'Money'

Chapter 69 - worried

I go with Money to the hospital.

- I love you, guard the kids like the lioness you are, Money groans.

- You're gonna live, you hear me, you are not leaving me yet, no way, I say fiercely.

I lean forward over him, kissing him like when we had just started dating.

- We're here, don't worry, mrs Harlon, your husband will be alright, the nurse tells me as they take Money to be examined.

- Can I come with him? I ask.

- I'm sorry, mrs Harlon, but you must wait here, someone will come and get you when you can see him, the nurse says.

I watch the nurses roll my husband away just as Danny and the children arrive.

- Where's dad? Is he alright? Cash asks.

- They took him to be examined, I say.

- Oh god, please let dad be okay, Ana whimpers against Cash's shoulder.

- Dad's hard as granite, sis, he will kick the shit out of whatever this is, Cash says.

- Are you sure about that? Nick asks against his older brother's other shoulder.

- Yeah, I'm sure, Cash says, acting calm but inside he's scared shitless that he will in fact, lose his father.

The nurse who was one of those who took Money away, comes back.

- Mrs Harlon, you can come see your husband now, just mrs Harlon, I'm sorry, children, the nurse says looking first at me and then at mine and Money's three grown children.

I give the kids and Danny a hug before I follow the nurse, to what I expect, see my husband for the last time, but when I come in to the room, Money is sitting up in his hospital bed, looking a bit pale, but still very much alive and still looking more like my Jacob than a fresh corpse.

- Hey, look at that, my Jackie is here, Money says as I walk towards his bed and hug him gently.

- My Jacob is alive, I whimper against his neck.

- I'm okay, I'm alright, baby, Money says.

- Don't ever scare me like that again, I say and laugh through my tears.

- I promise, my love, I promise I will never scare you like that ever again, Money says.

- You better not, I say. Your children are here and want to see that you're really alive.