Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 74379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Only, this room had a glass wall that was so close to the nurses’ station that we might as well have been standing in it.
“I’ll leave you for a while,” the nurse said. “Twenty minutes. That’s it, okay?”
She likely shouldn’t even be doing that, but I was appreciative of her taking care of me, and allowing me the time to see the woman that held a large portion of my heart.
The moment the glass door closed, I looked over at the deathly pale woman on the bed, and shivered.
“I’m so sorry.”
I reached for her hand, but it didn’t curl around mine.
I squeezed, but she didn’t squeeze back.
***
Day 4
I took my own catheter out.
That was likely not what should’ve been done, and I’d hear about it later, but I wasn’t in the mood to be tethered to it anymore.
I could measure my own urine output, thank you very much.
Once that was taken care of, I came out of the bathroom with just a single wire attached to me, and even that was coming out once I had the proper tools—IE a fucking Band-Aid—to take care of it.
Hannah was there, watching me, when I came out.
“You want some help?”
I offered her my hand.
I didn’t know my brothers’ wives all that well. With me living in Alabama when I was home, and being in the Army and then the Reserves, I hadn’t had much time to get to know them all.
Hannah, though, was one of my favorites.
Then again, they all were, really, in their own way.
My eyes skidded to a stop when I saw Hennessy standing in the doorway.
“She’s awake.”
I didn’t wait for the damn Band-Aid.
I shuffled out of my room, and down the hall, not giving one flying fuck that my ass was partially exposed, or that I was somewhat bleeding.
Hennessy stayed at my side.
“She’s mad at you.”
I grinned.
“Is she now?”
“Apparently, she figured out that you never went and saw the babies and is now demanding that you offer her compensation.”
I would’ve laughed had I not been worried about how badly it would hurt.
“A kidney and a half a liver aren’t enough?” I teased, pressing the button for the elevator.
The nurses I passed on their way to lunch just shook their heads, knowing that they couldn’t control me.
I waved, pressed the button for the floor above ours, and waited for the doors to close.
“She’s mad about that, too.” She paused. “I think she’s just mad in general at this point.”
I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Not on the trip down the hallway. Not on the way into the room, and definitely not, when I saw Krisney’s angry eyes staring back at me.
“You.”
“Me.” I smiled wider.
She narrowed her eyes. “You promised.”
I shrugged. “I also made a promise to you a long time ago, too. I’d see them with you. I’m holding to your first promise you took from me.”
I knew it was wrong.
But with my family rotating through visiting them, as well as my own mother working there, I knew they were getting visitors.
And, they were doing extremely well.
Had they not, I would’ve gone to see them.
But I’d already broken so many promises, and this was one I couldn’t break. It just felt like, deep inside my heart, something I had to do.
“You’re such an ass.” She shook her head. “And I’m really, really not happy with you.”
***
Day 5
“You’re free to go, Mr. Hail,” the nurse said as she handed me my papers. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again, though.”
I just rolled my eyes.
Then I got out and walked next door to where Krisney was just getting settled.
“Honey, I’m home,” I teased as I walked in.
Hennessy rolled her eyes.
“You’re so weird.”
Chapter 18
Do you ever laugh at something that is really dark, and then wonder what the hell is wrong with you?
-Text from Travis to Reed
Krisney
“What are you doing here?”
Reed gave me a look that clearly said, without words, that he thought I was crazy.
“I’m here to watch you recover,” he said. “They’re even bringing my old bed in here. He paused, then grinned. “Here it is now.”
The orderly rolled it in and put it in the corner of the room, waved at Reed, and then left just as fast.
I narrowed my eyes.
“Henn,” I said softly. “Do you think you could give me and Reed a few minutes alone?”
Hennessy didn’t bother to argue, just got up and left.
The moment the door closed softly behind her, I turned my attention back to Reed.
“If you’re going to break my heart, just break it.”
I choked on the words, and his head snapped in my direction.
“What are you talking about?”
“I can’t live like this.” I blew out a breath to keep the tears at bay. “You’re hurting my heart. I don’t know if we’re together. I don’t know, from one day to the next, if you’re going to be nice Reed or mean Reed. Or used to not, anyway. Now you’re just all smiles and shit, and it’s fucking with my head. Before…sometimes you say the nicest things, and then others you look at me like I’m the antichrist.”