Seeking Me To Find You (Finding You Series Book 1) (28 page)

Sun infiltrates my
bedroom signaling morning has come. Sometime during the evening, Jackson took away my tray and left Thor. Instead of lying on the floor on his bed, Thor is curled into a ball at my feet.

When I progress to get out of bed, Thor stirs. As I exit my room, I see that Jackson is still sleeping. I quietly close his door, not wanting to wake him. Instantly at my side, Thor follows me downstairs. We proceed to the back yard so that he can relieve himself. The fall morning air is crisp, making me wish I had thrown on my robe or at least a jacket. Thor pushes his way out the back gate which is ajar. When I step through the gate to retrieve him, I’m clutched from behind. Feeling a thin strip of material placed over my mouth and nose, I sense my body begin to sink, being drawn down as if weighted with cement. My surroundings become blurry, making it difficult to find my bearings. Eventually I feel myself withdrawing into a pit of darkness. Then nothing.

*

When I awake,
my throat is raw. A metallic taste causes me to gag. The pain in my head eclipses any migraine I’ve ever experienced. As I try to sit up, a wave of nausea overcomes me causing me to seek out a bathroom, trashcan, or anything just in case. When I do, a sharp pain in my arm grabs me. I hear a voice telling me to lie back down. I try to focus my eyes but the intense pain that’s wreaking havoc in my head makes it so hard.

“Can I help you?” screams a female voice.

“Yes, I think she’s waking up.”

The male voice sounds too familiar but all I want it to do is shut up.

“Grace?”

Does he have to talk so loud?

“Grace? Open your eyes baby.”

Baby?

“Excuse me sir.”

Why does everyone have to yell when they talk?

“Ms. Weatherly, can you open your eyes?”

I try but my eyes feel so heavy. I struggle to open them but the light surrounding me is so harsh. Attempting to speak, I start to cough uncontrollably due to thickness and dryness of my throat. This makes my head pound even harder and my stomach to churn.

I feel two sets of hands hold me up, allowing me to vomit. The twisting in my head causes me to retch again. I slowly open my eyes and I see a nurse and Jackson standing on either side of me.

“My head hurts so badly,” I whisper.

“Can’t you help her?”

“Can’t you speak any quieter?” I ask.

“Let me get the doctor, then he can decide what would be the best thing to give her.”

Both of them gently lay me down on the cool bed. The nurse exits the room leaving me alone with Jackson. Jackson scoots a chair closer to my head. Leaning over, he places a cool cloth to my forehead. He then runs it down one side of my face and neck. He wets it again and repeats the motion to the opposite side.

The nurse comes back in, dispensing medication into my IV. As I watch this happen, I realize it was the IV that
grabbed
my arm when I was first coming to. Within seconds, it’s as if I can feel the medication course through my veins. Every limb feels leaded, drawing me into sleep.

*

When I awake
this time the pain in my head is gone, however I remain unfocused. I look around and it appears to be nighttime. Outside of my window I can see darkness illuminated softly by lights which I assume is in the parking lot. As I shift to get up, I feel an arm to my left. Sitting up further, I see it’s not just an arm but Jackson’s upper body lying at the foot of my bed.
Why is he still here?

I try to get out of the bed to my right but the IV will not stretch that far. The only other alternative is to try to exit to the left without awakening him. As soon as I move my foot, Jackson stirs. He slowly sits up, wiping his face with his hands.

“Grace?”

“What are you still doing here?” I ask.

“Grace, you need to lie still until the doctor says it’s okay for you to move around. You’ve been through a lot.”

“What happened?”

The contrition aligning his face makes me distressed. Jackson stands up and paces at the foot of my bed.

“Jackson, tell me what happened?” I demand.

“Yesterday morning…”

“Yesterday?” I murmur.

“Yes,” he continues. “I heard you and Thor go downstairs when you woke up. When I heard the back patio door shut, I realized that you must have taken Thor out. I started to put on my clothes when I looked outside and saw the silver car. I screamed your name as I was running down the stairs but it was too late. When I opened the back patio door, I heard a man’s high pitched howl. I saw the back gate ajar and your lower body on the ground. As I opened the gate, I saw the rest of you sprawled on the wet grass. When I opened it farther I saw a man on the ground with Thor clamped down on his arm. The man was flailing about as Thor was violently jerking his arm”.

Jackson moved the chair up by the top of the bed and took a seat, taking my hand into his. “I was so scared. I immediately turned my attention to you. You would not wake up so I carried you to the dry patio. Your clothes were damp and you felt so cold,” his voice cracks. I squeeze his hand and he continues. “I immediately called 911. As I was on the line with the dispatcher, Ben and another neighbor came bursting through the gate. Once Ben saw I had you, he took back out the gate to get Thor. I got up and walked out, telling Ben to let Thor kill that son-of-a-bitch. I instructed the neighbor to go around front to meet the ambulance. Ben, completely ignoring me, pried Thor off of the bastard and held Evan until the police arrived.”

“So it was Evan?” I asked.

“Yes, and he better be glad it was Ben that came to his rescue because I would’ve finished the job Thor started,” Jackson spouts.

“Where’s Thor?”

