Chapter 4

Jane raised heavy eyelids and gazed around the room. Ugly wallpaper. Sink. Wall-mounted TV. Door with u-shaped handle. When she glanced down at the labeled bracelet on her wrist, and realized that she was indeed, in the hospital, she groaned, "Crap."

"Good morning to you too," she heard Ben say from behind her. She rolled onto her back, but stopped at a twinge of pain just above her right waist. She reached down and felt the bulk of gauze just above her hip bone and turned her head toward Ben instead. "You," he said leaning forward in his chair, "had appendicitis."

"Crap," Jane said again.

"Yeah, but the doctors said you're gonna be fine, they might even let you go home tomorrow." He caught her scanning the rest of the room and continued, "I sent Billy home so he could get some sleep and make it to school. He can't afford any unexcused absences while he's still waiting on a decision from Judge Pope."

"Right," Jane nodded, although she was still disappointed. "So tomorrow is the earliest I can get out of here?"

"Yep," Ben answered. "Anxious to get back to school already?"

Jane smirked sarcastically, "Yeah, something like that." She pointed to her purse and pushed herself into a seated position, "Can you hand me that? I need my phone."

"Why?" Ben asked without moving.

She looked at him as if he had asked her the answer to "1+1." "So I can call Gray. Tell her I can't come in today. See if there's anything I can get done by phone or online."

Ben shook his head. "No. I called and told them you were sick. Anything else can wait. You need to rest."

"Ben don't, okay. I'm fine."

"Are you?" he asked "If you weren't, would you even tell me?"

Though Ben's voice was low and calm, Jane heard the anger there. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"Your doctor said that along with the fever you came in with, and the vomiting Billy told me about, you were also probably in a lot of pain for the past few days. So while they were wondering why I didn't bring you in sooner, I was wondering why you didn't tell me."

Her cheeks flamed with guilt. "I'm sorry, Ben."

"We agreed. No more lies."

"I know, but I really didn't think it was a big deal," she rationalized. "I figured it was just a stomach bug."

"You still should have told me, Jane!" Ben stood and began pacing back and forth at the foot of Jane's bed. "The thing is, I think you would have if it weren't for this internsh-, this job. Tell me you weren't hiding being sick so I wouldn't make you miss work." Jane pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, but remained silent.

"Right." Ben continued, "I don't think this is gonna work, Jane. I know I said you could keep working, and a part of me thought I was doing the right thing, letting you pursue your dream, but I don't believe that anymore."

"Ben, wait! I know -"

"No, Jane. As smart and capable as you are, you're still a kid. You're still going to make mistakes, and that's okay, but I can't let you keep doing this. This job is forcing you to make adult choices—wellness vs. deadlines, truth vs. omission, career vs. family—choices that you aren't ready to make yet. I can't let you stay in a situation that I know you aren't ready to handle."

"No! Ben, I'm sorry. I swear I won't lie to you again," Jane's voice cracked as the words tumbled out. She and Ben both knew that the tears would soon follow. "I know you're mad, but please don't make me quit. Ground me. Take the car. Anything!"

He sat down on the edge of the bed to face her and wiped her tears. "Jane, I'm not doing this to punish you. I'm doing this because I want to protect you. I couldn't handle it if anything happened to you. I need you to stay safe, and right now, the best way I can keep you safe is to help you make good decisions or make them for you when I have to."

"So that's it then?" Jane asked. She wiped at her eyes angrily and leaned back against the headboard with her arms crossed.

"For now," he answered. "We'll get all the details figured out later. Until then, just calm down and try to get some rest."

"Right," she snapped.

"I really did want this to work out for you, Jane," Ben offered.

"Um huh," she nodded, "Can we—I'm tired. I'm gonna go back to sleep." She slid back down onto her pillow and turned over onto her side, her back to Ben.

"Okay," he said. He squeezed her shoulder and she felt the mattress shift as he stood. "Okay."