Chapter 16 #2
“I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about right now. They should dissipate after a week or so. I’d like for you to stay in bed for another week, just to let your brain heal.”
“Not happening,” Truck said. At the same time Mary said, “I’ll see to it.”
The doctor grinned. “I don’t envy you, young lady. Here’s his prescription for painkillers. He’ll need to come back in about a week to get those staples looked at and hopefully removed. They can get wet, but not immersed. No washing your hair, just brief rinses.”
Mary nodded, knowing the next week was going to be tough on both her and Truck.
Ways to keep him entertained ran through her head even as the doctor kept talking about what to expect in the upcoming week.
She could have Annie come over after school, and make sure the guys took turns visiting him as well.
“If anything happens that concerns you, don’t hesitate to contact me,” the doctor said, and he handed Mary a business card. “That’s my answering service, but just tell them that it’s an emergency and they’ll get to me right away and I’ll call you back. Okay?”
Mary nodded, relieved that she’d have access to someone if Truck needed it.
“I’m fine,” Truck said again.
“Right. And in case I didn’t say it before…
thank you for your service, and good job on stopping those assholes at the bank.
” Then the doctor turned and walked out of the room.
Before Mary could say anything, his head popped back in.
“And wait for the nurse with the wheelchair, Laughlin. I know you manly types don’t like to be pushed out of here, but it’s policy.
Give her a break, okay?” Then he disappeared once more.
Mary chuckled at the look on Truck’s face. “It won’t be so bad,” she soothed.
It took the nurse another half hour to appear and once they were finally on their way, Mary breathed a sigh of relief.
She’d brought up the subject of Truck going back to her apartment once he was out of the hospital, so she could look after him, but he’d said he was going home to his place in no uncertain terms, and she was coming with him.
Mary didn’t protest too hard, since that’s exactly where she wanted to be.
She’d have to go back to her place and get her things.
But first she’d get Truck settled, make him some dinner and, once he was asleep, she’d run back to her apartment.
He’d never even know she was gone, especially when she forced him to take one of the pain pills the doctor prescribed.
She parked, and by the time she went around to help Truck out, he was already standing by the door.
Mary frowned. “You’re supposed to let me help you,” she told him, wrapping her arm around his waist.
“Why? My legs are just fine. It’s my head that was hurt.”
“Because,” Mary groused. She ignored Truck’s chuckle and walked with him to his apartment. She let him unlock the door, and when he held it open for her to go in ahead of him, she didn’t even complain.
The second Mary walked into his apartment, she gasped.
She vaguely heard him close the door, but she didn’t wait for him. With her mouth open in shock, she walked into his living area.
“How…when?” she stammered.
Truck pulled her back against his chest and rested his chin on top of her head.
“When you were showering at the hospital, I talked to Ghost. He said the girls got your stuff packed up and helped you move out of my place after I lost my memory, so I told him he could move you back in, thank you very much. The guys did all the laboring, and the girls put everything away.”
Mary’s eyes filled with tears as she looked around. All of her things were back. The picture of her and Rayne was on the bookshelf. Her favorite blanket was on the back of the couch. Her knickknacks were everywhere, and she even saw that her coffeepot was on the counter in the kitchen.
“Truck—”
“You’re my wife,” Truck interrupted. “You belong here with me. The second I walked in here after losing my memory, I knew something was wrong. It felt all wrong. It was too empty, too…something. You were missing, Mare. You and all your things. You’ve made this place a home for me.
They might have removed your things, but your presence could never be removed from my life.
That first night, when I lay in my bed alone, I felt off, but I couldn’t figure out why. ”
Mary took a deep breath then turned in Truck’s arms and looked up at him. “Are you sure?”
Instead of answering her, Truck said, “I found your journal.”
“What?”
“I was really frustrated when you left that last time, and I kinda went a little crazy. I kicked things and knocked them over like a little kid. I flipped my mattress, and it dislodged your journal that was hidden under it.”
“Oh, shit,” Mary whispered, and lowered her eyes to the buttons on his shirt.
Truck wouldn’t let her hide. He put a finger under her chin and forced her gaze back up to his.
“I said it back in the vault and I’ll say it again.
I asked you to marry me because I love you, Mary.
Yes, I wanted you to be able to use my insurance, but that was just an excuse.
I would’ve said anything to make you mine for real. ”
When she didn’t respond, he smirked. “No comment?”
Mary shook her head.
He got serious again. “I love you, Mary. I love your snark. I love the way you stand up to people. I love that you have Rayne in your life. I’m sorry that you doubted my love for one second.
Do not be embarrassed about puking in front of me, or anything else about your cancer.
I love you exactly how you are. Boobs, no boobs, hair, no hair. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“I…you’re important to me too, Truck. But…the words. They’re really hard for me.”
“I know,” Truck said.
Mary shook her head and gripped his shirt tighter. “I want to say them, but I can’t. They freak me out.”
“You said them in the bank,” Truck reminded her.
Mary grimaced. “I thought we were about to die,” she said. “That it might be my only chance to tell you.”
“Mare, you tell me every day that you love me,” he said. “Your actions speak loud and clear. I don’t need the words.”
“But it’s not fair,” Mary protested.
“Do you love me?” Truck asked. “All you have to do is nod or shake your head.”
Mary pressed her lips together and nodded.
“That’s all I need,” Truck reassured her. “Come on,” he said, turning her and taking her hand in his. He led them to the bedroom and went inside. Then he turned and looked at the wall.
Mary stared up at their wedding certificate.
“I knew something was missing from there,” Truck said quietly.
“I’d lay in bed at night and stare at that spot and try to force my brain to give it up.
The happiest day of my fucking life was the day you said I do, Mare.
I’d face a hundred gangbangers and blow up a thousand more banks for the right to have you by my side.
I’ll never cheat on you. I’ll never decide I don’t want you anymore.
I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep you safe and happy.
If that means I have to go toe-to-toe with fucking cancer again, so be it. ”
Mary lifted a hand and placed it on his cheek. “I believe you.”
“Good.”
They stared at each other for a long minute before Truck sighed. “I hate to admit this, because I have a feeling you’ll be throwing it in my face for quite a while, but I need to lie down.”
Mary blinked, then shook herself out of the haze she’d been in. “Shit! Of course. Are you dizzy? Come on, the bed’s right here.”
Truck chuckled. “I’m not about to keel over, woman. Chill.”
“I just…I’m worried about you. Maybe I should sleep on the couch tonight,” she fretted.
“Absolutely not,” Truck said sternly. “I know you worry about me, and you have no idea how much that means to me.” Truck sat on the bed and pulled her to him. Holding her hands and looking at her, he said, “But there’s no way I want to spend even one night away from you if I can help it.”
“I think I can manage that,” Mary said with a smile. “Are you hungry? I can make you something to eat.”
“I could eat,” he told her as he settled back on the bed.
Mary hurried out to see what was in the kitchen that would be easy to make.
She wasn’t the best cook, but she’d be able to come up with something to keep him satisfied.
Later, when he was more up to it, they could cook together.
For most of the time she’d lived with him, he’d done all the cooking, simply because she either wasn’t hungry or was too sick to do it herself.
Mary still wasn’t convinced she would make a good wife, but she’d do her best. She trusted Truck, and that was what mattered. Smiling, she opened the fridge and bent over to see what there was to eat.