Hope Is Love

by Hubbard, Sylvia

  Jona didn't know how to take all the information. James wanted her so much he became upset and left the hospital? "He didn't want to be there in the first place," she pointed out.

  "What do you mean?" Nicole asked.

  "When we were there the day before, he wanted to leave because he hated the tests."

  "Do you know where he might be?"

  She shrugged. "Not really."

  "Please Jona. Anything can help us," Nicole begged. "Right Ethan?"

  She looked back at Tobias who only leaned against the back wall glaring at her as if he had a serious constipation problem. "What will happen to me?" she asked. "If I tell you or help you, will I have to stay here?"

  "Yes," Ethan and Tobias said as if that was the obvious answer.

  "No," Nicole said at the same time.

  Jona was positive Nicole's opinion would not matter. How could it? She was just a black woman.

  Nicole and Ethan's eyes met again and Ethan took a deep breath and said, "Get her out, Tobias."

  "What?!" Tobias asked incredulously.

  "I didn't stutter." He stood up and faced the detective. "Get her out and get her upfront - less the coat, if possible."

  Nicole winked at Jona and followed her husband out of the room.

  Jona was stunned that Nicole had gotten her way and she really couldn't believe everything until the guard that had shown her in, took her over to where she was processed to be released.

  "You aren't willing to let me burn that coat, will you?" Tobias growled.

  "And give you any type of pleasure? What fun would that be?" she sneered snatching her release papers from him and walking out the open door that led to the lobby.

  Ethan looked clearly upset about the coat and turned around to leave, while Nicole stayed in the lobby.

  "Your release was only granted if we promised to be responsible for you until the police checks out your story," Nicole explained, trying to not take deep breaths from the stench of the coat. "You know, Jona, it's really a close quarters in the car and I have another coat that will serve just nicely." She snapped her fingers and a well dress man in all black came up to them with a coat. "I know it'll fit you and I promise we'll return the coat to you. Mitch will keep it in the trunk."

  Reluctantly, Jona gave up her coat. Mitch put some gloves on before taking her coat, but helped her on with the new coat.

  "Good," Nicole said as Mitch left the lobby to go outside to the car. "Where should we go to find James?"

  Jona had been thinking of where James could be as they were processing her. The feeling of missing him and worry was locked away inside of her as she carefully thought about where could James have gone.

  "We've gone to all his familiar places," Nicole explained. "And we've had the police out looking for us. We even turned to the investigator who found him, but he said the only way to find him fast, would be to ask you. Since you've been with him these past couple of days and James is not acting like himself, then you'd be our best guess in finding him quickly."

  "Why quickly?"

  "Because he walked out of the hospital without a coat and we're not sure he even has shoes on."

  Jona's worry increased even more, but she refused to show her emotions. "Take me down the street to the hospital. I think I have an idea of where he might have gone. He knew I couldn't go back home and he most likely don't remember what bus to catch to go anywhere we'd gone before if he even remembered that. The first night he was so out of it, he won't remember the church."

  They started walking out of the precinct.

  "Where are we going?" Ethan asked.

  "There's a Chinese place near the hospital. We found some money and we went there."

  "And if he's not there?"

  She really wanted Ethan to stop being so damn negative. "Then we'll keep looking. He couldn't have gone far."

  "It's been twelve hours, Ms. Pane," Ethan snarled. "Yes, he could have."

  She rolled her eyes away from him and looked out the room.

  "Once we find James, would you be interested in staying with us for a while?" Nicole questioned Jona.

  Jona looked at Ethan, who looked pale at the idea. "I thought I really had no choice."

  "It's ordered by police, but it would mean a lot if we asked you also," Nicole said honestly.

  "Yes, I could, but why?" Jona asked not used to so much kindness from strangers.

  "Because if that's what's going to keep him around us until he gets his memory back, then we must accept you," Nicole said.

  Jona could see Ethan was grinding his teeth.

  When they arrived at the Chinese restaurant, Jona jumped out before Mitch came around to open the door. The owner of the restaurant was just locking up the store and looked at little startled as they walked up on him.

  “Do you remember me?” she asked.

  The man looked at her confused and shook his head. “We’re closed.”

  “See I told you,” Ethan snarled. “I knew she was full of shit.”

  “Remember yesterday. I was in here,” Jona said desperately really hating Ethan by the minute. “I was with a tall white guy.”

  The man’s wife got out of the car parked in front of the restaurant. “I remember you,” she said. “That man. He was here. He just left.”

  “When?” Nicole asked hopefully.

  “We had to kick him out,” the man said. “We were closing.”

  “What direction?” Jona asked concerned.

  The woman pointed down the street.

  Jona didn’t wait to see if Ethan and Nicole followed. Her instincts that something was very wrong kicked her in the gut. She knew that she had to find James and that was all that mattered.

  * * *

  The moment he thought reality hit him everything seemed to disappear. Lying in that hospital bed after they had taken him through a large scanner, James felt as if his head was going to burst.

  “Where’s Hope?” he asked when his brother’s wife walked in the room.

