“Ok,” I watch him walk out of the room. I don’t know what he wants from me. I don’t know what else I can do to prove to him that I love him and want to be with him. I am sitting there staring out the window when I hear my mom’s voice outside the room.
“There’s my girl,” she smiles and walks up to my bed. I see Noni right behind her.
“Hi mom,” I smile at her.
“How are you today?”
“Good, still sore.”
“I can imagine. Did you see the doctor yet?”
“You just missed him.”
“When do you get to go home?”
“He said most likely tomorrow morning.”
“Good. You are coming to stay with me than right? I mean you can’t take care of the girls in pain like this with only one arm.”
“Mom, your place is too small to have the girls and I stay with you. You know that. We tried that for a while. That is why I got the duplex.”
“Come back and stay with me,” Noni smiles.
“No, that is too far from their school and I know I won’t be able to drive for a little while.”
“Well you can’t stay at your place by yourself honey,” my mom grabs my hand.
“I will be fine. Besides they are pretty good at fending for themselves. We will be fine.”
“Jo, I wish you would stay with me,” my mom begs me.
“Hey Cindy,” Jake walks back into the room. He walks over and hugs her.
“Hey Jake, will you talk your stubborn girlfriend into staying with her mom until she is able to use her arm again?”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” he smiles and sits down on the chair on the other side of my bed. I can tell he is still upset but I still don’t know why.
“Why don’t you keep the girls at your place for a couple days? Knowing you I'm sure you already called Dan and told him you are going to have to work from home for at least a week anyway.”
She looks at me and smiles, “can you blame me?”
“You worry too much,” I smile.
“Or not enough,” she squeezes my hand. “I will keep the girls through the end of the week. I wish you would come too.”
“Mom, your house is not big enough.”
“We could make it work.”
“No, the girls can stay by you. I will make Lucas come get me and bring me over,” I smile.
“You know he has a restaurant to run,” Jake says without even looking at me. I look at my mom. She smiles.
“I will come get you when the girls get out of school. Text me later let me know what the doctor says about when you can go home.”
“I will,” I smile at her. “I love you,” I give her a hug. Noni comes over and hugs me too. They both leave and I hear my mom shut the door. I contemplate saying something to Jake, but decide not to. We sit in silence until a lady brings me in my breakfast. I didn’t think I was hungry until she put it down. Then I remember that I probably haven’t eaten since breakfast yesterday. I start eating and Jake’s phone starts ringing.
“Hey Molly, what’s up?” He stands up and walks past my bed out the door. I shake my head because I am so confused as to what happened. I don’t know what he wants from me. I guess I will just have to play along and try to give him what he wants if he ever decides to talk to me again. I take the last bite of my pancakes and drink the orange juice. I grab my phone and send a text to Annie.
Hey, are you coming up at all today? I need to talk to you about something.
Yeah, I had planned on coming up in a little while. What’s going on?
I'm not really sure; Jake seems to be mad at me about something and I'm not sure what.
Ok, well we can talk when I get up there.
And by that answer I know that she knows the reason. I am not at all surprised by that. I figured he would open up to her. He goes to her for advice about me all the time. He walks back into the room and shuts the door.
“So do you want to tell me why you are so pissed off at me or do I have to get it out of Annie?” He looks at me shocked. “I just text her and I can tell by her answer that she knows what is going on when I don’t.”
“There is nothing wrong Jo.”
“That is such bullshit Jake. You won’t talk to me and you won’t look at me. What did I do that pissed you off?”
“Jo, there is nothing wrong.”
I shake my head. I know he is hiding something from me. “Seriously you go and talk to her about stuff but you can’t tell me what I did, or didn’t do, that you are mad at me about. I don’t even know what I did, or didn’t do, that you want me to. I thought I had told you everything that I could about how I feel about you. I agreed to move myself and my children in with you, and for some reason there is still something more that you want from me.”
He just stands there staring at me. “It has nothing to do with you doing or not doing something right Jo.”
“Then what the hell is wrong?” I adjust in my bed and send pain shooting through my shoulder. I try to hide it but fail. He walks over next to me and moves my pillow. “Why won’t you talk to me?” I grab his arm. He stops and looks at me. I see the stress in his eyes, the worry about me. He is definitely not the same Jake that I had a couple nights ago being careless and talking about our new house in the pool.
“I don’t know what to say Jo. I don’t want you to go back to work, but I know that isn’t going to happen and I will constantly worry about you, especially now. I called Annie this morning because I wanted to know how to talk to you about it. I knew that I would never win the discussion but I wanted to know what she thought about it.”
“And she told you I would never give it up?”
“Pretty much yeah. I worry about you Jo. I want more for us. I want to marry you, not now, but in the future. If you keep getting shot I may not get that opportunity.”
“Marry me?”
