Chapter 19
Logan wandered to the small waiting room on Brooke’s floor. When he entered the room, he found his parents alone. Mom read while Dad worked on a crossword puzzle in the stray newspaper left behind from someone else.
“Brooke’s up.” Logan collapsed into the hard plastic chair across from the itchy plastic sofa they shared. “Her friend Aubrey is with her now.”
“Glad to hear it.” Mom placed her bookmark inside her book and closed it. “How’s she doing? Better yet, how are you doing?” Her gaze roamed the length of his body. “You look awful.”
“I’m sure I do. I feel terrible.” Logan leaned forward in his chair. “But I’m relieved she’s doing okay. Her body is responding to the antibiotics. In another twenty-four hours, she should be in the clear. She’s lucky.” Then as an afterthought, he added, “I’m lucky.”
“What a scary experience.” Dad folded his newspaper closed and tossed it on the side table.
The events of the last day came rushing back, Brooke passing out, her being rushed into surgery, then him scrubbing in on the surgery.
As the surgeon cut into her abdomen, Logan kept thinking how Brooke didn’t even know he loved her.
She meant everything to him, and he needed the opportunity to tell her.
“I’m okay, but it was a bit traumatic for me to see someone I care about be so vulnerable.” Logan exhaled then ran a hand down the length of his face. “I’m in love with her. I know that now more than ever. I only hope she’ll return the feeling someday.”
“You need to tell her.” Mom squeezed his knee. “Then everything will fall into place.”
Dad nodded. “You can’t ever go wrong with telling the truth.”
“I regret listening to Danielle.” His shoulders drooped as he rested his forearms on his thighs. “I shouldn’t have let her mess with my head about Shelby. Deep down I knew she was wrong for me, but I let myself be swayed.”
“Trust me, I had a few choice words with your sister on that one,” Dad muttered.
“They were friends in high school.” Mom folded her arms. “I think in her way, Danielle thought she was being helpful. Your sister only wanted to see you happy, even if she is completely off about who is right for you.”
His eyes burned. “I might have lost my chance.” He was so tired.
Dad hummed. The look on his face didn’t exactly invoke more confidence in him.
“Hush.” Mom gathered his face into her hands. “You’re going to make everything right. You watch.”
“I appreciate your faith in me, but I’ve made a mess.”
“Enough, you’ll fix it. You were always up for a challenge when you were a kid.” Mom removed her hands from his face and stood. “Come on, take us to see Brooke.”
Dad stood too.
“Okay.” Logan rose. “Let’s get something to eat, and then I’ll take you in to see her.” He personally couldn’t remember the last time he ate.
Logan led his parents to the cafeteria. They chatted over some bagels and pastries. Enough time passed, he returned to Brooke’s hospital room with his parents in tow. He knocked lightly on the door and entered, they found her sleeping.
“I don’t think we should wake her,” Mom whispered. “She looks peaceful.”
Brooke stirred. “I’m awake.” She shifted and opened her eyes. “I think the pain meds kicked in, because I’m feeling better but sleepy.” Her hand roamed over her hair, smoothing it down. “But thanks for coming, Logan said you wouldn’t go home until you confirmed I was still in one piece.”
“We were worried about you.” Mom strode to her bedside and cradled her hand between both of hers. “I’ve never heard Logan as distressed as when he called us to tell us you were headed into surgery.”
Dad moved behind Mom and placed his hands on her shoulders. “We’re glad you’re okay.”
“Luckily, Logan happened to be there when I hit the ground.” Brooke pressed the button on her bed to raise the head up then winced as it moved. “But, you really didn’t need to come. Logan and I are—” She halted then paused.
“You mean a lot to Logan.” Mom squeezed her hand. “So, that means you mean a lot to us too.”
Logan itched to tell her exactly how he felt about her. “I was afraid—I didn’t want to lose you.” He walked around the hospital bed to the side opposite his parents.
“I’m still here,” Brooke replied.
Then they stared at one another. For a second, he forgot his parents were in the room, because without further thought he leaned in and kissed her gingerly on her lips. “I’m still here, too.”
Dad cleared his throat. “Honey, I think we should let Brooke get her beauty rest.” He wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders. “We can catch up with her another time.”
“Yes.” Mom dropped her hand. “You still owe us dinner in the city. We’ll put something on the calendar the minute you’re feeling up to it.”
“I’d love that,” Brooke smiled.
“Welcome to the family.” Then Mom leaned in and hugged Brooke.
Brooke shot Logan a confused look over his mom’s shoulders.
Logan shrugged.
“Come on.” Dad directed Mom toward the door. “I think Logan and Brooke have a lot to discuss without us here.”
“Fine.” Then Mom moved to the exit but shifted back and wagged a finger at them. “But dinner.” Then she pointed at him. “Call me.”
“Of course.”
They left the room. The clicks of the machines in the room sounded.
Brooke yawned. “What was—your,” she yawned again, “mom saying?”
“I think,” Logan fluffed her pillow, “you should sleep. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss everything when you’re recovered.”
Brooke yawned again then shifted against the pillow and lowered her hospital bed with the button. “Sleep is calling my name.” She closed her eyes. “But please don’t go—” Her voice drifted off, “I don’t want you to ever leave—”
Logan leaned in and smoothed out the loosened hair over her forehead then kissed her on it. “I won’t leave, I promise.”
Then he went and flipped off the lights then settled into the lounge chair beside her bed. He listened as her breathing slowed and evened out, only then did he drift off to sleep himself.