Jet and Willow awaited my arrival to tiny Glenn General Hospital seated in Jet's Beemer. When Wiley and I pulled into the parking lot on the way to the ER entrance, I saw them both emerge and come toward the truck. Jet trotted in heels, Willow strode briskly behind in her Birks.
Jet opened the passenger side door before I could. She gasped, "Sweet Jesus, Kay... next time listen to me!"
"There won't be a next time."
Jet rolled her eyes. "Sure, you say that now."
Willow nudged Jet aside and reached into the cab to clasp me in a huge hug. After pulling away and getting an eyeful, she blurted, "Oh, Kaylis, you are a mess!"
"I'm a mess that hurts. Whoever said car accidents tickle need to be slapped."
Wiley had gone inside and located an orderly with a wheelchair while estrogen overflowed his green Chevy work truck. I took a look at his contribution and said, "I think I can manage, Wiley." But as soon as I unbuckled myself and stretched out a leg, my muscles screamed in agony. Every fiber of my being ached. I sucked in a lungful of air as I scooted out of the vehicle and eased into the new mode of conveyance. "Never mind. Good call, Wiley. Good call." I looked up to Jet and asked, "Where's Dmitri?"
"He got antsy and made a run out to Walmart for some Red Bull and Kind Bars. He'll be back anytime."
As Wiley wheeled me into the lobby, Willow volunteered to fill out my paperwork so I could be whisked away to an examination room. From there, I extracted myself from the chair and onto the examination table with a ponderous groan. My vitals were taken and I was left alone to await the on-duty doctor. When I heard footsteps near, I looked over to the door, expecting to see the doctor.
Dmitri.
"Jesus." His voice sounded harsh to my ear.
"No. I'm Kaylis, remember?" Couldn't help teasing, trying to bring a measure of levity to the room. I remember my reflection revealed in Wiley's truck. I look terrible.
A small smile broke through the austerity of his expression. "All night I've been carrying the mental image of your Jeep on fire. When I close my eyes, I can still see the flames. You look like you had a rough ride... but you're also never more beautiful to me. Thank God you are alive."
"I'm so glad looks aren't everything to you, Dmitri." Winked his way, then grimaced from the scratch on my cheek informing me that making flirtatious gestures is a bad idea.
"Wiley told me what happened." Dmitri's tone darkened, deepened. "The only thing protecting Michael is the Glenn County Jail." There is no doubt in my mind what my fiancé would do to my abductor, given half a chance. Dmitri walked toward me and sat at the examination table's foot, then looked me square in the face. He reached out, lifted my chin and tilted my face one way then another. "How much of this is from the accident and how much is from him?"
"About fifty-fifty. I got him back though. He picked the wrong time to play tag with me."
"You hit him?" Amazement lit Dmitri's tone and face.
"A couple of times." Lifted my hand graced with the engagement ring. "This bad boy comes in handy too. It bloodied him." And yes, I feel proud of that. Not because I hit Mike, but because I didn't take shit from him. It's a very empowering feeling. Can't explain it better than that. My brain still tingled from the knowledge that I did not allow him to walk over me, like in the old days. I was scared, even stupid, rash and irritable. But I wasn't a trembling pile of nerves like I was just weeks ago. "I need to sew a June Cleaver outfit. Feel the urge to make you some cookies. In heels."
"Wiley told me about that too." Dmitri looked at me in a questioning way I never noticed before. "Are you really okay?"
"Wiley is a nark." A deep breath. "I am fine. I look like shit on the outside, but on the inside, I'm doing pretty damn good, all things considered."
"Yeah, that's his job." Dmitri held my hand, lifted it up to see the scrapes that covered my arms. "Can I ask something of you, Kaylis?"
"Yes, of course." My mind waited with bated breath for what he would ask of me.
"I'm sorry I spoke the way I did to you. Just next time give me a little credit. All I was going to do is give Lorryn references to other contractors for the work she wanted done. I wasn't going to turn her down at the shop so she could make a scene. Had employees looking on. Jobs I take pay their wages and with how the economy is going, didn't want it to get through the office grapevine that I'm declining jobs for whatever reason. They didn't need to know the personal reasons behind it. I should have told you that's what I was doing, but it felt like you weren't giving me a chance with how you jumped down my neck at the mention of her name. Told you long ago, Kaylis, I made my decision as to who I want in my life. That has not changed."
My elation at standing up to Mike faded like popcorn farts in the wind. Now I feel like a tool/jerk/super asshole. Tunnel vision at what I expected Dmitri to do rather than what he did do lit my temper and I stormed off to have a car accident. That's the brunt of it. Stupid expectations.
"I will give you more credit and not throw a hissy fit when her name is mentioned. Just back in the day you told me that you were done with her. I expected you to tell her then and there, should she make a reappearance, to take a flying leap. You didn't though. You seemed to do the exact opposite of what I expected, and it really upset me. Felt like you lied because you would go socialize with her. I'm sorry, Dmitri. Had I been fully informed and objective about it, I wouldn't have stormed off and had quality time with Mike. Tonight is my fault. All my fault."
"We both contributed. I wasn't clear about my intentions and you over-reacted from the shortage of information. We both share the fault. I'm just glad you're safe. The thought of you as a charred cinder... Oh God, Kaylis. I never want to think of you like that again."
I hugged him tight, and he did the same to me. How easily one little thing can spiral into something gargantuan and life changing.
Logic and emotion, the oil and water combo of life. To fully combine, it takes a good shaking to break down the particles so cohesion can be made, understood and appreciated. Hated the shaking, but coming to an understanding with Dmitri felt like blessed relief. Priorities shifted for me.
Life is short and every day is meant for celebration.