Over the past year nick asked every day about jess but all he got was she was fine and didn’t want to talk with him. He didn’t understand what went wrong, he had been at the bar waiting for her and she had never shown up/ when he returned home he discovered she had left without a word or a note and her parents were angry at him but wouldn’t explain. Since she had left he threw himself in to work and found he didn’t have it in him to sing at the bar any more so he packed up his guitar and gave up.
Nick was clearing out one of the stalls ready to house the mother and foal his father had just bought. Jess’s father was seeing to jovi, he spent a lot of time with that horse it was his way of being close to his daughter. It was clear he missed her as much as nick did. “Jack” Jane called out in a panic as she rushed into the stables. “Jack, where are you” she called to her husband again. He stuck his head out of the stable doorway. “I’m here what’s wrong” he asked and stepped out to meet her. “It’s jess. She’s had an accident we need to go see her” her voice cracked as she explained. Jack closed the stall door and hugged his wife. “Nick can you sort everything with your father, we have to leave” he said to nick who was frozen to the spot by the news. “Sure. Let me know how she is and if there is anything I can do” before he had even responded jack and Jane were already leaving.
Arriving at the hospital they didn’t know what they would find, all they knew was that jess had been hit by a drunk driver and was in hospital. Asking a nurse where their daughter was they hurried to her room. Laying asleep jess was covered in bruises and had a bandage around her head to cover a wound on the side of her forehead. Jack and Jane crept into the room trying not to wake her. Jane couldn’t help the tears from falling down her cheeks when she saw her daughter. A gentle knock on the door didn’t wake jess up; a doctor walked in and asked them to step outside. “Mr and Mrs Granger. I’m doctor Saltzman and I’ve been caring for Jessica” he introduced himself. “Jess, she likes to be called jess” Jane told him and he smiled at her. “She was hit by a car on her driver’s side and has a cracked rib, cuts and bruises. We are not concerned with those injuries” he explained. “However she did sustain a nasty knock to her head which has caused some swelling resulting in blindness” he waited for their reaction. “Now we won’t know any more till the swelling goes down” he added. “Will she get her sight back or is it permanent” Jane asked. “We are not sure. In most cases once the swelling goes down the sight is restored but it is too early to tell we will know more in a day or two” he told them. “ when can we take her home” Jane asked “ we would like to keep her at least another night but all going well you can take her home the day after tomorrow” he stopped as his name was called over the tanoy then made his apologies and left them alone to return to their daughter.
Jack went to get them a coffee while they waited leaving Jane alone with jess. Sitting by the bed Jane watched her daughter longing to hug her. Jess stirred and her eye lids blinked open. “Jess. Hi honey its mum” Jane said in a hushed tone. “Mum” jess’s voice was rough as she tried to sit up wincing at the pain. Jane couldn’t help herself and hugged jess trying to be gentle but still caused her pain. She then helped her to get comfortable. “I’m glad you are here mum is dad here too” the tears built up in her eyes. “He won’t be long he just went to get coffee” she replied. “I can’t see” jess told her mum “I know the doctor told us everything. Don’t worry we are here now” her mum told her trying to comfort her. “I’m sorry mum” she cried “you have nothing to be sorry about it was an accident” replied Jane. “No mum not about that I’ve been keeping something from you. I was planning on coming home and telling you everything then I got hit by that car on my way back from the market” jess continued as her father entered the room. “Jess it’s good to see you. How are you feeling” he asked as he put the two cups of coffee on the table. “Dad it’s good to hear your voice”
Jane interrupted them “what is it that you have kept from us jess your starting to really worry me now” she wanted to know. Jess took a deep breath which hurt her ribs and blurted it all out. “You have a grandson. I was pregnant when I left and I didn’t know how to tell you” the room was silent as they took in the news. “Where is he” Jane asked “Sarah has him she is bringing him in at visiting time. His name is Jackson, jack for short. Jack after you dad and Jackson after your maiden name mum” jess told them. 2 and the father is nick isn’t it” Jane asked while jack seemed to still be stunned. “Yes. I found out that day and I went to tell him but then I saw him with that woman I couldn’t I just had to get out of there and think” jess explained. “I want jack to have his father in his life even if we are not together and I want him to have his grandparents in his life so we were coming home we are all packed and everything” she continued. “How old is he” jack asked. “He is three months old. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you. I didn’t know what to do and I wasn’t ready for nick to know” she added. Jess pulled the covers off her and started to get out of bed. “You ok do you need any help” her mother offered. “I’m fine just need to go to the bathroom. I know the way they showed me earlier” she replied as she got her balance and stepped slowly towards the bathroom door, her hands out in front of her feeling the way. Jane stood up and went to her husband for comfort and he hugged her tight. “We have a grandson” he said in a whisper. Jane looked up at him and smiled. The toilet flushed and they heard the water run in the sink. It all went quiet then they heard a bang against the door followed by “Ouch” from jess. She had walked into the door forgetting to put her hands out in front of her.
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