Something Different
Chapter 12
"So, who is it?" she asked.
"If I told you, I would have to kill you" I replied laughing.
"Seriously Steph, who have you chosen?
I stared down at my hands before answering. Something was missing.
"Mary Lou, have you seen my ring?" I asked
She looked at me "Huh?"
"My engagement ring, where is it?"
"Oh, in the top drawer beside you. We thought it would be safer in there"
I breathed a sigh of relief. "For a minute there, I thought I had lost it" I said opening the drawer and pulling it out. I slipped it back on my finger.
"Hang on, does this mean…"
"Yeah, who the hell was I trying to kid, he's the only one whose told me he loves me, and that I've said it back. I guess its Burg fate or something"
Mary Lou squealed with happiness, until the nurse came and told us to quiet down.
"Steph, don't get upset or anything, but what if he's not the father? Joe forgiving and all, after all he forgave you for sleeping with Ranger, I think he's forgive you for kissing Ranger on your wedding day, but I don't think that he's ready to raise another man's child"
"Well, that was the other thing I was thinking about. I was reading a hospital magazine, and read something about paternity testing. I meant to ask Doctor Tim about it earlier."
*******
"Doctor Tim, Doctor Tim, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yes, Stephanie, what is it?"
"I was wondering, could you please tell me about paternity testing?"
"Sure, well there is two types, one is normal DNA testing, done after the child is born, and the other is Pre-natal Paternity Testing, while the fetus is still in the womb" he went of the explain exactly what was done in each procedure. "Why is it that you ask?"
"Well there's a possibility that my fiancée is not the father of my baby" I went on the explain about my night with Joe, then my night with Ranger, followed by his vasectomy revelation.
"I really don't think you need to worry about paternity testing, you said that you and Ranger used condoms right?"
I nodded yes
Well, condoms are 97% effective, I'd say with 97% certainty, that your fiancée is the father of your child, since you didn't use any protection."
"Yes, that's was I thought all along. Thank you for confirming my suspicions."
"Your welcome, I suggest that you go on the pill or get a diaphragm."
"Definitely"
*******
We stayed in Carson City for 2 more days, because Doctor Tim had banned me from travelling for a couple more days. I found out what Lula and Mary Lou had been doing while I was in hospital, they spent one day following Doctor Tim around the hospital, making up fake symptoms, and they spent the other day spending up big at the shops. Which is also what we did for the 2 extra days we had to stay.
I tried to delay calling my mother for as long as possible, but Mary Lou and Lula talked me into calling her.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mom."
"Omigod. Stephanie Plum do you have any idea how worried we are?" Mum kept on like that for another 5 minutes, until grandma Mazur took the phone off her.
"Hello Stephanie, how are you?"
"I'm good grandma, how's mum?"
"She'll be fine, she started to hyperventilate. So did you get it on with that spunky bounty hunter?"
"Grandma, how do you know?"
"I head at Clara's that you and Joe were going to get married, but Ranger showed up and you were kissing him."
Wow, that was almost accurate.
"Who did you hear it from?"
"Let me think, Joyce came in the day after Joe arrived home. She heard it from Terry Gilman, who heard it from, umm, Bella. You know, Bella always like Terry…"
*******
I hadn't realised this earlier, but Carson City had one of the biggest Macy's in the entire US. Which suited me, because I was in a major shopping mood.
1 hour later, when I ventured into the shoe's department, a black pair caught my eyes, they were exactly the same as the purple one one's that were destroyed in an apartment fire that happened about 6 months ago. Joe had really liked those shoes. Luckily they were also in my size, score!! Next think I had to find was a dress to go with them.
I was in a real high after finding those shoes and 10 minutes later Lula and Mary Lou had found me two different dresses to go with them.
Lula's dress was kinda a lavender colour, skin tight, very short, scoop neck and no back, the type of dress that Joe really, really likes. As it is, I'd probably only just get into it now, and I'd defiantly only be able to wear it for a few more weeks. Mary Lou's dress was more practical, it was black, halter neck, and the skirt dropped from a few inches below the bust.
To hell with it, I bought them both.
*******
3 hours later we were finished at Macy's, and were looking for somewhere to have lunch, when we walked past the Victoria's Secret I had seen earlier with Joe, when I thought, what better way to get Joe back, but with sexy lingerie. Mary Lou had told Lula about my decision, we had been thinking about ways for me to prove that I loved him, and wanted him, and apparently we were all thinking the same idea, because we all stopped outside Victoria's Secret.
