CREE (10 page)

*****

Cameron was coming out from seeing a patient by the time Amy found him. “Dr. Jacobs?”

Exhausted, he responded, “What’s up Amy?”

She was nervous. “I don’t know how to tell you this but…”

Even though he was tired, Cameron managed a smile. “Snatching the band aid off quickly is always best. Just tell me.”

“Is your wife, Creandra Jacobs?”

“Yes. We call her Cree. Why?”

“She’s here.”

A smile formed on his face. Cameron looked around Amy, “Where? Is she in the waiting room?”

Nervously, Amy rubbed her hands together. “Actually, she’s in one of the E.R. rooms.”

“What?! Which one? What happened?”

Amy pressed her hands against his chest, to keep him from bolting to Cree.

“Dr. Jacobs, she’s being examined by Dr. Levinson.”

Just as Amy was about to explain everything, a female officer came up to them.

“Hi. I’m Officer Kane. One of the nurses at the station pointed you out to me. She said you would have information regarding Creandra Jacobs, sexual assault case.”

Cameron’s knees almost buckled. He had to hold onto the wall to keep his balance.

Amy didn’t want him to find out this way. She quickly responded, “She is still with Dr. Levinson, as soon as they are finished with her examination, you can take her statement.”

Amy did her best to offer assistance so that Cameron wouldn’t fall to the floor.

Officer Kane regarded him sympathetically. “I take it you know the victim?”

He could barely form the words. “She’s my wife. Where is she? What happened?”

“Sir, that’s why I’m here to take her statement.”

Amy jumped into the conversation. “Officer Kane, it might be a little while before you can speak with her. She is just now being seen by the physician. If you’d like, please feel free to wait over there in our breakroom.”

Officer Kane sauntered off in that direction.

After she’d gone, determined, Cameron started walking toward the patient rooms. “I’ve got to find my wife. What room is she in Amy?”

She did her best to keep pace with Cameron before cutting him off and stepping in front of him again. “Cameron! Please listen to me. I know you’re upset, but you’ve got to remain calm for her sake. Dr. Levinson will take good care of her.”

Cameron was panicked and crazed with fear. “You don’t understand, Amy. That’s my
wife
we’re talking about!”

“That’s why you’ll do her more good if you’re calm, Cameron. She’s been through a terrible ordeal. You’ll have to be both calm and strong for her.”

Somehow, Amy’s words registered. She could see it in his eyes. Therefore, she forged ahead now that she knew he understood what she’d been trying to say. “It might be another half an hour or so before Dr. Levinson is finished with her examination. And, then Officer Kane will need to see her. I’m not quite sure how long that might take. In the meantime, Dr. Levinson had me call someone to cover for you. Why don’t you wait in her office?”

He shook his head. “No. What room Amy?”

Amy exhaled slowly. “She’s in room nine.”

*****

Time ticked by ever so slowly. With closed eyes, Cameron leaned up against the wall outside of Cree’s examining room. He focused on breathing normally as he waited.

Finally, Dr. Levinson came out. “Cameron?”

He was anxious. “Can I see her now?”

“Yes. But, I have to warn you, she’s still really upset, so we had to give her something. Luckily, the bastard didn’t get to complete the act. But…” Dr. Levinson hesitated. “We’re going to admit her for observation. Cameron, I don’t want you to be surprised when you see her face. She’s pretty banged up.”

The relief he felt only lasted a moment. His voice came out strangled. “Can I see her?”

“The officer should speak with her first, but, I’ll let you in for a moment. Just a moment. She’ll need you to be strong Cameron.”

“Thank you. And, thank you for taking care of her.” Cameron bolted past her. All he could think of was getting to Cree.

Tentatively, Cameron entered Cree’s room. He put his shaking hands in his pockets. She needed him to be strong. He prayed he could be considering how tight his chest was with emotion.

Cree was lying quietly on her side facing away from the door bunched up into a tiny ball. She looked so small…fragile in that hospital gown.

All Cameron wanted to do was gather her in his arms and hold her. He’d do anything to make this all go away, but he didn’t know what to say or do?

