Absolution
Page 7
“Mommy? What’s wrong?” Morgan called out to her. She could hear the fear in his voice after hearing Kori’s yell.
“Nothing, sweetie. Mommy dropped her coffee,” she responded, her voice warbled as tears filled her eyes and fell onto her face. She grabbed up her phone quickly and paced the kitchen floor, trying to figure out what to do and who to call.
Although they’d been dating for almost a month, she hadn’t yet met his family. Didn’t have any of their telephone numbers. Someone had to know something. Why hadn’t she forced the issue? Demanded they take their relationship public? No. She’d been too damn stubborn and stuck in her ways. It had been her this entire time, doing things on her own, raising her son by herself. After four years, she was still mourning the death of a man who wasn’t coming back. Turning back to the television, she couldn’t help the sound that released from her lips as she listened to the newscasters. She wanted to scream at them to stop talking but knew it wouldn’t do any good.
“Breaking News Alert: Several first responders from Fairfax County have been killed in a secondary explosion. Several others were injured and have been transported to Northern Virginia Hospital.”
The words were like a blur in her mind as she wracked her brain, trying to think of who she could call. In her heart, she didn’t want Julian to be one of the men who were hurt. But somehow, someway, she knew he was.
A brother! Julian had a brother who has a police officer. Sam? Scott? Steve?
Steven! That was it.
Desperate to get more information, she called the one person she knew would be able to get what she needed. Dialing the phone, she prayed her sister would pick up the phone. After three rings, Janice’s sleepy voice came over the line.
“Hey, sis. You do realize what time it is, right?”
Kori’s voice cracked, and she almost couldn’t get the words out. The only sound she could manage was a small squeak and a breathy whisper of her sister’s name. “Janice…”
“Sis?” Janice exclaimed through the phone as the volume of her voice raised in alarm. “Are you okay? Is Morgan okay? What the fuck is going on? I’m getting dressed right now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Do you need me to call Mom and Dad?”
Although she couldn’t see her through the phone, Kori nodded or shook her head in response to every question Janice fired at her through the phone. Between hiding from her son to prevent him from seeing her breaking down, to wondering just why in the hell hadn’t Julian called to tell her that he was okay, Kori was about to lose her damn mind. “It’s about Julian.”
“What?” she screeched. “You mean that hot ass paramedic you’re dating? Why the hell are you so upset? Did he break up with you or something? Do I need to kick his ass?”
“No. I think he’s hurt. Explosion. Fire,” she hiccupped her words as she tried to regulate her breathing. This was no good. She needed to get a handle on herself. “Please come. I need you. Your help. Can you call Max and Kiana? Julian’s brother is a cop. I need to find him. Please.”
Her sister sighed into the phone, but Kori knew she’d call them. On paper, Janice’s job was listed as a cyber analyst, but she did so much more than that. The occasional job for Maxwell Bishop and Nico Mitchell was on that list.
“Name?”
Kori could hear Janice as she exited her home, slamming the door on the way out. “His brother’s name is Steven MacMahon. I believe he’s a Sergeant on the force and works in Arlington County, but I’m not sure.”
Janice entered her vehicle and started the ignition. The roar of the V8 engine under the hood of her car could be heard over the Bluetooth. “Got it, sis. I’m on my way.”
“Thank you, Janice. I’m sorry for calling so early. I just…”
Her apology was cut off, “Nope. No need for all that. For the first time in a long time, you’re finally moving forward. If you believe something’s happened to Julian, then we’re gonna find out, and get his sexy ass back to you. Now, go pull on your big girl panties, wipe your face, check on my nephew, and wait for me to arrive.”
“I love you, Sis,” Kori said, a smile hovering on her lips.
“I know you do.”
Hanging up the phone, Kori wanted to let the fear return but took a few deep breaths to calm down. Janice was right. Even if something happened to Julian, falling apart like this was not going to help. “Get your shit together, Kori,” she muttered to the empty kitchen. Wiping her face with a napkin, she put some cold water on her eyes to reduce the puffiness.