I looked at Mary Lou and she nodded, then I looked at Lula and she winked. In we went.
*******
10 teddies, 10 pairs of matching sexy panties and bras, stockings, garters plus a few extra bits and pieces and 1 hour later we left Victoria's Secret, and I left with more bags from there, that I had from Macy's, if that's even possible. I think Mary Lou and Lula just liked the idea of bring me things, and making me try them on, because I'm sure that if I was shopping by myself, I wouldn't have had soooo much fun. I think I bought every different colour they had, including lavender and black.
*******
The next day we left for Philadelphia, but before we left I rang the hotel and explained the situation, well actually, I lied through my teeth. I told them my fiancée got called away on business, and I was coming with friends, so they changed our room to two adjoining rooms.
The flight from Reno was pretty boring, though we did see a pretty good movie, it was "Gladiator" with that spunky Aussie Russell Crowe, be still my beating heart.
We land at about 3pm, where the spunky driver picked us up and drove us to the hotel where we were stay for the week. We went out partying every night and on our second night in Philadelphia we ran into an old friend. Sally Sweet. It turns out his new band Sally Sweet and the Special Desires were playing at the club we went to last night. Sally invited us back stage before the show, introduced us to the band, there was Ben on drums, Dean on bass and Mark and Sally on guitar. He even got us a table right in front of the stage.
Back stage later that night we were all getting really pissed, well, everyone else was getting really pissed, Mary Lou and Lula had band me from drinking anything alcoholic.
Sally said down beside me, "So why the fuck aren't you allowed to fucken drink alcohol?"
"Well, I'm pregnant. I'm surprised you didn't know that, it was in the paper a month ago"
"Fucken congrats. I fucken haven't been fucken home, we've been fucken touring. How fucken far along are you? Shit, so is Morelli the fucken father, excuse the pun"
"Just on 14 weeks, and yeah he is"
"No he's not" Lula yelled from across the room. "It could be Ranger's"
"Shit, you mean that big fucken bounty hunter? Fucken hell, when did you fucken sleep with him?"
I told Sally and the guys, who were really intrigued by now, all about the saga, from black dress to our trip to Philli and who I decided I wanted.
So watch gonna do?" Ben asked
"Well, I have two plans. With it being Morelli and all, I think I know which plan to go with." I explained what I was going to do to the band. After I had finished they looked at each other and told me that I should go with plan B. I told them it was the plan I had been thinking about going with anyway.
For the rest of our time in Philli, we went shopping during the day, they even talked me into looking for baby clothes, prams, cots, baby seats for the Buick, I didn't buy any thing, because I was kinda hoping that Valerie would still have all of her stuff. While at night we followed Sally and the band around Philli. I think Lula and Dean had a think for each other because one night she left with him and we didn't see her again until the next night, where they both showed up in the same clothes as the night before.
*******
We arrived back in Trenton around 3pm, we had said goodbye to Sally, Mark, Ben and Dean in Philli. Lula and Dean had exchanged addresses, Dean promising to call her when he got back to Trenton. While Sally made me promise to call him and let him know what happens with Morelli.
We had driven home from Philli, Mary Lou, Lula and I taking it in turns driving. We came to the agreement that who ever was driving got to decide what we listened to. Mary Lou choose Matchbox Twenty, Lula some rap singer, while I choose of course Metalica. I think that people in Trenton heard us coming before they even spotted us.
Mary Lou dropped Lula home first. I'm pretty sure the moment she got inside she was calling Connie to tell her we were back and to catch up on the gossip.
Mary Lou drove for a few more minutes before pulling into the carpark.
"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Right now, I'm going up stairs to sleep" I replied
"You know what I mean, what are you going to do about Joe? When are you going to go and see him?"
"I'm not sure, probably tomorrow, first I've gotta call my mother to tell her I'm home, though I suspect that she may already know that."
Saying bye to Mary Lou, and entered my building and checked my mail, my box was completely stuffed, not wanting to look through it all now, I pressed the button and waited for the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened Mrs. Bestler was playing elevators "Ground floor" she said and asked me "Going up?"
"Yep" I said picking up my luggage, which I'm pretty sure was heavier that when I left.
"What floor?" she asked as I got in.
"Second please"
"Good choice, There having a sale on baby clothes at the moment. Your looking good Stephanie, not to big yet."
