Last of the Summer Tomatoes (23 page)

“You’re in the hospital. You’re going to be okay, thank God.”

“What….”

“I’d rather not go into that. Best you don’t remember.” Sam rubbed the back of Kyle’s hand.

Kyle lifted his head a little to take stock. His left hand was wrapped in a bandage, not a cast, so that was a good sign. His right, the one Sam was holding, seemed to have survived unscathed, which, all things considered, made Kyle happy. He was right-handed and to not be able to draw… that would be something he didn’t want to contemplate. He felt a bandage on the side of his head. He lifted his left hand to his head, not wanting to let go of Sam’s hand.

“Hey, take it easy. You tried to break your fall with your left hand, really wrenched your wrist. It’s not broken, but don’t go waving it around.”

“My head….”

“Just a couple of stitches. Nothing to worry about. They didn’t have to shave your head or anything.”

“You?”

“I’m fine. I’m… I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have let you go off alone knowing those assholes where still around.”

“Not… your… fault.”

“Let me deal with my guilt, okay? You worry about getting better. Doc wants to keep you overnight. Mom and Pops have gone back to the farm to get you a change of clothes. I hope it’s okay I stay?”

“Of course….” Kyle wanted to say so much more, that he didn’t want Sam to even stop holding his hand, but nothing else came out. Each heartbeat brought more pain to his eye and jaw.

“You’re looking a lot more pale than usual. You want me to get the doctor?”

“It hurts.”

“You want more pain killers? They’ve changed the meds a little so you don’t go into such a deep sleep, but they should still work.”

“Yeah, please.”

Sam moved his hand, placing a round plastic tube in his hand. “Here, press down on the top for the meds. It’s better if you do it yourself. It’s measured out. You can get up to two doses at a time.”

Kyle pressed down on the plunger once, again feeling the rush through his veins. The pain subsided, so he stopped with one dose.

“Pain gone?”

“Mostly.”

“You want some water?”

Kyle nodded. Sam poured some water and inserted a bendy straw so Kyle could drink.

“Thanks.”

A nurse came in with Kyle’s chart. “Looks like someone’s awake. How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“Good. I’ll have some chicken broth brought up, get some real food in you.” The nurse adjusted his IV.

“I need… bathroom.”

The nurse picked up a bedpan, but Kyle waved her away. “No, I can go.” She nodded, unhooking Kyle from the pain medication machine. He started to get up, his muscles wavering in the struggle.

“Here, let me help.” Sam put his arm around Kyle and moved the IV pole. Slowly they made it across the room.

The nurse replaced Kyle’s chart. “I’ll be at the nurse’s station if you need me. Food will be up in about ten minutes.”

Sam turned to look at the nurse before she left. “Thanks.” He and Kyle made it to the bathroom.

“You want me to leave?”

“You leave, I’m gonna fall over.”

“Okay, um, you need help?”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “After all we’ve done together, you’re concerned about me pissing?”

“Well, some things should be left to mystery.”

“Just… don’t let go of me. I think I can do this.” With a little maneuvering, Kyle was able to relieve himself. They slowly made it back to his bed.

“You need anything else?”

“For this day never to have happened.”

“God, Kyle, I’m sorry.”

“Sam, this isn’t the first time I’ve been beaten up… landed me my first hospital visit. Believe me, I’ve been through worse since then, and haven’t seen a hospital since.”

“
Worse?
And no one took you to the hospital?”

Kyle shrugged. “My mom’s a nurse. She took care of everything.”

“But still….”

Kyle let out a breath, needing to change the conversation. “Do I have to stay here overnight?”

“Doc thinks you might have a concussion, so yeah.”

“Just… can you make sure the bill doesn’t go to Hank?”

Sam sat back, stunned. “You’re lying there, concussion, sprained wrist, cracked cheekbone and God knows what else, and you’re worried about the
bill
?”

