Page 56 of To the Moon and Back
Eric nodded. “Brady’s different.” He told her how Brady served Oklahoma City a dozen ways. At least. The downtown mission, the children’s hospital, whenever there’s a project benefiting just about anyone. “Brady’s there.”
Jenna was about to ask if Brady believed in God, whether that was part of his motivation to help others. But before she could find the words, there was a stirring in the bed.
Jenna was on her feet. Eric turned and watched Brady. He was lifting his fingers. Just the slightest wiggle, but still it was something.
“Brady . . . hey, man, can you hear me?” Eric took hold of Brady’s hand. “You’re crazy, Bradshaw. You never shoulda gone that far out to the middle.”
The slightest groan came from Brady. Jenna walked to the other side of the bed and waited. She didn’t want to confuse him. And since Eric’s was a voice he was familiar with, she kept quiet.
Another moan came from Brady’s lips. This time Jenna watched him squeeze Eric’s hand, just enough for them to know. He could actually hear Eric’s voice. Over the next hour neither of them left the side of his bed.
Brady’s doctor came in, checked his vitals and confirmed the obvious. He was waking up. “Take it slowly.” The doctor nodded at both of them. “He’ll want to hear your voices, but he’ll be very tired. I’ll come by every few minutes to check on him.”
Again Jenna didn’t want to say anything. He wouldn’t know my voice if I was the only one in the room, she thought. Now that he was stirring she wondered why she was even here. The shock of seeing her might be too much. If she’d been alone with him, maybe. But for now she would wait.
Another hour passed and Brady seemed to grow agitated. He was trying to open his eyes, trying to form words. At least it seemed that way. Finally, just as Eric was getting ready to leave, Brady spoke. “Wh . . . where?” His voice was a raspy whisper. But the word was clear.
“Brady.” Eric bent over the bed, their faces close. “You’re at the hospital.” Tears filled Eric’s eyes. He was a tough-looking firefighter, built like a tank. But here he was just a guy pulling for his friend. “Can you hear me?”
This time Brady nodded. The motion was clear and undeniable. “Wha . . . happened?”
Jenna stood a few feet away. Tears filled her own eyes. This was the answer she’d prayed for. However long the journey ahead, at least Brady understood what his buddy was saying.
Eric clearly didn’t want to tell Brady too much. He wiped his tears, his voice strong. “You’re okay, man. You’re going to get through this.”
The effort of trying to talk must’ve been too much because Brady fell asleep again. It was just after two o’clock. Eric had to leave, but he gave Jenna his number. “Call me if he wakes up more than this. I want to be here.”
She nodded and thanked Eric. Thanks to him she now knew more about the years she’d missed with Brady. She sat by his bed and pulled up the photo Ashley Blake had sent her. The one with his letter.
God, I don’t know what You’re doing. But I can feel it. Please . . . give Brady a miracle. Give us both one.
Exhaustion came over her. Sitting here watching Brady was taking its toll. Wondering what he’d say when he woke up again, or if he would wake up at all. Jenna was about to leave, head back to Allison’s house for a nap, when Brady started moaning again. He turned his head a few inches in each direction, clearly agitated.
No one else was in the room, so Jenna took hold of his hand.
A rush of memories came over her, the way his hand had felt eleven years earlier. His skin was rougher now. Firefighter hands. But they were as warm as they’d been that far-off spring day.
Jenna stared at him. Should she speak to him? Now that he was coming to? She held her breath and decided she had to say something. Brady wanted to find her. It mattered to him. Maybe it would give him a reason to fully wake up if he knew she was here. “Brady . . .” She could feel her heartbeat in the hollow of her neck. “Brady, it’s me. Jenna.”
His restlessness suddenly stopped. He went still and then just as quickly he began to move again. And this time, finally, his eyes blinked open. Not all the way, but enough to squint at her. He turned his face in her direction and blinked a few more times.
“Jenna.” Her name on his lips was unmistakable. “H-how?”
Every word took all his energy. Jenna could see that. Tears blurred her eyes. “Brady, I’m here. I found you.”
His eyes closed again, but he knew. She was absolutely sure he knew. Not because he was able to look at her or say her name. But because of the way he squeezed her hand and ran his thumb along her finger.
Just like he’d done more than a decade ago.
17
B rady had been awake for two weeks.
He was still in the hospital, but earlier today they had moved him to rehab, four miles away and closer to his fire station. Though he had some swelling in his brain, miraculously he had no permanent damage. So it was time for him to get serious about his recovery, his doctor told him. Brady was all for that.
He had a reason to live now.
Jenna was helping him get set up in his new room. Eric came by every few days, and the Fishers, too. Cards and balloons from his other firefighter friends lined the shelf in the corner of the small space. A window spanned the area adjacent to his bed, and a television hung on the opposite wall. The place was very much like a hospital room, except instead of heart monitors and IV stands there were exercise machines. Pulleys for stretching and pushing and teaching Brady how to move again.