"Thanks Mrs. Bestler but I'm only 15 weeks."
Getting off the elevator at my floor, I rooted around in my bags looking for my keys.
Eventually I found them and let myself in, the first thing I noticed was the gross smell, opening the fringe, I realised I had left milk in there.
Opening all the windows, I fanned the smell out, eventually when it was gone, I sat down to listen to my answering machine, the little light was working over time.
1/2 an hour later I had erased the last of the messages. I had counted 4 from my mother, all within the last 20 minutes, 2 from Eddie, 3 from Carl, 6 from Terry Gilman, 3 from Joe's mother abusing me for breaking her poor baby's heart, 2 from grandma Bella, 4 from Joyce and a lot of miscellaneous calls.
The next think I did was go before my mail, in amongst all of my mail was a blank envelope, inside was a plastic card and a note from Ranger.
"Babe,
This is the address and the key to a safe house I have here in Trenton, if you ever need anything go there and I'll meet you there.
1155 Morack Road
Trenton
Ranger"
Setting it to one side, I continued with my mail, mixed in with it all was a set of keys. I recognized them as the keys to Joe's house. Taking this as a sign, it was almost time to set my plan into action.
First thing to do was ring my mother and tell her I was back, then have a nap.
Picking up the phone, I dialed home.
"Hello"
"Hey mum"
"Stephanie, where are you?"
"I'm back at home"
"Good."
After this mum just started to babble on about stuff, and I kinda just tuned out.
"Mum, mum?" I tried to break in "Mum? Let me talk to grandma"
"Hello Steph?"
"Grandma, how are you?"
"Better than your mother, do you have any idea of the amount of abuse she's been getting from Mrs. Morelli and Bella."
"I know, there were messages on my phone. But how is she handling it all?"
"Well, the house has never been cleaner"
That was not a good sign
"Steph, what are you going to do about Joe and Ranger?"
"Well, it's Joe that I want, I'm still wearing his ring, and I have a plan"
"Can you fill me in?"
"If it all works out"
"Good luck, you'll probably need it, apparently he still hasn't gone back to work, just drives around town like a zombie, he only goes out to get food."
"Well, I'm determined to get my man"
*******
5 hours later, I was well rested, showered and shaved and was putting the finishing touches on my make up and hair. While we were in Philli, I had bought this hair straightening crème, and so far it was working well, straight my hair reached half way down my back, it felt good to run a hair brush though it!
Going into my bedroom, I laid out all my new lingerie, from Victoria's Secret, on bed, and tried to decide what to wear. I could go with my black dress or my new purple one.
I decided to go with the back one, because it matched my new shoes, and the sexier of my new lingerie. Besides, I wasn't plan on wearing the dress for very long.
3/4 of an hour later I was ready to go, my bag had extra bits of clothing in it, and I was wearing my biggest coat. I looked down at my feet and notice my stomach was protruding a far amount, I was really beginning to show. I picked up the phone and called Joe's, I was really hoping that he wasn't home, and luckily for me he wasn't.
15 minutes later, I was letting myself in to Joe's house, the Buick parked down the road a bit, so it wouldn't create suspicion. No chance of that.
"Joe? Are you home?" I called out.
After receiving no answer I set my plan into action.
I took off my jacket, and placed it on the floor near the front door. Walking my way though his house, I left bits of clothing behind me, a jacket in the kitchen, a shoe just before the stairs, the other half way up the stairs and finally, I slipped out of my dress and hung it on his bedroom door knob.
Climbing on to his bed, I tried several seductive posses, before deciding to lie on my side.
He can't be to far away I thought to myself, I'll just wait here until he gets home.
I don't know how long I was asleep for, because the next think I was being shaken awake.
"Steph, wake up, Steph"
"Joe? Is that you?"
"No it's Eddie"
Eddie, I sat bolt upright. "What are you doing here" Realising my state of undress, I grabbed a pillow from behind me and hugged it in front of me"
"Eddie, would you please get my coat from the front door?"
"Sure, just don't move"
Where the hell did he think I was going to go?
2 minutes later he came back through the door and handed me my coat, he turned his back while I got off the bed and slipped it on.
"Eddie, why are you here? You never said"
"I drove past here on my way home, and saw your car, umm Joe's in hospital"
"Wh, wha, what do you mean, in hospital?"
"Last night at about 9:30 he was shot in a convenience store robbery. Steph, he's in a coma"
Chapter 12
"So, who is it?" she asked.
