Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sloan
I’m asleep in bed in the warmest cocoon between Beck and Mayhem. The sound of my phone ringing wakes me up from a deep sleep. The deepest I’ve had in a while.
My head still aches and my neck is sore from where James was gripping it.
Beck curls closer around me as I answer the phone.
“This is Sloan…I mean Reese.”
“Hi, Mrs. McAllister?” the woman on the phone questions.
“Yes, this is she,” I offer, confusion in my voice.
I push myself up to sit up in bed, holding in a groan from just how bad my body aches.
“This is Dr. Huxley, your husband, Mr. McAllister, is out of surgery now. Unfortunately, we did everything we could?—”
“Is James dead?” I question, almost hopeful.
“No, ma’am, what I’m trying to say is we did everything we could, but unfortunately, we were not able to save his eyesight. The damage from the glass was severe. Mr. McAllister is blind in both eyes and it’s permanent,” she confirms.
I pause briefly before asking, “Is James aware he’s blind?”
Dr. Huxley clears her throat and a bit uncomfortably, “Mr. McAllister is… He had some choice words for me, I’d like to avoid repeating. He says I ruined his career.”
“I’m so sorry if James was incredibly offensive to you,” I apologize to her knowing damn well James never will.
“You have nothing to apologize for. None of us know how we would react if we were met with these circumstances.”
“Am I able to see him?”
Beck immediately shoots up from the bed, looking concerned at my question.
“Of course you can. Feel free to come in any time this afternoon. Just be a bit cautious because Mr. McAllister has been a bit violent since waking up. We aren’t sure if it’s the anesthesia or the circumstances,” the doctor states, weariness in her voice.
“Thank you, ma’am. I will be there in an hour or so and will keep my distance.”
“There is an officer outside of his room. So, if you should have any concerns just let him know. Again, I am so sorry we weren’t able to do more,” she says before hanging up.
I feel Beck’s eyes piercing holes through me before I chance looking over at him in the dim light of the bedroom.
It’s ten-thirty in the morning. I haven’t slept-in this late in years. Never mind this hard.
“Um… I think maybe we should have taken you in to be checked for a concussion,” Beck snips.
“Ha-ha. Actually, I might have one. My head’s killing me, but that’s not why I think I need to go.”
“You should go to the hospital and be checked out. Not to see James.”
“I have to see him, Beck. I’m sorry.”
“You’ve got to be kidding! You shouldn’t be anywhere near James!” Beck says exasperated.
“I know but I need to do this for my closure. Dr. Huxley said a police officer will be there at all times. I’ll be okay. James can’t grab me if he can’t see me.”
“That’s… He’s blind?”
“Yeah. That’s what the doctor called to tell me.”
“Fine. But I’m driving you there and home, so I know you’re safe,” Beck declares, getting up off the bed.
“Okay,” I say, not putting up a fight.
Because honestly, the thought of Beck being close by gives me the courage I need to go see James one final time.
As I walk up to James’ hospital room, I’m comforted by the knowledge that Beck is waiting nearby. I know it’s his room because Officer Travis is camped out in a chair right outside.
“I’m surprised to see you, Ms. Archer? Do you prefer that or?” he asks.
“Yes, I like that.” I smile at him. Appreciating that he remembered my maiden name. “I was surprised when Dr. Huxley called me but she said James listed me as his emergency contact and wife.”
“Yes. Dr. McAllister has been yelling out that his wife better be ‘getting her ass here soon.’ He is something else…” Officer Travis scowls.
“That he is. Is it okay if I speak to James? I’m going to try to stand as close to this door as possible. I imagine if he can’t see me and I stand far enough away, James can’t really grab me,” I say trying to convince myself.
“I will be right here, ma’am. Try to stay at least 6 feet away from the bed.”
I nod, before heading into the room.
Staring at James from a distance, he is seated upright in his hospital bed. White sheets are draped up around his waist. His eyes are wrapped in white bandages, minimal blood is seeping through at his hairline. His scalp lacerations look like they may have been glued shut.
James’ hands rest on top of the sheets at his side, an IV resting in the vein on the top of one of his hands. His small fingers I dislocated are buddy taped to his ring fingers on both hands. James’ right wrist is bandaged where I sliced it as well.
He looks impossibly small in his hospital bed. Like the smallest man who ever lived. Broken. Battered. No longer the greatest surgeon, but the patient. No longer entitled. No longer well-known. No longer able to lay his hands on me. Just a man. A weak excuse of a man.
