3. Shae
SHAE
“ A re you ready to bust out of this popsicle stand, or what?” I woke up this morning to a nurse taking my vitals, asking about my pain and menstrual flow.
It seemed like after that, my room became Grand Central Station.
Everyone was piling in, and nobody was getting off.
First, it was my parents, then my sister, and now Lyric and Lennie are making an appearance.
It’s almost too much, and not in the fact that I’m surrounded by people; it’s that they’ve taken time out of their busy lives to check on me.
“What are you two doing here?” I lift up to a sitting position, wincing slightly at the lingering soreness in my lower abdomen.
When Doctor Gallo came in after my surgery, telling me he found more than he expected, the cyst on my ovary being part of the equation, I felt like I’d been hit in the solar plexus.
Now I’m in another waiting game to hear the results of the biopsy.
Doctor Gallo also mentioned I’d more than likely have more pain and tenderness than he’d initially prepared me for.
Yay on both fronts. At least maybe I’d see some results in the form of relief; then there’s my mind going into overdrive, like always.
Except the questions I should have asked didn’t come when my doctor was here.
They came after, once all the grogginess wore off as well as the heavy dose of pain medicine.
“Well, we had to come see our favorite girl. Plus, this one couldn’t sit still, so she decided to tag along.” Lennie is about ready to pop, so maybe visiting me at the hospital isn’t such a bad idea after all.
“I figure I’ll be home enough after the babies are born.” She rubs her swollen bump, rolls her eyes, and it’s clear that Lennie is going to need some company during her maternity leave.
“That you will,” Mom says, standing up, giving Dad a slight nod.
“Come on, honey, we need to go change the sheets on Shae’s bed, clean her place up, and have it ready for when Coralynn brings our girl home.
” My gaze swings from my sister to my mom.
Am I having an out-of-body experience? We had a long, drawn-out conversation leading up to my hospital stay, during which Dad stood on business, telling me I’d be coming back home with my parents.
I did one better, putting my foot down with an exaggerated stomp, arms crossing over my chest and keeping direct eye contact with him.
He’d met his match. I knew it, he knew it, but him admitting it, well, that’s a whole other story.
Once Dad let out a breath of air, closed his eyes, and looked toward the ceiling, I knew I had him.
I looked at Mom, explaining that while I love their home, I love my own bed and couch more.
She understood more than anyone. Though, I wasn’t sure they’d relent when it came down to the final hour, Dad way more than Mom.
“I’m going to walk them out. I’ll be right back, okay?” Coralynn squeezes my hand.
“Thanks. I’ll see you guys later,” I tell Mom as she places a kiss on my forehead.
“You sure will. Any special requests?” Dad is standing beside Mom, waiting his turn to say his goodbyes, hands in his pockets and a look of concern written on his face; his whole body screams it, from head to toe.
Yep, he’s doing this begrudgingly, which means if I move the wrong way or moan about pain, he’s going to swoop in to say I told you so and cart my ass back to their house.
“Soup, maybe chicken noodle or potato?” I ask. It doesn’t matter that we’re kissing spawn of Satan’s asshole, rolling into the hottest month of the year here in Florida. Soup is always a favorite when I’m stuck in bed.
“We’ll stop at the grocery store to get ingredients for both, plus the crispy bread you enjoy,” Dad says, moving in, hand cupping my shoulder, and placing a kiss on top of my head.
“Thank you. We’ll call when we’re on our way.
I’m assuming it’ll be a while yet since the doctor hasn’t come in yet this morning.
” I tell them it’s the truth, and we hadn’t really spoken about it.
My family wanted their eyes on me first and asked how I felt.
The girls joining in caused our conversation to pause.
“No worries. We’ll be there when you get home,” Mom reassures me, but I think Dad needs the reassurance as well .
“Sounds good. Love you guys,” I tell them as they move away from my hospital bed and toward the door.
“Love you, honey. Don’t forget to call or text if any news comes through,” Mom replies.
“Love you, sweetheart.” Dad looks from me to Coralynn and says, “You coming?”
Coralynn being Coralynn salutes him and says, “Sir, yes, sir.” I’d say poor Dad, except he knows this is the way his girls are, plus he’s partly at fault; he raised us to be the strong independent women we are.
“Love you, toots,” Coralynn says, giving me a two-finger wave. I’d laugh if I knew it wouldn’t hurt so dang much.
“Love you, sis.” Lennie takes Mom’s vacated chair. You can tell walking and being on her feet is zapping her of any energy. No wonder she’s done working. I don’t know how I’d have done it at a doctor’s office, where you’re juggling multiple tasks at once.
“Don’t tell a single word to your doctor, but I’m glad I get to put my feet up and pee without holding it,” Lennie states, trying to look stern, yet it’s coming off more like a jest.
“It’s not the doctor you should be worried about. It’s your husband,” Lyric says, and from some of the stories the girls have told in the studio, she’s not wrong. They’re protective, they worry, and they love their women with fierceness.
“My lips are zipped on both fronts. What are you two up to today?” I ask, lying back in the bed.
I’m sure my hair is a rat’s nest, all tangled and falling haphazardly out of the French braid Coralynn did for me.