Making her way to the living room, she kissed Morgan on his head before sitting down on the couch to continue watching the news. If Janice said she’d be there in fifteen minutes, then she’d probably arrive in ten. Clasping her hands together, she bowed her head and sent up another prayer. Please let him come back to me. To us. We need him.
***
The loud screech of tires announced Janice’s arrival.
Flinging the door open, her spitfire sister strolled in the house with her phone up to her ear. “Thanks, Max. How’s Kiana doing? Oh yeah? Let her know I’ll call this weekend so we can meet up. Okay, thanks. Yeah, I owe you. Thanks again.” Ending the call, Janice walked up to her sister, grabbed her in a firm hug, and pulled her in tight. “He’s alive, big sis. You were right, though. He was hurt in the second explosion and taken to the hospital this morning.” Pulling back, she caressed Kori’s face. “I called Mom and Dad, they’re on the way over to take care of Morgan. When they arrive, we’re leaving so you can fret over your man in person.”
Pulling back, Kori shook her head. “I can’t do that. I’ve never even met his family. What am I going to do? Walk up in there and demand to see him?”
“Yes,” Janice said in a stern voice. “Yes. If you believe what the two of you have is worth fighting for, then you go in there and demand to be by his side. Because you deserve to be there when he wakes up. Your face should be the first thing he sees once his eyes open. And if I know this to be true, then you damn well know it as well.”
Usually, Kori was the stoic one, pushing and prodding everyone. Never showing emotion even when she sometimes felt it the deepest. But not today. She’d dropped her basket and fallen apart at the seams at the mere thought of Julian being hurt. Nodding, she rubbed her hands down her leggings. “You’re right. I don’t know what’s come over me.”
“Yeah, go shower and change because you are ripe. And your face is all bloated, so do whatever it is you do to make yourself beautiful.” Janice waved her away as she walked to the living room. “Our parents will probably be here in about twenty minutes, so if I were you, I’d get moving. But, because I love you so much, I’m going to make sure they know we’re on the way. Max gave me the brother’s cell phone number, so I have a call to make.”
Kori turned to walk down the hallway but paused to look back at her baby sister. “Janice,” she called. When the younger woman turned to look at her, Kori smiled. “Thank you for getting here so soon.”
Throwing up a two-finger salute in Kori’s direction, Janice bowed slightly. “Sis, I will always pick up when you call. Go get dressed while I call the cop.”
Thirty minutes later, their parents had arrived, Morgan had been given lots of kisses and hugs, and Kori and Janice climbed into Janice’s car and sped off down the road. Maybe her presence at the hospital would be a surprise to Julian’s family, but she didn’t really care at this point. Her man was hurt. It was her turn to take care of him.
TWELVE
Kori
Last time she was in a hospital, it was Morgan who’d been hurt. At the time, she hadn’t known if her little boy would survive his ordeal. This time, it was the man she was positive owned her heart. It didn’t matter how long they’d known each other, what she felt for him was real. She knew it was because it felt as if her heart were breaking into a million pieces. The drive to the hospital seemed to take hours, even though she knew it had taken only minutes to get there.
“Ma’am. Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m looking for someone who is. Can you help me?” Kori glanced over at Janice and saw her talking animatedly into the phone. Lifting her hand, she motioned Janice over to the desk.
“Ma’am. Do you have a family member who’s been admitted, or you personally need medical attention?”
Kori wanted to scream at the lady. Make her understand who Julian was to her and Morgan, but she knew to lie about their connection would only make it worse.
“Ma’am, we have a lot going on right now. I’m going to need you to move back from the desk and sit down until things slow down.” Fighting the urge to jump over the desk and grab her by the neck, Kori took some deep breaths. Pulling her phone out, she gave the woman a harsh look. “Thanks for your help,” she spat sarcastically.