"If I told you, I would have to kill you" I replied laughing.
"Seriously Steph, who have you chosen?
I stared down at my hands before answering. Something was missing.
"Mary Lou, have you seen my ring?" I asked
She looked at me "Huh?"
"My engagement ring, where is it?"
"Oh, in the top drawer beside you. We thought it would be safer in there"
I breathed a sigh of relief. "For a minute there, I thought I had lost it" I said opening the drawer and pulling it out. I slipped it back on my finger.
"Hang on, does this mean…"
"Yeah, who the hell was I trying to kid, he's the only one whose told me he loves me, and that I've said it back. I guess its Burg fate or something"
Mary Lou squealed with happiness, until the nurse came and told us to quiet down.
"Steph, don't get upset or anything, but what if he's not the father? Joe forgiving and all, after all he forgave you for sleeping with Ranger, I think he's forgive you for kissing Ranger on your wedding day, but I don't think that he's ready to raise another man's child"
"Well, that was the other thing I was thinking about. I was reading a hospital magazine, and read something about paternity testing. I meant to ask Doctor Tim about it earlier."
*******
"Doctor Tim, Doctor Tim, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yes, Stephanie, what is it?"
"I was wondering, could you please tell me about paternity testing?"
"Sure, well there is two types, one is normal DNA testing, done after the child is born, and the other is Pre-natal Paternity Testing, while the fetus is still in the womb" he went of the explain exactly what was done in each procedure. "Why is it that you ask?"
"Well there's a possibility that my fiancée is not the father of my baby" I went on the explain about my night with Joe, then my night with Ranger, followed by his vasectomy revelation.
"I really don't think you need to worry about paternity testing, you said that you and Ranger used condoms right?"
I nodded yes
Well, condoms are 97% effective, I'd say with 97% certainty, that your fiancée is the father of your child, since you didn't use any protection."
"Yes, that's was I thought all along. Thank you for confirming my suspicions."
"Your welcome, I suggest that you go on the pill or get a diaphragm."
"Definitely"
*******
We stayed in Carson City for 2 more days, because Doctor Tim had banned me from travelling for a couple more days. I found out what Lula and Mary Lou had been doing while I was in hospital, they spent one day following Doctor Tim around the hospital, making up fake symptoms, and they spent the other day spending up big at the shops. Which is also what we did for the 2 extra days we had to stay.
I tried to delay calling my mother for as long as possible, but Mary Lou and Lula talked me into calling her.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mom."
"Omigod. Stephanie Plum do you have any idea how worried we are?" Mum kept on like that for another 5 minutes, until grandma Mazur took the phone off her.
"Hello Stephanie, how are you?"
"I'm good grandma, how's mum?"
"She'll be fine, she started to hyperventilate. So did you get it on with that spunky bounty hunter?"
"Grandma, how do you know?"
"I head at Clara's that you and Joe were going to get married, but Ranger showed up and you were kissing him."
Wow, that was almost accurate.
"Who did you hear it from?"
"Let me think, Joyce came in the day after Joe arrived home. She heard it from Terry Gilman, who heard it from, umm, Bella. You know, Bella always like Terry…"
*******
I hadn't realised this earlier, but Carson City had one of the biggest Macy's in the entire US. Which suited me, because I was in a major shopping mood.
1 hour later, when I ventured into the shoe's department, a black pair caught my eyes, they were exactly the same as the purple one one's that were destroyed in an apartment fire that happened about 6 months ago. Joe had really liked those shoes. Luckily they were also in my size, score!! Next think I had to find was a dress to go with them.
I was in a real high after finding those shoes and 10 minutes later Lula and Mary Lou had found me two different dresses to go with them.
Lula's dress was kinda a lavender colour, skin tight, very short, scoop neck and no back, the type of dress that Joe really, really likes. As it is, I'd probably only just get into it now, and I'd defiantly only be able to wear it for a few more weeks. Mary Lou's dress was more practical, it was black, halter neck, and the skirt dropped from a few inches below the bust.
To hell with it, I bought them both.
*******
3 hours later we were finished at Macy's, and were looking for somewhere to have lunch, when we walked past the Victoria's Secret I had seen earlier with Joe, when I thought, what better way to get Joe back, but with sexy lingerie. Mary Lou had told Lula about my decision, we had been thinking about ways for me to prove that I loved him, and wanted him, and apparently we were all thinking the same idea, because we all stopped outside Victoria's Secret.
