“I told you, we’ll pay and we’ll make a fucking donation to the hospital if he walks out of here alive,” Liam fires back.
“Of course, Mr. Page.”
Mr. Page? Looks like Liam used his status to get his way. I know he doesn’t like to do that, but I’m thankful he did.
“This nurse,” I ask, pointing to her. “Does she have to stay or can she set up outside his door?”
“Oh no, she can set up in the hall like the others do.”
“Perfect.” I arch my eyebrow at her. Take that you wench. “Also, my husband had a picture of our daughter’s ultrasound in his wallet. He showed it to me before he went on stage and now it’s not there. I’m wondering if you can ask the staff that handled his belongings if they’ve found it.”
“The lawsuit, if it’s leaked, won’t be pretty,” Liam adds, making me wish I could think quickly on my feet like him.
Dr. Bryant nods before leaving us to Jimmy. I let Harrison and Liam go to his side while I stand at the foot of the bed. My hand rests on his foot, while the guys pick up each of his hands. Liam’s shoulders shake and Harrison is gasping for air. I don’t know who to go to first so I stand there and watch as these brothers cry for one of their own. I’ll never pretend to understand their bond, not after witnessing this.
I lose track of time. I’m stiff, sore and hungry. My arms ache from the position they’ve been in. My back burns from the strain and Little One is kicking up something fierce. I didn’t bring my headphones because Jimmy would’ve just sung to her, but he’s not singing… yet.
Hours – that’s how long we’ve been here. The sun is up, or maybe it’s setting again and I’m really not with it. Harrison’s head rests at the end of Jimmy’s bed, while Liam is opposite me. Both of them are asleep, exhaustion finally taking over, but neither of them are willing to leave this room.
I can’t blame them. I’m not leaving either. I hate getting up to go to the bathroom as it is. Gary has moved the tour bus to the parking lot. I can see it from the window. People - mostly women - gather around it. I had suggested that Liam and Harrison go and sleep in there, but they just shook their heads. We know the first twenty-four hours are critical; those are the words that we recall and each
time he twitches or the machines beeps a little more rapidly, I panic. And when I panic, they panic. The cycle is endless.
I sit in the windowsill watching the small vigil form by the bus. They must be the fans that saw the shooting happen. It won’t be long before the press is outside and the bus is surrounded. Gary said the detective is coming by today; he needs my statement. I have to relive the nightmare. I have to recall every second of what I remember from last night as it unfolded, in slow motion, right before my eyes. The only thing I want to know is, where’s Damien?
The door opens slowly and the nurse, a much nicer one, waves me over. I slide off the windowsill carefully and walk to her. She holds the door open for me to follow her out. I look at Jimmy and back at her and she knows. She places her hand on my shoulder and leads me to the window where I can still see him.
Months ago, I wouldn’t be standing here. I’d be at home, taking care of the kids if this had happened. But he knew… he knew that we were having a baby and wasn’t going to take no for an answer when he asked me to marry him. The whole time during the ceremony I thought he was doing it so I wouldn’t be alone, but that wasn’t the case. He did it because he wants us to be a family.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but I wanted to give you this.” She hands me Little One’s ultrasound picture. Tears fill my eyes immediately. The nurse rests her hand on my shoulder, giving me the comfort I need. “I’m sorry you’re going through this, but we’ve taken steps to eliminate the issue from arising again.”
“Thank you,” I say with a broken voice.
“I think I have something that will make you smile Mrs. Davis, there are two women out front who are asking for you.”
“Did they say who they are?” My luck is they’re crazed fans trying to get in to see Jimmy.
The nurse fishes a piece of paper out of her pocket. “Katelyn Powell and Josie Westbury, is what I have here. They seem very eager to see you.” She smiles softly. She knows what those two names mean to me.
I know a smile is breaking out across my face and it’s going hand-in-hand with tears. “Thank you, you can let them in.”
She nods and walks away. I look back into the room, Liam and Harrison are still sleeping so I leave them be. I’m going to be selfish and fall into the arms of my best friends before their men come to take them away from me.
Their strides are long and powerful and they race to me once they get around the corner. They drop their bags and pull me into their arms. The definition of a group hug is nothing compared to being held by your two best friends. Words don’t need to be said, the emotion is enough. I can feel their shoulders shake, and hear their labored breathing. We are all sharing the pain and anguish of not knowing.
Josie breaks first. She wipes her eyes before picking up her bag. She leaves me with Katelyn. When I look at her, it’s not pity I see in her eyes, but knowledge. Katelyn’s been here. She knows what I’m going through.
Katelyn takes my hand in hers and holds it to her heart. Not only can I feel her heart beating, but under my palm are her wedding rings. They hang from a necklace the twins bought her for her birthday. She places her hand over mine and closes her eyes.
“I went to see Mason before we got on the plane. Sometimes when I’m there I don’t say anything and other times I talk about the girls, Harrison and Quinn. But this time I told him what you’re going through and asked him to help. No one knows this, but I asked him for a sign that being with Harrison was going to be okay and it started snowing. Right there with me lying on the ground a snowflake fell so I took that and ran with it. As you know, Mason was pretty amazing and he loved you so I know he’s watching over Jimmy.
“I’m here for you, Jenna, whatever you need. You were there for me so many times when I was going through everything. I hate seeing… this type of place with us here.”
“You don’t need to stay, Katelyn, I know it’s hard.”
Katelyn shakes her head. She lets her tears fall. “I need to be here. This is where I’m supposed to be.”
I know it’s hard for her to be here. I know it’s going to be difficult for her to walk into Jimmy’s room and see him looking similar to the way Mason looked. I won’t be upset if she can’t handle this. I hope she knows this.