Both disgusted and proud of myself. I feel empowered being able to stare at him and see him for who he truly is. Even more so since he has no idea we’re even breathing the same air right now.
“James.”
“Reese, baby, you’re here,” he coos sweetly. Sitting up a little straighter in bed.
Bile forms in the back of my throat at the sound of his voice.
He reaches out his hand for me, but I take a few steps back. I’m nowhere close to him, but I don’t want him to even think I’m close by.
“Come here, Reesey,” James demands, the slightest bit of irritation in his voice.
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. I’d be better if they’d take these bandages off of my face so I could see!”
“So, you don’t know?”
“Know what, Reese?” he asks, irritated.
“That they couldn’t salvage your sight. You are blind, James,” I say, not sugarcoating my words. Wanting him to really hear them.
“Ha. That scam artist of a doctor said that, but she’s lying. I’ll get my sight back. I just need to find a better doctor. Preferably a male doctor!” James yells out.
He’s such a disgusting, misogynistic, entitled prick.
“Dr. Huxley is an incredible ophthalmologist, James. Very sought after here. There was too much damage. You aren’t getting your sight back,” I reply calmly.
“Well, it looks like you will be taking care of me then, Reesey. You’ll need to come back to Boston and finish school so you can take care of us,” James snarls.
“Here’s the thing, James. I’m not coming back. The divorce papers on my end have been filed for a year. If you don’t sign them, I have one more year before they can go through without your signature. I don’t want anything from you, other than to be free of you.”
“I am not signing anything. You are coming back to Boston, Reese McAllister,” James barks.
“I’m not, actually. I wanted to give you one last chance to try to be a decent person, but I guess you’re incapable. Goodbye, James,” I say, walking out of his hospital room.
All I hear is James yelling but his words are jumbled as I tune out everything he says.
Officer Travis stops me in the hallway on my way out.
“Hello, Ms. Archer, I just wanted to give you an update. Officer Tony called and wanted me to let you know, we are pretty sure we have enough evidence. If you press charges, Dr. McAllister could go to prison for several years. Unfortunately, he could get out early for good behavior. I just wanted to make you aware of that possibility.”
“Thank you for letting me know. I plan to press charges. Please let me know what I need to do to move forward with this,” I say before walking away.
The next day, I decide I’m going to try one last time to get James to sign the divorce papers. My guess is he’s going to tell me to go to hell. I really don’t want to wait another year if I don’t have to, to be free of James.
Walking up to his hospital room, I’m met by Officer Tony today.
“Good morning, Ms. um…Archer?” Officer Tony seems confused on how to address me.
“Ms. Archer is good, thank you. Good morning, sir.” I smile.
“I’m surprised to see you. I heard you were here yesterday as well,” Officer Tony remarks, a little suspicious.
Holding up my papers, I sigh. “I really just want him to sign these divorce papers. Figured I’d give it one more try.”
“Good luck, ma’am. He’s been…difficult. Just so you know, the nurse stopped by and said, as long as his pain is under control, they are planning to discharge him tomorrow afternoon. James will go straight to jail from the hospital,” Officer Tony informs me.
“Good to know. Thank you, officer.”
“Keep your distance in there. Dr. McAllister is definitely more agitated this morning,” he says with a grimace.
“Are they giving him anything for the pain?” I ask. Wondering if that’s why he’s being worse than usual.
“They were and then they took his pain pills away. Someone was trying to cheek his pills and was hoarding them in the pocket of his gown. So, we aren’t sure if James is really in pain or faking it to hold on to them,” Officer Tony states.
“Oh, wow. O-o-okay,” I almost stutter. A bit taken aback that James would do that, but also not incredibly surprised. James always needed to be in control of every little thing. He probably doesn’t trust what the doctors are giving him.
Stepping into his room, James looks a bit better today. Less haggard. No EKG leads or IVs are attached to him.
James just looks like your average guy sitting upright in a hospital bed except for the bandages.
“James.”
“Reese. I knew you’d come to your senses. Come here!” James smirks.
“Actually, James. I won’t come there. You will never put your hands on me again. In fact, you and I will never breathe the same air again!” I snap.
“Who do you think you are speaking to me like that. Get the fuck over here!” James snaps back.
I feel absolutely nothing for this man.
How could I have ever thought I loved someone like him?
How did I let someone like him dim my light?
How did I let someone like James beat me down?
He’s just a guy. Nothing special.
“No, James. I initially came here to tell you that I forgive you for everything you’ve ever done to me. But I am done with you,” I say firmly.
“Ha!” James lets out a laugh that turns almost maniacal.