“I’m going to patrol the streets, see what I can find,” Matt said out loud. He turned and left the waiting area without looking back. “This creep will pay.”
“Can we see her?” Drake and Kate asked the tired looking doctor.
“Just five minutes,” he warned. “She will be out of it until tomorrow or longer. Her body needs to recover from the trauma.”
Noah and Liam left with a promise to come back the next day. Noah told Drake to take the next couple of days off. Drake planned on staying here until she opened her eyes no matter how long it took.
Chapter 21
Jasmine sat on a black leather chair at Second Hand Treasures. She stared out the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the small trick-or-treaters
heading her way. She loved the idea of all the businesses along the main road staying open late and passing out candy. What a great idea the city council had come up with. It gave adults the chance to see what was available and the kids got their treats. She couldn’t wait to see all the creative costumes. After the horror of the last two months she learned to appreciate the little things in life just as much as the big things.
She still remembered the day she woke up in the hospital to see Drake sleeping in a chair. She had repeated the whole story of the mugging while he held her and rocked her.
He told her she had been sedated for two days but she would be fine. He would make sure of it. She could see by the look on his tired face he had been there the whole time. She had stayed another three days and then went home. It had been a painful experience both physically and emotionally. She had nightmares of the hooded man and her recovery had been slow.
Alana visited often. Sometimes with Alicia. Since Alana had been through a similar experience she helped Jasmine work through a lot of emotions. Jasmine felt like she made a new friend in Alana. Everyone in town had been great. So many people had pitched in and helped Kate at the store. Even Eva had spent quite a few days with Kate and Kelly, who made a great employee.
Matt and Tony left no stone unturned and finally caught the culprit just days after she was released from the hospital. He still had her cell phone in his apartment. He confessed Nancy had paid him fifty bucks to mug Jasmine and give her a good scare. The stabbing had been an accident. He blamed that on Jasmine but it didn’t matter. He had been charged along with Nancy, who denied the whole thing.
Nancy’s parents pleaded with Noah to let Nancy go but he charged her for her part of it. Jasmine and Drake had to testify in a few months. She did not look forward to it but Drake promised to be there for her along with his family and all of their friends.
Jasmine had only been back at work for a few days. She knew Kate and Drake worried but she was completely healed. She could bend and walk without any pain. Even the doctor had told her she was fully healed.
The bell above the door rang and Holly entered with her niece Hope. The toddler was dressed as a cute little ladybug.
“Oh, how adorable,” Jasmine remarked, giving her a lollipop. Hope sat on the floor ready to open her candy immediately.
Holly shook her head after attempting unsuccessfully to put the candy in a small bucket. “Oh fine. Your mother will kill me but go for it.”
Jasmine laughed. “You are an indulgent aunt.”
Holly shrugged. She was dressed in a colorful hippie outfit from the seventies. She and Alicia were going to a Halloween party at the bar. Jasmine didn’t feel up to dancing yet. “I’ll probably never have kids of my own. I might as well be the best aunt possible.”
Jasmine knew she was still hurting over Matt breaking up with her. Matt refused to talk about it when Jasmine asked him. “Don’t say that, Holly. You are beautiful and smart and fun. Matt is an idiot. Don’t let one bad apple ruin it for you. Look at me. I came here with a broken heart, determined to stay single. If I hadn’t taken a chance I would not have allowed myself to fall in love with Drake. Now I can’t imagine my life without him.”
“Me either, mi amor,” Drake said, coming in the doorway and hearing Jasmine’s last sentence. He leaned down and kissed Jasmine’s head. “And I am glad to see you off your feet.”
“I aim to please.” Jasmine joked but rolled her eyes.
Holly laughed. “I’d better get Hope out of here before you two get too mushy. She is much too young for this.”
Holly picked up her niece, candy and all, and waved goodbye.
“We need to find someone nice for Holly.” Jasmine frowned, watching Holly kiss her niece. She wanted her friends to be happy too. Alicia seemed much better these days.
Drake patted Jasmine softly on the back. “Holly’s a great girl. Things will work out the way they should. Maybe Matt just wasn’t right for her.”
Jasmine could have sworn she had seen real emotion in Matt’s eyes for Holly. Holly had taken the break-up hard and looked so sad.
“No sadness,” Drake chided her. “I am off duty and here to help you pass out candy. Where is Kate?”
“She went out to dinner with Linda. She needed a break and I convinced her I can sit and pass out treats.” Jasmine sighed.
“We love you, baby, so we worry.”
She smiled and leaned over to kiss his lips. They all had a scare but she really was okay now and she was ready to get on with the rest of her life. “I love you so much, Drake. I am so glad I got a second chance at love and life. What would I do without you?”