Chapter 4 #2
“I’m fine.” I readjust again, moving my hand from the mattress to my lap.
“What happened yesterday?” This whole event sounds ridiculous to my ears.
How is it possible that I was hit by a car?
I’m not a careless man by nature. Every move I make is calculated.
Every plan plotted. Nothing is done on a whim.
So when an emotion I haven’t felt in longer than I can remember sets in, I almost don’t recognize it.
And when I do, embarrassment settles in as I confess, “I’ve lost the better part of the past twenty-four hours.
” She’s a stranger to me but acts as if we’re familiar. “Can you fill in some details for me?”
“If I can.” She nods and then shifts farther down the bed, her hands moving to her sides before slipping into hidden pockets. “What do you want to know?”
“You’ve been freed, Mr. Landers.” The door is barely open before Nurse Edi announces like she’s won the lottery.
Maybe she has if I’m being released. She looks at the woman standing at the end of my bed.
“I’m glad you’re here, Mrs. Landers. You’ll be able to sign the paperwork and then he’s all yours again.
” I catch the scowl before she plasters a smile back on her face for Del—oh shit. I’m married.
I glance at my hand again, rubbing the tip of my thumb under the finger that should have some form of representation of such a union.
There is none. Did I lose more than a day?
Did I lose the memory of my wife, of getting married, the honeymoon, and our life together?
I eye this Delaney lady. I would have thought sex with her would be more memorable.
My skin itches under this chalky cast smothering my arm. What else can’t I remember?
Nurse Edi leads her out of the room, leaving me lying here staring out the window at the surrounding buildings. Their shadow finally reaches my window, slowly shoving me into darkness, which matches the holes in my mind.
Reaching over, I flick on a small bedside lamp. I scan the nightstand for a phone, my wallet, anything that gives me access to the outside world. I’m not sure if I should escape while Delaney’s gone or invite her to my place when she returns. Our place?
What the fuck is happening?
None of this sits well with me. Something is definitely off.
The moment the door opens, I ask, “Do you have my phone?”
Delaney enters, shaking her head. “No. The hospital said it wasn’t on you when you arrived.
” She comes bedside and hands me my wallet and watch.
My dad’s watch. The face is cracked, one of the lugs sports a deep indent, and the bezel is scratched on the top.
The second hand is miraculously ticking as if time never stopped for me.
I’ll take it as a good sign since I’m somehow here after being hit by a car.
“Thanks.” I start putting the watch on my left wrist. Reaching down, she helps secure the clasp. Handy since I can’t use my right for shit now that my arm is broken and fingers a bit stiff.
“You’re free to go home, but they want to wheel you out the door.” Walking to the closet, she pulls the clothes out. “Do you need help getting dressed?”
“No.”
“I have brothers, if you’re worried.” I stare at her, curious how that matters in this predicament, especially if she’s my supposed wife.
What the fuck is happening? If I find out Jimmy set up this elaborate prank, he’s a dead man. “Did Jimmy put you up to this? Did he set up this whole thing?”
“A car accident? No, he didn’t set this up.” Placing my clothes on the bed, she says, “I can leave the room. I don’t have a car, but I can call a cab or a rideshare if you prefer and have it waiting outside.”
I stare at her. “Is this for real?”
“Is what for real?”
“You. Me. This whole thing?”
Her shoulders fall as if I’ve hurt her feelings. When I see her expression sink, I’m quick to add, “It’s a lot to take in.”
I’m given a defeated nod before she says, “I understand. It has been a lot.” She walks out, and as soon as the door closes, I’m not sure if she’s just getting a car or leaving altogether. I’m also unsure what I want to happen next, other than showering and sleeping in my own bed.
I get up and slowly step onto the cold linoleum.
With my working arm, I start to lay out my shirt to help me put it on, but then I realize it’s never going to fit over this cast. It’s ripped and covered in blood anyway, so it’s not worth the effort.
I toss it in the trash bin and manage to get my pants on, though my belt is not cooperating.
I let the hospital gown fall over my waist. I’m too tired to give a shit about how I look.
I slip on my shoes, skipping the hassle of putting on socks and then walk out of the room. I wasn’t expecting a ticker-tape parade, but a greeting or goodbye would have been nice. Heading toward the door, I’m greeted by Nurse Edi and a wheelchair. “Get in, Mr. Bossy Pants.”
“Is that why you’re mad at me? Was I bossy?”
“We’ve never had bossier.” She starts pushing me down the corridor. “You were ordering stocks like they were items on a menu, and you told one of our newer nurses that you could do a better job than she could.”
My lips part, the apology owed to most of the staff, from what it sounds like, on the tip of my tongue. “Can we blame it on the anesthesia?”
“We already did. And then I was assigned to deal with you. It’s not been so bad, though, right, Mr. Landers?”
“No.” I grin just a little. “Not so bad.”
I search the waiting room for Delaney as we pass by. When I don’t see her, I focus forward. Nurse Edi rolls me outside and then stops on the sidewalk. “Time to say goodbye.”
Standing, I look at her. Maybe I judged her wrong. “Goodbye, Nurse.”
“Take care, Mr. Landers. Put some frozen peas on that black eye tonight and watch where you’re going.”
“Good advice. I’ll make sure to heed it next time I cross the street.”
Her boisterous laughter echoes under the hospital awning.
“You do that.” She starts back with the wheelchair but stops.
“She probably won’t tell you, but Mrs. Landers never left the hospital, not even when you were in surgery recovery.
She was here all night, worried about you.
Thought you should know. Not everyone has someone who cares about them like she does you. ”
She stays all night, but then leaves when I’m released? I’m really fucking confused. Nurse Edi has already retreated inside when I turn to figure out my next step.
The streets of New York are unforgiving—windy and dusty, with people annoyed when I dare step outside and in their path. The sun has set, though the warmth of spring still holds on past daylight hours.
If I knew Jimmy’s number, I’d call him, but my bad for not memorizing phone numbers when I have them programmed instead.
“Warner?”
My gaze follows the sound of my name to see Delaney standing with a door open in front of her.
Her skirt wraps around the corner while she holds her hair back from blowing in her face.
I can’t say she’s not a welcome sight, even despite wondering what game she’s playing with my head.
I start walking toward her. No use fighting this.
Home is where I need to be recovering with my phone and in my bed.
When I reach her, I say, “Homeward bound, dear?”
The smile I would expect from my wife doesn’t appear.
She’s quick to duck into the car and slide across the seat to wait for me.
With lingering grogginess, my brain isn’t fully functioning.
I have a headache coming on, and my body is lethargic.
I get into the car, but don’t say anything, choosing to lie back to conserve what little energy I have.
The car pulls away from the curb like he already knows where he’s going. Suspicious indeed. One way or another, I guess I’m about to find out if she’s for real or not.