“I don’t need any trouble when I get home. I just have to make it three days from the time I get home to the day I can move into my room.”

Sam cupped Kyle’s good cheek. “Don’t you worry about the bill.”

“And if you say your parents are going to take care of it, I won’t have it.”

“No, the state will take care of it. You got… injured… while working a state program. So don’t worry about anything.”

“But what about my… sentence… I still need to complete what I agreed to do.”

“Mom and Pops will find something for you to do the next three weeks. Don’t worry, please.”

“God, I feel like an idiot.”

“Why?”

“I should have bolted when I saw those creeps.”

“They cornered you.”

“But still….”

“Look, they have been arrested. Let’s don’t talk about them anymore.”

An orderly arrived with some hot broth and Jell-O, interrupting their conversation.

“Looks like the staple of hospital food has arrived.” Sam scooted over so the orderly could put the tray up to Kyle.

“Looks entirely… yummy.” Kyle made a face, then thanked the orderly.

“I’ll be back in about thirty minutes.” The orderly headed back out into the hallway.

Kyle poked at the Jell-O, thinking it might be the less offensive food to eat. He ate most of it, then drank the chicken broth. Sam kept a light hold on his left hand as he ate. “Hey, you think you can sneak me a soda in here?”

“Sure. I’ll be right back.” Sam was back in a few minutes with two sodas.

“If you’re caught, I know nothing.”

Kyle winked at him with his good eye.

They ended up watching a little TV until Kyle fell asleep. Sam stayed right by his side all night.

Eighteen

K
YLE
got back to his bedroom with a little difficulty. The ride back was hot and sticky, making his skin sweat underneath his bandage. It still hurt to breathe, but at least there were no broken ribs. The stairs to the porch and then to his bedroom almost did him in, but with Sam’s help, he made it. He wanted to ask Sam to stay with him, but there was work to be done that had been neglected for twenty-four hours.

He lay back against the pillows, about ready to doze off when there was a knock at his door.

“Kyle?” It was Glenda’s voice.

“Come on in.”

Glenda opened the door, picking up a tray from the ground. “I have some fresh lemonade and some chicken noodle soup. Figured you might be hungry.”

Kyle slowly sat up, wincing as the sore muscles were stretched. “Thank you. I could eat something.”

Glenda put the tray down over Kyle’s lap. He smiled as he saw a couple of fun-sized Snickers bars next to the soup.

“A boy… excuse me, young man, can’t live on soup alone. Gotta have some chocolate.”

“Always.”

Glenda put her hand over Kyle’s. “Don’t worry about the farm. Sam and Walt have everything under control. You just get better.”

“I’d like to try to do something small tomorrow. At least be in the barn while the cows are being milked.”

“We’ll see. You just rest up. You want company this afternoon?”

“I’d love for you to come back up and visit.”

“Well, I’m glad you like my company, but I was thinking Sam might want to sit with you.”

“If he’s not too busy.”

“Well, the garden needs some tending, but after that, I’m sure Walt could spare him for an afternoon.”

“Only if he wants.”

“Oh, hun, I know he wants to. You should have seen him at the hospital when you were off for tests. He was about to climb the walls. Wouldn’t even let the nurse look at his own injuries.”

“He is okay, right?”

“Busted lip. He’s suffered worse getting bucked off a horse.”

Kyle looked down at his tray, absentmindedly stirring his soup. “I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.”

“Kyle! This was
not
your fault! Don’t ever think that. This was the work of small-minded bigots, nothing else. We just want you to get better.”

“I’m feeling better today.”

“That’s good. Now, eat up. I’ll check in on you later.”

“Okay.” Kyle looked down at his hands, then a thought occurred to him. “Glenda?”

Glenda poked her head back in the room. “Yes?”

“How did your preserves do at the fair?”

Glenda smiled. “Blue ribbons all around. Thanks to you. We’ll have some at dinner. Eat, then get some rest.”

