Chapter 22 Ava
AVA
Two weeks later
I was excited about today because I was going to look at a townhouse for rent that was on the same block as my sister’s house.
Over the past two weeks, I was able to move out the rest of my belongings with the help of not just my sister but Kevin as well.
I didn’t have very much stuff to move out, but it was quite a bit.
So much so that I was going to have to rent a public storage bin.
Kevin was gracious enough to not only help us move, because Lord only knew we definitely needed the manpower, and he allowed for me to store my things in his basement.
It was a few furniture pieces, several boxes of clothes, home decor and kitchen appliances.
Hopefully, I would not only like the townhouse that I was going to look at, but I’d be able to sign a lease today as well. As I was getting dressed, I got a phone call from an unknown number. I wasn’t going to answer it at first, but when I took a closer look the number kind of looked familiar.
“Hello,” I answered, hoping it wasn’t a solicitor because I loathed those types of phones calls.
“Hello, my name is Brandon, the head nurse at the trauma center at Advocate Hospital. May I speak with Ava Miller please?”
Holy shit! What the hell was the hospital calling me for? “This is Ava, what is this call pertaining to?”
I instantly got weak because I hoped that it wasn’t about my HIV blood work.
My lab results had come in a week ago and I was in the clear.
For the hospital to be calling me now, I hoped that they hadn’t made a mistake and that they weren’t calling to tell me that my results were positive and not negative.
“I’m calling you because you are listed in our system as the next of kin for Justin Miller.”
When he said Justin’s name, I was shocked.
I hadn’t talked to him since I caught his ass.
I had his number on block and left it that way ever since.
As far as the divorce was concerned, my lawyer was the one initiating all communication with him, so to hear his name and to know he was in the hospital had me a bit concerned.
“Is everything okay?”
“Well, not quite. He was involved in an accident at his job and has been admitted. We need you to come to the hospital as soon as possible please.”
“What kind of accident? Is he going to be okay?”
“Rather than discuss this over the phone, for the patient’s privacy it would be best if you come into the hospital and we sit face to face.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
Hanging up with the hospital, I called out to Dawn.
“Dawn! Dawn! I’ll be right back. Justin’s been in some kind of accident. The hospital just called asking me to come in.”
“What happened?” Dawn asked, speed-walking into the den where I was sitting. “Why they callin’ you? Are you really going to go check for his ass after everything that happened?”
“Not now, Dawn. At the end of the day, he’s still my husband. Our divorce isn’t quite final because he hasn’t signed the papers yet. So yes, to answer your question I’m going to see what’s going on.”
“Hold up, I’ll ride with.”
“As long as you won’t be with the shits, fine. But if not, I think it’s best if you stay here and I’ll call you and keep you posted.”
“Nonsense! I’m coming. You act like I don’t know how to conduct myself.”
“It is questionable.”
“Oh, hush, I’ll be right back. Just let me go get my shoes,” Dawn huffed then took off to go get her stuff.
She was taking longer than my patience could handle. I didn’t realize it was going to take forever for her to go put on some shoes.
“I’ll be in the car!” I hollered out and headed to my car.
Ten minutes later, Dawn joined me then we headed for the hospital.
“Did they say what happened?”
“No, all the nurse said was that he was in an accident while at work. He didn’t want to give me any more information over the phone.”
“Oh, this sounds bad.”
“I swear you always think so negatively,” I said.
“I do not! I’m just being realistic!” Dawn said.
We rode the rest of the way in silence as it only took me ten minutes to get to the hospital.
I valet parked because I didn’t feel like walking the long distance from the parking lot to the entrance.
Making it inside, we stopped at the front desk that was in the lobby and asked for Justin’s room number.
The lady behind the desk told us which elevator to take and we went in tow to find out what was going on with Justin.
“Hello, my name is Ava Miller. I got a call from a nurse about Justin Miller.”
“Oh yes, hello, Mrs. Miller—”
“You can call me Ava,” I interrupted.
“Nice to meet you, Ava. Thanks for coming.”
“No problem. This is my sister, Dawn. What’s going on with Justin?”
“Let’s go to a room so that I can explain, but first I need you to sign these HIPPA forms.”
After signing the forms, Dawn and I followed the nurse to an empty patient room.
“Mr. Miller was at the scene of a fire and had a pretty bad fall this morning. He broke his hip and suffered smoke inhalation pretty badly. He is scheduled for surgery today. We are just waiting for the on-call surgeon to get here.”
“Ha, that’s all. I thought his ass—” Dawn started but I stopped her.
“Not now, Dawn!”
The nurse looked from me to her then led us to Justin’s room.
“He is in quite a bit of pain, overall. But he is alert and anxiously waiting to be taken in for surgery.”
When I walked into Justin’s room, his eyes lit up, and it looked like he was going to cry. Tate was in the room with him, and when he saw Dawn, it looked like he’d seen a ghost. I’m guessing he felt a little uncomfortable being in her presence after things didn’t work out between them.
“Ava, baby, you came! I didn’t think you would come.”
“I only came because it sounded a lot more serious over the phone. I didn’t think I had a choice to come or not. Hello, Tate,” I said, turning my attention to his friend.
