Fire and Rain (22 page)

“It’s official,” Kip said and pulled a small notebook from his shirt pocket. He’d been trained to always have one, so he carried it everywhere.

“He sustained a concussion, most likely from a collision with a car. It’s possible he has at least one cracked rib, and there are multiple abrasions.” Kip wrote it all down. “At this point, we don’t know how severe his concussion is,” the doctor explained. Kip saw Isaac stand closer to the bed, holding Jos’s hand.

“Jos, wake up,” Isaac said, and then he turned to look at Kip.

“It’s okay,” Kip said, trying to reassure him. He moved closer to Isaac and turned to the doctor.

“We’ll know more after we’re able to run some tests. We’ll admit him and put him in a room once we’re done. I honestly don’t expect him to wake up tonight. Leave a number at the desk, and we’ll call you when he wakes up.”

That was like kicking Kip’s legs out from under him. That meant it was bad—Jos might have slipped into a coma. “Thank you,” he said and quickly called in the information he’d received. Then he lifted Isaac into his arms. Kip hated to leave Jos alone, but staying here wasn’t going to be good for Isaac, and he had to be the first priority. Kip walked to the bed and took Jos’s hand, rubbing the back of it lightly with his thumb. He stood silently at Jos’s side, willing him to wake up and hoping like hell he hadn’t lost him already.

“He’s supposed to wake up when he’s sleeping,” Isaac said. He rested his head on Kip’s shoulder, whimpering softly. Kip wanted to join him. He understood just how Isaac felt at that moment.

“Let’s get you home,” Kip said. “You can see Jos in the morning.” He hoped that was a promise he’d be able to keep, for both their sakes.

Kip left and stopped at the desk, leaving a number for them to call if Jos woke during the night. Then he got Isaac in the car and drove through the wet and rainy roads to Jos’s apartment. He let them in with the key Jos had given him because he sometimes picked up Isaac, and went upstairs, helping Isaac get ready for bed.

“Will I see Jos in the morning?” Isaac asked, eyes watery, looking up at him from around his covers, Weeble and Pistachio next to him.

“I hope so.” Kip turned out the light.

“I don’t want Jos to be dead like Mama,” Isaac said, and Kip’s throat constricted. He wasn’t able to talk for a few seconds.

“I know. Me either.” He stroked Isaac’s head and did something he hadn’t done in many years: he said a prayer. It was simple, but he said it for Isaac, who didn’t deserve to lose another person who loved him, and he said one for Jos to stay strong and to get through this. Hell, he said one for himself because he didn’t know what he was going to do about the hole in his heart that would be left if anything happened to Jos. “Good night. I’ll be here, I promise.”

Isaac nodded and turned over. He was obviously tired, and Kip was relieved when he went right to sleep. He wished that were possible for him. After watching Isaac for a long time, Kip left the simple room and returned to the living room. He sat in the chair that he had given Jos when he moved in, turned on the old television, and stared blankly at the screen. Eventually he found a blanket and tried to get some sleep, but of course every sound made him jump a little. More than once he reached for his phone because he thought it had vibrated, but it was just his nervous leg playing tricks on him.

He eventually fell asleep, but he jerked awake when his phone actually did vibrate. Turned out it was a Facebook message from someone trying to sell him Mary Kay. Kip wanted to fling the dang phone across the room, but he sighed and put it away, trying to still his restless mind long enough to go back to sleep.

As soon as light shone through the windows, Kip gave up even trying to sleep and stretched his aching neck and back before going to the kitchen to make some coffee.

Isaac wandered out in his horsey pajamas, carrying Weeble under his arm. “I’m thirsty.”

Kip got some orange juice for him and made him a bowl of cereal. While Isaac ate, Kip called the hospital to see if he could get any information. He was able to find out that Jos was in a room and that visiting hours began at nine. Nothing else.

“Let’s get you dressed, and then I’ll take you to school.”

“I want Jos,” Isaac said, sucking his thumb. Kip hadn’t seen him do that before, even at the height of the stress in their lives when they’d first come to stay with him. Maybe Isaac could deal with just about anything as long as he had Jos. Kip was beginning to understand how he felt.

“I know you do. But let’s get your teeth brushed and then you can get dressed and go see your friends at school. I’m going to go see Jos and make sure he’s okay.”

“I wanna go with you,” Isaac said, whimpering, and Kip’s will collapsed like a house of cards. He’d take him with him and hope there was some good news.