  “James-“

  “Answer the question,” he snarled through gritted teeth.

  She looked nervous.”She’s gone.”

  “What?! Hope!” he ragged.

  When no one came through the door, he growled angrily. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

  “James, please wait and let me explain-“

  “Get the fuck OUT!” he stormed.

  Soon as she had ran out most likely to get Ethan, James quickly got out of bed. Ripping the IV out of his arm, he found his clothes they’d taken off of him thrown in the garbage. He couldn’t find any shoes, so he put on three extra of the hospital socks. The fourth pair of socks had thin rubber soles at the bottom.

  What would Hope take? He asked himself looking around the room.

  Stuffing extra bandages and then even folding the blanket off the bed to tuck under his arm, so he could steal it from the hospital.

  Once outside, he used this to cover his shoulders and head securely. With no money, he went to the only place he knew where Hope would come find him and he remembered from yesterday.

  The woman who was on the cashier from yesterday recognized him and gave him some free food and drinks. "I'm waiting for my friend," he said.

  "It's fine. You sit down and wait."

  James really wasn't sure how long he sat. There were moments of blackness he was sure about because his head was pounding so hard. He didn't know if it had been the scanner or the drugs, but he knew something wasn't right and now he just wanted Hope to make him feel better.

  The owner kept glaring at him after hours of him sitting there, but James knew he couldn't leave. He wasn't sure how to find her and he didn't want to get more lost.

  All this thoughts were on Hope. She was the only thing that made his head feel better.

  After his third series of moments where he faded in an out, he realized the owner was standing next to him yelling about closing time.

  Where was Hope? He wondered as he stood up an
d nodded, not wanting to cause any trouble. Most likely his brother was looking for him and if Ethan found him first, James would probably be locked away or heavily looked after until Ethan felt he wouldn't run away again.

  Ethan's animosity towards her most likely pushed her away, but James almost understood there was a reason for Ethan to act as such.

  Trudging out of the restaurant giving the owner's wife a smile of thanks and assurance he would be fine, James walked down the street - wandering first, but then determine to find Hope. A thick snow began to fall all around and he prayed he would find a way to get to Hope soon before another blackout hit him again.

  “What’s a big ole white boy like you doing out on a night like this?” a cruel voice asked suddenly behind him.

  Chapter 11

  James stopped walking and turned around. There were two black men looking hungry and vagrant, glaring at him as if he had done them wrong. Confused as to why they were bothering him and wishing his Hope were here, he turned to them. Neither was over five ten, but one was bulky and fat, while the other was lean. Both were scruffy and very much in need of a good haircut and shave, along with a very good long hot bath.

  “I’m trying to find my friend,” he said as they both approached him. "I'm not trying to bother anyone." Instinctively, he back away not realizing until it was too late that he retreated into a short alley off the street with a dead end.

  One guy pulled out a short club from his jacket, while the other pulled out a long knife. “What'cha got on you, rich boy?” the one with the thick baton on him asked, thumping the weapon in his palm.

  James knew his life was in danger and put up his fist ready to fight.

  * * *

  Her heart increased before she even broke into a run. There was something pulling her to danger even though she wanted to run. She forgot about Ethan and Nicole as she bolted down the street and into an alley, where she saw James being struck over the head with a baton and about to be stabbed by the other.

  “Stop it!” she screamed manically.

  The two men turned to her and she felt fear overwhelmed her as she recognized the faces.

  The man with the knife stopped and looked at her with a wicked grin. “You come back for more, little girl.”

  Pushing away the fear and feeling the rage envelope her like a shield, she crouched and beckoned for a fight. “Let’s just see if you’re ready for this little girl,” she taunted.

  The one with the baton ran towards her. Dropping her body, she kicked out her leg, tripping him and then grabbing the baton. Standing up, she swung hard as he was coming back to her again. The baton struck him clear across the face, disconnecting his jaw. The sound of teeth shattering out of his mouth was like a symphony to her ears as she turned to face the man with the knife.

  James was just coming to again and using the alley brick wall to stand himself up. She could see out of her peripheral vision he looked dazed a little and her anger increased seeing that these two bastards had overcome him and reopened his wound.

  The familiar face with the knife looked down at his knocked out buddy and then back at James, before looking at her again. "I see you came to play. Maybe your friend should have been around before."

  "Maybe," she taunted. "But I've gotten over my fears and learned a little something about self defense." She tossed the baton up and caught it without looking.

  "I'm gonna cut you cut, bitch," he snarled.

  She took her coat off and wrapped it around her left arm for defense and held the baton down to her right side. "Are you really ready to play, Motherfucker?"

  He charged at her and she prepared to hit the arm with the baton, but he sliced at the left arm in an undercut, which she had not expected. Jona missed his arm and his body weight knocked her down to the ground.

  "Die bitch!" he roared, raising his arm to stab her, but suddenly James came behind him, grabbing the arm with the weapon and also putting a choke hold around his neck.

  Jona saw the guy start to sputter as she crawled to her feet.

