Where I Belong (Alabama Summer) (19 page)

“Mia, Ben’s been shot. He’s been fucking shot. I don’t know
anything except for that they’re taking him to St. Joseph’s hospital. Please
call me. Please.”

I can hear the restrained panic in Tessa’s voice. I fall to
the ground, my knees hitting the sidewalk and causing a shooting pain to ride
up my thighs. But that’s not the pain that has me struggling to breathe. “Oh
no, God. Please no.” I push myself up and begin running toward my jeep when I
remember my aunt. “Fuck!” Running faster than I ever have, I take the stairs
because I don’t want to wait for the elevator. My aunt is where I left her and
she startles when she sees me, meeting me halfway next to the nurse’s station.
I’m crying and I can barely take in any air, but I manage to speak. “Ben’s been
shot. I have to go. Right now. Do I need to do something? Is there anything I
need to do here? Please can I just go?” My chest is heaving from my run and my
legs are burning, but I don’t care. And if I have paperwork or anything I have
to do, it will have to wait.

She squeezes my hand, shaking her head with concerned eyes.
“No, sweetie. Go. I’ll take care of everything. Call me when you get there.”

I run back down the stairs, nearly falling in my hurried
state. Once I get outside, I dial Tessa’s number as I sprint to the jeep. It
goes straight to voicemail.

“I’m on my way. Oh my God, please call me back and tell me
he’s okay. Tell him I love him, Tessa. Tell him I’m going to say that to him
every second for the rest of his life. He’ll never go another day without
hearing those words from me.” I wipe the tears from my eyes so I can focus on
the road in front of me as I whip through the parking lot. “Please don’t take
him away from me,” I whimper my plea to God and to Tessa, not knowing if either
one of them will hear me. If Tessa is in the hospital, she probably won’t get
this message until she walks outside. And if Ben is dying, why would she leave
him? I wouldn’t leave his side if I was there. The man I spent the last two
hours bitterly hating was the man I loved more than anything in the world. He
was my life, my family, and my future. I couldn’t lose him. I
wouldn’t
lose him. I’ve never believed in fate before, but I did the moment I saw Ben in
that bar. He was always the one for me. We were always meant to end up
together. And the two hundred miles that are separating us now will be the last
thing to ever keep us apart. I’ll make damn sure of that.

Tessa

“I want pamcakes! I want pamcakes!” Nolan yells, jumping up
and down on the sofa. “Pamcakes, pamcakes, pamcakes!”

I love my nephew, but I’m about to stick him in the dryer.

I grunt my annoyance, looking for any sign of the red jeep out
the window. “Nolan, relax please. Mia should be back any minute.”

“It’s
Pwincess
Mia,” he corrects me, causing me to
narrow my eyes at him.

I snatch my cell phone from his little grubby fingers and
dial her number. It rings four times and then her voicemail greeting comes
through the phone. I wait for the beep. “Oh my God. Please tell me you’re on
your way back. The little monster is getting unbearable to be around. Oh and if
you’re still at the store, can you pick me up some mountain dew?” I hang up and
watch as Nolan rips all the pillows off the couch and jumps on them like stones
in a creek. “How about some Fruit Loops to hold you over?”

He jerks his head up and connects with my eyes. “Gwoss. I
hate fwuit woops. I want pamcakes.” His little menacing body flies into the air
with each leap he takes. “Pwincess Mia pwomised me.”

I turn away from him and look out the sliding glass door,
praying that Mia’s body will come into view any second. But it doesn’t. And my
impatience begins to grow right along with Nolan’s as the time ticks by. I dial
her number again.

“Hey. You do remember how to get to my parents’ house,
right? Nolan’s about to start eating the furniture.”

And again.

“Which grocery store did you go to? There
are
some in
Alabama. I’m about to start making pancakes out of cornmeal and I’m not sure
how those are going to go over so you might want to speed it up a little.”

And again.

“Sweet Jesus! Would you call me and let me know that you’re
still alive!”

Nolan’s voice grows louder and louder, more urgent as the
minutes drag on. I silence him with my phone when I think my head is going to
explode and raid the fridge myself. I don’t need to wait for pancake mix to eat
breakfast. I am perfectly happy with Fruit Loops, unlike my hot meal loving
nephew.

“Nolan, don’t buy any more apps. I will be looting your
piggy bank to pay for the seven that you’ve bought already.”

He doesn’t respond as I clean up my dishes, most likely
browsing the hottest games on ITunes. Another hour goes by before I grab my
phone and really start to worry. There’s no way in hell it should take Mia this
long. Not unless she really did go to another state to grocery shop. I notice
the missed call from Mia on my screen.

“Nolan, damn it. You turned my volume down.”

He gasps softly and I look up at his wide-eyed stare. “You
said a bad wowrd.”

Shit.
I hold my phone up to my ear to listen to her
voicemail, turning the TV on as a distraction. Hopefully he’ll find something
amusing and will forget all about my potty mouth. I really don’t feel like
getting my ass handed to me by Ben for my language usage around his son.

