Chapter 15 #2
“Thank you very much,” Red said and ended the call. Lyle handed the phone back to James and went on watching the screen and worrying about his mom, glad James was here with him, but concerned that he was putting his exams in jeopardy.
“You should go,” Lyle told him as the time kept ticking by. “There’s nothing you can do here, and you have work to do for tomorrow.” Lyle lightly stroked James’s cheek. “I love you for doing this, but I don’t want you to blow a test because of me.”
“Hey. I’m not going to blow it. I was going over material that I already had more than once. Anyway, as soon as we know your mom is out of surgery, I’ll head home and go to sleep. What about you?”
“I’ll be okay. If I have to, I’ll call in for tomorrow.” He closed his eyes and once again rested his head on James’s shoulder, knowing he would support him.
“LYLE,” JAMES said, pulling him out of his doze.
“I’m Dr. Ramirez. The surgery on your mother went as well as could be expected.
We believe we got the entire tumor. Lab tests will confirm it over the next few days.
Just as importantly, we were able to remove the source of her infection.
She’s in recovery but will be moved to ICU for a day or so.
The infection has taken a real toll on her, and you quite possibly saved her life by getting her here when you did. ”
“Thank you,” Lyle said softly. “When can I see her?”
“Tomorrow would be best. She is still sleeping, and that’s the best thing for her. I suggest you go home and get some rest. Let her do the same.” He smiled and left the room.
“I really want to see her,” Lyle said.
James stood and took his hand. “Come on. You need to get home to the dogs, and both of us are going to need to sleep.” He led Lyle out of the waiting room and through the halls to the exit.
“Thank you for being here,” Lyle said and kissed James before they went to their vehicles. He drove home and went inside. All five dogs crowded around like they were waiting for news. He had just closed the door as headlights swept the parking lot before coming to a stop.
A soft knock sent the dogs into a frenzy. Lyle opened the door, and James stepped inside. “I figured you might not want to be alone.” James took him in his arms and just held him as the dogs all jumped around their feet, desperate for attention.
“You’re right, and I have to figure out what I’m going to do with Loopy. I have special dispensation for the four dogs from Corky, but one more would violate my lease.”
“It’s okay. I talked to my roommates and the landlord, and Loopy can stay with me until your mom is feeling better.
She’ll be home in a few days, once she’s had a chance to recover from the surgery and her system has been able to get rid of the infection.
I’m sure Loopy is going to want to see her. ”
Lyle nodded. “He was frantic when I arrived and led me right to Mom. It was like he knew something was wrong and he’d been waiting for help.”
“Give him something to eat and let’s go upstairs.” It was late and they were both exhausted.
Lyle fed Loopy and gave the others each a treat for being so good before heading upstairs.
His increased pack followed behind once they were done, and all five of them gathered in the bedroom.
He and James got into bed, and Lyle turned out the lights.
There was a bit of a kerfuffle when Loopy tried to take Daisy’s spot, but the dogs soon figured it out and they all settled down.
Lyle fell to sleep knowing he was safe in James’s arms and with his pack ready to let him know if anything happened.
LYLE WOKE at his usual time, but he was alone.
James had left a note saying that he had to get home to prep before class.
The dogs had spread out. Lyle checked his phone for any messages about Mom, but there was nothing.
Before dressing, he called in to work to explain what had happened and that he was taking the day off.
Then he fed the dogs and made sure they were settled before heading to the hospital, which seemed to buzz with excitement.
He checked in at the desk and got his mom’s room number. “What’s going on?”
“The police were in last night. They took a guy from the ER into custody. Apparently it was really exciting.” She grinned, and Lyle sent a silent thank-you to Red.
“Thank you,” he said before leaving the office. He followed the directions up to the second floor and down to the room his mother was in. She was awake and turned slowly to face him when he entered.
“What happened? I went to bed at home and woke up here.”
“Yeah, well. Your body decided that your internal lady parts had to go now. As near as I can understand from all the medical talk, the tumor cut off the blood supply to something and it died and was causing an infection. I found you at home and called the ambulance.” He took her hand. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Language, dear,” she said, and Lyle smiled. If she could scold him for saying “shit,” she was feeling better.