I looked at Mary Lou and she nodded, then I looked at Lula and she winked. In we went.
*******
10 teddies, 10 pairs of matching sexy panties and bras, stockings, garters plus a few extra bits and pieces and 1 hour later we left Victoria's Secret, and I left with more bags from there, that I had from Macy's, if that's even possible. I think Mary Lou and Lula just liked the idea of bring me things, and making me try them on, because I'm sure that if I was shopping by myself, I wouldn't have had soooo much fun. I think I bought every different colour they had, including lavender and black.
*******
The next day we left for Philadelphia, but before we left I rang the hotel and explained the situation, well actually, I lied through my teeth. I told them my fiancée got called away on business, and I was coming with friends, so they changed our room to two adjoining rooms.
The flight from Reno was pretty boring, though we did see a pretty good movie, it was "Gladiator" with that spunky Aussie Russell Crowe, be still my beating heart.
We land at about 3pm, where the spunky driver picked us up and drove us to the hotel where we were stay for the week. We went out partying every night and on our second night in Philadelphia we ran into an old friend. Sally Sweet. It turns out his new band Sally Sweet and the Special Desires were playing at the club we went to last night. Sally invited us back stage before the show, introduced us to the band, there was Ben on drums, Dean on bass and Mark and Sally on guitar. He even got us a table right in front of the stage.
Back stage later that night we were all getting really pissed, well, everyone else was getting really pissed, Mary Lou and Lula had band me from drinking anything alcoholic.
Sally said down beside me, "So why the fuck aren't you allowed to fucken drink alcohol?"
"Well, I'm pregnant. I'm surprised you didn't know that, it was in the paper a month ago"
"Fucken congrats. I fucken haven't been fucken home, we've been fucken touring. How fucken far along are you? Shit, so is Morelli the fucken father, excuse the pun"
"Just on 14 weeks, and yeah he is"
"No he's not" Lula yelled from across the room. "It could be Ranger's"
"Shit, you mean that big fucken bounty hunter? Fucken hell, when did you fucken sleep with him?"
I told Sally and the guys, who were really intrigued by now, all about the saga, from black dress to our trip to Philli and who I decided I wanted.
So watch gonna do?" Ben asked
"Well, I have two plans. With it being Morelli and all, I think I know which plan to go with." I explained what I was going to do to the band. After I had finished they looked at each other and told me that I should go with plan B. I told them it was the plan I had been thinking about going with anyway.
For the rest of our time in Philli, we went shopping during the day, they even talked me into looking for baby clothes, prams, cots, baby seats for the Buick, I didn't buy any thing, because I was kinda hoping that Valerie would still have all of her stuff. While at night we followed Sally and the band around Philli. I think Lula and Dean had a think for each other because one night she left with him and we didn't see her again until the next night, where they both showed up in the same clothes as the night before.
*******
We arrived back in Trenton around 3pm, we had said goodbye to Sally, Mark, Ben and Dean in Philli. Lula and Dean had exchanged addresses, Dean promising to call her when he got back to Trenton. While Sally made me promise to call him and let him know what happens with Morelli.
We had driven home from Philli, Mary Lou, Lula and I taking it in turns driving. We came to the agreement that who ever was driving got to decide what we listened to. Mary Lou choose Matchbox Twenty, Lula some rap singer, while I choose of course Metalica. I think that people in Trenton heard us coming before they even spotted us.
Mary Lou dropped Lula home first. I'm pretty sure the moment she got inside she was calling Connie to tell her we were back and to catch up on the gossip.
Mary Lou drove for a few more minutes before pulling into the carpark.
"So, what are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Right now, I'm going up stairs to sleep" I replied
"You know what I mean, what are you going to do about Joe? When are you going to go and see him?"
"I'm not sure, probably tomorrow, first I've gotta call my mother to tell her I'm home, though I suspect that she may already know that."
Saying bye to Mary Lou, and entered my building and checked my mail, my box was completely stuffed, not wanting to look through it all now, I pressed the button and waited for the elevator.
When the elevator doors opened Mrs. Bestler was playing elevators "Ground floor" she said and asked me "Going up?"
"Yep" I said picking up my luggage, which I'm pretty sure was heavier that when I left.
"What floor?" she asked as I got in.
"Second please"
"Good choice, There having a sale on baby clothes at the moment. Your looking good Stephanie, not to big yet."
