Page 35 of First Comes Marriage
She takes a deep breath as she curls into me, the occasional hitch in her breathing slowly settling down. “I think I was on autopilot when your boss first called me. Mindy took over, got our food, paid our check, then drove us back home in my vehicle because I couldn’t stop shaking. Then, when I got home, Abuela and Nonna were wailing and praying as the twenty-four-hour news channel was live over the scene, which was horrific to see, Dex. They had already packed a suitcase for me, instinctively figuring out that you might be involved. While we waited for the car that your company sent for me, Mindy made sure to gather my electronics and chargers, then she said she would stay with the grandmothers to help them with the pets.”
“We have some good friends, don’t we?” I query.
“The very best,” she affirms before she continues, “I’m not gonna lie, after Grampy died, I didn’t really have much use for God any longer. He took my parents, then my grammy, and then Grampy, leaving me all alone. How was that love? So, I’ve been angry with him for a few years. But I forgot something that Grammy told me a long time ago. He has shoulders big enough to carry the world on, so He understands when humans get angry. I prayed the whole flight that you were still alive because Bruce didn’t have any information regarding your injuries, but it didn’t reallyregister with me just how badly you were hurt. Even though I talked to the doctor, and the nurse tried to prepare me, I was still in utter shock when I saw you laying there, immobile, your legs in the air and wrapped in gauze, your beautiful face all banged up and bruised and your arms…God,Dex, seeing one in a sling while the other was wrapped in the special wrap they use for burn victims? I almost broke down then and there.”
“Why didn’t you? It would’ve been understandable, honey,” I softly state before kissing her temple and wiping the stray tears away.
“Because I realized that this was going to take some time before you were back to whatever new normal you were going to have and if I lost it so early in the game, I was going to be worthless. So, I sucked it up as my grampy used to tell me when I would bang my thumb with a hammer and started learning everything I needed to know so I could help take care of you. Almost got my ass tossed out a few times, but the main doctor who oversaw all your treatment despite the specialists who were constantly there? He backed me up each and every time. Several nurses ended up being fired because of their treatment of you, as well as a couple other patients. Just because someone’s not conscious doesn’t mean you can be rough with their treatment.”
“You’re feisty when you’re riled up,” I tease, earning a grin from her as she flits through those memories.
“I’m always going to champion the underdog and I positivelyloathebullies, which is what those nurses were being to those patients who were unconscious and unable to say anything. But I was able to, so I did! I also never left your side unless it was to use your bathroom to shower. Bruce catered meals in for me since hospital food kind of sucks, and I kept him apprised of your condition. To say the man was beyond livid that the ownerof that particular rig tried to cheap his way on the repairs is an understatement, Dex! He got the best attorney he could for not only you and Rex, but for Oceanic as well. He said he told the attorney to ‘take them to the cleaners’ because ‘my boys have been loyal to Oceanic, so we’re going to repay that loyalty tenfold’ if possible.”
“It’s been a great company to work for, that’s for sure,” I reply. Do I care that we’re having this heart-to-heart in the middle of the chicken coop with hens making their noises as they watch over their chicks? Absolutely not. Wherever my wife needs me, or for that matter the rest of my family, I’m going to be there.
“You’re telling me! Now that you’re feeling better, we’re going to need to revisit our budget and finances,” she says, giggling. “Because there are way too many zeroes going on in there right now, even after I prepaid the electric company for a year using the budget plan as a guide.”
“Really? We’ll do that later, keep telling me about the hospital and all that jazz,” I reply. Hell, we didn’t have to worry about money before this unfortunate incident, so I suspect wereallydon’t have to now, but I want to be smart about it and make sure we have some things in place for our future.
She takes a deep breath and mumbles, “I didn’t know crying was such thirsty work.”
“Hang on, Dynamo, I have something for you that Abuela sent out,” I tell her, reaching into my side pocket and pulling out the bottled water. After I loosen the top, I hand it to her and watch as she takes a huge gulp before replacing the cap and setting it between her legs.
