Chapter 17
I want to say a special thanks for all of you who have stuck with this story, especially during the computer crash issue. Still no new computer, but I have access now with my flash drive! Thanks to everyone, too, for the wonderful comments and reviews! I love hearing from you. As always, I don't own any part of STFBE… wish I did, but… Enjoy!
Jack got Sue settled back into her room, and left for his appointment for lunch. Sue picked up the book and began to read more. Her cheeks flushed with color as the scene that showed before her got hotter, more intimate. A woman brought over a tray with lunch on it, and one for Angie.
"Is my roomie back yet?" Angie asked the delivery girl.
"Yes." She answered.
"Could you open the curtain please?" She asked. "Thanks."
"Hi Angie." Sue said as she saw the curtain swing open.
"How'd it go?" Angie asked.
"Painful." Sue answered. "But good."
"Good, good. You keep up with those exercises." Angie said.
"How are you doing?" Sue asked.
"I'm alright. I've had better days, but I've had worse." She said.
"Does anything ever bother you?" Sue asked.
"Of course, but not this type of stuff." She said. "When do you go home Sue?" She asked.
"Tomorrow." Sue answered. "You?"
"Sunday, I think… They might try to keep me again. I think they just like my radiant personality that's all." She joked.
"You're funny. Will you keep in touch with me when you get out? I would really like to say hi once in a while. Find out when that baby comes." Sue said.
"I would like that." Angie said. "Now, about that bucket list of yours… grab a pencil will ya." Sue did as instructed. "What is something you need to do before you die, at age 157 of course!"
"Umm…" Sue began.
"Nope. Don't think about it, just say it. The first thing that comes to mind…" Angie guided.
"Nurse my child while rocking him or her to sleep." Sue said.
"Good. And?" She urged.
"Walk on the beach and watch the sunrise." Sue smiled.
"Good one. I might add that to my list, if you don't mind!" Angie teased.
"Not at all. OH! How about… share a kiss on the top of a Ferris wheel… "Sue gushed.
"Ahh, now you're thinking." Angie added.
"Get married?" Sue said cautiously. Angie wrote. The ladies spent the better part of the rest of the afternoon bouncing ideas off one another and jotting them down on a note pad. The nursing staff came and went dispensing medication and checking each of the women. Charts, vitals and sutures were all accounted for. Angie took a much needed nap while Sue picked up where she'd left off with her book. It was nearly 5:30 when her door opened a crack. Sue noticed Jack seeming to sneak into her room.
"Jack? What are you doing? Why does it always seem like you're sneaking into my room?" She teased.
"Shhh." He whispered. "They'll have my head if they catch me in here right now."
"You going to the gym with Bobby tonight?" She asked nodding toward his bag.
"No. This is my surprise." He said as he placed the bag on the foot of Sue's bed. He slowly unzipped it and picked out its contents of two kittens. One was long furred with a black coat with white nose, neck, chest and feet. The other black calico.
"Ohhh…" Sue squealed. "Oh my gosh, Jack they're adorable!" Sue gushed. "Wait, are these your kittens?" She asked.
"Unless you're allergic, yup." He said smiling. He picked up the black one and introduced her to "Faith" followed by the calico "Hope".
"I'm not, which is, I guess a good thing, since you're already named them." Sue pointed out.
"Well…I couldn't help myself." Jack admitted.
"What possessed you to adopt two kittens?" Sue asked.
"Just a thought I had last night, and then I saw a free kittens sign hanging at work. I was only going to get one, but these two were the only ones left." He explained.
"I like their names." Sue said.
"Yeah, I thought, with everything that's been going on lately they were appropriate." Jack said. "I'm going to take them home, and get them settled. I'll be back later?" Jack asked more than stated.
"Hmm…" Sue said softly nodding her head toward two sleeping kitties. Both had curled up on her legs under the lap blanket around each other and fallen asleep. "Why don't you stay for a bit. As long as they're sleeping, I doubt anyone will notice they're here. This way, when you go, you can stay home with them. Do you have food and a bed, cat box and litter for them?" Sue asked.
"Yes. I got everything on the way back over to get them after work." He said.
"This was your appointment today…" Sue suddenly realized. Jack smiled. Sue looked over at Angie. "You're not allergic to cats are you?" She asked.
