Finding My Forever (29 page)

“I’ve missed that.”

I’ll never stop.

Before I can find a way to get her into my bed so I can show her how much I love her, the doctor walks in. I hate that Jenna has to move aside, but all the machines are right there and that’s where he needs to be.

“How are you feeling, Jimmy?”

Does he expect me to grunt my answer? Does he want me to act like a bloody zombie? Because I can. That’s what I feel like – like I’ve been run over repeatedly.

“We’re going to take you down for an x-ray now. We usually do them here, but getting your wife to leave the room is a bit of a hassle.”

I try to shrug, but fail miserably. I’m not gonna lie, knowing she was here the whole time makes me love her even more.

“Here,” Jenna says, placing a piece of paper in my hand. I bring it up to my eyes and warmth surges through me. It’s my Little One and I don’t give a shit that in that picture, she looks like an alien life form. I know she’s growing inside of Jenna and ready to make her debut. I place the picture on my chest and squeeze Jenna’s hand as the nurse starts moving my bed.

I attempt my half-arsed smile at her. She loves me. I wink, which makes her giggle. Yeah I need to get the fuck out of this bed, and fast.

J
IMMY’S
been having his x-ray for over two hours. I was told they’d be right back and to stay here, but he’s been gone too long. Between my hair pulling, lip chewing and constantly looking at my watch, I’m going crazy. Everyone else is as cool as a cucumber. I’m the only one freaking out. He just woke up and now he’s gone.

Someone from the hospital is a snitch. The press is gathering outside and none of us have contacted them. I watch as they assemble in the space that was designated for them after Jimmy was shot. More fans are starting to show up too. They linger by the bus, waiting for one of the guys to come out and talk to them.

Liam and Harrison have been so accommodating to them. I told Jimmy about the acoustic show, but it’s been more than that. The guys have had catered meals sent out to them and even held a three-hour meet and greet. When I asked them why, they said if they were going to sit outside and wait for word on Jimmy, this was the least they could do. I agreed, but opted to stay inside next to my husband instead of thanking them myself. Maybe when we leave, Jimmy and I can thank them together.

“You should sit down, honey. He’ll be back soon.”

“How do you know?” I ask Brigette. When Jimmy’s dad and his ex-girlfriend showed up pregnant, I thought she was going to come unglued. But she’s held strong and kept her head held high. Whatever James did to her, it doesn’t show.

“James, what did you do?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Brigette.” I watch them, back and forth. James is smug and uncaring. I can tell by his tone. I look at the woman in the doorway. Her face flashes before my eyes. I’ve seen her so many times in the articles about the band. I was a fan of 4225 West long before I knew that Liam was Noah’s dad. I’d buy every magazine just to read the newest gossip and she’d been in there. They were engaged. I knew that.

I look back at my sleeping husband and pray that he wakes up soon. I’m not mad that she’s here, but curious. And what does James have to do with her?

Brigette doesn’t seem to want to answer James and he’s not offering up any information. I’m so confused and tired. I just want everyone to leave.

“What are you doing here?” I ask her. I wish I could remember her name, but for the life of me I can’t. Jimmy never talks about her and I don’t ask. We have exes for a reason.

“I’m here because of Jimmy.”

“He doesn’t want you here,” I put forth.

She scoffs and throws her hair over her shoulder. “Yes he does.”

I shake my head. “He doesn’t.”

“She’s right, Chelsea,” Harrison adds.

Chelsea – that’s right – either he or Liam said it before when she showed up. Chelsea. The rag mags never did say why they broke up, not that it matters anymore.

“You’re pregnant?” she asks. I want to say no shit, but I nod. It’s clear that I am. “Who’s the father?”

“Oh, for crying out loud, Chelsea. Jimmy is the father, you silly girl.” Brigette throws her hands up in the air. “Why did you bring her here James?”

“What makes you think she came with me? Jimmy’s the one who knocked her up.”

My mouth drops. Liam stands and Harrison yells out, “Bullshit.”

“Excuse me?” James says.

This is a back and forth tennis match, all taking place while my husband’s in a coma. It’s a stupid soap opera.

“Jenna, look at me.”

I do as Harrison commands.

“JD did
not
knock her up. She’s trying to pin it on Jimmy, but he thinks his dad is the father of her baby.”

“How does he know?” I ask, quietly lacking the confidence that I need to assert myself here.

“Because when he was home, she moved into JD’s apartment, but he told her that he didn’t want her and that he didn’t think the baby was his. He saw Chelsea and his father at a café have a tête-à-tête right before he left.” Harrison looks at James. “He saw his father kiss his ex-fiancé and place his hands on her stomach.”

“How do you know about this, Harrison?” Brigette asks.

“He came and told me. He was freaking out a bit because he had left Jenna alone and was in LA dealing with Chelsea when he should’ve been in Beaumont.”

“I damn well knew it, James. My God, what kind of lowlife man are you to sleep with your son’s ex? I mean, seriously. And you, you’re a disgusting piece of work. After everything you did to Jimmy. No wonder he calls you a leech.”

“Wow,” I say.

“This is why JD didn’t want you to know his dad,” Liam adds.

“Hey now –”

“No, James you don’t get to make excuses for your behaviour. I wish I could say I regret sending him to you, but he met the boys and his wife so it must’ve been for the best.”

“I’m happy you’re here, Brigette.”

