Chapter 2
Jenny's heart leapt as Helen managed to say her name. She reached down and squeezed her hand. "I'm here. I'm right here."
Helen's mouth moved slightly, but not to speak, more of an acknowledgement as she moved her hand in response to Jenny's presence. Someone familiar, warm and comfortable to sit with her.
Jenny moved her thumb over the keys on her cell phone, glancing down only to verify that it was the Donnelly's home number on the screen. Holding the phone to her ear she waited patiently.
"Hey."
"Kevin? Kevin, your mom said my name… and squeezed my hand!" Jenny tried hard not to shout into the phone as her excitement bubbled up.
"Wait… Jenny? How'd you know Ma was-"
"Never mind that. Get to the hospital, Kevin." Jenny hung up and smiled. "Your sons will be here soon."
Kevin called his brothers while running the seven and a half blocks to the hospital. He got to the lobby the same time as Jimmy, who was supposed to be switching with Joanie in just a bit.
The elevator was old and slow, giving Kevin time to ask his brother how his night was. "Did you get high?"
Jimmy's laugh was more of a cackle and in itself an answer. "Do I look good?"
Kevin decided that the best thing to do would be to drop it as the doors opened into the ICU. They walked toward the room Helen was in and could hear Jenny talking to her as they got closer.
Helen's eyes were open, but she made no attempt to move or speak as Jimmy and Kevin walked in.
"She's in a ton of pain despite the high doses of meds they have her on." Jenny looked concerned as she hugged both boys.
Kevin sat on the edge of the bed and smiled at Helen. "Hey, Mom, you look a lot better than you did six hours ago."
Helen managed to move her mouth in a slight smile, but nothing more.
Jimmy leaned in and kissed the side of her head. "Hey, Ma, all's good huh?"
Kevin rolled his eyes and hoped the medication was high enough to let her forget her son came in stoned.
Tommy and Sean sat in the van, neither speaking. Sean fiddled with the knobs, the lights, the cigarette lighter, the radio, anything to keep him from looking into the back. Finally he let his head fall against the back of the seat and stared up at the mirror. It reflected the mess they'd put themselves, and ultimately their mother through. "Lot's of blood, Tommy."
"Yeah."
"She almost died."
Tommy nodded. He wasn't sure why they decided to go sit in the van, but wandering aimlessly through New York streets after midnight wasn't exactly ideal. So, here they were. "Where's your phone? I'm going to call Kev and see if we have any news."
Sean dug his phone out and held up a finger. "Missed call… it was Kevin." He dialed in the number, but was disappointed to hear the voicemail pick up immediately.
Tommy stared at Sean a moment. "Maybe he's at the hospital?"
Sean's face betrayed his panic as he gunned the engine and floored the accelerator, heading for the nearest back road that would take them to the hospital.
Tommy and Sean ran the whole way from the lower garage lot to the ICU room where their mother was lying.
"Is everything ok?" Tommy gasped as they pushed into the room.
Helen managed a better smile, still lying flat as a nurse checked her vitals.
"She's in a lot of pain." Jenny seemed unable to focus on anything else. "But, she is awake and aware of everything." He final words brought pure relief to Tommy's face and she loved to see it. It'd been a long time since she was able to make him happy.
"Thank God." Sean mumbled as her ran his fingers over his chest in the familiar Catholic way. He didn't pray often and preferred to save up his points with the Almighty for important circumstances. This had been one of those times.
The nurse turned to Kevin who was still perched on the end of the bed. "I want her head elevated above her chest so we can be sure it's pumping properly with the damage. You need to steady her as I raise the bed, she might get very dizzy, and maybe sick."
Kevin nodded as he rested his hands against his mother's shoulders and the bed rose slowly up. He watched her eyes shut tightly and her teeth clenched hard, betraying her agony.
Finally she spoke. "Stop!" It was louder than anyone expected her capable of, but the pain was becoming unbearable and the room was spinning even through closed eyelids.
The nurse pulled her finger from the control instantly. "Okay, Mrs. Donnelly. Take a few deep breaths, we don't want you getting sick all over your son."
Kevin grinned as he watched his mother open her eyes again.
"Well, at least you can see them now." The nurse spoke while moving some of the tubes and wires to under the pillow so they wouldn't get caught up. "If the pain gets worse, lay her down and call for me."
"Thank you ma'am." Kevin nodded to the nurse before leaning forward and kissing his mom on the forehead.
Tommy and Sean grabbed the chairs that were just outside of the room and parked themselves on her right opposite Jimmy and Jenny.
"You look good, Ma, the color's back in your face." He reached across and squeezed her hand gently. "Real good."
She let her head fall slowly to the side so she could see her second eldest better. "Tommy… did you get him?"
"Yeah, Ma, he's done." It was the first time any open exchange had occurred regarding their misdeeds and it surprised him that she asked.
"Good."
Her sons exchanged confused glances.
She cleared her throat and paused a moment. "I've wanted him dead for a very long time." She allowed a slight smirk as she began to drift back to sleep.
"Joey's bail was set at $200,000." Frankie sipped at his coffee as he let his words sink in.
Tommy had barely sat down on the stool next to Frankie when he hit him with that. "Isn't there a law about reasonable bail?"
Frankie shrugged. "Tell me, Tommy, what's reasonable on a murder beat?"
Tommy couldn't argue, whenever he had set out to pay bail on Jimmy they had been petty theft, car jackings with no damage on the vehicle, but never murder. "Hey, Jenny." Tommy took the coffee mug Jenny set down for him. "What time did you leave the hospital?"