“Yes.” I can’t say anything; my mind is stuck on marriage. I knew it would get brought up eventually but didn’t think it would be now. “I love you, more than I can express. You know that. My love grows for you every day. When Ryan called me last night I thought I had lost you. He didn’t even tell me anything just told me that it was him calling me and I knew something was wrong. My mind automatically went to when Jarrod’s battalion chief showed up on your door step. I would not be able to handle losing you. I make enough money for you not to go back to work. Hell take a desk job I don’t care, but I never want to get that feeling that I got last night when Ryan called me ever again.”
“You know it’s not going to happen Jake,” Ryan is standing in the doorway. “She has busted her ass for seven years to get here. She shouldn’t have to give it up. That would be like her asking you to give up your career.” He walks into the room and I see Molly right behind him. She shuts the door and they both walk over to us.
“He’s right Jake,” she rubs his arm. “We all know you wouldn’t give up football.”
“I don’t get shot at for a living,” he stands up and walks to the end of the bed.
“Either do I,” I pipe in.
“Oh really? Because from where I am standing you do,” he snaps at me.
“Jake,” Molly snaps at him. “What do you expect? You want her to give up everything that she has worked for because you are scared? She loves her job, it’s who she is. You should be smart enough to understand that.” He shakes his head and turns and heads toward the door. I just sit there in shock. Does he really hate my job that much? “Sorry, he is so headstrong.” Molly looks at me. “I will go talk to him,” she turns and goes out of the room after him.
“Am I wrong in thinking that he should have to accept my career?” I look at Ryan.
“No, it’s what you love to do. But remember he is not used to having to deal with this. What is normal to us is scary as hell to him. It will take him time to get over this. I think it is even harder because it was Lewis who you were helping. In around about way maybe that makes him feel guilty about yo
u getting hurt because it was his brother.”
“I don’t get it Ryan. I mean I have done everything that I can to show him I really love him and now he is saying stuff like this. I want to be with him, but I will not give up my job for him. I wouldn’t do it for Jarrod; I won’t do it for him.”
“He knows that. I think that is why he is freaking out about it right now, because he knows that it won’t change. You know you are going to be buried in paper work for a few weeks so that should give him time to cool down about it.”
“Yeah, have you talked to Chief?”
“Yeah he called me this morning. One week out,” he smiles at me.
“I figured,” I sigh. “I am glad it isn’t longer.”
“Yeah, me too. He put me in charge of your damn paper work,” he teases. “No wonder he promoted you to get rid of it. Do you know how many reports you have to fill out if someone gets hurt on the job?”
“He is making you fill that out?”
“Yes, because he is busy with some internal affairs reports on a snitch in the department. We almost didn’t get them Saturday because someone ratted us out.”
“You have got to be kidding?”
“Nope, someone on Captain Williams’ team.”
“Poor Chief,” I laugh. I have a shot of pain go down my arm.
“You need to rest,” Ryan looks at me. “Did they give you something for the pain?”
“Yeah, but I need the nurse to be made aware I'm taking it,” I press my call button. Not long after a nurse comes in the room.
“What can I do for you dear?” She walks over to me.
“She needs to take something for the pain,” Ryan says before I have a chance. I just smile and shake my head. “Sorry,” he laughs.
“Ok,” she looks my chart up on the computer. “Looks like the doctor gave you some pills,” she looks at the table. “Here we go,” she grabs them. “I think one should do just fine. I will get you some fresh water.”
“Thank you,” I smile. “And thanks Ryan. You’re a great friend.”
“I try,” he laughs. “I am going to get Molly and head out. I have to help Lucas out for a couple hours this afternoon. Will you move out of the duplex so I can move out of your brother’s place,” he jokes.
“Soon enough,” I smile at him.
“Ok,” he shakes his head. “I will talk to you later,” he kisses my cheek and heads for the door. He meets the nurse coming back in.
“So this is going to make you sleepy,” she hands me the water and pill that she took out of the jar. “I assume you have people coming up to see you this afternoon.”
“I'm sure people will be in and out all day,” I smile.
“Ok,” she smiles. “I won’t keep them out, but will tell them not to expect much.”
“Perfect,” I smile. I take the pill and adjust a little. She moves the pillow that Jake put by my back so I could sit up. I relax back into the bed and decide to turn on the TV. I wonder if Jake is still talking to Molly and now Ryan in the hall. I am watching the news reports when I see my face flash on the screen.
In news from Baltimore, it looks like a local detective was shot while taking down one of the biggest drug cartels in the area. Her name is Detective Jodene Lewis and she has made her way around the airways the last couple weeks. She is the new girlfriend of Baltimore’s star quarterback Jackson Adams. We heard that she was shot in the shoulder and is in stable condition at a local hospital. Hats off to Jackson for being able to handle that. I don’t know that I would be able to deal with my girlfriend getting shot at. But she did take down a drug cartel so maybe he will let this one slide.
I shake my head, I hope they focus on something new pretty soon, I am so over seeing my face on TV. I close my eyes and listen to some report about a fire on the west coast.
“Ryan said they just gave her some pain meds so she is probably going to be sleeping soon,” I hear Jake’s voice.
