This one has been edited since it was originally posted. I received feedback about errors and mistakes so I revised it. I am more than halfway through next chapter and I am having My Neighbor's Keeper Ch. 1 re-edited at this time. (Taking a while because my editor is butchering it) Hoping to have both out in the next week or two. Thank you all for feedback and suggestions. I have two or three other stories started as well but I am going to wait until these two get further along before posting them. I have not forgotten about Heat Wave Love either. It is just hard to write about a heat wave when it is below zero outside.
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The next morning Oscar woke up expecting the previous day's antics to be a dream or maybe a delusion. After all, he was in a mental health facility, the locals could have been rubbing off on him. He had an after taste of the Montecristo that made him think at least part of it had not been a dream. When Oscar took his morning piss he could see and feel bits of dried red lip gloss on his shaft. That was the bit that sold him on the fact he had not been dreaming.
Oscar did his best to wash up and change his clothes. The last thing he needed was someone like Judy figuring out what had happened. In all likelihood, he was expecting his duration here in the facility to be extended. Punching his neighbor was what got him locked up here. He couldn't imagine they would be forgiving to detaining and kicking an orderly's ass. Oscar was protecting someone but that didn't mean shit if the hospital looked at him unfairly like the courts had done.
As he finished getting dressed and putting away his dirty laundry, a light tapping came at his door.
"Hello," Oscar told the person at the door.
For the second time in one morning, Oscar was surprised that he wasn't dreaming. Judy entered the room followed by a woman in a business suit, and also one of the doctors.
"Good morning Oscar," Judy said abnormally cheerful compared to most mornings. "Lori from the office and Doctor Stein would like a word with you this morning."
"Uh oh," Oscar replied sitting on the foot of his bed. "What did I do now?"
His mind was racing with dread. Did they know about last night, was Danny going to press charges, or was it something else he did? All Oscar could think about was how fucked he expected to be. Since his wife died, nothing seemed to be going right for him.
Lori spoke up and Judy waved goodbye as she snuck back out the door.
"Actually Oscar, this is not bad news for you. It is more about bad news for us." Lori said.
She took a seat at the chair near the bed facing Oscar. The doctor just stood next to her with his arms crossed grinning ear to ear. It was about the fakest smile Oscar had ever seen.
Lori continued, "After yesterday's events the hospital itself had a bit of an issue. Someone involved leaked what happened to the press and we kinda made headlines on all the local news stations and papers."
"That sucks Lori but I am not sure what that has to do with me," Oscar replied a bit confused.
"Well, the board of directors is a bit nervous. Your name and detailed description of what happened was described with all the news. Your niece and your lawyer called the hospital very angry this morning."
"I bet," Oscar said thinking about how feisty his niece Natalie could get. She was more upset then he was about his sentence here. Gary his lawyer and also second cousin was probably just laughing his ass off.
"It was decided that we need to make a public statement and hold a small press conference. The town has never been a huge fan of this facility and yesterday events did not help. The board of directors is very worried because we are building an addition next year and the permits have not been finished yet," Lori explained.
"Okay but I still don't get what this all has to do with me," Oscar asked not seeing the whole picture.
Doctor Stein put his hand on Lori's shoulder and spoke up.
"Well Oscar," he said. "We would like you to make a small statement about what happened with hopes of us looking good to the press."
Oscar just nodded now beginning to understand.
"If you can do that we would be willing to speak to the court on your behalf and see we can get you home by the weekend." Doctor Stein said then grinned again with his big fake smile.
And there is the twist Oscar thought as he listened to Stein finish his thoughts. He was going to need to talk to Gary before agreeing to anything but if they can deliver his freedom early he was in. This was totally a surprise that he was not expecting. There had been a lot of talk about the new wing of the hospital. Oscar had no idea that it was not fully approved yet. He knew that was really the only reason this offer was being made. This place was not well liked by the locals and any bad press might keep them from getting funded.
"If you let me discuss this over with my lawyer and you get it in writing that you're willing talk to the court. I have no problem saying whatever you need as long as you don't want me to take the blame," Oscar said extending his hand to each of them.
They all shook hands and Oscar saw the relief on both their face immediately.
"Consider it done," Lisa said as she and Stein headed to the door. "Actually your lawyer already heard from us before we came to talk to you. He will be here later this morning. We only talked to you now because he said he didn't feel we should wait to talk to you."
"Yeah, Gary knows how eager to go home I am," Oscar said watching them go.
Seconds, after they left and Judy returned and handed Oscar a wireless phone. He was looked at it confused for a second.