“Can you believe that Animal Control has to keep him until his shots can be validated? Then they have to observe him for five days to make sure he is not deemed a threat to anyone else?”

“What?” I cry out. “He was just protecting me.”

“That’s what I said, but Ben told me to comply before they arrested me for being belligerent with the officer.”

“What happened to Evan?”

“His ass was carted off to another hospital because they were worried I would do something to him. The last thing I heard, he received over a hundred stitches to his head, arm, and ass before heading off to jail. A Detective Walters said he will be by this afternoon to take your statement. Also, your mom and stepdad will be here as soon as they can.”

“What about Sam?” I ask hopefully.

“The last time I checked, Sam was still out in the waiting room sleeping. I gave him no other option because the nurse said only one person could be in here with you and it was going to be me.”

This makes my heart smile. I can just imagine the fight Jackson put up leading Sam to kindly concede to insure a scene wouldn’t be made.

“Jackson?”

“Yes.”

“I need to pee. Really bad.”

With his trademark sexy smile, he pushes the button to signal for the nurse.

Jackson

T
he past two
weeks have been a journey. After Grace was released from the hospital, her mom and stepdad arrived causing me to be bumped back to my house. They didn’t concede as well as Sam did. The stepdad told me that he appreciated everything that I did but there was no way he and his wife were going to stay in a hotel while their little girl healed.

Thor was liberated from the brig. As soon as I got him home, he dragged me to Grace’s door. When she opened it, he barged his self through and reined kisses all over her. I don’t know who cried the most, Grace or Thor. Even though I was banished from sleepovers, Thor was granted full access with sleepover rights. Safe to say, he hasn’t spent a single night at our house. Even though Grace’s parents left this morning, I don’t think it’s safe yet to broach the subject of Thor coming back home. What’s more, I don’t think I want to. I’m starting to think that I’ve lost my dog forever, the only way to get him back being to win her back.

At Evan’s bail hearing he was denied bail due to the charges involving both Rory and Grace. Grace couldn’t bring herself to attend but both of her dads and I sat in the front row. We all willed Evan to turn and look at us but that never happened. He stood with his back to us in his orange jump suit, pleading not guilty to all counts. Just seeing him standing there handcuffed and sporting a curvature of staples in his shaved scalp gave me some comfort.

Being on a normal schedule has really helped me to relax. It’s also helped me try to heal my relationship with Grace. Since my work days are basically Monday through Friday from six a.m. to six p.m., I’ve been able to see Grace every night. Hell, she does have my dog and I have the right to see him. Or at least that’s what I told her.

Today was Grace’s first day back to work. Rory still has two more weeks before she returns. Several teachers have come together to cater a meal for her this evening. Grace, volunteering to take it, called and asked me to tagalong for support. The guilt Grace has been struggling with has intensified anxiety attacks she’s been experiencing. Due to this, Grace’s mom suggested that she see a therapist to help her cope with everything that has happened. Her therapist suggested it was time for her to meet with Rory, thinking it would help her start her healing process.

When I arrive at Grace’s house I knock. No answer. I knock again. No answer. Scanning the parking lot, I see that her car is here but not in the usual place. I start freaking. Turning the door knob, I notice it is unlocked.
Will that girl ever learn?
I walk in and see her stock-still on her couch. As soon as I sit beside her, Grace makes eye contact with me. What I see in her eyes is pure terror.

“I don’t think I can do this Jackson.”

I take her hand. Bringing her quivering hand to my mouth, I place a tender kiss inside her palm.

“Yes you can Grace. I’m going to be right beside you,” I say encouragingly.

Grace turns her body so she is fully facing me.

“You do it. I think she would rather see you than me,” she says as if trying to convince herself of this.

“Grace, this is for you just as much as it’s for Rory. You need to take this step in healing. Every time I say her name, you start to cry. Both of you have become very close these past few months and I know for a fact she doesn’t blame you.”

Grace hops off the sofa, “How do you know? If I can’t forgive myself, then how can she forgive me?”

Grace walks over to the kitchen window, staring out into nothing. Walking up behind her, I place my hands around her waist, pulling her in for comfort. She turns around and buries her face into my chest, softly sobbing. I place a small kiss on the top of her head, comforting her in a protective embrace.

“I’ve talked to Rory every day and the first thing she always asks is how you’re doing. She doesn’t blame you for anything. She’s just glad that Evan was caught.”

Hearing her cry pulls at my heart. I pull back and lift her chin so that we are eye to eye.

“Grace, you need to do this,” I say as I wipe a stray tear.

“I know,” she answers back.

Our eyes stay locked. The pull of my heart pulls me to her pouty lips. As I taste her salty tears that linger on her lips, she pulls me in deeper. Feeling her need makes me want to sweep all of her worries away by taking them as my own.

Grace runs her delicate hands under my shirt. I hoist her up onto the kitchen counter where she continues caressing my body. Her gentle assault ignites my senses. Knowing I am about to take this to a place she is not ready to go, I pull away.

The look on her face is of knowing.

“I’m sorry,” she says timidly.

I turn my back to adjust my arousal.

“Jackson,” she calls.

With my back still facing her I answer, “We need to get going.”

*