Losing Him (Mitchell Family #8)(41)

“When can we go?”

I patted him on the head and leaned over to kiss him. “We need to get your things together and tell Grandma and Grandpa goodbye. Then we are going to fly in an airplane. How does that sound?”

My son’s eyes lit up. “Really? We get to fly in a plane?”

“Yep!” At least he had something to be excited about. I had no idea what I was going to say to my son if his mother didn’t make it through this. Somewhere down the road, he was going to figure out that us leaving was the reason that all of this had happened. I feared that conversation.

It just so happened that the airplane ride kept Jacob from asking any questions about his mother. As much as I wanted to keep him in the loop, he was only five, so it just wasn’t going to be anything he could understand.

My sister was over the moon about keeping him. I didn’t have time to stick around and catch up, but she walked me outside to give me her personal opinion. “Jess, what are you going to do?”

“What do you think I’m going to do? She’s the mother of my son. I’m not just going to leave her there all alone. I love her, no matter what anyone else thinks about it.” I hated arguing with Krista. It just was weird since we weren’t really on that kind of level with our relationship. I guess our good ole dad had messed her up so bad that she trusted nobody. Plus, I had badmouthed Heather so much that it was natural for my family and friends to hate her. Now, I hated myself for doing it.

She waved her hands around as she talked. “Whatever! Jacob is safe here. We’re going to take him to the movies tomorrow. The key is under the mat for whenever you need to come in and shower.”

I hugged her. “Thanks for this, Kris. I owe you big time.”

I knew she was rolling her eyes, but I’d already turned and started walking to the car. She wasn’t cool about me borrowing it, but since she wasn’t working for the next couple of days, she didn’t really need it.

After a couple of days, I was getting used to the sounds in the hospital. Nothing had changed as far as Heather’s condition, except the color of the bruising on her face. What started as red was now a dark purple.

She looked so peaceful each day as I sat there with her. Once Van headed back to town, I was the only visitor that showed up. It was fine by me, since I was sick of having to explain myself to my family, who didn’t understand why I’d had a change of heart all of the sudden.

For what it was worth, I hadn’t hid my feelings for Heather. They all knew that I loved her. They just knew that I had personal issues I couldn’t get over. With everything that had happened, the loss of her mother, and now the accident; I knew I couldn’t turn my back on her, not now, not ever.

Each day the doctor and nurses would come in and check her progress. I knew that with each day that passed it was less likely a chance that she was going to wake up. Sure, I’d heard all about Ty Mitchell and how he miraculously woke up from a coma after seven months. For it to happen to Heather would have been a miracle, but I couldn’t see being hopeful. I knew the statistics. For days, I’d sat in the hospital room looking up everything I possibly could.

Most of my research resulted in varied scenarios for her recovering. I didn’t care how Heather woke up. I just wanted it to happen.

When afternoon came and went, I walked down to the cafeteria to grab something to eat before they closed for the night. The vending machine didn’t have that much of a selection.

I’d just paid for my food and starting looking for the condiments when a little boy came up to me and punched me in the side. “Hey, Mister! I know you!”

I recognized the kid right away, and unfortunately, I recognized his mother, too. She came up and grabbed the back of his shirt. “Jax, get your butt back over here!” When she noticed me, she stood still and looked right at me.

I could tell she didn’t know what to say. “Sorry, I was just getting something to eat.” Without saying anything else, I walked over to a table and started eating. She followed me and sat down across from me, while Jax stood there beside her.

“You think I’m the bad guy, don’t you?”

It shocked me that she would come out and say that. “No!”

“I almost lost my children.” She looked over at Jax.

I sat my fork down and looked right at her. “I’m not here to judge you. I’m here because my girlfriend was in a terrible accident a few days ago.” I pointed to her son. “I don’t know why you’re here and I hope that everyone in your family is okay, but I can’t do this right now. Heather is fighting for her life. She has a son that needs her.”

I picked up my tray and started to get up, but she grabbed it. “Wait! I’m not a bad person.”

“Look lady, I appreciate you trying to find the words, but I need to get back upstairs. She’s going to wake up and I need to be there when she does.” I walked away from Ty’s wife without even asking about why she was in the hospital. It wasn’t my business and I really didn’t care.

I was happy to make it to the elevator and take my first full breath. I was still holding a tray of food, but had lost my appetite and had no interest in eating anything for the rest of the night. This town was too small and I got how Heather felt suffocated being in it.

As much as I thought she’d want to keep her house, I understood why she didn’t. Who would want to run into that family and be reminded of something that you didn’t want to remember all the time? I know I wouldn’t have.