circular shape out of a bigger bandage to cover the head-wound. “You need to be real careful when you wash your hair. I’m not sure if this will hold or not, but if you get any soap on this you’re going to know it. Go ahead and take the tensor bandage off from around your rib cage. It will probably be tender, so be careful not to bump into anything or bend over too quickly.”
Jenna grabbed hold of the back of the chair and stood on her own. “What about these?” She pulled at the flannel shirt. “How long have I been wearing this?”
“A week…no, more like five, maybe six days?” He pondered, and raised a finger. “I think I have another pair still in the package. I’ll be right back.”
Six days? She did the math in her head. Is tonight Christmas Eve?
Jack returned with pajamas the same as she had on, only blue. “I know they’re not what you’re used to, but they’ll keep you warm.”
“They’re perfect.” She smiled and took them from him. “I just realized its Christmas time. Maybe Santa will bring me a flannel nightgown.”
Her legs started to wobble and she tried to sit back down without raising any suspicions of not being as strong as she wanted him to believe.
“I’m afraid Santa doesn’t stop out here,” he said matter-of-factly, and picked up his empty coffee cup. “Do you want a refill while the tank heats up?”
“Sure.” Jenna set the pajamas on her lap. “So, what do you do for Christmas? Do you have family nearby to spend the holidays with?”
Jack set a fresh coffee in front of her. “No, no family. Christmas is just another day around here.” He shrugged. “What about you? Are you sure you don’t want to be home for the big day?”
She laughed. “Very sure. I can’t believe I don’t care about what’s under the tree. It’s like I’m two people—Jenna before the accident and Jenna after the accident.” The near death experience had apparently changed her list of priorities. Material possessions now placed real low on the scale, and just being alive and breathing came first.
“Well, I didn’t know the old Jenna, but the new Jenna is pretty cool.”
He quickly turned away, but not fast enough to hide his visibly flushed face at being just as surprised by the compliment as she was.
“Water should be hot. I, um, need to take the dogs out. I won’t be long if you need help with anything.”
“Thanks.” She got up, fully intent on making it to the bathroom on her own. After one painful step without any support it became crystal clear it wasn’t an option.
Without making a big production of it, her knight came to her aid, yet again. He put her arm through his and set off toward the bathroom.
“Don’t forget, ten minutes. You might want to wash your hair first.” He gave her a subtle wink before opening the door and, waiting a few seconds after she stepped inside, closed it behind her.
A cool draft wafted up from under the bathroom door, followed by the sound of the outside door closing. Clean towels, a bar of soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush still in the package sat in a neat pile in the sink. There wasn’t another surface he could have put them aside from the toilet.
Jenna undressed and carefully removed the bandage to reveal a bruised and very tender rib cage. She turned the water on for a couple of seconds before stepping into the warm stream.
Ahhhh, heavenly!
It was a far cry from the luxuries afforded her at home, but in the short time she’d been in the cabin, she’d discovered there was no price tag on how she was feeling right now. Alive.
True to Jack’s words, she’d barely finished washing and rewashing her hair when the water ran cooler, and cooler…to cold. Her teeth chattered as she dried off as best she could in the cramped space and put the clean PJ’s on.
Feeling reasonably human for the first time in days, she opened the door to ask Jack to help her to the sofa—she wasn’t even going to try doing it
Jenna grabbed hold of the back of the chair and stood on her own. “What about these?” She pulled at the flannel shirt. “How long have I been wearing this?”
“A week…no, more like five, maybe six days?” He pondered, and raised a finger. “I think I have another pair still in the package. I’ll be right back.”
Six days? She did the math in her head. Is tonight Christmas Eve?
Jack returned with pajamas the same as she had on, only blue. “I know they’re not what you’re used to, but they’ll keep you warm.”
“They’re perfect.” She smiled and took them from him. “I just realized its Christmas time. Maybe Santa will bring me a flannel nightgown.”
Her legs started to wobble and she tried to sit back down without raising any suspicions of not being as strong as she wanted him to believe.
“I’m afraid Santa doesn’t stop out here,” he said matter-of-factly, and picked up his empty coffee cup. “Do you want a refill while the tank heats up?”
“Sure.” Jenna set the pajamas on her lap. “So, what do you do for Christmas? Do you have family nearby to spend the holidays with?”
Jack set a fresh coffee in front of her. “No, no family. Christmas is just another day around here.” He shrugged. “What about you? Are you sure you don’t want to be home for the big day?”
She laughed. “Very sure. I can’t believe I don’t care about what’s under the tree. It’s like I’m two people—Jenna before the accident and Jenna after the accident.” The near death experience had apparently changed her list of priorities. Material possessions now placed real low on the scale, and just being alive and breathing came first.
“Well, I didn’t know the old Jenna, but the new Jenna is pretty cool.”
He quickly turned away, but not fast enough to hide his visibly flushed face at being just as surprised by the compliment as she was.
“Water should be hot. I, um, need to take the dogs out. I won’t be long if you need help with anything.”
“Thanks.” She got up, fully intent on making it to the bathroom on her own. After one painful step without any support it became crystal clear it wasn’t an option.
Without making a big production of it, her knight came to her aid, yet again. He put her arm through his and set off toward the bathroom.
“Don’t forget, ten minutes. You might want to wash your hair first.” He gave her a subtle wink before opening the door and, waiting a few seconds after she stepped inside, closed it behind her.
A cool draft wafted up from under the bathroom door, followed by the sound of the outside door closing. Clean towels, a bar of soap, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush still in the package sat in a neat pile in the sink. There wasn’t another surface he could have put them aside from the toilet.
Jenna undressed and carefully removed the bandage to reveal a bruised and very tender rib cage. She turned the water on for a couple of seconds before stepping into the warm stream.
Ahhhh, heavenly!
It was a far cry from the luxuries afforded her at home, but in the short time she’d been in the cabin, she’d discovered there was no price tag on how she was feeling right now. Alive.
True to Jack’s words, she’d barely finished washing and rewashing her hair when the water ran cooler, and cooler…to cold. Her teeth chattered as she dried off as best she could in the cramped space and put the clean PJ’s on.
Feeling reasonably human for the first time in days, she opened the door to ask Jack to help her to the sofa—she wasn’t even going to try doing it
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