Chapter 5
Ethan and Alexandra have no idea how much it means to me that they’re standing by my side at a time like this, although Ethan made it clear his primary interest is in taking care of Lionel’s safety. In this shitty situation, teaming up with a friend like him is a true godsend.
Alexandra took care of my little suitcase and brought me some dinner. I gave it a few bites, more for her sake than mine. I don’t want to be rude to someone who has shown me nothing but kindness even though we just met, and in such a confusing situation. She has offered me a shoulder to lean on and thanks to her I don’t feel so alone. In the midst of all this, I feel like a fish out of the water.
“You know? A few years ago, before we got married, Ethan was wounded on duty and ended up in a hospital in Germany. I almost went crazy waiting for him to wake up. I don’t even want to imagine how you must be feeling between the anguish and despair of knowing Lionel isn’t the man you thought he was.”
I understand her solidarity and I appreciate it very much. However, you can’t hide the sun with one hand. They aren’t my friends, they are part of Lionel’s team. Right now, I have no idea what that means.
“Mr. Kral’s doctor will be here in a few minutes,” the nurse informs us, cutting my thoughts.
We are still in a private waiting room in this fancy hospital.
I’ve heard many times there are things that money can’t buy.
You can buy care, but not health.
Everything here is top-notch, but the coffee still tasting bitter.
There isn’t a single plastic chair around, and yet they can’t give us comfort.
And as diligent nurses roam the halls ready to take care of Lionel, none of them can assure us that he will get better.
And no matter how hard I try, I can’t find peace. It’s like being in a windowless room from where I can’t find my way out. I still have a thousand questions in my mind and the uncertainty isn’t helping.
The only good news that brings some light in this darkness is that Lionel is still here with us, and while I don’t know much about his condition, just the fact he hasn’t given up, gives me hope.
I feel like a truck ran me over, I don’t even want to think about how I look. I’m clad in the same clothes I’d been wearing before I left for the airport yesterday. I have puffy eyes, and I haven’t combed my hair in what seems like days.
And the wait continues, the clock says it hasn’t been more than fifteen minutes since the nurse came to make her announcement, but by the time the door opens again, I feel like hours have passed.
Endless hours.
And I don’t have a single tear left. When my father died, my mother said that like the stars, they were infinite.
Something must have changed since then, or maybe our love wasn’t as strong. Perhaps what has happened in the last few hours is a clear sign of that.
“Mrs. Kral,” calls out a man walking toward us in blue scrubs and a pristine white coat.
“That’s me,” says Johanna, rising from her chair.
But before she can beat me, I’m already in front of the doctor, extending my hand to introduce myself.
Last night she refused to go home, and she was drinking coffee until she couldn’t handle it anymore and fell asleep.
What she didn’t count on was that the time zones were in my favor, by the time she woke up a couple of hours later, I already had double my normal dose of caffeine, and already pestered the nurses for information.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Stella Kral, Lionel’s wife.”
The doctor raises his eyebrows. He opens his mouth to talk, but he stops himself.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Dr. Wong. Mr. Kral is stable, breathing on his own. Although his blood pressure has been fluctuating, we’re optimistic,” he begins. “As I was saying yesterday to Mrs. Kral—Mr. Kral’s mother—the first hours are critical. In medicine, nothing can be taken for granted, but we’re hopeful he will recover.”
Those words are like a weight has been lifted and relief flows through my veins.
He’s going to be just fine.
“Today we will keep him sedated, his body needs time to rest. We are also giving him IV medication to avoid any infections, which is one of the leading post-op risks. If everything continues according to plan, tomorrow we will reduce the sedatives. This morning they did a CT scan. The reports show no bleeding, just a slight swelling on the right side of his head.”
God, I thought he was just shot. Whoever attacked him was determined to end his life. I need to talk with Ethan again, there is so much I don’t know.
