Chapter 14
“Hey stupid.” A scuffed boot prodded Jason’s leg roughly. “I’m talking to you.”
“Leave me alone,” he snarled back at his cellmate.
The boy’s biceps bulged under his t-shirt.
His head was shaved clean. There were two teardrop tattoos under his right eye.
A deep, rugged scar ran down his cheek. Jason was terrified.
His leg knotted in pain, but he wasn’t about to let this bully think he had the upper hand.
In the long month since his arrest, he had been taunted and ridiculed without mercy.
He hadn’t thought his life could become any worse—but it had.
And this steroid-pumped dude had a lot to do with his current state of misery.
His cellmate, Carlo, was only seventeen, had a reputation for cruelty. Most of his young life were spent behind the bars of juvenile detention.
Jason yelped as a sharper kick exploded low in his back.
Carlo snarled in his ear. “You have twenty-four hours to get me a shiv and some meth.”
Jason lurched as saw stars following a vicious punch to the back of his head. He tucked his head into his chest to avoid the brunt of another blow. His head ached in addition to the knots that swelled in his leg and back.
Carlo stomped across the room. The fetid stench of the toilet permeated their 10x10 cell. Jason heard a loud flush and a swirl of water. He braced himself as the thud of feet grew closer.
Carlo’s foul, hot breath slapped him in the face as he spat out, “Twenty-four hours.” The menacing voice echoed, and the bed shook as Carlo hoisted his body onto the top bunk.
Then a false soprano voice called out from above him. “Sweet dreams, princess.”
Jason rolled his bony frame sideways and faced the dingy wall, scarred with obscenities and gang markings. Pulling the thin green blanket higher, he covered his ears to smother the sound of inmates calling to each other in coarse jeers and curses.
He recalled his dad’s earlier words about what they would do to him behind bars and now knew they were true.
Jason almost puked when he thought of what he would have to do to trade for Carlo’s meth.
His body broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of it.
He had an idea of where to gather the materials to make a shiv.
Last week, he had been re-assigned to kitchen cleanup detail.
Although the detention center kept dangerous objects out of the hands of the inmates, there were some pot handles that could be broken off and fashioned into a weapon.
Not that Jason would be stupid enough to hand it over to Carlo.
He would use it to end his own miserable existence.
Ashley studied the room. Her heart was filled with bitter-sweet emotions. The NICU nurses had gathered in the break room to throw her a going-away party. Memories swept over her as she scanned each familiar face.
So many hours spent together over isolettes of fragile neonates. They were like extended family over the years, celebrating each other’s highs and commiserating the lows together. How she would miss them. Was she making the right decision?
Her best friend Laurie took in her quivering lip and the tears welling in her eyes. “Ash. You’re doing the right thing—one hundred percent—for Noah, the girls, and for you.”
A single tear trickled down Ashley’s cheek. She swept it away before anyone noticed. “You’re right. I’m just going to miss everyone.
“I understand, honey. Change is hard.”
Ashley turned as a familiar voice called her name. She saw her supervisor, Michelle, working her way through the crowd, gift bag in tow.
“I thought that meeting would never end,” she groaned. “The endless monthly supervisor’s meeting.”
Ashley laughed at her expression.
Michelle handed her the gift bag. “Something special just for you.”
Ashley peeked inside and lifted out the latest romance novel from her favorite author, lavender bath salts, a delicious smelling bar of fine-milled almond coconut soap, a matching candle, and a half split of champagne.
“Oh, you know me too well. And I had to leave to get all these delectable gifts?” She laughed and thanked Michelle.
“I have plans for tonight. I’m going to go home and chill this champagne, close and lock the bathroom door, and have a long soak in the tub by candlelight.
Then I’m going to read until I fall asleep. Noah is on daddy detail.”
Michelle giggled. “Wonderful. That was the idea. But hold on—one condition. Promise me you’ll come back and teach the Neonatal Resuscitation Course next month?
Please? I’m hoping you’ll co-teach with Priscilla, so she can take it over.
It’s just Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday till noon.
I’m hoping that works with your schedule? ”
Ashley gave Michelle an impish grin. “I love to teach that class. Absolutely. It gives me a chance to see my NICU buddies too.” She leaned over and hugged a couple of nurse friends heading back to the unit. “Thank you for the party. Let’s do lunch soon.”
“Yes. I’ll text you.”
Ashley spent the next half hour visiting with her co-workers as one-by-one they drifted back to their duties. Rodney, the security guard, stopped by.
He held both of her hands in his. “Ashley, I’m going to miss seeing your smiling face, but I’m so happy for you.
” Recalling the knife attack from last winter, Rodney gave her a bear hug.
“You’re my lifesaver; I will always remember you.
My family will too. Without you acting so fast, I wouldn’t still be on this planet. ”
Ashley returned the hug and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for being our fierce protector all these years. I’m going to miss seeing you too.”
The next thing she knew, Laurie was wheeling in a cart to load her flowers and gifts. “Let me help you to your car. Do you want to take the rest of the cake home with you?”
“I’ll take a few slices for the girls and Noah, but let’s leave the rest for the staff. Please make sure the night shift gets some. It seems like they always lose out on the parties and food. I remember those days.”
