Second Chances (13 page)

“Luke,” I turned to the door where my mother now stood and I wasn’t sure
just how long she had been there watching, listening. She walked over to me and
hugged me. I lost it again. I really can’t remember crying this hard those
chest heaving cries. She just held me and let me cry. She convinced me to take
a walk but only just down the hall. I talked to her about everything that had
happened to
Zoey
and her mom. She told me she was
going to go see Grace next and make sure she didn’t need anything. I thought of
Lily. Where was Lily?

I found my way back to
Zoey’s
room and sat down
in my chair laying my head over across the end of her bed. Closing my eyes I
thought about yesterday how we stood at the beach watching Lily and her friend
play in the sand. I cradled her in front of me. I could imagine her hair tickling
my nose and I could sense the smell of her…cinnamon sweet. I pictured kissing
her in the doorway last night before I left…her sweet soft lips. I remember
talking to her all the way home. Why the hell did I leave? She was worried
about her mom. I should have stayed until she got home. I’m such an idiot.
Sophia came in a little while later and I must have dosed of because I jumped
when she touched my hand. I looked at her and I could tell she had been crying.
“Hey, I just wanted to tell you that I went and got Lily. She’s downstairs with
Grace. She’s upset and wants to see
Zoey
. Grace
decided that it was best she waited and she told Lily that they were in an
accident and wants to leave it that way. Just so you know.” I looked from
Zoey
to Sophia. “Where is Lily going to stay until Grace
gets out?” Sophia pulled her stare away from
Zoey
to
look at me. “I’m going to stay at
Zoey’s
tonight with
her. Evan is going to stay too. This way she can sleep in her own bed.
Hopefully that will help relax her a bit. Grace agreed to allow it, for Lily.
She may get to go home in a day or two.” I squeezed
Zoey’s
hand and just rubbed across the top with my thumb.

The nurses agreed to let me stay in the room past visiting hours. My mom
had brought me a few things…a couple magazines and crossword puzzles. I had my
phone but had it off in the room. She brought me a sandwich and drink but it
still sat in the bag on the table. I couldn’t eat I wasn’t even hungry. The
sight of
Zoey
and what that crazed man did to her
just pissed me off beyond belief. He should be grateful he is in jail otherwise
I would have to go make a visit with a baseball bat.

The only times I left her room were to use the restroom and stretch my
legs. I walked down to see Grace early the next morning on my way back up from
getting a coffee from the cafeteria. We visited for a bit. She thanked me for
being there which I told her in return that there was nowhere else I would be
but here. I told her that I loved her daughter. “I know Luke…I know.” What is
it with our mothers can they really tell before we can. Was it built in their
radar or something? She hugged me again before I found my way back up to
Zoey’s
room where a nurse was adjusting her IV drip. “Good
Morning. I was just turning this down a bit. She still won’t wake up right
away. By turning it down will allow her to become a little more alert over
time. She may begin to respond slowly off and on throughout the evening but it
will be limited. We want her to gradually wake up. She is still on pain meds
which will keep her very groggy.”

I thanked her for the update and found my way back to my spot next to
Zoey’s
bed. I talked to her throughout the day about
anything I could think of.

She had a few visitors come in and out. Blake, Sophia and Evan brought
Lily back to see Grace and they came up to see
Zoey
and of course check on me. Around lunch time my mom made her way in followed by
my dad which shocked me. I was completely dumbfounded that he found time in his
day. He is an extreme workaholic. He walked straight in to me and hugged me he
told me that if I needed anything at all to let him know. The glossy look in
his eyes took me by surprise. Emotions were normally hiding well by my father.
He is extremely conserved and square shouldered. It really choked me up with
his exchange. He walked me downstairs to get another coffee and I think just to
get some air for a bit. It felt foreign to me to have him show concern. Don’t
get me wrong I know my dad loves me and cares but he just has his own way of
showing that and this exchange surely wasn’t it. My mom stayed with
Zoey
. My parents were really great people and having them
here with me really helped me realize just how lucky I was to have them.

