Reborn in Time: Reclaiming My Life

Chapter 6 Plotting the Downfall

Ava's POV cont.

Further conversation was interrupted by the nurse coming in to check my vitals. She was thrilled to discover I was awake.

“Mrs. Andrews, I'm so happy to see you're awake! My name is Natalie Perkins. I’m your nurse for this shift. I’ve been your daytime nurse since the day you were admitted. I need to notify your doctor. This is wonderful news!"

"Can we wait for that for a few minutes? I need to sign some paperwork, and I really don't want to put that off for even a minute!" Knowing what I do, I want to make sure that no one can reveal my medical information to Rowan or Jane. The plan formulating in my brain depends on those two not having updated info.

"If that's what you wish, then, of course," she assured me. "All the staff have been praying for your recovery. Your friend, Mia, has been here every day since you were brought in. Honestly, we’ve had a hard time convincing her to go home and rest or go to work. I have noticed though, that even though your chart says you are married, your husband hasn't been to visit you even once.”

As she talked, she took my blood pressure, checked the monitors, checked my reflexes, did all the things she needed, updating the digital medical record when she was done.

“How do your eyes feel, Mrs. Andrews? Any pain or discomfort?” she inquired.

“No pain, but they are itchy. And please, call me Ava, or Ms. Sinclair. If I’ve been here for five weeks without one visit from the man I’m married to, I think we can all see where that’s headed. I mean, I can’t see for s**t right now, but I can see that my marriage needs to be over. Don’t you agree?” My use of dark humor did not go unappreciated.

“Oh my, Ava! I like your spunk. Professionally, I’m not supposed to voice my opinion on a patient’s personal relationship. Unless, of course, I see signs of physical, emotional, or mental abuse. Or in your case, abandonment. It’s already been noted in your medical file that your spouse appears to have done just that. The only time your husband has shown his face, or even a shred of interest, was at the time of your admittance. And that was a good twelve hours after you were brought in.” She snorted with disgust.

“I was there when he told your doctor to not bother doing surgery on your eyes. The gist of his comments was that there was no sense wasting time and energy on someone who was probably going to die anyway. Or be a vegetable for the rest of her life. Then he had the gall to ask if, and when, they could take you off life support.” Her voice was hard with anger.

I could hear, and feel the anger, on my behalf, oozing off her.

“Personally, I’m glad to hear you want to end the marriage. His behavior when you were admitted was nothing if not dismissive and abusive. If you need anyone to testify to that, I’ll be happy to do so.”

Wow! That’s insane. Never in my life have I ever heard of a health professional expressing such sentiments. Rowan really pissed her off.

“Maybe this is gossiping, but I feel you should know he had a woman with him that day. Tall, blonde, clung to him like a limpet. Neither of them looked too upset about your injuries. The woman acted offended that you weren’t dead,” Nurse Perkins added. “I had the distinct pleasure of having security escort her from the treatment room since she wasn’t family and was causing a disturbance.”

“Sounds like Jane,” I muttered. “That wench is my soon-to-be ex-husband’s mistress. If they do show up, I don’t want either Rowan Andrews or Jane Rhodes to be anywhere near me. Also, I’m revoking Rowan’s POA for Personal and Medical Care. The paperwork will be filed with the hospital today.” I informed her. “Can you make that known to the medical and security staff? Please?”

“I most certainly will. It will be my extreme pleasure,” she chortled. “I’m going to leave you for now, as I must talk to your doctor. He’ll probably be in early this afternoon. I’ll also see about instructions for meals. You still have an IV feeding you all the nutrients you need, but a slow reintroduction of food will be necessary.” She patted my unfettered hand. “You get some rest, Ava. I’ll be back with your doctor.”

"Nurse Perkins, can you hold off for an hour or so? Please don't let anyone know I'm awake until I sign the POA paperwork, not even my doctor. It's important no one knows yet." I was practically begging, knowing my request went against hospital protocol.

Nurse Perkins studied me carefully before answering. "Are you afraid of your husband, Ms. Sinclair? Is that why you want him removed as POA? You want to block him from accessing your medical records? Because of him asking when you could be taken off life support? Are you afraid for your life?"

"Yes, I'm terrified of what he will do if he finds out I'm awake. I don't trust him. I want nothing to do with him, or his mistress, Jane Rhodes." Every word I spoke was the absolute truth. I know damn well that Rowan and Jane want me dead.

She looked from me to Mia, who nodded in agreement, the words she uttered adding weight to my request. "He slapped her, knocked her to the floor just three weeks before the accident. She filed for divorce the very next day. I agree with Ava completely. Neither Rowan Andrews, nor Jane Rhodes are to be trusted. They do not have Ava's best interests at heart.

Nurse Perkins nodded her head decisively, then as quickly as she entered the room, she was gone.