NOBODY SAID LOVE WAS GONNA BE EASY
Chapter Thirteen
It had been over six months that Jack lay in
a coma. Rose had been at his bedside night and day. But sadly, there had been
no change in Jack’s condition. He had not opened his eyes again, and he very rarely
squeezed Rose’s hand. The doctors had lost all hope. Their recommendation was
to send Jack home and let him slip away. But Rose just couldn’t allow that.
Jack was her hero. Her lifeline. She couldn’t just give up on him, just like he
hadn’t given up on her. She had to make him live, not only for herself, but for
their growing baby.
It was Christmas day. Rose sat beside Jack’s
bed, massaging her swollen abdomen. It was snowing, and carolers were outside
singing songs of faith and good cheer. Good cheer was no longer inside of her,
but faith…that she had plenty of. Faith that today Jack would open his eyes and
smile at her. Today was the day he’d come back.
"Rose." Christina stuck her head
inside the door, worry evident in her eyes. "Please come home with us.
It’s Christmas. You shouldn’t be spending it inside a hospital. We have
presents for you and the baby and Jack, and a nice dinner just waiting for
you."
"Jack has to spend it here, and so will
I. I’m not leaving him, Christina. I can’t. Besides, maybe tonight’s my turn
for a Christmas miracle. Maybe tonight he’ll come back to us."
Christina just smiled at her friend, feeling
sorry for her. Poor Rose. This was her and Jack’s first Christmas together.
They should be spending it in each other’s arms, not with Jack in a coma like
this. It was so unfair.
"Go home, Christina. I’ll be fine. We
both will be."
"Okay. Fine. But if you need anything,
just call us." Christina waved, leaving Rose alone with a silent Jack.
She looked down into his pale face and sighed
sadly. Their friends had given up all hope for Jack. Sad, but true. They
thought she should let him die. But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t. Hot tears
formed in her eyes as she picked up his limp hand and rubbed it, trying to warm
him as best she could.
"It’s Christmas, Jack. Come home to me.
Please." She closed her eyes and leaned her cheek upon his hand. Hot tears
now flowed freely as fresh sobs escaped her. She failed to notice the squeeze
of his hand or the worried gaze in his now open blue eyes. She was too caught
up in her grief.
"Rose?"
She looked up and gasped, a bright smile in
her green eyes. "Jack…you’re awake."
"Uh-huh." Jack smiled weakly. Rose
ran out the door and told the doctor he had woken up. The doctor and one of the
nurses came in to check on Jack. The doctor used a rubber hammer to check
Jack’s legs. He asked him if he could feel anything.
"No."
"Mr. Dawson, we need to run some more
tests before we can come to a conclusion."
"What do you mean, a conclusion? What’s
there to conclude other than letting me out of here?"
"You’ll be let out after we find out
what’s wrong. Excuse me," the doctor said, leaving the room to get the
things he needed to run the tests. Fifteen minutes later, he came back with the
stuff. He ran three more tests and sent them with the nurse to the lab. Hours
later, the doctor came in with the results.
"Mr. Dawson, the tests show that you’re
paralyzed from the waist down, but there is a small chance that you will be
able to regain your ability to walk."
"What? You mean I can’t walk? What
happened?"
"Cal shot you when we were running from
the mansion, Jack. The bullet ended up lodging in your spinal cord. You also
went into a coma for a little over six months," Robert said to his friend
as he came into the room. Jack looked around the room. Then he started to stare
into space until he heard Rose’s voice talking to the doctor about the chance
of him actually being able to walk again. Rose stayed with Jack the rest of the
night. A few weeks later, he was released and they all headed back to the
Dawson farm.
*****
Robert and Christina helped Jack get into the
house. They had decided to throw a welcome home party, but Jack didn’t feel up
to a celebration. The doctor had given him a wheelchair to use. Jack couldn’t
steer it very well, but he continued to try. The first few days were very hard
on Rose and Jack, considering all that had happened to them. The second day,
Jack asked Rose what Cal had done to her. Rose kept telling Jack that she
didn’t want to talk about it, due to her condition.
*****
Two weeks had gone by, and Rose still
wouldn’t tell him. That afternoon, Jack sat her down to tell him.
"Rose, I want you to tell me. I’m your
husband, for Christ’s sake. Will you please just tell me?" Jack pleaded as
he sat right in front of her. Rose just looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"I can’t…you’ll leave me," Rose
replied between sobs. Jack held her face in his hands and looked her in the
eye.
"Rose, whatever he did to you wasn’t
your fault. You know that. Please, just tell me," Jack pleaded with her.
Rose finally told him everything—how he had burned her, beaten her to a pulp,
married her, raped her, and aborted one of the twins. She had to stop several
times because of all the emotions running through her as she retold everything
to Jack. Jack was also crying. He apologized to Rose for not being there for
her, slapping her, and not going after her that day. That night Rose helped him
to bed, and they fell asleep, not saying a word. They were both lost in
thought.