It was around four that afternoon when her next visitor came in and it was
a complete shock to me. Ashley wow! I looked up when the door slowly slid open
and she walked into the room. I heard her suck in a gasp. 
“Oh My God!”
She brought her hand to her mouth and tears
spilled over as they ran down her cheeks. She turned to me and then back to
Zoey
. “I can’t believe I’ve been so mean to her. She never
did anything wrong…I guess I was just jealous of her or something. She didn’t
deserve this. Can I do anything? Do you need anything?” I was still a bit
shocked but managed to shake my head in response. Ashley stayed for about forty
five minutes which floored me and after she left I felt a little rude. I hardly
said anything to her. I sat next to
Zoey
still
holding her hand “Can you believe that Z, Ashley came to see you. I bet inside
there somewhere you are as shocked as I am. Damn!”

Dinner time rolled around and Sophia brought me in something. I was only
able to pick at it still my appetite was just not there. I was reading an
article in the magazine my mom brought out loud. I knew
Zoey
would have liked it. The article was definitely girly. How some guy proposed to
his fiancée of 12 years after he finished medical school? He made this big deal
about it and went all out. I finished it and kind of laughed out loud saying
something along the lines of ‘That dude is so whipped’ when I felt
Zoey
squeeze my hand. I stopped and stared at her hand
willing it to squeeze mine again. Did I imagine it hoping for her to respond?
Did she actually squeeze my hand? I looked up into her face and then back to
her hand. “
Zoey
can you hear me? Z it’s me Luke can
you squeeze my hand…Baby squeeze my hand.” I sat there hoping silently praying
that she heard me. I started to think I had imagined it and settling back into
my chair feeling slightly defeated when…she squeezed or something like it but she
responded. I stood up and kissed her hand and got close to her ear and
whispered, “Baby I love you…God
Zoey
I love you. I’m
right here baby...right here with you.” I hit the nurse button.

Once the nurse arrived and checked over
Zoey
she
told me that her vitals were good and she seems restful so she was going to
contact the doctor about lowering the meds even further. I couldn’t stop
looking at her. Yeah she was battered and bruised but in there under all that
was my
Zoey
and I was staying through this. I wanted
to be there when she opened her eyes. After the doctor came later that evening
to check over
Zoey
they decided to lower the meds
just a little more. I had waited for another response anything but the nurse
said with the sedation drugs and the pain meds she would need time to adjust.

Monday came and Grace was getting out today. Lily had gone to school with
the help of Sophia and Evan. After they all got out of school they came to the
hospital to get Grace home. Before she would go home though she had to see
Zoey
so the nurse brought her up in the wheelchair. I think
the actual sight of her daughter lying in the hospital bed was overwhelming and
she cried so hard and apologized over and over again. She was heartbroken at
the sight of
Zoey
. They pretty much had to drag here
away but I assured her that I would be staying with
Zoey
.
I had already called the College and my coach making them aware of my absence.
I knew I was going to have to go back but I was hoping she would come around
very soon. I would feel better if she was awake and even home.

Every night she had visitors and the fact that Ashley came every day for
at least a half hour just blew me away. She apologized for being a bitch to her
every time right before she left.

Tuesday late afternoon came and I had falling asleep in the chair and I
was startled when I heard, “Luke you need to go home.” In a real raspy voice I
opened my eyes to see
Zoey
looking at me just barely
through her left eye. She couldn’t open it far but she was trying. “Oh
Zoey
…baby it is so good to hear you. I was so scared.” I
buried my head into her neck kissing lightly on her cheek. She tried to smile
but couldn’t manage a full one before she winced. “Lay still Z…Don’t try to
move to much okay. Do you remember what happened?” She swallowed and tried to
wet her lips barely whispering, “Yes…Bruce.” The sound of his name just sent
fire through my veins. I nodded and told her I needed to let the nurse know she
was awake. She dosed back off before they came in.

