A Will To Change (Hope) (6 page)

“Hey, there!” I could tell right away that Hope was trying to fight her tears as she and my brother entered my room and her eyes fixated on my arm.

“What's up?” I asked, trying my hardest to sound like my normal self. 

Hope leaned down and kissed me on the cheek, placing a plate of cookies on the table beside my bed. “Just for you,” she smiled.

“Thanks.”

“Here’s everything you wanted from your apartment,” Jamie said, placing the bag on the floor. “We would have been here sooner, but Hope decided to clean for you.”

“Just a little. That way, everything will be all nice for you when you get home.”

“Thanks, Hope.”

“Not a problem. Have you talked to your mom?”

“Hope…” I shook my head at her.

“I know. But, Will, she’s your mother. She should know.”

“Hope, please, don’t say anything.”

She sighed heavily. “Okay. I promise I won’t.”

Jamie was quiet, taking a step closer and eyeing my bandaged arm. “How are you feeling?”

“Well, I'd be better if I had some vodka and a hot blonde right now. But Gabby will do,” I teased as she entered the room to check my IV.

She looked at me and smiled. “Gabby will do for what?”

“A fill in for some alcohol and a hot blonde.”

“Umm…there was just a hot blonde in here not too long ago.”

“Ah, that was just Janelle.” I suddenly realized that I didn’t introduce Gabby to my brother and sister-in-law. “Oh. Jamie and Hope, this is Gabby.”

“We actually met out in the hallway,” Gabby said.

“Bro, when was the last time you showered?” Jamie asked.

“Why?”

“No offense, but you stink.”

Gabby busted out with laughter.

“Oh well. Sorry. You try being stuck here for days and not being able to get this damn bandage wet,” I said.

“Will, I can help you if you’d like to shower,” Gabby said.
Help me shower? What the fuck? I never had a woman ask to help me shower. Shower with me, yes, but never to actually help me wash my body.

“Um…no. Jamie can help me.”

Jamie’s eyes widened and he immediately shook his head. “What? Oh, hell no. You’re my brother and I love you, but I really don’t care to see you naked.”

Gabby and Hope both giggled.

“Will, I promise. It will be okay. I do this for a living. It’s not a big deal to me. Trust me, you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. I’m sure yours is no different.”

Jamie nearly choked on the sip of water that he had just taken, unable to control his laughter. 

“Oh, Gabby,
trust me
. Mine is different. It has super human powers.”

“You are too much, you know that?!” Gabby laughed.

Once my brother and Hope left, Gabby came back in to help me take a shower. I was a little nervous when she removed my bandage first, then informed me that she would be cleaning the wound in the shower. I could tell that she sensed my anxiety right away. “Will, I promise. I will be gentle with you.”

She carefully wrapped my hand containing the IV in plastic and led me into the bathroom. “I promise. I will try my hardest not to look,” she smirked. 

I had no problem with her seeing me naked. Hell, I had no problem with
any
woman seeing me naked. It was the fact that I felt like less of a man having her help me shower. I knew it was all in a day's work for her, but it was a huge blow to my ego. 

“Oh, trust me, Gabby. You won't be able to help yourself.” 

She busted out with laughter as she reached into the shower, turning on the water and adjusting the temperature.

“Okay, strip!” she grinned. I shook my head and laughed. “Wait. Do you want me to go get some dollar bills?”

“Oh, you are
so
enjoying my humiliation right now, aren't you?” 

“Not at all, Will.” I stepped out of my boxers and her joking demeanor suddenly became much more serious. She helped maneuver my IV pole, allowing me to step into the oversized shower with ease. “Sit down,” she said, pointing to the seat in the stall. “I'm going to clean your wound first, then we'll carefully wash your hair and body. That way, we can make sure that none of the shampoo gets into it.” She gently washed my arm with soap, water, and a special sponge, causing me to hold my breath every now and then from the pain. “Sorry, Will,” she said, sympathetically. 

“It's okay.” 

She finished up, allowing me to wash the rest of my body by myself for the most part, helping me out every now and then. I wrapped the towel around my waist and stepped out of the shower. “Go sit down in the chair and I'll help you shave.”