I didn’t bother looking in the mirror when I relieved myself earlier.
The only energy I had was to pee and brush my teeth.
Showering definitely didn’t happen and probably won’t until I get home.
The scent of hospital clings to my skin, no matter how long you’re here for, couple it with an overnight stay, and I’ll be longing to shower once I walk through my apartment door.
“Not much. Lennie wanted to get out of the house. Asher made her promise if she leaves, someone is with her in case she goes into labor. I think we’re going to grab some lunch, and then I’ll drop her off with Kennedy before going to the studio.”
“Asher is so ridiculous. I have a cell phone. I can also drive myself anywhere I need to be. He’s lucky he’s hot.
” She rolls her eyes. “Plus, I know him well enough. The man knows how to get his way when he wants it. He’ll withhold orgasms from me, and being out of commission for six weeks after the baby is born is going to be hard enough.
” My eyes widen in astonishment, more than likely looking like a fish out of water.
Most women want a break after they have a baby.
At least that’s what I’ve overheard when they attend the classes at the studio.
“Listen, you’ve seen one of the men in our group.
Wait till you see the rest. You’ll literally go up in flames with the hotness overload.
Oh, wait, there are still a few single men.
We should totally set them up.” Lyric’s statement has my eyes bouncing to where she’s moving through the room.
She’s straightening things up, tossing the trash away from the cheese Danish my parents brought up for me, and keeping herself busy.
They offered coffee, and while I’d usually throw myself on a sword to have some, today, it made my stomach revolt.
I’m assuming it’s an after effect from the anesthesia, and I really hope it’s not a long-term issue .
“No, please don’t do that.” I hurry the words out of my mouth.
I’ve already thought about the other doctor in the office Doctor Gallo is in partnership with more than I’d care to admit.
I don’t even want to acknowledge the hours I’ve spent remembering the devastatingly handsome doctor wearing green scrubs, muscles bulging, tattoos on both arms, and had my gaze lingering on his face.
I became lost in a daze when his eyes held mine captive, dark, heady with an intensity I’d never known before.
Like a whisper against your neck, unknowing, unhurried, and building a need deep inside of you.
“You’re bound to meet the whole crew, especially with Lyric working at LITHE,” Lennie says.
“Well, at least I have a couple of weeks before that could potentially happen, and not today. You know, sitting in a hospital gown and recovering from surgery,” I say with laughter in my voice.
“True. There’s also Doctor Gallo.” I resettle myself, fixing my pillow for the hundredth time. It’s a miracle I slept last night with how uncomfortable I’ve been this morning.
“And you two can be on your merry way now. No more talk about hot guys, let alone doctors.” I scrunch my nose for added effect.
“Fine, but when you’re back at LITHE, we’re making it happen,” Lyric says, finishing picking up my room. “Now, I hate to come and go so quickly, but I’ve got a pregnant woman to feed and a job to get to. I hear the boss frowns upon her employees being late.”
“From what I heard, she’s a real tyrant. There are no breaks, she overschedules, and the pay sucks,” I play into her comment.
“Damn, tough break, Lyric.” Lennie heaves herself out of the chair, all belly; if you looked at her from behind, you wouldn’t even know she’s pregnant with twins.
“Maybe I should ask Luke for a job instead,” Lyric says as she bends down to give me a quick hug. Lennie does the same, which is harder for her.
“Don’t even think about it.” I’d be lost without Lyric, and she knows it.
“I would never, plus the hours are amazing. Between LITHE and the vet clinic, I’ve got it made. I’ll call you later, see if you need anything on my way home, okay?”
“Thank you, both of you. Really. I love my parents, but, man, Dad can get a bit overbearing when his kids aren’t doing as well as he’d like them to.” Both women nod their head in agreement.
“Oh, honey, Asher is that way all the time.”
“Jagger isn’t much better. I got a splinter once, and you should have seen him acting like this crazy person.
The wood deck almost saw its demise until I told Jag it was from the railing.
I thought he was going to tear the house apart looking for the tweezers.
The next day, he sanded every freaking groove. ”
“Why can I see him actually doing this?” Jagger is one of the guys I’ve met. He stopped by one day when Lyric was working and took a look around. He’s head and shoulders taller than her, broad, and wears his hair in a longish way that’s not grunge rock style yet gives him an edge.
“Because he did, the big Viking god. Anyways, we’re out of here. I really don’t want to be late. I’m opening the studio, so it would be even worse. Call me later, or I’ll text.” Lyric kisses her fingers and lifts them in the air.
“See you soon. Rest up. Oh, by the way, we’re introducing you to the rest of the group this Sunday at my place,” Lennie spits out like it’s no big deal.
“You can’t say no. It’s my last hurray until after the babies are born.
Then Asher said no more parties at our house for the first month at least. He’s a pain in my ass, I swear. ”
“I guess I can’t say no to that. Let me know what I can bring.
Thank you for stopping by.” A yawn comes out of nowhere, and I can barely cover my mouth beforehand.
They leave the door slightly ajar behind them.
My eyes close, and I lament the fact I’m still in the hospital. I really hope I get to go home soon.