Chapter Eleven #2
“Well, I do, but we can agree to disagree. Really, though, Major, you don’t have to stay. I can call any girl gang member for a ride, and they’ll pick me up. Thank you, though. I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me. The pain notwithstanding,” I said with a sardonic smile.
“No thanks needed, and there’s no reason to call anyone else. I’m already here, so once they’ve discharged you, we’ll pick up your meds and I’ll take you home.”
Obviously, I wasn’t going to talk him out of this, so I nodded once. “Okay, if you insist. I do appreciate it since they said I can’t drive while on the pain medication.”
“Nope, you can’t, so I’m happy to be your chauffeur for the day.” He leaned back into his chair with a satisfied smile. “Now, try a few bites of the tortilla while we wait. If your stomach revolts, I’ll be waiting with the bucket.”
“There’s an image,” I said, genuine laughter falling from my lips, but I picked up the fork and tried a small bite, deciding that keeping my mouth full of food meant less small talk I had to make with the good doctor.
It would be too easy to tell him everything, and that was something that could never happen.
I'd tell him I was staying at Ivy’s for a few days, so I wouldn’t be home alone, and then he could be on his way without ever knowing the truth about my reality.
“Are you doing okay?” Major asked as he pulled away from the pharmacy.
“I’m good. Why do you ask?”
“You were frowning when I got back into the car,” he answered, accelerating slowly as the town was busy on this Saturday morning.
“I saw all the cute kids in their costumes, and I remembered it was Halloween. I'll miss all the kids at the diner. Ivy used to let me hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters who came in during community hours. Maybe she’ll let me hand out candy at her house while they’re out trick or treating with the kids.
” I could hear the slight slur in my words.
“But maybe I am a little tired and kind of fuzzy.”
“To be expected,” he said with a nod at the bag on the seat. “The medication will do that, but it’s important to stay comfortable to help with healing. Maybe I should have insisted you stay another night at the hospital.”
I waved my good hand in the air. “You’re not my doctor now, remember?” I teased him. “But seriously, the medication controls the pain, and that was their only stipulation. I have a question, and it will probably sound dumb to you, but I want to ask it.”
“The only dumb question is one unasked,” he assured me. “I truly believe that, so ask away.”
“Is it possible the anesthesia made the pain worse? Last night, it was so bad when I woke up, but the more the anesthesia cleared my system, the better the pain medication worked. Is that weird?”
“Not weird at all,” he said. “We call that central sensitization. Have you ever had surgery before?” I shook my head, so he continued. “Central sensitization is when the anesthetic triggers the nervous system to become more sensitive to pain signals.”
“I had no idea that was a thing.”
“Probably because it’s rare, but it’s real.
I always knew you were unique, Jaelyn Riba.
That said, it’s something you should mention should you ever need surgery again, so the anesthesiologist and surgeon are better prepared to control your pain.
There are things they can do if they’re forewarned. Now, aren’t you glad you asked?”
“I am,” I said, leaning back on the headrest. “It makes me feel less bad about all the puking and crying I did last night.”
His laughter filled the SUV, and I could tell he was laughing with me and not at me.
“You don’t have to feel bad about it at all.
Your body went through trauma yesterday, and that’s how our nervous system copes with physical trauma like that.
Not to mention the massive doses of medication you were given.
I promise that after a few more days of sleep, the pain will lessen, and you’ll be much more comfortable. ”
“I’m okay, and I can’t thank you enough for the ride. I’m sure there are dozens of other things you could be doing on a Saturday.”
“Probably, but none of them are even a quarter as important as making sure you’re safe. There will always be time to unpack boxes.” I turned my head when he pulled into a neighborhood that was nowhere near Ivy’s house. “Are you lost? Ivy lives behind the diner.”
“Nope, I’m not lost,” he said, turning right into a driveway halfway down the block.
“This is Dr. Holstein’s old house,” I said, finally realizing where we were. “He was a good friend of my yaya.”
“This was Dr. Holstein’s house,” he said, parking the car in the driveway. “Now it’s mine.”
“Oh, did you need to grab something? I’ll wait here.”
He climbed out of the car and walked around the front to open my door. “I want to show you something.” I wanted to argue, being as tired as I was, but he had been so lovely that I didn’t want to be rude. I took his outstretched hand and let him help me out of the car.
“At least the kids won’t need winter parkas when trick or treating tonight,” I said as he helped me down the brick path to the back of the house.
“I agree, but ugh, it needs to cool off. It's almost November. I want snow.”
“Me too!” I exclaimed, tipping into him as I laughed. “Oops, I think I’m a little punch drunk.”
“I’ve got you,” he promised.
And he did. One hand was curled around my waist, with his other hand at my right elbow.
He was warm, and I wanted to snuggle into him and allow myself to feel safe when I needed it most. Unfortunately, I was too distracted by the tingle of heat that filled me from his touch.
Okay, tingle might be an understatement.
It was more like a raging inferno throughout my body.
Then again, that could be a side effect of the medication.
“Almost there,” he said to break me out of my drug-induced infatuation.
When I glanced up, I stood in front of a small cottage. “Well, isn’t this cute? I never knew this was here.”
“He had it built a few years ago,” he explained, and I chuckled.
“That explains why I didn’t know about it. I haven’t been here in several years.”
Major unlocked the door and pushed it open, allowing me to walk in. “From what he told me when I bought the place, he wanted space for when his kids came to stay.”
