to try and see what is still between us.
I just don’t expect her to make it easy for me.
“Don’t you go giving up on her now. You don’t have any more excuses, Jake Ryan. You know the truth now. What you do with it, is all on you.”
Her words catch my attention. “Did Katie talk to you about…” My gaze moves over to my mother, and I hesitate on what to say next. I’d rather not talk about it. I plan on confronting Jeff, but there’s no point in dragging our mother into it.
“She did. She’s confused, but you have the knowledge now. What you do with it and what happens next is in your control, Jake. It’s time you step up to the plate if you’re going to.”
I think about her words. “You believe me.” I can hear the shock in my words. I really didn’t expect anyone to believe me. I really wasn’t expecting it from Miss Hazel.
“I do. It doesn’t excuse the past completely for either one of you, but it will eventually make it easier for Katie to get over.”
I think about what she said and nod. I’m not sure I agree with her, but there’s not much more I can say.
“Why do I feel lost in this conversation?” Mom gripes.
“It’s not important, Mom,” I tell her before Hazel can explain. I don’t want that. Jeff and I have caused Mom enough worry and stress. The two of us will handle this alone. Hazel looks at me and I see something in her eyes that I never thought I would see again in my lifetime.
Approval.
Well, hell.
“How is my Lenny?” she asks, her gaze centered on Katie’s now and not moving.
“Hey, that’s my Lenny, too, Hazel. You have to share,” Mom jokes, a small smile on her face.
“P-shaw,” she mumbles under her breath, giving Mom a wink.
“How did Katie come up with the name Lennon anyway?” I ask, grateful to have something to think about other than my brother or Katie’s condition.
“She was listening to a lot of John Lennon’s music back then and loved the name. We actually thought Lennon was going to be a girl back then and she thought it was beautiful. She was trying to figure out how to name her after me and Barbara together and could only seem to merge our names. She came up with the name Lennon Bazel.”
“Thank God that Lenny was a boy,” Mom laughs.
“Or my son would have been named something that sounds like a cookie,” I mutter.
They laugh and I even manage a grin.
“Lennon Bazel is a pretty name.”
My head jerks around to see Katie staring at us. I tighten my hold on her hand, my heart jumping up into my throat. “You’re awake,” I breathe.
“My baby,” Miss Hazel and Mom exclaim almost simultaneously.
Her eyes are dilated but she’s staring straight at me. “Lennon,” she says. You can easily hear the pain in her voice, but she’s also worried.