***Chapter 5***
"Darling….what are you talking about?"
"Jonathan….all of this….it was supposed to be the best day…."
"You are here, and you are alive and you are recovering and you are awake, and that's all that matters. All of that makes it a good day, darling. I promise".
"I just wanted everything to be perfect".
"Babe….this is our life. Is it ever perfect?"
"When you do it, it is".
He held her close and just let her be, partly because something in him told him she needed that more than anything, and partly because he didn't understand what she was upset about.
She was so upset that she basically wore herself out and cried herself to sleep.
He let her nap on him, and eased out from under her after he knew she was really asleep. He ordered him a sandwich from a deli down the street, and had it delivered.
They both wanted more than anything to be able to go home and just be together and resume their normal lives.
After he was done eating, he covered her with a blanket.
Max arrived right after, and they talked quietly while she slept.
"Mr. H., she looks real good for just having been shot".
He nodded.
"What's wrong, Mr. H.?"
"It's my fault. I did this. I was struggling with the guy over the gun and I put her in harm's way. If I hadn't done that, she wouldn't be here in the hospital."
"From what you've told me, if you hadn't struggled with him, he was gonna take her somewhere or worse….you are partly the reason why she is here, away from him".
Jonathan knew he had a point, but he still felt responsible.
She woke with a start, and had a very panicked look on her face, and sat up. That caused pain in her abdomen, and she cried out.
He sprang up from the couch and went to her.
"It's ok, I'm right here. Just lay back, breathe…"
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her forehead.
When she was calm, she looked up at him.
"Max is here, he brought you some clothes and a surprise".
She brightened up a little and Max came over to her.
"Anyone up for a strawberry milkshake from Jerry's?"
She nodded.
He came over and kissed her cheek and gave her a slight hug as he handed her the milkshake.
"Thank you, Max". She usually watched her waistline, but every now and then she loved a treat, and strawberry milkshakes and devil's food cake were her top two favorites.
She took a few sips and then looked at Jonathan.
"Help me up?"
He nodded and came around to her side of the bed, and lowered the guard rail. He gently helped her up, and after she got her balance, they started towards the bathroom, with him holding the gown closed. She went in and changed into her pajamas and slippers, and touched up her hair while she was in there. She wanted a shower desperately, but figured she would have to wait a little longer.
She was a little light headed, so she called out for Jonathan.
He pushed the door open and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You ok?"
"Just a little off".
He helped her back to the bed and got her settled. She immediately grabbed her milkshake. He went and laid down on the bed next to her.
"How about we call the nurse and see if we can get you some jello or something?"
"I don't normally eat that much in a day".
"Darling, you have to keep your strength up and you didn't have anything yesterday...I promise you that your waistline will still be the same".
He kissed the side of her head.
She nodded.
He pushed the button for the nurse and asked for them to bring her something to eat.
He had changed her pillowcase to her favorite silky pillowcase while she was changing clothes. The nurse came and brought her a few packs of jello, plus some pudding. She also changed the dressing on her stitches.
"Can I please take a shower tonight?"
"Let me see if we have any waterproof bandages. If we do, then yes, you may."
The nurse left to go check the supplies.
Max stood up and decided to go home.
"I will come back and see you tomorrow, Mrs. H. Call me if you need something. Glad to see you on the mend".
"Thanks Max".
She reached up and hugged him.
"Thanks for coming Max".
"Sure thing, Mr. H."
Max left as the nurse came back in.
"Ok, so I am going to put this waterproof bandage on, and then you can take a shower. There is a chair in the shower, and you need to be sitting as much as possible. After you get out, make sure you pat dry around the incision gently, it will still be tender. And then hit the button and I will come rehook your IV. And, I know that you are a grown woman, but don't take a shower without me or your husband in the room here, just in case".
"Thank you, Lyla".
As soon as the nurse left, Jennifer sat up and Jonathan helped her out of bed. She walked to the bathroom and he helped her get her clothes off.
He started kissing her neck.
"Jonathan! I'm freezing…can you start the water, please?"
He kept one hand on her while he reached over and started the shower.
He looked deep into her eyes and leaned forward and kissed her passionately.
"Need any help?"
"I think I can manage, but can you stay in here with me?"
"Of course".
She stepped into the shower and he leaned up against the counter and waited.
"This water feels so good…"
He stuck his head in the shower with her. He had a smirk on his face.
"I can think of something else that will feel good".
"Jonathan!"
She turned to glare at him and give him a half smile. He could see it in her eyes though….they glazed over momentarily, and she teetered a bit on her feet.
He quickly undressed and got in the shower with her.
"Jonathan!"
"Baby…I'm just in here to hold you up is all. You looked like you were about to lose your balance".
"I'm fine. But, while you're in here, why don't you soap my back?"
"With pleasure".
"This not being able to touch you is driving me crazy".
"Jonathan, you've been touching me all afternoon".
"You know what I mean…"
"Darling…I was shot yesterday. I can't help it if I need to rest".
"I know. And it's my fault that you were shot, so I owe it to you to let you rest".
"Jonathan Charles, this is not your fault. You were protecting me, plain and simple. If this was your fault, I would have had you thrown you out when I woke up".
She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I just feel so bad, darling. I feel responsible".
"Well, you aren't."
"I love you, Red".
"I love you too, Jonathan Charles".
She kissed him again.
