Mandy's He-Man (15 page)

At the memory of June’s caring, teary-eyed expression and the fierce look on Jon Senior’s face—scarier than anything she had ever seen on JT—Mandy was devastated that so many people had now been affected by her past mistakes.

Caitlin had come to the hospital and had held Mandy as she’d cried again. Some tears had been in response to the agony that racked her body, some as a result of being terrorised once more by Con, and other tears had been with relief at the confirmation that the baby was safe. The doctors had set Mandy’s shattered arm under light sedation, but Mandy had refused to take any pain medication. Having already put JT’s baby in danger once, she hadn’t been prepared to take any more chances.

Thirsty, Mandy tried to lift the water cup from the side table, the movement causing a sharp stab of pain to race up her arm. Black dots formed before her eyes. She cried out, and in a flash her future father-in-law was standing beside her, holding the straw up to her mouth. He looked so pale and tired, Mandy thought as she took a small sip of the refreshing fluid.

“Have you been here all night?” she asked, her voice croaky.

“Of course, sweetheart,” Jon Senior answered. “There was no one game enough to ask me to leave you. You, my dear girl, are a very important person in my life, my son’s life. Speaking of JT, he should be here in a few minutes. He caught the first plane he could. Caitlin has gone to pick him up from the airport. He’s been frantic, angry that he couldn’t get here sooner.”

Mandy began to sob. “Of course he’s angry. He probably won’t ever forgive me for being so stupid. I nearly managed to get our baby killed. JT was so happy about the baby. I could have taken that happiness away from him with my reckless actions. Con was my past…and it nearly destroyed JT’s future. I put everyone in danger.” She could hear the touch of hysteria in her tone, but couldn’t stop. “What if Riley had been hurt? Caitlin and he have suffered so much loss already.”

Mandy watched as Jon Senior placed the cup back on the side table. He sat his hulking frame down carefully on the edge of the bed beside her, then gently pulled her head against his chest, holding her as she cried. Mandy knew the moisture from her tears was soaking through his crumpled shirt.

“There, there, darling… It’s not like that at all. Stop making yourself sick. JT loves you. He was angry because we failed to protect you.
I
didn’t protect you.” Jon Senior’s voice faltered before he continued, “I’ve been keeping an eye on you when JT was away. June and I have become quite good friends in the process. I usually stay in her flat to be close to you. I should have heard that mongrel before you did. I can’t say enough how sorry I am that you were hurt, Mandy. I should have got to you sooner. If it wasn’t for Riley coming and getting me from June’s, I hate to think…”

JT had reached the door to Mandy’s room as his father was lifting the drink to her lips. With the body of his father blocking Mandy’s view of the doorway and his arrival, JT had hesitated, giving himself a moment to gather control of his emotions before entering. When he’d heard Mandy’s heartfelt confession, JT had been struck dumb. How could she possibly think he would blame her? JT loved Mandy more than anything, and the thought of losing her was worse than any other loss imaginable.

Stunned, unable to comprehend Mandy’s words, JT was further shocked at the response from his father.

JT had never seen his father show emotion before. Even after the death of his mother, JT remembered the man being strong and unemotional. Stoic. Thomson men did not cry or empathise—they used power and strength to solve problems.

But there, in front of JT’s eyes, his tearful father was holding a sobbing Mandy, apologising for letting her get injured.

Crying.

God, the man had saved her—what was going on in his mind? If it took JT the rest of his life, it still would not be long enough to thank his father for being there to protect Mandy. He needed to set these two people—his wonderful, loving family—straight.

If anyone was at fault, it was him.

“Hey, Pop! You makin’ a move on my woman?”
JT said, trying to make his voice sound bright and cheery, but in fact sounding hoarse and choked up as his love for the two people before him totally overwhelmed him.

He watched as his father moved away from Mandy. JT stopped breathing as he looked upon the bruised and battered body of the tiny woman in the bed. Mandy wouldn’t look at him, seeming to shrink away from him as he reached for her. JT could not bear her withdrawal from him. His heart stuttered. It felt as if a cold, heavy rock had fallen on his chest.

“
No!
Don’t you dare pull away from me,” JT almost shouted, his words coming from his mouth harsher than he had wanted.

