Chapter 9
~Tap Tap Tap~
The noise cut through the silent waiting room like butter. It might as well have been a jackhammer. Eyes were on the young blonde as her pen danced on her notepad.
Delana thought she would try to get some work done for her PR job while Kevin went in for some test. Though she was far from getting anything done. Her mind was elsewhere. She was still in shock that for just a brief second Kevin came out of his shell. She almost had him back. She had so much hope now, hope that was once dwindling away after the long weeks of nothing at all.
The door opening interrupted her tapping and Kevin and the doctor walked through it. Delana shot up out of her seat and practically ran over to the two. She was hoping for some kind of good news. She took her husbands limp hand and squeezed it tight.
“Well?”
“His tests came back fine Mrs. Harvick.”
Delana’s face fell. She knew she should have been happy and a part of her was. The thing was… she wanted more then anything to find out what was wrong and then fix it.
“Although I do have a theory. Sit down please?!
“There’s a thing called Aphasia… have you heard of it?”
“No…” De said to the point.
“Ok a lot of people haven’t. I’ll try my best to explain it to you. I’m just learning about it as well. A blow to the head usually causes it. There are other ways but since we know your husband was struck over the head then that’s the only thing I can think of for his condition…”
He paused a moment before saying what he didn’t really want to.
“…Other then the idea of it needing a Psychiatrists care.”
“Umm… ok… “ De was a tad confused by all this new information.
“There are many symptoms and vary from person to person but some of the effects are the inability to talk and show emotion.”
“So you’re saying Kevin has that?”
“I’m not saying he had it no… I’m saying it’s a possibility. But the good news about Aphasia is that it CAN clear up and normally does. That’s why I’m hoping its this.”
A twinge of happiness came over her at the thought of having Kevin back.
“So what about what happened at the track? Does that mean he’s coming around?”
“It’s hard to say. I’m doing more research on it now. Things aren’t to clear on everything yet. That doesn’t sound too professional I know… but this is the first case I have come in contact with. When I have more information about it you’ll be the first to know.”
The doctor gave her a reassuring smile as Delana looked over at her husband. Kevin was still staring into space. That had to be it. If the race didn’t pull him completely out then it had to be something more right?
“I still want you to keep doing things with him… taking him to the track was a great idea!”
“I really think it did something. I just wish it had a lasting effect.” Delana squeezed Kevin’s hand harder and held it on her lap tightly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“… So that’s what he said he thinks it is!” Delana finished while taking a sip of tea from her mug.
“I’ve never heard of that…” Jr whispered almost too low to hear.
“Me neither.”
The kitchen was silent as the two sat at the table, both grasping mugs.
“I wonder if I put him in the car… If he would drive it. I mean, hell he eats and drinks when he wants. Why not drive?” De said perking up at the idea.
“A RACE car?!?!” Jr blurted out.
“No dumb ass! A STREET car! I’m not trying to kill him!”
“Oh… well then yea! It sounds like a pretty good idea... go for it!”
“I might…”
Again they were surrounded by eerie silence until Jr couldn’t take it anymore.
“So uh… What did the doctor say about him getting up in the middle of the night and sleeping on the couch?”
“Didn’t say much. I’m sure he doesn’t know why. No one does.”
“Cept Kevin.”
“Yep…”
“I still haven’t caught him come down yet.”
“You still haven’t cleaned that room either! De you cant just leave those toy car parts on the floor!”
De looked square in Jr’s eyes. Pleading with him silently to drop the subject.
“Noooo…. Don’t look at me like that! I’m not gonna let it go!”
“I can’t move them!” She whined
“Why not?”
“Cause…. Cause he left them there Jr. I want him to do something about it.”
This caught Jr by surprise. He had been under the impression that she just didn’t want to go into the room.
“Ok…”
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“Alright Kevin!” The energetic blonde said in her perkiest voice. Her fingers snaked around the steering wheel to the ignition and turned off the engine in one click.
“We are gonna try something! You ready?”
Kevin never looked at her. All he did was stare foreword but this didn’t stop her from hopping out of the car and running to the other side. She had pulled into a vacant parking lot in hopes that Kevin would let go a little and drive the car around. She wrenched open the car door and grabbed both of his hands, guiding him over to the driver’s side.
“Ok Hun. You know what to do… Just get in… and drive ok?”
Kevin stared at her blankly before she helped him sit in the drivers seat. Once he was in and had his seatbelt on, Delana hustled over to her side and strapped in.
They sat for a good 10 minutes. Nothing. Kevin sat there like a bump on a log staring out the front window. Delana exhaled deeply and unhooked her seatbelt.
“That’s alright baby.” She whispered while rubbing his arm. “It was a long shot. Thought I’d try it.” The disappointment was evident in her voice.
She reached over to open her door when she felt the car jerk under her. The Engine roared to life and Delana shot her head in Kevin’s direction. His right hand still held the key and his eyes now focused on the ignition.
She said nothing as she watched him stare at his hand holding the key. She expected him to do more. Put the car into drive, speed off and then everything would be all right. But that wouldn’t happen. De watched him turn back the key, shutting off the horses under the hood. His hand went back onto his lap and his eyes focused again on staring out the car window.