“Me too. I just wish we didn’t meet like this. I’m worried I’m going to outlast my welcome and you won’t want me around when the baby is born.”

“Nonsense,” I say, pulling her into my arms. She’s been a comfort to have here. My mom wanted to come, but I told her it was okay to stay home. I kept her updated daily and told her if I needed her, I’d call, but with Liam, Harrison and Brigette here twenty-four seven the room is crowded. “Jimmy will be happy that you’re here.”

Brigette moves my hair off my shoulder. “Don’t give him a hard time about Chelsea when he fully wakes. He was in love with her once, a long time ago. He thought she was the one for him, but she put him through hell and back. First with her family and then she cheated on him. I’d never seen him so broken.”

“Is that why he started sowing his wild oats?”

She laughs, but I really don’t want to call my husband a man-whore even though that is what he was.

“I guess you could say that. He very much did play the field, until he met you. I knew the day that you two…well, you know, because when he rang me, he was different. He was happy and talking about moving to Beaumont to be closer to Liam and Harrison. Before, he was adamant that he would stay in LA because he needed to be a free spirit.”

“I’m usually not that type of girl.”

“I know you’re not.”

“What type of girl?” We both turn to Jimmy coming back into the room. His breathing tube has been removed and he’s smiling. Once his bed is in place, I rush over and place my lips on his. He pulls away too quickly for my liking.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I haven’t brushed my teeth in a month, Sweet Lips. I would really like to before you start kissing me again.”

“We can have a nurse come in and give you a sponge bath, Mr. Davis.”

I see red when the doctor suggests that. His mom and I have been the ones bathing him while he was in the coma. I’ll be dead before some nurse comes in to wash him now that he’s awake.

“I’ll do it.”

Jimmy smiles although it doesn’t reach his eyes. He’s tired. I can see it in his face. He’s trying to stay awake to please us. I brush his hair away from his face. He leans into my hand. I hope that I’m bringing him a bit of comfort.

“I’ll repeat what I told you after I read your x-ray. You’ll need to wear the oxygen mask until your levels rise, but can take it off to answer questions. You’re going to feel tired for a while and even though it seems like you’ve been asleep, your body doesn’t realize that. So be patient with your recovery.”

“Thank you,” he says. His voice is hoarse and scratchy. It sounds like he’s been yelling for days on end.

“I’ll leave you to take your bath,” Brigette says, winking at Jimmy as she leaves behind the doctor. I close all the blinds and fill the bucket with warm water.

“You have a couple of scars,” I say, when I come back. I roll down his blankets. I untie the top of his hospital issued nightgown and let it fall open. “They can do plastic surgery if you want them removed, but they’re healing nice.”

Jimmy looks down at his chest and stifles a cry. I gingerly kiss his chest, away from his sutures.

“I look like Frankenstein.”

“You look like my husband.” I set the warm sponge onto his skin. He shivers and as much as I’d love to say it’s because I’m touching him, I know it’s from the cold air. “They had to go in and stop the bleeding. If they hadn’t, we would’ve lost you.” I clean around the cut they made and make my way to the first bullet hole. “He shot you here, Jimmy, while I was watching you perform, while Liam was singing Little One’s song. I saw him in the crowd, but the security guard couldn’t understand what I was saying until he saw the gun. I tried to get to you, but Liam stopped me. He saw you fall to the ground. Harrison carried me away from you.

“The bullet exited here,” I say, as I move to the other side. “Liam held you until the medics arrived. He put his knee on one side and his hand here to stop the bleeding. Days later the medics stopped by and told him if he hadn’t done that they would’ve lost you on the way here. He saved my family.”

I make my way down his body. He looks at me when I drip water over his semi-erect penis.

“I shouldn’t be turned on, but I am.”

I laugh and shake my head.

“The doctor said we can’t have sex for a while.”

“You asked?”

“Yeah, I haven’t been able to please my wifey for a month. I have a lot of catching up to do.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Jimmy.”

“Can I tell you about Chelsea?”

“You don’t have to, Harrison filled me in.”

“I want to.”

“Okay,” I say, sitting down in the hard plastic chair next to his bed. I pick his hand up, careful of the IV and place it to my lips. This is going to be hard for him and the last thing I want is for him to think I’m angry. I’m not. I almost lost my husband. It’s going to take a lot to piss me off these days.

“When I went back to LA, I found out that she had moved into my flat and was spouting all this crap about being pregnant. We had slept together a few days before you and I got married so I thought for one fucked up moment that I had ruined everything with you.

“I was so stupid, Jenna. I had a bad feeling about it straight away, but didn’t leave. I saw Chelsea and my dad together, but couldn’t for the life of me understand why my dad would do that to me. I went and saw him and thought that after I told him about you and Little One, he’d own up but he didn’t.

“I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t want you to think that I cheated on you because I didn’t. From the moment I asked you to marry me, I’ve been yours.”

Tears drip down my face as he tries to pull me closer. I don’t let on that he’s not at full strength yet and move to where he needs me. “I just want to hold you, Jenna.”

He doesn’t know what those words mean to me. It’s not that he wants to hold me, but opening up about his dad and ex means the world to me.

I adjust so I can lie with him easily. I’ve been doing this for a month. I’m a pro now. I rest my head in the crook of his neck and play with the stubble on his chin. It doesn’t escape me that this is what I’ve been waiting for. I’ve needed this moment since the night of the concert and he knows it.