“Anytime,” the hospital employee returned with just as much snark in her tone.
At this point, Kori was too angry to cry. Now, she wanted answers, and no one was giving them to her. She began walking over to Janice when the double-doors to her right opened. Her eyes widened, and her mouth fell open as she watched the person walk out and turn in her direction.
“Julian?”
No. This wasn’t Julian. This man was younger. Maybe an inch or two shorter and even had a slimmer build. No. Not Julian. “Steven?” Janice walked up next to her and grabbed her hand as they stood in front of the man who reminded her so much of Julian, she wanted to fall into his arms.
“Yeah, I’m Steven. You must be Kori,” he stated, reaching out his hand for her to shake.
“Hi. Yes, I’m Kori.” She nodded to Janice. “This is my sister—”
His gaze turned decidedly cold when he glanced at her sister. “Yeah, I know who she is. She’s been berating me on the phone all morning.”
Glancing at Janice, she raised an eyebrow at her sister, before turning back to Steven. “I apologize that my sister was harsher than you expected. But I’m sorry. She was worried about me because I’m worried about Julian. Where is he by the way? Can I see him?” She knew her voice was shaky with nervousness and a healthy dose of fear.
After a long pause, he nodded. “Yeah. You can come on back.” Pulling out his badge, he called out to the unhelpful lady at the front desk. “They’re with me. Can you open up?”
“Yes, absolutely Sergeant MacMahon,” she responded sweetly.
Her tone made Kori grit her teeth and throw her a sharp look. She heard a rumbling growl come from Janice and noticed her cold gaze was focused on the woman as well. Interesting. When she had better control of her emotions and knew Julian would be okay, she’d examine this a bit further. But right now, all she cared about was getting to Julian.
“Is—Is he okay?”
“Depends on how you define okay. He has a broken wrist and a lot of bumps and bruises. He’s been unconscious since they brought him in. They say he had a concussion but that he should wake up any moment. At least we hope that’s the case.” As they approached a closed hospital room door, he turned to them. “Listen, my parents are in there with him. They know about you,” he motioned toward Kori. “Julian was going to ask you over for Sunday dinner next week.” Shaking his head, he tilted his head back, looking up at the sky. “Just try to stay calm when you see him. I can’t have you getting my mom all riled up. You got me?”
“Hey, Asshole. Back up from my sister. You don’t know what she’s going through. What she’s been through. She’s here for Julian, not for you, and not for your parents. Either move out of our way so she can see her man, or I’ll move you my fucking self.” Frustration was evident in Janice’s voice, and Kori knew she meant every word. Her sister would go through anything, and anyone, to make sure she was happy. Since she’d do the same thing for her, Kori knew precisely what she was feeling.
“You do know I’m a cop, right?” Steven growled, taking a step closer.
“Yeah, well, fuck your cop. Now move out the way, dude.”
Just then, the door opened, and a tiny woman with red hair streaked with gray stuck her head out. “Steven? I thought that was your voice I heard. Why are you out here growling like a damn bear?” Her red-rimmed eyes landed on Kori and Janice. “Which one of you is Kori?”
Stepping forward, Kori responded, “I’m Kori Hughes. Sorry to meet under such circumstances. I—I,” she was about to break again and had to bite her lip to stave off the tears threatening to fall. Clearing her throat, she started again. “How is he?”
The woman’s gaze flitted toward Steven before she stepped back, making room for them to step inside. “Come see for yourself.”
As she entered the room, her voice caught in her throat, and she let out a painful gasp. Those tears she’d tried to hold back, fell freely down her face. Rushing over to Julian’s side, she forgot about anyone else in the room with her. All she saw was Julian.
