Chapter 43: Coming Clean

Monday was mostly a blur. I met with the gang at lunch. It was pretty obvious that something was wrong. Fortunately the other problem explained it. Bob started the story.

"What we're about to tell you cannot leave this table. Jimmy almost lost his parents yesterday."

The news had the expected affect. The questions started flying. Bob shushed them and continued. "Everyone is alright. Tomorrow we wouldn't be able to tell you this because there will more than likely be a gag order in effect. There was a problem in their hotel room, security got them out in time and they are coming home today. There is a settlement offer on the table, which will include a gag order for all involved parties, all hotel employees and anyone who has prior knowledge of the event. So if you ever speak of this to anyone, Jimmy and his family stand to lose a lot. He's letting me tell you this because he knows he can trust you to forget all of it. Well, not forget, but at least not bring it up again or discuss it with anyone."

I didn't need to hear their confirmations but it was good to hear them anyway.

"Bob," I interrupted, "do you think you could come by the house tonight? I'm expecting an emotional night, and as a therapist I figure you may be able to help if anything comes up."

"Sure, Jimmy. How about I give you a ride home after practice? Any chance your mom is going to feel up to cooking?"

"Bob!" Susan slapped his arm. We all laughed.

"Okay, okay, never mind."

I noticed Tim was looking at me strangely during practice. He caught up with me after and started stretching.

"You're kind of quiet today, Jimmy, everything okay?"

"Truthfully? No. Family problem over the weekend. It worked out okay, but I'm not allowed to talk about it. I'm just a little nervous about a conversation I have to have with my parents tonight."

"Sounds serious?"

"Yeah, it probably qualifies in that category. I just hope I don't end up grounded for the rest of the year."

He cracked up. "Geez, dude! You had me thinking it was something bad. If getting grounded is all you're worried about then you're worrying too much. What happened? They catch you with the babysitter?"

Now it was my turn to laugh. "Which one?"

He really cracked up at that. I tried to keep a straight face but it was a lost cause.

"Thanks, Tim. I needed that."

"Hey, no problem." He put his hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes. "And after Saturday night, I am the one who needs to be thanking you, for many things. I owe you a great debt, my friend. One that I don't know how I will ever repay. Angela feels the same way."

I felt a cold shudder run down my back. "Tim, I didn't do anything, really."

"Yeah. You're right. You just changed my life and made me the luckiest, happiest, guy on the planet. No big deal; happens every day."

"Second luckiest." I said with a grin.

"We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. How do you keep up with two?"

"Simple, I don't try. I just show up and do my best. They're very forgiving."

"Well, good luck with your parents. Oh no! That's not what this is about is it? They didn't find out did they?"

Tell the truth? Stall.

"No, it's not that. Something else happened yesterday. I don't know what's going to happen for sure." Not a complete lie, I had an idea of what would probably happen, but you never know. "But I'll find out soon enough."

"Well, let me know how it turns out, or if there is anything I can do for you. And I mean anything. See you tomorrow."

Tim headed for the locker room. It only took a few moments to pack my stuff in my bag, and then Bob and I headed for his car.

"Nervous?" he asked.

"Bob? You're one of the top psyche people in the state, or so I've been led to believe. I would think you could come up with a better question, or at least something a little less rhetorical."

We both laughed at that. "Okay, you got me. I guess I'm just as nervous as you are. This could potentially be a disaster of biblical proportions. I mean your folks seem like decent people, but if they wanted to they could crucify me for my involvement in this. Well, not all of it, but at least my part over the weekend."

As we pulled into the driveway and got out, a woman crossed the street. I knew who it was instantly. She was wearing the dress she had worn at the bank shooting. Okay, maybe not that one, but another one just like it anyway. I shouldered my bag and walked down the driveway to meet her.

I held out my hand and said, "Thank you for coming. Please allow me to introduce my psychology teacher, psychologist, and cross country coach, Robert Shelby. Bob, this is Rebecca Hampton."

Bob shook her hand. "An honor to meet you, Miss Hampton. I've heard a lot about you, but Jimmy never told me you were beautiful, too." He bowed over her hand and kissed it.

"I guess FBI agents really do blush," I said. "Why don't we go inside before the neighbors start getting too curious?"

I led them into the house. I had expected to find the girls out by the pool. Instead they were at the table doing homework. They looked up when the door opened.

"Hi, Mr. Shelby, thanks for coming," Allison began, then Rebecca entered and her eyes got big. She got up and walked into the living room. "You must be Rebecca. I am so happy to meet you."

Rebecca held out her hand but Allison ignored it and swept in to hug her instead. She let her go after a second. "That was from Amy. I promised her I would deliver that if I ever got the chance."

Then she stepped in and hugged her again. "That one is from me. Thank you for helping Jimmy, for believing him, and for coming tonight."

Rebecca was overwhelmed. She just stood there speechless for a second. Then shook her head to try and clear it.

"You said that hug was from Amy?"

"Yes!" Allison said, "She is just the sweetest thing and I feel so bad about her being stuck in a hospital somewhere all this time."

"Well, she's not really that little anymore. She's twenty years old."

"Not to us," Shannon said from the dining room. She got up and came into the living room with the rest of us. "And not to her either. Rebecca? Miss Hampton, I mean. One thing that will be very hard but very important to remember when she wakes up is that she will still be that sweet little girl inside. She won't know that any time has passed at all. Isn't that right, Mr. Shelby?"

"I'm sorry. I don't think we've met, you must be Shannon?" He reached to shake her hand.

"I'm sorry," I said. I turned to Shannon. "Please forgive me, I didn't mean to be so rude." I took her hand and turned back to face Bob and Rebecca. "This is my girlfriend, Shannon Davis. And this is my sister, Allison. With the exception of Amy, everyone that knows about this is now in this room. Why don't we sit down and if anyone has questions now would be a good time, before we have to send Rebecca into isolation."

Rebecca shook the girl's hands. "Very nice to meet you both. So you've all seen Amy?"

"Well, not all of us." Bob answered. "I have not yet had the pleasure. However, what Shannon said is actually correct. When Amy wakes up, unless she is the rare exception, she will not know that any time has passed at all. The longer they have been 'out, ' the harder it can be for coma patients to adjust to the hole in their lives. In this case, Amy will wake to a fully functional adult existence with, most likely, no knowledge that any time has passed. She will have a lot of catching up to do."