My readers, I am truly so sorry for taking so damn long to update this story! Inspiration to write is hard to come by these days, but I managed to scrounge up some within the past two days. I edited and added some things in the previous chapters in case anyone needs to or wants to reread. I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Jax sat back in what was the vacant visitor's chair in Raquel's hospital room, watching her and his son engage in a deep conversation about the grade she teaches.
The conversation showed no sign of ending anytime soon since Abel kept firing questions at Raquel, who happily answered each one with a smile and graceful movement of her beautiful hands.
"Your brother is still not back yet with your food?"
Abel and I's banter was put on an unfortunate pause when my mother made her presence known at the door's entrance.
"Nope. But it's okay. Jax and Abel here were kind enough to bring me some," I replied as I looked over at Abel who was finishing up the other half of my burger that I could not bring myself to finish.
Tyne sighed, visibly struggling to shape her mouth into a friendly grin in Jax's direction.
"I appreciate you both for doing so."
Jax nodded, bringing himself to his feet.
"What's your name?", Abel asked as he swallowed a mouthful of food.
His undeniable cuteness caused a genuine smile to finally reach my mother's mouth.
"My name is Tyne. I'm Raquel's mom. What is your name?" she replied, moving herself away from the doorway and into the room.
"I'm Abel. And that's my daddy," Abel chirped, pointing at a visibly nervous Jax.
"Oh honey, your daddy and I go way back," Tyne quipped, attempting to meet Jax's wandering blue eyes with her large brown ones.
Abel and I simultaneously glanced at one another.
He may be a child, but I could tell he felt the tension between his father and my mother just like I could.
"It's good seeing you, Tyne," Jax smiled, shoving his ringed hands in his jean pockets.
"Mrs. Patterson," she corrected.
"Mom.."
"What?"
"Hey, sorry it took so long," Darnell announced as he brought himself next to our mother.
"Uncle D!"
Abel hopped off the bed and ran into Darnell's already open arms.
"Hey Abel! You keepin' my big sis some company?"
He nodded enthusiastically as Darnell lifted him up off of the floor.
"Do I need to turn the hose on you two?, " he continued, shifting his eyes between our mother and Jax.
"No," the duo answered.
"I'mma ask little man here cuz he always gives it to me straight. Abel, what you think? Do you agree with my mom and your dad?"
Abel shook his head no, causing everyone in the room to break out into a fit of laughter, leaving the young boy in pure confusion.
"So, where is the food that took far too long for you and Tanya to get me?", I asked, crossing my arms in front of my chest.
"Ah.. yeah, about that... T and I got distracted and..."
"You don't even need to finish that sentence. Forget I asked," I closed my eyes, trying to wipe away the disturbing thought of my brother and my future sister-in-law fucking like the jack rabbits that they are.
"Jesus Christ D, I ask you to do one thing," Tyne scolded.
"He did do one thing. Tanya," I answered, getting a chuckle from Jax and Darnell.
Later that night:
My assigned doctor requested I stay the night as a precaution.
The combination of my supplied super scratchy hospital gown and aged hospital bed was going to make this night an extensive one.
"Raquel baby, would you stay still for five minutes," my mother asked me with closed eyes as she readjusted herself in the chair Jax sat in only hours ago.
"I'm sorry to wake you mom, but I just can't get comfortable. I think I can hear my actual bed and pjs calling my name from here. Raquel.. Raquel.."
Tyne chuckled, allowing her head to fall back onto the chair.
"Always with the dramatics."
"I know what I can do to solve this."
"And what is that, Ra?"
"I can sign myself out."
My mother's eyes shot open, and she looked over at me.
"Over my dead body."
"That can be arranged. I'm sure this bulky hospital phone can do some damage," I teased, receiving a deadly scowl from my mother.
"Ra, the doctor said you should stay the night."
"Yeah, but as a precaution. "
"You are not leaving this hospital against the doctor's orders. Grown or not, your narrow ass is staying put. If I need to pull some strings and get a couple badges to be posted outside your door, I will."
I pouted, turning on the room's television.
"Aren't visiting hours over by the way?", I growled.
"Not for me, they're not. Now get some rest so I can as well."
I limited my audible movement and began flipping through the available channels.
When I reached the Hip Hop/R&B music channel, I placed my channel surfing on hold, waiting for the next song to play.
Casedi's "Routine" began to play, making me smile.
I remember the first time I heard this song.
Tanya played blasted it in her car during one of our many day dates.