“Are you sure, doctor?” Those words come out of my mouth before I can stop them, this whole situation is terrifying.
“We don’t know for sure, Mrs. Kral,” he says. “But the medical team in charge has made a good prognosis. The neurologist working with me is a world-renowned doctor. Dr. Cifuentes is very experienced. He’s getting the best ca—”
This time it’s Lionel’s mother who stops the doctor. “What about the wounds on the chest and abdomen?”
The doctor makes a face that to some may seem like a smile. “Your son was very lucky, no organ damage. We were surprised. If one of the bullets were a bit to the left…”
Just imagining it makes my skin crawl. A few inches could have meant that the mystics with the proverbial scissors would have cut his silver thread.
“Today is important. We’re going to monitor him closely. He isn’t going to wake up anytime soon so we advise you to go home and get some rest. You will need it.”
Why did he say that?
“We’re going to need it? What do you mean, doctor?” I can’t help wanting to know, since those words sounded so ominous.
“Although we hope he will overcome the danger, the recovery will be slow. The shoulder wound is going to need PT.”
After finishing his report, the doctor leaves, promising he’ll come back later. He’d told us he’s an internist, but in addition, Lionel is being attended by a neurologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, an orthopedist, and a general surgeon.
A chill runs through me. His injuries must have been really severe to need a medical team this big.
I make myself as comfortable as I can in a waiting room chair. It doesn’t matter if Lionel spends the whole day sleeping, I’m not moving from here. I want to see him as soon as the nurse finishes the morning rounds. I heard what the doctor said, but I need to see with my own eyes that he’s still here, touch his warm skin, and listen to the monitor stating the rhythm of his heart beating, the same heart he once told me was mine.
That it would always be with me, wherever I go.
“You would have liked that, right?” Mrs. Kral tells me in a very low voice, but it sounds really threatening. At first, I have a hard time understanding what the hell she’s talking about. “If my son hadn’t been so lucky , you would be a very wealthy widow.”
This woman is totally clueless. Why is it so difficult for her to understand I really fell in love with Lionel?
Could that be the reason why Lionel never revealed his true identity to me? Because people usually see him for what he represents and not for who he really is?
Maybe he wanted to see my true feelings for him.
“Mrs. Kral, I had no idea your son was the owner of an empire until yesterday. I thought I was marrying the employee of a winery.”
She lets out a bitter laugh.
“Like anyone could believe that old tale…”
I jump up, she has been insulting me since the moment we met. And I haven’t done anything to deserve it.
“I don’t care whether you believe me or not. Lionel knows what is in my heart, and that is more than enough.”
She looks at me with narrowed eyes. “Don’t even think this is going to stay like this. I’m going to hire a private investigator. As we speak, my attorney is already hiring the best. Ethan certainly has lost his touch. I don’t believe he bought what you told him. You must have convinced Alexandra, that girl is his Achilles’ heel.”
I can almost justify her accusations because I suppose it isn’t easy that someone almost killed her only son. She must be upset.
However…
“Be my guest, hire the FBI, the CIA, or whomever you like. You won’t find anything, because there is nothing shady behind all this,” I refute with all the strength I have left, trying to sound convincing. Sure of myself and what happened between us.
She looks at me again, this time with raised eyebrows.
“Ah yes, we’ll see about that. Something smells fishy, Stella. And I’ll make sure to find out what it is as soon as possible.”
With that said, she walks down the hall without looking back.
I stand in the waiting room, unable to move, not knowing what to do.
I’m not even sure what to think.
I collapse into the chair, my eyes fixated on the small coffee table in front of me. A lone coin glints and beckons to me. A dime. A symbol of duality and uncertainty. I snatch it up eagerly, fingers trembling as I spin it between them, lost in contemplation. The coin represents both sides of every story, and I am desperate to uncover the truth despite the looming doubts and unanswered questions. But deep down, I fear that once I do find out, everything will come crashing down like a fragile house of cards.