Quietly, he spoke. “Cree? Babe, I’m here. I came as soon as I…” His voice trailed off. As soon as he what? As soon as he heard she’d been hurt?

Damn it. It should never have happened in the first place. He should have been there.

Cree stiffened at the sound of his voice. How was she going to face Cameron? She closed her eyes as the unending stream of water leaked from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks before finally dripping onto her arm. The sting of her tears as they fell over her split and swollen lip was just another reminder of how she wasn’t able to stop that monster.

Cameron managed to walk from the door to the side of her bed. His hands itched to touch and comfort her. Would she let him? Would she hate him for not being there?

He gazed at the back of her head as he swallowed the bile that rose up and threatened to burn a hole inside of him. Cameron could barely get the words out. “Cree. I’m so sorry. If I’d been home this never would have happened. I hope you can forgive me.”

It hurt to even clear her throat. However, in a near whisper Cree responded, “It wasn’t your fault.”

He tried to touch her but she almost jumped out her skin. Pained, Cree spoke. “I…I’m…sorry…I…”

He kept reminding himself to be strong. She needed him. Whatever he was feeling he’d have to deal with later. “
Shhhh
…it’s okay. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

Cameron wanted to die inside. In that moment, he realized that bastard hadn’t just brutalized her but robbed them of an intimacy that only they shared. She didn’t even want him to touch her. Up until this moment, he’d been the only man to
ever
touch her.

He was so angry and afraid that if he were in the same room with the person that did this, he just might strangle him with his bare hands.

Cree turned towards him and for the first time, he saw her face. It was like a sucker punch to the gut. His breath was caught in his throat.

Both of her beautiful brown eyes were almost swollen shut. He could still make out the blood vessels that had been burst in one of them. Her bottom lip had been cut and was swollen as well as her entire face. Apparently, one of her hands or wrists had been hurt because it was bandaged. Cameron was already wound up tight, but seeing the welts and scratch marks around her neck almost sent him over the edge.

Cree was so embarrassed. “I know. He really did a job on me.”

Unthinking, Cameron pulled her into his arms. “You’ve never been more beautiful than in this moment.” He didn’t realize the tears he’d been fiercely holding back fell until he tasted them.

Cree couldn’t relax. She didn’t want to be touched or held…and gently but firmly pulled away. “Cameron…I…can’t…”

There was a knock on the door interrupting them. “Mrs. Jacobs?”

Cree was relieved. She didn’t have to try to explain anything just yet. She knew that he only wanted to comfort her but she couldn’t handle it.

Officer Kane entered with Dr. Levinson. “I’m sorry but I need to take your statement.”

She nodded.

Cameron stepped aside and turned his head as he wiped away tears so that Cree wouldn’t see them.

The Officer turned to Cameron. “We’re going to need to interview Mrs. Jacobs alone.”

His jaw clenched. “I’m not leaving my wife.” She needed him.

“Mrs. Jacobs would you like your husband to stay?”

Cree stared down at her hands. She didn’t want to share anything with anyone and she especially didn’t want to do it in front of Cameron. After another brief hesitation, she shook her head, no.

Feeling shut out and frustrated, he balled up his fists at his sides and took another breath. “Okay. But, I’ll be right outside that door.” He pointed at it as he started to walk towards it.

Each step away from Cree was almost impossible to take but for her sake he’d do it.

*****

Later that night, Cree had been moved into a private room and was sleeping soundly. Dr. Levinson gave her pain medication and something to aid her sleep.

Cameron never left her side. He sat uncomfortably in a chair watching her sleep and holding her hand. While Cree had been interviewed by Officer Kane, he’d placed a difficult call to both her grandfather and Melody.

A short while later David called him back. They hadn’t talked in a while. “Hey man, Melody told me what happened. She’s beside herself crazy about it. I’m ready to get in the car and drive all night to beat the shit out of whoever did this to her. We won’t kill him but it’ll be close. Just say when and where.”

Cameron leaned forward on his elbows and dropped his head into his hands. He was deadly serious. “I promise, if he wasn’t already locked up, I
would
kill him.”

