Learning To Trust Again

Standing with her arms crossed over her chest, looking out the window Rebecca knew the instant he had left the room. Part of her wanted to reach out to him, to tell him how grateful she was for everything he had done for Todd, but a larger part of her was afraid to trust him again. She couldn’t bear to hurt like that for a second time. Not to mention there was the promise she had made to herself. She had vowed that she wouldn’t fall back into that routine of being let down by a man and her forgive him only for it to happen over and over again. Turning around finally she looked at the empty spot Jake had occupied moments ago. There was a look of utter sadness on her face. She turned back to the window. Her shoulders slumped.

Her eyes focused outside the room Rebecca didn’t see the worried look her parents exchanged as they watched her.  

It was lunch time before Todd slowly started to come around. Brian and Bridget had gone to the canteen to get something to eat, leaving Rebecca to keep a lone bed side vigil. They’d told her they’d bring something back for her, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to eat it. She couldn’t, not until she knew Todd would be okay. Putting aside the paper she had been trying to read, Rebecca looked over at her brother for the hundredth time before turning her eyes to the window again. Her thoughts swirled, alternating endlessly between Jake and concerns about Todd. Until today she had thought she was over the worst of it with Jake, but seeing him again had shown her just how wrong she was. She missed him so much it felt like someone had removed a piece of her. Her chest hurt as if someone had indeed inflicted a wound, one that would never heal.

Lost in her thoughts Rebecca had no idea how much time had passed before she became aware of movement next to her. Turning her head back to the bed she noticed Todd was moving restlessly. Standing she moved closer to the bed and looked down at him. His eyes opened for a second before closing again. The next time they were open a little longer as they slowly adjusted to the light. After a few more attempts, each longer than the last, he finally managed to keep them open. He had been silent as had Rebecca, she wanted to let him adjust and orientate himself before she tried to speak to him. Now he looked around the room and she knew he was trying to work out where he was. Soon his gaze came back to focus on her face.

Smiling, sympathy and relief in her expression, Rebecca put her hand on his shoulder as she said ‘hey, don’t try to move, you’re in the hospital.’

Frowning, no doubt trying to recall what had happened, Todd asked ‘what’s the damage?’ His voice was weak and raw.

‘He did a good job this time’ she said, unable to disguise her anger. ‘You have a couple of broken ribs and a fractured cheek bone and yet another head injury. But you’ll be fine.’

Todd closed his eyes again for a minute, digesting the information.

Her training coming to the fore, Rebecca checked his pulse. 

Looking at her again he asked worriedly ‘do Mum and Dad know?’

Nodding Rebecca said ‘yes they’re here. I had to tell them this time but don’t worry they’re fine.’ And pausing for a minute she looked away before admitted ‘by the way they know about what happened at your party.’ 

Her gaze moved back to him and as she saw her brother frown she added. ‘I had to tell them when they asked about what happened with Jake. You know how I feel about lying. They weren’t going to say anything to you, but this changes things.’

Turning his head and looking away Todd replied ‘okay.’ His voice was flat, quiet.

‘Also you should know’ Rebecca said with caution worried she was going to upset him ‘it was Jake who was called to the scene last night. He found you lying unconscious in the street. But since then he has also found the guy responsible and arrested him.’

Going Home

Part 106

“Shh” Grace said as Josh rolled on to his back taking her with him. Then evading his mouth as he tried to coax hers back to his she listened for a minute before saying “crap they’re back.” She struggled to get up.

But Josh wasn’t ready to let her go yet. She felt amazing right where she was and nibbling her ear as he held her down on top of him he asked unconcernedly “so?”

“So!” Grace echoed as she increased her efforts to get to a standing position so she could make herself presentable “what do you mean so? How the hell am I supposed to face them now?”

Josh laughed, he loved that she got embarrassed about this and finally letting her go he turned on his side and leant his head on his hand. Then watching her as she hurriedly got dressed he said unhelpfully, “well maybe you should have thought about that before you started it.”

Glaring at him as she did up her jeans, Grace put her hands on her hips, and she inspected him lying there indolent on the bed. She said angrily “oh ok, good to know, I’ll remember not to start it again then.”

Sighing and rolling his eyes at her tone Josh got off the bed. He hadn’t seriously meant to upset her and he could see her anxiety about facing his parents had completely eroded her sense of humour, so after getting dressed he moved towards her.

Grace was in no mood for games though and watched him through narrowed eyes as he approached.

Reaching her Josh looked down into her troubled eyes for a minute before bending down and kissing her. Then wrapping his arms around her he hugged her and feeling her arms go around him he whispered “don’t worry about it. I’m sure they won’t say anything and it will be over quick.”

Holding him, Grace was contrite. She knew she was being unreasonable and she whispered “sorry.”

Smiling Josh gave her a wink and said “no worries” before opening the bedroom door

Learning To Trust Again

Early that morning, after finishing his shift, Jake walked into the hospital. Inquiring about Todd at reception he took the lift up to his floor. Todd had been placed in a private room, Rebecca’s doing Jake thought. He paused at the open door and tapped the timber before entering. He wasn’t sure what reception he’d get, but he wanted to tell Rebecca Todd had nothing more to worry about. He also wanted to find out how her brother was doing.

Standing up as she looked up and saw Jake in the doorway Rebecca just looked at him. She was surprised to see him and her expression was wary. She couldn’t think why he’d be there given she hadn’t been exactly pleasant to him on the phone earlier.

Glancing at the bed Jake asked ‘how is he?’

Rebecca turned her head to look at her brother. ‘He’s got a couple of broken ribs and a fractured cheek bone. He’s also got another head injury. He hasn’t regained consciousness’ she said.

