|41.|

                                    

                                          


•Jo's POV• 
                          
"Jo, Chase, I'm so glad you're here. Your mother just went into surgery." My dad says and hugs Chase and I. 
                          
"How is she?" I ask sitting down in a chair in the waiting room. "She broke her hip and leg. The doctors don't know if she will recover correctly or not because it broke right on the joint and it broke an artery in her leg." Dad sighs. 
                          
Chase and I look at each other with wide eyes. "We didn't know it was that serious." Chase says quietly. 
                          
"What even happened?" I ask. "She was getting into the truck, and some snow was on the runner and she slipped and fell, right onto the hard ground. Then, she tried to get up, but then fell on some ice. It was bad. She hit hard. By the time I could get to her, the damage was already done. I feel like I could have done better." Dad says and puts his head in his hands. 
                          
"Dad, you didn't know. It's okay." I say rubbing his shoulder. "Mom will get better. It's just going to take some time." Chase adds. 
                          
"I know, but you know how impatient I am." Dad says. 
                          
•Brad's POV• six days later 
                          
"Hey man! Wanna come over? Joeys coming." Ryan says over the phone that's on speaker. 
                          
"Yeah, sure! What time?" I ask preparing a salad. "I don't know. Tonight, uh, maybe 7ish?" 
                          
"Okay, yeah. I'll be there." "Okay, great, and tell Jo I'm thinking of her and her family." "Will do. See ya later Blaney." I say and hang up. 
                          
I miss Jo. She's been gone for six days. I am so bored and lonely without her. 
                          
I open a cabinet door to get the salt and pepper out and I see a lone can of beer. 
                          
Maybe just one drink. I go to grab it, and my arm springs back. "No. I can't do it. I promised Jo I wouldn't." I say and grab the salad and walk into the other room. 
                          
It's already 6 so I head over to Ryan's. before I leave the driveway, I call Jo. 
                          
"Hello?" She asks, her voice sounding distraught, but still beautiful. "Hey baby. How are you?" 
                          
"Getting through this. Mom has to stay in a recovery room for a while. I sure hope she can walk again." "Me too. You're mom is a fighter, so I don't have any doubts." 
                          
"She sure is." "I miss you." I blurt out. "I miss you too. I should be home before Christmas." 
                          
"Christmas is next week." "Exactly. I love you so much. I have to go, but I will call you tomorrow." "I love you too, and can't wait to see you." "I can't wait to see you too. Bye." "Bye." 
                          
I hang up and bite my lip. I can't wait for next week. 
                          
When I get to Ryan's, I see Joeys truck in the driveway. 
                          
I walk in and Ryan and Joey are singing karaoke. I look at them with weird eyes. 
                          
I don't even think they heard me open the door because the music is so loud. 
                          
This is probably one of the dumbest things I have ever seen. 
                          
"C'mon Joey! Sing this last part!" Ryan says into the microphone and looks my way. 
                          
He looks at me in shock and turns the tv off. "Ryan! I was about to go Mariah Carey up in this bitch." Joey says smacking Ryan in the chest. 
                          
Joey looks over and screeches. Literally, screeches. "Uh hey Brad. What's shakin?" Joey asks rubbing the back of his neck. 
                          
"Well, I just walked in to two lunatics singing karaoke." I laugh. "Yeah, sorry about that." Ryan laughs and we all go into the kitchen and sit at the island.