Ding Dong!! Is She Dead? (20 page)

J.D. had gotten updates from the nurses, but seeing Mike’s condition was much different than having it described over the phone.

“So what took you so long? I was beginning to think that you had left me here to rot.” Mike joked at J.D. “When can I get out of here?”

“Well, Bubba, the doctor told me that you have some serious internal issues because of your broken ribs. It tore up some of your intestines and it will take a while before you can get back on your feet. From what they told me, it looks like you will sent to a rehab facility for a week or two for extended care since you had no recollection of family or the accident. Seriously dude this might just be the best way to let the heat die down until you are able to complete what you started. Everyone is on such alert that if you tried to step into the county, you would be turned in before you could park the car.”

“So you are going to just abandon me here to whatever the doctors want? What if they decided that I need to go home? What will I do then?”

J.D. wasn’t sure how to respond, he really didn’t want to be on Mike’s bad side, but if he continued to help Mike, his career could be in jeopardy. “When they are ready to have you leave, I’ve told them that they can contact me and I will make sure that you have some where to go. I won’t abandon you, but I have to watch leaving unexpectedly because that is one thing they are keeping tabs on. They are certain that you have someone helping and it won’t do either one of us any good if we are both thrown into jail.”

“I think that I can come back this weekend while the wife goes shopping and that way I can account for my whereabouts. I got us both a new burner phone, so call me if they are going to release you early and I will see if I can get away to come get you. Is there anything that you need before the end of the week?”

“Clothes would nice; I don’t see myself leaving in a hospital gown. Also, see if there is some way that I could get a private nurse to watch over me instead of going to some rehab center. I am nowhere near old enough to be in one of those places.” Mike didn’t want to be mean, but having been in a place where no one knew him was starting to get on his nerves.

Having been to the big city for certain occasions was okay, but on a permanent basis was not what Mike had ever planned. That was why instead of losing himself in the crowds he had chosen to go as deep into the lake country as possible.

“Sure, Bubba, I can work something out, but I don’t have a lot of cash to set someone up as your nurse.” J.D. didn’t have a problem with getting him out, but private nursing could become quite expensive and there was no way that a large sum of money wouldn’t be noticed by his wife. Unlike Mike’s marital situation, J.D.’ wife balanced the checkbook and did the shopping. J.D. had finished high school, but had never really wanted to go to college and finances were not really something that he could ever figure out.

Mike contemplated the best way for J.D. to get some cash for him. He didn’t want to give away too many secrets in case he had to disappear quickly.

“If you go behind my house and dig up the rosebush that is beside the shed, you will find a metal box that has some cash in it. It should be enough to get me a room at that extended stay place at the edge of town here. Plus enough to give the nurse something upfront and then when I leave I just won’t pay her and let her deal with it. This way she will feel secure in working for us, since we paid her something to start with.”

J.D. figured that he could take a little walk after the wife was in bed and recover the money that they needed. “I think that should work out, but you need to find out who could be your nurse, because if I start asking around that will cause lots of problems there in town. It needs to be someone from around here.”

Patting Mike on the shoulder, J.D. turned to leave as Mike spoke, “J.D. if I find out that you have betrayed me in any way, just know that I will come find you and your family while you are sleeping. Don’t think that you can take that money and leave me here. Even hurt I will be your worst nightmare. Just a friendly warning to think about in case you had any ideas.”

J.D. nodded his acceptance and hurried to leave before Mike could add anything to threat. He just hoped that Mike would get better soon or even have complications that would kill him naturally. J.D. didn’t have the guts to do it his self, but if Mike was free then nobody was safe from his vengeance.

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When Justin got back with their food, Allie was relieved that he focused on the food in his hands instead of starting those questions that he wanted to discuss.

He handed her the drinks, “Should we eat at the bar or sit at the coffee table, because I am ready to dig in?” Justin handed her the drinks, unsure which was more comfortable since he didn’t have a dining room table set up.

“Coffee table because I have issues with balance. I have been known to fall off a bar stool before and no I don’t know how it happened it just did. I am really good with stuff like that. If it’s going to happen it will happen to me. It’s just the law of physics in my life.”

Allie headed toward the coffee table and sat the cup holder in the center of the table. She slid down the couch to the floor getting comfortable so that she would have something sturdy to sit on. She had never fallen off the floor before, so that seemed like the safest place.

Setting the food down on the table, he took the spot across from her and started opening up the food containers.

“Yea, you got chips and salsa. I love to eat salsa, but here in Texas it is always so hot that I can rarely stand it. Chili’s is one of the few places that keep it mild.” Allie thought that giving tidbits of information up from might keep him from probing further.

Justin wasn’t one to be deterred, yet he decided to take what she was offering and keep it light. “So you are one of those Yankees huh?”

“Yes, I lived in New York State for many years and was a foster child. I got to see all sorts of family situations over the years. I think the longest I stayed in one home was about two years. Total times so far that I have moved is about thirty, adulthood included. I have been in Texas for almost two years now and it is kind of growing on me.”

“What made you decide to come to Texas?” Justin couldn’t imagine leaving everything that he knew and heading to a completely different part of the country with friends or family.

“Well, you know that game you play when you are kids, where you spin the globe and see where you land?” At Justin’s nod, she continued. “I had a map and was throwing darts to see where I landed. I had no real ties up there and wanted to try something new.” Allie shrugged, like it was no big deal to move and start over.

