Chapter 14

Jory

As soon asthe shower starts, I call Desi, anxious to let her know I’m fine. Granted, I did text her, but it’s not the same and she’s been freaking out, blowing up my phone. Calling her will kill two birds with one stone; she can hear my voice and I can ask her to run and grab a few outfits for me.

“Jory Stokes, you’re never allowed to scare me that way again, do you hear me?” she exclaims the second she answers.

“As if I did it on purpose, you goof,” I tease.

She’s been so supportive over the years and by my side through some of my absolute worst days. I giggle remembering the time she visited me once the doctors allowed more than my mom. Mom went down to the cafeteria to give us time alone, and she took the gauze and wrapped us both up like mummies, then crawled into my bed with me so we could catch up on all the gossip.

When I went to rehab after the grafts were done, she’d come when I had physical therapy, wiping away my tears and cheering me on as I worked on rebuilding my muscle tone. She painted my toenails wild colors and then, she bought some wiggly eyes and put them everywhere, which had the staff laughing even as they shook their heads at our antics.

In short, next to hearing Bryson’s voice in my head, Desi saved my sanity. And when Mom died, she held me while I cried, then decided on a career path with me so we’d be together. She became my family; despite the fact we don’t share blood.

Her voice changes and she says, “I know you didn’t, but the fact is, until I got your text, I was absolutely terrified for you. I worried you were hurt again, that it would send you to that ugly, dark place again, and that I’d lose you. I can’t lose you, Jor, I just can’t.” Her voice now sounds like she’s fighting back tears, which sets mine off.

Long minutes pass as we sob into the phone until she finally giggles. “Great, now I’m all snotty, and I need to go buy my best friend a new wardrobe,” she says.

“As if you mind shopping,” I retort, giggling harder. If there’s one thing Desi excels at, it’s conquering the stores. Plus, I know she knows what I like, so I don’t have to worry about suddenly having nothing but plaid, or pleather, or heaven forbid, pleats.

“I’ve already been, but that was just the basics. Grabbed you some shampoo, conditioner, facial wash, moisturizer, underwear and bras, and also jeans, t-shirts, and nightgowns. The only thing I’m waiting on is the lotion you get from your doctor’s office. They called in the prescription, though, so I should have it shortly.”

Tears are once again leaking, although they’re silent ones so I don’t set her off again. “You’re too good to me, Des,” I say.

“I’m just doing what you’d do for me, Jor,” she replies. “Now, I know it’s late, but let Bryson know that I’ll be dropping all of this off on his front porch shortly. I’m going to call the pharmacy and see if it’s ready or not, but regardless, you’re going to need these things tomorrow so you can go get your tattoo.”

She didn’t forget which isn’t surprising to me at all. She remembers every single thing. Always has, which is a good thing, because she was invaluable when I was in school trying to catch up.

“Okay, bestie. Thank you,”

“No thanks needed, babe. You’d do the same and I know that for a fact,” she replies. “Don’t forget to tell Bryson.”

“I won’t.”

* * *

Once Bryson gets out of the shower, I stand and walk toward him. Once I’m in front of him, I wrap my arms around him and say, “Thank you for saving me again.”

“No thanks needed, sweetheart. You’re my everything, and I’ll always do whatever I can to save you. Whether it’s from danger or yourself.”

“Desi’s going to drop some stuff off on the front porch for me. We should probably turn the outside light on.”

“Yeah, and I want to fix us something to eat, plus take Peaches out again. She’s doing much better, that’s for sure.”

As we walk downstairs, our fingers entwined, I marvel again at just how fortunate I am. I have Bryson, I have Desi, and a job I love.

* * *

“It really doesn’t hurt,” I say, looking at Bryson.

True to their word, Manny, Loki, and Kaya are working on me. They put the transfers on my skin and for the past two hours, they’ve been steadily working on outlining the extensive design that Kaya came up with and I approved.

“It probably has a lot to do with the fact that even though the skin grafts took, a lot of superficial nerves didn’t regenerate,” Manny replies, glancing up at me. “But like we said, if there’s a sensitive area, we’ll make sure we put on some numbing cream ahead of time.”

“I like how it’s shaping up,” Bryson says, peering down at my legs.

Instead of the discomfort I normally feel when my legs are so exposed, I feel almost… free. It’s a strange concept for me, especially given where our relationship is heading. Maybe it’s because I want him to see all parts of me, but who knows? Something else to ponder about, I guess.

“Guess I have to wait and see, huh?” I tease. I mean, I’m not quite flat on my back, but close enough that I can’t easily see my own legs at this point. I will say, however, that all three of them have been professional, kind, and gentle.

“Not much longer,” Kaya promises. “You’ve done so well, Jory, and I think when we’re finished, we’re all going to be blown away at how good it looks.”

“I hope so,” I whisper.

Bryson squeezes my hand, grinning down at me. “You’re going to love them, sweetheart.”

