Stubborn Love

Chapter 3

Jack could not believe what just came out of Lureen's mouth. "Ennis? Ennis sent me something in the mail?" He thought. The last time they had an encounter wasn't the best. It was, in fact, their worst argument. With the condition that Jack was in, it was best for him not to get excited, nervous, or anything that involved movements.

The doctors informed Lureen of what had happened, including why it happened. Jack had lost a severe amount of blood, and they wondered if he even remembered the incident. The man who found Jack actually knew the two men who almost murdered Jack. His name was Brian, a simple man who had a small family of his own and stayed out of everyone's business except what he was involved in. He told Lureen that he overheard two men in conversation while he was walking his dog. Unfortunately, he didn't hear enough to alert the police. Later that day, he returned to the same place to find Jack's unconscious body in the glass, surrounded and covered in blood. By what wounds he could make out, Brian realized that Jack had been beaten and stabbed with a knife repeatedly. The doctors were calling his survival a miracle.

Lureen knew how happy and excited Jack would get whenever he received something from Ennis, and he didn't even have to speak, even though he was trying, that he wanted her to read it to him. She closed the magazine and lifted the postcard from her lap. With a low sigh, she began, "It says, 'Jack, How about November? For you. I can meet you at pine creek. Ennis Del Mar.' That's it" Her eyes moved from the postcard to Jack, and there was that smile he used to always smile on his face. It was filled with so much happiness and joy. Lureen wasn't sure when to break the news to Jack that she finally discovered his secret affair with Ennis and that she wanted a divorce and full custody over Bobby as soon as possible. Now was not the time though, and she knew that.

"So, are you going to make another trip to Colorado in November?" She broke the silence.
Jack looked her with a confused expression. "Lureen, I can't with the shape I'm in right now."
A heavy sighed slipped from her lips. "Well, I figured you'd visit him no matter what the case," She remarked. Jack couldn't deny it, she was speaking the truth. Her remark made him realize that she somehow knew. He had the courage to ask, "You know, don't you, about me and Ennis?" All she did was give two slow nods. There was so many thoughts storming around his brain, but he didn't know how to put them in words right then. Lureen crossed her arms and asked, "Were you ever going to tell me?" Now, what kind of ridiculous question is that? Jack wanted to ask. Instead, he answered, "To be honest with you, Lureen, I don't think he would've made a difference. Our marriage is a joke." There was a pause. "Was a joke," She corrected him. Jack assumed that was her way of telling him that she wanted a divorce, and he was right. The conversation was ended.

The next morning, Jack woke up to find the room almost exactly the way it was when he fell almost. He left his eyes closed to try to fall back asleep, because his conscience was telling him that it was too early to be awake, when it actually wasn't. The only sounds in the room were the monitors and machines beeping, and Lureen talking to someone on the phone. "Hello, is this.. Ennis Del Mar?" The pause may have seemed like Lureen was trying to remember his name, but to Jack, it came off as rude. "Speakin'. Who's this?" Ennis replied. Jack felt a warm sensation come over his body when he heard Ennis' voice. His words were not at all clear, but it was enough. "This is Lureen, Jack's wife," She began, "Jack is in the hospital, and if I'm correct, you two were close friends." Ennis agreed with worry in his voice, "Uhh, yes, ma'am. Jack's a good friend of mine." Lureen continued, "He's been dropping hints about me wanting to make this phone call to you about coming to visit. I think that would really cheer him up." Jack's heart began to beat faster, which made the beeping faster. "Damnit," He mumbled. Lureen looked over in concern, but tried to act as if nothing was going on.

"I think I could work somethin' out. Might be a couple of days 'fore i get there."
"That's just fine. Thank you, Mr. Del Mar."
"Thank you, ma'am."