With Faith & Love

\"Don\'t wake her leave her be,\" Miss Coretta said. Wood walked to the opposite side of the bed and touched Jett\'s head. Janese opened her eyes and saw them sitting around the be
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“Hi Nana, Wood.”

“Hey daughter-in-law. Did we wake you,” Wood asked.

“No, what time is it?”

“Nine fifteen.”

“Oh my gosh! I didn’t call my parents last night!” Janese got up and rushed over to the phone.

“He doesn’t look that bad,” Wood said as he looked over his son.

“He’ll be okay,” Miss Coretta said, rubbing his face. Dr. Ratliff came walking in with a smile on his face.

\"Good morning Mr. Jackson, Miss Coretta. I have some wonderful news. Jett’s brain activity is good, his ribs are healing nicely, and he’ll be ready to go home after a little physical therpy.” Janese finished her phone conversation and walked over.

“So he is gonna be fine?”

“Yes, he’s going to be alright.” She walked over to Jett and kissed his lips. His leg flinched and the monitor started beeping faster.

“Yea, he felt that,” Miss Coretta said with a laugh. Jett cracked his eyes and started moaning. “Jett, Jett baby can you hear me? Wake up baby.”

“Pooh bear wake up,” Janese whispered in his ear. Jett opened his eyes all the way and stared at Janese. He tried to talk but the tube in his throat made it difficult.

“Wait a minute,” Dr. Ratliff said, walking up to the bed. He removed the tape from Jett’s mouth and started to pull. “Blow hard.” Jett did as he was told and Dr. Ratliff pulled the tube out of his throat.

“Thanks,” Jett moaned groggily. “God, my chest hurts.”

“It’s okay pooh bear, I’m here,” Janese comforted, rubbing his face.

“Dad, when did you and Nana get here?”

“A couple of minutes ago. How do you feel?”

“My chest hurts and my arms feel like they’re falling off the bed. But I don’t feel any real pain.”

“We can you some strong pain killers. If you could feel the pain, it would be unbearable,” Dr. Ratliff notified. “I’m going to step out for a moment.”

“Thank Gou’reu’re all right,” Wood said. “When Janese called us and said you were in a car accident, I died a thousand times.”

“J.B. says hi,” Miss Coretta said.

“Nessie you called them,” Jett asked hoarsly.

“Of course I called them.”

“Where’s mom?”

“She’ll be here later on in the afternoon,” Miss Coretta answered. Dr. Ratliff came back in with a nurse and a clipboard. After a small examination by the doctor they left with a good report. “Do you remember what happened?”

“Not really. All I remember is headlights and hearing a ripping sound.” Wood looked out the window and tried not to think about the pain his son was in. Jett yawned and shifted his legs. “I’m tired.”

“The pain killers,” Janese answered for him.

“Let’s go out and let Jett get some sleep,” Wood said. Nana, Wood, and Janese started walking out the room.

“Nessie come back, please,” Jett said. Janese stayed behind and sat next to him.

“Yes?”

“Nothing. I just wanted you to stay until I fall asleep,” Jett whispered. Janese leaned down and kissed him just the way he liked. She stroked his hair and started to hum. Jett closed his eyes and drifted into a dream.

~*~*~*

Jett woke up and saw Jules sitting in the chair next to his bed. He smiled as she walked over to the bed and rubbed his face.

“How’s my baby boy,” Jules asked. Jett could tell she had done a little crying, even though the doctor said he was going to be all right.

“Fine. I’m glad the doctor gave me these pain killers,” Jett answered.

“Jett, baby, Dr. Ratliff came and talked to us while you were asleep. You have to stay in the hospital for another two weeks,” Jules said as gently as possible.


“Two weeks! I have to stay in this hospital for two weeks,” Jett shouted. Dr. Ratliff came walking in the room. “Why do I have to stay here for two weeks,” Jett questioned him.

“Jett, you suffered a head injury, you have some broken ribs, and two broken arms,” Dr. Ratliff explained. Jett closed his eyes in defeat.

“Thank you doctor,” Jules said. Dr. Ratliff nodded his head in acknowledgement and left the room. Jules looked at Jett then out the window. “I could have been worse.”

“ow. ow. I’m just glad to be alive,” Jett said. “I guess I have to do what I have to do.”

~*~*~*TWO WEEKS LATER~*~*~*

“How do you feel,” Dr. Ratliff asked.

“Outstanding,” Jett answered. Dr. Ratliff stared at him and lowered his clipboard.

“Jett, I need you to be honest. I won’t release you if I feel you’re lying about your condition.”

“Dr. Ratliff I feel fine. My arms aren’t swollen anymore and I finally have casts. My chest just aches a little but I’m fine.” Dr. Ratliff continued going through the examination. After he was finished he signed the release and handed it to Janese.

