Chapter 19:
JC noted the room number on the file and started in that direction before the two doctors could even catch on that he heard the confidential information they were talking about.
Standing in front of Lana’s room door, JC cautiously looked around him before ducking into her room without authorization. He walked up to her bed and watched as she laid there unconscious, bruised, and broken. JC didn’t know what to feel. Relieved? Sad? Angry? Upset? But he couldn’t feel any of those emotions because of the numbing feeling that was overcoming him.
He continued watching her for another ten minutes in silence as his mind reeled before finally speaking, “You are really unbelievable. No I take that back, you are absolutely heartless. How could you be so cruel to intentionally go after someone who hasn’t done anything to you? And even if she did do something to provoke you, she didn’t deserve what you’ve done to her. And it’s not even her that you have affected. You’ve affected more people than you probably thought of being involved. Come to think of it she is like you in a way. She has a huge family that loves her. Her brother, sister-in-law, mother, father, best friend, and even friends that she hasn’t spoken to in a while all care for her just like your parents and siblings did you despite all of your faults. I bet you didn’t think her family and friends or yours. How does it feel to know that you have finally proven everyone that believed in you wrong once and for all? You know, I was one of them once upon a time. So I know how they’re going to feel to getting the call that you’re in the hospital and why. They’re going to wonder what you were thinking, what could have caused you to stoop so low in doing what you did, and what they could have done to stop you from making such a huge mistake. But for the most part, they’re going to feel guilty for your actions just like I do. Because the truth is if I hadn’t dated you and brought you around my friends, no one would have been sitting in a hospital all day yesterday waiting for the news of his or her family member or friend when everyone would have been celebrating the life a beautiful one year old. It is because of me that you put Marci through hell and it is because of me that you intentionally drank and drove your car into Christi’s truck. And for that I’ll never forgive myself. And as much as I’ll never not feel guilty. I will never forgive you for putting me in such a position. I guess in a way this my final goodbye to you.”
JC turned around and headed for the door, but before he could make it out of the room, he heard the unforgettable sound of Lana flatlining.
**
After everyone spent hours of visiting Christi in shifts, the majority of her visitors left the hospital. Brian and Ana were off to help Ana’s dad take care of the resort and party leftovers. Christi’s brother and Adriana headed home as Chris Jr. started fussing. Christi’s parents and Jordan, on the other hand, decided to stay the night with Christi and Kaci. Justin was adamant about staying as well but Christi, who was somewhat annoyed Justin smothering her, ordered him to go back to her place for some sleep.
**
The next morning, Christi opened her eyes, not expecting to see anyone in her room. But to her surprise, Christi saw Jordan staring at her as he stood beside her bed. She cautiously stretched before speaking, “Hey you. What are you doing up so early?”
Jordan smirked, “Sleeping in a chair in NICU isn’t as comfortable as a bed so I didn’t get much sleep. I’ve been checking up on Kaci, making many trips to the cafeteria, and roaming around all night. And now that visitation hours started, I came to checkup on you too. Switch it up a little bit, you know?”
“Sounds like fun. So how’s Kaci? Any progress yet?
“No, she’s still out of it.”
Looking dejected, Christi sighed, “I think I’m going to see her once Justin—“
Jordan jumped in before she could finish whatever she had to say about Justin, “Why not now? I can take you to her?”
Somewhat unsure, Christi asked, “Well, I need to shower and everything first so I may be a while. Do you mind?”
“Go right ahead. I have some calls to make,” Jordan wiggled his eyebrows, “Unless you need help in the shower. I’m at your service.”
Christ laughed, “Shut up and help me to the bathroom. I can shower by myself.”
Jordan unexpectedly lifted her into his arms.
“What are you doing” Christi tightened her hold around his neck.
“Taking you to the bathroom,” Jordan smirked, enjoying the feel of Christi’s arms around him as he carried her close to his body.
Christi rolled her eyes, “All you had to do was help me walk. You didn’t have to pick me up. I’m not paralyzed.”
“This way was faster. Slow poke,” Jordan said as he sat her down on the toilet, “Now do you need help with anything else before I leave you to get all girled up in here?”
Christi shook her head and Jordan left her to get ready.
