Chapter 7
It had been a week since Sharon had returned home from the hospital and her recovery was proving harder than she had anticipated. Andy had been amazing but the time had come for him to return to work, Rusty would be pop in through out the day to check on her. Sharon felt so loved but at the same time she was frustrated, she hated being looked after and treated like a child. She knew that Andy and Rusty had not intended to make her feel this way they were just looking after her. She had to appreciate that and focus on recovering as quickly as could so her life could get back to normal. The doctors had to told her take it easy but move around as much as she was able, Sharon knew that laying in bed feeling frustrated would be doing her no good so she decided to get up and shower. It would be the first shower she will have had alone in almost three weeks. Letting out a deep breath she swung her legs around out the bed feeling the familiar burn of her incision it caused her to let out a small hiss, the burn was getting less ferocious in its intensity and for that she was thankful. She stood slowly and when she felt confident enough walked cautiously to the bathroom, turning on the shower was going to be a problem as she would have to stretch slightly to do so. The first attempt failed leaving her hissing in pain and clutching her side. The second attempt ending the same way, just as she had recovered enough to attempt it a third time she heard a knock at the front door. Rusty would be here to check on her she thought as she began the slow walk to answer the door, weird that he knocked probably forgot his key she surmised and continued to the door. Just as she reached the door the was another loud knock.
"Yes I'm coming," she announced frustrated as she opened the door, she had expected to see Rusty but was instead met the familar face of her ex-husband which was plastered with a big goofy smile. She wanted to shut the door on his stupid grin and go back to bed.
"Hey Sharon how are you feeling? Can I come in?" asked Jack, as he did he held out a huge bouquet of her favourite flowers. Sharon didn't take the flowers instead she stood wondering if she could still get away with just closing the door in his face.
"What are you doing here Jack?" asked Sharon making sure he knew by her tone that his visit was not welcome.
"I just came by to see you were ok and bring you these," he replied and again held out the flowers for her to take. Sharon sighed and crossed her arms neither letting him in the apartment nor taking the flowers he was so determined to give her.
"Oh don't be like that Sharon I honestly was worried about you and wanted to see you were recovering well, when I seen you in the hospital I..."
"What do you mean at the hospital?" Interrupted Sharon, "You never came to see me Jack so don't give me your false concern" and with that went to finally close the door.
"Sharon I did ask Andy!" exclaimed Jack, he knew she was going to be difficult but he never thought she would be this cold.
"What are you talking about Jack," asked Sharon crossing her arms again.
"Emily called me to let me know what had happened, I panicked and headed straight over to see you but when I got there you were totally passed out and Andy basically kicked me out without so much as a hello," his voice full of pleading.
"Can you really blame him?" replied Sharon, her expression never moving from the steely position it sat.
"Well of course not that's why I waited until now to see you I didn't want to upset anyone honestly Sharon I just wanted to make sure you were ok, as much as you probably won't believe it I do care about you." He let out a small sigh and dropped the flowers to his side,"Sorry I didn't mean to bother you I will leave you alone." Jack turned and hung his head to make sure he looked extra pathetic as he walked toward the elevator.
"Jack wait," called out Sharon, "thank you for coming by its very kind and seeing as you're here you can come inside and do me a favour," finished Sharon and she turned and began a slow walk to the bathroom.
"Sure, yes anything Sharon you're the boss of course," laughed Jack behind her as he followed her towards the bathroom, the comment made Sharon wish she had just shut the door on his face when she had the chance...
Sharon towel dried her hair then struggled her way in to her yoga pants and a large sweater but was proud she had done it herself. She thought about drying her hair but the thought alone exhausted her so she left it knowing that it would dry in a mass of curls but she didn't mind all she wanted was to sit down on the couch with some tea and her book. The sudden realisation that Jack was still there made her shudder. She walked slowly towards the kitchen putting her shoulders back determined not to look vulnerable in front of Jack.
"Hey how was your shower?" asked Jack looking concerned. He had been waiting ages and was getting bored, this was not how he had planned this visit in his head.
"It was fine thanks, do you not have anywhere else to be," huffed Sharon, his presence already ruining her post shower buzz.
Jack chose to ignore her rudeness, "I made you some tea, why don't you get comfy on the couch and I will bring it over," smiled Jack. Sharon almost dropped to the floor in shock, Jack never bothered to make her tea the entire time they were married, well maybe a couple of times when they were first married but aside from that never. Sharon was almost too shocked to reply.
"Erm, yes thank you Jack that would be lovely," she managed to stutter and then lowered herself slowly to the couch.
He smirked, he knew that would work, when they were first married that's all he had to do to get her in to bed was make her one of her stupid mugs of tea. The shocked look on her face when he told her he had made tea made him think that this might a lot easier than he first thought. He brought the tea over to her and leaned over her to set it on the coffee table, he caught a whiff of her shampoo, still the same sweet scent, Sharon never changed he thought to himself. He sat in the chair opposite her and studied her as she sipped on her tea. Her face was pale and tired looking but she was still as pretty as ever, although she had let her hair go all wild and curly and he hated seeing it like that, would have killed her to dry her hair knowing he was here.
"How's the tea? asked Jack gently. "It's fine Jack thank but really have you no where else to be?" sighed Sharon then took another sip of her tea, it was delicious but there was no way she would tell him that.
"Yeah course sorry," said Jack and stood up to leave, "thanks for letting me see you were ok Sharon, I can relax now knowing your fine." Jack made sure to look her deeply in the eyes as he said this. "Thanks for your concern Jack but as you can see I'm fine no need to worry, thanks for turning on the shower and for the tea. Now you know where the door is," she replied with a small smile. He was staring at her and she was finding it quite unnerving.
"Sure, bye Sharon take care," he leaned over and quickly kissed the top of her head then left leaving Sharon completely dumbfounded. What the heck had happened to Jack when had he become nice, she shook her head then noticed the bouquet of flowers he had brought sitting perfectly arranged in a vase on her coffee table. Sharon took another sip of the warm comforting tea and admired the flowers maybe Jack had finally changed she thought. Out of the whole bizarre visit one thing bothered her though, why had Andy not told her that Jack came to the hospital?
Jack could hardly contain the smile on his as he walked to his car, he had played that perfectly couldn't have gone any better. He started his car and revved the engine a couple of times in celebration he reversed out and drove towards the nearest casino.
