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.