Sunny's Love

by Anna Kristell

  “Call Brenda,” he told her in a broken voice.

  “Brenda James?” she asked.

  “They’re friends, they had lunch earlier today. She might be able to give us an idea how long Sunny was in the woods. The paramedics wanted to know. I’m sure the doctor will, too.”

  “I’ll call her. Do you have her number?”

  “It’s in my phone.” He handed his cell phone to her and she dialed the number.

  Chase listened to Marty explain what had happened.

  “They’re on their way,” she told Chase as she handed his phone back to him.

  “Good, I’m glad. Where is that damn doctor?” He got up and began to pace.

  “Chase, let them do their job. As soon as they know something, they’ll come and get us.”

  “Ma’am, if it’s all right, I believe I’ll go back to the house and help Alma with the little ones. I’m assuming you’d rather we not tell them what has happened,” George said sadly. He was quite fond of the young Mrs. Dupont.

  “Go on, George,” Marty replied. “Make sure to be at the airport early, in case Laura’s flight gets in earlier than scheduled. Don’t tell the kids yet. Not until we know more about Sunny’s condition. When we know more, either Chase, or Laura and I will tell them. Thank you for everything, George.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Dupont. I’ll bring Mrs. Drake as soon as she gets in.”

  Several minutes later a nurse came out. She asked Chase to come back to Sunny’s cubicle with her. Marty asked if she could go too. “I’m Sunny’s mother-in-law.”

  “Of course, come on back.” She led them into a small cubicle, where several people appeared to be attending to Sunny.

  “Mr. Dupont, I’m Dr. Jessup. Your wife sustained a head wound, as you know, and we believe her left arm may be fractured. I’ve arranged for x-rays of the arm and a CT scan. After those results come in, we’ll have a clearer picture of what we’re dealing with. I’m going to admit her. The nurses will let you know her room number as soon as she’s settled.”

  “What about the fact she hasn’t come to yet? Is that a reason for concern?” he asked as he glanced at Sunny lying still in the bed.

  “That’s not uncommon with a head wound. We’ll watch her closely. It’s too soon to be alarmed yet. She may come around soon, but if after a few days she hasn’t, we might want to do further testing.”

  “All right, thank you. We’ll wait for the nurse to tell us where to go next,” Marty told him, smiling.

  “Can I see her for just a minute?” Chase asked.

  “Sure, but only for a minute, we need to get her down to radiology.”

  Chase walked over to the bed and lifted her lifeless hand. He held it to his lips and kissed it. “I love you, Sunny. You have to come back to me.” He gently laid her hand back on the bed and walked out of the room, followed by Marty.

  Back in the waiting area, he sat down, and cried like a baby. “Mom, what am I going to do…I’ve wasted all this time.”

  “What time did you waste, son? You and Sunny have had a wonderful marriage so far.”

  “In that cubicle, just now, was the first time I ever told her I loved her.”

  “What are you yammering about? Everyone knows you love Sunny.”

  “Everyone but her.” He dropped his head.

  “I’m not following, are you sure you didn’t bump your head, too?”

  “Mom, Sunny and I are great together in every way…you know that. But because I rushed her into marriage, for the sake of the company, I didn’t take the time to properly court her. I never told her I was in love with her. I was waiting for her to say it first. Stupid, I realize now. But in my head, I thought she had to fall in love with me before I told her. I didn’t want to rush her…any more than I already had. When she agreed to a physical relationship from the start, even after I’d told her I would wait until she was ready, I thought the love would follow. But she’s never said it. And neither have I.”

  “You silly, silly boy, that girl has been in love with you since the day you married her, and probably long before that. It’s evident in the way she looks at you and the way she speaks of you. Has everyone seen it but you? Why do you think she was so willing to accept a marriage-of- convenience? Why do you think she wanted a physical relationship immediately after the wedding? It wasn’t because she was lusting after you. It was because she loved you.”

