Chapter Twenty~One
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Aileen was released from the hospital a few days later. She still spent
much of her time there however. Kevin's family worked it out so that
between all of them and herself, someone was always with him. So far, his
condition remained the same, but no-one had given up hope. Kevin was
strong and would get through this, they were sure of it. She always made a
point to stop and see Nick too. He was pretty much unchanged as well. He
would initially seem happy to see her and then he would withdraw or just
ask her flatout to leave him alone. Brian had promised not to tell anyone
about the pregnancy and to support her in her decision to keep the baby.
Like the gentleman he was, he had not told a soul.
She returned to work, and then, just as quickly took a leave of absence, saying that she was just too upset about Kevin to concentrate at work. Actually, it was all her co-workers constant questions about the ordeal, and asking about "all the gory details" that drove her away. She kept busy. She returned to dance classes, she read, she shopped, visited with the guys and their girlfriends and both her apartment and Kevin's house were spotless. Life went on pretty much as usual for her. She sometimes pretended that Kevin was away on tour for a few months, she was expecting his baby and they would be a family when he returned. That made it easier to sleep at night sometimes. Except that Kevin wasn't on tour and the baby she was carrying belonged to his best friend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick was released about a month later. He wasn't allowed to drive himself home, of course. He was still plagued by headaches that were so painful they could drop him to his knees and lately, blackouts that he hadn't told anybody about. They didn't last very long and he had never hurt himself during one, so he didn't say anything about them. They'd never let him out of this place if he told them, he thought. Nick allowed his family to come and drive him home. Aaron was so happy to finally see his brother that he was flying around the hospital. He ordered Nick to drive him around in one of the wheelchairs. Aileen laughed to see them together bombing around the halls of the hospital. Nick was smiling and laughing like his old self again. Maybe this was the beginning of Nicks true recuperation. |