Chapter 2
*~* Jamie *~*
Lying in this hospital bed, I can’t deny that I’m feeling rather sorry for myself. Resting my head back onto the pillow, I close my eyes and through the pounding headache I try to make sense of what happened.
I was driving home from Mr. Phillips's place. He is such a sweet man, and his wife was so worried about him. I couldn’t not visit to give reassurance to them both.
They are the sweetest people. They have been married for forty-one years, and you can see and feel the love they have for each other. Mr. Phillips, however, needs a kick up the ass for mowing the lawn and setting off his angina.
After giving Mr. Phillips a dressing down while making sure he is okay, of course, I left them both drinking mint tea and eating vegetable lasagna. Giving each other goo-goo eye looks.
I was thinking about them both when I noticed a box van heading towards me, but it was moving faster than you would expect on this stretch of road.
There is nowhere here to pull over when I realize the van is veering onto my side of the road. I don’t get time to brake or veer out of the way before the van hits my truck head-on. I don’t remember more than that, because everything went black as I smashed my head against something.
It’s all a bit sketchy from waking up the first time after the accident, too. I vaguely remember a cop asking me questions. Did I know who had hit me? What was the vehicle? Surely they hadn’t driven off after that impact? I recall that he said there were no witnesses to the accident.
I think I asked the cop how bad my vehicle was at some point, though that could have just been a dream. He said that my brothers were taking care of it. I told him I didn’t have any brothers, and he just smiled.
I’m fairly certain they’ve had me on some heavy pain meds for me to be so confused about everything. It will all come out at some point.
Doctor Carrington informed me I have two cracked ribs, multiple cuts and bruises, and a concussion.
The cuts thankfully were small enough that they didn’t require stitches, so those and the bruises will be gone in ten days, I’m sure.
The concussion I know I’ll have to nurse along, because I have dizziness when I move too quickly.
The ribs, however, though only cracked, hurt like the devil.
Even breathing too deeply makes me gasp for breath.
But I’m ready to go home to my house, climb into bed, and allow myself a little time to heal.
Not just from the accident either, but from my decision to cut Fury loose.
The door opens, and Nurse Maisey walks inside, giving me a bright smile as she does. “Well, let’s look at you, Jamie.”
I’m put through all the usual checks, and when Maisey is happy with what she’s seeing she gives my hand a squeeze. I give her a small smile for her kindness but stay lying with my head back on the pillow in a half-sitting position.
“Are you having a good shift, Maisey?” I ask, just making idle conversation. Let’s all be honest, it is boring being in a hospital bed, and even more so in a private room.
“I am, but you know that biker keeps coming to visit you. Are you still wanting him on the no-visit list?” Maisey grins because it was her that laughed about making one.
“I’m sure. When can I go home? Has Doctor Carrington said anything?” I ask with more than a little hope in my voice.
“You are scheduled for release tomorrow if Doc is happy with all your results. He has been more concerned with the concussion than anything else.”
“Okay, thanks, Maisey.”
As Maisey heads out of the room, she remembers something and turns back to me, “I forgot to ask you. A lady called Molly Alexander contacted us and asked for permission to visit. If you want to see her I’ll put her on the cleared-to-visit list along with nobody else.”
We both giggled at the nobody else comment because I’d strictly stated I wanted no visitors, and to this point I’ve had none and been thankful for it.
Five days of resting have been enough, and now that the double vision has cleared and the nauseous feeling has subsided I’m ready to get out of here.
“Oh, yes, Molly is okay to visit. She works for me and is a friend too.” I closed my eyes and rested once Maisey had given me a thumbs-up. I need to get better as I have a practice to run.
Molly married Breaker of the Bitter Slayers MC, Wyatt Alexander is his real name.
He’s actually a nice man, and he adores Molly.
It’s easy to see they were made for each other.
She doesn’t let him off the hook when he blunders mind you, and he accepts that she’s not a woman who will allow him to do wrong by her.