“Hey, it’s me. I’m so sorry I missed your calls but I’m in
Fulton at the hospital. It’s my mom. She’s dying, Tessa. I got the call from my
aunt when I was at the grocery store and I just drove straight here. Can you
tell Ben to call me? Or text me or something? I tried calling him but he didn’t
answer. Oh and tell Nolan I’m sorry about the pancakes. I’ll make him some the
next time I see him.”

“Oh God.” I exit my voicemail and quickly dial her number
again, cursing under my breath and moving into the kitchen. She doesn’t pick up
and I begin to cry. “Oh my God, Mia, I’m so sorry I missed your call. Nolan was
playing with my phone and turned down the volume.” I try to muffle my cries but
I’m one of those loud criers and it’s useless. “Jesus, I should be there with
you. I’m going to call Ben right now and let him know what’s going on. Just
call me when you get a chance, okay? I love you.”

I wipe my eyes and dial Ben’s number. Nolan jumps around on
the couch cushions, completely oblivious to me and anything else that isn’t the
cartoon he’s watching. Thank God I got his mind off those pancakes. “God damn
it.” Ben’s voicemail message begins playing. I wait for the beep and slip
farther into the kitchen, trying to get out of earshot of Nolan. “Is nobody
answering their phones today? Mia’s mom is dying, Ben. She needs you. She’s
already in Fulton and you better call her or get your ass there. I’ll take care
of Nolan. And answer your phone when I call you please.”

I dial Mia’s number again. “Hey, it’s me. I called Ben but
had to leave him a message. God, I wish I was there with you. I hate that
you’re dealing with this alone. Just call me as soon as you get this and let me
know what’s going on. I’ll keep trying Ben.”

I dial his number again.

“Answer your fucking phone. Mia needs you, asshole.”

I hang up and walk over to the counter, grabbing the box of
cookies that is almost empty. There is no way in hell I am going to inform
Nolan that he won’t be having pancakes any time soon. I’ve seen some of his
temper tantrums.

I pick up the couch cushions and resituate them before
plopping down on the end. “I feel like having cookies for breakfast.” I take a
bite of one of the chocolate chip ones as he scrambles up next to me, his crazy
gray eyes flicking from my mouth to the box. “What about you?” He nods eagerly
and dives for some cookies, lying sideways on the couch with his head at the
other end while he eats and watches his cartoon.

I dial Mia’s number several more times, hoping to get a hold
of her but get her voicemail each time. I also call Ben a few more times and
I’m sent straight to his voicemail with each dial. I’m hurting for Mia and want
to be there with her. Ms. Corelli was always so sweet to me when I was younger.
She would do anything for anybody, a quality my best friend acquired. I think
about throwing Nolan into my car and beginning the drive to Fulton, but I’d
never do that unless I made Ben aware. And since my dumbass brother isn’t
liking his phone today, I can’t make him aware of that plan.

Nolan and I devour the cookies while watching several of his
favorite shows, and just as I’m about to grab us both a drink, my phone finally
rings. I lunge for it, hoping and praying that it’s either Mia or Ben, but it
isn’t. Luke’s name flashes on my screen and I hit ignore with my middle finger
before turning it up in front of my phone as if he can see it. He is the last
person I want to talk to. He calls again, and again, and each time I hit ignore
with an irritated grunt. Until I realize like a complete dumbass that I
need
to talk to Luke. Because talking to Luke means getting through to Ben.

“Shit.” I frantically hit redial and stand from the couch,
walking around the back of it. Nolan giggles at my choice word before turning
back to his cartoon.

“Jesus fucking Christ. Finally!” Luke barks into my ear. I
open my mouth to cut him down to size and to remind him that we’re not together
so I don’t have to answer his calls when his voice halts me. “Ben’s been shot,
Tessa. They’re taking him to St. Joseph’s hospital.”

His words are like a kick to my diaphragm. I feel the air
leave my lungs and I don’t register anything else coming through the phone.
It’s all white noise. Background gibberish from a guy that I don’t really want
to talk to anyway. The bones in my hand ache as I grip the phone tighter and
stare at the back of Nolan’s head.
Ben’s been shot. Nolan. Mia.
I
somehow manage to take in a breath and find my voice.

“I’m on my way. I’ll meet you there.”

I hit end and run down the hall toward my bedroom, dialing
Mia’s number. I’m not even surprised at this point when it goes to voicemail. I
try to keep my voice as calm as I can for her. “Mia, Ben’s been shot. He’s been
fucking shot. I don’t know anything except for that they’re taking him to St.
Joseph’s hospital. Please call me. Please.”

I hang up and grab my keys before sprinting back into the
living room. “Nolan, come on. We gotta go.”

He continues jumping on the couch. “I wanna watch dis.” I
grab him and feel his body tense in protest. “Noooo!” He flails in my arms but
I just hold him tighter as we head out to my car.

“Stop it, Nolan. We need to go see Daddy.”