  “Sunny has morals. She told me she wanted me, but would never have slept with me, as long as I was her employer. But I never gave it a thought she might already be in love with me. The only thing I’ve needed all along is Sunny’s love. Now you’re telling me, I’ve had it all this time. And now, she may never know, how deeply in love with her I am. What have I done?”

  “Sweetheart, don’t beat yourself up over this, you’ll get another chance to tell her.”

  Brenda and Jay had arrived. Jay sat down with Chase. After looking at their friend, apparently in so much anguish, Brenda pulled Marty aside.

  ****

  “What’s going on, Mrs. Dupont?”

  “Call me Marty, dear. Apparently, Sunny was walking and fell. She hit her head. They think she may have a broken arm, as well. She’s still unconscious.”

  “Oh my…what about Ali and Brice?” she asked.

  “We haven’t told them anything yet. Laura, that’s Sunny’s mother, is on her way from Clinton.

  “If there’s anything we can do to help, just let us know. We can take the kids for a few days, or just sit with all of you. We’re both very fond of Sunny.”

  “Thank you. The nurses will come get us when they have a room ready for her. She’s in Radiology right now, having an x-ray and a CT scan.”

  “I just had lunch with her this afternoon.”

  “That’s what Chase said. I believe he wanted to ask you some questions about that.”

  “Chase, what did you want to ask me?” Brenda had walked over to Chase and sat down beside him.

  “Do you remember what time the two of you split up today? The paramedics wanted to know how long she’d been unconscious and I had no idea.”

  “We left the restaurant around three. I had an appointment I needed to get to.”

  “Did she say if she was going shopping or straight home?”

  “No, I’m sorry, Chase, she didn’t. She promised to call me and we said our goodbyes.”

  A nurse came to them and told them what floor Sunny was being taken to. She gave them the room number and wished them luck.

  The four of them found the elevator and went to the fourth floor as directed.

  “We’ll wait in the lounge, while you two go on in. I’m sure they have a limit on how many can be in the room at once,” Brenda told them as she squeezed Marty’s hand.

  “Thank you,” Marty replied. She turned to follow her son down the hallway. They found the room number and went on in. Sunny was in the bed, lying as still as before. A nurse was attending to her.

  “Has there been any news yet?” Chase asked the nurse.

  “No, I’m sorry, not yet. Dr. Jessup will be in as soon as he knows anything. He knows how anxious you are.”

  Chase pulled a chair close to the bed and picked up Sunny’s hand again. He placed it inside his own larger hand and said, “I’m here, baby, and I’m not leaving your side. I love you, Sunny Drake Dupont, and I’m not letting you go.”

  Marty sat down and began to pray.

  An hour later, Dr. Jessup entered the room. “I’m so sorry for the delay. I wanted to go over everything before I spoke with you.”

  “What can you tell us about my wife’s condition?”

  “We were correct in thinking her arm is fractured. I’ve arranged for it to be casted. I don’t believe she’ll need surgery, which is good, because of the head injury.”

  “What about the head injury, Dr. Jessup?” Marty asked.

  “Sunny has a concussion. There doesn’t appear to be any bleeding on the brain at this time. We’ve already cleaned up the cut a
nd stitched it. That was done in the ER. As far as her being unconscious, we wait. We have IV fluids going into her body, as well as antibiotics, and an anti-inflammatory drug. She’ll be monitored closely for the next twenty-four hours. I’m assuming you plan to spend the night in that chair?”

  “I’d like to stay with her.”

  “Of course, but I’ll have the staff get a recliner in here for you. I’ll be on call. If there are any changes in her condition during the night, they’ll page me. Otherwise, I’ll be in to see you in the morning.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Jessup.”

  By the time Brenda and Jay returned with dinner, Laura had arrived.

  “Oh, Laura, thank God you’re here.” Marty got up and hugged her. “I’ll go out and let you sit with them for a while. Chase will fill you in.”

  Marty walked out to the lounge to eat her dinner. Brenda and Jay sat with her. She told them everything Dr. Jessup had told them.