Although, to be fair, he wouldn’t even think of doing wrong by her.
It’s with those thoughts that I fall asleep and thankfully don’t dream about Fury.
Waking, I’m surprised to see Molly sitting quietly reading on her phone. She is sitting in the uncomfortable seat next to the bed, and as I move to get comfortable Molly looks up.
“Oh, Jamie. You are awake. How are you feeling? I brought you a thermos of decent coffee.” Molly, as always bustles along with her head cocked to one side, listening for my response as she pours coffee - which smells divine - into the cap of the thermos.
“I’m doing okay. My ribs hurt more than anything, and the concussion is abating.” I take the cap and breathe in the aroma before sipping and swallowing the rich taste. “Tell me about the practice.”
Molly takes a deep breath before she starts by lifting one finger and tapping it with another, making it a point one.
“Tom is working ten more hours a week to cover some of your patients. Simon Cavel has signed a contract with us…” Molly smirks, then continues, “I twisted his arm and got him to sign for a year. The practice nurses have stepped up to cover whatever areas they can. Everyone else is stepping in when and if needed. I’ve spoken to Marie and given her notice that she either does her job or she loses the administration label and becomes an assistant. Or even worse, loses her job.”
“Wow, you have been busy.” I can just imagine Molly doing a clean sweep of staff who are not doing their jobs or stepping up when needed. “So, what happened with Marie?”
“She said she was struggling with the job and would like to step down to an assistant position. I agreed, adjusted her salary down as she’s not getting that much now she’s just assisting.
” Molly grins, and I can see she has a twinkle in her eye at whatever thought she has.
“I dropped her to only ten hours a week because honestly, we could easily let her go. Even as an assistant, she’s not showing any enthusiasm. ”
“Okay, if she is still working for the practice when I return, I’ll speak with her. But if she steps out of line, let her go. Anything else?”
Molly leans forward, grinning, “Tim has been going to your house and watering the garden. He’s even been checking the house three times a week to make sure everything is as it should be. He cleared out the fridge and has a list of things he asked me about refilling for when you come home.”
“Tim? My handyman, Tim?”
“Who else? The man is a saint, and if he wasn’t so against dating I’d see about fixing him up with someone.” Molly laughs at her own statement.
Thinking about Tim, I know why. He is the most adorable man you could ever meet.
I would trust him with my life. “Actually, Molly, I’m thinking of moving into the house next door to the practice for a while.
It’s near work and I won’t have to drive.
I’m not going to be driving until my ribs heal.
That means I’ll be out of action for around six weeks as far as driving is concerned.
Working in the office will be okay, but I’m not going to be taking patient appointments.
I know what I have to do and not do, Molly. ”
“That isn’t a bad idea, and I can have Tim get it ready and keep his eye on your house.
Now the house is standing empty after I moved into our house on the compound with Breaker, I think it would be ideal for the moment.
We can all look in on you if you want a few days to get settled,” Molly rubs her chin and continues, “I know you have your recovery covered, you know what you have to do, and working in the office will pass time, keep you informed, and let’s be honest, you’ll not be bored out of your mind.
” Molly pats my hand. “Do you want another coffee poured?”
I have another coffee, talk about nothing important, and when Molly asks about Fury, I give her a stern look. “No comment.”
“Okay, Jamie. I just needed to know what you wanted me to do because he keeps coming to the practice asking how you are doing.”
“Molly, he admitted he was fucking Floss. That we were not a couple in the relationship sense. I got the message, I had been his fuck buddy, but make no mistake, that is no longer happening.”
Molly gives me another hand squeeze. Packs up the thermos and leaves me a paperback to read. I roll my eyes when I see it’s a biker romance book with a bare-chested man on the front. Molly giggles at my reaction before saying she’ll pick me up tomorrow when I get released.
Settling back, I open the book and start to read.
Wow, the male character has similarities to the bikers I know, but this one seems to be even more of an asshole than Fury is.
Fury is someone I have to cut out of my life and keep out.
