Forever & A Day

by Donalyn Maurer

  “I watched Jaycee most. Felt like she’d lost the most when Grandpa died. She was there the day he collapsed, and hated that she saw what she saw. I watched her retreating into her own world, so that she wouldn’t bring us down with her pain. I saw this, and it hurt my soul. One night I watched her from the front room, swinging back and forth on the porch swing. She was just staring off at the stars. Had a book in her lap, but wasn’t reading it. I found it odd when you flashed through my mind. Kinda knew why at the same time, though. I went into work the next day, contacted the worldwide locator and had them look you up. Told me you were deployed. Saw when you were due back, and I kept that in mind. Was going to reach out, but didn’t.” He takes a deep breath, before going on.

  “Then she met Rocky,” he growls. “She was dancing and smiling. Something felt off about him, but I pushed it down. Had already run you off, even though I saw the way she watched and smiled at you. Made myself bite my tongue. Then the night Aunt Paige called, told me to get to Grandma’s quick, saying something happened with Jaycee. I was scared to death. Got there, and saw the way she was. I felt responsible. Should have spoke out, but didn’t.” Stone walks up and stands next to him.

  “Son, it wasn’t your fault,” his voice hoarse with his own guilt.

  Jake just nods, and coughs before going on.

  “Didn’t think it could get any worse. I was wrong.”

  “Jake,” I begin. I don’t like that he pushed me away, but it had to be that way and now that we are where we are, I don’t want him to suffer. “I’m here now.”

  “You are. When I saw you that day and heard you were checking in on Jaycee, I gave that space. I wanted to see where it would go. I knew you were a good man, but those days in the hospital you just reaffirmed it.”

  “But you told me to back off then, too,” I remind him.

  “I did. I did, only because I wanted to see if you’d fight for her. Wasn’t going to push you too far, just far enough. I meant what I said, when I said I’d come for you if you hurt her though, and I still will,” he growls, and shoots me a glare.

  “Jake, if I ever hurt her, I welcome the beating.”

  Jake extends his hand, and I take it. After a slap on the arm, he lets go and the rest step forward with the same offering.

  “We’re going to head out,” Stone informs me.

  “Thanks. I want you to know, I’ll make Jaycee the happiest woman in the world,” I vow.

  “We know,” Brock replies with a smile, and heads for the door with everyone following.

  “See you in a bit,” Chase says as he closes the door, being the last one out.

  I stand in my thoughts when a quick rapping sounds on the door. “Room service,” a man’s voice calls from the other side. I open the door and two of the hotel’s staff are standing there with carts, like the one Darcy and Levi brought up for breakfast.

  “Compliments of the resort for the groom on his wedding day,” the older of the two says. I stand back, as they roll in and make quick work of placing all the items from the carts to the table, then removing the warming lids. “Please let us know if you require anything else, Mr. Bradshaw.” I stand back, as they take their carts and leave, closing the door behind them.

  “Wow,” I mumble, as I check it all out. There’s beer and champagne, as well as all kinds of food. I pull one of the beers from the ice bucket, twist off the top and take a long pull. Before I can dive in, more knocking sounds. I walk over and open it to Abigail standing there holding my guitar case, and a box wrapped in silver paper. She’s known all about my surprise for Jaycee. I invite her in and take the case from her.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. How are you holding up?” she asks softly. Abigail is a wildcat, but her heart is just as soft and strong as her sister’s. Like Jaycee, she has the ability to read people. Both tune into other’s moods and give them what they need, whether it be driving them insane, making them laugh, or lending a shoulder to cry on. They’re lucky to have each other. I know Abigail was there for Jaycee, while she was recovering after she was attacked. I knew Jaycee was in pain. A pain she wasn’t ready to share with me, or anyone for the matter. Abigail was Jaycee’s shoulder to cry on. Abigail would hold it together for her, but I found her more than a couple of times crying in the hospital waiting room, over witnessing her sister bruised and broken down.