“Dynamo, huh?” she teases, giggling. At my look she raises her hands and says, “Okay, okay. And now, back to the story. As you know, you didn’t get a shower until I was finally able to get that sorted out, which means your sheets weren’t changed. The excuses I heard ranged anywhere from, he’s got an infection to we’re afraid to move him in case we accidentally do something to make him worse, can you believe that shit? I did what I could, Dex, sliding clean sheets that I snatched from the linen closets under you whenever possible, but I still lodged a complaint with the Agency to Health Care Administration because of how you were treated, so I suspect that eventually, heads will roll. Thank goodness Nonna and Abuela weren’t able to come to the hospital, because I feel pretty confident that spatulas and rolling pins would’ve been flying around some folks’ heads. Anyhow, you know how it was once you were awake and of course, that we fought to keep you from going to rehab. I’m so glad we got the new doctor because he was awesome about getting your pain under control. Truly, getting you home was the best thing ever, even with nurses and therapists coming in and out all day, every day.”
“I have to agree with you there, sweetheart,” I tell her. “I was just thinking that this morning because even with all that traffic, I’m able to sleep with you in my arms, see and hear my grandmothers argue the way they do, and spend time with the kids. I know I’m not up to full strength by any means, but I feel a helluva lot better than I did a month ago, that’s for sure. I also wanted to say that I’m beyond impressed at everything you accomplished around here while I was in rehab. I know it’s because you couldn’t sleep since you weren't allowed to stay with me, but promise me that now that I’m home, you’ll contain your activities to daylight hours?”
She starts laughing because she knows I’m telling the truth. We now have a fully functional backyard oasis—the pool has been installed, along with a deck all around it, as well as a way for me to get into and out of it. A huge hot tub is on the patio, something she had ordered when the physical therapist suggested one, saying it would help after sessions. In addition to the fancy chicken coop, she put up a pen for goats, and also planted a garden, which Abuela and Nonna are overseeing with help from the kids when it comes to weeding.
“I guess I can promise that. Hopefully, now that we’re going to be inourbedroom, I’ll be too exhausted to do anything besides sleep,” she replies.
“Oh, you’re gonna be exhausted alright, wife of mine,” I retort, before leaning down to capture her lips with mine. “What say we go inside and see what we can rustle up from Abuela for lunch?”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. Thanks for listening to my nervous breakdown, Dex. I love you so much, and when it all hit me what you went through, I realized that you didn’t know how I felt and if you died, I’d never get to tell you,” she confesses.
“Well, I didn’t die, and we’re both blessed that our friendship turned into something far greater and longer lasting than either one of us expected or anticipated,” I reply, helping her up.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jolie
After my breakdown in Dex’s arms, I feel so much better! He’s truly become everything to me and at this point, I’d hazard a guess and say he knows more about me than Mindy does, and she’s been my closest confidant since we were kids.
“Mija, I have this,” Abuela says coming into the laundry room where I’m working on the current mountain that needs folded and put away.
I implemented a system that seems to be working, so far. Each of the kids has their own laundry basket, color-coded of course, and they’re responsible for bringing it down when it’s full so the dirty stuff can be washed. Abuela, Nonna, or I will get it done and then they have to take it back upstairs and put everything away where it belongs. So far, so good. Dex and I have a joint hamper, which I try to take care of because I don’t want Abuela or Nonna seeing the lacy underthings I like to wear.
It’s my one secret indulgence; sexy lingerie. Granted, the underwear has cotton inserts because no woman I know willingly allows lace in their vajayjay area since it can be itchy and irritating as hell. Not to mention the way it rubs against your more sensitive areas. I know Dex seems to appreciate it if the heated look in his eyes when I’m getting dressed is any indicator. While we still haven’t had sex, it’s my hope that it’ll happen soon. I mean, I’m not getting any younger, and I want his babies, for heaven’s sake!
“No, Abuela, this is my stuff,” I reply, blushing to the roots of my hair.
She starts giggling then leans in and whispers, “Do you think Nonna and I are nuns, mija?”
“No, ma’am,” I tell her. “But I buy my stuff at the mall, it’s kind of an expensive indulgence don’t you think?”
I have no clue why we’re whispering as if we’re sharing state secrets, but I positively adore both of these women and I’m glad I’ve been welcomed into the fold of the family the way only Abuela and Nonna can do it.
“Does wearing it make you feel good?” she asks.