"Nope. You got one?" She asked.
"No, but apparently Jack has two." Sue laughed lifting the blanket to reveal to sleeping angels.
"How sweet!" She gushed. "You two visit, I'm going to go back to my puzzle.
Sue stroked the kitten's ears and chins unaware she was even doing it at some points. Jack could hear footsteps coming toward her room. He made a cringing face and rolled his eyes toward the door. Moments later, it opened to reveal Anne.
"How are you honey? Do you need anything?" She asked.
"No, thanks. I'm doing alright." Sue said.
"Good. Can I get you a small bowl of milk for that cat?" She winked.
"How?" Jack stuttered. "Wai- wait… how did you know she had a cat?" He asked.
"I know everything…" She said. "Is it yours Jack?" She asked. He nodded. "I suggest you take it home. We can't have cats up here with all the allergies." She said. "Let me see…" Sue pulled back the blanket to reveal them. "They're adorable… get them out of here Mister!" She ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." Jack agreed. He gently picked up Faith and placed her in the case, then followed by Hope. Both snuggled back together for their trip home.
"Do you need anything?" Jack asked.
"No, thanks. Will you be here in the morning?" Sue asked hopefully.
"I'm planning on it." Jack said.
"I'll see you then." Sue said barely above a whisper.
"Good night." Jack said flashing his dimples at her.
"Good night." She said back as he left her room.
Anne checked on Angie, talking with her a bit while Jack was leaving.
"How are you doing there sweetie?" Anne asked.
"About as well as can be expected. Give it to me straight. Am I going to make it to see that fifth generation?" Angie asked frankly.
"I think so. You're not ready to give up yet, that will bode well for you." Anne said. "Can I get you anything? Do you need some pain medicine to make you comfortable?" she asked.
"No thanks honey. I'm good. When I start asking for medicine, it'll be close to time to go." Angie said. "I could use some tea, do you think I could get some?" She asked.
"Of course. I'll be back in a little bit." Anne walked onto Sue's side of the room and waved at Sue. Sue looked in her direction. "Do you two want this open?" She asked. Sue said yes, and Angie was very agreeable about it.
"Can I get you anything Sue?" Anne asked. "I'm getting some tea for Angie, would you like some?" She asked.
"That sounds wonderful." Sue agreed.
"I'll be back." She said as she slipped out the door.
"So, is it safe for this old woman to assume that good looking man that just waltzed out of here is the one you want to be sharing most of your bucket list with?" Angie asked, making Sue blush.
Sue purposely bit her lip to keep from answering.
"He is." Angie said. "It's written all over your face. You really should talk to each other about the mutual attraction you share for each other. Sue blushed a deeper shade of crimson, but still did not answer. "Sue, take it from someone who knows, don't waste your life. Don't wish it away, don't let it whoosh by you like sand during a wind storm. You don't get the past back, make it what you want. That's part of the reason for the bucket list." Angie said. Sue thought about what she's been told for a long moment until their tea arrived.
"What's it like?" Sue asked softly sipping her tea.
"What's what like?" She asked.
"Being in love." Sue answered.
"Oh, you know." Angie teased.
"No, I don't. I've never been in love before." Sue said.
"Hmm… How do I answer that? It makes your stomach get all in knots when he comes near you, makes your head spin when he kisses you, the sex is hot, the fights hotter. It's sincere and serene. It's hostile and miserable. It's everything you can imagine and more." Angie answered. She looked toward Sue to see her face a glow and simply smiled. "Don't waste your life hon. Go after what you want, grab it by the b… horns and wrestle it to the ground." Angie said with a deep laugh. Sue chuckled at Angie's near slip too.
"And if he doesn't want me?" Sue asked.
"Then he doesn't deserve you, and you chalk it up to inexperience." Angie said laughing. "I've seen four generations of women in my family being chased by some handsome young rogue, some not worth the grass stains on the bottoms of their shoes, some young gems in need of the right woman's attention to make them shine. Some of us knew right off what we had, some, it took a bit longer to recognize that we'd already snatched the golden ring." She paused. "Do you understand?" Angie asked.
"I think so." Sue blushed.
"He's been here for you throughout this entire ordeal?" Sue nodded. Angie simply smiled, leaving Sue with a lot to think about.