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Delana was frustrated. More then normal. She was running out of ideas to help Kevin out of his shell. She wanted some sort of response to something and she wasn’t getting it. The thought of bringing him back to a race ran through her mind and she would make arrangements to do that when she got her schedule in front of her. But as for right now she watched her husband sleep soundly next to her. She was determined to stay up this time tonight and see when he would leave her side.
Her eyes followed his body as his chest rose and fell. His back was to her but she could still see him breathing. Breathing… oh how happy she was that he was actually laying next to her breathing. It wasn’t too long ago that she laid in the same position worrying if she’d ever hold her husband again.
Her thoughts wondered back to a night she would always remember. I night they lay in each other’s arms and nothing else mattered.
~~~~~~~~~
”Kevin! Make sure you turn off the shower part and THEN the water! Every time I turn on the faucet to fill the bath tub I get hit with water from above!” Delana yelled from her place in bed, her hands holding her little notebook.
“Yes mother!” A mimicking voice shouted back from the half closed door to the bathroom.
A few seconds later, Kevin immerged from the bathroom in just a towel. The “Clean Male” smell lofted through the room and tickled her nose causing the sides of her mouth to curl up in an evil smirk as she kept her eyes on the notepad in front of her.
“We need to remember to by more toilet paper for this weekend. If I have to ask Tony again for more I’m gonna be pissed.” Kevin announced as he shifted through the dresser drawers.
Delana let out a small giggle and Kevin turned to her confused.
”What?”
“How can you stand there and talk about toilet paper in a towel?” She giggled while setting down her note pad on the night stand.
“Well its easy when you don’t have a mind of a 10 year old!” He pointed out as he stood up straight and put his hands on his hips.
“OHHH no you don’t Mr. Harvick!” She said while pointing her index finger at him. “This coming from a man whose favorite TV show is Spongebob!”
“Don’t make fun of Spongebob! He’s the best!” Kevin whined and pouted.
“Awwww poor baby…” De said as she started to crawl across the bed.
“Yeah…” Kevin whispered as he saw the lust in her eyes as she approached.
“Do you know what I wanna do Kevin?” She said in a husky voice while running her hands over his bare shoulders.
Kevin was speechless and stood like stone as his wife caressed his skin. She giggled at the fact that she seemed to always have this effect on him. That famous sarcastic mouth was speechless.
Delana leaned upwards and covered his mouth with hers. Their tongues found their perfect rhythm immediately and soon Kevin had his fingers in her hair, pulling her close to get more.
De pulled away for a split second to help him get rid of the towel. Once the distracting piece of cotton was discarded to the corner Kevin wasted no time gliding Delana back on to the covers.
“I love you so much.” He whispered to her as they lay nose to nose.
“I know you do…” And with that she pulled him back to her lips.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
De sighed loudly as the memories washed through her brain about what happened next that night. She ached for the feeling of him again… for him to engulf her in his arms.
And suddenly… A light bulb came on over her head. She wanted a reaction from him and there was only one other thing she could think of that always worked before.
She slowly turned onto her side to face Kevin’s back. She could do this. It would work. It was her last chance. She inched closer, letting her hand snake down to his waist without touching him. Her eyes watched his face. It was still and expressionless but his pale skin and sleeping form looked so angelic. She pulled away instantly.
“No…” She whispered, shaking her head. “Its wrong.”
She sat back and shut her eyes tightly. “I’m weak…” He murmured while tangling her fingers in the blankets.
A few seconds passed till she opened her eyes again and with determination, sat up on her knees beside Kevin’s back.
Her hand once again was sent on its mission to find its target. She ran her index finger under the waste band of his sweatpants and inched it closer and closer to the middle of his stomach. She let her eyes wonder up to his face once again. Nothing had changed so she continued on with her journey.
She slipped in the rest of her fingers under the thin material, holding her breath the whole time. Her head screamed for him to do something… Show he was still in there. The thought urged her on and she pushed the rest of her hand down the front of his sweat pants. The tips of her nails lightly brushed the area she was aiming for and she lightly winced at the quickness that she came upon it. Her eyes shot to Kevin’s face… and found a change.
His eyes were open… Staring straight ahead in their normal fashion. But something was largely different and at the sight of it Delana immediately extracted her hand.
A single Tear trickled down the side of his face. It landed on the pillow and disappeared as fast as it had arrived. De jumped off the bed and ran to kneel in front of him, running her hands through his hair.
“Baby I’m sorry! Was that wrong of me?! Kevin? Oh I’m so sorry!” She wiped the spot on his cheek that the tear had run on.
“I was just… Trying to get you to do something… other then just sit there. I miss you Kevin! I miss my husband… And… I can’t do anything to help you.” Tears now ran down her face as she cradled Kevin’s face in hers. His expression still didn’t change but another tear slipped passed his eyelids and streaked down onto her hand.
“I love you… You know that… you’ll always know that. I’ll be here when ever your ready ok? “
Slowly and sweetly she leaned down and planted her lips onto his warm ones. She held on real tight, shutting her eyes and trying her best to make him feel how much she loved him through her kiss. She wanted to hold on forever and never end it … but finally she pulled away and walked back over to her side of the bed. Tears still streamed from her eyes till she fell asleep ten minutes later.
What she didn’t know was that someone cried along with her. And he was only a foot away. Blinking eyes took in their surroundings. Slowly he stood up and looked down at the tear stained face of his wife. Leaning down, he brushed her hair out of her face before smiling and turning around to head downstairs.