After taking her time getting ready, Christi emerged from the bathroom in time to see Justin enter the room with a duffle bag over his shoulder and Lynn strolling in behind him as Jessi popped Jordan in the back of his head.
“Jessi!”
Jessi hit Jordan, not knowing Christi had seen her. But now that she was caught, she decided to play innocent even though she knew Christi would not buy her excuse. “What?”
“You know what, “Christi told her before turning to Justin’s mother, “Lynn! What are you doing here?”
Before Christi could even think about hobbling her way over to Lynn, Lynn gather the girl thought of as her own daughter into her arms. “Justin called me.”
Christi pulled back from the hug and gave Justin a questioning look.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that? She’s my mom.”
Christi continued to stare at him just to see if he would keep rambling.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, you’re not going to get what I brought for you.”
Christi playfully punched Justin in the stomach before reaching for the bag over his shoulder. “Ooooh, gimme!”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Please.”
Justin reached into the bag and handed Christi a comfortable shirt and a pair of sweats, “Take these and I’ll give you the rest when you get done changing.”
Justin waited by the bathroom door for about fifteen minutes before knocking on it to see if Christi needed any help. When Christi didn’t respond, Justin knocked on the door again before letting himself in. Christi sat on top of the bathroom counter with her shoulders slumped over and her face buried in her hands as she cried. He dropped the duffle bag on the counter next to Christi and stood in front of Christi as he started to rub her lower back. Justin felt as her cries softened and her breathing evened out to normal again. Justin grabbed kleenexes off the counter and wiped away Christi’s tears as he removed her hand from her face.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do if I lose her.”
Justin did not know what caused Christi’s little breakdown and felt bad that he did not know how to make everything all better like he did for her when Marci died. He said a quick prayer that everything would get better for her and for Kaci before responding, “I don’t know what will happen with Kaci but I know that she needs you just as much you need her. So I’m going to suggest that we dry you’re tears and try to get through this regardless of the outcome. Now I’m go to tell you what you told me about when I was going through what you are now experiencing. Promise me that you will try.”
Christi sigh, “What if I don’t want to try? I just want to sit her on this counter a cry until my baby wakes up.”
Justin reached his hand into the duffle bag. “You have to promise you’ll try or you won’t get your surprise.”
“Can I think about it?”
“Think about it all you want, but your surprise is melting as we speak.”
Christi try to peak in the bag but Justin’s big hand was in the way. She rose her eyebrow at Justin skeptically, and he rose one of his back at her.
“Tick tock. I don’t think you’re going to want this by the time you get done thinking,” Justin taunted her.
“Dammit, Justin, I’ll try okay. Now what do you have in here?” Christi said trying to move his hand from the bag. She stuck her hand in the bag as Justin moved his, and her eyes were as wide as Justin had ever seen them. Justin knew that he had cheered her up by his little gesture.
Not knowing that Jordan had opened the door to check on why they were taking so long in the bathroom, Christi kissed Justin for the first time since the accident happened. And not just any ol’ kiss. An intimate kiss that they both got lost in. All over a simple pint of rocky road Justin snuck in the hospital for Christi to have for her breakfast.
As Jordan jealously watched the two kiss, the vibration of his cell phone in his back pocket diverted his attention. He excused himself from the bathroom, told Lynn and Jessi he had a phone call, and redialed the number on the payphone at the end of the hall. “Hey baby. What’s up?”
“Nothing much. I was just calling to see if there was any news on Kaci’s condition?”
“Nothing so far. But all we can do is wait.”
“Are you coming over tonight? I kinda missed you these past four nights.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. You know, Christi’s being released today so—“
Courtney snapped, “No, I don’t know! I don’t know anything about my cousin anymore since she found out about us! And frankly, I don’t care after what she did to me! You shouldn’t care either—“
Jordan droned his girlfriend out when he saw Jessi and Lynn walk past him and Christi motion that they all were headed to visit Kaci as Justin wheeled her into the elevator with Jessi, Lynn, and himself.
**
“How are you holding up?”
Justin finally left the three women alone so he could find the nearest restroom. Jessi didn’t stand around long because she forgot her cellphone in the car and needed to check her messages. Needless to say, that left just Lynn and Christi watching the little girl sleep.