He tried to catch hold of his emotions, forced himself to calm down and, after making sure he had full control over the tone of his voice, JT continued, “Mandy, I love you more than my own life, more than
any
life. Baby, please, I need you. Don’t pull away.” Sitting down in the spot his father had vacated, JT pulled Mandy into his arms. The longest ten hours of his life were finally over.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mandy could not believe how much better she felt now she was safe in JT’s arms. The things his father had said were so beautiful. Mandy found it difficult to believe that these men had gone to so much trouble to protect her, only to have her nearly get herself killed. JT was always so forthright and open in his love for her, never holding back. Mandy loved JT more than she could put into words. There were not enough colours in the world to replicate her emotions, even though her mind remained void—her colours seemed to have deserted her.

Brodie, having sweet-talked the nurses into allowing them access to the ward before the usual visiting hours, was now also inside the emotion-packed room. Mandy was overwhelmed that so many people were worried for her. Clearly shaken by the recent events, Brodie kissed her gently on the forehead before explaining that Caitlin would be back after she’d collected Riley.

“The boy’s finally fallen asleep. Cait said it took hours for him to settle down. June’s been watching over him. It’s heartbreaking, knowing how much that kid has lived through. One so young should not have had to deal with so much violence and death.”

Mandy agreed wholeheartedly with what Brodie had said, and couldn’t help but feel guilty that she was to blame for the most recent incident of Riley’s distress.

“Just stop that—I know what you’re thinking.” Reading the look on her face, Brodie was quick to jump in. “Riley is fine honey. Caitlin reckons he’s just a bit hyper—kid’s full of himself after all the praise he’s been getting from old Jon and the cops for his quick thinking. I just meant that Riley has already seen a lot for his age. But he’ll be all right. He’s got some good people around him. And Mandy, you are one of them. The kid really thinks the word of you. We all do.”

Brodie was also quick to praise Mandy, telling her how proud he had been to learn from one of the nurses, who had been speaking with a paramedic about the incident, that Mandy had given back as much as—if not more than—she had received. He added that the chatty nurse had also told him Con had screamed like a baby all the way to the hospital.

Mandy, the memory of the previous night now returning more clearly, shivered as she thought of what could have been. She was thankful that Riley had not been hurt in any way, and was glad he was being hailed a hero.

“Gotta say, Brodes, I owe the kid big time. Brave and smart little bugger, running for help like he did. I’ve always had a soft spot for him, but that spot has just turned into a whole lot more. He and I will be having a conversation real soon so I can tell him in person how much he’s done for me, how much I owe him.” JT’s words still sounded choked and emotional, as if he was straining to keep control. Mandy was close to tears again at feeling so much love surrounding her.

“Talking about debt—hey, Pop, I owe you one too.” JT turned to his father and embraced him in a big, slightly awkward-looking, hug. “I’ll never be able to repay you for what you did for Mandy—for me and Mandy—for my sanity. I just thank God you were there for her, even when I wasn’t. You look beat, Dad. Go home, get some rest. You’ve been here all night. I’ve got it from here. And…I love you, Pop.”

Mandy watched, struggling to hold back her emotions as JT and his father embraced like two big bears, in what JT told Mandy later was the first real hug he had ever shared with his father.

* * * *

A tired Mandy, her arm still very painful, rested in JT’s embrace. Her head was pillowed on the familiar and comforting expanse of his broad chest. He had stretched out next to her on the hospital bed. Brodie had stayed and was asleep in the chair beside the bed—both men looked worn out. Mandy wasn’t sure if JT was awake or not. His breathing was steady and, comforted by the rhythm, she finally drifted off to sleep.

* * * *

It seemed only minutes before Mandy was awoken by the gentle touch of a nurse, who then checked her pulse and blood pressure. The smiling woman shook her head at the sight of the two large men sprawled out in the hospital room. The nurse informed Mandy that her name was Sally, and that she was about to perform a foetal heart monitor
test on ‘the bub’
.

Sally reassured Mandy that the test was nothing to worry about—just routine, part of normal hospital procedures.

