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“How is she?” My mom tells her everything, and she jumps up to hug me. “I’m so relieved. You know, big brother, seeing you with Mel makes me realize just how much Doug means to me. I need to go home and call him to make sure he knows.” I smile and squeeze her.
“I’m happy for you, Karen, but you know if he breaks your heart, I’ll fucking kill him.” We both laugh when she pulls away.
“Keith?” I look up at Connie who I didn’t even notice come back in the room. “Mel’s parents left for the night, and she’s asking for you. Are you going to be alright here by yourself?” I stand up and grab the three of them in a group hug.
“I’m not alone, I’ve got my girl.”
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p; I make my way back up to Mel’s room, and she is sleeping when I walk in. I take that time to just look at her. Even with the swelling, bruising, and cuts she is still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I pull up a chair and reach for her hand. “Never did I think that I would find my true love, the other half of my heart, here at home. I left New York so conflicted about so many things, and I came here thinking I needed to help my family, to save them. But it didn’t happen that way. You helped me; you saved me Mel. I will spend the rest of my life making sure to do the same for you, I promise you that.” I kiss her hand over and over again and sit there for hours watching her sleep.
I wake up to a whispering voice. I snap my head up and see a nurse talking quietly to Mel. “I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t quiet enough.” I realize I am still holding Mel’s hand and clear my throat.
“That’s alright; I need to be awake to check on my girl anyway.” Mel turns her head and smiles at me. “How are you feeling?” The nurse injects a shot into her IV and turns her back to us.
“Sore, but hopefully, not for long.” The nurse laughs and pushes the cart out of the room. “You should go back to sleep. Once this shot starts working, it will knock me out.” I stand, kiss her lips, and stare into her medicated eyes.
“Not going to happen. I’ll get plenty of sleep when you are out of here and in my arms.” She shakes her head but never breaks eye contact.
“I love you so much, Keith. I thought for sure that I was going to die, and I just kept thinking I felt cheated because I didn’t want to leave you.” A tear rolls down her cheek, and I kiss it away.
“Don’t, sweetheart. I love you too. You don’t need to replay it.”
“Yes, I do. I need to. I’ve never been so scared. He kept telling me over and over that I deserved it, and after a while, I wanted to die because the pain was too much. I didn’t want to feel anything anymore. I knew having my name in the paper was a bad thing, but I didn’t think it would cost me my life. It did though. I don’t know if I can do it anymore. I’m scared.” She is almost sobbing at this point, and I hug her close to me.
“I will support you with any decision you make, but let’s not make any now. Let’s get you healed. I promise you, I will never let anything like that happen to you again. If I’m not home with you in New York, I’ll have someone there. I’ll make you feel safe again.”
“How did I get so lucky?” I feel a tear escape my eye.
“You’ve got it all wrong. I’m the lucky one.”
I’ve been in the hospital for a few days now, but tomorrow, I’m finally going home. Keith hasn’t left my side at all. I finally got him to go home and shower when I told him he stunk. Even then, he made sure to have Connie sit with me. My parents left yesterday and promised to visit once I was settled in New York. My mom loved Keith right away, and my dad took a bit, but he finally came around. That’s my dad though; no one is good enough for his little girl. I know down the road he and Keith will get along great, and that in itself makes me smile.
I just sent Keith to get me something to eat because this hospital food is shit. My hand is still in a cast, which they say will probably be on for a few weeks. My ribs hurt like a bitch, so I’m still taking pain medicine, but they are making me take it as a pill now, so I can continue it when I leave. It’s not as good as the shot, but it is better than nothing. The swelling in my face has gone down almost completely, but the bruising and cuts are still there. I can deal with the pain, but I don’t like to look at myself like that. The first time I went into the bathroom and saw myself, I cried for a good half hour. Keith, of course, held me and helped me through it, telling me how beautiful I am, regardless.
“Miss Thompson?” I snap out of my thoughts and look up to see a detective and two police officers.
“Yes.” They come in and stand in front of me.
“My name is Detective Jones, and this is Sergeant Smith and Captain Banks. We have been the leads in your case. I’d like a few minutes of your time, if that is alright.” Relive the most horrible thing that has ever happened to me, yes, please, I look forward to it. I don’t say that though, and I just nod my head. “You know we have the man who attacked you in custody. He’s been charged with attempted manslaughter, breaking and entering, and felony charges for taking payment for the act. He was very cooperative, especially after your boyfriend shot him in the leg and threatened his life.” I look at them with wide eyes. I had no idea Keith shot him. “He told us that a colleague of yours, Sam Jenson, was the mastermind behind it all. I’ll admit, when we heard the name, we knew it would be a hard case because of his father; however, we finally arrested him this morning. His father was hiding him, so we knew if we told him he’d be arrested, he would give him up. He goes in front of a judge in the morning. I just wanted to let you know that we got him, so you don’t need to worry when you go home. Although with that boyfriend of yours, I’m sure you aren’t.” He smiles at me, but I’m trying to process everything he just told me. It’s all so overwhelming.
“Why? I want to know why he did this to me?” Right then, Keith walks in the room and rushes over to me.
“What’s going on?” He drops the food on my bed and grabs my hand. The detective introduces himself again and fills him in on what he just told me. “Good. He better not get out, because I will make good on my threat.” The detective nods his head, and I wonder what the hell that means. My anger is starting to consume me the more they talk. Jenson was always a fucking prick, but I didn’t think he was capable of something like this. I just want to know why. That’s all I want to know. It’s boiling up inside of me, the pain, the fear, the anger.
“WHY?” I scream at the top of my lungs and begin to cry. “Why?” I whisper when they all look at me, and Keith wraps me in his comforting arms.
“Miss Thompson, I wish I had an answer for you. I don’t know why. He lawyered up and hasn’t said a word since he was arrested. As soon as we know something, we will be in contact.” That’s not what I want to hear. That’s a bullshit answer. How the fuck is that supposed to help me? I don’t bother saying anything, and I just cry into Keith’s chest, even after I hear them all leave the room.
“It’s alright. I’ve got you. Let it out, sweetheart.” He is stroking my hair and kissing my head over and over. It is so comforting.
“I need to know why, Keith. That’s all I want to know.” After I have no more tears left, I pull back and look at him.
“I don’t have the answers, but I can give you my opinion.” I nod my head. “Jenson wanted you, and you didn’t return those feelings. He dealt with it until I came into the picture. When he saw you with me, he knew he didn’t stand a chance. He would have done anything to make you his. He wanted to make us both suffer, and when he found out that guy wanted to hurt you, he found his way. He is going to pay for what he did, I promise you that.” A few more tears escape, and he wipes them away.
“That’s fucked up, but it may be true. How long before we can leave for New York? I don’t want to stay here.” He kisses my lips and sits in a chair next to me, but not before handing me my hamburger. He’s always making sure I eat. I love him for it.
“I’ve had my mom and sisters packing non-stop the last few days. I even made them follow the list I found on your nightstand.” I giggle, but I’m so grateful. I need my stuff done in a certain order. “My mom has court tomorrow, and then I’m breaking you out of the joint. I figure, if you are up for it, we can head to New York Monday or Tuesday.” I break out in the biggest smile I can remember.