“Okay. Eat your cereal and then go get dressed, and we’ll go up to see Jos.” What the hell else was he going to do? Jos was Isaac’s only family—well, other than the ice-queen aunt, and Kip was putting off calling her because as soon as she got her hands on Isaac, she wouldn’t let go.

Kip finished his coffee and called Donald to give him an update. “We’re on our way up to the hospital now.”

“Okay. I hope he gets better fast,” Donald said. “You know things will get very complicated quickly if he doesn’t.” Kip knew that all too well. He wasn’t a relative and had no real standing to make any decisions for Isaac.

“I’m done,” Isaac said as Kip hung up with Donald.

“Then let’s get ready to go.”

Isaac hurried away, and Kip made a few phone calls and then went to check on him. Isaac was in his room. He had put on a shirt, but it was backward, and he was jumping around to get into his pants. Kip grinned and helped him into the pants and got his shirt on right. The kid was so adorable. Kip had never given much thought to having kids, but now, after having Isaac around, he could see him and Jos with a house full of kids, maybe a baby.

“Can you put your shoes on?” Kip asked, and Isaac ran and got a pair of shoes. Kip found some socks and watched as Isaac flopped down on the rug and pulled them on. Kip made sure the Velcro on Isaac’s shoes was all set, got him a coat, and then took him to the living room and let him watch cartoons while he cleaned up as best he could. He was shocked at the mess a little boy could leave in his wake inside of five minutes.

Before they left, Kip called in to the department. He had some personal time, so he used one of the days. His captain had children and was pretty understanding when it came to family matters. Besides, Kip took shifts for guys who needed coverage all the time, so he didn’t feel too guilty.

“Are you ready?” he asked Isaac when he was done.

Isaac jumped up and grabbed Pistachio, and Kip turned off the television. Then he took Isaac’s hand and they left the apartment.

The rain had stopped sometime in the night. It was still cloudy, but the sun was desperately trying to peek through. Somehow Kip got Isaac in the car without him racing off to play in one of the nearby puddles. He saw him eyeing them, and on a different day he might have made a run for it, but instead Isaac sat quietly while Kip buckled him in, and then Kip drove as quickly as he dared to the hospital, his nerves ramping up by the second.

He was a police officer, trained to handle difficult situations, but he felt like he was seconds from falling apart. If for no other reason, he held it together because Isaac was in the car, and pulling off the side of the road so he could go to pieces with fright and worry wasn’t an option. He parked the car and held Isaac’s hand as they crossed the parking lot to the hospital. Isaac held Pistachio tightly under his arm. He was an amazing little boy, just like his brother was an incredible man.

“Josten Applewhite,” Kip said.

“I’m sorry, but he’s too young to go up with you,” the lady said.

“Isaac is Josten’s brother.”

“I’m sorry,” she said.

Kip was in no mood, and he wasn’t going to let anything keep Isaac from seeing his brother. What if the worst happened? He didn’t want to think about it. Kip pulled out his wallet and showed her his badge. “I’m not here in an official capacity, but this little boy is going to see his brother.”

“Okay,” she said. “He’s in room 304.”

“Thank you.” Kip lifted Isaac into his arms and carried him to the elevator. They rode up, and Kip kept wondering what he was going to find when he got there. He walked down the hallway, past room after room, and then stopped outside 304. He pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Jos lay on the bed, looking much as he had the night before. The machines were still there, flashing their numbers.

“Jos,” Isaac said, squirming to get down. He hurried to the bed and patted Jos’s hand. “You need to wake up.”

“Buddy, I don’t….” Kip’s voice caught in his throat when Jos’s eyes slid open and that familiar blue, the warmest color he’d ever seen, shone in the dark room. Isaac burst into tears, and Jos lightly stroked his head. Kip wasn’t even sure if Isaac knew why he was crying, but Jos stroked his hair as Isaac put his head and shoulders on the bed.

“I’m okay,” Jos whispered. “I’m gonna be fine.”

“I thought you were going to the angels like Mama,” Isaac said, sniffling, and then he began crying once again.

“I’m not, and I’m going to be here for you for as long as you need me,” Jos said, comforting his brother gently. Kip stayed back, watching the two of them with a smile on his face.

“I heard you come in,” Jos said over Isaac’s head. “I couldn’t see you, but I knew you were here and that it was time to wake up.”