  George had joined them and said, “I’ll go back to the house. The children were asleep when I left for the airport.”

  “Thank you, George. Chase, Laura, and I will be staying here overnight.”

  “Alma and I will see to the children, ma’am.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  Chase looked at Laura. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It wasn’t your fault. From what I know, she was walking and fell. You weren’t even aware she wasn’t in the house.” Laura placed her hand on his shoulder. “Go ahead and eat your dinner, son. Then you can fill me in on the rest.”

  She walked over to Sunny’s bedside. Leaning over, she spoke softly to her daughter. “Sunny Jo, Mommy’s here. You need to wake up now, baby girl. Your husband is here too and so is Marty. I think your friends are here, too. We all need you, especially little Ali and Brice.” She leaned over and kissed Sunny’s cheek, then sat down to listen to what the doctor had told Chase and Marty.

  After he’d told her everything he knew, Laura said, “I’ll call Dr. Rose in the morning and ask him some questions about head injuries.”

  “Someone needs to tell the kids. I wonder if Mom would go over there in the morning and do it.”

  “I’m sure she will.”

  “You knew that their mother, my first wife, died after suffering from a fall.”

  “I knew she died. What happened, Chase?”

  “She was at the office. She had stopped in to tell me something. When she got on the elevator, she must have fainted, hitting her head. They found her in the elevator, but it was too late. She was bleeding internally.”

  “I’m so sorry, Chase.”

  “Laura, I love Sunny more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life. I can’t lose her.”

  “Don’t talk like that. Just because your first wife couldn’t be saved, doesn’t mean the same thing will happen to Sunny. You said they didn’t suspect any bleeding at this time.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Try and rest, Chase, I’ll be right here. I’ll wake you if anything happens.”

  “All right, I’ll try to close my eyes. I’ll need to be alert when she wakes up.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  “Here are some clean clothes, a razor, and a few other things, Chase. I’m sure you can use the bathroom in here to freshen up.” Marty handed him the bag of toiletries she’d collected when she’d gone to the house to freshen up.

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Have you eaten?”

  “We’ve arranged for one of his restaurants to deliver three meals a day, for the three of you, as long as you’re here,” Brenda said.

  “Has the doctor been in yet?” Laura asked.

  “Yes, he was. He said we watch and wait. He examined the cast on her arm and checked her pupils and a few other things,” Chase answered.

  “I can stay as long as you like, Chase, but if you’d rather just have family, that’s fine too,” Brenda told him.

  “Stay if you can, Brenda, unless you have things to do.”

  “Nothing that can’t wait.” She smiled at her friend, before turning to Laura. “Mrs. Drake, how are you doing?”

  “Please call me Laura. I’m concerned but I’m okay. Dr. and Mrs. Rose, friends from Clinton, are driving over this afternoon.”

  “Good, I’m glad,” Chase remarked.

  “Yes, that’s nice. Isn’t that the doctor Sunny worked with? I believe she mentioned that the night we all had dinner together.”

  “Yes, that’s actually where Sunny and I met. I had to take Brice in to see the doctor while in Clinton on business and Sunny was working.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Brenda laughed. “Leave it to little Bricey to find his dad a wife.”

  “I felt so bad for keeping her at work after hours that I invited her to join me and the kids for dinner at our hotel.”

  “And the rest, as they say, is history.” Laura laughed.

  “And apparently it was love at first sight,” Brenda added.

  “Pretty much, yes,” Chase replied sadly.

  “Laura, how are the kids?” Brenda asked, afraid she already knew the answer.

  “They didn’t take it well, as we’d expected, but Marty was able to calm them down. George was watching a movie with them when we left.”

  A nurse came in to check on Sunny. She removed an empty bag of fluids and replaced it with a full one. Then she checked her vitals. “She’s holding her own,” she told them. “Her vitals are strong.”

  When the delivery boy from the restaurant showed up with their lunch, the two mothers were able to persuade Chase to go to the lounge with them to eat.

