Chapter 14
Cope
Two hours after Jude and Wolf arrived at the hospital, the rest of the gang walked into Jude’s room. Fitz grabbed the remote and turned on a football game. Aurora and Everly climbed onto Jude’s bed to sit beside Wolf. They each set their little hands over Jude’s.
Looking around the room, Cope could see how exhausted everyone was, with the exception of the kids. They all looked well-rested, even Everly, who’d been taking it easy for the last twenty-four hours recovering from her time in the coma with Jude.
“Daddy, look! Uncle Jude’s crying!” Everly held Jude’s hand tighter. “Is he in pain?”
“I’m not sure.” Ronan stepped up to the bed, setting one hand on Everly’s shoulder, the other on Jude’s. “Can you hear us?” Ronan gave Jude a shake. “Jude, wake up! I’ve got shit to do!”
Fitz stepped up to his other side. “Same here, asshole! You need to buy a gift for the office Yankee Swap and don’t pull the same stupid shit you did last year, re-gifting the present you’d gotten from the year before. No one’s interested in a candle that smells like ass.”
“Come on, babe,” Cope said, tickling Jude’s feet, which he knew his husband hated with a burning passion.
“Time to wake up. The kids miss you. Me, not so much. Life runs much more smoothly without you messing it up at every turn. There’s no gobs of toothpaste in the sink.
No dirty socks on the coffee table. No eyerolling or belly laughs.
No fun at all. Like Fitz said, stop being an asshole and wake up! ”
Everly gasped. “Uncle Jude just squeezed my hand.”
“Mine too!” Aurora said. “Please wake up, Uncle Jude. I don’t think you’re a butthole. I miss you more than anything. It’s not the same without you.”
Jude’s eyelashes fluttered. Once. Twice. A third time. His eyes slowly opened. “Cope?” he whispered.
“Right here, Jude.” Cope’s entire body was swamped with relief. Jude was awake and knew who he was.
“Bertha? Where’s Bertha?” Jude’s voice sounded like a rusty screen door. Cope assumed it was from a combination of disuse and irritation the ventilator tube caused.
“Mimi’s not here now.” Everly looked around the room.
“I don’t see her either,” Ten said.
“Same here.” Cope set his hand on Jude’s shoulder. “Was she with you in your coma?”
“Yeah, Bertha showed me how much you all love me. She showed me my future. Our future.” Jude’s eyes slid shut again, as if he were trying to catch one last glimpse of that dreamworld. “Not gonna believe what’s gonna happen to Wolfie and Lizzy. Bertha kept calling her Lizzy.”
Lizbet squealed and toddled toward the bed. Fitz lifted her up, so Jude could see her.
“Can you see it, Cope?” Jude asked, his voice growing softer. “Can you see their futures?”
Cope shook his head. “No. As hard as I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to see what was in store for our kids.”
“Gonna love it.” Jude smiled. “But you gotta wait and see.” Jude’s eyes slid shut.
“Mimi Bertha showed Daddy my future?” Wolf asked in wonder. “Am I gonna be a werewolf? Or a vampire?”
Jude huffed a laugh. “Maybe.” His mouth went slack and Jude started to snore softly.
“Okay, everyone, let’s give Jude time to rest.” Ronan lifted Wolf and Everly off the bed. Fitz handed Lizzy to Cope and got Aurora down. “I pressed the nurse’s call button. Let us know what the doctor says. We’ll take the kids for lunch and bring you back something.”
“Thanks, Ronan.”
One by one, Cope’s friends and family filed out of the room. It was unbelievable, but Cope’s Christmas wish had come true. Jude was awake. He didn’t seem to have any more brain damage now than before he fell. Cope didn’t need his gift to know Jude was coming home for Christmas.
Cope’s silent nights were over, he could finally wish people a Merry Christmas and mean it. Santa Claus was indeed coming to town along with Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Their family would have a Holly Jolly Christmas, and hopefully a White Christmas as well. It really was A Wonderful Life.
Joy to the world.