Page 57 of Road to Absolution

“Wow, you sure don’t smile when your lovely wife isn’t around.”

Ya think? “She went home for some rest.” To stay with men who are actually worth a damn. My inner dialogue was even pissing me off. Bitter? Party of one? Your table is now available.

Walking out the door, she said, “Oh, good. Rest. That way she won’t have to be admitted again.”

The door shut.

“What?” Lilah was in the hospital? Is there anything else I need to learn about my wife, JB?

Angry, I went to grab my cell phone to bitch out Tuck, because someone had to be my whipping post until I remembered my cell burned along with my truck, my career, my wife’s safety, my legs, my ability to write… “Fuuuuck!”

The door opened, making me practically jump out of bed with my bundle of nerves.

Noticing, Scorch inquired, “You good?”

I slammed my hands to my head, which hurt. God, help me. “No. I feel like I’m losing my shit. I have no money. No phone. My hand—” I shut up.

“Your hand what?”

I tried not to be rude but was dismissive. “I think I just need rest.”

He dipped his chin and shut the door.

The nurse eventually returned with water and pudding, then went about her shift.

Eating my chocolate goodness, I was relieved I could hold the spoon and properly get it to my mouth. Holding the pencil hadn’t felt foreign, either. It was how I couldn’t get the words in my head onto the paper.

A complete disconnect.

Just like the wires coming out of the top of my shirt, the wires from my hand to my brain were somehow crossed.

With heavy concerns, I sat there in a silence that was making me a tad crazy. I didn’t want to be alone but didn’t want to call anyone, out of fear they would worry and not focus on my wife.

When the door opened, yet-a-fucking-gain, I was about to yell but then saw Scorch with a wheelchair and a trouble-eating grin. “Let’s roll.”

Like a kid about to get his first trip to a playground, I ripped the heart pads from my chest and threw them to the floor. Awkwardly, and shakily, I got out of the bed and into my freedom on wheels. “We can’t dilly-dally,” I warned, “Nurse Pain-in-the-ass will be here any second.”

Spinning the chair and rushing toward the door, Scorch promised, “I got ‘chu.”

I had no idea where we were headed, nor did I give two shits—not that I could shit yet.

As soon as I opened the door, there was the nurse. “Maverick, where do you think—”

Scorch rolled past her. “Just taking five. No need for security.”

Heading down a hallway, a male nurse tilted his head. “Umm, I don’t think—”

“That you want a fat lip?” Scorch didn’t slow down my ride.

The nurse raised his hands. “I’m good. Have a great evening.”

Rolling us into a huge elevator, Scorch mumbled to the nurse who was no longer near us, “I ain’t takin’ him on a date.” Then he pushed a button.

Doors rolled shut. We moved. Up.

“Scorch, can you tell me if Art is some ugly dude?”

“Sure. He’s an old creepy biker.”