“Loopy met me at the door and raced upstairs to you. He was frantic and knew something was wrong.” He met her gaze.
“Where is he?”
“After his exam today, James is going to take him to his place until you come home.” She scoffed softly. “Don’t give me that. He loves you, and I can tell you like him too. Stop being stubborn. It’s not attractive.”
She squeezed his hand a little. “Okay. He can stay.” She sighed. “So what did they do?”
“They basically performed the surgery you had scheduled for a few weeks from now and made sure the source of the infection was gone. They also did tests, and hopefully we’ll find out what the next steps are soon. But for now, you need to worry about getting better. I need you, and so does Loopy.”
His mom laughed softly and then groaned. “What am I going to do with you?”
“I’m fine, Mom. I was here until you got out of surgery. James came and sat with me.”
She was really coming to understand just how important James was to him. “I’m glad you have someone.”
“What about your… friend?”
She sighed. “I called him as soon as I woke up. Lee said that he would be on the next flight from Shanghai. I have no idea how long it will be, but he’s coming, and he said he wants to meet you.”
“Lee?”
“Yes. His name is Lee Singh. At least that’s his name using Western conventions. He’s very nice, and apparently I meant more to him than I thought I did.” A smile spread across her lips.
“You do have a way of underestimating the people in your life, especially when it comes to your place in them.” He was thrilled Lee was coming—Lyle wanted his mom to be happy.
“What are you saying?”
“That sometimes you play down things so you don’t get hurt. But if you don’t take a chance… nothing good will happen.”
“Look who’s giving relationship advice.”
Lyle grinned. “Since I’m in one, I get to give it.
Now, you need to rest.” He sat in the chair next to her bed.
“And apparently you missed a lot of excitement while you were out of it. One of the people here told me that they arrested someone in the ER last night. His arm had been torn up in a dog attack, and apparently the police wanted him for dogfighting.”
“And you didn’t have anything to do with that?” She squeezed his hand. “I’m proud of you. Like your father, you have the courage to stand up for what you believe in.”
“Like Dad, hell. I take after you,” he told her.
“And yeah. I saw him, and James and I called the police. They arrested him quickly if what I heard is correct. There have been a number of dogs that have gone missing, and they wanted to talk to him and couldn’t find him.
So a good citizen told them where he could be located. ”
“Changing the subject, I take it that things with James are getting pretty serious.” She closed her eyes, and Lyle wondered if he should actually answer or just let her rest. “Just because my eyes are closed doesn’t mean I don’t want to know.”
“Fine. I think so. I mean….”
“What?”
“I keep wondering when he’s going to figure out that I’m the most boring person on the planet and he’s going to want to find someone more interesting.” His mother snorted. She actually made that sound. “What was that for?”
“Okay. So let me get this straight. You meet James out at a dog shelter when you took your four new dogs so the vet could look at them. You volunteer, which is a nice thing to do, meet a guy you think is running fighting dogs. Then you follow him around town, and possibly out to a dogfight, and get the police to arrest him.”
“Ummm, okay?” He sighed.
“Am I missing something?”
“Yeah. I might have broken into the back of his truck to rescue the dogs he’d taken from the shelter, and in the process I took four other dogs he had that all turned out to be stolen.” God, his mom was going to pop her stitches.
“And after all that, you think James is going to leave you because you’re boring?
Look, honey, I’ll let you in on a little secret.
Passion is never boring. So if you really like James, then let him see what you’re passionate about.
And for God’s sake, don’t go breaking into any trucks again, even if it is for a good reason.
I don’t think my heart can take it.” She kissed his hand.
“Now, go on and let me rest. Just hearing about what you’ve been doing is more excitement than I can take right now. ” He got another smile.
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine. You go, and take good care of Loopy for me.”
“I will.” He kissed her on the cheek and quietly left the room, passing one of the nurses as she made her way in to check on her.
Since Lyle had taken the day off, he headed home and was surrounded by five dogs as soon as he stepped inside.
They were all happy to see him, and Lyle got each of them fed and put them out back for some time outside while he read a book from his chair near the door.
He tensed when he saw Debbie and Kevin walking down the park trail, both of them watching him and the dogs.