Page 49 of The Legend
He grinnedbriefly, stood along with Axel, and motioned to the door. “Can we see Arie?”
“Yeah,she’s awake.”
Arie wouldbe fine. Aside from the bruises, she had a cracked rib but it was more of anemotional blow for her. Arie was a tough girl and to let a guy have that kindof control over her wasn’t something she took lightly especially after herdealings with Ricky Hagen last year.
Sway and Iwatched from in the hall as the boys entered her room to sit in bed with her,she seemed happy to have them with her.
While Swaysmiled watching them interact with her, I focused on her, more beautiful thanthe first day I met her. Leaning back against the wall, I crossed my left footover my right and did the same with my arms. My head hung, staring at my blackPuma shoes before looking back up at Sway when she let out a soft giggle at thekids messing with each other.
Sighing, Ileaned into her, our bodies coming together. My right hand lifted to pull heragainst me tighter.
“I neversaw it,” I muttered mostly to myself but she heard.
“It was hardto see,” she answered avoiding my gaze, “Don’t be so hard onyourself.”
She knew.
Nodding,my head rested against her shoulder as my arms wrapped tightly around her.
“How’d Imiss it? How did I not realize?”
“Youweren’t ready.” Her voice seemed to hold pain. A pain I knew well. “Tosee it, you had to understand. At the time, you didn’t.”
“I’m readynow.”
Swaysmiled with soft reassuring eyes. “I know you are.”
Forsomeone to hold onto something for so long, so strongly, it was hard to imagineit could be relieved by just three words, but it was.
Then shesaid it.
“I needyou.”
She did.She needed me to be strong. Be the man, husband and father to our kids. Moreimportantly, she needed her other half as our lives changed over time, to beher own fire resistant head sock.
I wouldn’tsay everything fell into place after that. It was a constant battle withmyselfbut it helped to realize the consequences of myreactions to it. When I hurt, Sway hurt, our kids hurt. That’s what changed forme. Take off the head sock and you’re vulnerable, but guess what? So is yourfamily because they feel that same heat radiating from you.
Arierecovered quickly, stayed out of trouble, and moved back home. Since she was nolonger going to school, she started working on Axel’s fan club just as Emma didfor me. Only I’m sure she was less annoying.
I did haveanother conversation with Brian that went something like this. “Touch mydaughter again, or any other woman and I’ll break every bone in your goddamnbody...slowly.”
I thinkbetween me, Axel and Lane, he got the message loud and clear.
I neverthought of myself, or my boys, as being violent but when someone close to youis in danger or harm, you would be amazed at the way you fight for theeye-for-an-eye.
Eye-for-an-eyedidn’t make things better. Sure, you feel good thinking you taught them alesson, but what are the consequences, or in my case haunting you, that iswhat’s left. Nothing makes that go away. Regardless, how hard you try. Youfight for what you believe in no matter what.
8.Open Wheel – Jameson
Open Wheel – Cars that have no fenders with exposed wheels.Examples would be midgets, sprint cars and Silver crown.
“These questions are damn near offensive,” Spencer saidnext to me.
“You mean intrusive?” I asked looking over the forms andthen signing where it said patient’s signature. Tucking the pen into theclipboard, I handed it back to the nurse and looked at Spencer.
He thought for a minute and then nodded handing his ownforms over. “Yeah, intrusive,”
Spencer was starting to sweat. “What’s wrong with you?”
