Love Notes

Chapter 27-Charlie



He needs me and I should be there by his side. My heart feels as if it’s going to thump right out of my chest. I never doubted my love for him, never. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he has my heart and I have his. I’m just not sure how he’s going to take the news, and I feel like I need to be there with him. I’m scared, terrified and feel a mix of emotions. All of the thoughts are running rampant when my mom walks in, with an older looking Doctor with a kind face.

“Charlie, My name is Dr. Bennett. You were brought in because you were in shock. I believe you witnessing the trauma of the accident and seeing someone who I’m told you are close to, sent you over the edge. I don’t see a problem with discharging you. However, I would like to keep you overnight just to make sure you get some rest. As long as Maverick’s parents are fine with you seeing him, I don’t see a problem with it. However, if you leave this room tonight, you are being pushed in a wheel chair and I don’t want to hear any argument.”

Man does this dude mean business! I glance over at my mom, just waiting for her to tell me that I’m not going anywhere and she will tie me to the bed if I even think about leaving. Surprisingly she looks sad and tired and I don’t see a lot of resistance on her face.

I’m not sure if it’s because of me, Maverick or the whole situation but I don’t think she’s going to fight me.

“Mom, could you please help me?” I look up at her with pleading eyes just in case I’ve misread her and she thinks about telling me no. She walks over to the door and right behind it is one of those horrible wheelchairs that I know I am not going to be able to escape from riding in.

“Thanks mom.” I stop and look up at her. I want her to know that it is truly appreciated. She wheels the horrible contraption over to me. I sit down and she places her hand on my shoulder, leans down and whispers in my ear. “I know.”

This is the most I have ever connected with my mom. I can tell that she doesn’t take my feelings for Maverick lightly. I’ve never brought a guy home before, and I think she knows I wouldn’t, unless I had some serious feelings for him. I can’t help but tear up at the fact that she gets it and that I don’t have to fight with her. It’s the most significant conversation I have had with her in years. The saddest part is, it took my boyfriend getting into an accident to make all of this happen.

Don’t think it hasn’t gone unnoticed that my dad’s not here and I’m sure as heck not asking where he is.

“Alright Charlie, let’s go talk to Maverick’s parents and see about getting you in there.”

I turn around completely forgetting that Tori is even in the room, she’s been so quiet.

“Just so you know Charlie, you’re not leaving without me, I will be with you.” Just like Tori and her crazy self, she looks at my mom and says, “I’ll get her,” grabs the handles and starts to wheel me out.

I honestly don’t know what I would do without her and I throw her a grateful smile.

Apparently, his room is a floor down. The ride is excruciating. You know when you drive somewhere you don’t want to go and you get there so much faster, but then when you’re in a hurry and it’s as if time stands still and it takes forever? That is exactly how this feels.

We finally stop at a door. I peek in and see his parents surrounded by a bed and what resembles a sleeping Maverick. He doesn’t look like my Maverick though.

My Maverick is smiling, mischievous, playful and healthy. This Maverick is surrounded by sounds, noises, beeping and his face is swollen and he is cut up and bruised.

My heart is aching.

His parents glance up, when they finally notice me and his sweet mother smiles at me.

“Charlie, you can come in, he’d want you here.”

I don’t want to intrude or and be presumptuous so I ask, “Are you sure, I don’t want to intrude.”

She just shakes her head like that was a very strange question to ask and signals for me to come closer.

Carol glances at my mom, smiles and says, “Thank you for bringing her here. He would want her close by.”

My mom looks uncomfortable as hell, showing a thin smile.

Watching the strange exchange and slightly embarrassed with my mom’s behavior, I decide to quickly interrupt. Hoping I’m not coming across as rude, but ready to steer the conversation along.

“Has he been awake at all?”

His father looks at me with such sadness. “He was, but only long enough to ask about you and make sure you were safe.”

My Lord, that is the kind of guy he is. Here he lays and the very first thought at the forefront of his mind, is me and my safety.

I don’t even realize I’m crying, until Tori hands me a tissue.

“Does he know anything, about his injuries and….stuff?” I can’t bring myself to say what I am sure everyone else is thinking. It makes it so final to say it out loud and acknowledge the fact that any career Maverick may or may not have had in football, is now completely and utterly over.

His mom speaks up, “No we haven’t had that conversation yet. We will need to wait until he is awake long enough. The drugs they gave him for the pain are keeping him completely out of it. They want to keep him comfortable until they perform the surgery for his knee, which they will do first thing in the morning.”

“Can I be here? Can I stay?”

His mom who has the kindest of faces smiles softly at me. “Charlie there is nothing that I or I’m sure Maverick would like more. You are always welcome, you’re family.”

Hearing her say those words cause tears to free fall down my face. There is so much meaning behind them. I don’t think I could ever forget them.

I glance around while I’m wiping my eyes, not wanting anyone to see how much those words mean to me. I notice my mom looking on, pretending that she never heard them, but seeing a look of disbelief flash across her face. The moment she catches me looking, her face changes to indifference. Like it never bothered her.

Carol starts to wipe her eyes, when she speaks again. “He loves you and I know you know that. He’s never brought a girl home. So we knew when he brought you over so early in your relationship, that you are pretty special.”

The only person to ever call me special is their son, who has had to just about drill that thought into me. I finally start to get it and see that it took Maverick getting hurt, for me to truly see and believe it.

I turn to look at my mom and say, “I want to be here as much as I can, I need to be.” I’m not sure what kind of reaction I’m going to get and I am just waiting for an argument. “Please Mom.” I desperately plead. She sighs,

“We will work something out where you don’t miss school work and make sure you can still be here as well.” I’m not expecting this reaction at all.

I nod my head in understanding and agreement, “Okay mom.”

“However, now that we've settled that it’s time to get you back to your room and back to bed, deal?” Who am I to question her at this point? I will do anything she wants as long as I get to stay and be here for him and with Maverick when he wakes up–anything.

“Tori, will you please wheel me closer to the bed?” She doesn’t question me; she just knows what I need and what I want to do.

I look at him closely seeing only ‘my’ Maverick and lean over giving him a chaste kiss on the lips. I then lean into his ear hoping that he can hear every last word I'm about to whisper as I tell him, “I love you ‘my’ Maverick.”

I sit back down in the wheelchair and catch a glimpse of his mom and dad holding hands, his mom standing there with tears in her eyes. I don’t watch for long, if I do, I might start crying all over again. I don't need to do that. I need to be strong. He needs me to be strong.

His mom walks over, lays her hand on my shoulder and gives it a slight squeeze. Something so small, means so very much. Just a small token of comfort, even in her time of worry and despair, means so much.

Tori begins wheeling me back to my room and once we get there, I climb back in the bed.

I realize just how very exhausted I really am, physically and emotionally. Tori glances at my mom, “I will make sure that Charlie gets all of her school work.” she says.

I smile appreciatively at her and my mom doesn’t hesitate to thank her and says that she will also call the school to let them know what’s going on.

I drift off to sleep with Tori telling me everything will be fine, my mother in the chair getting comfortable for the night and thoughts of Maverick and only Maverick running through my mind.