"When You Want Her Back..."


Chapter Thirteen,


Still with her head resting on Bret’s shoulder and his arms around her April stared at the water. After telling him her decision they seemed to just sit there with each other enjoying the day or possibly just realizing what they had just went through. In the beginning April really thought that she would loose Bret but it seemed that just like that she had him back, and it couldn’t be any better. Glancing up at Bret she stared at his now green eyes. Smiling at him she caught his attention. “What?” He said looking down at her.

“Nothing.” She said feeling the redness rush to her cheeks as she had just gotten caught staring into his eyes. “I love your eyes”

“They are just eyes” He said looking away from her face.

“No, they are your eyes. That’s what makes them so great.” Still grinning he gave her a squeeze. His arms wrapped around hers she felt safe.

“So,” he said “what are we gonna do now?”

Sit here in each others arms for ever, she thought. “Well I have to tell Jay my decision so he can go get the paper work and crap settled. You’ll get her back I promise.”

“And after that?”

“Well I was hoping you would tell me that.” She told him raising a hand to his hair and twirling it in her fingers.

“I think that next you should still see Hana. You‘re welcomed to visit anytime. I also think you should stop by to visit me. I do want to see you more April.” Smiling a smile so wide she felt relief. He had just said the answer she wanted to hear. “There’s only one problem.” He said.

“And that is?” She asked raising herself in preparation for what ever he had to say.

“Rosa.” Confused she raised her eyebrows and glanced around. Using her index finger she made circles moving clock wise signaling him to go on. “She loves me. More then just a friend.”

“And do you love her?” April worried as he hesitated to answer the question.

“I will always love Rosa. Just not the way she loves me. There is a big difference.”

Pulling his hand into hers she said “I trust that.” Feeling completely at ease in a world of intimacy with Bret April jumped as her phone vibrated in her pocket. Giggling at how her phone had managed to startle her she reached for it.
“Hello” She said smile on her face.

“April, It’s Jay. Where are you?” She could here the tense in his words and worry hit her like a car slamming into a tree. Getting up from her position with Bret she stiffened her posture.

“Something wrong Jay?”

“You’re not going to be happy. Make sure that you’re sitting.” He said sighing. “It’s Lena.”

“Uh Oh” she said noticing Bret become concerned and his hand resting on her shoulder for support.

“Lena was found in an abandoned apartment building. April she was Passed out from an over dose of drugs. She’s in the hospital right now but the police say that the minute she’s well they are arresting her. Drug usage isn’t a small crime April. She could serve real time for this.”

Shaking her head April refused to believe what she was hearing yet she knew it was all true. “This is just what I need” she said rubbing her forehead.

“Look April if you don’t want to deal with this it’s fine just your sister’s going on and requesting you be there. Well when she’s awake that is.”

“No, no Of course I’ll be there for her. She’s my sister Jay.”

“I know but...” He paused then continued “Ok well just stop by the office and I’ll give you the address of her hospital but I can’t go with you. I have a meeting to go to.”

“That’s fine.” April said then added. “By the way, what’s up with these meetings? You don’t usually go to meetings.”

“Business.” He said before hanging up the phone. Kind of curious she gave the meeting question a thought but then set it aside as the thought of her sister being arrested dawned on her.

In ways she thought that this was completely her fault. She kicked her sister out and told her not to come back. This decision probably left her sister with no other choice but to turn to drugs for support. She had told herself that she would always be there for her sister. It was her blood sister how could she not? Yet that was exactly what she had done. She turned her back on her sister and pushed her into doing drugs. This fact probably made her the worse sister ever. Tears form in her eyes as she surrendered her face into her hands. A sob leaked out and as if he knew she needed it Bret was there with his arms around her.

He removed her hands from her face and wiped away tears. Cooing her he rocked back and forth in attempt to make her sobs stop. Only April knew better. The sobs would never stop because her thoughts never did. Her thoughts were like dreams and nightmares. She had no control over them yet they had a powerful effect on her.

Pulling away from Bret’s arms she said “Come with me to the hospital?”

Bret drove his ford explorer with one hand on the wheel and the other holding April’s hand. Although they each had a car Bret insisted that he drive them both because of her emotional condition. April had broken down and he didn’t feel she was ok to drive. He also partly didn’t want to leave her alone. He felt some what protective of her and considered it his job to be there for her when she needed him.

As of now bags hung under April’s eyes and a frown occupied her lips. Her hair was in a simple brush back tied up look and her jean jacket wore loose on her body. She wore simple jeans with a fitting shirt that had the word “Independent” written on it. Bret had to admit that April was the only woman he knew that seemed to always prefer jeans.

They had stopped by her lawyer/friend’s office and picked up the full information on Lena. They got the address to the hospital, her room number, and exactly what speed to drive there in. It surprised Bret how much information Jay had received on her sister. He noted that Jay was handy and paid more attention to the road ahead of him or rather the parking lot in front of him.

Pulling into the hospital parking lot he paid for two hours worth of space and walked out with his arm linked through April’s. Walking at a slow pace they both stayed quiet. He didn’t know exactly what to say to her. It wasn’t everyday he faced visiting an over dosed sister with a friend or even a girlfriend.

The thought actually gave Bret the chills. April was his girlfriend which sounded so odd. It didn’t sound wrong it just sounded odd. He hadn’t had a girlfriend in a long time. In about four years which was a long time. A year is twelve months, a year is 365 days, a year is 8760 hours. Four years is four times as much and that thought just stunned him. Four years of his life gone.

Ripping his mind away from the aimless thoughts he said “You sure you want to do this?”

April stopped in mid-walk and said “I have to don’t I?”

Glancing away for a second he thought about his response. “She’s your sister. If you ask me I think you already knew the answer to that.”

April nodded her head in agreement. “Your right”

“The only question is” he said “Are you ready for it?”

Raising a hand to the side of her face and massaging her temple she said “Help me be strong?”

“Of course” he said then pulled them to continue walking together.

The hospital was one huge hospital. There were exactly Three hospitals around here and all of them were huge with a billion doctors and barely any patients. Not many people got hurt and even if they did most people were so stubborn they refused to go. Hospitals in sandy hook were made mostly for the old.

Walking through the hospital doors he noted how correct his statement had been. The smell of old people and IV hit his nostrils and he had to take a moment to get over it. The air was stale and the pace in the hospital was quite slow. Walking to the front desk Bret cleared his throat. “We’re here to see room 426 . Lena Sanders.” April nodded her head as signal of approval and glanced around.

“Where are the elevators?” she asked still looking around.

The lady simple pointed to her left and said almost with out life “Left hand side straight down make a right. You couldn’t miss it.”

Bret thanked the woman and walked with April to the elevator. April had changed when they entered the elevator. She had become a worried family member in search of her sister. Her eyes had changed to a lighter shade of brown that held a bit of concern. He wished that he could some how just give her strength. He wished that he could some how switch places with her preventing her from baring the pain that she was undergoing.

Elevator doors finally opening both Bret and April entered. Bret hit the button for the forth floor and waited as the elevator doors closed and the elevator began to move. Turning toward April he saw her biting her nail. He pulled her hand away and quickly replaced her hand with his lips. Breaking from the kiss he said “Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. I’m here for you.”