A week. The full force of those words hit him at once. “How are things?” He was usually there to help out with orders. His dad was a woodworker, creating custom pieces for clients. Jace usually helped out, so Dad had started taking on more orders.
Mom waved him off, turning her attention to the screen as she tapped out a message. “Don’t worry about him. We’ve notified the clients, and many have been gracious enough to extend their deadlines. Your father’s work is worth the wait.”
As one of the top-rated woodworkers in the country, she was right, but Jace hated to miss a deadline. He usually did the grunt work, while his dad did the more intricate stuff. Hopefully the old man’s back would hold up a little longer.
“Brendan and Leo have been by a few times to check on you. I’ll let their moms know you’re up, too.”
Jace nodded. “They’re okay.” He should’ve thought to ask that, but to be fair, he felt like a sloth trying to swallow an elephant with all the information coming at him.
Mom stared at her phone as she typed out some texts. “Yeah. They’re shaken up, but fine. They found you and brought you here, you know. Brendan said it was the worst two hours of his life.”
Jace let out a long breath. He was grateful they weren’t there when he was attacked, and even more grateful that they’d been able to find him and bring him home safely. He chuckled as he realized the significance of the time reference. They must’ve been speeding to get to the hospital so fast. It was a good thing a deer didn’t dart out in front of them, traveling at night at that pace. They all would’ve been goners.
“Mom?” Jace said, and she looked up from her phone. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby boy.” Her eyes glistened again, and she sniffed and turned her attention back to the phone.
He couldn’t imagine what she’d been through in the past couple of weeks. How close had he been to dying? He didn’t want to know, though a large part of him felt he must have died, or very nearly. Everything felt different now, almost foreign.
He closed his heavy lids, listening to his mom’s breathing, the rustle of her fabric, a chuckle as her phone pinged. She smelled like the basil she loved to grow, and weeks worth of tears and concern.
He hated that he’d put her through that, that he’d put anyone through that.
But more than anything, he was glad to be alive.
Still, as he drifted off to sleep, a disturbing thought passed through his consciousness. There were people in those woods with him, when he’d been attacked. Who were they, why were they fighting, and did they have anything to do with the attack?
Chapter 4
Jace grew stronger and better with each passing day. Thankfully, nothing came of the sensory overload that hit him when he first woke up. In fact, the doctors were astounded at how well he was healing, chalking it up to good genes and youth. Jace didn’t care what it was, he just wanted out, away from the ever-present smell of sickness and decay and death. Away from the constant poking and prodding and checkups.
He wanted to feel human again.
At least he was in his old clothes, even if he was forced to wear his flannel button-up to accommodate his broken shoulder. He hated the way that shirt felt, but he couldn't justify using his one dress shirt.
His mom signed the last few papers, smiling at him as she put the pen down. “There we go! You’re all mine again.”
“Not so fast, Mrs. T.,” came Brendan’s cocky voice. He strode in the small room, Leo behind him.
A smile crept up Jace’s face. They’d been by several times to visit, but he wasn’t expecting them to show up today.
Jace’s mom crossed her arms, shooting Brendan and Leo a playful frown. “And what exactly do you boys want?”
Brendan put his arm around Leo’s shoulders. “I think it’s only fair that the two ‘boys’ who saved your son’s life take him out for celebratory ice cream.”
Jace’s brows raised as he looked toward his mom.
Mom smiled at Jace. “Ah, you’re probably sick of me anyway.” Her smile dropped as she turned her attention back to Brendan and Leo. “But only if you take him for frozen yogurt. I do not need to deal with the aftermath of ice cream.”
“Mom!” Jace groaned while the guys snickered.
“What do you think, hon?” Mom asked Jace, her face pinched into a playful challenge. “Can you handle these two, or do you need a few more days?”
Jace chuckled. “I think I’ll be fine.”
Mom nodded, then turned to the other two boys again. “Bring him home safe.”
Brendan smirked. “Don’t we always?”
Jace’s mom shook her head, and even Leo grimaced. Brendan ran a hand through his hair, his face reddening. Yeah, no one really wanted to talk about the attack and all that followed.
“Paperwork’s all done?” the nurse asked as she entered the room. “Well, looks like there’s a party in here.”
Jace’s mom handed the paperwork to the nurse.
“That’s right, a party!” Brendan said, slapping Jace a high-five. “And the party’s about to hit the road.”
“Not until we’ve escorted your friend out,” the nurse said, then disappeared through the door.
“Ha! We’ll show her. The Jace Man doesn’t need no escort.”
“Nuh uh,” Jace’s mom said. “You wait, or you don’t get Jace at all.”
Leo folded his arms, smirking at Brendan.
Brendan nodded, looking appropriately chastened. “Yes, Mrs. T.”
Leo leaned toward Jace, speaking in a conspiratorial voice. “Are you sure you can handle him?”
Jace snorted. “I think I’ll survive.”
“Understatement of the century,” Mom mumbled.
The nurse came back in, pushing a wheelchair. “Go ahead and get in and we’ll get you out of here.”
Jace eyed the seat. “I can walk, you know.”
The nurse nodded. “Hospital policy. Don’t worry, I’ll make it quick.” She winked.
He reluctantly lowered himself into the chair, and the nurse patted his shoulder.
“Come on, boys.” Jace’s mom handed stuff to Leo and Brendan, then grabbed her purse.
The whole group paraded through the hospital halls, several nurses nodding and waving as they passed.
Jace put in his earbuds, keeping his gaze on the floor. It wasn’t noisy or crowded, but he still felt awkward under everyone’s happy gaze. It was a good thing his mom had gotten him a new set of earbuds. And a new phone. Those things had probably gone into the trash, along with his bloodied clothes.
What a great thought to leave on. Jace rolled his eyes at himself.
And then he was outside, breathing in the crisp air, the cheery sunlight making him squint. He’d never appreciated the smell of sun-drenched asphalt quite like he did today.
The chair came to a stop at the edge of the walkway.
“There you go,” the nurse said.
Brendan pushed his load into Leo's arms and began jogging toward the parking lot. “I’ll pull my car around.”
“Here, Leo,” Mom said.
Jace watched his friend go as his Mom and Leo got the rest of his belongings in Mom's car, but something stirred on the edge of his senses, drawing his attention away from everything else.