Page 8 of Dark Therapy
Wonderful care…I feel relieved and blessed to have Bright Oaks Park…I wish I had done this sooner…
He sat back. Should he email this to Lara and underscore what he’d told her?
No. She wasn’t ready. He wished…
His phone rang. “Romano.”
“H-hi, Joe.” The voice was shaky. “This is Maisy Kane.”
“Hi, Maisy.”
“I’m at the hospital. There’s been an accident.” He bolted out of his chair. “Jackson was hurt.”
“How badly?”
“He’s unconscious. The doctors are worried because he’s been out for a while.”
She should have called him sooner.
“I’ll be right there, Maisy.”
His heart thrumming, he drove fast to Westwood Hospital. Memories of losing Jimmy came back along with an onslaught of pain. He couldn’t lose the man who was his brother now, too.
The hospital waiting room was sparsely populated. He checked his watch. 5 p.m. Maisy wasn’t here, of course. She was probably in his room. He went to the desk. “Jackson Kane’s room?”
The receptionist called something up on the computer. “He’s in ICU. Only family is allowed up there.”
“I’m his brother.” She did a double take, then nodded. “The waiting room is on the fifth floor.”
Joe took the elevator up, his stomach aching from this gut-punch. The ICU waiting room was small. He gave his information to the man at the desk.
“Go on in.”
When he reached the room, he stood in the doorway. Maisy sat by Jackson’s bed, holding his hand. His friend lay still as death. He walked further inside and Maisy looked up.
She stood. “Hey, Joe.”
For the first time, Maisy seemed vulnerable. Usually she was a force to be reckoned with.
He hugged her and she held on.
“I don’t know what I’ll do…”
“Hey, none of that. He’s going to wake up.” He had to.
“Can I sit with him for a bit?”
“I was hoping you would. I’m barely three months pregnant but I have to pee every hour.”
“Go ahead, honey.” He kissed her head.
Joe sat in a straight chair by the bed. He, too, took Jackson’s hand. It was cold. His friend was pale. He lay still in the bed. Joe bent his head. “Jackson. Come on, buddy, you gotta wake up. I can’t…” He trailed off. Felt his eyes moisten. And hung on.
He became aware of his circumstances when Maisy walked back in the room. “Joe? Sorry. I took too long.”
“No, no you didn’t.”
“My brother’s here. I sat with him for a while. When I told him you were inside, he said he wanted to talk to you. He can be very…comforting.”
