Page 70 of From Rivals to I Do

“Just please!” I say as I turn my car on and pull out, speeding after Joseph. I see him in the distance, and I throw all my worries about my own self-preservation to the side as I slam the pedal down to the floor.

“For clarification, you are now requesting that we send officers to Thistleberry Medical, ICU unit?” they ask as Joseph makes a sharp turn and I follow suit. But I’m soon lost in his dust, and I slam my hand on the steering wheel.

“Shoot!” I say as I continue to drive.

“Someone’s been shot?” the dispatcher asks.

“No! But I don’t know what he’s capable of,” I groan. “Just send your people to the hospital!”

Chapter seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Attempting to shake off Mitch’s odd departure, I lay in bed, watching a little television while I tried to eat the lunch one of the nurses brought in. Man, I’ll be glad when I’m home, I think to myself as I bite down on a bit of turkey. As I chew it, I nearly choke. Even with gravy, it’s far too dry and hard to eat.

I miss home. I miss sleeping in my bed. I miss my boys. I even miss cooking us all breakfast every morning before we go out to feed the animals, lunch at midday, and dinner when it’s all done. It’s weird. I never thought I’d miss cooking of all things, but here we are.

As I take a sip of my orange juice, Doctor Trachner comes in, all smiles with his clipboard in his hand.

“Hey there, Doc,” I say as I abandon the English muffin and try to tackle the eggs.

“Good morning, Eli!” he says as he takes one of the chairs and sits down. “How are you feeling?”

“Pretty good,” I say as I take a bite of the mashed potatoes and stuffing, and try my best not to make a face, not wanting to be rude. “Got some headaches going on, but I suppose that’s to be expected, considering.”

“And I read you’ve been up and walking?” Doctor Trachner asks.

“Yep! I go walking any chance I can get with some help from the nurses,” I say. “I’ve got to get used to moving around again, I’ve got lots of animals at home to help care for.”

“That’s kind of what I came in to talk to you about,” Doctor Trachner says. “I believe you’ve been making great strides, and by next week, as long as we keep on this path, you may be able to return home.”

“Really?” I reply, sitting up in bed, nearly toppling over my orange juice as I knock into the tray.

“Yes sir,” Doctor Trachner says with a big ol’ smile on his face. “I mean, it won’t be without restrictions, but nothing too limiting.”

“Restrictions?” I ask.

“You won’t be able to do any heavy work for a few months, and you’ll have to do some outpatient physical therapy and do regular check-ins with a neurologist due to your memory loss. We want to do our best to prevent the worsening of brain function and be proactive about any potential future issues from the damage to your brain. But you’ll be able to go home.”

“I suppose I can handle that,” I say with a grin. “Not that you all haven’t been amazing, but I really need to get back.”

“Understandable,” Doctor Trachner replies. “Well then, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you, and hopefully everything will go according to plan.”

“That would be amazing,” I say.

“I’ll leave you to your lunch,” Doctor Trachner says as he gets up from his chair and leans over, holding his hand out to me. I shake it, and when he turns and leaves, I nearly whoop loudly in celebration.

I can’t believe I’m going home soon! I think to myself. It’s been too long with me sitting around here like a bump on a log. I want to go home, be with my family, and see where life takes me.

And I want to see Darla again, not just inside these hospital walls either, but properly. I remember our night at Moonshine and Music now, thanks to Mitch’s tantrum about her. But I don’t just recall the night, but the feelings I felt and still feel about her. I might not ever remember everything, but I’m hopeful in time that I will. But, even if I don’t, I still feel those butterflies when I see her, and I want to explore that.

It’s been so long since I’ve felt like this about another person, and after everything that’s happened, I want to keep that feeling for myself. Life can be cut short in an instant, and with this second chance I’ve been given, I want to live mine to the fullest.

“Hey there.” I hear someone call to me from the door, interrupting my train of thought. When I look up, Mitch is standing there, oddly sweaty from his forehead to his pits.

“Hey, thought you had stuff to do?” I ask and Mitch takes a few more steps in.

“Oh, I did,” Mitch says, his cowboy boots clicking with each step, and I notice he seems upset. Glaring at me like he’s angry with me. I guess I did go at him a little hard earlier about Darla. . .

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