Page 102 of Fortunate Miracles
Thursday morning we're waiting for Jake to have his stitches removed, and he's free to leave the hospital now. It’s finally safe to tell him everything, but Ray and I agreed not to just do an info dump. First, we'll start with the date and rehab. Then Ray will tell his tale. I’ll go last. Dr. Crosby offered the room for as long as we need it.
Once Leigh and Dr. Crosby finish removing the stitches, they remove the catheter. That has to be a horrible experience for him. Leigh gives him a bath afterwards to freshen up. Jake wasn’t happy about wearing adult diapers, but Dr. Crosby assured him it was very temporary. I know he felt embarrassed, but I acted like it was no big deal, and so did Ray. He’s starting physiotherapy this afternoon with someone from the hospital’s rehab department.
After Jake has a smoothie snack mid-morning, Ray and I get ready to break the news. I’m nervous about how he’s going to react, so I climb into bed with him.
“Jake,” Ray starts. “Now that you’re healed, we can answer some of your questions. The first piece of information we need to tell you is the length of your coma and where exactly we are.”
“I can handle it, Dad,” Jake replies.
Ray tells him the date, and I show him my phone. Silence greets us as we give him a minute to process the news. “Jake?” I ask.
“How? Are you kidding?”
“No son. You’ve been in a coma since the accident. One year and eleven months.”
“I remember the accident. It’s fuzzy, but we were going skiing…how is this possible? Was I hurt? How badly were you hurt, Sum?”
Squeezing his hand, I look up at him. “Jake, I need you to stay calm. I know it’s hard, but try.”
“You hit your head, had a bunch of cuts, bruises, and a broken arm,” Ray adds. “You slipped into a coma quickly, but no one was sure why. We initially thought you'd wake up after the concussion, but you didn’t.”
“Doing okay?” I ask him.
“Fantastic,” he snarks. I chuckle at his sarcasm. “Keep going,” he tells Ray.
“We're in Charlotte, North Carolina, not Virginia. This is where the trial was, so you were moved here a few weeks ago.”
“I get the feeling there’s a lot more. Where’s Mom, Vanessa and Lily? Did they stay in Virginia?”
“I think that’s enough information for today,” Ray says.
“No, Dad,” he insists. “I’ve been patient. I want it all. Rip off the band-aid.” Jake can be persistent when he sets his mind on something.
“Jake,” I start.
“No Sum. Enough secrets. I don’t need every detail, but I need the outline at least.”
“Are you sure, son? It’s a lot, and it will upset you. It’s not a happy story.”
“Tell me, Dad. I need to know.” Jake’s stubbornness is showing. There’s a fire in his eyes, and his chin is tilted up just a tiny bit. Despite the bad timing, it’s a welcome sight.
Ray and I share a look, and I nod. Sighing, he tips his head down and takes a few breaths. “Jake, your mom and I divorced. We shattered when we lost you.”
“Holy shit,” Jake whispers. “How long has Mom been gone?”
“Six months after the accident.” Ray looks sorrowful and guilty at once.
Jake turns to me next. “Sum?”
“Mom and Lily bee didn’t make it, Jake. They died during the accident,” I say, as tears fill my eyes.
Tears fall from Jake’s eyes too, as I hug him. Ray grabs each of our hands as Jake sobs and I cry silently. I’m not sure how long we stay like that before I sense Jake quiet. Pulling back, I sit up and look at him. “I’m so damn sorry, Sum.”
Ray steps into the bathroom and comes out with a wet washcloth to wipe Jake’s face for him. “What else do I need to know?”
“That’s enough for now, son. We have plenty of time to talk more later,” Ray insists, and luckily Jake agrees. We chat about lighter topics until lunch, and then I leave Jake and Ray to go next door.
Zander is on his laptop working when I step inside. He looks up and stands, pulling me into a hug. “How did he take the news?”
