by Laura Sweat
Rinsing his toothbrush and putting it away, he turns off the light and heads to bed. He lays there for over an hour thinking and praying and thinking some more. Sleep takes him over quietly and his mind gets a break.
CHAPTER 26
Adrian watches her from just above the trees. He can hear every word she says so he knows she is talking to her boss; to Jeriley’s boss. She is awake. He has to get to her. He would prefer to catch her alone, but he will take any opportunity he can get at this point. His attention is brought back to the conversation and she hears something about Alex visiting Jeriley; more than once. He doesn’t like what he hears but is unsure if it is anything to be concerned with. He listens until she gets off of the phone and gets up to walk inside.
Something about Alex Donovan disquiets him surprisingly and he can’t put his finger on it. Perhaps he should pay him a visit. He could snoop around at the very least. Jeriley is too heavily guarded right now anyway.
He turns around and is just as quickly in Alex Donovan’s yard. He watches him from outside as he walks to his bathroom. He stays in there for a few moments before turning out the light and getting into bed. He isn’t talking and he cannot read his mind, so he is learning nothing about his connection to Jeriley from being here. The only thing he discovers about Alex is that he lives comfortably. He is obviously very successful and has done well for himself.
With a huff of frustration, he leaves to go back to the hospital to brood and make more attempts at getting inside. It is only a matter of time before he is allowed access and he is willing to wait.
CHAPTER 27
The next morning, I wake early partly because there is traffic in and out of the room. Nurses, doctors, and other hospital staff that have one job or another create a seemingly constant flow that I grow tired of fighting. Feeling a little stronger than when I first woke up, I try to push myself up a little in the bed.
“Here let me help you.” Lydia steps over from the window and pushes one of the buttons on the bedrail, raising my upper body so that I am sitting more comfortably.
“That’s much better. Thank you.” Once again, I am glad my friend is here.
“Good. Are you hungry?”
“I don’t know.” I laugh lightly. “Is that weird? I mean, shouldn’t I be starving?”
“Seems like you should be, but who knows what they’ve been putting in that IV of yours.” We laugh a little and I try to relax and keep from worrying about whether or not I should eat.
After a little while, the nurses and doctors leave the room and don’t come back. It is peacefully quiet except for the usual hospital sounds.
“I called Alex last night and told him that you woke up. He sounded relieved.” Lydia informs me about her phone call from last night.
“Oh yeah? He’s really nice. We’re really lucky to work for someone like him.”
“We are.” She smiles and looks out the window again. “He said he’s coming to see you today.”
“He’s coming again?” I am not sure what to make of this.
“He really has been worried about you. We all have. The accident was pretty bad.”
I look down at my hands trying to think about the wreck. “I still don’t remember.”
There is a light knock on the door and I look up expecting another nurse or doctor. “Come in,” I look up to see who it is.
The door opens and Alex walks in. He pauses halfway inside the door and I smile.
“Hey. Come on in. Lydia was just telling me that you were coming by today.”
He walks on in, closing the door behind him, and stops by my bedside, next to Lydia.
“I wanted to see you awake for myself. You gave us all a scare, ya know.”
“That’s what they tell me.” My eyes shift down and I can’t help but wonder why I can’t remember something so important.
“Hey. Don’t worry.” His voice is calm and steady. “It’s okay. I hear it’s normal for your mind to block things like that out for a while.”
I look up and see that he is sincere. His gaze is unwavering. He isn’t just saying something hoping it will make me feel better.
I smile and nod my head.
“I’m glad you came. I have those requisitions finished if you want to take them with you.”
“Sure, I can do that. I didn’t bring any more work with me, though.”
“That’s alright. We shouldn’t be here too much longer, now that she is awake and doing better.” Lydia sounds confident that I’ll be going home soon.
“I hope so,” I add.
“I think I want to stretch my legs a little. Can I get either of you something from downstairs?” Lydia stands and Alex steps aside to let her by.
“I’m still not sure I want anything, but thank you.” I know I should try to eat something, but I just don’t think I can right now.
“I’ll take a coffee.” Alex reaches down into his pants pocket and takes out some cash. “Here take this.”
“Oh no. This one’s on me,” she answers holding her hand up.
“No way, I’ve got it. Get yours, too.” He puts the money in her hand.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to—”
“I want to. I like it black.”
“Okay. Be back in a bit.”
Lydia leaves the room and Alex sits in the chair and looks at me. “How do you feel?”
“Confused,” I admit. “I don’t know what to make of all of this. I remember going to lunch with Lydia and going back to work. I remember being home, but after that it’s blank. I woke up here, hurting and the rest is missing.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t remember right now. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“I know it must be difficult.”
