Defending Jacob: The Aftermath Book 1

Unhinged

I looked at Laurie, not knowing what to say to her. My mind was full on overthinking, my heart was racing. I needed to get into my lawyer mind set with my wife. I looked her in the face doing my best, I said to her, "Laurie honey, it was just a bad dream I had the last night in Mexico, just the bad memories of the trial coming back nothing more. That's the only reason I said Leonard Patz's name to you."

"Andy, oh ok, do you still have nightmares about the past year. You can talk to me. I wish I could remember everything, but Jacob's safe, we are all safe ok." she said wrapping me in a hug.

I hugged her tightly rubbing her back. We where in Jacob's hospital room waiting for him to be brought back from his tests. "Honey, I'm fine it was just a bad dream on our trip nothing more. I'm just glad your getting better and Jacob is improving everyday." I said to her.

She was about to say something, when the nurses and orderlies wheeled Jacob back into his room. He was still sleeping. the nurses said the tests where ok and that Dr. Steven's was waiting for the results, that he would speak with us soon. We both sat there in chairs on either side of Jacob. Laurie was holding his right hand, with tears in her eyes as usual. She missed her son she loved him so much. I was sitting on Jacob's left side of his bed, holding his hand. I was talking to him while Laurie listened to me.

"Hi Jacob, it's me dad, just waiting for you to open those eyes for me. We have got a lot we can do once your home." I said. 

I just kept looking at my wife and son, hoping things would get better. I knew they would. Just than I got a notification on my phone, reminding me of my doctors appointment, the next afternoon. I wanted to check out Laurie's  therapist Dr. Brown. I did my research on her. She had helped many people who had suffered from trauma due physical accidents, get their lost memories back. Part of me wanted Laurie to remember so she could know herself it was just an accident. That she too could realize what I knew in my heart that she couldn't ever hurt our son. I just wanted her to forget finding out Patz was murdered and died cause of my father's involvement. I wanted to keep that memory gone forever. That way I could also have time to work on what I had been thinking about finding out who really killed Ben. I wanted to buy sometime if Laurie did remember everything I would have the proof for her, what I knew already that it wasn't Jacob.

Laurie looked at me and than Jacob "Jake, I'm sorry I was speeding in the rain. I love you, your doing really good. Please open your eyes." she pleaded with tears.

I looked at Laurie and was about to say he's going to be ok come back to us soon. When Jacob opened his eyes. He looked at me, than turned to Laurie, he tried to speak again but the words weren't coming out. "Jacob, just relax  take deep breath and try to say hi or one word." Laurie said to him.

"Mom" Jacob said. He than turned and looked at me, opening his mouth he was tired and panicking, "Dad, help." Jacob pleaded with me. Closing his eyes he went back to sleep.

My heart raced. I wasn't sure what to think. I looked puzzled at my wife. Why would Jacob say help. My brain was in overdrive, why was his baby book in the garbage. Words filling my thoughts over and over "justice for Jacob." "NO!" I yelled.

Laurie looking at me, "Andy, Jacob needs his rest he will be ok, he's waking up more and he spoke this time." she said to me

I felt the walls again, as I was about to get up and go cool off for a walk, Dr. Stevens came in the the room. 

"Andy, Laurie, we have some news on Jacobs condition." He said.  "The CT scam shows there some swelling still on his brain, however it's going down slowly. It's just going to take sometime." Dr. Stevens told us.

He let us know Jacob getting rest was important, that he will know more once the swelling is completely gone. Telling us that they'll be able to figure out more when Jacob is able to stay awake more and talk more. He was hopeful that Jacob will make a full recovery.

"Thank you Dr. Stevens, Jacob said mom and dad help, to us." Laurie informed him.

"Well that's a good sign, the fact that he recognizes you both and was able to say another word." Dr. David Stevens responded.

It was time to head home Laurie was getting tired. She needed to get some rest too. Visiting hours where over we both gave Jacob a kiss on his forehead. Leaving the room was hard for Laurie. She always wanted to be right with him. We left got in the car, we stopped and grab some dinner on the way home. We walked in the house ate our chinese food, and noodles. 

Laurie asked, "has anyone wanted to come see the house? I don't want Jacob coming home to this house. I want a fresh start for him away from here."

"No, I stopped anyone seeing it when the accident happened, but I willcall the real estate office tomorrow and update them." I told her.

My mind started realizing little by little tiny pieces of her memory where coming back. My appointment tomorrow was more important than ever. We went to sleep, again Laurie was having nightmares, she scream "I'm sorry, I don't believe you" "Jacob did you kill Ben?" she yelled in her sleep. It woke me, my mind was going when Andy where did this conversation happen. You never heard her say these things ever. I woke Laurie, she couldn't remember her dream. I hugged her till she went back to sleep. I fell asleep, I tossed and turned haunted by see the car smashed, the blood from my wife and son from the car accident. Than Jacob lying in his hospital bed, the words "Dad Help Me." I woke sweating and shaking. I walked downstairs to the kitchen, I got a beer and downed it. NO! I thought it was an accident. She couldn't have, my brain said the only way you'll find out what happened is from Jacob. I was losing grip of reality. I went back upstairs looking at my wife. I left and went into Jacobs room and fell asleep on his bed, I didn't want to be near my wife, while I felt this anger I couldn't suppress anymore. It was the first time I fully felt I was losing control of myself. I wanted my normal happy family back, I would do anything to make it happen.

In the morning I made sure to be up well before Laurie, she didn't realize I slept in Jacobs room. I did that every night till she came home. We got breakfast talked about where we wanted to move to. When it would be possible, Laurie lost the position she was offered in Colorado, we thought it be better to stay close to her therapist and Jacobs doctors for the time being. We settled on Burlington, Massachusetts. It was not that far away from Newton, but for now it was close to the hospital and Doctors. I dropped Laurie at the hospital to visit Jacob. I said I had appointment to get to that I would be back soon.

The next morning I woke up called the real estates office, they informed me, there was an offer on the house on pause. It was a good offer more than what we where asking, they want the house in weeks. That settle it the house would be sold. I left for Dr. Brown's office.

I got to Dr. Browns office. She was the only one there so she let me into the older woman's office. Dr. Brown, was around 50, 5'4' grey hair, glasses, she reminded me of Joanna if truth be told. 

"Hello Andy, tell me what brings you here." she asked. 

In that one moment I felt all the emotions of last year hit me like a tone of bricks. The words escaped my mouth before I could stop myself. "Are you fucking kidding me? You have got to know about the murder my son was accused of doing, which I longer know if innocent or now.  I have no fucking clue if my wife tried to kill my son or not!" I yelled, as I put my head in my hands with tears. I had snapped becoming unhinged. It was all down hill from there on.