“When can we see her?” Leila asked.
“I’d suggest the others wait a little longer, but you go ahead, Leila. Have a moment with your daughter.”
“I will. Thanks.” She glanced at her mother and Ryan’s parents. “I’ll be right back.”
Margaret nodded. “How’s Crystal doing?” she asked the doctor.
Dr. Hardy didn’t answer, but looked at Leila in confusion. During one of the pre-op meetings between Ryan and the transplant team, Ryan had informed everyone that he wished to keep his identity as a donor a secret. He didn’t explain why, but everyone agreed to comply. It looked like Dr. Hardy had forgotten that little detail, so Leila gave him a warning look and answered for him.
“If it’s okay, can I have a quick peek at her too? She’s asked me to keep everyone out of her room until at least tomorrow. You know how vain she is,” she said to the others.
The doctor started to say something, and then thought better of it. “Sure. It won’t hurt.”
Leila flashed him a grateful smile. “Thanks.”
“I never much liked your sister,” Jack said, “but I’m willing to change my mind. She’s done a fine thing here, and if she needs a little privacy, that’s okay by me.”
“I’d love to see her just to tell her how grateful we all are,” Margaret said, “but I understand if she doesn’t want to see anyone until she’s looking better.”
June rolled her eyes, but she went along with the charade. “By all means, we’ll let her recover before we all march in on her.”
“I’ll be right back,” Leila said cheerily. She hadn’t realized how easy it was going to be. By tomorrow, Ryan would have his IV and catheter removed and be moving about. It would be simple for Crystal to slip into his bed.
No one would ever know.
She walked with Dr. Hardy to the room Callie was in. Even prepared, seeing Callie was hard, something no mother could ever get used to. Watching your baby hooked up to IV lines, oxygen plugs in her nose, monitoring machines beeping, and looking pale as death, was worse than being gutted with a carving knife.
Leila put a hand over her mouth to cover her sobs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
As Leila tried to compose herself, Dr. Hardy spoke briefly to the young nurse who was monitoring Callie. He patted Leila on the shoulder as he left, and the nurse discreetly turned away from Leila as she wiped her eyes. A few minutes passed, and Leila stayed by the door and out of the nurse’s way. Then Callie stirred on the bed.
“Hey there,” the nurse said, leaning over Callie. “Someone’s here to see you.”
The nurse nodded to Leila, who swatted away the last of her tears and marched over to her daughter’s bed.
She took Callie’s hand and kissed her cheek. “Hi, sweetheart. How’re you feeling?”
“Okay. Thirsty.”
“We’ll get you some ice chips.”
“Good. How’d it go?” Callie was still woozy from the anesthesia and slurring her words, but Leila was pleased she made sense at all.
“Dr. Hardy said it went well. He expects the kidney to start working soon.”
“Cool.” Callie turned her head. “Where’s Uncle Ryan? Is he okay?”
“I haven’t been in to see him yet, but if your operation went successfully, then his must have too.” She lowered her voice and glanced around quickly. “I couldn’t ask about him in front of his parents.”
“Oh, yeah, I forgot.”
The nurse returned with ice chips for Callie, and Leila watched Callie roll them around her mouth, obviously grateful for the moisture.
“I’m going to sneak a peek at Uncle Ryan,” Leila said, “and then report back to the others. They’ll want to see you soon. You don’t mind me leaving, do you?”
“No, not if you’re going to see Uncle Ryan. Tell him I feel better already.”
“I will.” She smiled, feeling warmed by the thought. “I love you, honey.”
“Love ya, Mom.” Her eyelids fluttered, and she looked as though she’d be asleep within seconds.
Leila slipped out and went looking for Ryan. He’d already been moved from recovery to his own room. Under the circumstances, they had sprung to get him a private room.
He didn’t look a whole lot better than Callie, and her heart lurched to see him lying on that hospital bed looking exhausted. She only hoped whatever meds they were giving him were dulling his pain.
“Hiya, Ryan.” She leaned down to kiss his cheek. “You doing all right, big fella?”
He smiled and looked down at the blanket covering his privates. “Which one you talking to?”
She chuckled. “Glad to see you’ve got your sense of humor. I guess you’re not feeling too poorly.”
“Whatever they’re dripping into me”—he glanced at his IV tube—“is keeping the pain down. But I still feel like a great white shark grabbed me ’round the middle and took me for a ride.”
“Oh, Ryan.” She hurt thinking of it. The idea of Ryan in pain for doing such a wonderful thing made her teary-eyed. She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes, not wanting him to see her tears.
God, she loved this man. She really loved him.
And just like that, she knew. This was not a fleeting emotion, or gratitude, or a fling. It was the enduring kind of love that would continue to grow and last a lifetime. If only he felt it too.
“It’s that bad?” she asked softly. “Should I call the nurse for some more pain medication?”
“No. I have a better cure.” He beckoned with a finger. “Come back over here and give me a proper kiss this time.”
She was only too happy to oblige. She kissed him softly, gently, with all the love in her heart.
“Wow.” He smiled and touched her cheek. “That was some kiss, lady.”
“I’ve got more.” She kissed him again, and then stepped back. “Don’t want you getting too excited now, do we?”
“I don’t know.” He winked at her. “I’ve got this whole room to myself, no visitors allowed. It seems a waste not to use it.”
“I thought you said you felt lousy.” Amazing, she thought. He goes through major surgery, has barely shaken off the anesthesia, and still can’t resist flirting. God, he filled her with joy. She loved him. She really loved him! It was all she could do, not to tell him so.
“Having you here is really perking me up.” He flashed one of his bad boy smiles.
