21 - Beverly
It’s very early thenext morning when I’m walking into the hospital carrying three coffee’s in to-go cups and a sack of breakfast sandwiches. I sat with my son while they assessed Samantha last night and determined they needed to admit her due to extreme dehydration and her blood pressure being out of control. From what I understand, the doctor changed some medications and wanted to push IV fluids and run some more tests before sending her home. Ever since being allowed to see her, my son hasn’t left her side.
Quietly I approach the doorway. “Knock, knock.”
Roxy stirs from her chair, but I see my son and my heart aches in my chest. He’s currently sitting in a chair pulled up alongside Sam’s bed, holding her hand in his, while his head rests on his other arm which is folded on the bed like a pillow. His hat is still on backwards, but he’s sleeping.
“Hi Beverly.” Roxy smiles, dark circles under her eyes.
I hold up the goodies. “I brought caffeine.”
“You’re an angel, dear. Thank you.” Roxy keeps her voice low, reaching for a coffee. Then she looks over her shoulder. “He hasn’t left her side once.”
“Will she be, ok?” I open the bag of breakfast sandwiches, getting them out one by one. The smell of breakfast sausage and egg fill the air. “Is it alright to have food in here?”
Roxy sighs, “it’s fine and yes, she should be. This is just one of those things. Her kidneys are not playing nice and it’s throwing her whole system out of whack to explain it simply.”
Should beconcerns me, but I don’t say as much. “I don’t know how you do it. But please, if there’s anything I can ever do to help, do not hesitate to ask me.”
Roxy shares a conspiratorial look above her coffee cup, sipping the hot drink. “Just keep letting him be with her as much as possible,” she whispers. “They’re good for each other.”
“I don’t disagree.”
Phillip starts to move, lifting his head. He blinks wide then scrubs his face roughly to wake himself further. “I thought I heard you. Hi mom.”
I wave him over but before he rises, he looks Samantha over and then studies her monitors as if he understands what all the numbers mean. Then he turns to us and shuffles over.
“I brought food.” I hand him a coffee while Roxy hands him a sandwich and motions for him to join us around the small tray-like table we’re using. There’s just enough chairs for us to sit across the room together in a small huddle.
“What time is it?” His voice is groggy, and deeper like it gets from sleeping...or exhaustion.
“It’s early.” I hand him some sugar packets I brought for his coffee, though he uses it sparingly. “When will they release her?”
Phillip takes a bite, eyes drifting to Samantha as if she might disappear. Roxy answers, “her doctor ordered some tests this morning to check for blood clots and rule out some other things. Depending on those results, should be soon after. Either way, they’re pushing IV fluids. They may send us home late this afternoon or by early evening would be my guess.”
“Mom, I can’t—”
I hold my hand up. “I already spoke with your father. You’re not going to practice today.”
Phillip’s body deflates with relief. My heart sinks witnessing it. The tension between father and son kills me but I can only tread between them for now.
“Thank you. How’d you manage that?” Phillip asks, talking around his breakfast sandwich.
“I can still handle your father when needed.” His eyebrows shoot up to his forehead before he takes another bite, finishing off his food.
He rises from his chair and dips to kiss my forehead. “Thanks, mama.” And then he goes back to sit next to Sam.
I see Roxy’s eyes trained on them, soft and full of admiration before they drift to me. “Thank you.” She mouths and then takes another drink of her coffee, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
I touch her knee letting her know I’m here, in whatever capacity they need while we wait.
I’m not sure how much time passes by, but eventually we hear Samantha stir. All our attention goes to her. Phillip is the first she sees. When their eyes meet, her lips thin before she rumples into a quiet sob.
“I’m sorry I scared you,” she whispers. I can just make it out before she touches my son’s jaw right before he dips and kisses her.
He touches her hair, running a light fingertip along her temple before he whispers a few words back. “No tears, Wallflower. We’ll get you feeling better. Ok?”
She shakes her head and my son brushes a tear off her cheek.
“I’m here with you, baby.”