“My son is going to be green with envy when I tell him about you, Ms Magenta. He’s a mad Jets fan, and hearing that some of his heroes were sleeping in one of my wards will make me quite popular, I think!” Sally laughed as she went about setting up the monitor.

“Please, call me Mandy. Yes, those two do seem to make a room seem smaller, don’t they?” Mandy chuckled at the nurse’s words, her own laugh now sounding quite foreign to her ears. “I’m sure JT will be happy to hear your son is a Jets fan. He enjoys meeting or making time for his young fans.”

Before long they could hear the rapid sound of a heartbeat, loud and clear. Mandy was so relieved, reassured to hear the beautiful noise. JT’s child had a strong and steady heartbeat. She felt JT’s arms squeeze her a little tighter. He was now obviously awake and had heard the quick, strong sounds as well. Mandy noticed Brodie was also awake, still sitting in the chair, but now leaning forwards with his hands on his knees, looking enthralled.

“Wow, that’s just amazing! Is that the baby’s heartbeat? Mandy, JT—that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. But don’t tell Caitlin I said that!” Brodie added sheepishly.

“I thought you big, tough football players would be different, but you’re really just big softies.” Nurse Sally laughed at Brodie.

“James might be soft, but I’m as tough as they come. Just like my kid,” JT growled back at the nurse. Mandy smiled, tears in her eyes but brimming with happiness.

The good-natured banter really lightened the mood. Eventually, they were all laughing aloud. Mandy thought it was a good sound after the night they had all been through. Tensions seemed to have slipped away. So as June, Caitlin and Riley peeked around the door, still full of concern, they were greeted by a roomful of light-hearted laughter.

Mandy’s doctor came later that day to check on her, only to find half the Jets team camped in her room. Mandy could tell that it was causing quite a disturbance, since the hallway outside her hospital room was filled with staff, other patients and visitors hovering around, hoping for an autograph or just a glimpse of the local sporting heroes. The doctor himself sheepishly obtained a few autographs for his son.

The doc was even promised tickets to the final in exchange for letting the rabble ‘break JT’s missus out of hospital’, as they put it, much to Mandy’s embarrassment. She was so overwhelmed with all the support JT’s friends were giving her.

The doctor—in a serious tone, but with a big smile—told the group he could not be influenced in making a decision when the health of such an important patient was at stake. The doctor’s statement brought forth cheers of “Hear, hear!” and “Good for you!”
from the rowdy group. He did inform Mandy that she would be allowed to go home as soon as she felt up to it—which was now, she had replied quickly.

As the last group of well-wishers left the room, Nurse Sally came in with Mandy’s discharge papers.

“Time to go home, dear, but you will need to take it easy for a while. Ring and make a follow-up appointment with Outpatients for your arm early next week, and thank you for organising all the autographs. My Josh will be over the moon.”

Sitting in the wheelchair as she was transported to the front door—part of hospital policy—Mandy, for the first time, gave some thought to returning to her flat. The idea was so harrowing that she shivered noticeably. JT, having just pulled his car up to the entrance, looked at her and immediately sensed something was wrong, his face becoming a mask of concern.

“Mags, honey, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind spending a few days at my place? I think Dad needs you around—he’s been so upset over all that’s happened. I still don’t understand why he feels so responsible. I think he wants to pamper you a little. It’s been a long time since he opened up and showed anyone his feelings. I still can’t believe I saw the old man cry. What do you say, you okay with that?”

Mandy would have kissed him if her broken arm had not been in the way. The last thing she felt like doing was going back to that flat in Ashfield. In fact, Mandy didn’t think she ever would, and she told JT how she felt. As he gently lifted her into the car, he assured her that it was fine with him if she never went back, just so long as she was always with him. His comforting touch and understanding of her fears was almost as good as any prescription painkiller.

* * * *

Jon Senior had seemed genuinely delighted at the news that Mandy was moving in, and maybe not just temporarily. He welcomed her warmly with a tentative hug and kiss to the forehead, enthusiastically offering to convert the back sunroom into a studio so she could resume her art whenever she felt up to it. He mentioned that he and the police officers who had been called to the Ashfield flat had been quite impressed by her artwork, especially the nudes of a very familiar-looking body, and that he had been wondering if the one of the somewhat large male appendage had been modelled for.