Page 21 of Jack

Chapter 9

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Lily

I wake in one of the softest beds on Earth. It’s not my bed. I bolt upright the moment my eyes pop open. This is not my apartment in LA. This isn’t a hotel room. This is someone’s house.

As the fog from sleep fades, my breathing slowly returns to normal. I’m alone. No one is going to shove me out of bed today. Nina got me out of my horrible situation. The nightmare from it will haunt me forever. I can’t call what I had a life. I had dreams in high school and college of what my life would be. I no longer know what a life is. Not a real one, anyway.

I spent five days traveling across the country with three strangers. Each of them holds a different meaning in my heart. I’m used to talking to strangers. As an ER nurse, seeing the people we meet again is rare. After a while, their faces faded away. As much as I care for each of my patients while they are in my care, I let them slip into just another medical case in mymind once they leave the hospital. Each of us in the ER had our own way of handling overwhelming shifts. Mine was letting everything disappear inside a foggy mist.

Taking a deep breath, I push the soft comforter aside and let my legs drop over the side of the bed. My thoughts go back to last night. If I weren’t living this, I’d laugh and swear it was a dream or some kind of drama movie. Of all the places I could end up in, I’m at the weirdest on the list. It’s so weird, in fact, that it shouldn’t even be on the list.

“Thanks, Nina. A motorcycle club? Really?” I say to absolutely no one. Again, I’m alone, and Nina is on the other side of the country.

I raise my head and stare at the bedroom door. I’m not actually alone, though. On the other side of the door are two sweet ladies. Two strangers I met yesterday. They’re trying so hard to help me. I need their help. I’ve needed every person I’ve met along this journey. At times, I struggle to accept their kindness.

It’s different from this side. It feels wrong. I want to be the one helping. My need to help others is why I became a nurse. I’m not the helper here. My position in this is not okay. I was never supposed to need someone pulling me out of the darkness. Dignity, pride, and happiness have been ripped from me. I’m not sure either of those can ever be restored. I failed, plain and simple.

A young girl’s laughter pulls me from my depressing thoughts. Everly is awake. Her laughter is so sweet and soothing. The sound is infectious. Hearing her has me laughing, too. I don’t even know what she’s laughing about. It doesn’t matter. She’s just one big ball of sunshine. The need to see her and be within the warmth surrounding her pulls me to my feet. I have to see her.

Thankfully, this room has an adjoining bathroom. I grab a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved black T-shirt from the suitcase Nanny brought last night. I was firmly told to call her Mom or Nanny, never Evelyn or Mrs. McLeod. Everly said nearly everyone here and in town calls her grandmother Nanny. It’s the safest choice and the one I’m going with.

After getting dressed, I force myself to examine my face. The black eye and bruising on my right cheek are fading. It’s not enough to forgo the sunglasses, though. I grab the glasses from the nightstand and slide them on. I’m no fool. The glasses hide the visual, but everyone knows I have a black eye.

Letting it all fade away, I leave the room, searching for the warmth calling me. I find Everly and Nanny in the kitchen right where I expected them to be. The scene before me is from aHallmarkorLifetimemovie. The two ladies happily move around the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

“Lily, you’re up.” Everly’s smile widens when she sees me. She lifts a hand and twirls it like a queen or princess. “Coffee first.”

I instantly smile. Sweet girl. Smart, too. Coffee is always first. Nanny beats me to the coffee maker and pours a cup. She sets it on the counter next to the sugar bowl and creamer.

“Good morning, dear.” Nanny grabs two containers of flavored creamer from the fridge.

I sigh happily and take the caramel macchiato from her. “Thank you, Nanny, and good morning.”

The smell of bacon gets stronger when Everly opens the oven door. I’ve never seen bacon cooked in the oven before. Everly’s practically vibrating with excitement, trying to hold back her laughter.

“What’s so funny?” I take a sip of coffee and close my eyes. A good cup of coffee is so underrated. I need to find out what brand they use.

“Uncle Jack’s mad.” Everly drops her head back and bursts out laughing.

That’s alarming.

“What? Why?” What happened while I was sleeping?

“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about, dear. He’s fine.” Nanny slides a pan of homemade biscuits into the oven after Everly removes the bacon.

“Why is he mad?” How can this be funny and fine? I don’t ask the last part.

“Nanny wouldn’t let him in the house.” Everly has to sit down from laughing so hard.

“What?” This gets weirder by the minute.

Nanny flips her hand like it’s no big deal. “Don’t worry, hon. He really is fine. He’s probably still sitting on the steps.”

This is insane. I quickly set my mug on the counter and rush to the front door. I place my hands on the glass, too afraid to open the door and draw his attention. Jack isn’t on the steps. He’s stomping down the path away from the house. Everly and Nanny follow and watch over my shoulders. Even from here, it’s clear he’s fussing or complaining. Hopefully, the trees are listening because he’s alone. I can’t hear him without opening the door, which I’m not about to. I don’t want him to know I’m watching. He tosses his arms up just before disappearing into the trees. It sends Everly to the floor in a fit of laughter.

“See.” Nanny pats my arm. “He’s fine.”

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