by Sandi Lynn
“No can do, doll. Nothing to eat or drink. The anesthesiologist is on his way up and so is Dr. Finn. We’re going to get you prepped for surgery. What I need you to do right now is to take a shower and scrub up with the antibacterial soap that’s in the bathroom. Here’s a lovely shower cap that matches your pretty little eyes.” He smiled.
“How are you so cheerful after working all night?” I asked as I took the shower cap from him.
“Caffeine. Lots and lots of caffeine.”
“What do you do? Put it in an IV drip?” I asked.
“Oh, I love your humor, Miss Laurel. Now go take a quick shower.”
I climbed out of bed, and as I was walking into the bathroom, Wyatt stepped into the room.
“Good morning, sweetheart.” He smiled as he kissed my lips. “Why are you out of bed?”
“Apparently, I have to shower with antibacterial soap. Wanna join me?” I smiled.
He looked inside the bathroom and turned on the light.
“As much as I’d love to, one person can barely fit in there. I’ll help you if you need me to.”
“That’s okay. I can do it myself.” I kissed him before shutting the door.
I showered as quickly as possible, and when I came out of the bathroom, my mom, dad, Alfie, and Bella were all inside the room.
“Laurel, sweetheart.” My mom hugged me.
“Hey, Mom. Hey, Dad. Alfie. Bella.”
We all hugged, and I climbed back into bed. A few moments later, Craig, Maddy, Eric, George, and Veronica walked in.
“Oh my, it’s like one big party in here!” Kyle smiled.
The anesthesiologist walked in, introduced himself, asked me a bunch of questions, and told me about the anesthesia they were going to use.
“Wow. What’s going on in here.” Jamieson smiled as he walked in. “Are you almost ready, Laurel.” He took hold of my hand.
“What would you say if I told you no?”
“Aw, come on, Laurel. Easy peasy.” He smiled. “Alright, I’ll need everyone but Wyatt to go wait in the waiting room. We’ll be taking her to the O.R. in a few minutes.”
“I’ve got some candy for you, Laurel,” Kyle spoke as he injected the IV.
“What is it?”
“Something to help you relax.”
My family and friends kissed me goodbye and left the room. Wyatt stayed by my side as I gripped his hand tight. Three O.R. nurses walked into the room and Jamieson looked at me.
“It’s time, Laurel.”
“Okay. Let’s get this fucking thing out of my head.”
Wyatt’s eyes filled with tears as he leaned over and kissed my lips.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too. I’ll be back soon.”
The meds that Kyle gave me started to kick in, and suddenly, I didn’t give a fuck what was happening to me. This was some good shit and I wanted more. They wheeled me down the hallway and into operating room number three. It was cold and sterile. One of the nurses placed a warm blanket over my body and I had never been so grateful to anyone in my life.
“Hey, Dr. Finn?”
“Yes, Laurel?”
“Please be careful with my hair. Don’t be giving me any funky hairdo.” I lightly grinned.
“Damn. I was thinking you’d look awesome with a mohawk.” He smiled.
I held out my hand to him and he took hold of it.
“Please promise me that you’ll make me better no matter what.”
“I promise, Laurel.” I gently smiled. “It’s time to go to sleep now.”
They placed the mask on my face and told me to count backward from ten. The last number I remembered was eight. Suddenly, I heard classical music playing and I was out of my body and standing next to Jamieson. What the hell was going on? I looked at him and then at the body on the operating table and saw it was me. Was I dead? For the first time in quite a while, I was pain free. There was no lingering pain from the horrible headaches I was getting, and my mind seemed crystal clear. But I still couldn’t comprehend what was going on and why this was happening.
“Okay, everyone, the tumor is ready to come out,” Jamieson spoke.
Holy shit, that was in my head? I thought to myself as he took it out and placed it in a stainless-steel bowl.
“Goddammit!” he voiced loudly.
“Is that another tumor?” one of the other doctors asked.
“It sure the fuck is! There was no way we could have known this. It was completely covered by the other tumor.”
“Dr. Finn, it’s too far down. If you try to remove it, you could damage some of the vital brain tissue and leave her paralyzed on that side and without speech.”
“You don’t think I know that!” he shouted. “If I leave it, she’ll still have problems and they’ll become even worse as the tumor grows.”
Oh god. Even though I should have been panicking, I wasn’t. I felt nothing but a calmness inside of me. I needed to find Wyatt, but I couldn’t move.
“I need more space. We’re going to have to shave another section of her hair. Fuck!”
“Dr. Finn,” the other doctor spoke. “The risk is too great. What is she going to do when she wakes up and can’t talk or move anything on her right side?”
“Don’t listen to him, Jamieson. Remove that damn tumor. Don’t you dare leave it inside me. You can do this. I trust you. You promised me no matter what,” I spoke to him, even though he couldn’t hear me.
“If you’re questioning my ability, Dr. Granger, then you can get the hell out of my O.R.! I made a promise to this woman and I’m going to keep it.”
Suddenly, a strange sensation filled me, and everything went black.
