All Roads Lead Home (Book #1)

Chapter 25

It's been 2 weeks since the accident and Jay still hasn't woken up. I haven't left the room unless I was made to and even then it's a fight to get me to leave. 

I'm reading a book when Tony walks into the room. I look at him and give him a small smile. He looks exhausted.

"Hi Tony."

"Hi sweetheart. How's he doing today?" he asks as he lowers himself into the chair beside me.

"No changes," I say as I look over at Jay. All of his stitches were removed and his bruises are all faded, but his left arm and right leg are still in a cast.

"That's what I thought you would say," he says as he runs his hands down his face. He nods his head. "Do you wanna take a break? Maybe go for a walk?"

"No I'm okay right here."

"Thank you Krys," he says as he grips my hand. "Thank you for staying here with him."

"Of course. I just spent two months away from him because I didn't think he could handle what I was going through. I thought I needed to handle it on my own, but I was wrong. I just couldn't convince myself to come home earlier than I did."

"You did what you thought was best for you Krys. Everyone knew that. Jay knew that. He's the one that convinced us all that it was for the best. He knew you'd come back. He never doubted it."

"I should have come back sooner though. I shouldn't have left for two months," I say as I look at Jay again. "I love him so much Tony. I always have. I'm sorry I hurt him by leaving."

"You didn't hurt him Krys. He was upset for a couple of days after you first left but then he realized it was what you needed to do," he says as he squeezes my hand again. "What hurt him the most is that he didn't realize it sooner."

I look over at him and give him a weak smile and nod my head.

"So he didn't hate me for leaving?"

"No. Jay could never hate you so don't you ever think like that. He loves you so much. His mom's ring proves that. He loves you more than anything else in this world. He didn't hate you for leaving. In fact it made him love you even more," Ava says as she enters the room.

She walks over and gives me a hug from behind.

"We all love you even more because you were able to realize what you needed to do to help yourself heal," she says as she brushes her fingers through my hair. "I'm sure we all would have liked to have known where you were, but that's a whole different thing," she says with a small chuckle.

"I didn't know I was going to the cabin. I just started driving and something told me to go there," I say with a sigh. "It's where dad and I went after mom left. Dad took Jay there after his mom passed away. Dad went there after Grandpa died. It just always seems like a good place to go and heal."

Tony nods his head in agreement. "It sure is," he says as he stares at Jay. Suddenly he inhales sharply and nods his head again. "I gotta get to work. Keep an eye on him for me?" he asks as he stands up.

"Always," I say as he squeezes my hand one last time.

He nods his thanks and walks out of the room.

"He's going to wake up, right Ava?"

"I hope so Krys. But like Ethan said, only time can tell. I have to go do my rounds. Are you going to be okay?" 

I nod my head and she leaves me alone with Jay again.

"Jay you need to wake up. I need you. We need you," I say as I rest my hand on my belly again. "We can't do this without you. Our baby girl needs her daddy. I need her daddy."

A nurse walks in just then to check his chart. He smiles at me and walks back out.

"I found out why mom left Jay. I asked her. I demanded she tell me." I pause expecting a response that wasn't coming.

"She told me she left because she wasn't happy. She was bored and she wanted to start over again. She wanted to forget about dad and forget about me. Can you believe that? What kind of person does that?" I ask.

"I know I won't, so you better not leave me either. Wake up Jay. Please just wake up," I beg. More tears fall down my cheek as I stare at him, but nothing happens.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Another two weeks have passed since Jay's accident. Nothing's changed with Jay's vitals.

Everyone is concerned, I can tell. But they haven't said it out loud. I can read it on their faces and hear it in their voices. They don't think he's going to wake up.

Everyone is in the room when Tony and the doctor that has been working with Jay walks in. Tony's been crying but he tries to hide it.

"I've made a difficult decision," he says. He looks at me and my heart sinks. I shake my head no as the tears start to fall. "The doctor and I both agree that it's better to pull Jay off of life support. It's been a month with no changes. It's for the best," he sobs out.

"No! Tony you can't." I scream with tears streaming down my face. "He's going to wake up. He has to wake up. His daughter needs him!" I quickly cup my hand over my mouth and stifle my tears.

I just dropped the bomb without even meaning to. Everyone looks at me, eyes wide and mouths agape. No one says anything for a while.

"Did you just say his daughter needs him," Tony asks. "I'm gonna be a Grandpa?"

I nod my head and take Jay's hoodie off that I've been wearing. They're the only thing I have that's big enough to hide the belly at this point.

Just as I take the sweater off the baby kicks. Everyone gasps. Ava comes over with tears in her eyes and puts her hand on my belly.

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"I wanted to wait to tell Jay and then everyone else. But this," I waive my hands around the room. "Kind of put a wrench in my plans." I say as more tears fall.

Ava nods her head and then looks at Tony. "We can't pull the plug. Not yet. Why not wait a little bit longer? Give your son a chance to meet his daughter."

Tony nods his head and just stares at me. "I'm gonna be a Grandpa?" he repeats.

I nod my head and walk over to him. "You're gonna be a Grandpa Tony. Your granddaughter is going to love you. And no matter what happens to Jay, you'll always be her Grandpa."

He turns to the doctor. "We're not pullin' that plug. We're givin' my son a chance to meet his daughter." He says as he ushers the doctor to the door.

I smile. Everyone knows about the baby and Jay still gets a chance to keep fighting. Today is a better day. Today is a good day.