Chapter 6
Summer
Seb protests, but the guys go home after the updates, leaving Zander and me alone for the afternoon.
He didn’t say much about his conversation with Sarah, except to hug me for a long time.
Zander’s refusing to go to Columbia until we apprehend the other culprits, so he’s on the phone planning for work. I’m not fighting him to leave.
Sarah and I have a lengthy conversation about being disconnected from what occurred to me.
I wept when I spoke of it, but now a strange numbness has settled like a heavy blanket, muffling my emotions.
Fear, violation, anger, and depression press against the walls of my mind.
Occasional bursts of feelings, like a wrecking balls’ impact, shake me, but the fortress holds.
Except for the desperate need for a shower last night, muted stress is my constant companion.
My emotions are like a thermometer in March, and I’m tired.
Sue is relieved when I called to say everything is alright. I keep the details vague, telling her someone kidnapped me, and the others are still in the wind. She's pretty upset when I told her about the connection to Jessica.
After lying around for a few hours doing nothing but watching tv, I decide I’d like to do some gardening. Luckily, Seb shows up. “Can you drive me to the nursery?” I ask him.
“Sure, Sunshine, whatever you want.” Seb still looks off, but closer to the golden retriever I’m used to seeing, and freshly showered.
I stick my head into Zander’s office, telling him I’m going out with Seb. A flicker of panic crossed his face before he inhales deeply. “Can you give me a half hour so I can go with you?” He asks.
“Sure,” I nod and head back out to the couch. “Zander wants to come,” I tell Seb. “He’ll be ready in half an hour.”
He nods, sliding over against my side and grabs the remote. “You doing okay, Sunshine?”
“Yeah, I think so. I feel weird right now,” I shrug.
“How are the legs?”
“Sore, but manageable. Alex helped them a lot this morning. I’ve been stretching on and off since you guys left.”
“What about school?”
“I’m not going for a few days. Zander and I hope they catch the others soon.”
My phone, which was dropped off by a police officer earlier, beeps with a message, so I pick it up. It’s from Alex.
Alex: Hi Summer. I will be away this evening with Reesa but I will have my phone with me. Call if you need anything.
“Alex is away with Reesa,“ I tell Seb.
“Shit, I forgot with everything going on. It’s her birthday today. They’ll be at a hotel tonight.”
“That’s nice.” I feel more and more like a zombie as time passes, just going through the motions. There’s a familiar aspect to how I’m feeling: survival mode. The brief reprieve I’ve had from it makes the feeling peculiar. After experiencing life again, I know I don’t want to get stuck here.
Zander comes out of his office, and we drive to the nursery. I purchase a variety of vegetable plants and some organic fertilizer. Seb helps me transplant everything when we get home, and I set the irrigation timer like Bay showed me.
I make a salad for dinner while Zander grills some steak.
Normal routines are good, right? As the three of us sit down to eat, there’s a knock at the door.
Zander goes to check who it is and comes back with Nick, so I get up and grab a plate for him.
He sets his laptop on the island and sits at the table to eat with us.
“I have work sorted for this week. The commander was very understanding. He told me to stay with my family as long as I need to. Jensen will handle training this week, with help from a military pilot we know. I’ll be here with you, Summer.”
“That’s great, Zander,” I tell him.
Zander clears the dishes, then drives all four of us to the hospital. Dr. Croft offered to come to the house for my medical exam, but I didn’t want that in my home, so he agreed to meet me after his shift.
I chose Nick to be with me during the exam. He found me and saved me, more than just physically. Seb suggested Gabby or Holly, but neither felt right. Gabby’s upset, and Holly’s already suffered enough just for being my friend.
Dr. Croft is waiting on the fourth floor by the nurse’s station for us. He gives me a kind smile and says hello. After assuring Zander he’ll take care of me, Nick and I follow him into an exam room partway down the hall.
He gives me a gown and sheet to put on and departs so I can change. I disrobe and don the gown while Nick turns his back. Once I’m in bed and covered up, I ask Nick to summon the doctor.
Dr. Croft comes back in, moving a prepared tray close to my feet before washing his hands. “Okay Summer. I’ll begin by examining the cuts Alex tended. Have you had a woman’s physical exam before?”
“Yes, once,” I nod, my body shaking like a bowl of jelly, so I reach my hand out towards Nick. He steps near my head and interlaces our fingers, giving them a squeeze.
“Good. This will be very similar then.” He gloves up and begins with my cuts, then my chest, before moving to my lower region. He’s efficient, and although it’s uncomfortable, it’s over quickly.
Once I’m redressed, Dr. Croft comes back into the room.
“The cuts look good. Nothing to worry about unless they get red and swollen. You will have a lot of bruising on your chest, Summer. Color is already showing. There’s a minor cut and tenderness in the vaginal area.
Tylenol or Advil will help with the discomfort.
I’ve also written a prescription for a general antiviral and antibiotic for your vaginal cut.
I’ll send my report to Officer Sean tonight. There is no doubt he injured you.”
With Nick’s hand once more in mine, I thank him as we enter the hallway to find Zander and Seb waiting against the opposite wall.
Once I reassure them I’m alright, I pickup my prescription from the pharmacy and we drive home.
The guys stay with me as we watch a movie, Seb attached to my side as Nick works on his laptop.
Zander works in his office for an hour, then joins us.
Around 9pm the guys leave and I take another bath.
Afraid to sleep, I switch the television on for comfort and noise. While the rhythmic digging and the earthy smell of the soil helped me begin to process Ben’s actions, my healing journey is far from over. I’m a tree bent from the storm, but I won’t break.
Bay texts to see how I’m doing. When I answer right away, he calls. We chat about the garden, Olivia, and school until I can tell he’s half asleep.
I wake up four times with nightmares and officially give up sleeping by 3am, so I watch tv until I can get up for the day. At least I didn’t interrupt Zander’s sleep.