Jake nodded ‘well he won’t have to worry about it happening again. We found the guy responsible and the club had CCTV operating so we have him on film, not to mention there were plenty of witnesses this time. They won’t have any trouble making the charges stick.’

‘Good’ Rebecca said. Then noticing the bruise on his jaw her expression softened a little and gesturing towards it she asked ‘what happened?’

Touching the injury with his finger he said ‘let’s just say Todd’s assault is not the only thing we have this guy for now.’

Rebecca nodded and noted that he didn’t sound concerned about it. Still frowning as she continued to look at him Rebecca was prevented from asking any more by her parents entering the room. ‘Mum, Dad’ Rebecca said as she moved forward and hugged one then the other. ‘You guys made good time.’ She had called them after she’d come back with Todd from radiology and knew he was going to be okay but didn’t expect to see them here this quickly. She was relieved though. Now it wasn’t all on her shoulders, she would be able to share the worry a bit.

‘No traffic at this time of the day’ her father said, his eyes on his son in the hospital bed.

‘Yes, we left as soon as you called’ her mother added ‘we just threw on some clothes and shoved some stuff in a bag and left. Tell me what the doctor said?’

Rebecca relayed the information she’d just given Jake. After assuring themselves that their son would recover they turned to look at Jake.

Both had been surprised to see him as Rebecca had told them she wasn’t seeing him anymore but they still gave him a warm welcome. They had been impressed with him on first meeting and despite the stance Rebecca had taken about him lying to her, they could forgive him. Shaking her father’s hand Jake proceeded to fill them in on what had happened from his end. 

‘Thank you Jake’ Brian, Rebecca’s dad said when Jake had finished ‘and thank you for looking after Todd on the night of his birthday, Rebecca told us what happened there too.’

‘Yes, thank you’ Rebecca’s mother, Bridget added.

Rebecca noticed that Jake looked uncomfortable and watched as he shrugged and said ‘no worries’ before moving his gaze to her.

 She just looked away. 

After a minute she heard Jake say ‘I’d better go.’

‘Thank you for coming Jake and letting us know what happened’ Bridget said. 

Offering his hand to the younger man, Brian repeated his wife’s words ‘yes thank you Jake. I’m glad it’s over.’

Shaking the older man’s hand Jake said ‘no problem.’ 

Rebecca could feel his eyes come to rest on her, even though she had her back to him. She didn’t turn around.

Learning To Trust Again

‘Rebecca?’ Ian said sounding confused when he saw her ‘I didn’t know you were on tonight’ but then taking in her appearance he said with concern ‘you’re not are you?’

‘No’ Rebecca said, and gesturing towards the bed she said ‘he’s my brother.’

‘Oh’ Ian said and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he watched tears fill her eyes. ‘He’ll be fine’ the doctor assured her ‘it’ll take him some time to mend, but on the whole, I don’t think he has sustained any permanent damage.’

‘What about his head?’

‘We were just about to send him to radiology to get a more definitive answer to that one. But there again, initial results are good. You want to go with him?’

‘Yes please’ Rebecca said.

‘Okay and try not to worry’ Ian said patting her arm, ‘I know I tell everyone that, but I do mean it this time. He’ll be fine.’

‘Thanks Ian’ Rebecca said as the doctor released her and other hospital staff prepared to wheel Todd down to radiology.

‘No problem’ he said with a smile ‘just tell him to stay out of fights in future.’

Rebecca gave him a small smile, ‘don’t worry, I will.’

Loss and Longing

Seeing his solemn expression, Stevie was worried that she had just ruined things and hurried to say “sorry, you don’t have to tell me” 

“I don’t know why” he said after a second, “not exactly. Because you reminded me of someone I guess.”

That shocked Stevie. She didn’t like the thought that she may be a replacement for someone else. And Grant must have sensed her concern for his eyes flicked up to meet hers. He said “I know that sounds bad. It’s not, but I’m not sure I can explain. Not yet. Just know that while a resemblance may have sparked my interest, it was you and only you, that held it, okay? The other was just a momentary thing.” 

Stevie was still frowning. She didn’t know what to say. It concerned her that maybe, albeit unintentionally, he was using her as a substitute. She sat up. “I think I should go.”

Grant sat up too and grasped her hand, “Stevie please, don’t go. I didn’t mean to upset you. I was trying to be honest and I wish I could explain, but I can’t.”

Stevie looked at him and then taking a deep breath asked him what she needed to know, “I understand you can’t talk about it, I really do, but you said you were being honest, okay so be honest about this. Is it possible I am just a substitute for someone else?”  And as his eyes widened she said “think about it before you answer. I don’t mean I think you are doing it intentionally, but is it possible the attraction you feel to me is because of what you once felt for the person I reminded you of?”

He touched her face with his free hand, his other still holding hers, “absolutely not” he said. “I never felt anything like that, for the person you reminded me of. We didn’t have that type of relationship. What I feel for you, is all about you, okay?”

Relieved, Stevie smiled. “Okay” she said “thank you.”

“No problem” he said with a smile and then his expression going sombre, he added “I will tell you about it one day.”

“Okay” she said and leaning towards him, she kissed him. Stevie felt him sigh against her mouth before he wrapped his arms around her and lowered her upper body back down onto the rug. 

A few minutes later she dragged her mouth away and as his lips moved to her neck she said “I really do have to go though.” 

“Soon” Grant muttered against her skin.

Stevie grinned and looking at her watch she said “okay, soon.”

Grant moved back and grinned down at her before meeting her mouth with his once more.