Things always getting in the way
Finding things hard enough to say
I want you but the feeling ain't the same
I tried but I fight with myself
I'll be everything you need yeah
Sun go down I can't even sleep yeah
You make me weak yeah I can't even sleep yeah
Make me weak yeah something over me yeah yeah
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
Body calling lately I've been feigning
Might be what I want but I don't need it
I just hope that I'm not misleading
Cause you and I ain't something to believe in
And I'm sorry
But I am not down for no settling
Got too much already invested in
It's evident
But I fight with myself
I'll be everything you need yeah
Sun go down I can't even sleep yeah
You make me weak yeah I can't even sleep yeah
Make me weak yeah something over me yeah yeah
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
On and on
Keep going
We just let the feeling keep going
I shifted my attention away from the television to look at my mother.
Her eyes were fully closed once again, and the sound of a light snore filled the large room.
My hand reached underneath my left thigh, pulling out the piece of paper Jax gave me with his current number.
I reached over to my right, slowly bringing the mobile table closer to me until it hovered over me.
Carefully and quietly, I picked up the phone from its home and dialed the number that was on the piece of paper.
Once I was about to hit the final number into the telephone, I returned it to its cradle.
What the hell am I doing?
I slid the phone away from me until it was toward the edge of the table, returning to my temporary hobby which was channel surfing.
Jax laid in his bed, glancing at the time that was currently presented on the left nightstand.
11:30PM.
Was she awake as well?
How was she feeling?
Has she put his number in her cell?
Who was he kidding?
She probably tossed it the moment he and Abel were out of her sight.
With that theory swirling throughout his chaotic mind, it did not alter the level of concern he had felt for her well-being.
Jax sat up in his bed, switching on the table's lamp.
As he pressed his bare tattooed back to the headboard, his large hand retrieved his fully charged cellphone.
He yanked the chord from the bottom of the phone, allowing it to fall onto the carpeted bedroom floor.
The moment, no, the second his phone was flipped open, he dialed St. Thomas' directory.
One of the upsides to his past relationship with Tara: he managed to memorize the hospital's main number.
"St. Thomas directory, this is Ashley, how may I help you this evening?"
"Hi, is it possible to get connected to room 13?"
"Uh sure, do you know which floor the patient is on?"
"The second."
The line went quiet for a minute before Ashley responded.
"Here we go. You're requesting to be connected to Raquel Patterson's room, correct?"
"Yes."
"No problem, sir. Your call will be rerouted in a moment. Is there anything else I can do for you this evening?"
"No. Thanks darlin'."
"Of course."
As I indulged in watching the ending of John Wick, the hospital room's phone began to ring.
Oh no.
What if it's Jax?
Did I actually complete the full dialing of his number, and convinced myself I did not?
How strong are these pain meds?
To prevent the obnoxious ringing from continuing and waking my sleeping mother, I picked up the phone and brought it to my ear.
"Hello?"
Silence.
"Hello?", I repeated myself.
Yet again, silence.
I hung up the phone, my full attention returning back to the television in front of me.
"Who was that?", my mother muttered.
"I don't know. My guess is someone looking for the patient who occupied this room before me," I answered, redistributing the sheet evenly that was draped over my chilly legs.
Jax closed his cellphone with frustration radiating through his calloused fingers.
"Jesus Christ, I'm such a fucking pussy."
The Next Morning:
Before my mother was awake for the day, I was already dressed in the clothes Tanya dropped off to me before she headed to work this morning.
"You sleep at all last night Ra?", my mother asked in between yawns.
"An hour, and that guess is a generous one. I can't sleep comfortably in hospitals."
"Well, let's get you home so you can rest properly."
"Thank God."
I slowly got up off the hospital bed, making my way to the nurses' station.
"Ra, you have to wait for me."
"I will.. at the nurses' station," I smiled, leaving my mother alone in the room.
"Have kids they said, it will be such a blessing they said..", Tyne muttered to herself as she brought her sore body upright.
I peeked my head into the room, seeing my mother talk to herself.
"Mom, what's taking you so long? I was the one that got shot and I'm moving quicker than you are", I smiled.
"You are being awfully slick with that mouth of yours lately, Ra," she pointed out, gently placing her hand against my lower back as she escorted me to the nurses' station.
"It could be the meds."
My mother and I looked at each other in doubt.
"Nah," we laughed, the sudden contraction of muscles in the lower part of my stomach caused me to visibly flinch.
"Looks like laughter will have to take a back seat until you fully heal."
"Not on my watch," I shook my head in disagreement, powerwalking the rest of way to the nurses' station.