His face was scratched and bruised, his wrist and lower arm encased in a cast. Lying there in that hospital bed with tubes coming out of his arms and machines monitoring his heart and other vitals, he didn’t look like her Julian. The man she knew was strong and invincible, and he took care of her and Morgan. He was her son’s hero. For her to see him this way broke something inside. Sitting down in the chair next to the bed, she grabbed the hand that wasn’t covered in a cast.
“Julian? Baby, I’m here. Please wake up for me,” she pleaded. “Please, sweetheart. Your family is here with me, and we all want you to open your eyes.” Dropping her head, she closed her eyes as she bawled her eyes out. Kori couldn’t help the shudders that racked her frame as she sat next to the one man who made her love again. She allowed her emotions to flow and didn’t hold anything back as she repeatedly whispered for Julian to come back to her. “I need you, Julian. Morgan needs you. Please come back to us.”
She felt a light touch on her shoulder and turned her head to see Janice standing next to her. Her sister’s eyes were red, as if she were on the verge of crying herself. “Hey, sugar. It’s going to be okay. Julian just needs time to wake up. He’s going to come back to you.”
Leaning her head on her sister, she admitted her biggest fear. “I can’t lose him. I won’t go through that again.”
“I know, sis. I know. Hey, let me go call Mom and Dad to let them know what’s going on. I’ll also check on Morgan for you. That okay?”
Nodding, she couldn’t help but look back at Julian. “Yeah, that sounds fine. Thanks for everything, Janice.”
“Anything for you, Big Sis.”
Kori watched her sister leave the room, and her eyes landed on the other three people standing around in the small space. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She stood and walked over to Julian’s father. “You must be Julian’s father. I’m Kori Hughes,” she put her hand out for him to shake. After a few moments of simply staring at her, she started to become uncomfortable. Just as she went to drop her hand, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in tight for a hug. “Oomph!”
“Harold, let that girl go,” Julian’s mother chastised, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.
Once he released her, he stepped back. A sheepish grin covered his face. “I’m sorry about manhandling you like that, Kori. I can call you Kori, right?”
“Yes, sir. Kori is fine,” she returned with a smile. She itched to go back to Julian’s side but forced herself to stay near his parents. For now.
“Please,” Julian’s mother interjected, “call us Georgia and Harold. You already know our son, Steven,” she waved towards the frowning man who looked eerily like the man she loved.
&n
bsp; “Yes, it’s nice to meet all of you. I’m just sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances. I got here as soon as I could. I didn’t know about what happened out at the plant until this morning. Then, I wasn’t sure if Julian was hurt.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I just had a feeling I should get here.”
“Yeah, how did you know where we were? Hospitals aren’t supposed to give outpatient information. You know, those measly little federal, health, and privacy laws.” Steven’s body language was closed off but poised to strike. All cop.
She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell them she and Janice had friends who could locate any information they needed. Yeah, those pesky privacy laws had nothing on Max and Nico. “Um, well, I just took a chance. I know this hospital has the largest trauma center in Northern Virginia. This was my best guess.”
“And we’re glad you did.” Georgia grabbed her hand in hers. “We would have called you. None of us had your number. When Julian wakes up, we’ll make sure to get it from him.”
Kori just nodded, going along with that story. Glancing over at Steven, she knew he could have found her number and contacted her. Just like he was aware that she hadn’t merely lucked out and found the hospital Julian was in, she was positive he’d had her checked out as soon as Julian disclosed her name. Her lips turned up in a smirk as he dipped his head, acknowledging her as well. They each knew how this game was played. With her man lying in that bed unconscious, Kori had no time for her loyalty to Julian to be tested. It just was. And his brother sure as hell wasn’t going to get in the way of that.
After a few more moments of small talk, Janice came back in after finishing her call with their parents and checking in with Morgan. Everyone settled into their own section of the room, silent with their own thoughts. The beeps from the machines were the loudest sound in the room. Kori held onto Julian’s hand, rubbing her thumb along his skin. She’d read somewhere that if you spoke to an unconscious person, sometimes they could hear you.