“Hey, Ava,” Tate responded, giving me a hug, “Hello, Dawn, nice to see you.”
“Hey, Tate,” Dawn responded, then rolled her eyes at Justin.
Neither Justin nor Dawn spoke to each other and I was cool with that.
“Thanks for coming. They sayin’ that I have to have hip surgery. My recovery is going to be hell. I’m so happy you’re here with me.”
“I only came because I thought it was more serious.” I wasn’t standing here trying to fake anything for his ass. Hip surgery! They didn’t even need to call me at all.
“What do you mean more serious? A broken hip isn’t serious to you?”
“Not exactly. It wasn’t serious enough for me to come down here! Once the surgery is over, in time you’ll recover,” I responded. “Seeing as how this isn’t anything major, I’m gonna go ahead and leave.”
“Wait! What you mean you’re leaving? You just got here.”
“Justin, we’re no longer together. I’m not trying to give the wrong impression by being here.”
“Wow! Really, Ava? I just told you that my recovery is going to be hell. I need you to be here. I can’t ask Tate to stay because he has work.”
“So do I!”
“Really? You gon’ kick me like this when I’m already down bad?” Justin asked in a sad voice. He had to be shitting me if he thought I was going to feel sorry for his ass.
“Call Shane! I’m sure he’s biting at the bits to come help you.”
“Wow!” Justin said as if he was shocked.
“Speaking of Shane, where is he?” I asked, being sarcastic.
“See, now you’re just being downright nasty!” Justin spat.
“Nasty as in catching the two of you together nasty?” I sneered. “Speaking of Shane, have you talked to him lately?”
“No, after that day, I haven’t said nothin’ else to his ass. I’m sorry, please, you have to know that I’m sorry.”
“Oh, sorry is not the right word! You’re more like pathetic! You might want to call your boy up. He may have some important information for you.”
I had already told my sister about the whole HIV thing once my blood work came back from the lab negative. She was standing there soaking this all up. Judging from the look on her face, she was enjoying every minute of me and Justin’s back and forth banter.
“What information could he possibly have for me?” Justin asked.
Well, I wasn’t trying to be the bearer of bad news, but aye… as long as I was here!
“He tested positive for HIV, fool! I hope you used protection because if not, you might want to get yourself checked out while you’re here.”
Tate jumped up from the chair he was sitting in with a look of terror on his face.
“You son of a bitch! I trusted you, bro!” Tate shouted, pointing his finger at Justin.
Justin just sat there with his mouth hung open and his eyes bucked.
“I can’t believe this shit! How could you be so careless?” Tate continued to fuss.
“Hold the hell up! Was you fuckin’ this nigga, too?” Dawn shouted, jumping up and down. “I knew it! I knew something was off with Tate’s ass, too! Aww hell nah, Justin, who else’s booty you been diggin’ in?” Dawn asked as she busted out laughing, and Tate ran out of the room.
“Now wait one minute! What the hell are you talking about, Ava? You shouldn’t be here if you just came to get me upset. I’m the patient here, and that’s some bullshit for you to prance up in here talking bullshit.”
“You think so, huh? Hold on right quick,” I responded, pulling my cellphone out of my purse and calling Shane’s number then putting the phone on speaker. The phone rang all of two times before Shane answered.
“Ava,” Shane sang into the phone. “I’m surprised to be hearing from you.”
“Why is that?” I asked.
“When you stormed out of the doctor’s office that day, I didn’t think that I’d ever hear from you again,” Shane said.
“Yeah, well I didn’t think I’d ever be calling you again. I just wanted you to know that I went and got tested,” I informed him.
“Please tell me that you didn’t catch HIV! Oh God, I’m so sorry, Ava!” Shane cried out.
“Oh no, honey!” I responded sarcastically. “My test came back negative, but I was just wondering, did you ever tell Justin about your positive HIV status?” I asked as I stared Justin in the eyes.
“I’ve called him a few times to let him know he should get tested, but he has been avoiding me,” Shane said sadly.
“Okay, then, well you just told him now because he just heard every word you said. I got you on speaker,” I responded then hung up the phone.
Walking up to the side of Justin’s bed as he laid there with a look of horror in his eyes, I smacked him as hard as I could across his face.
Turning around to leave, Tate was standing there glaring at Justin while Dawn was digging in her purse. I was hoping that she wasn’t going to pull out a weapon because I didn’t want to catch a charge for abusing a patient. Pulling out a familiar looking paper, she handed them to Justin.
“Oh, and by the way, sign these divorce papers before we leave before I have to whip your ass again up in this bitch!” Dawn spat as I looked at her like she was crazy.
No wonder it took her forever to get her shoes back at the house. She was in my room looking through my shit for my divorce papers.
I couldn’t even be mad at her though. I needed those papers signed like yesterday. Dawn handed Justin a pen so that he could sign the papers, then I snatched them off of the bedside table she placed them on and left.
It felt good to get all of that off my chest. The look on Justin’s face would be one that I would never forget. Leaving the hospital that day, I never felt better. I felt free, vindicated, and finally happy.