Page 21 of Jake

Uh oh.

“Jake can leave here today and go home on the plane tonight…”

Go, Dad, I was busting out!

He turned his no-nonsense gaze on me and I knew I was in trouble before he even opened his mouth.

“Tania and Natalie, with help from Mala and Waigi, will care for you for at least the next four weeks…”

“But…”

Dad raised his hand, an indication for me to shut my mouth.

“As I was saying, the girls will care for you, and Barry will assess you twice a day, every day, and you will cooperate with him. If he feels you need to be back in the hospital, you’ll be transported to Lae. You either accept these terms, or you stay here for at least two more weeks.”

Fuck, what choice did I have? Stay here and be on the verge of screaming from the coddling, or go home and put up with being fussed over by Tania and Natalie? At least at home, I’d be surrounded by my own books and music. The decision was made, even though it was one I wasn’t thrilled about exactly.

“I’ll accept your terms. Take me home.”

“Barry?” Father still needed the doctor’s approval.

“I’m not happy about it, but he might do better at home. If he stays here, being upset will only delay his recovery.”

I felt like fist-pumping the air. Victory! Well, kind of… in some ways.

“I’ll get the paperwork ready for his release.”

“I’ll go back to the hotel and call Logan, then bring Jake some clothes.” Quinn grinned. “You get to bust out of the hospital gowns, brother.”

“Thank fuck, and I’ll get to eat decent fucking food.”

“About that…” Barry started, and I turned to where he stood. “Your diet needs to be bland and soft while you recover. There’ll be no junk food or fizzy drinks.”

“Done.” I was gonna agree to anything if it meant I got to bust free. I could make changes once home when no one was around.

I had no idea how wrong I was.

***

I was the tallest and more muscular of my three brothers, and the clothes I’d brought to the island had long gone missing with my suitcase when it was ditched on the tarmac at Rabaul airport. Mum had decided any of Connor’s or Quinn’s would have caused too much pain due to the tight fit, so she’d gone to a local market and purchased some she thought would be suitable for me to wear on the journey home.

I sat on the side of the bed alone; the nurse helping me had left the room to gather medications I needed to take home. Sweat poured from my face caused by the exertion of dressing in a patterned laplap and t-shirt sporting a colourful image of a Kumul. On my feet were a pair of blue thongs. The bandages I was wrapped in from head to toes felt stifling and my breath came in short gasps. It still hurt like a motherfucker to expand my chest and take decent breaths.

I lowered my head, closed my eyes, and concentrated on slowing my racing heartbeat. When I heard footsteps crossing the floor of the room, my eyes snapped open.

“Barry.”

“Afternoon. Struggling?”

I nodded; it was no use denying what the doctor could clearly see. “The nurse helped me dress in two pieces of basic clothing, and I feel like I’ve run a fucking marathon.”

“You won’t be returning to those for a very long time, my friend.”

If ever hung in the air between us and a sadness washed over me. I’d loved taking part in marathons, helping to raise money for worthy causes.

Barry came to sit on the bed next to me and I attempted to confront my worst fear. One I’d avoided discussing with him over the past weeks.

“Will I…? Can I…?” It was hard bringing myself to ask the question that, so far, I’d danced around. Unsure I wanted to know the answer; I lowered my eyes.