  When I saw Jake and Jesse, the day Jaycee was brought in, I wondered what was going on. I had no idea they were at the hospital for her. I had heard their grandfather had passed. I remember feeling sad myself. Colton McGinty was always in the stands cheering us on at our games. That day, I thought maybe something had happened to their grandma, Mrs. McGinty, but when Jake said Jaycee had been admitted, I’m not sure how I stayed upright.

  * * *

  “Hey, Jake, Jesse. Everything okay?” I inquire, as I take in the pain and panic on their faces. There’s no time for a reunion after all these years, I need to find out if they’re okay and how I can help them. There’s not even time for handshakes, as I watch them seem to break down before me.

  “Jaycee,” Jesse chokes out, and his body jerks in a sob.

  That one name. The way he said it. Her. My world stops. Fuck! NO!

  “Jaycee? What’s wrong with her?” I ask him with what little air is left in my lungs, because it feels like I’ve been hit with a bat, “Is she okay?” Panic races through me, and my body takes on a chill as my blood turns to ice.

  By their expressions, I know she isn’t okay. I can’t breathe. My heart isn’t beating. I’ve been gone from San Antonio for years. When I did come back to visit, I didn’t go much further than my parents’, on those trips. I have been to war. Traveled. Dated. Watched my military brothers and sisters, which I care so much about, come to me broken from injuries sustained during battle. They come to me defeated, and it’s up to me to help them, rehabilitate them. As a physical therapist, I have to show them that although something bad, terrible, awful has happened to them, it will not be the end. They can still live a full life. They just have to push past the physical and emotional pain. I have to be the strong one. But now, no. Now I am the broken one, merely by the way Jesse said her name. I am again the teenager madly in love with the green eyed, freckled face girl, with auburn hair. My memories of her flood back, and the years apart evaporate. I’m on the practice field, staring at her, as she talks to her brothers and Grandpa.

  “Her boyfriend…” Jake begins to speak.

  “Boyfriend?” I croak, as a lump in my throat cuts off my ability to speak. My hands begin to shake, so I fist them to keep them steady, as they go on.

  “I’ll kill him.” Jesse groans in pain.

  “Fucking dead man,” Jake agrees. “He fucking beat her,” he growls, and punches a door that leads to a utility room, leaving a dent.

  “What?” I’m not sure they hear me, because it seems I can’t make a sound.

  “Doctor said, he’s surprised she’s alive,” Jesse’s voice cracks with each word.

  Alive? I’m not sure what I thought when they said she’d been beat. I’m mean that was bad enough, but it didn’t register that it was life and death.

  “Where is she? What room?” I demand. Jaycee’s grandfather was military, and she’s most likely still listed as his dependent, so that why she’d be brought here.

  “ICU,” Jesse mutters, while wiping his eyes. Fuck, they’re both crying.

  I don’t wait another moment. I run for the stairs, taking two at a time until I reach the third floor where ICU is. My lungs are burning, and my chest is heaving, but I don’t stop. I run down the hall, only slowing when ICU is in sight. I know most of the staff at the hospital. I’ve been stationed at Fort Sam for a while now. After my last tour overseas, I settled here. Thought about Jaycee often. I figured after all this time, she’d be married. Maybe have some babies. I looked her up on social media and she didn’t have a Facebook, and I honestly didn’t think she would. She always had a book in her hands at practi
ce, not a phone. I had no idea what was going on with her or her brothers these days. Now I see what a dick I was not to reach out to them up, because I was worried she’d moved on, and I knew that would hurt. If I would have just given Jesse a call, I’d have found out she wasn't married. And boyfriend? Fuck that. I would have found a way to make her mine. But, now it may be too late.

  I see a couple of nurses I know sitting at the counter, Stacey and June. I glance at the secured double doors, knowing beyond them, Jaycee is lying, beaten. I try to swallow down the lump in my throat, but can’t. Finally, I pull my shit together long enough to talk to them.

  “Hey, just heard a family friend was brought in. I need to see her,” I say, my voice hoarse and desperate. They exchange a glance of concern, but nod.

  “Name?” June asks.

  “Jaycee McGinty,” I reply, and watch her eyes widen in alarm.