I glanced around the room, which had an open-concept design. In one corner, there was a queen bed, and in the other, a small sitting area. To the left of the door was an efficiency kitchen. “It’s cute,” I said as he closed the door behind us.
“There’s a three-quarter bath through that door,” he said, motioning to the right.
“It’s a perfect home away from home.” Was I slightly jealous that he had an entire house and this extra space to boot? Yes, and more than slightly. Then again, he’s worked hard for what he has, so I had no right to be jealous.
“I was hoping you’d feel that way,” he said, walking me toward the bed. “Ivy brought your things over and put them there.” He motioned to the foot of the bed, where I noticed my suitcase for the first time. The medication was doing a number on me.
“Why would Ivy bring my things here?” I asked, sitting on the soft bed, to keep from falling over. “I’m going to need them there.”
“Jaelyn, this is your cottage now. You can stay here for as long as you need to. It’s heated, so don’t worry, once it does turn cold, you won’t freeze.”
I waved my hand for a moment before I brought it to my forehead. “What now? This is my cottage?”
Did Ivy tell him I had no place to stay? If she had, not only was I mortified, but I’d have a few words for her!
“Yes. Well, it’s mine, obviously, but you’re welcome to use it for as long as you need. I’ve heard through the grapevine that rentals are hard to come by here.”
“Me. I’m the grapevine,” I said, tipping my head up to gaze at him. “I told you that the other day, right?”
“You did,” he said with a chuckle. “Don’t worry, it’s the medication causing your confusion. That’s why I want you to climb into bed and get some rest. I’ll go get your medication from the car and some ice for your arm.”
I stood up, albeit slowly. “I can’t stay here, Major.”
“Because?”
“You own the place and might need it.” The answer was logical to me, and I wasn’t sure how he didn’t see it.
“I assure you that I will not,” he said, having me sit again and removing my shoes. “I live alone, and the house has three bedrooms, which is certainly more than enough space for one guy who spends as much time at the hospital as he does here.”
Was he serious? He was going to let me stay here?
“I want to argue, but my befuddled mind can’t come up with words that would make sense. I appreciate the quiet place to stay for a few days, but I won’t overstay my welcome.”
He knelt and made eye contact. “Jaelyn, you could never overstay your welcome in my home, so understand there’s no time limit.
You can, and should, stay until an apartment opens.
It might be small, but you have your own space here and it’s quiet.
There’s plenty of parking once Ivy and Shep drop off your car.
Not to mention, Ivy filled the fridge with enough meals for like three months. ”
“You’re serious?” I asked, and he nodded. “I can stay here until something opens at New Beginnings?” He nodded again, and tears instantly pricked my eyelids. “I don’t know what to say.”
He held up the key. “Say you’ll take this key and make yourself at home.”
I reached for it but pulled back at the last second. “On one condition. You let me pay rent.”
“Okay, but not with money. There’s something else you can do for me.”
I waved my right hand and popped up off the bed. “Oh, I don’t do that. No, sorry.”
He tipped his head in confusion as he grasped my arm to keep me from tipping. “Do what?” It took him a moment, but then his eyes widened. “That sounded terrible and was not what I meant. I can’t believe I said that.” He smacked himself in the forehead with a head shake. “Not what I meant at all.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” I said, slowly sitting again only because I wasn’t sure my legs would hold me up much longer. “Is it bad that I was tossing it around just to have a place to stay?”
His smile nearly broke my heart because it held so much kindness.
“I won’t answer that since I’m not walking in your shoes, but this is a completely hands-off offer.
I hope you’ll agree to stay here and make it your home without feeling indebted to me.
All I meant was, maybe you’d like to help me with something later, but that can wait.
The cottage will be here being heated whether anyone lives in it or not, so someone might as well live in it, right? ”
I nodded because that was true, and I felt like that was what he expected me to do.
“It seems like you’re sure, and I wouldn’t want to insult you by arguing with you too much.
Especially considering this,” I said, pointing at my arm, which only made my lip tremble.
“I’m sorry.” I dropped my gaze and swiped at the tears dripping from my eyes.
“Hey, it’s normal to be scared and emotional after an injury. Do not apologize to me when I’m the reason you’re in so much pain.”
A smile touched my lips as we made eye contact. “You might have caused the latest round, but I did most of it to myself. Thank you for being so kind to someone you don’t even know.”
“The time we’ve spent together over the last month has told me all I need to know about you, Jaelyn. Get comfortable while I grab the stuff from the car. I think you’re going to like it here.”
“Already do,” I said, climbing into the bed after he pulled the covers down and arranged the pillows. “The added bonus is I don’t have to feel guilty for bothering my friends about a place to stay.”
“One thing I know for sure is that your friends weren’t bothered. If they were, then they weren’t your friends. Right?”
I nodded against the pillows. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t feel guilty about it.
I thought I’d make it until spring before the house sold, but then an offer came in above the asking price, and the estate manager said I couldn’t turn it down unless I planned to buy the house.
It wasn’t like that would happen, since I obviously would have already done that were it possible.
Suddenly, I was out on the streets just a few months before winter.
If New Beginnings doesn't have a place by January, I'll have to leave Bells Pass.”
“Not anymore. Now you can stay in a town you love with the people who love you,” he said, gently brushing the hair out of my face. “Sleep. Your body needs it.”
When I smiled, he returned it, and that was the last thing I remembered. As I drifted off to sleep, my body and mind accepted that I was finally safe.