Chapter 6
The first morning
Janet awoke with a jump. "Shit" she heard from the other room and then some banging on the bed. Wiping the sleep from her eyes she stumbled into the living room.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I've got to go to the bathroom and you've got me locked in here like an animal." He answered rattling the bars.
Grabbing the wheel chair she came over to the bed, lowered the bed with a button on the remote and lowered the rail. She then pushed another button to lift the back of the bed so it was easier for him to get out of the bed. She helped him into the chair and got him to the bathroom, leaving him to make something to eat. She scrambled some eggs and returned to the bathroom to check on him. She was surprised to find him trying to back out on his own. She got him back to bed , brought him the food and another happy pill.
"Want some company?" she asked. "No sense in going back to sleep the nurse will be here in 2 hours." Grabbing a TV tray, she made some eggs for herself and sat so they could face each other.
"These are the best eggs ever." Eddie said making small talk.
"No, you hate scrambled eggs but I'm not good at over easy so this is what you've got."
"Ok I admit it, not my first choice but still WAY better than hospital food." They both laughed.
Finishing his eggs Eddie reached for a pain pill. "Yea know I really hate how sleepy these make me."
"Better than pain." She answered.
"Hey what's with sleeping on the couch?" Eddie asked.
Just then Janet's cell phone rang. Glad for the interruption, even at 6:45 am, Janet got up and answered it.
"Hey Sam, " she said recognizing his name on her cell. "No we're up. Sure, here." Handing her cell to Eddie she said, "I think he wants to come say hi on his way to school."
"Hey Sam! How goes it? Sure if it's ok with mom you can come by any time." He said looking at Janet who stood there nodding. "Ok well just so long as you're not late for school. See yea in a few minutes." And he hung up the phone.
"Well I'm gonna grab a quick shower before he gets here." Janet said clearing the breakfast plate and handing him the remotes. "Are you good."
"Yup. Pill is starting to work!" He said with a smile.
Quick didn't describe Janet's shower. She was back in the living room in less than 15 minutes. Hair in a towel, no make up, wearing old jeans and a nicer blouse. She opened the blinds to let in the morning sun as she saw Sam ride up on his bike. "Good morning Sam!" she said opening the door as he came up the stairs.
"Hey Janet, is he awake."
"Think so, the medicine is making him groggy but you should be good to talk."
"Hey Sam, how goes it?" Eddie said greeting one of his favorite people.
"Goes good. You don't look too bad." Sam answered. "Does it hurt?"
"Yea man it does, pretty bad. But no worries. I'll be up and around in no time. I've got the best nurse in town." He answered looking at Janet. Sam turned and looked at her too. She was in the kitchen, setting up the coffee pot and didn't hear them talking.
"Yea she's the greatest. Hey did I tell you? I've got a part in the fifth grade show. Do you think you'll be able to come see it?"
"You bet. Just let the warden know when and where" Eddie said nodding to Janet walking in the room. Leaning in he added in a loud whisper, "you ask her, she's mean to me, last night she said she'd get me ice cream and never gave it to me." Smiling he made eye contact with Janet.
"What are you two conspiring?" She asked her two favorite men.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Eddie said chuckling.
Handing Sam a brown bag with some cookies in it she said. "You've got about 10 minutes and you'd better go, Mom won't let you come back if you're late even once."
Sam nodded. "Can I stop on my way back. I ride right past here?" He asked.
"Sure thing, I've got to finish getting ready, 8 minutes, then out." Janet said heading to the bathroom.
Her boys visited while she put on some make up and brushed her hair. When she came back out Sam had left. The front door was wide open and a cool breeze put a chill in the room. Closing the door she wondered about a late frost.
Looking over at Eddie she noticed he had already fallen back to sleep. Turning on the morning news she finished straightening up.
The visiting nurse finally showed up around 10:15. Janet was taken aback by how beautiful she appeared. She was almost certain she was NOT a nurse but banished that thought from her mind.
Eddie was still sleeping. So Janet showed the nurse her charts and graphs. The nurse also had a list of things she would like to see Janet do. They ranged from nutrition to hygiene. While the nurse set up her supplies Janet tried to wake Eddie.
"Come on Batman, time to get up. It's time to get poked and prodded." She said gently. When she gently touched his arm he jumped with a start, fists clinched. A bit frightened Janet said softly. "Eddie, Eddie, its Janet wake up the nurse is here." Eddie finally focused and nodded.
Wiping the sleep from his eyes he managed to say, "Bathroom". Janet helped him into the wheel chair and got him into the bathroom and returned to the nurse.
"You can expect him to jump like that for a while" the nurse said. "The medication really helps patients sleep deeply and victims of violent crimes tend to be more jumpy." Janet never really thought of Eddie's beating as a violent crime but of course it was. She promised herself to remember that when he got cranky. Bathroom banging broke her thoughts as she got up to help him out of the bathroom.
"Can I stay in my chair or do I need the bed?" He asked the nurse.
"Bed, I need to check your wounds and it will be easier there."
"If you two are ok, I'm going to start some laundry" Janet said figuring Eddie would like some privacy. "Call me if you need me."
Patient and nurse talked comfortably during the exam. Entering the room with a basket of clean clothes to fold Janet was shocked to see Eddie's naked from the waist up. His body was badly bruised and it frightened her. Eddie quickly glanced at Janet and noticed the fear in her eyes. All he wanted to do was hug her and tell her it would be fine.
"Miss Meadows. We are going to add something to your morning routine. Before I come you must get Mr. Latke showered. When I or the other nurses come in the morning we can re wrap his ribs. Leave the wrap on in the shower but take it off before you get him in bed, ok?" Janet nodded. "I've got a few patients to see but I can be back in about 2 hours. That should be enough time." Janet looked at Eddie even more concerned. She hadn't thought about his bandages. She and the guys figured Owen would come help with a daily shower at night after work. Taking a deep breath she decided it could be done without any problems.
Turning back to the patient the nurse continued. "Eddie I'm going to wrap them now and again when I get back. It will feel uncomfortable but when you're in the shower you'll appreciate it."
"When do you think I can get crutches?" He asked. "I hate the wheel chair already."
The nurse chuckled, "your ribs have to heal and you'll have to strengthen your upper arms. Let people help you Eddie, sit back and enjoy the ride." Soon the nurse had packed her bag and left.