My heart can’t beat for him any longer. He has not seen who I am and what I should mean to him.
His being with Floss, and whoever else he’s been with, has finished me.
I don’t want to deal with that any longer.
I have ignored all his messages and voicemails. I’m done!
The next day Molly and Breaker are here to take me home. I am well ready to be out of this place, but to be fair I have had excellent treatment, and the staff have been fabulous towards me. I give Maisey a gentle hug and watch Breaker carry my bag as we walk out of the hospital and to his truck.
“Thank you for picking me up,” I quickly give Breaker a small smile as I climb slowly into the back seat.
“Hey, any time you need me, you just call. I know you want nothing to do with Fury, and that’s okay.
It’s up to you who you have in your life and if he’s fucked up, that is his problem.
” Breaker looks me in the eye as he speaks, and I know he means what he’s saying.
Giving me a nod, he climbs into the driver’s seat, and we head to the small house next to the practice.
“How are you enjoying living in your house, Breaker?” I ask, mainly for conversation, as it was becoming a little stifling after the Fury talk.
“It’s great, Jamie. I had the construction crew move it along and I’ve never seen a house built so fast. They got it done, we’re in, and we are still finding where we want to place things and purchasing things we didn’t realize we needed,” Breaker gushes with enthusiasm, and I find myself smiling along with him.
Molly turns to look at me saying, “Will you come over and have a meal with us sometime?”
“I will if it is just us. I don’t want to bump into Fury, and I don’t want to go to the clubhouse unless I’m called in by Whack.” Whack is the President of the MC. I like him, he’s a tough man, but he is fair in his dealings with people.
“We can assure you of that, Jamie. I’d not let him into the house if you were with us. I’ve had a fence placed around the yard to give us privacy so even if we sit outside, you will not have to see anyone,” Breaker tells me while looking at me through his rear-view mirror.
Arriving home, I see an SUV in the driveway. Before I get to ask, Molly tells me it is my rental from the insurance company.
Stepping into the small house I feel the cozy air about the place.
It is only a small house, with a hallway, kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom.
Thankfully, there is a garage attached where I had a small utility area created.
That is where the washer and dryer are housed, along with a sink and two tall cabinets.
It is a bungalow, or single-story house, depending on where you come from as to how you describe it.
I don’t have to climb any stairs, which will help my rib healing process.
Breaker takes my bag to the bedroom with Molly right behind him. I watch as Molly empties the bag and organizes the contents. “I can do that, Molly,” I step into the bedroom and take a seat on the bottom of the bed.
“Hey, I’ll put this in the utility for wash, but there isn’t enough to put a load in, so let’s wait a couple of days and I will come back and do it. Do. Not. Lift. Anything.” Molly steps past giving me a firm look.
Breaker chuckles at her, “Tim has filled the fridge. He’s put some frozen meals in the freezer too.
He will check in with you during the day, and you won’t come back to work for three days, at least. That was the only way Doctor Carrington would let you leave, Jamie.
Don’t push yourself. We are all here for you. ”
I follow Breaker to the living room and take a seat near the window where the sun is shining through, casting a warm glow around the room.
“I’ll bring takeout tonight so you do nothing. Rest, and recover,” Molly says as she steps into the living room. “No arguments, Jamie. We all want you well and back to work, and this will be the fastest way for that to happen. Rest, get well, and then come back full of your usual spirit.”
“Molly, can we talk about what happened when I’m feeling a bit less tired and confused? I’d like to get a handle on things, if that’s okay?”
“We were hoping you could fill in the blanks for us, Jamie. Get some rest and we can have a chat whenever you’re up for it.”
Nodding to Molly I lean back and close my eyes. I don’t move when I feel a blanket being placed over my legs and body. I allow my mind to rest and drift. I feel Molly kiss my cheek and whisper, “I’ll be back later. Tim has a key to the house. He’ll use it to drop in and check on you. Rest, Jamie.”
That must be enough for now as I snuggle into the blanket and allow myself to sleep.