“Hey,” I called out as I entered the room.
“Come on in and have a seat.”
I chose one of the leather recliners.
“You want some water or something to drink?” He asked while looking at the TV.
“No, I’m good.”
We sat and watched TV for several minutes. I knew he had something to say and I was not going to rush him. He finally spoke.
“I didn’t birth any sons. I raised one from a pre-teen and then God gave me several more to train and mentor. He did one very special thing when He gave me my sons, He gave us a connection. I know when you are well, and I know when you are not. So, tell me what’s going on.”
“As far as?”
“Samuel,” he picked up the remote to the TV and turned it off. “I’ve had a long day. The last thing I feel like doing is playing games with you. There is obviously something going on. You avoided me today at church. You came up with an excuse not to come over here plus it shows in your posture, your attitude and all over your face. Is everything okay with your health?”
“My health is fine.”
“Averie?”
“We are fine.”
“That was my last guess. It’s your turn now.”
I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees, before speaking, “I haven’t had an erection since I got out of the hospital.”
“So, what? Two weeks?”
“Three weeks.”
I waited for shock or something to register on JD’s face, but in his typical calm and collected way, his facial expression didn’t change.
“Have you gone to the doctor?”
“I did. They ran some tests, and they all came back negative. My prostate is fine. I don’t have cancer. Physically, I’m fine.”
“Then it’s mental.”
“That’s what Dr. McIntyre said he believes it is.”
“What do you think?”
“I don’t know,” I shrugged.
“Let me ask you something. I know you said you weren’t afraid when you were waiting for the ambulance to arrive after you were shot but how did you feel when you woke up?”
I looked at him for a moment before answering. I considered making up an answer, but he would’ve seen right through it.
“I was terrified. Especially when the doctors told me how long I’d been sleep.”
“What terrified you?”
“I was afraid that Averie wasn’t there. I was afraid that something happened to Valentine Law. I was afraid that something had happened to the family. Something that could have been avoided had I been awake.”
“You worried that you as their protector was not around?”
“Right.”