Chapter 22
Alex
Morning comes, and change of shift brings increased commotion outside her doors. I’m not sure what time I fell asleep, so I put my head back down, rub the pad of my thumb over Tuesday’s knuckles, and close my eyes to the world around me.
A little while later, I lie unable to sleep. It’s as if I’m being watched. Lifting my head to look over my shoulder, I expect to find the day shift nurse beginning her rounds until my eyes land on him.
“Ricky,” I say, my mouth dry. He doesn’t respond. I can’t make out his expression. Is he trying to take in what’s happened with his poor little sister? I’m sure his parents have filled him in.
“How long?”
“What? Has she been out? Since it happened, I think.”
He nods toward our joined hands. “I meant that.”
It feels so natural to hold her. I’d forgotten I was doing it. “A while.”
“You’re my best friend, Alex. You couldn’t tell me? Two of the most important people in my life, and you were sneaking around behind my back.”
“It wasn’t like that. We wanted to see where things went before we brought anyone else into it. I knew you wouldn’t approve of me.”
“You’re darn right. As best I recall, you were with Ainsley not that long ago.”
“I know. I was with Ainsley because of the way I was starting to feel about your sister. I was trying to put any obstacle in the way. But I couldn’t fight it anymore.” I want to tell him I love her, but I’m sure as hell not sharing that with him before I can say it to Tuesday.
“What happens when you get bored and want to move on? It’ll devastate her.”
“That isn’t going to happen.” I stroke the top of her hand, hoping she can’t hear any of this. “We’re the real deal, man.”
We’re quickly interrupted as the day shift nurse comes in and advises she needs to do a few things and help clean Tuesday up a bit, but we can return later. I lift her hand to my mouth, kissing her gently before standing to head back to the waiting room.
“Nice shoes,” Ricky says.
Looking down at my blue booties, I chuckle.
“You should head home and get some rest,” Ricky says.
“No.”
“Alex. She’s safe here. I’ll call you if something changes. Unless you’re planning to use your body odor to wake her.”
Shit. He has a point. “I can’t leave her, man. You don’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“I fought this relationship tooth and nail. Every time we would start to get close, I’d pull away. I didn’t want to upset you. I didn’t want to risk losing all of you if it didn’t work out. I didn’t want to hurt her. There was a list of excuses. But when she needed me, I wasn’t there. I’m never doing that to her again.”
Ricky shakes his head. “Wow. I had no idea you two were that involved. Okay. I get it. At least I appreciate you not wanting to hurt her. So long as you don’t, our friendship is solid. But at least go take a shower.”
“I rode here in the ambulance with her. I’d have to take an Uber home and back. That would take forever.”
Ricky fishes out his keys. “I’m in the parking deck, 4 th level. I’m staying at the Marriott right down the street.” He hands me his key card. “Room 212.”
Crushing my friend into my chest, I decide to take him up on his offer. So, hopefully, I can return as the nurses finish up. “Thank you.”
“Use extra soap.”
“Shut up.”
* * *
I make it back to the STICU waiting room just as a doctor is delivering an update to the Palmers. I stop in my tracks, unsure whether I should step away and give them some privacy, until Sybil waves me in.
“Dr. Knight, this is Alex. Tuesday’s boyfriend.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“He was just letting us know that she appears to be doing well, and he suspects her remaining unconscious is likely related to the strong pain medication she’s been receiving.”
I let out an exhale. I hadn’t thought about that.
“If things go well, she’ll be moved to a step-down unit in a few days. She’ll likely be here a few weeks and then transfer to an inpatient rehab facility until she’s able to go home. Given the hardware she now has in her pelvis, her recovery is likely to take three months. She won’t be able to walk for six to ten weeks. She could have long-term effects that limit her function for at least a year.”
“But she’s here. And she’s a fighter. So we’ve got this,” I interject. I’m tired of the gloom and doom. While they’ve graciously covered my shifts until Tuesday is in the clear, I’m limited by my fire schedule. But I’ll gladly put the towing business on hold or rent out my truck to someone so I can be Tuesday’s cheerleader. I’ll be there when the rehab folks have left, reminding her just how strong she is.
Sybil reaches for my arm, and I look at her.
“She’s going to need all of us. Sunny T is going to be fine. I’m sure of it,” I say.
As the surgeon leaves, we take turns visiting Tuesday. I plan to stay the night, so I let her family spend the majority of the day with her. As night shift comes, I greet Gwendolyn, who smiles as she comes in and out of Tuesday’s room.
As I had the night before, I lay my head down and begin to drift off when I hear Gwendolyn behind me.
“Well, hello there.”
My head springs up from the mattress, curious who’s come to visit at this hour, when I notice there’s no one but Gwendolyn there. And she’s looking over my shoulder. I swivel my head toward Tuesday like a bobblehead and freeze when I see those beautiful big green eyes staring at me.
“Oh, baby. Thank God.” I lower my head and try not to weep. Suddenly, her sweet hand is in my hair, stroking the back of my head. My beautiful, brave girl is lying here, screwed back together like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz , but she awakes to comfort me.
“Are you hurting, dear?” Gwendolyn asks.
“No.” Her voice comes out brittle. “I─” She immediately winces as she adjusts herself in the bed. “What happened?”
I explain the events of the last few days, surprised she doesn’t remember much. I worry when it does, she may have a hard time with it. But for now, that’s one less stressor. I explain what the future holds, and I can see it’s overwhelming her. “You’re not alone, Sunny. You’ve got your family, Grace, and me. We all love you. We’ll do anything we can to help you through this.”
It takes a minute before she stops fidgeting with her bedsheets and looks at me. “You love me?”
“God, yes. I’m so in love with you I can’t see straight.” I laugh. It feels good to finally tell her.
Her smile lights up the room, and I know we’re going to be okay.