  “Sergeant Bradshaw, I don’t think…” she begins hesitantly.

  “Please. I need to see her,” I beg.

  “Blue,” Stacey calls, softly. I’ve known Stacey the longest, and we hang out with the same crowd. She stands from her seat, grabs a box from the counter, and walks over to me. “Here,” she says, and hands me a tissue. Shit, I’m crying too. “Come on,” she instructs, and she swipes her badge which triggers the doors to slowly open. I don’t wipe my eyes with the tissue. I crumble them, and toss them in the waste basket near the door. I run my hands down my wet face, and pull my shit together as best I can.

  I follow Stacey as she walks past several rooms with sliding glass doors, allowing you to see the patients on the other side of the glass. Monitors beep and hum, as we pass more and more. Finally, we stop in front of one that has the curtain half drawn across the glass. I go to walk around Stacey and rush to Jaycee, but a gentle touch to my arm stops me.

  “Listen to me, Blue.” I give her my attention. “I don’t know who she is to you…” she begins.

  “She’s everything. My everything. Always has been,” I confess. Stacey’s eyes tear up, and I, again, attempt to swallow down the fear clawing in my chest.

  “Then I need to prepare you,” she insists carefully. “She’s covered in bruises. Head to toe. Whoever did this,” she snarls. “They almost killed her.”

  That’s it. I can’t stand upright. I can taste bile rising up my throat, and I cough. I brace my shoulder against the glass, and again fist my hands in an attempt to stop myself from losing control. I know any type of outburst will have them kicking me out of here, so I hold it all in and nod in understanding, as Stacey goes on.

  “The doctor has her in a drug induced coma. He wants her to heal up a bit, before bringing her back. He wants her to rest. She’s going to have to battle when she remembers what happened, which was brutal,” she explains softly. I nod again, push off the wall, and head inside. I’ve heard enough.

  The room has only a dim light on, but from where I am I recognize her long auburn hair. As I step closer and closer, my eyes travel across her, and I notice bruising on her arms. She has wires hooked up, and my eyes follow them to the monitor. I glance at the screen and see the heart next to numbers. It’s strong. She is strong. My eyes finally find her face, and I choke on my anger.

  “My God, what did he do to you?” I whisper to her, but she doesn’t reply because she can’t. She asleep with a tube down her fucking throat.

  It takes me an eternity to calm myself enough to sit down next to her. Without hesitation, I pick up her soft, but limp, hand and hold it in mine, while checking her over. Beyond the bruises, I can see she is still as beautiful as I remember.

  “God, I’m sorry, Jaycee. I should have come to you sooner. Maybe if I did, this wouldn’t have happened,” I mutter, full of guilt, even though part of me says she was not my responsibility. The other part of me says, shut the fuck up and learn from this. Don’t let her go again. Help her. Do whatever you have to do to help her heal. Bring her back. Once she’s back, tell her this time. Don’t let anyone hold you back. And that’s exactly what I’ll do. I’ll follow my heart. “I love you, Jaycee. Come back to me,” I whisper, before laying my head down next to our joined hands. “Please come back.”

  I’m going to stay with her as much as they’ll let me. When she comes back to me, I won’t frighten her with my feelings. I’ll be Sergeant Maxwell Bradshaw, hospital staff. Hell, I doubt she’ll even remember me, even though I’ve never forgotten her.

  * * *

  “Hey, where did you just go? What are you thinking?” Abigail asks.

  “How far we’ve come,” I tell her.

  “Blue, thank you for loving my sister the way you do. You saved her,” she admits softly.

  “Funny, I was just thinking the same of you,” I reply, and she smiles sweetly at me.

  “So you ready to debut your big hit?” She asks, and my hands become sweaty.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I admit nervously.

  “It will be beautiful,” she assures me, and I nod unable to speak.

  “Oh, here.” She hands me the gift. “Jaycee sent this down for you. Said to open it before you leave.”

  I hold up the gift, study it, then look back at Abigail. “Okay. I have something for her too. Will you give it to her?”

  “Of course.” I pull a small thin box from the side of my suitcase, and hand it to her.

