Ezra 25.
I’m grateful to my mom, willing to take any punishment, so long as my girl is smiling. Mom and Dad took her mind off the worry of surgery and her father’s actions and gave her a reason to laugh. My impending doom. My mom’s eyes, along with Aunt Esther’s, promised retribution. Especially when they find out that I didn’t so much propose as tell her what is going to happen while I was balls deep in her. And no ring. I knew that would come back to bite me, but I’ve been a little preoccupied. I know I’ll use a family heirloom ring just like Zeppo gave to Ruthie.
Sitting on a stool next to Dot’s bed in pre-op, I comb my fingers through her hair while holding her hand. “Do you have to pee?” She smiles with a shake of her head. Two nurses are working quickly and efficiently to get her ready now that she’s in a hospital gown. IV, pulse ox, blood pressure cuff, heart monitor. I’m trying to focus on everything they are doing rather than the fact that she’s naked underneath the thin material.
“My eyes are up here.” She whispers with a smirk.
“I know.” I lean in, my lips grazing her ear, “It ain’t your eyes I want to lick.”
“Ezra.” Her cheeks pinken, eyes moving to the nurses then back to me. “I’m sorry.” She drops her chin.
“For what?” I have no idea what she could possibly need to apologize for.
“I’m going to look…different, it might be difficult to carry children because of the tummy tuck and that’s assuming you even still want me when it’s over and it’s going to be a month at least until we can…”
I scowl, pinch her chin and force her to look at me. “The fuck kind of man you think I am?” My voice is a growl. “I get a lifetime with you; I can wait as long as you need.” Dottie’s shoulders lose some of their tension. I had no idea she was worried about something as absurd as this. Who gives a fuck if we can’t, well, fuck. I’d rather have her, healthy and safe, than get my dick wet. And if that ain’t love I don’t know what is.
One nurse sighs wistfully. Dot and I glance up at her. “That was so sweet.” She gushes. “Sorry, it’s just we’ve seen and heard it all. You wouldn’t believe the kind of assholes that come through here.”
Dot giggles, “I’m afraid they aren’t limited to the hospitals, assholery is a planetary epidemic.”
“Amen, sister.” The other nurse says. “Alright, you’re all set. Anesthesiologist will be in shortly to talk to you and he’s going to give you something to relax, and then we’ll wheel you down to the operating room.”
We talk in hushed voices and make out while we wait. Her eyelids grow heavy seconds after the anesthesiologist pushes something into her IV. In less than a minute, she’s pretty much out. I nod at the doctor. He ducks his head out of the curtain, then takes a seat on the other side of the bed. Dr. Hudson walks in a minute later. He’s nervous, but he plays his part, tapping on his phone, then putting it back in his pocket.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi…it feels like an eternity, but is only 63 Mississippis later when I hear a kerfuffle outside the pre-op staging area. Hesitant to leave her side, I reluctantly stand up and step into the hallway. Yak is standing over two men in scrubs on their stomachs on the floor being zip tied by Anton and Noah.
I give them a double thumbs up with a cheesy grin and go back to kiss my girl. My fists on either side of her head, I press my lips to her forehead, whisper that I love her, then arch my neck to meet Dr. Hudson’s eyes. “If you thought they were the worst you had to fear, you’ve underestimated what I will do to you if something happens to her in that operating room.” I speak low with a lethal edge to my tone.
Dr. Hudson swallows hard but maintains eye contact. “She’s in good hands.”
I stand up, brush my fingers along her cheek, taking in how serene she appears, so sweet. “Then I won’t need to remove yours.”
By the time Dottie is being wheeled down the hall to the OR, the men who tried to take my woman are gone. I’m sure they will enjoy The Pharaoh’s hospitality while he extracts any useful information from them. I force one foot in front of the other until I’m back in the waiting room. My family and Dot’s sisters look up when I enter.
I find Yak standing next to Tevye. I look both of them in the eye and demand, “Bring me Hiram Goldman.”
Yak nods, “Mattuca’s on it.”
Mom pulls me down to a seat between her and Dad. Zeppo and Ruthie are sitting directly across from us. “See, it’s being handled, Ezra.” I turn to my mom. “We have hours until she’s in recovery, tell me everything about the proposal and why she isn’t wearing one of the family rings, and I’ll guide you through how to fix your fuck up.”
I glance longingly at the double automatic doors. I wonder if anyone has time for an elective gallbladder removal?