Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“Come on, Ma. You’re almost there.”
Finally, an eternity later, familiar green eyes stared up at me, giving me a blank look.
Sadie didn’t seem to recognize me, but she’d opened her eyes, and they stayed open. I couldn’t look away; too afraid she might slip back into unconsciousness. She smacked her lips, the dry sound pushing me to my feet and toward the call button because there was no fucking way I’d leave her alone again.
I pressed the call button and a nurse rushed in. “She's waking up!”
The nurse quickly checked her vitals and asked Sadie a few questions, but she didn't seem to understand or respond.
The nurse turned to me and said, “It's normal for there to be confusion and memory loss after a traumatic injury like this. We'll run some tests and monitor her closely, but for now, let's just give her some time to adjust.”
I nodded, still holding Sadie's hand tightly. I knew it would be a long road to recovery, but I was relieved that she was finally awake.
“Ma, can you hear me?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “Where am I?”
“You're in the hospital. You were shot and you've been asleep for a while. But you're awake now, and that's all that matters.”
Tears welled up in Ma’s eyes and she held my hand tighter. “I'm scared, Jasper.”
“I know you are. But you're going to be okay. I'll be here every step of the way, I promise. The doctor is going to examine you now. This is the first time you’ve been coherent in a really long time.”
“Thank you, son. Don’t leave. I don't know what I'd do without you.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Ma.”
In the next few minutes, the room swarmed with medical personnel, doctors and nurses, residents and specialists alike.
They poked and prodded, took her blood pressure, checked her heart at least twelve times, and put her through a series of cognitive tests that put a smile on my face because those memory tests showed me that Sadie was still in there.
“What is an elephant, telephone, and book going to tell you about my head?” Her grumbled words had the doctors smiling too.
“Very good, Sadie.” Purcell nodded and tapped some things on his tablet. “Your short-term memory is fine.” He nodded my way. “Do you know who that is?”
She smiled. “My son, Jasper.”
Purcell nodded, clearly satisfied with her responses as he made more notes and cleared the room. “You too, Jasper.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but I wanted her to get better more than I wanted to keep my eyes on her.
“Stay,” she said, voice thick and dry. “Please.”
I kept my distance near the door while the doctor spoke in gentle tones about what to expect during her recovery. “You’ll have some memory lapses, but they should be confined to the days, maybe the weeks leading up to the shooting.”
Sadie listened carefully, nodding as annoyance slipped into her questions. “So I can go home? Recover there?”
Purcell shook his head. “It would be easier to monitor your progress here.”
Sadie frowned and tried to sit up. “You don’t understand. I really want to go home. Proper rest, more familiar surroundings…I need that right now.”
The doctor sighed and looked her in the eye. “I can understand you wanting to be home, but it just isn't safe right now. I'm sorry, Sadie."
She slumped down, but the determination in her eyes didn’t waver. “I still want to go home and recover. Please, Doctor Purcell. I need to go home.”
The doctor hummed and adjusted his glasses thoughtfully before answering. “We'll see.” He cast a glance my way. “But only if your son agrees to stay with you and take care of you at home.”
I nodded without hesitation. Ma needed me and the family. There was no fucking way I’d leave her alone again.
“All I care about is that she’s healthy and doesn’t suffer any long-term effects,” I assured Purcell.
Purcell smiled, relieved. “Okay I’ll put a plan together so you can start your recovery at home. You’ll need round the clock care. ”
I sighed in relief and hugged Ma tightly. “We’re going home, Ma. Don't worry about a thing. I've got you."
Ma smiled; eyes still wet with tears. “Get Thomas.”
I nodded and kissed her forehead, knowing that no matter what happened, we'd make it through this together.
“Ma. I am so fucking sorry that this happened to you.” Cal stood in front of Sadie, tears swimming in his eyes as she stood in the foyer with her weight resting on Thomas.
Her smile took some effort but eventually, the corners of her mouth curled up. “Calvin, my baby boy.” She cupped his face and looked at him with such love that I knew I’d done the right thing by forcing Rizz to take the fall for shooting Sadie.
He was my brother, and I loved him, but these days I couldn’t stand the sight of him other than to issue orders. But it was my job to protect him, to keep him away from dirty old priests and coaches. I was the one who steered him toward computers instead of sports.