  “Tell her she can wear it if she wants, but she doesn’t have to,” I mumble, unsure now.

  When we were at the mall getting her shoes, and the gifts for Abigail and Johnny, I stopped by the jewelry store, when she thought I was at the electronics store. I wanted to get something for her for today. When I saw the bracelet with diamonds and sapphires, it reminded me of her engagement ring, so I had the jeweler wrap it up for me.

  “I’m sure she’ll love it,” she smiles, holds it up and heads for the door. “I’ll give it to her right now.”

  “Thanks, Abigail. Oh, and the rings.” I rush to my bag, and open the small black jewelry box that’s holding both our bands. “Here,” I say, and offer her Jaycees.

  “It’s beautiful, Blue. I’ll take good care of it, until you slip it on her finger.

  “Than—” A knocking on the door has me halting. Not sure how many more people could possibly show up. “Hang on.”

  “Of course.”

  I walk over, open the door, and smile when I see Johnny and my dad holding garment bags. “Getting ready here. Don’t know why, but what your mother says to do, I do.” Dad says, and strolls in with Johnny behind him.

  “Hey brother,” Johnny greets.

  “Hey,” I offer back. I’m actually glad to see them. Hopefully, they’ll keep me busy and time will fly until we leave. “There’s tons of food and drinks, so help yourself,” I tell them. “Abigail?” I ask.

  “Oh, no thank you. We have the same spread in Grandma’s suite. I’ll be heading back now. I hope you gentlemen enjoy. See you all soon.” She gives a final wave, and I watch her head for the door. I follow behind, and after seeing her out, I return to my dad and Johnny.

  “Today’s is the day,” Dad says, and I smile.

  “Thank God,” I return, and pull my guitar and pick from the case, then sit down on the edge of the bed and practice Jaycee’s song, Why, with a smile on my face. Sure, I had to change a few of the lyrics to fit us today, but I think she’ll love it. I strum the chords, while singing softly. Once I’m done, I set it back in its case.

  “That’s really good, bro,” Johnny says, then notices the package on the bed. “What’s this?” he asks holding up Jaycee’s gift.

  “It’s from Jaycee.” I take the gift, and remove the small card attached and read it first.

  ‘Sugar bear,’ I chuckle at her nickname for me. ‘I hope you like it. I love you, forever and a day,’ and she’s signed it, ‘The future Mrs. Bradshaw.’ When I read that, my breath catches. I pull the wrapping away and see a leather binder. I turn it over, and my eyes actually tear up. I’m not even worried about Johnny and my Dad witn
essing it either. It wasn’t the binder she gave me, but the inscription that hits my heart.

  For my husband, Max.

  I love you, forever and a day, because forever will never be long enough

  ~ Your loving wife~

  Jaycee

  I notice a piece of paper sticking up from the center, and pull it out. “Open” it reads. I open it, and there on there the first page, Jaycee has left me another note.

  My Max,

  I feel like I’m living beautiful dream. I only pray that if it is a dream, that no one will wake me up, so I can spend eternity with you as your wife, even if it’s in slumber. When I was a little girl I loved reading fairytales, like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. I dreamed of a prince falling in love with me, and me falling in love with him. I prayed one day I would meet my prince, so we could share a love like the pages of those fairytales. As time went on, it didn’t seem like that day would ever come, and I had given up on fairytales altogether. That is, until the moment I fluttered my eyes open in the hospital, and saw you smile down at me. I didn’t realize it right away, because I didn’t remember. But when I did, when it all came flooding back, it brought my heart back to life. It’s when I remembered all the princesses in my favorite fairytales, had to endure horrible trials, because it was the trails that alerted the prince to their need. Only then, would the prince down his shining armor and rush in to save the princess. His princess. You are my prince, my knight in shining armor. I’ll never regret one day of my life before you, because I know it was my path to you. I love you with all my heart, and I will forever. You give me so much, but please know, all I’ll ever need is your love. I don’t need a castle, or a crown, or romantic carriages. Your love, if I have that, I have everything. See you at the cabin.