Page 68 of Jackson
Will Tolbert had been reluctant to leave, and she had been grateful for Molly’s intervention. She owed the woman big time.
The night shift had left her to herself most of the time, but they had checked in on Jackson regularly, which hadn’t helped her sleep. When Molly returned for her shift, she’d surprised Paula with breakfast and a cup of coffee. Sadly, the coffee was even worse than the swill at the station.
She should be exhausted from her lack of sleep. Instead, she was antsy and restless. One minute, she was holding Jackson’s hand, the next she was pacing the room. Her thoughts raced. She had left Jackson without a backward glance, but she had missedboth him and submitting to him. Now she had invaded his life without him even aware of it. What would he say when he woke?
Maybe listening to music would help? Paula pulled up the playlist on her phone. She scrolled to see if any number struck her fancy. Ah,Not Strong Enoughby Apocalyptica fit her mood. She rested her head on the bed next to Jackson’s arm and looked up at his face. Even with bruises, a swollen nose, and scruff on his cheeks, he was a gorgeous man. Paula took in every detail of him that wasn’t obscured by medical equipment. She soaked in the words from the song.
Her heart overruled her mind.
And she was certainly not strong enough to stay away.
And she wouldn’t; she would follow her heart. If only he would wake so she could tell him.
She pulled out a tube of lip balm and glided the stick over his chapped lips. “What were you thinking, Sir? Going to that house with only a vest. I ought to spank your ass for that,” she tried to joke.
The Apocalyptica song ended and switched toNothing Else Mattersby Metallica like it was a sign.
She had trouble opening herself up.
And she hadn’t spoken the words she had to say.
Of course, it was a coincidence because her playlist had been sorted alphabetically by song, but Paula took it as a sign anyway. She sat up and stroked the hair from Jackson’s forehead. She pressed a kiss to his cheek and whispered against his skin. “I’m opening up to you, Sir, and I love you.”
She reached for Jackson’s hand again and felt his fingers grip hers in response. Was he regaining consciousness? She reached for the call button and pushed it. Molly’s voice came on. “What do you need?”
“I felt Jackson’s fingers move. I think he’s waking up.”
“We’ll be right there.”
The world around Paula erupted in a flurry of activities as Molly and another woman rushed into the room. Paula stepped away from the bed, her heart pounding so hard she was afraid it would interfere with the machines around her.
Paula’s mind soared. Jackson was going to be okay! She stayed quiet as the hospital staff examined and tended to him.
Jackson woke again. His head was still pounding, but the ringing in his ears had abated somewhat. He thought he had heard Paula’s voice, but that wasn’t possible. She had left him, and he must have dreamt it. He hurt all over, although his head was the worst. He heard beeping noises and people talking and struggled to open his eyes, but they weren’t cooperating.
A woman said, “Relax, Jackson. You’re going to be okay.”
Someone took his hands. “Are you awake, Jackson? If you are, can you squeeze my hands?” He tried as hard as he could, but his muscles didn’t seem to be obeying him, and he didn’t know if she could feel it. “That’s great. I want you to know that you’re safe here. I know you hurt, but it will get better. You’re in the ICU at Truman.” She paused as if to let the information sink in. “Now I’d like you to try and open your eyes. The lights are dim.”
Jackson struggled with the request. His eyelids felt like bricks, but he managed to crack them open a little. “That’s the way, Jackson. Great job. Now it should be easier to go the rest of the way. Give it a try.”
The light coming through seemed bright, even though the voice said it was dim. He closed his eyes for a moment and summoned the strength of Treebeard to open them further. Now he could see a fuzzy figure of a woman who was still talkingto him. “Wonderful, Jackson. Now this next part is going to be hard. I need to shine my light into each eye to see how you’re doing. Is that okay? Don’t try to speak or move your head. Squeeze my hand once if it’s okay, twice if not.”
Jackson knew it was necessary and squeezed her hand. He was met with fingers holding his left eye open and a blinding light coming at him. “Can you follow the light?” She flicked it left and right, up and down, and he followed it, even though it hurt. “Great job!” She repeated the action with his right eye.
Once she was done, he closed his eyes tightly again.
“It’s okay, Jackson. You can open your eyes again when you feel it’s safe. We’ll keep the lights low.” The woman continued talking and asked him to do things like pushing against her hands with his and wiggling his toes. When she got to his left foot and he moved his toes, he felt a stabbing pain, and he stilled.
“That’s all right. You’ve hurt your leg. I’m glad you can move your toes.”
Jackson opened his eyes. The fuzzy figure he had seen before was becoming clearer the longer he kept his eyes open. The voice he had been hearing had to be hers. “I’m Doctor Carver, one of the residents here.” She pointed across the bed at another woman. “This is Molly. She’s your day nurse.” Jackson followed the direction she indicated and noticed a small woman in scrubs with an assertive gaze.
“Good to see you awake. You’ve had the medical team and your fiancée worried. She hasn’t left your side,” Molly said.
He must have more damage to his head than they realized because he was certain he’d never been engaged to anybody.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
