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Chapter 4
The more Chris thought about what had just happened the angrier he got. Mickie had been lying to him but not just him it would seem. She'd been lying to the hospital too. He just didn't know why. He was sure of one thing though, he planned to find out.
The sound of the phone ringing interrupted his thoughts. He pondered about answering it for a few seconds but decided against that. He needed to talk to Mickie face to face. The phone rang a couple of times more before the answer machine kicked in.
'Hi, this is Mickie, I can't come to the phone right now, so leave me your name and number and I'll get back to you when I can. Don't forget to wait for the tone. Thanks.'
The tone sounded and a male voice started to speak.
"Hey Micks, it's me, John. I'm in LA right now but I just spoke to your brother. He told me about Chris so I thought I'd call you to see how you're doing. I'm sorry I can't be there for you but I can't you and you know how it is. Just don't let Chris weasel his way back into your affections okay? I know it's been difficult to see him since the divorce. Sorry, I'm being called away, just wanted to tell you that I miss you and I'll call you tomorrow to see how you're doing. Take care."
Chris, felt the anger rising within him. First her brother now this John guy. He got back into the wheelchair and wheeled himself back over to the fireplace. His gaze was focused on the wedding photo on the mantle. It seemed to be mocking him. Why did she still have this up if they were divorced? He got up from the chair and grabbed the photo. He took one more look at it before throwing it on the floor in front of him. He lost his balance in the process and fell forward onto the broken glass, sending the chair flying backwards.
Chris groaned as the pain shot through his leg. Damn, he hadn't meant for that to happen. He crawled forward slowly to the coffee table and managed to grab the phone and dialled the only number he knew, 911.
* * * * *
Mickie had been longer at the store than she'd planned. Lisa Marie and Adam had been there with Adam Junior. She hadn't seen them in such a long time that she had stopped to catch up with them over coffee. As she pulled into the driveway she had a bad feeling in her gut. Something was wrong or maybe she was just feeling guilty about lying to Chris again.
She got out of her car and walked towards the front door. She tried the handle and the door opened. Now she knew something was wrong. She'd definitely locked it when she left this morning. Cautiously, she opened the door.
"Chris?" she called out. No answer. "Chris?" Still, no answer. She walked into the living room and saw the broken glass and smashed wedding photo on the floor. "Chris?" she called out again.
She ran into Chris's bedroom. The wheelchair was in there but no signs of Chris. Where the hell was he? Mickie went back into the living room, noticing the message light was flashing on her answer machine, she pressed the play button.
"You have two new messages," the machine informed her, "First new message."
Mickie listened to John's message, praying that Chris hadn't heard it. Her heart was in her mouth as she recognised the voice on the second message.
"Hello Mickie, this is Doctor Holt. Your husband is here at the hospital after his fall. He's in the OR being prepped for surgery. Come down as soon as you can."
Mickie ran out of the house and jumped into her car, speeding off towards the hospital.
* * * * *
After what seemed like forever, she was finally allowed to see him. She still hadn't been told what had happened. Only that Chris had fallen out of his wheelchair and had managed to phone 911. She found herself sitting in the chair by his bed, waiting for him to wake up again. It was something she hadn't thought she'd be doing so soon after he'd left hospital the first time. This time it was different, this time she knew he'd be waking up soon. Just not any time soon by the look of him. At least he wasn't wired up to a machine again. He looked peaceful in his sleep. Mickie hoped his dreams were happy ones and he wasn't still plagued by the nightmares like he was before the crash. At least the amnesia was good for something. She took his hand in her own, closed her eyes and waited.
Mickie could hear somebody calling her name. She shifted her position in the chair. Her eyes snapped open as she recognised the voice, Chris.
"How long have you been awake?" she asked.
"Not long," Chris replied, "Sorry, about the mess at the house."
"I don't care about that house, just about you! What happened?" Mickie asked.
'Liar!' Chris thought, but said nothing.
When it became obvious he wasn't going to say anything, Mickie took his hand in hers and squeezed it slightly. "It's really okay, I'm not mad about you breaking the wedding photo, we can get a new frame."
"Do you love me?" Chris blurted out suddenly.
"What kind of question is that?" Mickie asked. She was starting to thinking he'd heard the answer machine message.
"Do you love me, yes or no?" he almost demanded.
"Chris, what's gotten into you? Of course, I love you," Mickie replied. It wasn't a lie, in spite of everything; she really did still love him.
"Don't lie to me Mickie," Chris said.
"I'm not lying, tell me what's going on," Mickie said.
"If you love me so much, why are we divorced?" he asked.
Mickie's mouth dropped open. She closed it again quickly. It was obvious that he clearly didn't remember anything. He must have heard John's answer machine message. She made a mental note to kill John next time she saw him. Looks like she'd have to tell him the truth after all.
"It's complicated," Mickie replied, "how did you find out? Did you hear John's message?"
"Yes, but that's not how I found out, your brother dropped by the house while you were at the store," Chris said.
"My brother?" Mickie asked, clearly shocked.
"Yes, apparently I'm number one on his shit list," he told her.
"I'm confused, what?" Mickie asked.
"You're confused, how do you think I feel? A total stranger walks into my so called home, tells me that no one is buying the amnesia bullshit, we're been divorced for 18 months and if I hurt you again, he was going to kill me himself," Chris said.
"He did what?" Mickie asked angrily." I'm going to kill him."
"So it's true, all of it?" he asked.
"Yes," Mickie whispered.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Chris demanded.
"I thought about it but Doctor Holt said I should try to avoid things that might stress you out," Mickie admitted.
"Well, I'm stressed now," Chris replied sharply. Unseen by Mickie he pressed the nurse call button on the side of his bed.
"Look, Chris, I know you're angry and you have every right to be," she said.
The door opened and a nurse walked in, "Is something wrong Mr Irvine?"
"I didn't press the call button," Mickie said.
"No, but I did," Chris cut in. "I'd like you to have my ex-wife removed from this room and I don't want her back in here for the rest of my stay."
"What?" Mickie said, "Please, Chris, let me explain."
"There's nothing to explain, you lied to me, end of story," Chris spat bitterly.
"I'm sorry Mrs Irvine, I'm going to have to ask you to leave, you being here is obviously affecting Mr Irvine's health," the nurse said.
"I'm not going anywhere until we've sorted this out, Chris please," Mickie almost begged.
Chris ignored her pleas. He turned himself in the bed as much as possible so he didn't have to face her.
"You're going to have to go or else I'm calling security," the nurse told her.
"Chris?" Mickie said.
No answer.
"You know what? I'm gonna go, but I'm coming back, you'll have to listen to me sometime," Mickie told him.
"Just go," Chris said bitterly.
Mickie blinked back the tears that were already starting to form. She cursed her brother and John for interfering. "Goodbye Chris."
No answer.
Mickie left the room with the nurse and had vanished before she could be questioned.
Outside the hospital, Mickie pulled out her cell phone, quickly dialling the number she needed. Three rings and the call was answered.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?"