He leaned down and grabbed her butt and rubbed it playfully.
"Jonathan, the doctor said no…."
"He doesn't have to know, darling…it can be our little secret".
"Jonathan…."
He started kissing her neck, right where he knew she wouldn't be able to resist.
"Did you want to tell me something, darling?"
She looked at him.
"Be gentle".
He nodded and then picked her up and she carefully wrapped her legs around his waist, as he backed her up to the wall.
"You feel amazing".
"So do you…"
She gave him a few kisses, and then kissed him hard as he grabbed her left breast and they exploded together.
"You ok?"
She nodded. "Better than ok, thanks to you".
She kissed him again.
"Can you help me wash my hair?"
"Sure".
After her hair was washed, they got out and he helped her dry off, and then they both got dressed and he helped her back into bed.
She wrapped her hair up into a swammy, and leaned back against the bed.
He quickly towel dried his hair and got it into place, and then hit the button for the nurse to come hook up her IV's again.
"You will probably sleep really well tonight".
"I should say I will…" She reached up and squeezed his chin.
They were all snuggled up when the nurse came in.
"How was your shower?"
"Wonderful. It was just…wonderful".
"Great…sometimes a shower can be the best medicine".
The nurse hooked her back up, and then checked her wound once more and then bid her goodnight.
"Would you like for me to dim the lights?"
"Yes, please. Thank you so much".
"Certainly".
He could tell she was getting sleepy.
He kissed the top of her head and let her fall asleep with her head on his chest.
They slept that way all night.
***The next morning***
Jennifer woke up around 7, and saw that Jonathan was still sleeping. She eased off him and kissed his cheek.
He was sleeping so soundly.
She had dreamed about the woman and the man again, and still wasn't any closer to finding any answers. Normally, she would just chalk it up to the meds, or just having a crazy ass dream. It happens. However, for some reason, she felt like it was more than that this time. She just didn't know what.
She leaned over to whisper in Jonathan's ear.
"You deserve a much better wife than me".
She kissed his cheek and leaned back on her bed. The nurse brought them the order form for breakfast and she checked off what they normally ate, and indicated it was for two, and sent it back.
Jonathan woke up around 7:20, and instinctively threw his arm around her waist, right on top of her scar.
She cried out in pain and threw his arm off her.
"Jennifer…I'm sorry. I was still asleep… I'm so sorry".
She was nodding, and breathing, and holding her midsection.
After she calmed down, he scooted closer to her and tried to apologize again.
She nodded and turned away from him and closed her eyes.
Their breakfast came and they ate in silence in the beginning. And then, as a peace offering, she fed him a bite of her eggs.
He took it and kissed her.
The doctor came and pronounced her as healing better than he expected.
"We are going to do a 3D ultrasound of your kidney today, and take another blood draw, and if it looks like I am expecting it to, then you won't have to do pills or surgery. Plus, you might get to go home tomorrow."
"That's the best news I have heard in a long time. Thank you, doctor".
"Your agenda for today is to rest. Rest, rest, rest. And stay hydrated because that promotes healing".
She nodded.
"Can I try solid foods?"
"What did you have for breakfast?"
"Egg whites and ½ piece of rye toast".
"If you can keep that down by lunchtime, then yes".
"Ok thank you".
She was elated.
She was also bored.
"Darling…what are we going to do here all day? I need to do my research for my article and I need to do some other things…. I can't just stay in the bed all day".
"Darling…you are recuperating. You are resting. It's ok".
"I am just bored…."
"I know…but you need to rest. You know how we always say we would love a day to just lay around with each other? Well now we have it".
"Jonathan…we say that so that we can…you know…, not so that we can be in a hospital with 12 stitches in my stomach".
"I know…but as many times as I have to leave you in the mornings when I don't want to, I will take what I can get".
He kissed the side of her head.
"What if I go down to the gift shop and get us a deck of cards? We can play strip poker?"
"Oh you.." She playfully swatted at him.
"I'll be right back".
He got up and got dressed and headed down to the gift shop.
He got her some flowers, and a few of her favorite snacks along with the deck of cards.
He also grabbed her a book of crossword puzzles and a pack of pens.
He brought everything back to the room. She had nodded off.
He put the flowers on her bedside table, and then sat on the bed next to her.
He covered her with the blanket and laced his fingers through hers and leaned back next to her.
She woke up and found him staring at her, and kissed him.
"I got you some flowers, and a book of crossword puzzles and some snacks and some cards…."
"You are so thoughtful".
They spent the afternoon playing poker, and gin rummy. She did several crossword puzzles and then finally around 5 p.m., the doctor said she could go home.
"I want you to come to my office in a week and have the stitches removed. And I want you to take it easy. No physical activity such as exercising or anything till after you do that".
She nodded.
They came and removed all of her tubes and wires, and the nurse gave her several bandages to take home and use.
After she was dressed and ready to go, she grabbed Jonathan's hand.
"We will load the car together, darling".
"Don't worry, I already planned that". Being kidnapped from the hospital once had taken its toll on Jennifer. Jonathan wasn't about to let it happen again.
Everything they had could fit into the bag that Max brought, so Jonathan didn't need any help carrying her stuff out. She held the flowers and he carried everything else.
The nurse stayed with her while he pulled the car around, and then helped her get in the front seat.
He swung through the parking lot of La Scala and picked up dinner for them and then they headed home.