“I’ll see you in September to change your casts and you go to the hospital whenever you feel any pain, understood?”

“Yes sir,” Jett said. Dr. Ratliff shook Janese’s hand and left the room. She stood and walked over to him.

“I could use this to my adage,age,” she said, rotating her knee in his crotch. Jett whimpered and rolled his head back.

“As pain or pleasure,” he asked through breaths.

“Both.” She kissed his chin and placed another on his neck.

“I don’t care if my arms are broken or not, I’ll find a way to get you.” Jett stepped forward and Janese stepped back.

“And you’re supposed to grab me with…” She asked sarcastically.

“That’s all right. I don’t want none anyway.”

“I bet.” He sat back on the bed and stuck his lip out. Janese was about to walk over when the nurse walked in with a wheelchair.

“All ready to go,” she asked.

“Do I have to use the wheelchair,” Jett asked.

“Yes, you’re not supposed to be walking or sitting up for about the next month,” Janese answered. He eased in the chair and smirked at Janese.

“I know that. I also know I need your help about making trip arrangements but you’re actin’ a little stank in that department.” The nurse chuckled and shook her head.

“I can tell you two are together,” she said. “Yall go at it like me and my husband.” She pushed Jett out the room and Janese followed. When they came to the limo the nurse stopped so Jett could get.

“Do you want help,” Janese asked, coming next to him.

“No, I’m cool,” he said, standing to his feet and shuffling his way inside the limo. When he finally got in he exhaled loudly.

“Are you okay? You know you’re not supposed to be walking,” Jules said.

“Oh great,” Jett said, throwing his head back. “I have to worry about you and Nessie on my case!”

“That’s right,” Janese said, climbing in and sitting next to Jules.

“Oh, it’s like that now? You are cold as ice woman! If I could shake my finger at you I would. First you tease a brother with…..” Jett started mumbling under his breath so his mother couldn’t understand him. “Then you sit by my mama and tell me what to do. But that’s okay.”

“Jett, baby, calm down,” Jules said. “We have a little surprise waiting for you.”

“I don’t want your surprise I want Nessie’s surprise.”

“Hush Jett,” Jules and Janese said together and they both rolled their eyes. The limo came to a stop in front of Janese’s house.

“What took you guys so long,” J.B. asked when he opened the door.

“J.B.! What are you doing up here man,” Jett asked. He got out of the wheelchair and walked inside with his best friend. Janese and Jules looked at one another.

“I’m sending him to you when he complains about the pain,” Jules said. Janese just shook her head. Janese looked towards the back of the house and saw Jett and J.B. talking on the patio. She rolled his wheelchair out there with them.

“Excuse me,” she said, looking at Jett. “Sit.” Jett sat down and J.B. started laughing. He moved his hand in a whip motion.

“So,” Jett said in a baby voice. Janese bent down and kissed Jett on his lips.

“Be careful. You only have to be in the wheelchair for a month.” Jett nodded his and kissed Janese again. “I’ll let you boys talk.” She went back in the house and left J.B. and Jett to handle their affairs.

“Jett, there’s something I need to tell you,” J.B. started.

“Wait, let me go first. J.B., will you be my best man,” Jett asked.

“Best man?! You mean like in a wedding?”

“Yea, I asked Janese to marry me before…” Jett’s voice trailed off.

“Of course I’ll be your best man! I’m your best friend. And that’s why I have to tell you this.”

“Tell me what?”

“That guy that hit you wasn’t drunk. That was Kayla’s boyfriend.” Jett stared at J.B.

“What do you mean Kayla’s boyfriend?”

“He shouldn’t call him her boyfriend. He did everything she told him. He’s a delinquent. In and out of juvie. His parents didn’t want him so he was sent to live with his uncle. Kayla can get him to do anything she tells him.”

“How do you know?”

“Before your accident they were together all the time.”

“Didn’t Victor do something? He would never allow his only daughter to date a criminal.”

“Kayla moved out of her parents’ house. I don’t know where she stays.” Jett’s face dropped.

“Are you serious?”

“As a heartattack. Jett, when she saw that you were still alive she flipped! Now that her male friend is in jail she has to think of something else. And believe me, she’s thinking.”

“Do you know where she is now?”

“I see her around Wilsted but I don’t know where she lives.”

“Thanks J.B.”

“Jett…”

“Yea.”

“I think that Kayla will try to hurt Janese.” Jett looked at him then the ground.

“I can’t let that crazy broad to get to Janese. I’ll think of something.”

“Let’s go inside now. There is a party goin’ on in there for you.”

“You’re right, let’s go.” J.B. pushed Jett back in the house and they celebrated him still being alive all night long.