He immediately stops fighting me and I immediately regret
telling him where we are going. If something were to happen to Ben and Nolan
doesn’t get to see him, I’m not sure how I will handle that. Not only for him,
but for me as well. And Mia.
God, no.
I can’t think about that. Nothing
was going to happen to him. I fight back my tears and buckle Nolan in before
peeling away from the house.

St. Joseph’s hospital is thirty-five minutes away but I get
there in a little under twenty. I wanted to call my parents but I couldn’t
inform them of Ben’s situation with Nolan and his sonic hearing listening in,
so I resorted to a text message. I knew I’d get an earful once they saw that
this was the way I’d decided to fill them in, but it was my only option at the
moment.

I manage to keep myself calm when I collect Nolan from the
car and carry him into the hospital. But once the lady at the reception desk
tells me Ben’s room number, I sprint toward the elevators. I don’t know what
condition I will find him in. He could be unconscious. Unrecognizable.
Dead.
I have no idea. I don’t know the extent of his injuries and I am willing to
risk Nolan seeing his father in whatever state he is in because I need to see
him.

Once the elevator stops on my floor, I clutch Nolan against
my side as I maneuver between the people in the hallway.
319. 319.
I’m
scanning for Ben’s room number as I pass every doorway. Finally after what
feels like a lifetime, I pass room 317 and know his room is next. I stop just
before reaching his door, my heart pumping so loud it’s causing tremors in my
field of vision. I let out an unsteady breath and shift Nolan on my hip before
filling the doorway.

I’m prepared for blood.

I’m prepared for the annoying constant beeping of machines
and the sight of my brother bandaged up.

But this? I’m not prepared for this. Not after the multitude
of emotions I’ve felt today.

My heart thunders in my chest at the sight of Ben, sitting
up in bed while a nurse tends to his shoulder. He looks completely unharmed
except for the deep gash that the nurse is stitching up. Luke is sitting next
to him in a chair beside the bed and as I step into the room, both pairs of
eyes fixate on me.

“Daddy!” Nolan scrambles out of my arms and runs over to the
bed, climbing up on it.

“What the hell is this?” I gesture with my hand toward my
brother, getting a bewildered expression in return. “I thought you’d be dying.
Or at least severely injured.” I snap my head toward Luke who leans back in his
chair in response to the anger behind my glare. “Jesus Christ, Luke. You think
you could’ve mentioned that Ben was only suffering from a flesh wound! Do you
have any idea how scared I was! How scared I’ve probably made Mia!”

“Where is Mia?” Ben asks, but his question goes unanswered
when I continue contemplating how I’d like to inflict pain on the idiot in the
room.

Luke’s eyes shift from Ben’s to mine. “I told you he was
wearing his vest, thank Christ, and only took one to the arm. If he
hadn’t
been
wearing it, he’d probably be dead. Look at this thing.” He reaches down and
lifts Ben’s police vest off the ground, numerous holes visible through the
chest plate.

I put my hands on my hips. “You didn’t say that. You only
said he got shot and was en route to the hospital. Thanks for keeping the
important details to yourself, asshole.” I don’t want to admit to Luke that I
had tuned him out sometime during our conversation. He could’ve told me that
Ben was okay, and the thought of me not hearing it instead of him not saying it
was maddening. I’ve freaked everyone out for no reason. This was all me. But he
doesn’t need to know that.

Ben grabs Nolan’s head and covers his ears. “Really, Tessa?
Could you not cuss around him? And where the fuck is Mia?” he harshly whispers,
keeping Nolan completely oblivious.

Luke stands up and drops the vest on the bed. “God, I’m so
sick of this shit from you. You break up with me for no God damned reason at
all, and now you act like a complete bitch.” He bridges the gap between us,
bringing his face inches from mine. “Why did you end it? You owe me a reason
and you’re going to give it to me right fucking now.”

“I owe you shit.”

“Tessa!”

Luke and I both turn toward Ben’s frantic voice. The nurse
who is working on him grabs his shoulder and pushes him back so he’s reclining
on the bed. He’s still covering Nolan’s ears, which is a good thing. “Sir,
you’re going to have to keep still so I can finish this. If you yell like that
again, I’m likely to stick this needle straight into your arm.”

“Sorry,” he says to her before looking back at me. “Where
is
she? Nothing else comes out of your mouth until you tell me where she
is.”

I ignore Luke’s closeness and feel my stomach drop at the
thought of my best friend. “Her mom was dying. She went out to get pancake mix
for Nolan and got a call from her aunt. She’s in Fulton.”

The words come out like rapid fire and as soon as I finish
talking, Ben tries to get up. The nurse firmly pushes against his shoulder
again. “Sir, I’m not finished.”

He shrugs her off and shifts Nolan in his lap. “I don’t
care. I need to go.”

“Mr. Kelly, you can’t leave with an open wound. You’re
likely to get an infection. A nasty one at that. Let me finish stitching you up
and we’ll see if the doctor will release you.”

He grunts and leans back, both fists clenching on his sheet.
“Hurry. Up,” he firmly directs her. His eyes pierce into mine. “Why didn’t you
call me? Why didn’t she? She shouldn’t be there going through this without me.
One of us should be with her.”