****
Wyatt
“What the hell is taking so long?” I asked as I rubbed my face. “Jamieson said the surgery would take about six hours and it’s been twelve.”
“I don’t know, Wyatt,” Craig spoke with a nervous voice.
“Wyatt.” Jamieson walked in and took off his surgical cap.
Instantly, I stood up and so did everyone else.
“How is she?” I asked.
“She’s stable right now. There was a bit of a complication.”
“What? What kind of complication?” I panicked.
“When I removed the tumor, there was a smaller one hiding underneath, deep down in the brain tissue. It would be considered by most doctors inoperable. I went in and removed it. It was risky, Wyatt, but I needed to make a quick judgment call, and I knew she’d want me to do it.”
“What exactly are you saying, Dr. Finn?” Harrison asked. “How is my daughter?”
“Like I said, she’s stable right now. We’ll have to wait and see when she wakes up. There is a possibility of some memory loss, both short term and long term, and she may need to have physical therapy for her right side. No one could have predicted there was another tumor under there.”
“When can I see her?” I asked.
“We’ll be moving her to neuro ICU in about an hour. I’ll come and get you.” He turned and began to walk away.
“Jamieson,” I spoke.
He stopped and turned around.
“What were the risks if you would have left it in there?”
“She would have experienced the same symptoms, and all this would have been for nothing. I made her a promise in the operating room before she went under and I intended to keep it.” He walked away.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Wyatt
I stepped into her room and swallowed hard as I stared at her. Her head was wrapped in a white bandage and her right eye was incredibly swollen with signs of bruising underneath. She was hooked up to various machines that produced soft and steady beeps. Sadness and fear overtook me as I walked over to her and lightly took hold of her hand. Seeing her like this was unbearable and it broke my heart. Jamieson walked into the room and placed his hand on my shoulder.
“I know it’s hard to see her like this,” he sp
oke.
“Why is her eye like that?”
“It’s from the surgery. The swelling will start to go down in a couple of days.”
“When will she wake up?”
“It’ll be at least a few more hours. I’ll be down the hall if you need anything. As for the rest of the family, they can come in and visit for a few minutes only. I’ll go out there and tell them now.”
“I’m not leaving her tonight.”
“I wouldn’t expect or want you to.”
I gave him a nod as he walked out of the room. A few moments passed, and our friends and family stepped into the room.
“Call us the moment she wakes up,” Adalynn spoke as she hugged me. “We’re just down the street at the hotel.”
“I will.”
After walking everyone out of the room and saying goodbye, I went over to the coffee machine, put in some cash, and pressed the button. The cup came around, but no coffee was pouring into it. I sighed and then lightly hit the machine. Nothing. All I wanted was a damn cup of coffee, so I slammed my fist at the machine.
“Trust me, the coffee in that machine is not worth a broken hand,” Jamieson spoke as he stood next to me.
I ran my hand through my hair and inhaled a sharp breath.
“Come on, Wyatt. Go back to Laurel. I’ll go grab you a cup of coffee.”
“Thanks, Jamieson.”
He gave me a small smile and walked away. I went back to Laurel’s room, moved the chair closer to her bed, and took a seat while I wrapped my hand around hers.
“She’ll wake up when she’s ready,” Jamieson spoke as he handed me my coffee.
“Thanks,” I spoke, and he began to check Laurel’s vitals. “It must be hard.”
“What?” He glanced over at me.
“Your job.”
“Sometimes it is, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world. I love what I do.”
“It must be hard to keep a relationship with the hours you work,” I spoke.
“I don’t get involved in relationships. My work is my top priority, nothing else.”
“You sound like me. That’s exactly how I was. Casual sex whenever I needed it, and a string of broken hearts along the way because women always wanted more when they knew I wouldn’t give them more. Then I met Laurel, and she changed everything.”
“Is there a reason why you’re telling me this?”
“You’re a good guy, Jamieson, and I totally get your way of thinking. But there’s more to life than just work and the occasional play time.”
“My job is too demanding, and I don’t need some woman making more demands on me. I like my life the way it is.”
“That’s exactly what I said too.” I smirked.
“Try to get some rest, Wyatt.” He patted my shoulder before walking out of the room.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Laurel
My head was killing me. I felt myself waking up, and I wanted to open my eyes, but I wasn’t ready. The struggle was real because I knew I had to. I let out a soft moan.
“Laurel,” I heard Wyatt’s voice as he gently squeezed my hand.
I needed to wake up for him and let him know I was okay. I slowly opened one eye and saw his handsome face staring at me.
“Sweetheart.” He lightly smiled. “I’m going to get Jamieson and let him know you’re awake.”
“You’re awake,” Jamieson spoke as he stepped into the room. “Do you know where you’re at?”
“Hospital,” I whispered.
“Do you know your name?” he asked.
“Laurel,” I whispered again.
“Speech is good,” Jamieson spoke as he glanced over at Wyatt.
“Laurel, do you know who the man standing next to your bed is?”
