Page 13 of First Surrender

“Why do you automatically assume that I am a terrible person? Does it bother you that I might be telling the truth? That I have every intention of sticking around to keep that boy safe?”

“Why would you? I’m here. I’m taking care of him like I always have. We don’t need you.” She coughs through her final word but I can hear the anger regardless. This woman drives me crazy.

“Um, miss, we need to go, now.” The paramedic is shuffling her feet awkwardly after watching our verbal wrestling match.

As soon as the words are fully out of her mouth, I see the fear again that I saw a few minutes ago. I’d almost believe that she has an aversion to hospitals if it weren’t for her next question. “What about my brother?”

“Well, we can’t transport a minor unless he’s the patient. Is there someone who can take him?” The silence that follows is eerie.

She responds, “No.” At the same time, I say, “Yes.”

“What? No.” She looks at me like I have three heads.

“I can give him a ride. Let him hit the lights. Distract him for a few minutes before I meet you at the hospital.” Simple. It is an easy solution, she should be grateful.

“No chance. You could be a child molester.”

This woman never quits. “Why would you think that? Why do you always assume the worst?”

“It’s easy to assume the worst when you’re always handed the worst.”

The frustration of this conversation is going to give me a stroke. Luckily I’m saved from a gasket completely blowing when Dec skips over and skids to a stop next to us.

“Okay, Dec. Here’s the deal, buddy. We’re going to take my car, we’re going to grab you some food and then we’ll meet your sister at the hospital. Sound good?” I ask him, completely undermining his sister who is shooting more lasers at me with her eyes.

“Yay! I want a cheeseburger!”

“Great, my favorite.” I glance at Natalie who has yet to say anything, realizing that she will do anything to shield her brother from whatever harsh realities that have happened to her in her life that have made her so pessimistic. Her eyes are cold and hard, glaring at me.

“Your sister knows, deep, deep down that you are going to have the best time with me. So, give her a hug. We’ll catch up to her in about an hour. If we get lost for some reason,” I say pointedly, speaking to her with my head cocked to the side so she really understands these next words. “She can send out the National Guard to look for us because I know she’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.” I finish sternly.

She huffs and looks away. I got her. She knows that I wouldn’t do any harm to Dec and she’s annoyed that she knows it. The paramedics start readying the ambulance to leave and I back up to give them space, putting my hands on Dec’s shoulders so he stays put too.

Before they can close the doors, she leans forward from her seat. “Hey, Dec. Can you tell me how many fire trucks are here?”

He immediately stretches on his toes to start counting, looking off to the side and the rest of the commotion, while she flips me the bird.

This woman is going to kill me.

“See you at the hospital, fireball.” I salute her by scratching my nose with my middle finger. Steam blows out of her ears as they shut the doors.

Chapter Eight

Natalie

58 minutes later, Dec and the big oaf accompanying him come strolling into my hospital room. He waited until two minutes before his hour was up on purpose just to goad me. I know it.

“Look, Natalie, I got a GI Joe with my kid’s meal.” Of course, he did. The GI Joe look-alike smirks smugly from the doorway while Dec shows me his new toy excitedly.

All I want to do is squeeze him, my sweet baby brother. He doesn’t even realize how brave he’s been tonight. I hated the idea of leaving his side and I hate to admit that the sheriff did help me out. I don’t know what I would have done with Dec if I had to leave him with someone else. I have no one.

“Thank you,” I whisper over Dec’s head, but I’m not mature enough to look him in the eye.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” He asks just as immaturely. “I was almost blown up by a bomb a few months back, my hearing is a little messed up.” He cups his ear in an exaggerated fashion to irk me.

“I’m not saying it again, forget it.” I ignore the comment about the bomb. I didn’t know that he had been there. Our apartment is only a block from where the blast went off. It scared us but luckily we were far enough away from the damage.

“What did the doctor say?” He plops a brown bag with grease stains on my bedside tray. I ignore it.

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