We continue chatting until finally, I feel coolness against my legs and know they’re wiping the excess ink away. “Let me help you up,” Kaya says, “so you can look at what’s been done so far. Since we’re not sure how fast it’s going to heal, we’ll set an appointment for three weeks from today as long as it works with Bryson’s schedule. If it looks good, we’ll start filling in and shading the flowers.”

As we reach the full-length mirror, Kaya steps back and I look at myself. “Holy smokes,” I murmur. While I know where every line is, every graft was placed, right now, I can tell the design I picked that Kaya tweaked is going to look phenomenal, beyond my wildest expectations.

“Looks good, sweetheart,” Bryson says, coming to stand behind me. He wraps his arms around me and kisses my temple. “I like it but what’s more important, is do you?”

“I love it and it’s not even finished yet,” I reply. Turning to face the three artists, I can’t keep the emotion from my voice as I tell them, “Y’all have no idea what this means to me.”

“The expression on your face says it all,” Loki replies. “And as far as I’m concerned, that’s payment enough for me.”

“Same,” both Manny and Kaya state, causing me to look at them with wide eyes.

“Really?” I question. I was prepared to pay for my tattoo; I make good money and even though I have living expenses, I’ve still been able to bank a lot of money over the years.

“Yes, really,” Manny says. “We often do pro bono work, Jory, and you’re someone who makes a good candidate for what we offer.”

“We got your permission to take before and after pics, which we’ll submit to a national magazine. It’ll end up bringing all three of us more work than we can handle, and we’re already at that point,” Kaya teases. “But we’re never going to complain when what we’re able to do can give someone the hope we see on your face right now. Your scars didn’t define you, but you likely felt they did. Now, hopefully, this’ll give you the confidence you need to fully embrace life.”

“Thank you,” I manage to get out between the sobs wracking my body. “This is the closest I’ve felt to normal since that day.”

“Come on, sweetheart,” Bryson says, taking my hand in his. “Let’s go check the calendar so we can book your next appointment.”

* * *

“I’m nervous about this,” I admit to Bryson as we walk into the town council meeting a week after my tattoo appointment.

In between the jobs Desi and I have had, I’ve spent every available minute working on my presentation. Unfortunately, the fire at my apartment claimed the lives of four people, and the leasing company is under fire for multiple code violations since if they had fixed them, it’s likely no one would have died. I wanted a presentation that would pack the biggest punch, so the slide show is intermingled with statistics from the shelter to pictures of successful adoptions, including Peaches, Mr. Whiskers, and Cheeto.

“You’re going to do fine, sweetheart. You’re prepared and you have the passion necessary to make people listen to you.”

“From your mouth to God’s ear,” I whisper.

We sit and wait, Desi as well as the Greys coming to sit by us. When my name is called, I take a deep breath then head to the podium, while Desi goes to the computer in the back that has a slide show Joanna helped me create.

“Hello, my name is Jory Stokes and I’m here today to speak on behalf of the Possum Run Animal Shelter. I’ve been a volunteer there for the past seven years and in that time, I’ve noticed quite a few things. Specifically, the building itself is practically falling down. In fact, it barely passed the last fire inspection, according to the Possum Run Fire Department’s chief. Not only that, but the adoption rate compared to the intake of strays and abandoned animals is disproportionate to a town of our size. I know that it’s been requested several times that we build a new facility, yet it’s never been approved. Hopefully, what I share next will help change your minds because we need to do something for the animals.

“You’ll see behind me a mock-up of a new shelter, one that is, for all intents and purposes, a no-kill facility. I say that because there are times when it’s more merciful to humanely euthanize an animal than to allow them to suffer unduly. We are proposing that on one side of the facility, a low-cost clinic set up which would offer spays, neuters, and basic vaccines to not only our town, but those surrounding us. Every vet in Possum Run, Falls Ridge, and also Peeks Point has volunteered time to ensure the animals get the very best care. They will use their vendors, so we have the supplies needed, which won’t cost the town anything. We know that dogs and cats usually don’t get along, so we feel separating them into their own areas would be beneficial. The cats wouldn’t be as stressed, and the outside run areas will allow the dogs to get fresh air as they want, not when they’re able to be walked.

“In the front, off the reception area, we want to set up several meet and greet areas, so that prospective adopters will have a chance to spend time with the animal they’ve chosen. While this sounds like a lot of money to spend, the fact of the matter is that because people aren’t spaying and neutering their animals for whatever reason, we have too many strays. Right now, animals are being euthanized because the shelter has no more room. We have referendums for every little thing this town has, I’m proposing that we add a new shelter to that list. Thank you.”

As I return to my seat, I hear the room clapping, but I don’t realize it’s a standing ovation until I’m next to Bryson and chance a look around.

“Holy smokes,” I whisper, when I realize that all but one council member is standing as well.

Bryson leans down and says in my ear, “I believe they heard you, baby.”

“I hope so. The animals deserve so much more.”

“Let’s go celebrate, sweetheart. They’re going to need time to vote on this and likely won’t have an answer tonight.”

“Sounds like a plan to me, honey.”

I grin as he wraps me in his arms and kisses me, uncaring that we’re surrounded by so many in our town.