“Wyatt.” I slightly turned my head and looked at him. “My head hurts like a bitch.”
“I know. Unfortunately, that comes with the territory. I’ll up your pain meds. I want you to try and lift your right arm. Can you do that for me?” Jamieson asked.
I did as he asked and slightly lifted it off the bed. He took hold of my hand and asked me to squeeze it.
“Laurel, I need you to squeeze my hand.”
I did, and a grin crossed his lips.
“You’re still groggy from the anesthesia. I’ll be back in when you’re more awake and then we’ll discuss the surgery.”
He walked out of the room and Wyatt took a seat on the edge of my bed. He looked tired and weary.
“I love you to the moon and back a thousand times over.” He smiled.
“I love you too,” I whispered as I closed my eye.
****
I could hear Wyatt’s voice in the background, so I opened my left eye and felt a little more alert than I did before.
“Wyatt?” I moaned. “What’s wrong with my right eye?”
“I’m right here, sweetheart. It’s from the surgery. Don’t worry. How are you feeling?”
“Like shit.”
“You’re awake.” Jamieson smiled as he walked into the room. “There’s a couple of things I need to go over with you about the surgery. Are you up to it?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“When I removed the tumor, there was a second tumor underneath it. A small one, but I was able to remove it. So, Laurel Holloway, you are officially tumor free. All you need to do now is let your brain heal and you’ll be back to your old self before you know it.” He gently squeezed my hand.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, I had to shave a little more of your hair than what I originally told you due to the second tumor, but you totally rock the look.” He winked.
“Thanks.” I tried to smile.
“I’ll be back in a while to check up on you,” Jamieson spoke as he left the room.
Wyatt sat down on the edge of the bed and lightly ran the back of his hand down my cheek. Bringing my hand up to his jawline where his scruff was out of control, but in a sexy way, I spoke, “You look tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“You need some sleep, Wyatt. Go home, shower, and get some rest.”
“I’m not leaving you, baby.”
“Look at me. I may not look like I have the strength, but I can guarantee you I do, and you’re not winning this one. I will tell the nurse to call security and kick you out of here. You’re worried about me and I’m worried about you. It’s a two-way street here.”
“Is that so?” His brow arched.
“Yes. You’re exhausted and so am I. So, I’m going to go back to sleep and you’re going home for a while. Understand?”
He stared at me for a moment and pursed his lips.
“Fine. I’ll go home for a while if that’s what you really want.”
“I do, because you’re not doing me any good by making me worry about you. In fact, it’s making my head hurt worse.”
He leaned over and brushed his lips against mine.
“The last thing I want is for you to worry. I’m going.” He gently smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you.”
He walked out of the room, and I lay there, listening to the soft beeps of the machines that I was hooked up to. I slowly brought my hand up to the right side of my head as a tear fell from my eye. I felt like I was grieving, and I didn’t understand why.
****
I woke up just as Jamieson walked into the room.
“Good news. Your new room is ready. We’re going to take you up now. I’ve already sent a text message to Wyatt giving him the room number. Once you’re up there, you can have all the visitors you want.” He smiled.
“Great,” I sarcastically spoke.
Once I was up in my new room, Jamieson raised the head of the bed so I was sitting straight up.
“Oh my god. Put me back down.”
The pain was excruciating.
“You need to stay like this for a while, Laurel. I’ll have the nurse push some more pain meds through your IV. Just rel
ax. I’ll be back in a bit.”
Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one who just had his head cut open. About an hour later, Wyatt walked into the room with a smile on his freshly shaven face and a dozen beautiful red roses.
My friends and family came up to see me and stayed longer than they should have. Eric sat by my bedside and shed a few tears. I didn’t have the strength to yell at him.
“I’m just so happy you’re okay, kid.”
“Me too. Thanks for coming, Eric. And, no worries, we’ll be back to yelling at each other soon enough.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” he spoke.
Everyone left except for Craig and Maddy. They stayed behind to visit a while longer because they were heading home tomorrow morning.
“I’ll miss the both of you,” I spoke.
“We’ll miss you too. But we have facetime, and I’ll be back here in about a month to oversee the remodeling of the restaurant.”
“I can’t wait. By that time, I’ll be ready to hit the town.”
“We’ll see.” He gave me a smile and a wink. “Take care of yourself, Laurel. Listen to the doctor and do everything he says. We all know you have a problem with authority.”
“I will. I just want to feel like myself again.”
He kissed my forehead and gave my hand a squeeze.
“Love you, friend.”
“Love you too, friend.”
Wyatt walked them out and came back into the room.
“You must be exhausted.”
“I am,” I whispered.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll be right here next to you.” He kissed me.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Laurel
I had spent three days in the hospital and it was finally time to go home. I couldn’t wait to get out of this place.
“I’m only a phone call away, Laurel,” Jamieson spoke.
“Thank you for everything. I honestly don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for you.”
“You’re welcome. Thank you for being a star patient. I’ve given a list of things to Wyatt that I want you to take, eat, and do every day. He told me that you’re going to be staying at the ranch for a while.”