“I wasn’t….” He stepped closer, approaching the other side of the bed. Kip took Jos’s hand. “You have no idea how bad you scared me. When I found you by the side of the road—” He gave up trying to talk.

“We looked for you,” Isaac whispered. “You were in the street, all wet, and you didn’t move, like Mama.” Had Isaac seen his mother die? The thought hadn’t occurred to Kip until that moment. He would have to ask, but he hoped Isaac was talking about when he saw his mother at her funeral.

“I was crossing the street, and I heard brakes. That’s the last thing I remember,” Jos said. “I’m okay now, and I have both of you with me. That’s all that matters.”

A nurse came in the room, and she smiled and left right away. She returned a few minutes later and began checking Jos out and fussing with his pillows. “Don’t talk too much. You need to rest. I called the doctor and told him you were awake, and he said he’d be up to see you soon.” She was smiling from ear to ear. “You had us all a little worried.”

“He’s my brother,” Isaac said with the hint of a smile as he wiped away his tears.

“That’s wonderful. Your brother is a very strong man, and I’m sure he knows how lucky he is.” She gave Isaac a smile, and he leaned against the bed, putting his head on the mattress once again. Kip figured he’d crawl in with Jos if he could.

After checking everything, the nurse left, and Kip leaned over the bed. “I’ve never been so scared.”

“I’m okay,” Jos said.

“I know. I have to say I didn’t remember that chair I gave you being so uncomfortable, but the dang thing gave me time to think about a lot of things. I wanted to do what was right for you, so I kept quiet. But I’m not going to be quiet anymore. I love you, Jos. Everything fell into place when I saw you last night. Life is way too short to wait for what you truly want.”

“But….”

“I want you with me. I kept quiet before, and I let you move out, and worse, I nearly lost you. If you doubt you can make it on your own, just think of everything you’ve done. You’ve rebuilt your life almost from scratch, and you took care of Isaac, all while capturing my heart. I think you can do anything.”

Kip leaned closer and felt tears come. He nuzzled Jos’s cheek softly.

“Are you going to get mushy?” Isaac asked.

“Is it okay if I do?” Kip asked, and Isaac turned away. Kip took that as permission and kissed Jos lightly. “I do love you so much.”

Jos sighed softly. “I love you too. It’s been lonely without you. I guess I thought I needed to be on my own.”

“You’ve spent a lot of time on your own, and so have I. So maybe the real challenge is learning how to be together, because that’s what I want, and I hope it’s what you want too.”

“I do. I was happy being with you. Do you think Donald will be mad if I move back? He did help me find the apartment.”

“I think he can find another family that will need it as badly as you did.” He wanted to shout and dance for joy. “Now let’s get you better, and we’ll worry about the rest a little later.”

Jos sighed and closed his eyes.

“Is he sleeping?” Isaac asked.

“Yes,” Jos whispered and then smiled, which made Isaac grin and put a smile on Kip’s face as well. He pulled up the chair and sat down. When Isaac came over to him, Kip lifted him onto his lap, and pretty quickly Isaac drifted off to sleep. He obviously hadn’t slept much more than Kip had. When the doctor came in, he said that they were going to run some more tests now that Jos was awake, and that he had a cracked rib, but he was hopeful Jos would make a full recovery.

TWO DAYS
later, Jos came home—not to his apartment, but to Kip’s house. He was still sore and the rib was painful when he moved around, but Kip got him up into bed, and Isaac stayed with him for hours.

Jos was napping while Isaac played quietly in the living room when Kip got a phone call from Carter.

“I got the papers I requested today, and I think I’ve found something interesting. Jos and Isaac’s grandfather set up trusts for them, and guess who the trustee is?”

“Aunt Kathy,” Kip said.

“Exactly. They weren’t huge, but large enough, and I bet good old Aunt Kathy figured if she had custody of Isaac, then she could ‘invest’ his money in her business. According to the terms of the will, Jos’s money is already his, and it’s just sitting there. She doesn’t control it because he’s over eighteen.” Carter sounded so happy. This was the kind of thing he lived for—the answers to the puzzles that their job presented. It was his gift.

“She won’t control any of it soon,” Kip said. “Thanks. Send me what you have, and we’ll get a lawyer to look into it. Heaven help her if she’s done anything wrong.” Kip hung up and paced the room. He was so angry his hands clenched into fists and then released again. After calming down, he went upstairs and found Jos slowly making his way from the bathroom.