Chapter Nineteen
Damon garnered all the strength he had and made such a fuss when they went to administer another round of drugs that the nurse’s held off and called his doctor in to help.
When Damon felt him approach, he repeated, “Ro-sie. Ros-ieee.” Damon’s slurred speech made it hard to decipher at first, but the nurse seemed to know what he meant.
“Doctor, I think he’s calling for his daughter. ”
“Ye-sss. Rosieeee” His voice trailed off, but he knew they understood.
Concentrating on breathing, he forced the air into his lungs, his strength building slightly.
Both people nodded and then the doctor reaffirmed to be sure they had it right.
“You’re telling us that you don’t want the drugs.
It’s better if you take them now, easier on your body.
You’re organs are going through terrible trauma, Mr. Marks.
I’d feel better if you took the medication. ”
“Nn-ooo.” Voice barely above a whisper, Lance groaned but still shook his head, knowing it was but an imperceptible movement, but thankful they seemed to understand.
Suddenly the door to his room opened, and Lance poked his head in.
The doctor rushed to greet him, stopping him from entering and forcing them to step outside in the hall so they could talk.
When he saw the anxious little girl behind Lance, he spoke one word. “Rosie?”
“Yes. She’s his daughter. She needs to see him. You said he called for her.” Lance wasn’t willing to accept a no from the doctor.
“Yes. He’s doing so again.” The older man looked at Rosie and held up a warning hand.
“Rosie, honey, you have to understand. Your father’s very badly injured.
His face is almost unrecognizable with the wounds and bruising, and there are tubes everywhere.
But he’s refused any medication because he wants to see you.
Are you sure you’ll be okay doing this? You won’t be frightened? ”
***
“I guess.” Knowing that to be a lie, Rosie didn’t care. The doctor had to let her into the room. “Daddy’s been calling me. I have to see him. I don’t understand why, but he wants me.” She glanced up, the urgency clearly defined on her small face. “I gotta go in there.”
Shaking his head in bewilderment, the doctor spoke to Lance. “Damon’s barely hanging on. In fact, it’s a miracle he’s been able to handle his injuries at all. The medical staff feels as if he’s only doing so to see Rosie.”
“Then let her go to him.”
Nodding, the doctor opened the door. “Come with me.”
A sobby moan of horror escaped Rosie at the sight of her father, but it was so low that she hoped no one heard.
Holding tight to Lance’s hand, she began moving closer to the hospital bed.
For a few seconds, she almost turned and ran but she sensed a force around her father that gave her the strength to keep moving forward.
Miraculously, as if upon knowing she’d arrived, Damon’s lifeforce brightened and she felt a warm glow urging her to come to him. From then on she lost all her fear.
Approaching the bed, she heard his voice brokenly calling to her. “Rosie-e?”
She moved to take hold of the wavering hand he held her way. “Come…. to me…. baby.”
She stepped even closer and leaned in carefully, putting her face near his so her ear lay next to his mouth. Struggling, he whispered his words using all his strength. When she understood his message, she felt her heart lighten so much she could almost fly.
She kissed the only part of his face that wasn’t cut and laid her head very gently on his chest near his hand so he could reach her for a last caress.
Knowing he was going to leave her now brought healing tears because it would be fine.
Her daddy said so, and that made it okay.
Her heart filled with joy, and she swelled with pride that he’d called for her.
The others in the room had stepped away to give them privacy, and she sensed they’d wait for as long as she needed. Once she knew her daddy had left her, she stepped down from the bed and turned to her uncle. “It’s okay now. Can we go home?”
Before they could move, the door opened and Rachel arrived, appearing as if she’d run the whole way. “Is he…? Oh, no. I’m too late.” Tears flooded, and she turned away, her shoulders shaking from the pain of her disappointment.
Hands reaching, Rosie ran to her mom. Then putting her arms around her waist, knowing she could share some of what Damon had told her in his sad, broken voice, she spoke, awe filling her words and making them definitely believable.
“Daddy said he loves us. And for you to be happy, Mom. You too, Uncle Lance… and he said, ‘be together’.”
Smiling inside, Rosie knew that the rest of what Damon had told her was meant for her alone. Though he might not have spoken only with words, her heart had known what he meant. Maybe one day she could share, but for now, it was too new, and she wanted to keep it to herself… her secret.
Hers and her daddy’s.