Protecting You (The Boston irkpatricks #1) (13 page)

The nurse interrupted me, “Mr. Kirkpatrick, Joella’s family is here. They’re asking for you. They are in the waiting room.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll be back sweetie,” I said as I kissed her hand.

I was worn out and exhausted, but I needed to be strong for Joella.

I met her parents, sister and brother in law in the waiting room. They came in a hurry, so they left Sarah’s daughter Becky with Joella’s aunt.

They thanked me for everything and offered to pay me back. I told them not to worry and whatever they needed was on me.

So much has happened in so little time. My life has changed completely. My only wish is that I get through the next 2 days in one piece.

***

I refuse to leave the hospital until I know Joella is going to be okay. I have been here for twenty-four hours now. Joella’s family left a couple hours ago to get some sleep. They are traumatized and exhausted from traveling. I told them I would call them the minute she woke up.

The doctor’s took her off the medication a few hours ago. They said it depends on her when she wakes up. Her brain function looks good and her blood pressure is back up. They did warn me that they can’t tell me when she will wake up. They said it could take hours, days, weeks, months. All I know is that however long it takes, I will still be here waiting.

The nurse came in the room to get me.

“Mr. Kirkpatrick, there is someone in the waiting room to see you.”

“Thanks Deborah.”

I walked down the hall to the waiting room. I felt do disconnected from the outside
world. I just wanted to sit by her bed. I was afraid she would wake up and I would be gone. My heart was broken.

I turned in the room and it was like seeing a ghost. He is standing right before my eyes. It is so cryptic because I buried him, but come to find out it was an empty casket.

“I’m supposed to be the dead one,” Connor said standing up to greet me.

“The woman I love is fighting for her life and could possibly die for real.”

“I’m sorry, bro, for everything.”

“Sorry can’t change the fact that I cried nights for you… my baby brother gone. I
loved you. I trusted you, but you didn’t trust me enough to tell me anything that was going on in your life. Then you go and fake your death. Did you care how Ma feels? She hasn’t been the same since. Does she know yet? Are you going to tell her?”

“I was hoping you can tell her first so she’s not in shock when she sees me.”

“She’s gonna be in shock either way. Why don’t you have Mike break the news, it hurts less,” I said sarcastically.

“I deserve that. Can you forgive me Bren? I didn’t want to hurt you, but I needed to do this to get my life together. Roxy was ruining it and she wasn’t even my girlfriend.
She would come by the club and seduce me. She would give me gambling money and I ended up screwing her one night. One night was all it took and she owned my life and then she destroyed poor Billy’s”

“Well he’s a piece of shit too.”

“He’s really not.”

“I’ve seen him in action. Yes he is. Fuck him. Did you know Ma has Callie?’

“I heard. Jeremy told me.”

“So you’ve talked to him.”

“Yes. Roxy’s going away for a long time.”

“Thank
Gawd
. She can rot in hell for all I care.”

“I’m going to adopt Callie and take her back to Louisiana.”

“You’re going back? You’re going to come back into our lives and leave.”

Connor sat there in silence. I know I was angry, but I had every right to be. I love him so much and I lived in pain and agony for six years.

“Come here, man. Just come here.” I hugged him so tight. I didn’t want to let go. I was grateful to have this opportunity. I have to get past the hurt and live for the future. This made me think of Joella.

“I’ll always be there for you. You can trust me with anything. I always have your back,
bro, always,” I said to him as I patted his back.

“I love you Bren. Oh and Mike said he’ll buy the club from you. I know you were only keeping it because of me. You’re not really the stripper bar type.”

“You think. I’ve been in agony. It’s his.”

“Great. What about Billy we have to get him out?”

“How can you defend him? He’s nuts.”

“He needs rehab. We can’t abandon him… he’s family,” Connor insisted.

“He covered your death for a stripper.”

“I’m not dead!!”

“He doesn’t know that.”

“I should go haunt him in the jail cell.”

“That would be fucking funny.”

We laughed together like old times. I was so happy to have my baby brother back.

As we were re-bonding the nurse came running into the room. “Mr. Kirkpatrick, come right away. It’s Joella.”

My mind started racing. Was she gone? Was she awake? I told Connor I had to go. I ran out of the room and down the hall to meet my destiny.

Chapter Twenty Three

Joella

I can hear muffled sounds. I can feel his touch. I’m trying to find my way back. My body is so relaxed. I can’t move right now. I hope he understands.

I dreamt of Roger. He took me in his arms and told me it was going to be okay. I asked him if I should continue on the force. He said he would watch over me. He also said it was time for me to re-open my heart and soul again. He kissed my cheek and told me to go back to my soul mate.

“Everything happens for a reason. The heart knows no boundaries,” he said.

“I miss you every day.” I said.

“I’m okay. You need to live your life.”

“I love you, Roger.”

“I’ll love you always!”

Then I woke up…

Chapter Twenty Four

Brendan

“What’s going on?”

“She’s showing signs of movement. She moved her fingers. Maybe if you talk to her… She can hear you,” the nurse said.

I ran to her bed side. I gave the nurse her mother’s cell phone number to call her family to come down to the hospital.

I intertwined our fingers together. Her fingers were so long and thin. They were beautiful just like her.

“Can you hear me, sweetie? Move your fingers if you can.”

Her fingers moved. I wanted to cry. This was a good sign. The nurse said to talk to her.

“I miss holding you. I wish I was really Superman right now because I would make you better.”

I knew she wasn’t going to jump up and talk to me, but I was hopeful. I know that she is a fighter and is probably thinking about her
reports and closing the case. I laughed at the thought.

