My heart swelled with both love and pain.
“You are family, Slick, and family comes first.”
The nurse came back in with the doctor and ushered everyone out before I could protest. My dad kissed my forehead, his face lined with worry. More guilt piled onto my shoulders knowing everyone had stopped their lives to take care of me.
The doctor got straight to the point, drilling me with questions about my symptoms as soon as everyone left. I reluctantly told him about my dependence on Tums. I explained to him it was the only thing that kept my stomach from revolting on me.
His face creased as he listened to my answers. "I ordered some bloodwork while you were out," he said, his voice as crisp as his white lab coat.
"Okay," I replied. Fear wrapped itself around me. No longer would my body allow me to ignore the brutal reality that there was something wrong with me.
"Your blood results came back. You are positive for Helicobacter Pylori. These bacteria have caused sores in the lining of your stomach," he explained.
"I have ulcers?"
His eyes widened in shock when I interrupted his diagnosis, but he recovered quickly. "Yes, you have ulcers. From what you’ve told me, it seems you’ve had them for quite some time."
If my arm didn't have an IV stuck in it, I would have smacked myself on the forehead. It was so obvious. I’d worked myself up so much, afraid of what it could’ve been, I banned my common sense and biology background to allow me to correctly diagnose my symptoms.
While I was berating myself for being such an idiot, the doctor droned on about how he would treat my condition. All this time, I’d thought it was a boulder residing in my stomach, when in actuality, it had been microscopic assholes causing all the trouble.
After a couple more tests, I was finally released with a bag full of pills and strict orders on how to get rid of my lecherous stomach squatters.
As I shuffled out of the hospital, a single figure stood in the waiting room. My dad turned, his face etched with lines of worry. My heart sunk when I searched the room and noticed Kill was absent.
I’d just ruined their chance at fame with my stupidity. If I’d gone to the doctor when my symptoms had started instead of ignoring the pain, this never would have happened. Sadness gripped my thoughts. I may have finally pushed Kill away by single-handedly fucking up his career.
My dad was quiet as we exited the parking lot and headed for home.
“Faith, you need to take care of yourself.” He finally broke into my self-depreciating thoughts as we neared the house. “Remember, it's us against the world, and I don’t think I could make it if my partner wasn’t around to battle with me.”
My eyes filled up with tears, but I didn’t let them fall. “I’m sorry, Dad. You're right. I was worried it was something bad, and I ignored it. It was stupid of me. I promise I'll start taking better care of myself.”
His cop face was firmly in place as his eyes roamed over my face. He must have seen what he was looking for, because he nodded and grabbed my hand, holding it tight.
“Now, about Kill.” He shifted uncomfortably in the driver’s seat.
Mortification turned my face bright red.Please don't have the sex talk.I chanted in my head.
“You scared that boy half to death. He turned as white as a ghost when you went down. The boys had to convince him driving would be faster than running to the hospital with you in his arms. I don’t want to tell you what to do. The last time I did, you stuck with someone who wasn’t the person I thought he was. It was my selfishness in wanting you to be safe that put blinders on me. I want you to be happy, Faith. I'll be supportive of whatever you decide. I'm extremely proud of the person you’ve become. As long as that boy treats you right, and he makes you happy, then you have my blessing. The way he looked after you, showed how much he loves you. Hell, all of those boys were worried about you. The whole time you were being patched up, they were harassing every hospital worker who walked by to find out how you were doing.”
I laughed picturing the JackholeS pestering the hospital staff. Those boys had become my world. I loved them all, and they deserved to have their dreams come true.
“Thanks, Dad. I'm sorry I ruined Thanksgiving. If it's any consolation, I'm glad you and Martha were here. Those boys needed someone to keep them in line while I was down. They’ve been through a lot, and they take family seriously. They would do anything for the people they love.”Now it was my turn to reciprocate.
Everyone flooded out the door when they heard us pull up.
Kill wrapped his arm around my shoulder, leading me inside. The delicious smells which could only be associated with Thanksgiving hit me as soon as I stepped in the door.
Tears flooded my eyes when I realized they had finished dinner. Denise and Ryan stood next to Martha, explaining they’d come as soon as they heard. The love I felt surrounding me had me turning into Kill's shoulder to soak up the tears streaming down my face.
Martha took charge of the chaos as everyone started talking at once. After all of us were arranged on the living-room floor, Martha handed me a plate.
"I talked to the doctor, and he said everything on your plate is okay to eat." She patted me on the cheek and turned around to make my dad's plate.
“Hah, now you know how I feel. You can’t get anything past that woman," my dad said.
Kill sat next to me, not letting me out of his sight. “You scared the shit out of me, Slick. Don’t ever do that to me again,” he whispered in my ear.
