Unthinkable

June***Part 8

I'm going stir crazy. Work, home, work, home. But never more than a four-hour shift. And never the night shift. Phone time is limited and if I'm not at least in the bed by 9 p.m. I'm getting prodded like cattle down the hall.

I haven't seen Jake in a week. I haven't seen anyone in a week.

The day shift, at Bed & Bath—Redstone, is my only escape. My four-times-a-week visit with the retired ladies — folding towels, folding sheets, re-folding towels, re-folding sheets. The hours just fly by.

If I'm lucky, I get 30 minutes on the phone with Jake at night. But usually it's just a quick check-in before he heads out with everyone else. Having fun with everyone but me. Having fun like teenagers are supposed to.

***

Two weeks later.  Finally, some good news.

I got a hall pass today. Blood tests show that my levels are improving — whatever that means.

Penny has tipped me off that Jake is stuck at home doing yard work for his dad. So, naturally, I'm on my way there.

I park around the corner, so I can surprise him. He's shirtless, trimming trees and currently wrestling a large branch with a mind of its own. I'd never tell him this, but he's not winning. My poor, hot, sweaty boyfriend.

"I always wanted a pool boy, I guess a yard boy will have to do."

He jumped a mile. I'm dying.

"SAM!" There's that smile I've been missing. "Are you really here? Or did that branch hit me harder than I thought?" He drops the clippers and tosses his gloves into the pile of weeds, before whisking me off my feet. "Blood test — all clear?" Eager eyes.

"Well, sort of. Blood test came back more normal than before. But the doctor told my mom to keep me on a tight leash for a couple more weeks. BUT... I did convince her to let me out for an hour. Unsupervised." I flashed a big cheesy grin at him.

"Well, we better make use of that time." He scooped me up and carried me into the house. "Can't be having you wear yourself out before I kiss you. We gotta make up for lost time."

***