The nurse came in to take her vitals.

“How is she?’ I asked.

“Looking good.”

“How long does the medicine take to wear off?”

“Well, it depends on the person, but usually six hours. Think about if you were to have surgery and you were getting put to sleep, you would have a recovery period. Hers would be longer because she has so much more medicine in her than a normal surgery.”

“Thanks Deborah it helps.”

“If I had a cutie waiting for me, you better believe I’d be trying everything in my power to wake up.”

“Thanks, I needed that laugh.”

“You have to have faith.”

I put my head down on the bed and held her hand.

“Joella, come back to me please. I’m here waiting for you and so is everyone else.”

I just sat there for a while thinking. The nurse came back in.

“Brendan, her family is here.”

“Thanks, I’ll be right out.”

I made my way to the hallway. Just her mom and dad were here.

“How is she?” Joella’s mom asked me.

“She moved her fingers, which is a good sign.”

“I’m gonna go in the room and see her.”

“Let’s walk and talk,” Tom said. “I understand she is going to be moving in with you.”

“Yes, she agreed yesterday morning before the incident.”

“Do you love her?”

“Yes, I do.”

“I’m assuming you know our relationship with Joella has been sort of rough. She chose to run away instead of dealing with the issues. We didn’t want her to join the Police force. She did anyway. She was in law school and Roger convinced her to become a cop.”

“Mr. Soriano, knowing Joella, I don’t think anyone can convince her to do anything she doesn’t want to do and if she has to do it, she won’t be too happy.”

I thought about her having to become a stripper, dancing lessons and me buying her a car.

“We miss her very much, but we want her safe. We want her to move back to Philadelphia.”

“That’s not going to happen. Her life is here with me.”

“I understand that you think you love my daughter, but you live a dangerous life. You own a strip club and you got my daughter shot.”

“You don’t know anything about me. Do you know I donate my money to poor inner city kids? I feed the homeless during my holidays. I bring toys to the sick kids at hospitals. I don’t need to tell anybody what I do and I don’t need to explain myself to you.
And by the way, I sold the club tonight and it was never really mine to being with. I was running it for my brother while he was away, and for the record, I do love Joella.”

Tom stood there silent. I know I snapped on him, but come on, don’t tell me who or what I am. I can see why Joella is angry with her family. They don’t understand her, or should I say choose to understand her.

“I can see you’re a good guy, but my daughter is not safe with you.”

“Listen, don’t tell me that she is not safe with me. I’m hurting enough. If I could switch places, I would. I wish I was the one who was shot, not her.

“Tuesday, she had a nightmare that I was shot. She woke up distraught.”

“This is out of control. I’m going to demand that she quits the force.”

Yeah, that’s gonna go over well. This guy is an asshole.

“You will not go in there upsetting her when she wakes up. I will have you thrown out so fast. Joella can make her own decisions. Why don’t you try loving her and listening to what she wants for a change. I’m going to see if she’s okay.”

“I’m sorry. I just need someone to blame,” he said. You’re right. When I received the call about Joella, my biggest fears came true since she started.”

“You have to let her decide, but going in there yelling and screaming isn’t going to make it better. I don’t want her to go back to work, but I can’t tell her what to do. I’ll talk to her, but she makes the ultimate decision. You need to just be there for her and support her.”

“I’m just scared she’s not going to wake up.”

“I’m scared too, but she’s determined. We will all get through this together.”

“I’m glad she met you. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. You’re hurting too. I know what that feels like. Come on let’s get back.”

The nurse sent Joella’s dad in with her mom. I sat in the chair outside the room thinking about her. I needed to go for a walk. I felt okay knowing she wasn’t alone. I decided to go to the chapel first and pray. I was an Irish Catholic and that is what we did in these types of situations. I also lit a candle for her. I stopped and picked up some coffee and donuts at the cafeteria. I brought them back up to the floor for the nurses and her parents.

There was so much chaos going on when I arrived back. Joella’s parents were still in
the room. There was a nurse sitting at the station.

“What’s going on?” I asked

“Joella opened her eyes.”

“She did?”

“Yes.”

I’m so relieved. I just wish I was with her when it happened.

“Can I go in the room? I know only two people can go in at one time, but I need to see her.”

“Sure. Follow me.”

I walked into the room, not knowing what to expect. I have been waiting for this moment. She was lying in the bed propped up. Her eyes were open and she was awake, but she couldn’t speak. It was probably because of the tubes that were in her throat. She was probably sore.

When she saw me, she smiled. She tried to life her hand to motion me over, but she was still weak. Her left arm was in a sling.

“It’s okay, sweetie. I’m coming to you.”

I grabbed her hand and kissed it. Her parents and the nurses looked on at our connection.

“I’m so happy, you’re awake. I’m never leaving your side ever again. I love you.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. I wiped them away.

“Don’t cry.”

Doctor Mansfield came into the room. He shook my hand. I introduced him to her parents.

“Well, this is a good sign. I just want to check her over. If all looks good, we can move her into a regular room. She will be in here for another week or so. I want her to be one hundred percent before I release her. I’m just going to ask everyone to leave the room.”

We all left single file out of the room. I felt a sense of relief. I called everyone to let them
know she was awake. They were all happy to hear the news.

My fear was that she wouldn’t remember me when she woke up. Even though she couldn’t speak, when we looked into each other’s eyes it was as if no time had passed between us.

I feel very lucky to have Joella and I’m going to love her every minute of every day that we are together. We may have a tough road ahead of us, but as long as we compromise and work together, we can make anything happen.