"Your niece has called a dozen times this morning," Judy said patting Oscar on the shoulder. " She told me if I didn't get you on the phone before breakfast she was going to drive down here herself and hell was coming with her."
Oscar roared with laughter and began dialing Natale's number.
"She would have done it too. That girl has had a temper like that since she was big enough to walk."
Judy giggled and replied, "When you're done just return the phone to the nurses' station."
The phone barely rang before Natalie picked up the on the line.
"Unc, you okay?" Natalie spit out quickly.
"Nat, I am fine. No need to worry," Oscar reassured her.
"You made the news last night and the paper this morning," She told him. "I called last night but they said you were already in bed but you were ok. I didn't believe them because...... Well, everything else about your time there has been a shit show. I just assumed this was too."
"Naw, this was just an orderly trying to take advantage of a nurse and I just stepped in. Honestly, I didn't even get hit but boy did I lay him out."
"Knight in shining armor, huh?" Natalie responded playfully.
"Maybe but I expected it to keep me here longer since hitting someone is what landed me here, to begin with."
"Yeah, but hitting someone to protect someone is a bit different than blowing your top and breaking someone's nose."
"Sure but don't tell me that little shit Tony didn't have it coming," Oscar growled.
"He did Unc, but he had witnesses and you were on his property."
"I know...," Oscar said trailing off. "Oh yeah, Doctors are going to talk to judges and see about me getting out early."
"That's awesome!" Natalie burst out. "How soon?"
"Doctor said if they can convince the judge, then by the weekend I could be home. I won't hold my breath but any time trimmed off would be amazing. Gary is coming by today to iron it all out."
"I am so excited." Natalie chimed and Oscar could hear the little girl he remembered fondly in her voice.
"Anyways Nat, I got to go get some grub before it is all gone," Oscar said.
"Go eat. We'll talk soon. Or rather see you soon," Nat said and the line went dead.
The rest of Oscar's morning went rather quickly. He ate breakfast and played a bit of chess. Gary showed up and went over the details from the hospital. It looked like the hospital was going to pull it off. It might not be this weekend but Oscar was going to be going home within two weeks.
In the end, Oscar didn't really have to speak at a press conference. He just had to stand there and smile. What he learned later was that one news outlet reported he had been injured by an orderly. While this was not true, the hospital really just need him to stand there so they could spin the bad press. It worked too because by the following morning he found out that the judge agreed with the doctors and his anger management had been a success. He would be going home in four days.
Those four days were very uneventful. Oscar basically napped, played chess, and relaxed. The biggest thing that happened was the night before he got released. Judy showed before her shift ended and gave him a cigar. She explained to him that someone had swiped the one she confiscated and she felt obligated to return it. Oscar kept his mouth shut that he knew where that cigar went. He did not want to explain that to her.
Oscar did ask Judy where Daphne had gone. Since that night with the cigar, she had vanished. Judy had said the hospital put her on paid leave but she would be back in a week or two.
He was glad she was ok but was sad to hear that he wouldn't be able to say goodbye. The thought crossed his mind he could come back to say goodbye but that might be kinda creepy. While she flirted and gave him an amazing blowjob, he didn't want to make it awkward.
The day of Oscar's freedom was an exciting one. Natalie picked him up and she had planned a cookout at his house since he had missed most of the summer already. Summer cookouts at Oscars were a thing of legend. Most of the neighborhood was usually invited and this time there was even something to celebrate. Oscar always told Nat and her brother Tom that nothing was better than a man and his grill. It seemed Natalie had never forgotten those words.
When they arrived at the house close to fifty people were there to congratulate him on his freedom. Not all stayed for food so Oscar made his rounds thanking everyone who came. Except for Natalie and Gary he hadn't seen any of his other friends or neighbors since getting sent away. Tom, his nephew had just moved away with his new wife before Oscar's arrest. Tom had called a few times while he was in Winterport and he expected a call later tonight.
After all the chatting was over Oscar took his rightful place behind the grill. He flipped patties, hot dogs, and several other types of meat people brought. In the middle of burger flips, Gary approached with his lawyer look in his eyes. Oscar had seen it enough to spot it miles away.
"Gary, I have been home less than an hour. Don't ruin it for me yet," he warned Gary as Gary got closer.
"Wouldn't dream of it, Oscar," he said with his hands up like he was being caught with his hands in the cookie jar. "I just wanted to make sure you knew that the restraining order from Mr. Porter is still valid. So no going across the street."
"I appreciate that Gary but I have no intention of engaging with that little twerp again," Oscar said as he grilled.
