Chapter Two #3
Ann stared at him, speechless.
“Please keep walking. I have someplace I need to be,” Michael turned and kept going down the stairs.
“Where do you have to be? What could be more important than what happened back there in the boardroom?” Ann hurried to catch up to him. “If we go back, maybe you could tell them it was a joke or something. We could undo the damage and you can get your position back.”
“That is not going to happen,” Michael pushed open a side door.
Outside the car was waiting. The driver took his overnight bag and placed it in the trunk.
Michael turned to face Ann. He didn’t want to apologize for what happened and he did not want to talk about it anymore.
Mostly he just wanted to hug her and never let her go but of course he could not do that.
Almost without his violation, his hands came up to cup her face. He swallowed thickly. “Goodbye, Ann.”
She stared up at him, confused and a little afraid. Michael dropped his hands and got into the waiting car. The driver shut the door and got into the front seat. Suddenly, the door was opened by Ann. “Move over.”
“Ann, I really need to be leaving,” he tried to explain.
“You are not going to move over, are you?” she said crisply.
“Ann!” he jerked slightly as she crawled over him and sat beside him.
“I don’t know where you are going but I am coming with,” she said stubbornly.
“Ann,” he closed his eyes. “Please leave.”
“No.”
“Mr. Ramesly, we need to be going if we are going to get there on time,” the driver gently reminded him.
Michael sighed. “Ann…”
“No,” repeated Ann. She reached across him and shut the door before telling the driver, “Please continue to wherever you are scheduled to take Mr. Ramesly.”
“Ann, please don’t do this,” Michael feared his voice was slightly tinged with desperation. The car had started moving, driving toward the hospital.
“Tell me what is going on. Tell me where you are going and why,” Ann insisted.
How could he? How could he tell her that today he was probably going to die?
And if by some quirk of fate he did not die, that he was going to be damaged, changed in a horrible and irreversible way?
That was, if things went to plan, best case scenario.
If it didn’t, he could be a vegetable wishing he was dead for the rest of his life.
He had taken the time to read the list of everything that could possibly go wrong and none of it was pleasant.
How did anyone say such news? He swallowed hard and looked out the window at the passing city, going about its daily business without a care.
Then her fingers threaded through his, holding his hand. Michael didn’t dare look at her for fear of what he might do but his hand tightened in hers and he was thankful for the small comfort that she offered.
The ride to the hospital was all too short. The driver held the door and Michael helped Ann out of the car. Once he had his overnight bag, Michael led Ann through the maze of corridors to the surgical admitting area. She continued to hold his hand and was mercifully quiet.
“Name?” The clerk behind the glass looked up at him.
“Michael David Ramesly.”
The clerk looked at her list. “The doctor is office sent over your paperwork already. Can you please tell me why you are here?”
“For surgery,” he said dryly.
“What kind of surgery are you having today?” She sighed. “It is standard that we ask.”
“Dr. Hemmond is removing two masses from my brain,” Michael replied. He could fee Ann stiffen beside him.
“And who is this?” The clerk looked at Ann.
“This is Ann.”
“Will she be with you in the ward before and after surgery?”
“Yes,” Ann said firmly. Her other hand crept around and held onto his arm tightly. “Yes, I will.”
“Thank you. Please wait in the waiting room across the hall. A nurse will be with you shortly.”
They turned and went to the waiting room.
It was full of uncomfortable chairs. Michael picked one at random and sat down, Ann sitting beside him.
She kept their hands clasped and her other hand on his arm, leaning against him.
He welcomed her warmth. The television was on some show meant for toddlers and the magazines in the corner were predominantly about home décor.
Michael didn’t care. Ann was there and that was all that mattered.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” she whispered.
“Remember the day you resigned, I had an appointment with Dr. Reynolds?” Michael stared down at their joined hands.
She nodded.
“That was when I found out.”
“And they need to do surgery so quickly?” she asked, alarmed.
“Yes.” He turned to her and covered her other hand with his free one. “Ann, I want to apologize for anything I might have done to disappoint you. I want you to understand that all I want is for you to be happy. You are a smart, beautiful woman and you deserve everything your heart desires.”
“Michael,” suddenly she was very afraid. “How risky is this surgery?”
“Michael Ramesly?” a nurse asked in the doorway.
He stood and picked up the overnight bag. Ann quickly stood beside him.
“Mr. Ramesly, if you will just follow me.”
He did with Ann beside him. The nurse brought him to a room full of gurney type beds.
She pulled on a sheet that hung from the ceiling to create privacy a feeling of privacy.
She showed him the washroom, the cupboard to put his things, the hospital gown on the bed.
He was to get changed and sit on the bed.
A nurse would be along shortly to put an IV into his arm in preparation for the surgery.
He was to be the first patient of the day.
The nurse closed the curtain as she left.
There was a chair by the bed for Ann to sit.
Michael picked up the hospital gown. “I suppose I had better get changed.”