Christi shifted in the wheelchair a little, “I’m sore and wobble when I walk. Other than that, I’m doing fine. I’ll be even better when Kaci wakes up.”
“What about Justin and you?”
“I’m surprised you’re not talking about this with him?”
“I’ve talked to my son more in these past four days than in the last four months. I want to hear from you because you’re like a daughter to me.”
“Lynn, you’re a liar. You talk to Justin more than I talk to my mom and we live only a drive away in comparison to the plane trips you must take to get to Justin.”
“Well we’ve been talking more than the usual lately.”
“So he’s driving you as nuts as he is me?”
“No, you’ve got me beat on that one. Is that all that’s bothering you?”
“Yeah. Other than the smothering, he’s perfect. Too perfect.”
“Have ya’ll thought about becoming official yet?”
Christi sighed and ate the last of her ice cream, “Before the accident, we talked about it. But now, I think that he’ll say ‘yes’ just because he doesn’t want to lose me and not because we feel right together. And that scares me.”
Before Lynn could respond, Dr. Daniels interrupted the conversation. “Ready to leave?”
“I can go?”
Dr. Daniels handed Christi the discharge papers, “As soon as you sign a few papers,”
“Where do I sign?”
“I marked all the spots I need your John Hancock.”
Christi quickly skimmed through the papers and signed by the x’s. She handed the papers back to Dr. Daniels. “All done.”
Dr. Daniels collected the papers and left as Christi’s parents appeared.
Serena and Tomas each gave Christi a hug as Tomas spoke, “We’re headed home to straighten up the house a little bit before you come. Little Chris has taken over the place. Jessi said that she’s going to take you back to your place to get everything you need before bringing home.”
Both Jessi and Justin return as Christi’s parents left. And Jessi had an announcement to make. “It seems that word got out that Justin and JC have been holed up here for the past four days. Fans and paparazzi wanting pictures, autographs, what’s going on, and etcetera crowd all entrances and exits. Don’t ask me how I got out of this place, but I was barely able to sneak back in through an employee entrance.“
Knowing she grabbed Justin’s, Christi’s, and Lynn’s attention, Jessi continued, “I’m going to pull the car around the same place I came in through. I need for ya’ll to be ready to jump in. We need to be quick so Justin is going to have to throw Christi in the car.”
“Hey, no one will be throwing me!”
“I was joking. But we do have to go fast. Now come on let’s go.”
Everything went as plan, and only a couple of pictures were take as Justin lifted Christi from the wheelchair and into the car after Lynn slid into the passenger seat and Jessi into the driver’s.
Christi rested her head on Justin’s shoulder and ask ed, “Where’s JC? I’m surprised ya’ll didn’t come to together because how attached at the hip ya’ll two have become.”
Christi realized she hit a sore spot in Jessi as she saw her best friend tighten her grip on the steering wheel and speed up.
Jessi looked at Christi through her rearview mirror and answered, “He didn’t want to get out of bed this morning so I cam alone.” ‘Code for he’s pissing me off with his moody attitude,’ Jessi thought.
**
While waiting for Lynn’s plane to be called with his mother, Justin flipped open his phone and dialed Christi’s number. Because he had to drop his mom at the airport, he was not able to go with Christi and Jessi to visit Kaci in the hospital. It had become part of the daily routine for the past two weeks to visit the little girl that still had not woken up yet. Knowing that cellphones weren’t allowed to be used in hospitals, Justin waited to call because he knew she should be at her parent’s house by now.
RING. RING. RING. RING.
Justin was just about to hang up when he heard an out of breath ‘hello.’
“Who’s this?”
“Justin?”
“Yeah, but who are you? Where’s Christi or her parents?”
“Jordan. Christi’s busy right now. Want to leave a message?”
‘Jordan? What’s he doing there?’ Justin thought before saying, “Oh, well, can you tell her to give me a call when she’s free?”
“Ok, bye,” Jordan answered shortly.
Before Justin could say ‘bye’ back, Jordan had already hung up the phone.
**
Christi hobbled her way into the house on her crutches and asked Jordan, “Did you get to the phone in time?”
“Yeah, it was a wrong number.”
“Oh,” Christi sighed, hoping Justin would call her. She really needed to hear his voice after another disappointing visit to the hospital.
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