  “You can relax a little. And it’s right down the hall. You’ll be close by if Sunny needs you.”

  “This is really good, Chase,” Laura said as she took a bite of the vegetable soup. They had each also been brought a sandwich and a dessert.

  When he’d finished eating, Chase told the two women to stay and rest. “I’m going back in. I’d like to be alone with Sunny.”

  “Okay, sweetheart, you go on. But please, send someone to get us if there is any change,” Laura requested.

  “I will,” he replied with a smile.

  When he entered the room, a male nurse he hadn’t seen before was standing next to Sunny’s bed holding a pillow in his hand.

  “What are you doing?” Chase demanded.

  “Just putting a pillow behind her head, sir,” the nurse replied. He looked nervous as he attempted to place the pillow under Sunny’s head.

  “I’ll do it.” Chase took the pillow from the nurse’s hand.

  “Yes, sir, I’ll just be going now.” He hurriedly left the room.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  It was a long and tiring day for the people who loved Sunny. Chase rarely left her side. He held her hand and whispered in her ear almost continually. Only occasionally could Laura or Marty persuade him to take a break.

  “The doctor said to watch and wait but for how long?” Chase looked at his mother for guidance.

  “I don’t know, he didn’t really say, did he?”

  “I wonder if Dr. Rose is here yet?”

  “Laura went downstairs to wait for him. I’m sure she’ll bring him up to see you and Sunny as soon as he gets here.”

  Connie the nurse assigned to Sunny for the afternoon shift came in and introduced herself. “I’m Connie. If you need anything, just let me know. I’ll be back to check her vitals in just a little while.”

  “Thank you,” Chase said absently.

  “Can I get you anything? Perhaps a cup of coffee, I can get some from our staff lounge. I guarantee it’ll be better than what you’ve been getting out of the machines.”

  “That would be wonderful. You can bring us both a cup if you don’t mind. Black is fine,” Marty told her.

  “Coming right up.” She placed a hand on Chase’s shoulder. “You’ve got to keep your strength up.”

  After Connie had gone to get the coffee, Marty told her son, “Chase, you’ve got to pull yo
urself together here. I’ve never seen you like this…even when Brittney…”

  “Mom, you have no idea what I’m feeling right now. The pain I felt when Brittney died is nothing, compared to the way I’m feeling now, sitting here watching my precious Sunny in this bed. A million thoughts are swirling in my head, what if…she never wakes up, what if…she wakes up but has no memory…what if she can’t remember our life together…and what if…God forbid…I never get to tell her what she means to me.”

  “I know you love her more than life itself. I know she’s the one, true, love of your life. But you can’t think this way. You have to have faith. And I do have an idea of what you are feeling…I loved and lost your dad.”

  Connie had returned with the coffee. Chase gratefully accepted it and took a sip of the hot, steaming liquid. “You’re right, Connie, it’s better than the coffee in the machines.”

  “Well, anytime you want another cup, you just let me know.”

  “Thanks,” Marty said as she took the cup Connie offered her.

  “I think I’ll call Emma at the restaurant and tell her to include a big pot of coffee for us, from now on, in their deliveries to us,” Chase said as he reached for his phone.

  “Now that sounds like a plan, since it may be another long night for us.”

  A few minutes later, Laura came in. “Chase, Dr. Rose is here. He’s spoken to the nurses and he’d like to see you outside, before he comes in to see Sunny. He’s been able to answer some of my questions, so ask him whatever you’d like.”

  “Thank you, Laura. Here, take my chair. She’d probably like to hear her Mama’s voice, instead of mine, for a while.”

  ****

  When he’d closed the door softly behind him, Laura looked at Marty sadly. “I just don’t know what to say to him to snap him out of it…”

  “He loves her so deeply. I’ve been trying to tell him, he has to have faith she’ll wake up. He went to the chapel at four this morning to pray.”

  “That poor boy…and those poor babies at home…to have to go through this, after what happened to their mama. They’re so attached to Sunny now. We all saw that on Christmas Eve.”