"Thanks Mrs. Bestler but I'm only 15 weeks."
Getting off the elevator at my floor, I rooted around in my bags looking for my keys.
Eventually I found them and let myself in, the first thing I noticed was the gross smell, opening the fringe, I realised I had left milk in there.
Opening all the windows, I fanned the smell out, eventually when it was gone, I sat down to listen to my answering machine, the little light was working over time.
1/2 an hour later I had erased the last of the messages. I had counted 4 from my mother, all within the last 20 minutes, 2 from Eddie, 3 from Carl, 6 from Terry Gilman, 3 from Joe's mother abusing me for breaking her poor baby's heart, 2 from grandma Bella, 4 from Joyce and a lot of miscellaneous calls.
The next think I did was go before my mail, in amongst all of my mail was a blank envelope, inside was a plastic card and a note from Ranger.
"Babe,
This is the address and the key to a safe house I have here in Trenton, if you ever need anything go there and I'll meet you there.
1155 Morack Road
Trenton
Ranger"
Setting it to one side, I continued with my mail, mixed in with it all was a set of keys. I recognized them as the keys to Joe's house. Taking this as a sign, it was almost time to set my plan into action.
First thing to do was ring my mother and tell her I was back, then have a nap.
Picking up the phone, I dialed home.
"Hello"
"Hey mum"
"Stephanie, where are you?"
"I'm back at home"
"Good."
After this mum just started to babble on about stuff, and I kinda just tuned out.
"Mum, mum?" I tried to break in "Mum? Let me talk to grandma"
"Hello Steph?"
"Grandma, how are you?"
"Better than your mother, do you have any idea of the amount of abuse she's been getting from Mrs. Morelli and Bella."
"I know, there were messages on my phone. But how is she handling it all?"
"Well, the house has never been cleaner"
That was not a good sign
"Steph, what are you going to do about Joe and Ranger?"
"Well, it's Joe that I want, I'm still wearing his ring, and I have a plan"
"Can you fill me in?"
"If it all works out"
"Good luck, you'll probably need it, apparently he still hasn't gone back to work, just drives around town like a zombie, he only goes out to get food."
"Well, I'm determined to get my man"
*******
5 hours later, I was well rested, showered and shaved and was putting the finishing touches on my make up and hair. While we were in Philli, I had bought this hair straightening crème, and so far it was working well, straight my hair reached half way down my back, it felt good to run a hair brush though it!
Going into my bedroom, I laid out all my new lingerie, from Victoria's Secret, on bed, and tried to decide what to wear. I could go with my black dress or my new purple one.
I decided to go with the back one, because it matched my new shoes, and the sexier of my new lingerie. Besides, I wasn't plan on wearing the dress for very long.
3/4 of an hour later I was ready to go, my bag had extra bits of clothing in it, and I was wearing my biggest coat. I looked down at my feet and notice my stomach was protruding a far amount, I was really beginning to show. I picked up the phone and called Joe's, I was really hoping that he wasn't home, and luckily for me he wasn't.
15 minutes later, I was letting myself in to Joe's house, the Buick parked down the road a bit, so it wouldn't create suspicion. No chance of that.
"Joe? Are you home?" I called out.
After receiving no answer I set my plan into action.
I took off my jacket, and placed it on the floor near the front door. Walking my way though his house, I left bits of clothing behind me, a jacket in the kitchen, a shoe just before the stairs, the other half way up the stairs and finally, I slipped out of my dress and hung it on his bedroom door knob.
Climbing on to his bed, I tried several seductive posses, before deciding to lie on my side.
He can't be to far away I thought to myself, I'll just wait here until he gets home.
I don't know how long I was asleep for, because the next think I was being shaken awake.
"Steph, wake up, Steph"
"Joe? Is that you?"
"No it's Eddie"
Eddie, I sat bolt upright. "What are you doing here" Realising my state of undress, I grabbed a pillow from behind me and hugged it in front of me"
"Eddie, would you please get my coat from the front door?"
"Sure, just don't move"
Where the hell did he think I was going to go?
2 minutes later he came back through the door and handed me my coat, he turned his back while I got off the bed and slipped it on.
"Eddie, why are you here? You never said"
"I drove past here on my way home, and saw your car, umm Joe's in hospital"
"Wh, wha, what do you mean, in hospital?"
"Last night at about 9:30 he was shot in a convenience store robbery. Steph, he's in a coma"