“It will get better, I hope.” I start to fidget a little, unsure what to do with my hands. So I change the subject. “How are things at the office?”
“They’re great. Everything’s fine. We all miss you. Everyone has been worried.”
“That’s what Lydia said. You’ll have to tell everyone hello for me.”
“I will. Maybe you can come back soon.”
“I hope so.” I am not sure what to say next. I am not uncomfortable with Alex; I just don’t know what to say to him. He is my boss, but he isn’t overbearing. We have never had many opportunities to talk at work about anything except work. He isn’t rude or standoffish. We simply have a working relationship and it has always been about work.
“Lydia said that you have come by a couple of times to check on me. That was nice of you.” I decide I should say something.
“I wanted to. She has been keeping all of us posted, but I wanted to see for myself how you were doing.”
“That was really sweet of you. I’m glad she has been here. I probably would have been pretty scared if I had been alone when I woke up here.”
“She called me, once she knew you would be here a while, and asked if she could take some time off. I thought it was a good idea.”
“Thank you. I don’t know what I would’ve done without her once I came to.”
Alex leans forward, places his elbows on his knees, and laces his fingers together out in front of him. He looks relaxed in this position, but there is something in his eyes that looks anxious or unsettled somehow. I’ve never seen him look anything but confident and it makes me wonder what’s going on with him.
“Jeriley, I want you to take it easy for a while. Don’t worry about rushing back to work. All of that will be there waiting for you whenever you’re ready to go back. The most important thing is that you get well.”
“I can do that. Honestly, I’m not sure I’m ready for work right now anyway.”
“Of course not, and no one can expect you to be. We all want you back, but we want you to be well
first.”
He holds my gaze with his eyes and there is a peaceful quiet between us. It’s comfortable and calming.
Lydia taps on the door before walking in with two cups of coffee. “Can you believe there wasn’t a line?” I don’t think I’ve ever gotten in and out of there so quickly.”
Alex gets up and takes the cup she hands to him.
“Thank you.” He takes a sip from the cup and looks around the room.
“Lydia when have you been home?” He asks.
“Not since I came that first night.”
He looks at her with a questioning look. He knows she’s been staying with Jeriley, but he didn’t realize that she never left the hospital. “Do you need to go?”
“No. I have been using the shower in here and I brought several changes of clothes,” she says as she points to the door to the private bathroom.
“Lydia, if you need to go, I’ll be fine here for a bit. I’m feeling much better and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Jeriley, you just woke up last night—”
“And I’m feeling better by the hour. Go. It’s alright.”
Lydia looks back and forth between Alex and me, thoughtfully.
“I promise I’ll be fine. You probably need a break from this place.” I try to encourage her. I imagine I would like to get home if I’d been the one staying.
“I can stay for a while if it would make you feel better,” Alex offers.
“Are you sure, Jeriley?”
“Absolutely, and take your time. There’s no need for you to rush back here.” I put on my most sincere smile and she relents.
“Alright. I’ll get my things together and be back tonight.”
“Lydia, why don’t you sleep at home tonight? You deserve a good night’s rest,” I argue.
“Oh, no, I’ll be back in a little while.” She says.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ll call you if I need anything. Go home, get some real sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow.” I am not going to take no for an answer.
As she stands there, I can see that she is torn, but I assure her that I’ll be fine. She gives in throwing her hands up.
“Alright, alright, I’ll be back in the morning. I’ll call before I leave to see if I can bring you anything.”
“You are awesome. Thank you.” Again, I am happy she has been here with me.
“I can stay as long as you like, Jeriley. I’ll just call Andreah and let her know.”
“I’m fine, Alex really unless you just want to stay.”
“I do. I’ll just help you get your things to your car.” He smiles at Lydia and Jeriley notices how charming he looks, helping Lydia with all of her things.
Lydia and I say our goodbyes and he pauses at the door.
“I’ll be right back,” he says before he closes the door behind him.
I am alone for only the second time since I awoke from my six day sleep.
I consider the idea that Alex Donovan has driven all the way over here to see me three different times. I guess that isn’t altogether unusual. This and the subtle way he looked at me earlier are too much for me to think about right now. It could all be my crazy imagination running away with me. I am starting to feel more like myself already.
CHAPTER 28
“Your presence has been requested immediately.” The voice of the messenger is quiet, short, and edgy.
“I cannot leave. I will report when I am able.” Adrian feels a sense of dread like he has never felt before. If he goes now, there is no telling how his master will react to the current situation.
“I am not going back empty handed. I will not be caught in the middle of this mess of yours. If you do not come with me now, I will be forced to report your refusal.” The messenger’s anxiety grows as the seconds pass.
“Tell him you didn’t find me.”
“I will not!” Now the voice is one of sheer panic.