“Who could blame you?” David sighed, “Just so you know, Mr. Watson was ready to get on the first train to New York. We weren’t going to let him do that alone. Melody and I moved some things around and we’ll be pulling out of here in a couple of hours. We’ll drive him up.”

“Honestly, I don’t know how Cree will feel about being around anyone right now.”

“I can understand that but, there’s no keeping Mr. Watson away. It’s not going to happen. And, we can’t let him come alone. So, we’ll figure something out when we get there.”

“David…”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“You don’t thank family.” He paused. “Take care of yourself until I get there.”

Cameron disconnected the call and sat back in his chair. He threw his head back and closed his eyes for just a second. They burned.

After another few minutes, there was a gentle knock on the door. Cameron got up to answer it. Slowly, he pulled it open to see Robert and Freddie standing on the other side.

Instead of letting them come in, he stepped out of the room and into the hallway closing the door behind him. Robert spoke first. “We heard about Cree. How is she doing?”

He didn’t want Cree used for hospital gossip but Cameron couldn’t worry about that right now. “She’s doing her best to keep it together.”

Robert put his hands in his pockets. “Well, thank god for that dude in your building coming in when he did. As bad as this is it could have been a hell of a lot worse.”

Cameron ran his hands down the back of his head. “I can’t wrap my mind any of this.”

Freddie spoke. “It would be hard for anyone. Just know that we’re here for both of you. If you need anything, just say the word.”

“Thanks Freddie. I don’t want to be away from her too long. I’m going to go back inside but I promise I’ll call if we need anything.”

Cameron went back inside and closed the door. He walked over to Cree’s bed and stood over her. He bent low and gently kissed her on the forehead. Even though he knew that she couldn’t hear him, he still spoke low. “I love you, baby.”

*****

Sometime during the middle of the night Cameron dozed off. He jumped when his cell phone vibrated the next morning. He hurried to answer it before it woke up Cree.

He croaked, “Hello.”

“Cameron.”

He stilled.

“Mom? What?! How? Never mind, it’s a small town. Why are you calling me?”

“Yes.” Nervously, she hesitated. “Mr. Watson called to tell us about what happened with Cree. He’s been keeping in touch with us over the years, letting us know how you kids were doing, and…”

Anger radiated from him. Speaking through clenched teeth and a hushed tone he asked, “And what?! Why are you calling me?”

“Cameron, you’re still our son. We love you and just wanted to offer our support.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You cut me out of your life because of Cree and now, you want to call me. NOW?! Forgive me if I don’t leap up and down.”

“We’ve made mistakes. But, you have to know we just wanted what was best for you. We were wrong. It’s obvious how much you love her.”

He didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with his parents. “I can’t do this with you right now. I’ve got to take care of my wife.” Cameron hung up. He hadn’t spoken to his parents in several years and wasn’t quite sure how he felt about it. What he did know was that he wasn’t going to spend any time on it now. Cree was his first and only priority.

A moment later, a nurse came in to check on Cree. “Good morning, Dr. Jacobs.” She spoke to him as she went over and checked her vitals.

Cree stirred but didn’t wake up. Cameron got up and stretched. He stood closer to Cree as he watched the nurse’s every movement.

“Everything looks good and her swelling has gone down considerably. She might want something for the pain when she wakes up. So, I’ll be back when she does. Just press the button.” As the nurse was leaving she turned around. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

Cameron rubbed the stubble on his face that had grown overnight. “No, but thank you.”

After the nurse left, he decided to take a quick moment to use the bathroom.

As soon as he left, Cree opened her eyes. She hadn’t been asleep. She had awakened when the nurse came into her room however, she needed a bit more time because she still wasn’t ready to face Cameron. Although, at some point, she wouldn’t have a choice, for now, Cree just wasn’t ready, not yet.

It was virtually impossible for Cree to go back to a dreamless sleep without the help of medication. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of her attacker appeared. His hard eyes and heavy breathing was something she would never forget and the smell of his cologne. It would stay with her forever.