"It was after four... Maybe near five." She shrugged and wiped her fingers on her apron. "If you need me for anything, to sit with her, or bring some food, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thanks." His eyes shone at her kindness. If only he'd been able to capture her heart from the beginning. Now all he had was her acknowledgement of his existence, nothing more.
Frankie leaned forward toward Jenny. "You keep being nice to him, he's not gonna quit."
Jenny smiled softly. "Yeah, well at least he's nothing beyond just annoying. Besides it's for his Ma."
"You're right… he could be ugly too."
Tommy rolled his eyes. "Can I get a sandwich for Seannie? He'll be there all day."
"Yeah, I'm make him a BLT. Take a muffin for him too."
Tommy smiled while he waited for her to wrap and bag up Sean's lunch. He set a ten on the counter and she shook her head slowly.
"No, Tommy… you guys are taking care of your mom, it's the least I can do."
He dropped his head slightly and fought a tear. "It means a lot, Jenny." He picked the ten back up and grabbed the bag, leaving to walk back to the hospital.
Sean was sitting on the bed, facing Helen who was trying to get down whatever sludge was on the tray in front of her.
"Look good, Ma."
Both looked up as Tommy came in.
Helen slid her glasses off her face and let them hang off the string around her neck. "I still feel weak."
"Keep eating and you'll feel better in no time."
Helen fixed her gaze on him a while longer. She couldn't read him since showing him those damn pictures. The red eyes, the tears on his cheeks, it made her regret it right away. She couldn't take it back, and now she didn't know what was going on in him.
"Ma, you gotta eat." Sean interrupted her thoughts as he slid the plate closer to her.
"I'm done, Seannie, thank you."
Sean sighed and pushed the tray cart off to the side as Helen eased herself back against the nearly upright pillows.
Tommy set the bag down next to Sean on the bed. "Jenny made you lunch."
Sean grinned. "Oh yeah?"
"That girl talking to you yet?" Helen smirked at Tommy and Sean stiffled a chuckle.
"You say that like you haven't known her for her entire life… and not really, no."
Helen shook her head and eyed him. "The tension between you two is unGodly and it's killing a long standing friendship."
Tommy didn't respond, but instead stared at the floor. How could he tell his mother he had a one-night stand with a married woman and than that woman shattered his heart. He simply couldn't and so he remained silent.
"Seannie, can you get me some tea?" Helen glanced at Sean.
Sean nodded and left knowing she needed to be alone with Tommy. The door swung shut slowly as Sean let it go.
"What's going on with you, Tommy? And I mean more than just Jenny." Despite the weakness she was feeling and the queasiness that was hitting her after the first semi-solid meal in days, she came across as the confident mother she always was.
"Just… a lot has happened, Ma."
"A lot has happened to all of us, and your bothers and I… we look better than you do." Her voice dropped to just above a whisper. "Come over here and talk to me."
He shoved his hands in his pockets and pushed the chair close to her bed using his foot. Than he slumped down in it, still silent.
"Tommy?" She reached out and he pulled his hand out to meet hers. "I love you, you know. Don't forget that… okay? Never forget that."
"I know." He looked up at her unsure of how to express his feelings about the life he lived that nearly killed her. "I've got to work this out on my own."
"Okay, Tommy." There was a trust in her voice that her heart didn't feel. Why did I show them to him? She was certain it was the root of this present turmoil.
They were both startled to hear a knock at the door. Sean was trying hard not to laugh as he pushed the door open with his foot, two cups in his hands. "I didn't want to scare you, I just wanted you to know I was back."
"Yeah, I can see." Tommy grinned as Sean handed him a steaming Styrofoam cup.
"Thank you, Seannie." Helen smiled as he propped up her pillows more and gave her the hot tea in his other hand.
"No problem." he walked to the foot of the bed and leaned with both elbows against the plastic bar across the bottom.
"Have you seen Nadine?" Tommy lifted his eyebrow, his lopsided smirk revealing his still boyish charm. He sobered his expression slightly. "I'm sorry about that last encounter, I must have traumatized her."
Helen closed her eyes and let herself listen to her sons toss insults and sarcasm back and forth, mostly about the women in their lives. When their banter had quieted, she took a stab at the 'girlfriend question,' eyes still closed. "What is it about her, Seannie?"
He was surprised she asked. "Everything, Ma. I mean literally from her looks, to her personality, the whole package."
"What about her looks?"
"Honest, giving, she'd do anything for ya, respectful, and she's got morals."
Tommy took this as an opportunity for more sarcasm. "Imagine that, Ma! Seannie dating a girl with morals."
Helen opened one eye to look at Tommy before shutting it again. "Yes, our little playboy is growing up."
"Not even funny guys!" Sean protested louder than he intended, earning him a disapproving look from a passing nurse. "What was that for?"
Tommy shrugged. "We are still in the ICU, other patients are probably in pretty bad shape." Tommy stood and let his fingers trail across the blanket on the bed toward the pillow. "I have to get to the bar, Jimmy needs help with some stuff. "Rest, Ma."
"I'll try." She smiled as he kissed the top of her head and walked out.
"Jenny makes good food… you want some?" Sean held half the sandwich up.
Helen groaned and shook her head. "The sludge I just ate is more than my stomach can handle, Seannie."
He settled into the chair next to her and opened up his GED book, trying to make sense of it as he ate.
Helen let her eyes drift shut, falling asleep still clutching the cup of tea.
