The Deal Breaker (Book II)

Chapter Six - Homecomings

                                                                 Chapter Six

                                                              Homecomings

“Are you sure you don’t want the wheelchair?” David asked for the tenth time.

I pulled on one of my simple grey sweatshirts as I shot him a glare. “You do know me, right? Do you honestly think I’d let anything wheel me out of here. No. I’m walking.”

He frowned, clearly not happy to have me walk, even if it was just to the elevator and then out to the car.

The pants I wore were pretty much just leggings, though my butt didn’t hang out the back, thanks to my long sweatshirt. It was the most comfortable outfit I’ve ever owned, and boy was I happy to be out of the hospital gown. It was wonderful to be able to hop around without worrying my butt would be exposed. I was actually doing a lot of hopping, thanks to Matthew. After several nights of him staying with me, I managed to get him to talk to the doctor and let me out of this place early. I’ve been in here practically three months and had no desire to stay another minute.

Dr. Keller entered the room just as David threw my bag over his shoulder, refusing to let me carry it. “I see you’re off,” Dr. Keller mused when he saw me bouncing next to David.

“Is everything okay?” David questioned anxiously, almost as if he were waiting for the doctor to give me orders to stay here.

Dr. Keller gave him a warm smile, crinkling the corners of his mouth. “Of course. I was just checking on you all before you left. How are you feeling today Joanna?”

I was practically touching the doorknob by now. “Wonderful. I’m just ready to get on the road. Ready, David?”

David’s lips pulled down and his forehead wrinkled in his usual worried expression. “Is there anything I need to know? A schedule or anything?”

Dr. Keller’s expression went entirely blank. It was something I’ve seen several times before. A vampire has brainwashed him. “Make sure she stays inside and gets plenty of rest. Don’t go outside. Also she should probably sleep in a separate bed.”

My eyebrows shot up at the last part, and so did David’s. “Why?” he asked.

Dr. Keller blinked a few times, snapping out of the confusion. “Why what?”

“Why not sleep in the same bed?”

Again, the doctor’s expression went blank. It was as if someone turned off his brain and left him hollow. I hated it. “It helps her healing process. Anna should also avoid any physical activities, so it’s probably best to avoid temptation.”

I narrowed my eyes at the doctor the second the name Anna slipped out. Matthew could have at least tried to cover up his tracks. “Pathetic,” I muttered as I began grinding my teeth.

“What?” the doctor said as he snapped back into reality.

“Oh, nothing. I just remembered something.” I turned to David. “Ready to go?”

David shook the doctor’s hand and followed me out of the room.

“Can I drive?” I asked teasingly, giving David a playful nudge.

“That’s definitely not funny.”

I found it hilarious. Maybe I’ve been trapped here too long and no longer know what’s appropriate. I’ve been able to make every crappy thing that has happened to me into some comical situation. Take Matthew compelling the doctor, for instance. I could rush to his place and yell at him for such a petty move. But I’m not going to. It’s amazing how nearly dying can make me just let things go easier. It’s how I move forward.