Page 40 of After Him, There Was You
“I’ve never sat back to see him for anything except for who he wasn’t and who I wanted him to be.”
“It sounds like it’s time to change the narrative.”
“But how?”
“The first step is us putting on clothes and going to meet your sister at the hospital. You need to check on your dad. Take it from a man with three daughters. He needs you just as much as you need him whether you know it or not.”
Sealing our impromptu therapy session with a kiss, I stood from his lap, we both got dressed, and made our way to NBP Memorial.
Chapter 18: I Wanna Know - Zeke
Across Town, A Couple of Hours Later
Sitting in the waiting room at NBP Memorial was not the first place I wanted to be because it was such a depressing setting, but how could I walk away from her at a moment where she needed me. Eva hadn’t hesitated to be by my side, and I was going to return the favor.
Eva was definitely the caliber of woman I didn’t know I needed. She was a homie, a hell of a lover, and friend. Our conversations never ceased to leave me wanting more from her, but we also shared the kind of connection where we could lay on my couch or in the bed and be comfortable in our own silence. Words weren’t necessarily needed when we were together, and I loved the kind of vibe we had.
Feeling her squeeze my hand, she pulled me from thinking about what she would look like carrying my next child.
Without saying a word, she motioned in the direction of the waiting room door where a doctor had walked out and was walking in our direction.
“Family of Mr. Everett Monroe.”
“Us!” her mother and sister yelled simultaneously, jumping up to meet him in the middle of the waiting room.
While Eva had released a tear here and there, her mother and sister had been full on bawling from the time we walked through the doors. Their complexions were flushed, and their eyes were a shade of deep crimson red.
“Mr. Monroe is out of surgery and in stable condition, but due to the trauma he experienced to his head when he was ejected from the vehicle, we had to put him in a medically induced coma.”
“Can you tell me what happened? How did he get into the accident?” Eva asked as her mom and sister side-eyed her.
“I can’t say for sure what happened, and I’m not privy to the police report at this moment, but what I can say is there is alcohol in his system. While it is below the legal limit, it is still very much present,” he stated, causing Eva to suck her teeth while her family said nothing. “I can’t go into too much detail, but I can say that the family who he collided with at the intersection, are in recovery.”
“Can we go back and see him? How long will he be in the coma?” Alexa asked.
“Yes, but you can only go back to visit him two at a time. If all goes as planned, he should be waking up within the next few days, but it is up to him,” the doctor noted before offering us a nod and walking away.
Seeing Eva’s demeanor stiffen, I rubbed her shoulders to alleviate some of the tension. Looking back at me, she blessed me with her smile, letting me know my gesture was appreciated.
“The two of you can go back. I’m going to get out of here.”
“Eva, you don’t want to see him?” her mom, Jacquelyn asked Eva, blotting at her tears.
“No.”
“But, Eva—”
“Mama, please respect me on this. I’ll be back to see him later, but I can’t do it right now.”
“Okay,” her mama said, nodding, wearing a slight look of defeat.
“This is ridiculous!” Alexa spat, exasperatedly throwing her arms up in the air, quickly dropping her hands back down to her sides.
“Alexa, let it go,” Jacquelyn sternly warned, giving her a knowing look. “There are some things you don’t understand.”
“Whatever!”
“I get that your emotions are all over the place, but one thing I’m not is one of your little friends, Alexa Evette,"Jacquelyn added with her finger pointed in the direction of her youngest daughter. “You will watch your mouth when you’re talking to me. You’re not too grown to get the taste slapped out of your mouth. Do you understand?”
