Page 94 of Parrish

Chapter Thirty-one

Reina Parrish

I was nervous.

As strange as it sounds, I felt like I was meeting my child for the first time. It didn’t matter that I held him in my arms when he was just seconds old or that I’ve watched him blow out the candles on his cake year after year. I didn’t remember any of it.

I didn’t know his likes or dislikes.

I didn’t even know his favorite color.

How does a mother not know her sons favorite color?

I know it’s not my fault and with time, I’ll remember every moment…every detail. Still, I can’t help but feel as if I’ve failed as a mother. Why couldn’t I forget someone else? Why did it have to be the two most important people in my life?

“Mommy!”

At the sound of Danny’s voice, my attention is jolted towards the door and I watch as he runs straight towards me. Instinctively, I open my arms and welcome him into my embrace. I close my eyes and bury my nose on top of his head, breathing in the scent of his shampoo.

I know the scent.

Johnson & Johnson’s.

“You’re not in the bed,” Danny says observantly as he pulls away. “Does that mean your head is better?”

“Danny,” Jack calls. “Remember what I told you on the way here?”

Looking over our son’s head, I meet Jack’s gaze. He winks at me and takes a seat on the foot of the hospital bed. He looks different than he did earlier.

A lot less ragged and whole lot sexier.

It’s easy to see why I fell for the bad boy.

“It’s okay,” I tell him.

After I returned from my therapy session, I asked the nurse if I could sit in the chair instead of the bed, hoping I’d appear more approachable. I also asked if she could remove the bandage around my head, but she drew the line and offered to comb my hair instead. It’s a small consolation prize but I guess I should be happy my hair no longer resembles a rat’s nest.

“I’m better than I was when you last saw me,” I say, as I lift my hand to his cheek. “I’m sorry if I upset you,” I whisper.

“It’s okay,” he replies. “Daddy said you were confused.”

“I’m still a little confused,” I admit. “But the doctors say it’s only temporary. I’ll be as good as new soon enough and we can pick up where we left off.”

Danny’s face falls and though I’m not sure what I said that upset him, I immediately regret my choice of words.

“Where we left off?” he questions as he turns to Jack. “I thought you said you weren’t leaving anymore.”

“Leaving?” I ask.

Jack’s body tenses and his jaw clenches tight as the softness radiating from his eyes, fades.

“I ain’t going anywhere,” he tells our son. “That’s all over now.”

I know I shouldn’t ask questions in front of Danny, but I can’t help myself. Where was he going? Was our marriage in trouble?

“What does that mean?”

“Not now,” he says, jerking his head in Danny’s direction. “It’s nothing.”

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