We exchange a glance.
“Not long,” I say.
Archer changes the subject. “How was the drive?” he asks Taylor.
Fortunately, it’s enough to distract her, for now anyway. She shoots me a speaking look that tells me we will be talking later when Archer isn’t around, but for now, we chat about her trip, the weather, nothing at all, and then I give her more of the details about Jacob’s prognosis.
Once she’s been brought up to speed, Taylor asks if she can use our hotel room to shower, and Archer gives her the spare keycard.
Only a few minutes later, Mindy returns, standing in the doorway and staring at us with her lips pressed into a thin line.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Where is Taylor?”
“She went to the hotel to grab a shower,” Archer explains.
She blows out an annoyed breath. “Typical.”She sets one of the cups on the table next to Jake and takes a sip from the one in her hand.
“What do you mean?” I know they’ve been fighting, but there is genuine hostility in Mindy’s tone.
“She asks me to get her coffee, which I do because I’m a nice person, then she completely forgets and leaves before I get back. She’s always thinking about herself and never considering anything else. Let me guess: she went to your room. Heaven forbid she should rent her own.” Her eyes roll upward in annoyance.
I attempt diplomacy. “Well, she doesn’t need to rent a room. She has her van.”
A bark of laughter escapes her. “Right, the perfect excuse to use everybody else’s amenities.”
“It’s not a big deal. It’s not as if it’s costing me anything for her to use the shower.”Irritation brushes a hand up my spine. Why can’t everyone just get along?
“She needs to get a real job and stop running around like she’s still in high school. She needs to grow up.” She puts her coffee cup down, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Mindy.” I move to her side, taking her hand in mine. If there’s one thing I can understand, it’s being forced to be responsible when everyone around you is enjoying the fruits of their misspent youth. I never had the opportunity, and neither did Mindy. We were thrust into our roles as the eldest siblings too young, too early. “I won’t get involved in whatever is going on between the two of you, but we aren’t here for you to battle it out. We are here for Jake, and you need to let it go for him. The antagonizing needs to stop. For Jake and for me. Please.”
She sighs. “Fine. You’re right. It’s only hospital coffee. I drop more change in the homeless guy’s bucket every time I pass.” She gives me a wry smile. “I’ll just think of her as a charity case. I’ll do my best to keep my opinion to myself.”
“That’s fair.”
Jacob shifts in the bed, his hand lifting toward the cup of water at his bedside. Mindy grabs it, bringing the straw to his lips since his movements are still limited.
I walk over to Archer’s side. He squeezes my hand in silent support.
I love how he lets me fight my own battles, offering his support but not interfering.
My blood pressure drops a few notches. I have enough to worry about with Jacob and the conversation I have to have with him—something I want to do without the others present and when he’s in a better state. I don’t need to add their troubles to my list of things to stress over. At least this way, I can try and get through the next few days with Jacob—after they return to their regular lives—without listening to incessant bickering.
The nurse comes in to check Jacob’s blood pressure and give him some pain meds and anti-inflammatories.
Before the meds kick in, Jacob is a little more alert.
“You were in a car accident. Do you remember any of it?” I ask.
“Not really.” His voice is rough.
I relay to him what we know: how he hit the tree and the things the doctor said about his recovery times.
He nods, wincing slightly and gesturing for more water.
Mindy holds the cup, helping him get the straw into his mouth. “Are you sure this wasn’t all part of a grand plan to have us all waiting on you hand and foot?”