“She text me,” Annie tells him. I lay there as still as possible. I don’t know if they are in the room but I don’t chance looking because I want to hear what they say.
“I know, she bitched me out when I came back in.”
“Why do you do that to her Jake? She loves you; she is fragile in this type of situation. Jarrod may be gone but she is still stuck on him. It is hard for her to move on.”
“I know, but I just can’t handle not knowing if she is going to stay with me or if she is going to decide my life is too much for her.”
“What more do you want from her? She has turned her life upside down for you. She would never do the stuff for any guy that she has done for you. Do you know how freaked out she was about you meeting the girls? She was with you for one day. I think that takes a lot of trust. And then she goes down to your friends place for four days with you. I mean think about it Jake.”
“What worries me is that she will get the bad end of my life and not give us a fighting chance.”
“Isn’t that what you are doing with her right now? Aren’t you pushing her away because you are pissed about her career choice? You think that you walking in here telling her that she needs to give up something that she has fought so hard to get is going to make her happy?”
“I know, but I can provide for her and the girls with no problems, I don’t see any reason for her to risk her life like that.”
“What is this really about Jake?”
“This is my fault.”
“What is?
“Her lying here in this bed with a bullet hole in her shoulder.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because I gave her the ok to help my stupid ass brother. I should have told her no. I should have just let his dumb ass rot in jail.”
“I hate to tell you, but whether you would have given her permission or not she would have done it. Don’t blame yourself. What you need to do is tell her how you feel about things and stop hiding stuff from her. She knows me too damn good and knows when I know things.” It is getting harder for me to focus on what they say and finally I stop fighting and slip off into a sleep.
~~~~~
I hear the TV on and open my eyes. I see Jake sitting on the chair next to me his hand on my leg and his head resting on his arm. I try to process what I heard him and Annie talking about. He is scared I won’t like his life but there will be nothing different except he will be gone more. I have already experienced the media end of it. I look up at the TV and see that he has some sports highlights on. I smile. Damn men and their sports.
“Maybe you should put that sports room back in the house,” I say. He looks up at me and gives me a half smile. “I'm not big into watching sports highlights all day.”
“You were sleeping.”
“Pain meds kick my ass,” I smile.
“I’ve noticed,” he rubs my leg a little bit. “Feel better?”
“For now.”
“The doctor stopped while you were napping. He will be back soon; he wants you to get up and walking around.” I just nod. I don’t know what to say to him. “Annie was up here too, but you were passed out before she got in here.”
“Oh yeah, what did she have to say?”
“Oh not much. Told me I'm a dumbass,” he stands up and sits down on the bed next to me. He reaches across and grabs my hand. “I'm sorry, ok? I freaked out a little bit and I know it was not something you wanted to hear. I just worry about you. I love you, it is natural that I want to protect you in any way that I can.”
“I know, but you need to understand I will never give up my career. I will never live off of your money Jake. Even if we do get married,” I pause. “Married? Really?”
He smiles, “someday I will make you Mrs. Jackson Adams,” he smiles and kisses my palm. “I know we are not ready for that part yet.”
“Yeah, let’s get through a few things first,” I smile. “Jake, I love you. I do want to be with you. And that isn’t going to change. I heard what you said to Annie. First off, your life is not going to make
me not want to be with you. I decided that once I was in I was in. I'm not going back. As far as this being your fault, it’s not. I would have helped Lewis without your permission. This was just something that happens every once and a while. I will be fine. I promise I will be careful. I will however not take a desk job. This case was different. I would have never taken this case in any other circumstance. I don’t usually handle things like this.”
He looks at me, “I love you.” He leans in and kisses me. “Thank you for putting up with me.”
“You’re the easy one to deal with,” I smile at him.
“No, you know what you want; I'm the one having the problems.”
“Stop,” I look at him. “We both know what we want. We just need to make sure we know and let each other know.”
~~~~~
“Yes mom, he said I can go home tonight. He thought I would have more problems getting around after lying in bed for two days.” I am on the phone with her.
“Well is Jake taking you home then?”
“Yes, and he is going to stay at the house with me until Wednesday when he leaves for Denver.”
“Good. Do you want me to bring the girls over to see you?”
“I probably won’t get home until closer to like 8:00 so no. They need to get to bed early so they can go to school in the morning. Did you get all of their stuff?”
“Yes, it is all taken care of. Do you want me to pick you up in the morning before I drop them off?”
“Yes, I have to sign some papers I think for them anyways. I did call the school last week and they said I had some stuff to take care of.”
“Ok, well I will see you in the morning then?”
“Sounds good, thanks mom.”
“No problem sweetie. Go home and rest.”
“I will,” I smile and hang up. I look at Jake who is standing in the door way waiting for the nurse to come in with my release papers. He insisted on staying at the house with me until he leaves and was not going to take no for an answer.
“She should be back in a couple minutes,” he walks over to me. I am sitting on the edge of the bed. “Ready to go home?”
Unexpected Love (Jo's Story) Page 38