CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE #2
"Bethany and Ray drop by, and there is one guy who haunts the medical building where I work.
He drops by my office sometimes when I'm alone and says hi, but other than that, not unless I'm with you.
I worry about what Brayden will think if he finds out I see the dead.
He's not a big believer in life after death.
It could be an issue for us." Christine turned to grab something off one of the shelves.
"We never thought we'd get Franks to believe. Look at him now. He fully accepted it. If you decide to tell Brayden, we'll bring him over to my place and have Lizzy help us convince him that we aren't all crazy."
Christine worked on one of the most painful cuts on Lance's ass.
"It's something I'll keep in mind, but for now, I think it's best if he doesn't know.
I promised myself years ago I would never marry anyone without telling them.
If things continue to get serious with Brayden, then I'll tell him, but for now, he doesn't need to know.
Besides, I can hardly tell him without outing you to him, and that may affect you at work. I don't want to cause you problems."
Lance closed his eyes at the sting of whatever Christine was putting on his cuts.
"It's a risk I'm willing to take. I don't think he'd cause problems for me.
If he doesn't believe us, he may just think I'm a bit crazy, but I don't think for a minute that he'd use it to get me fired or cause issues when it came to my job.
I'd hate to lose his friendship and respect, but I honestly don't think it will come to that. "
"Some of these are going to scar." Christine put a bandage on the side of his thigh.
"Most won't ever be seen by anyone other than Angus."
"Or a pushy doctor insisting you let her help you." Christine moved to his side. "I'm not sure how you're managing to sit."
"I hardly notice them once I'm sitting. It's getting up and down that hurts. Any stretching of the skin around some of the cuts."
"I put some stuff on them that should help with that. I'll drop by tomorrow and we can do this again, unless you'd rather go down to the emergency room or see your own doctor."
Lance shook his head. "Would take too long. If you don't mind doing it, I'll let you. It keeps me close to Angus."
"He's healing. He's stable. You can breathe a little and let your guard down a bit," Christine told him.
"Not until he's completely out of danger.
If someone trips and bumps into the bed, or he somehow wakes and moves wrong, there are so many things that could still happen.
" Lance sighed. "I know I'm overly cautious, but you don't understand.
I thought he was dead. I saw his ghost. Somehow, I got a second chance with him and I'm not going to take that for granted.
I'll stay close until I know he's not going to leave me.
" Lance took a deep breath. "I can't stop seeing him leave his body.
It's like a loop playing in my mind. For a few moments, I really thought I'd lost him. I couldn't breathe."
"You can pull your pants up now." Christine stepped back.
"I can't imagine what that had to feel like, but he didn't leave you.
Somehow, he fought and stayed. He did something to reverse what was happening so he could stay with you.
Try focusing on that and not the fact that you almost lost him. Focus on the fact that you didn't."
Lance pulled up his pants and turned around. "I can't wait to ask him what he did. Was he aware of it all and forced himself back into his body? I've never heard anyone talk about doing that. I always assumed it happened so fast that a soul didn't have a choice."
"I don't know, but I want to be around for that conversation when it happens." Christine handed a tube of cream to him. "Put some of this on the scratches on your face and arms from time to time."
"Thanks." He took the tube and smiled. "I bought a ring for Angus." The words came out of nowhere, but he found relief in finally admitting it to someone. The secret had burned inside him for long enough.
"You proposed?" Christine looked excited.
"Not yet. I've had a few chances, but the timing was never right. But trust me, once he's awake and alert enough. Once I get him back home, I'm not waiting for the right moment. I want us married. I want to call him my husband."
"I have no doubt that he'll say yes when the time comes. I don't think you two getting engaged will surprise anyone. You have the relationship we all long for. I've never seen a couple more right for each other. I don't think I've ever seen you fight."
Lance laughed. "Oh, we fight plenty, but we made a promise to each other to never bring our arguments into public.
I'm sure Ray and Bethany have heard us arguing in the bedroom, but once we step out the bedroom door, we don't say anything more.
There are a few nights we've given each other the silent treatment while watching TV. "
"I respect that. I hate it when people argue in front of me. Sadly, I see parents arguing all the time. They don't even wait to leave the exam room. Arguing in front of me is one thing, but I hate they do it in front of their kids, especially when it's about that kid."
"I'm glad I work with the dead. No drama there." He laughed. "Well, there wasn't until I started to see the dead." He moved toward the door.
"You don't regret it, do you?" She followed him out.
"No. It's been life-changing, but mostly in good ways. I wouldn't have Angus if it hadn't happened, and I wouldn't have met you. Hell, most of the friends I have now I met because of it. As trying as it can be, I don't regret it."
They paused once they were outside Angus's room. Lizzy was still enjoying conversations with the ghosts around Angus's bed.
"I have to get back to work, but I'll check in on you later." Christine touched his arm gently. "Call me if you need anything."
Lance smiled. "Thanks. I will." He watched her turn and head down the hallway, thankful he had such a good support system around him. They'd get him through this. He took a deep breath and entered the room, ready to face the crowd of ghosts. He wanted a nap, but that would just have to wait.