“Oh calm down. No one knows you have found me. There is no way he will find out. I certainly won’t say anything. Now wander off somewhere far away from here. Give yourself a measurable amount of time and tell him you didn’t find me.”
“What if he asks where I looked?”
“Be as vague as you can. Tell him you looked everywhere. Tell him the assignment was heavily guarded when you got here so you looked for me elsewhere. That should suffice.”
“If this comes back to me, you will pay.” The messenger leaves and heads north.
Adrian hovers around, watching as the guards who have been assigned begin to leave one by one. He watches what seems to be some sort of pattern, but he can’t figure it out. There is too much movement. They are shifting and changing position with no obvious order. It is clear, though, that the hedge that has been built up around her is being let down.
This is good. His mood lifts. Soon he will see her again.
CHAPTER 29
After a while, Alex returns and seems a little more himself. He walks easily over to the chair beside my bed and sits again.
“Still not hungry? I can go get you some real food if you like.”
“I think I want to wait a bit,” I say scrunching up my nose.
He grins and sits back, gazing at me. “Alright. Whenever you’re ready let me know. I’ll bring you anything you want.”
“I will. Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” He sits up, looks around the room and says, “Do you need something to read or some kind of puzzles to do?”
I look around and realize that I don’t have anything here that belongs to me; at least I don’t think I do.
“Nah. I just want to remember. I mean, I know who I am and where I work. I remember my house, you and Lydia, but after getting home from work that day, I draw a blank.”
“Well, let’s see.” He leans forward with a look of concentration. “Where did you eat lunch that day?”
“At Boomer’s with Lydia. We were late getting back to work. We were talking and lost track of time.”
“Do you remember what you talked about?”
“Our grandmothers.”
His eyebrows raise and he continues with the questions. “Do you remember what you ate?”
“No, but that’s not unusual,” I admit.
“Tell me about your house.”
“I love my house. It’s right on the beach, almost completely surrounded by dunes, so you can’t see it from the road. There is a dock that has a covered deck out on the end of it.”
“Sounds nice.”
“Oh, it is. The house is cozy. I am very happy there.” I am relieved that I remember so many details and I begin to feel better.
“Your memory seems to be fine. You appear to be connected with the memories you have. That’s a good sign.”
“Yeah, I guess so.” I realize that I probably shouldn’t stress about the rest. It is tiring, after all, trying to force my mind to go where it obviously doesn’t want to go. I look pensively at Alex and decide to take him up on his offer for some food.
“I think I could eat something now.”
“Oh yeah? What do you want?” His smile is easy as he waits for my answer.
“I think I want a Philly. Do they have those here?”
“I’ll find out. If they don’t, I’ll go get you one.”
“Oh, no. Don’t leave the hospital just for that.”
“Don’t worry about it. What do you want to drink with it?”
“A Coke will be fine. Thank you.”
“I’ll be back.” He leaves the room and I’m left with my thoughts again.
He is so nice. I remember the atmosphere at work always being pleasant and laid back and I recall how it made me feel to be part of it all. Everyone was professional and efficient and things ran very smoothly.
Minutes later a
doctor comes in and asks more questions about how I feel. I admit that I still haven’t remembered the accident, but that everything else is clear. He reassures me that I should not be alarmed by this then he asks me if I’m ready to eat something and I tell him that I have food coming. He seems pleased.
“When can I go home?” I am ready to get out of here, even if I can’t return to work right away.
“I would like for you to stay for at least a couple more days. Your physical injuries are healing well, but you just woke up last night. Let’s play it by ear and see how you do today and tomorrow. In the meantime, we will get you up to move around after you’ve eaten.”
“That sounds good. I really want to go home as soon as possible.”
“I understand. How is your pain today?”
“Better, I’m mostly sore.”
“Okay. If it starts getting worse don’t wait. Go ahead and let the nurse know so we can keep it under control.”
“I will thank you.”
“Do you have any other questions for me?”
I can’t think of any so he leaves me with my thoughts and I try to rest.
I wake up to Alex unwrapping food on a tray that he has rolled over to my bed. It smells unbelievable and I am famished. I don’t think I’ve ever been so hungry before in my life.
We eat together and talk easily. I try to control myself, but I’m sure I look like a pig. I try to eat slowly, but it’s so good, I can’t eat it fast enough. We laugh, chat some more, and finish eating. He cleans up our mess and moves the tray back against the wall where it was before.
I lay my head back and close my eyes. I feel so much better now. I just know I am ready to go home. I fill Alex in on the visit from the doctor and he appears to be pleased.
“I know Lydia is coming back tomorrow, but I also know that you are not going to let her spend the night. When they release you, call me and I’ll see that you get you home.”