While the attending doctor checked her over she woke a couple times but
just briefly. I stood back along the wall while they worked adjusted meds again
and checking vitals. They talked to her as best as they could while she tried
to respond. The nurse gave her a little sip of water and the doctor said not
too much to start off very slowly. By the time they had finished she was again
out…I was sure recovering from their interruption. It took a lot out of her
just to pry her eyes open or move her fingers.

I stepped out to go make a few calls. I called her mom first and she cried
with the news and thanked me for loving her daughter. That choked me up and I
just responded with the fact that
Zoey
was very easy
to love but of course she already knew that. I had to call Sophia and I was
sure she would let Evan and Blake know. Last I called my mom. She cried with me
as I saved my break down for her. I was sitting on a bench out in the front of
the hospital. I told her I was going to need a change of clothes and a few
other things from home and she agreed to gather it all and bring it to me. I
was finally able to pull myself together and wander back upstairs to
Zoey’s
side.

I heard the door slide and saw my mom I looked up at the clock and
realized that an hour had passed since I got back into the room. She handed me
the bag with everything I had asked for. The nurse told me I could use the
visitor’s room to clean up so while I excused myself my mom sat with
Zoey
. When I returned showered, shaved and with a change of
clothes I found my mother and Grace sitting together at the table in
Zoey’s
room. My mother was holding Grace’s hand as she
cried. We all sat for a while waiting and hoping for
Zoey
to make some sort of movement. Visiting hours were close to the end and Grace
was saying her goodbyes.  Lauren
Zoey’s
aunt
came in to take her back home. As she kissed
Zoey’s
cheek and turned to leave we heard
Zoey
whisper ‘Love
you…ma…ma’. Grace looked back and the tears began to once again fall along with
everyone else’s in the room. Grace held her hand and told her she was sorry
this happened and that she would never let anyone hurt her again. She cried and
cried confessing her love and apologies.
Zoey
just
opened her eyes slightly and squeezed her hand. Grace left and shortly after so
did my mom. I slouched down into the recliner chair next to
Zoey
.
I watched her as I traced my thumb lightly over her hand. I laid my head down
onto her bed resting my cheek on her palm. Just feeling her touch on my cheek
relaxed me slightly. Her fingers twitched and I rose up seeing her looking at
me. “Hi,” she said as she lifted her hand to feel my cheek on her own. I placed
my hand over the top of hers as she continued to caress my face. “Hi baby,” was
all I could manage as I swallowed back the lump in my throat trying to hold
back the tears that threatened. “I must look awful huh?” I smiled, “No...You’re
beautiful Z. No matter what you’re beautiful. Everything will heal.”  She
blinked and a tear ran down her cheek, “Not everything Luke.” A few more tears
escaped before I stood up and place a very light kiss on her lips staying close
to her I traced her tear away with my thumb carefully to avoid hurting her.
“I’m here
Zoey
and I am not going anywhere. I’m going
to help you through this okay...you’re going to make it through this. I know
you Z this is only going to make you stronger. You’re the strongest person I
know. You have been through so much yet you come out swinging baby. Your daddy
raised one hell of a fireball.” I smiled and even got a little grin out of her.
She couldn’t manage too much movement without it hurting her. We talked for a
little bit back and forth she had closed her eyes and I thought she had fallen
asleep as we sat in the dark with just a small amount of light shining from the
hall. I closed my eyes and decided to try to get a little sleep with her when I
heard very lightly, “Did I hear you right before?” I opened my eyes and leaned,
“When Baby?” She turned her head to face me and I could tell her eyes were
barely open. I got really close to her as she continued, “I’ve heard things
here and there. Y’all were talking in here. A lot of things are fuzzy…in
and out of conversations. But I remember you talking to me, reading and I
thought I heard something else. I’m not sure if I imagined it or…” I brought my
hand up and pushed a strand of hair off her forehead, “If you’re talking about
when I said that I love you, well you didn’t imagine that because I do.” She
blinked and I could see the tears in her eyes. I kissed her again softly she
closed her eyes and slowly fell into a peaceful sleep. I sat there watching her
I was amazed at how much this girl really truly means to me in such a short
time. I adore her completely.