Page 17 of Revived

“Are you sure you want her in a live-in situation?” Ian asked.

“Of course, I am. Why?”

“Live-in scenarios have a tendency to get messy when they end. Have you thought about what will happen when she has to leave?”

“We’ll figure it out when the time comes and have an exit strategy ready.”

Ian sighed. “If that’s what you want, I’ll make an ironclad plan for it. Just keep me abreast of any changes and try to remember that the woman is business and not there for your pleasure.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not some wet-behind-the-ears baby rock star anymore. I know how shit works.” I knew Ian was only looking out for me, but he didn’t understand. Having already failed to keep my son safe, there was nothing I wouldn’t do to make sure he was comfortable and received the best care possible.

Then there was Melanie. My son liked her – true enough, but the way she advocated for him above me or anyone else who had their own demands, it was beautiful to watch. We were also responsible for harming her career. Dragging her into my son’s life, my life, had changed hers. With multiple lawsuits on the horizon, I wasn’t sure she would be welcome back to the health care world in New York. It didn’t matter that she was great at her job, that everyone knew her previous boss was a sexist asshole, or that she should have never been sued for some shady shit that hospital was trying to pull. No one there would touch her now. She was a risk to them. That was all on me.

Not for the first time, I lamented my money and rock star status in the world that allowed me the privilege to go above and beyond to fix something for one person, while simultaneously tearing down another. That seemed to be my other price to pay for the fame I’d achieved. Going home was a long time coming, and now it felt so bittersweet too.

6 – Home Care

My apartment had been packed up by strangers, and all of my belongings had arrived two days ago, only to be put into storage because I didn’t have a place of my own to move them into yet. Not that I hadn’t been looking for a job as well as a place to live, but I had to yet to find either. Gabe had been right about one thing though, the cost of living was so much cheaper in Georgia, that I might actually be able to afford an apartment, pay off my student debt, and eat a step above the Ramen noodle diet I had in New York.

“We’ll be transitioning Chevy home in a few days,” I overheard the doctor in charge of his care telling Gabe in the hallway. “I know you were closing on a new house. Will it be ready in time, or should we be having this conversation with Ms. Kendrick about how to set up for your son’s arrival?”

“I closed yesterday, and contractors are already there working to outfit the lower-level suite to accommodate a wheelchair for now. It’s looking like his girlfriend may be chair-bound for life, so it’ll probably remain that way.”

“That’s on me,” Chevy whispered, having overheard them as well.

“No, it’s not. The fact that she is still alive at all is on you. The loss of her ability to walk is on the asshole banker who was too coked up to notice someone climbing out of a car that he tried to illegally pass in the first place.” I sighed, knowing my pep talk would do no good. “It could have happened anywhere, Chevy.”

He didn’t say anything as I jotted his vitals and other information down to hand off to the doctor once they entered the room. “Are you ready to go home and see the house your dad set up for you?” A twinkle of brightness appeared in Chevy’s eyes that I chalked up to anticipation.

“It’s weird,” he told me. “I’m technically an adult and excited to be able to live with my dad.” He laughed. “But then again, I feel like I’m betraying my mom if I do.”

“Well, forget that! Kendra is excited for you, and I have it on good authority, that she’s helping Gabe get everything all set for you too. I think you’re confusing your situation for a divorced parents scenario. If Kendra is anything like me, I bet she’s just happy that you’re finally getting to have that time with your father. She had 18 years with you and knows exactly what both you and Gabe missed out on. Plus, I’m pretty sure your mom and siblings will be coming and going so much that you’ll be glad to hang your head in a different house at the end of the day, just for a little quiet and rest. Especially after you start physical therapy, where you’ll get moody and worn out easily.”

“You’re probably not wrong. What about you, Mel?”

“What about me?”

“Are you excited to move into a new home too?”

I laughed at him. “I still have to find one. I’ve been so busy since we got here that I haven’t had a chance to actually go check out neighborhoods or see places in person. It’s much more difficult here without a car than it was in New York.” When I glanced up from the chart, Chevy was giving me an odd look.

“Why are you looking for your own place? I thought you were moving in with us?”

I slowly shook my head. “Why would I move in with you and your dad?”

“To take care of me?” He answered my question with one of his own.

“I’ll be by for shifts but I’m still going to need my own place.”

“I don’t think that’s what my dad intended…”

The door to the room squeaked and I turned to find Kendra standing there glaring at Gabe who had sort of a stunned stupid expression as his eyes remained trained on me.

“I told you,” Kendra hissed. “You better fix it before it’s too late.”

I turned back to Chevy to see him grinning like a lunatic at his mom and dad. Suddenly, wary of the Kendrick clan, I took a step back and patted Chevy’s good foot, that was hidden away under his blankets. “I’ll be back to check on you in about an hour or so. You know the drill, if you need help, hit the magic button. Have a good visit with your parents.”

I whizzed right on past Kendra and Gabe as quickly as possible in order to hand the chart off to the doctor, only he was no longer in the hallway when I got out there. Josh, Kendra’s fiancé and Ford were both there though. I discovered that as I accidentally ran right into Josh while actively trying to flee from the rest of the family. “Whoa there,” Josh managed to say as he caught hold of my shoulders to keep me from stumbling back.

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