“Will do.” Glenda left him alone to his thoughts. He still couldn’t let go of the guilt he felt. They were all making a fuss over him, even Walt, who wanted to make up a bed downstairs for him. He kiboshed that real quick; he wanted the sanctuary of his own room.

He dozed for a while, but another knock at the door woke him. He gingerly turned over to see the clock: three in the afternoon. He’d been asleep for more than four hours.

“Come in.”

“Hey.” Sam walked in with two sodas in his hand. “Figured you might want something to drink other than tea and soup. You want some more pain meds as well?”

Kyle took the soda. “Yeah, thanks.”

Sam opened the pill bottle and handed Kyle a pill as he sat down next to him on the bed. “Feeling any better?”

“Pain’s duller, except when I move too much, then real sharp pains.” Kyle swallowed the pill and gulped the soda.

“Can I sit up next to you?”

Kyle gingerly scooted over. “Sure.”

Sam propped up some pillows against the headboard. “Come here.” Sam opened his arms. Kyle lay on Sam’s chest, Sam’s arms coming around him. He felt Sam kiss the top of his head.

“I like this feeling, being next to you.” Kyle laid his injured wrist on Sam’s stomach.

“I like it too.”

“I don’t want to go back to the city.”

“Why?”

“I… I want to be with you.”

“We both have plans for school.”

“I know. Just wishful thinking.”

“Look, neither one of us is in any condition to declare undying love. You’ve just begun to embrace who you are. I… I do love you, but we need to be realistic. At our age, long-distance relationships don’t really work. I don’t want either of us to promise something we just can’t keep.”

Kyle nodded, knowing Sam was being pragmatic. “Will you see someone else when you get back to Albany?”

Sam shrugged. “It’s not like I’m going to go looking the moment I get back on campus. You mean too much to me. But eventually, if someone asks, I may go out on a date. You?”

“I’m… not sure. It is art school; bound to be quite a few gays there. Would it bother you if I went out with someone?”

“The thought of you seeing someone else… I can’t tell you it wouldn’t bother me, but I’m trying to be grown-up about it.”

“Well, like you, it’s not like I’m going to go looking. But… it might be nice to at least have some gay friends who are going through the same things I am.”

“I hope you find a good LGBT group; Albany has a few. Got some good friends from going to various functions.”

Kyle started to doze, the pain meds kicking in. “Will you stay with me?”

“Always.”

A week went by, Kyle helping out as much as he could with one arm. He couldn’t help but notice the countdown was on; in less than two weeks he’d be gone, away from the only family he ever cared about. He came in from weeding the garden, hot, sweaty, exhausted from doing things with his right hand only. He collapsed in the chair in the kitchen, a tall glass of lemonade appearing in front of him.

“Drink this. You look like you’re going to fall over.” Glenda went back to mixing something in a bowl.

Kyle chugged most of it, then looked around for the pitcher.

Glenda turned her head. “Hold on there, I’ll get it. By the way, what do you want for dinner tonight?” She poured him another glass.

“You know I’ll eat anything you cook.”

“Well, it’s your birthday; you get to choose.”

Kyle looked over at the calendar, not believing what she said. His birthday had never been a big deal at home, and yep, he looked up at the calendar on the wall, it was the eighteenth. “Could I have… would it be too much trouble…?”

“You want steak.”

“How did you know?”

Glenda went back to her mixing bowl. “I know my boys. I figured steak was it, but wanted to make sure you didn’t surprise me.”

“If it’s okay….”

“It’s your birthday. We could have lobster and steak if you wanted.”

“Never had lobster.”

“Well, maybe next birthday.”

“Next birthday?”

“That is, if you want to come back. You know you’re welcome.”

“I… I figured you’d try to help someone else next year.”

“Maybe. Walt and I haven’t discussed it at length, but I need you to know you are welcome back. Unless you end up taking summer classes. I want you to have a choice.”

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“Just know you have the option. Why don’t you go rest up for dinner?”