Laurie’s face softened. “Of course you do. That’s one reason why you’re so loved and will be missed...your huge heart.”
As they loaded up the cart and headed to the parking lot, Laurie continued, “Okay, so tomorrow I’ll pick up the girls from school.
You’re going to drop off their bags at the house when you head out of town.
The boys are super excited and have picked out some games and movies, PG only and approved by me.
I know you, girlfriend. I got you. We’re gonna grill and project the movie outside if the bugs aren’t too bad.
The neighbor kids are going to come over too. ”
Ashley’s face creased into a huge grin. “That sounds incredible. Noah and I can’t wait.”
“Hey, it’s your turn. David and I had a fantastic time while you took care of the boys. Monterey is so beautiful any time of year.”
Ashley hugged her friend tightly. “You’re the best.”
Jason let out a breath of relief as Carlo was handcuffed and led out of their cell. Just under the twenty-four-hour deadline, an unannounced cell search had discovered the shiv Jason had fashioned and cunningly hidden under Carlo’s mattress—just to be safe.
He hadn’t even tried to get the meth. He just couldn’t force himself to perform the act required in exchange for the drug. Terrified at the thought of what would happen when it was discovered he hadn’t delivered, he had leaked the news about concealed weapons to a guard.
Carlo shot Jason a glare of pure evil as the officer tapped the bars of the cell with his baton.
“Move,” the officer ordered.
Carlo spat at Jason and let out a string of profanity. “You just wait, skinny little white boy. When word gets out you’re a snitch, you’ll be dead meat.”
The officer pulled out his Taser and pointed it at Carlo. “Shut your mouth, or I’ll shut it for you.”
Carlo moved forward and shot one last parting remark. “Used dead meat.”
Jason sat on his bunk and wrapped his arms around his waist. He could hear Carlo shouting awful names and threats as he was paraded down the corridor, heckling the other inmates. A hard knot pitted in his stomach. He knew the words were more than a threat. They were a reality for snitches.
Noah awoke with Ashley entwined in his arms. The rhythmic waves and seagull calls filled the hotel room with their soothing sound. He picked up a lock of her long, blond hair and curled it around his index finger, holding it up to the sunlight, where it glistened like gold.
She smiled and stroked his cheek. “Good morning, my love.”
Her voice caressed and excited him at the same time.
He kissed her thoroughly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, settling beneath him. They made love at first with tender kisses and strokes. Then, after their passion flamed and built, they lay back, sated and breathless.
After a few minutes, Noah rolled onto his side and smiled. “Now, this is how to start a morning right.”
Ashley rolled back over on top of him. She touched his dimples with her fingertips, laid her head on his chest, and sighed. “I love you.”
“Love you more, babe.”
They rested in each other’s arms as their heartbeats normalized and their breathing slowed down.
She kissed his lips. “Are you hungry?”
“Always,” he leered.
She slapped him playfully on his shoulder. “Not for that. I’ve got Eggs Benedict calling my name.”
Noah sat up and pulled her onto his lap. “I’ve got something else calling my name.”
Later, after showers and breakfast, they drove into Asilomar Drive in Pacific Grove, a small beach community adjacent to Monterey, and parked their car in a sandy cove facing the ocean. In years past, they would have hiked Point Lobos and had a picnic.
Noah massaged his knotted thigh muscles. He still didn’t have the strength to walk long distances, but he was getting stronger every week. Ashley reached over and traced the scar on his knee with her fingertips.
“Next year at this time, I’ll be almost like new.” He laughed and clasped her hand.
For several minutes, they were mesmerized by the ebb and flow of the tide as it splashed on the rugged rocks.
The sights and sounds of the ocean, seagulls calling, and the distant hum of fishing boats calmed their souls.
Noah stroked her hand as she snuggled up to his shoulder.
He leaned his head back on the headrest and let out a deep sigh of contentment.
“We both needed this.” A slight smile upturned her lips.
Noah turned his face toward her. “Ash, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and I want to talk with you about something.”
“What is it?” She sat up straight, looking nervous.
Noah met her eyes and hesitated for a moment. “I’ve prayed about this ever since Jeff and Sue came over and told us Jason was the hit-and-run driver. Lord knows I’ve forgiven him in my heart...but I want to give him a second chance in life...and drop all the charges.”
“Noah!” Ashley cried out. “Are you serious? He left you for dead on the side of the road.”
Noah turned and clasped both of her shoulders. “Babe. Please try to understand. I know how difficult this has been. I really sense the Lord is directing me to do this.”
Ashley shut her eyes and covered her face with her hands, shaking her head from side to side. He pursed his lips, jaw clenched, and waited.
After a while, she opened her shimmering turquoise-blue eyes.
A lone tear rolled down her cheek, followed by a cascade.
He gathered her into his arms as she wept.
Her sobs turned into gasps, followed by shudders of emotion.
After a long time, she finally released whatever it was she’d been holding on to and melted into his chest.
They stayed like that as the crash and thunder of waves echoed into a timeless rhythm. He softly ran his fingers through her hair as memories of the last six months’ struggle passed through his mind.
Could he forget? Never.
Could he forgive? Yes, but only through the grace of God.