Without a Word_ How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything - Jill Kelly [53]
My mother was meticulous regarding Hunter’s care. And not just his physical needs, but everything that pertained to his overall health. I never worried when she took care of him. The nights she slept with him, I was able to sleep. Whenever she was in charge of the Kelly house, I could relax. “Okay, Mom, I’ll come right over.”
After I hung up the phone, Kimmy assured, “The girls will be fine here with me, Jill. You better go.”
I felt anxious and apprehensive. Besides being worried about Hunter, all the other couples were now waiting in the limo and I was about to tell Jim he would have to go solo—again. Although we occasionally made time for each other, he was used to being without me. My life revolved around Hunter’s care, and whether Jim liked it or not, so did his. Still, I knew he’d be very disappointed.
When I walked upstairs to tell Jim I wasn’t going, he was fussing around the room. “Are you ready?” he asked.
He didn’t look at me or he would’ve known something was wrong.
“Jim, I can’t go,” I said. “My mom just called, and something’s wrong with Hunter. He’s not acting like himself, and she thinks I need to come over and make sure he’s okay.”
“What’s wrong with him? Can’t your mother take care of him?” he asked with a puzzled look.
“I don’t know what’s wrong. That’s why my mom wants me to come there.”
Tears filled my eyes and anger filled my heart. Doesn’t he get it? I thought to myself. Nothing else matters when Hunter’s sick—nothing.
“Everybody’s outside waiting to go,” Jim said, frustration pushing its way into his tone. “What am I supposed to do, Jill?”
At this point I was so worked up that I lashed out at Jim and said some things I would later deeply regret: “You know what? Someday you’re going to regret not spending time with Hunter. All you care about is yourself. Who cares about the stupid concert? Who cares about anything else? Hunter is sick. I’m going to my mom’s.”
I turned around, walked back downstairs, and kissed the girls good-bye.
The long drive to my parents’ house gave me time to vent my frustrations. I was so mad at Jim. Why did everything and everybody else come before our family? There was so much I wanted to say to him, and yet I needed to keep my mouth shut for the sake of trying to trust God in the midst of our broken relationship.
When I arrived at my parents’ house it was close to seven o’clock. My mom was just getting Hunter out of the swimming pool and Ellen, Hunter’s nurse, was helping her get Hunter situated in his stroller.
I knelt down next to Hunter and ran my fingers through his wet, wavy hair. He was lying on his side, wrapped up in a beach towel. “Hi Hunterboy, what’s going on?” I asked. “Did you have a nice swim? I came back to Grammie’s to see you and to make sure you’re okay. You look great, Hunter.”
As I continued to run my fingers through his hair, I looked up at Ellen. “How’s his temp after being in the pool?”
“We haven’t checked it, but let’s do that, okay, Hunter?” Ellen grabbed the thermometer and slowly tucked it under his arm.
Beep, beep, beep went the alarm. “Oh my, your temperature is perfect. It’s 98.6,” Ellen exclaimed as she tucked the thermometer back under the stroller.
I said with excitement, “I don’t think your temp has ever been 98.6! That’s so cool, Hunter. And you look and smell so good, all fresh and clean. Let’s get you in the house for some chest PT, okay, buddy?”
We strolled Hunter over to the deck door and into the house. Just then my dad hollered from the kitchen, “Dinner’s ready!”
I motioned to my mom and Ellen. “You go ahead and eat dinner, and I’ll do Hunter’s chest therapy.”
“Let me help you get him over to the bed first, Jill,” Ellen said. We wheeled Hunter into my parents’ room, and I picked him up and started walking toward their bed when Ellen stopped me. “Well, Hunter, it looks like Mommy gets to hold you for a few minutes because your bed’s not ready yet.