Page 24 of Summer Affair

“Can I see her?” his mother asked.

“We’ll be moving her soon,” the nurse said, nodding. “But one of you can head back until we move her to a private room.”

“Go,” he said and kissed his mother’s cheek. “I’ll be head up when she gets a room.”

His mother disappeared with the nurse and for a moment he felt a small sense of relief. But it was short-lived. Not long after, a familiar and unwelcome figure entered the waiting room—Luke. Shit. He didn’t want to deal with the man now. How the hell did he even know Sophia was here? They couldn’t have been here more than an hour.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Dean groaned, stepping in front of the double doors that led back to where Sophia was.

“Your mother called me. She told me that she was taking Sophia here. I need to see her,” Luke said, his voice slurring slightly as if he’d been drinking. “She’s my wife.” He tried to pass him.

“Ex-wife,” Dean corrected, instantly upset that his mother would have called the man. “You lost the right to demand anything as far as my sister is concerned.”

Luke’s eyes flashed with anger. “She needs me.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Dean shot back. “She has us, her family. You’re not part of that anymore.”

Luke took a step forward, his face contorted with rage. “You think you can keep me away? You’re nothing, Dean. You couldn’t protect her then, and you can’t protect her now.”

Just then a woman in a tight red dress strolled in and, seeing the two of them, she walked over to sling her arm through Luke’s.

Dean felt his own anger rising. “Get out of here, Luke. You’re not welcome.”

Luke threw off the woman’s arm and shoved Dean, causing him to stumble back. “I’m not going anywhere!” he shouted as several people in the waiting area gasped and looked on.

Before Dean could react, Luke swung his fist, landing a punch squarely on his jaw. The force of the blow sent him sprawling to the floor, and chaos erupted in the waiting room. Nurses and security personnel rushed in, pulling Luke away as he struggled and shouted. The woman, who was obviously with him, stood by looking slightly amused.

His mother reappeared and cried out, “Has someone called the police?” as she knelt beside him.

Within minutes, the police arrived, and Luke was handcuffed and led away, still shouting obscenities. His new woman had apparently disappeared during the chaos.

Another hour later, Dean sat in the waiting area with an ice pack held on his jaw.

“Are you okay?” his mother asked him again, her voice trembling.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he groaned. “Why’d you call him?”

His mother sighed. “Sophia asked me to call him whenever something happened to her. She…I’m not sure she remembers they’re divorced. Sometimes her mind slips.” She shook her head. “It’s all the drugs she has to be on. They mess with her.”

“Next time she asks you to call him, call me and pretend it’s him,” Dean suggested. His mother nodded slightly. “Go.” He took her hand in his. “I’m fine. Go back and be with Sophia.”

She nodded as a police officer approached them. “We’ll be filing charges against him for assault since there were several others who witnessed the altercation. Are you willing to press charges?” he asked Dean.

Dean nodded. “Absolutely. He can’t keep doing this.”

“All right,” the officer said, and then he sat next to him to take his statement while his mother headed back to be with his sister.

After the police left, Dean followed his mother up to the top floor, where Sophia had a private room. His sister looked fragile in the hospital bed, but she managed a weak smile when she saw them.

“Hey,” he said softly, sitting beside her and taking her hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” Sophia whispered. “But better now that you’re here.” She glanced towards the door. “Where’s Luke?”

Dean squeezed her hand gently. “We’re here for you.”

“He’s my husband,” she said, her eyes foggy and unfocused.

“Not anymore,” he pointed out.