  Ethan and Nicole were just catching up with them and although Jona would have loved to see this guy die, she knew she couldn't have James come to his senses knowing he killed someone. "Stop," she ordered when the knife fell to the ground from the assailant's hand. "He's passed out." She kicked the knife to the corner.

  "I'll call the police," Ethan said as James dropped the guy to the ground and came over to Jona.

  She was overwhelmed as James pulled her into his arms and held her close as if he had not seen her in a million years.

  The intimacy of feeling his warm body against hers felt so damn good, but she was so aware of his family watching them in shock.

  "James," she whispered.

  He didn't answer, but he just continued holding her.

  "They're watching us."

  He looked a little over at them, but then returned his face to nuzzle in her neck. "Fuck 'em."

  She wanted to giggle, but as she heard the sirens coming near, she became very uneasy.

  Nicole came over to her. "James, as warm as you may be, she must be cold without a coat. Can you two get in the car, while Ethan takes care of the police?"

  Reluctantly, James walked with her over to the car and they sat in the back alone.

  Being in almost eye to eye contact, Jona gasped seeing that the wound in his head had opened up.

  "I'm fine," he insisted. "See I've become a little tougher."

  She clicked her tongue in disdain as she pulled the bandage off. His green eyes were on her hard looking up at her face as she attended to his wound.

  "If my memory comes back and I wasn't anything like you know me, Hope, would you still like me?"

  She looked down at him thinking the question was really odd. "Who says I like you now?" she asked, using her sarcasm to lighten the subject.

  James moved his hands up and pulled her face down. Jona let him, welcoming his mouth like home.

  The kiss was interrupted when the door opened and Ethan looked in on them. "James, could you come out here, please?"

  James looked at her as if he needed her approval and when she nodded, he followed his brother outside. Nicole came into the car looking just a little flustered.

  "They're alive," Nicole assured her. "The ambulance is taking them away and we're going to take James back to the hospital."

  Jona had no intentions of really speaking to her, but couldn't help to express James' feelings. "He doesn't want to go back to the hospital. He'll runaway again."

  "But his memory-"

  She cut her off. "He hates that place."

  Nicole didn't protest anymore and when both of the men returned inside of the car, the wife declared, "Let's take James and his friend to the Detroit house, Ethan. We can call a doctor to the house."

  "But the hospital said-" Ethan started to protest.

  Nicole put a gentle hand on her husband's chest right over his heart. "Please, Ethan."

  He nodded and ordered the driver to take them to an address in Detroit.

  Jona suddenly felt really exhausted and as always, James proximity had a relaxing effect on her and soon she was asleep leaning next to him with his arms protectively around her.

  * * *

  James jolted awake when the car stopped. It took him a moment to realize where he was and he wanted to speak out because his brain had been processing all that was happening. His old and new world was colliding and he knew why he had left the hospital. Given the rest he had taken on the route to the house in Detroit, his brain had reset completely and he was very aware of where he was.

  "We're here," Nicole said. "Did you want to wake her?"

  He shook his head and carried Jona out of the car and into the house quickly. Nicole was telling him where the room was where they were to sleep, but James already knew where it was. Even though he'd only been to the house a couple of times when he was in meetings with Ethan, he knew this place very well from the plans he'd registered with the city.
>
  Jona didn't wake up at all as he laid her on the settee in the room. There were extra blankets in the closet and he quickly covered her up.

  Nicole came in the room a little bit afterwards with an armful of clothes for Jona. "You found the extra blankets in the closet," she noted.

  He shrugged not giving her eye contact. "I guessed," he said and was glad she didn't press him about the discovery.

  "I've ordered some clothes to be brought for you and a doctor will be here shortly to see you. Your wound looks like it's opened up-"

  He cut her off. "I'm fine. I just want to make sure she's fine."

  "James, your brother would like to have some words with you soon. You can't ignore him even though you don't know him."

  James wanted to tell her the truth, but decided against it. At least Ethan was allowing Nicole to be around him as long as everyone thought his memory was gone. Pretending he still had a memory loss might be a good thing after all for himself and his own family.

  Although the day his memory was lost was still very fuzzy and even the days leading up to that point were difficult to remember, but he knew exactly who he was, where he was from and how he used to be.

  None of that pleased him right now as he stared down at Jona. He was confused about everything when he thought about her.

  How had his heart become involved with her, when his mind was not right? She had weaved some magical wand and made his heart really care about her, when no other woman had ever done that.

  She was his Hope to a new life and a new way of thinking.

  "Just tell me when the doctor gets here." He went over to the electric fireplace to turn on the knob to high. "And some food. Preferably Chinese. She likes that."

  He looked over his shoulder at Nicole who clearly was frowning warily at him.

  "Now," he said sharply.

  Nicole left the room and James was glad they were alone. Going over to Jona again, he attempted to take off the hat, but decided against it as he took off her boots and then her pants, knowing she had another layer underneath.

  A knock on the door indicated that Mitch had found some clothes right away for James.