“I’m sure Josslyn will appreciate having you here when she wakes up,” Jackie says, smiling softly. “There are two pull-out couches in the living room area.”
We stay there for a while, before Titus goes to visit Tate and Jackie leaves to get a change of clothes. Hammie calls Dame on video and we speak to him and Coach P briefly. Dame agrees to head out tonight for tomorrow’s game. Olivia says she’ll be back in the morning. And finally, it’s just me and Josslyn. I pull up the chair and take her hand slowly, kissing the back of it and stroking it with my thumb. I lean in closer and move the tips of my fingers softly on her scalp.
“I need you to wake up, baby,” I whisper, swallowing past the knot in my throat. “I miss you too much.”
A loud sound makes me jump out of my sleep and blink. It takes me a second to remember everything—Mallory, the guns, the blood, the hospital. The nurse on the other side of the bed smiles warmly.
“Sorry to wake you. I’m just checking her vitals.”
I drag a hand over my face. “What time is it?”
“Eight,” she says. “I don’t know if you had a chance to look over the menu or explore the suite, but you should find everything you need here. If you need anything else, let me know.” She walks over to the board and writes her name down, Shawnell, and looks at me again. “You know there are two pull-out beds right over there, right? I’m sure they’re more comfortable than that flimsy chair you barely fit in.”
I feel my mouth twitch. “I’m sure they are, but I’ll be staying right here, unless you’re going to let me move her to one of those beds.”
She laughs and shakes her head as she walks away. I stretch my back and look around, surprised to see I’m alone. There are a few flower arrangements in the seating area and a familiar duffel bag next to one of the couches. I sag with relief, silently thanking my cousin for always having my back. At some point while Dame and Olivia were still here, one of the nurses brought me a pair of sweatpants and one of his t-shirts for me to change into. I was grateful to be able to shower and change out of the bloody clothes I was wearing.
Despite the clean clothes, I feel like I need another shower and to change into my own things. I pick up Josslyn’s hand and kiss it softly as I stand up. I kiss her cheek first, and place my forehead against hers.
“Wake up, Josie,” I whisper. “Please.”
Maybe pissing her off will wake her up.
The bathroom looks and smells brand new. I didn’t notice much of it last night when I was trying to hurry up and go right back to Josslyn’s side. The morning brings new hope, though. As I take the clothes off, I look around and wonder if my father is planning to get sick and live out the rest of his days here. Whoever maintains this place thought of everything. There are towels and robes and new toothbrushes and toothpaste.
After I’m finished cleaning up, I stand under the shower spray for a few more seconds. It usually helps me relax. Today, all it does is bring back awful memories. I switch it off and get dressed. I wonder if my sister is alive, and if so, where she is. I’m not sure how I feel about seeing her ever again, but if she survives this, I’ll make sure she ends up in a prison or mental institution.
There’s no doubt in my mind that this too will soon become another skeleton in the Barlow closet, but unlike the times in the past when family members got off with a slap on the wrist, Mallory will answer for what she’s done. If Tate doesn’t survive, she’s fucked anyway. Our last name goes a long way in Fairview, but this was public and there’s no way people will let her forget what she did.
“I ordered breakfast,” Jackie says when I step out of the bathroom and drop my bag by the couch. She hands me a cup of coffee. “I don’t know how you take it, so I didn’t add anything in. There’s sugar and creamer in the bag, though.”
“This is fine. Thank you.” I take a sip and walk over to Josslyn again to touch her hair and her face.
To remind myself that she’s alive and well.
“You really love her,” Jackie says.
“With everything I am.”
“And you were serious about marrying her,” she says.
“One hundred percent,” I say, looking over at her. “And after the whole, ‘next of kin’ thing yesterday, I plan on doing it very soon.”
Jackie laughs and takes a sip of coffee as she takes a seat in the chair on the other side of Josslyn’s bed. I take a seat as well.
“You know, Tate asked her to marry him,” she says, lowering her coffee. My jaw tics. “Not officially,” she adds, “Unofficially. He didn’t give her a ring or anything, though he said he bought one. He must have asked about six times.”
I scowl. “He’s an asshole.”
“He is.” She nods. “He’s alive, by the way. I’m not sure if you care.”
I nod and take another sip of my coffee. I doubt I’ll ever like the guy, but he’s been through a lot—most of it at the hands of my family—so I’m glad he’s alive.
“She always said no to him,” Jackie continues. “Straight up ‘no.’ Not even an ‘I’ll think about it,’” she says, laughing and shaking her head.
My lips purse. “She should’ve never been with him.”
“She probably wouldn’t have if I hadn’t pushed her,” she says, and my eyes snap back to her. “I was raised to seek safety, not butterflies. Josslyn was always reluctant about that. She wanted the butterflies and the fireworks.” Jackie smiles looking at her daughter. “Good for her.”