“The furthest I’ve been from this area was when I was in college at UT in Austin. The first semester I came home a lot, but once I got adjusted and made new friends it was easier to stay there. By the summer I had a job in town and wasn’t able to come home nearly as often.”

“I’ll bet G.G. hated that.” Allie knew that they had a close knit family.

“When I stayed that summer, she contemplated renting an apartment because I was her baby and she didn’t want to lose me. I know that it was hard on her, but she decided that if I was going to be any kind of adult that she would have to cut the apron strings. She did manage to come visit at least once a month so that she could cook for me. I do know how to do my own laundry and take care of myself. That is why when I came back and decided to help dad manage the ranch that I needed a place to stay that wasn’t at the house. I would have been lovingly smothered.”

“I wish that I had known my family, but mom and dad were killed in a car crash when I was one. As far as could be determined there were no relatives that could take me or that wanted me. I went into the system and at eighteen was put out on my own. I had some scholarships from my grades and was able to attend a local Jr. College to get my associates degree.”

“Now, I’m curious what did you get your degree in?” Justin understood more about her issues with commitment each time she gave a little more information about herself.

“It’s a degree in business management. I had planned to try and start a business eventually, but I was trying to make ends meet and decide what type of establishment I really thought the area needed. I met Ms. Pat at the sports store and she got me started in Nova. I work less now than I did and all of the sales that I do, I make full commission on. It has been very nice to meet new people and really get to know them. I’ve only been doing it for two months, but I have established a routine that seems to be working. The next step is to really grow a team and train them how to work their business and make it successful.”

“I’m still not sure what exactly I want to do with my whole life, but since all of this has happened it has made me think about the possibilities this business holds. I mean Nova gives women a chance to get back on their feet and realize that they are worth something. Not just what others say they are worth, but they develop confidence that lets the world see their potential. I want to be a part of changing lives so women can become independent without having to rely on a man.” Allie looked over to see Justin’s reaction to her comments, only to find him laughing at her.

“What’s so funny?” Allie asked, but was uncertain that she wanted the answer.

“Here you say that you don’t know what you want to do, but then you have a list with points and sub-points and everything. I think that helping other women that are in situations like Megan or even those that are looking for a way to make ends meet is a wonderful idea.” He reached across the table and took Allie’s hand.

“I also find the idea of an independent woman to be very sexy. Do you know where I might find one of those women around?”

Allie just rolled her eyes, “Whatever!”

“Really Allie the idea that you could support yourself apart from a relationship is not a bad thing. I know some liberated women that take it too far, but when you make a commitment to each other you should be on equal ground. By having a job, a woman is able to fulfill parts of her that a spouse is just not able to provide for. I could tell you that you are amazing all day, but when you hear that from your colleagues and coworkers it means more because they are trying to do the same job that you are excelling at.”

“Well, amazing is something that will take a lot more work than what I am doing now. You really don’t have a problem with your girlfriend having a career, even if she might make more than you do?”

“No, silly. My ego might have a little problem adjusting, but in the long run that means that I picked someone that I could relate to. An independent woman might be able to keep up with me and keep me on my toes. I want someone that I can respect and who will respect me. If not then there really isn’t a common ground to base a relationship off of except for sex. Most of those relationships don’t last very long. When I finally decide to get married I want the whole shebang. Fifty plus years or until death part you from your partner. Scare you, yet?”

Shaking her head no, Allie just sat there thinking about what he was getting at. He wasn’t just trying to get in her pants; he was talking about a full, long term relationship, white picket fence and all.

“Are you telling me that you are serious about us starting that kind of relationship? Lasting fifty years?” Allie thought, if I wasn’t scared before I am now.

“I’m not asking you to marry me right now, so no. I would like to see where this will go and if you could handle hanging out with me for the next fifty years or so?” Justin didn’t want to put pressure on her, but just to plant the idea in her head so that she would think about it.

“Don’t answer now, give it a couple of days to think about it and let’s see where we stand then, okay?” He breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded.

They cleaned up after dinner and headed back to the ranch since there was safety in numbers and it would be harder for anything to happen when everyone was on alert.

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That night Allie lay there trying to fall asleep listening to Justin’s steady breathing, they hadn’t even talked about the fact Allie might not need a sleeping buddy. He had just come in and crawled into bed without saying anything that might be construed as an advance on her virtue.

Realizing that he had more self-control that most of the men she had met in her entire life, Allie felt safe with him. The whole idea of someone not only being interested, but wanting a long term relationship didn’t seem as crazy as it would have even a few days ago. Judging from how Justin treated his mother and family it seemed that there might be more to the man than that first impression. Allie didn’t think that families who cared about each were real except in the movies, but now that she had had time to watch this family in action, she knew they could even be better than anything on T.V.

Justin was willing to get to know her slowly without rushing her. He hadn’t shown any signs of violence. In fact everything that he did was just the opposite. If he could take care of her when there was nothing in it for him, then what would he be like once they actually did something?

Allie had always had to watch out for herself because there was no one else that would take care of her when things went wrong. It might take a while to let her guard down enough to let Justin in. Not wanting to get her hopes up, she was willing to give it a try. If he could be patient with her intimacy issues, he just might be worth keeping around. Allie drifted off with thoughts of how to let him know what she had decided.