Page 21 of 21 Years of Jane

“I’ll figure it out. I want you to understand that I’m very upset with Nolan for not telling us where you would be and for not calling us when you had your accident. But … he seems to make you happy. So, I’ll do my best to make sure you have the day together tomorrow. Even if I have to slash all the tires on the cars,” she said with an expression of determination on her face.

Stella’s voice rang down the hallway and Mom put the phone back where it had originally sat. Dad re-entered the room with them, and Liam came over to me with a small cup of vanilla ice cream.

“I made this for you, Starr. And Stella helped!” he said proudly, holding it out to me.

“The staff told them they couldn’t take it out of the cafeteria, but they insisted,” Dad said, shaking his head.

“Thanks guys, I’ll eat it in a little bit,” I replied with a big smile.

Mom suddenly got up from her seat and left. Dad sat down in her chair with a heavy sigh and looked at me.

“How are you feeling, kiddo?” he asked softly.

“I’m fine Daddy. I just can’t believe I slept that long, is all,” I lied.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, clearing his throat. I glanced over at him, and he turned his face. Dad was crying and he didn’t want me to see.

“I’ll always be okay, Daddy,” I replied. “I just need you to start trusting me.”

“I do trust you,” he said meaningfully.

I sighed as Mom walked back in. She told my father that since I was awake now and everything seemed to be okay—she had just come from talking to the doctor—that it would be best if they let me rest for the remainder of today and tomorrow. He grudgingly agreed and the children climbed on the bed to hug me again. Dad leaned over and kissed my forehead. Mom hugged me and slid a piece of paper under my arm.

“We love you, honey,” she said. “We’ll see you in a couple of days, okay?”

I nodded and waited for them to walk out before I checked the note. It was a phone number and small note from Mom all at the same time.

Call this number as soon as we walk out. It’s all taken care of for you, Mom.

I reached for the phone and set it next to me on the bed. Curiously, I dialed the number.

“Hello?”

It was Nolan.

“Hi,” I said softly.

“I’m on my way. Your mother called me after she arranged everything with the nurses and doctor. I’ll see you soon, Janey.”

He hung up with no further explanation of what Mom had done. I sighed and put the phone back. I closed my eyes for a moment and let my breathing steady itself. It would take him at least forty-five minutes to get here so a short nap wouldn’t be out of order.

But I opened my eyes again after I reasoned with myself that I had already slept for a week, and that would be ungodly redundant. I looked out the window and watched the cars going by on the freeway. I watched the birds flying high above the cars. And I watched the clouds starting to fuse together, perhaps for a quick rain storm.

I heard one of the nurses come into the room to check my IV; I heard her walk out as the raindrops started to slowly pelt the window. I heard the hospital personnel walking along the hallways, and the sounds of carts being wheeled by. Or people; I wasn’t sure which.

More raindrops fell against the window and I smiled. I loved when it rained; it was such a calming thing to watch and the way the world smelled after was such a delight.

The storm moved in quickly as the sky darkened to a stony gray. A flash of lighting lit up the sky and was immediately followed by a clap of thunder. The window became a blurry, wet view but I didn’t turn away from it.

“What are we looking at?” a voice whispered next to my ear.

I jumped so hard that the bed shook. I turned my face toward the voice and started to laugh. Nolan looked as startled as I felt.

“Geez, Janey. I didn’t realize how jumpy you were,” he said, shaking his head.

“Well, you did just scare the shit out of me,” I replied.

He smiled his genuine light-up-my-world smile. I returned it before focusing my attention back on the blurry world outside.