“Geez, you're bossy,” I teased. 

She smiled and picked up my dirty clothes from the bathroom floor, placing them in a plastic bag. I dragged my IV pole out of the bathroom and sat in the chair in my room, waiting for her. She came out of the bathroom and placed the basin of water on the table. “Where's your shaving stuff?”

I pointed to the bag on the floor that Jamie had brought to me. She placed it on my lap and I looked through it for my razor and shaving cream. She took a seat next to me and lathered the shaving cream on my face. “Do you know what you're doing? I'm not going to have cuts all over my face, am I?”

She tilted her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course I know what I'm doing, silly!” She slid the razor down my face, dipping it into the water after each glide. “I used to do this for my dad all the time,” she said with a beautiful smile stretching across her face.

“Are you and your dad close?”

Her smile slowly disappeared. “We were. He passed away.”

“Oh, sorry,” I said, feeling a little like an asshole for asking her that question.

“There you go! All handsome again!” she said, after gliding the razor over my face one last time.

“Thanks, Gabby.” 

“No problem. Now get some clothes on. We have to get that arm bandaged up.”

“Damn. I thought you forgot!”

“Nice try.” She smiled.

I sat there for a few seconds, just staring at her. For the first time in my adult life, I was actually naked in front of a woman and I didn’t get anything sexual out of it. I didn't know if I was more amazed over that or the fact that Gabby didn't seem impressed by what she had seen.

I had gotten so busy with a new patient that had just stepped down to our unit from ICU that I didn’t have a chance to check on Will. Callie had told me he was in some pain after his bandage change. I peeked my head in on him before leaving for the night. “Hey. You’re still up?”

“What time is it?” he asked.

I looked down at my watch. “Eleven fifteen. What ya watching?” I asked, walking further into his room

“
Wrong Turn
.”

“Oh, I love that movie.”

His eyes widened. “Wow. You’re the first chick I've ever heard of that likes this.”

“Oh no. I love gory horror movies.”

“You are pretty cool, Gabby girl.” He smiled.

“How are you feeling? Callie said you were in a little bit of pain.”

“It's alright.” I could tell he was underplaying it.

I checked his meds to see what they had given him and if it would be strong enough to help get him through the night. “Well, if it gets too bad through the night, make sure you call the nurse. Don't wait for it to get out of hand.”

He nodded and my heart broke over the pain in his eyes. I sat down in the chair beside his bed. “I can’t even begin to imagine the pain you’re in. I’ve never experienced it first-hand, Will. The only thing I know is what I was taught in school. But, I promise you, it will get better. If you need anything, I’ll be here for you.”

He tried his best to form a smile. “Thanks, Gabby. Do you want to stay and finish watching the movie with me?”

I smiled, taking his hand in mine. “I’d love to.”

I looked over at Will as the credits rolled on the screen and he was sound asleep. I smiled, knowing that he was finally going to be able to get some rest. I was afraid that the pain would keep him up for most of the night. I got up from the chair, checked his meds one last time, and covered him with the blanket before turning off his TV and exiting his room.

I was surprised to find Evan still awake when I got home. I knew right away that he had a little too much to drink. His eyes were glassy and I could smell the strong odor of alcohol permeating off him as he stood up against the kitchen counter, staring at me. “I thought you said that you were only working until eleven,” he slurred. He swayed back and forth when he took a step away from the counter. I reached over the top of him to grab a glass. I just wanted to get a drink of water and go to bed. Suddenly, he pushed me up against the counter, shoving his tongue down my throat.

“Evan, stop!” I shouted, trying my best to push him out of the way.

“What the fuck is your problem, you fuckin’ bitch?”

I went to walk away and he grabbed on to my wrist, twisting my arm as he pulled me into him.

“Ouch! Stop it!” I screamed in pain.

But he didn't let up. Instead, he gripped my wrist tighter. “Oh, what's the matter? Am I hurting you?” he taunted. “Why don't you go tell your fuckin’ friends at work since you care more about them than you do about me?”