Several months ago, I hinted at an epilogue to wrap everything up. Unfortunately, this has turned into not only another chapter but probably should have been two or three. Oh, well. If you haven't read the preceding chapters, you probably should or none of this will make any sense. If, on the other hand, you want to plow right in then have at it. I make no promises as to whether the continuity will make any sense to you, but you are welcome to try.
As always, all names have been changed. Some events have been embellished and others ignored because, well, I didn't know anything about them. Thanks again for reading!
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I woke up crying on Brent's shoulder. This was not how I had envisioned our wedding night when Brent had proposed at the end of summer. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
After Brent and I had it out, the mood in my hospital room became more festive. I practically drown in hugs. Brat snuggled up at my side on the bed and soon fell asleep, it now being rather late in the evening apparently. I held her as closely as I could without hurting. Brent sat on the bed at the other side. He held my hand and just generally gazed at me as I stared back. Our eyes confessed our love for each other in ways words could not express. Everyone else was trying to catch me up on events over the last couple months. Carolyn and I chatted quite a bit about her new man, who happened to be one of my doctors.
"I don't know, Jessie," she explained. "When you were at your worst and I needed a shoulder to cry on, he was there and, well, we just kinda connected. You're going to love him. He's a great guy!"
"I guess you introduced my parents?" I asked.
"Oh sure, they all know him. He's here everyday," Carolyn said with an odd look.
"No, I'm sorry. I meant to each other!"
"Oh! No! I was in the ER getting my head stitched up when they met. Other than bruises, the only injury I got in the wreck was a piece of glass in my scalp underneath my hair. I'm not sure how that happened," she replied.
"I can answer that," Ron smiled. "Since you're 18, your mom is legally your next of kin. So, well, she was kind enough to keep us involved in your care decisions."
"Well, I couldn't, you know, I mean Ron and Allison have taken care of you for so long, it just wouldn't be right..." Donna's voice tapered off in confusion before beginning again. "We heard the wreck and when I saw it was you, I came running out. The EMTs kept me back but when I told them who I was, they let me fly to the hospital with you and gave me your purse and phone."
"Fly?"
"Yes, they had you medivaced. Your vitals were crashing pretty fast. Anyway, once we got to the trauma center, I remembered Mr. Anderson was a dentist. so I checked your contacts and found a 'Dr Ron' and called. They came running, along with your fiancé and this young lady. You didn't tell me you had a sister."
"Well, I didn't plan for you all to meet this way, but I'm glad you have. Let me be clear about something. I love all of you, and you're all my parents," I said, tears welling up again. My voice was still as weak as my body. "Is that okay?"
"Of course, darling. It's not a contest!" Allison wept with me.
"Nearly dying three or four times isn't going to get rid of us," Ron added.
"I'm just happy to be a part of your world again, Jessica," Donna whispered almost under her breath.
"Jessie," I said with a grin. "So, you work here now?"
"Well, once I got my boards back, what with the nursing shortage, I could pretty much work doing something at about any hospital I wanted. Since you were here, I figured I could be here if you needed anything. I'm not actually assigned to this floor and I'm not supposed to care for family members."
"I won't tell if you won't," I interrupted.
"Oh, I'm not working now. I just don't have anything else to do in my off hours, so I just hang around. Once the Andersons get back, I run home. I sleep a bit, then come back to work. The only person that's here more than me is that guy of yours there," she said, indicating Brent.
"I'm glad you are. Come to think of it, Carolyn! Its Christmas Eve! Why aren't you home in Ohio with your folks?" I said when I realized.
"Well, when we thought you might.... well, I couldn't leave," she sniffled. "Then they said you should wake up pretty soon and I couldn't miss that. Then you kept waking up and going back to sleep and I wanted to be here and spend time with you so I couldn't go... Anyway, I'll go home in a couple of days. No biggie." She smiled.
"You're all so good to me," I whispered as my energy started to wane.
My dinner of jello, applesauce and, I think, more jello revived me a bit. It felt like I hadn't eaten in weeks. I guess because I hadn't, yet it took very little for me to feel full.
Finally, a nurse came around and quietly announced visiting hours were ending. She added that my friends and family could stay in the family room down the hall, but I wanted them to go home. The worst was over. I was out of the woods and, more than anything, felt like I needed rest. I was wary of falling asleep, though, for fear of not waking up. I was told earlier that physical therapy would start in two days due to the Christmas holiday, and I was fine with that. I gave Allison a list of things to bring me. Most importantly were hair removal cream and razors, shampoo, conditioner, and my tablet so I could read.
Everyone kissed me on my forehead, cheek or brow and said goodnight. Of course Sarah, being the Brat, announced she was staying with me but, after a few minutes negotiating, we convinced her to go home with Ron and Allison. I had to convince her that I needed to borrow back my copy of Sorcerer's Stone, and that neither Ron nor Allison knew which copy I needed, but she finally agreed. What kind of child would rather be at a hospital than opening presents on Christmas morning?
Carolyn left with them. Apparently, since school ended, she had pretty much moved into the guest room. This left just Donna, Brent and myself. Donna politely excused herself, saying we would talk in the morning.
"I hate you have to go home," I said, once again staring at the love of my life.
"I'm not going anywhere," Brent replied.
"You have to, silly. Get some rest and I'll see you in the morning. I love you."
"Okay, look, I've been without you for two months. Part of that was my fault, and now that we're past that, I'm not ready to be away from you again. I was here when we thought you were going to die from the wreck, then from pneumonia and infection. I was here when they told us over and over that you might never wake up. They can call security and arrest me but, short of that, I'm not leaving you right now. I just can't stand the idea of being apart. Please don't ask me to go...." Brent gasped, then kissed my brow as he gently embraced me. He cradled my cheek in his hand and I felt a tear fall from his face to mine.
"You need you to rest, darling," I whispered.
"I can sleep easier here than away from you. When I'm home, I just toss and turn or walk the floor worrying about you. Please. Just let me stay," he said.
"Do they let family stay here?"
"Yeah, but, well, they say fiancés aren't family."
"Well, duh! You're still my brother, too, aren't you?" I giggled as I slid to one side of the bed, referring to us having been foster children in the Anderson's home together.
We kissed again for the second time in as many months. His lips were sweet and delicious. Mine were still dry and parched. I couldn't return his embrace much due to the still present IV line, but our mouths became more passionate just the same. Finally, I remembered something Dr. Jones had said earlier and stopped. Brent continued, then, when my lips ceased. He kissed my cheek and neck ever so gently and sensuously.
"Whoa," I said, "They don't want me to get too worked up or I might rupture something in my brain. We can't... you know, for a while. I'm sorry."
"Yeah, Rick told me that too when your EKG, or EEG, or whatever that brain wave machine is called said you were waking up."
"Rick?"
"Carolyn's new guy. He's good people."
