“I'm fine. Just a little tired and sore.” She looked up to the other side of the bed as her mother moved in.
“You need to be more careful. You have a baby to watch out for now. What pregnant woman gets on a ladder and goes to the top? A stupid one, that's who.” Her mother scoffed and gave her a look of disdain.
Dr. Jensen walked to the door. “If any of you upset her, you'll be booted, so watch your words closely.”
Jamie wanted to whisper thank you, but didn't want to start anything more than would start on its own. Drama followed her mother and sister like a stray dog. It was only a matter of time before something unconventional went down.
“Is Christine here?” Jamie turned her attention back to her dad, realizing that it would probably be far safer to concentrate on him.
“Yeah, but she's a little out of it.” He gave Jamie a tight smile. “She hasn’t been the same since Stephen attacked you and Alex.”
“It wasn't about the attack, but the fact that the courts didn't seek medical treatment for whatever is going on with him. He's not right in the head. Surely everyone has to know that.” Jamie's mother rolled her eyes and moved back from the bed. “Right, Christine? He's a good guy that got caught up in a bad situation?”
My father clenched his jaw and turned his warm brown eyes back to Jamie. “Ignore them. I swear they live on a different planet from those of us with logic and half a brain in our heads.”
“I'm right here. I can hear you”!” Jamie's mom barked.
“I'm aware.” Her father glanced up and then back down. “What do you need me to do for you? You need me to grab some clothes? A cheeseburger?”
“I want to go home.” Tears filled her eyes. “Can I go home, seeing that nothing’s broken?”
“I don't think so, sweetheart. I'm pretty sure they want to keep you for observation tonight at least. That bump to your head was bad.” He brushed her hair back again and stood to his full height. “I'm going to get these two back home, but I'll come see you if you don't get out tomorrow. If you need anything, all you have to do is call; you know that, right?”
“She has Alex, honey. Stop acting like she's a child. She isn't.” Jamie's mother walked to the door with Christine beside her.
A chill ran through Jamie at the dark circles under Christine's once-vibrant eyes. Her hair was stringy and looked like it needed to be washed several days before. She was beyond depressed.
It wasn't Stephen who needed help. It was Christine.
“Alright, we're going to go.” Her dad moved toward the door as her mom let out a quick 'oh!'
“You guys grab the car, and I'll meet you out front.” Her mom pushed them out the door before turning back to Jamie. “What's going on with the baby? Did you find out for sure that you're pregnant?”
“Yes, Mom. I told Dad to tell you.” Jamie pressed the button that caused the bed to move up to an almost sitting position. “Didn’t he tell you?”
“He did, but I didn’t know if it was a lie to seal the deal with Alex. I don’t know how you think.” She stared at Jamie and finally rolled her eyes. “Well, you'd better start taking better care of yourself. I had three miscarriages before you, and most of my pregnancy was spent on my back in a bed.” She let out an angry sound. “You'll lose that baby if you don't want it. And Alex, too.”
“Great, thanks for the pep talk.” Jamie closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pounding in her head. Why would Alex think it was okay to leave her with her crazy family? He probably just wanted to escape as badly as she did.
“Fine. Ignore me,” her mother scoffed, “but don't think I won't tell you that I told you so.”
Jamie sighed and opened her eyes. “Mom, it's not that. What am I supposed to do with the information you're giving me? I'm going to be careful from here on out.” She wanted to shake her head but was scared it would make her headache worse. “But knowing that you had miscarriages only scares me.” Jamie tried to keep her voice even.
“It should. It's a scary situation!” Her mother's eyes widened. She would have been such a beautiful woman if she hadn't been so ugly in spirit. Such a needy, bitchy personality to contend with. “Anyways, I need to get back to your father. You know he's been having chest pains? I keep telling him that a man his age and as far out of shape as he is should have things checked out. He's probably knocking on death's door.”
“Mom. Jeez.” Jamie ran her hand through her hair, bumping the knot on the top of her head and letting out a soft yelp.
“What? I'm serious. All I need is for him to keel over in the middle of the night. Can you imagine the horror of waking up next to a corpse?” She shivered and pulled at her purse strap. “Just gross.”
“Please tell me that you didn't say this stuff to him.” Jamie crossed her hands over her stomach and tried to hold back the ass-chewing that pressed against the back of her teeth.
“Of course I did. I'm his wife. Why in the world wouldn't I try to help him? Maybe my encouragements could help push him toward seeking help before it's too late. You don't know. Maybe something I've said to you today will sink in, though I doubt it.”
“Yeah, maybe.” Jamie pressed the button for the nurse on the side of the bed. “I'm going to try to rest now. I'd be careful what you say to Dad, Mom. You guys just started working things out again before Christmas. I would imagine his ego is a little unsteady.” He’d been ready to walk again not that long ago. Jamie wouldn’t blame him if he did.
“Of course it is. It always has been.” She turned on her heel and walked to the door. “I'm leaving, by the way. No need to have your mother ejected from the hospital. Rude. Just plain disrespectful.”
“What are you talking about?” Jamie lifted her eyebrow as her mother glanced over her shoulder.