Starting Over

Chapter 12- Our Dramatic Thanksgiving

For the first time in days I woke on my own, not due to the sunlight glaring in my face. It was Thanksgiving and everyone I cared about most was under one roof. I opened my eyes to see Bridget staring at me.

“Good morning, sunshine,” she greeted me, “Did you sleep well?”

“I’ve slept better, but it’s much better to see your smiling face,” I told her as I reached over and wrapped my arm around her waist.

“Oh,” She winced in pain.

I jumped up, jerking my arm away, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s ok. It’s my own fault it’s tender. I have done been up this morning,” she explained to me, “I think I might have over done it a little.”

It was this moment that I noticed that she had already changed her clothes. She was lying next to me on top of the sheets in one of my t-shirts and a pair of her shortest shorts. I loved it when she wore my clothes. I really wished she would have worn my track pants again, but I’m sure she is going be more comfortable in something that doesn’t fall off of her every time she moves. Luckily the burns on her legs were far enough down that she could wear her snug shorts.

“Well, what all have you done this morning?” I asked her as I propped myself up on my elbow.

“I’ve got dressed and picked up your mess in the bathroom,” she answered, “I haven’t even been downstairs yet. But coffee is sounding great right now.”

“Umm, baby, did you mess with the clothes in the bathtub?” I asked hoping she didn’t see them.

“Why are there clothes in the bathtub?” she asked me.

“Well, I sort of knocked them in the toilet on accident last night,” I explained.

She started to laugh uncontrollably. That was exactly what I expected. I love to hear her laugh. I got up off the bed and walked around to her side.

“Wanna go get coffee?” I asked offering my hand as she willingly took it.

It took us a while, but we finally made it downstairs. Bridget was in desperate need of pain medicine by the time we got to the kitchen. I helped her sit down at the kitchen table before I went after her medicine. I had accidentally left it in the truck last night. Someone had made her a cup of coffee and she sat there drinking it carrying on with all the women in the kitchen. I poured me a cup and sat down across from her. Next thing I heard was Bo running through the house. As he ran through the kitchen he saw Bridget and became even more excited.

“Momma!” He yelled with his arms opened wide.

Before I could even realize what I was doing I flung my arm over knocking both of our cups of coffee into the wall to prevent anyone else from getting burned. I had made one big mess. Bridget cringed as Bo pounced onto her lap. I got up and walked over and picked Bo up of Bridget’s lap.

“Bo you can’t be jumping on Momma like that. She’s hurt. See all the bandages on her legs and arm?” I told my oldest son as I sat him down on the floor next to Bridget.

“I can still hug Momma like this can’t I?” Bo asked as he grabbed Bridget around the waist and squeezed tightly.

I grabbed him again, “No son! See Momma has booboos there too!” I told him as I lifted Bridget’s shirt and showed him the bandages down her side.

“Luke!” Jason yelled at me.

“What?” I yelled back.

He just pointed at Bridget. As I turned to look at her I realized she was going into shock. As tough as she acts the pain of Bo grabbing her was just too much. How she managed to remain so still with Bo jumping on her like he did was beyond me. I couldn’t have done it.