Involuntarily, her gaze slid to his hips. “Perking up” was one way of putting it. “Flirt.”
“Tease.” He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “The nurses told me the operation was a success and that Callie’s doing fine. I’m so glad, Leila. I feel kinda privileged that I was able to help.”
She kissed his hand. “We can never thank you enough.” She put his hand on her chest, letting him feel her heartbeat. “What can we ever do to even up the score?”
“We’ll figure out something.” He tugged on her hand, drawing her closer. “Once I’m better.”
Their lips were about to meet when Leila heard a noise behind her. She jumped back from Ryan and turned. A nurse stood there, eyebrows raised as she looked from one to the other.
“You’re looking better,” she said to Ryan. “But I was informed that you didn’t want visitors.” She smiled at Leila. “You must be the exception.”
“She is,” Ryan said. “This is Callie’s mother and she can visit me anytime. Also her sister, Crystal. But no one else.”
“Sure thing. I’ll let the other nurses know.” She checked his dressings and his blood pressure, then walked out, leaving them alone.
“I’ve got to get back to Callie,” Leila said. “But I hate to leave you alone.” She ran the back of her fingers across his cheek. “I’ll pop in again later, after your family is gone.”
“Do that. And give Callie my love.”
“I will, and she wanted me to tell you that she feels better already.”
His eyes brightened. “That makes my day.”
�
��And mine.” They continued to smile at each other as Leila backed slowly out of the room.
As she neared the ICU, she could hear Jack and Margaret talking in the hall. She gave them both a big hug, and told them how well Callie was doing. “You can both visit her now. She said she’s feeling better already.”
“Can a new kidney fix her up that fast?” Margaret asked.
“I guess it can.” She stepped behind Jack’s wheelchair and gave it a push. “Come on. I’ll take you to her.”
“Wait for me,” June called from behind her.
The four of them entered the ICU, then took turns going into Callie’s room. They all managed to have a few words with Callie before she nodded off. As they returned to the waiting room, Margaret asked how Crystal was feeling.
“Oh, she’s fine. Just fine.” Leila knew that wasn’t a lie. “I’m sure she’s exhausted. Probably didn’t sleep too well last night.”
“I’m sure. She was probably anxious.”
“She did a fine thing,” Jack said. “And I bet everyone here is thrilled to have a star like her in their hospital.” As if to prove that, Jack hailed a young male doctor walking briskly toward them. “You going to see Crystal Blake?” Jack asked.
The doctor look perplexed, and Jack explained that Crystal was a movie star and had just donated a kidney to her niece, who was Jack’s granddaughter.
“I just hope the scar doesn’t hurt her acting career,” Jack added.
“Only if they bring Baywatch back,” the young doctor said with a grin.
June couldn’t stay quiet. “My daughter does mostly commercials. You may have seen her sniffing an air freshener.”
“I don’t get much time to watch TV,” the doctor replied. “But I’ll step in to see her. What’s her name again?”
“Crystal Blake,” Jack said. “Her niece is Callie Warner.”
“Jack,” Leila said in alarm. “Don’t be bothering Crystal. You know she doesn’t want to see anyone.”
“She’ll want to see a young handsome doctor, if I’m not mistaken. She just doesn’t want to see us old fogeys.”
Margaret touched her husband’s shoulder. “I’m sure the doctor has plenty of patients to see, without going out of his way to see one more.”
“No bother, ma’am.”
“Crystal is fine,” Leila said. “I just saw her. She’s…uh, she’s sleeping.”
June spoke up. “She told us all she didn’t want visitors. You know that, Jack. Don’t be causing a problem now.”
Apparently not wanting to get further involved, the doctor started walking away. But then he stopped and turned around. “She was a kidney donor, you say?”
“Yes,” Jack replied. “They finished up about an hour ago.”
The doctor shook his head. “Must be a mistake. We didn’t have any female donors today.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Jack coughed and wheezed. When he got his breath, he glared at Leila. “Is that Crystal in the recovery room?”
“Of course it’s Crystal. I’m sure the doctor made a mistake.” She marched over to the doctor with a smile on her face. Her back to the others, she whispered, “Just go with this, please.”
The doctor looked from her to Jack and Margaret. “I guess I was mistaken,” he said to the older couple. He walked away again, and this time he didn’t look back.
Leila turned back to her in-laws. Margaret’s eyes were narrowed with suspicion. “What’s really going on, Leila?”
“Nothing whatsoever. What do you mean?” Leila put a big phony smile on her face and linked arms with her mother. “You must be tired, Mom. It’s been a long morning. Would you like me to drive you home?”
“No. I think I’ll stay around a bit longer,” June replied. “Don’t want to miss anything.” She looked at Jack and Margaret. “I mean, Callie waking up.”
“Sure you do,” Margaret said in a disbelieving voice, eyeing June with suspicion.
“What? You don’t believe me now?” June exclaimed. “You doubt the doctor, you doubt Leila, and now me?” She put her hands on her hips and tilted her nose in the air. “Crystal won’t mind a visit from me. After all, I’m her mother, and I’ve seen her at her worst.”
“Sure, you do that,” Jack snapped. “Tell her we’re all coming in to see how she’s holding up after this difficult surgery.”
Leila paled. “What is it with you two? Get off her case, will you? Why don’t you all go home and get some rest?” She sighed, not having to fake her weariness. “We’re all getting on each other’s nerves right now. It’s been an emotionally exhausting day.”
“I’m fine,” Margaret said. “And we want to know who really gave Callie that kidney. It wasn’t a cadaver, was it?”
“No. Now, I’ve had all I can take for one day. Please go home and get some rest. Everyone will be feeling better in the morning and we can all revisit then.”
Jack was trying to push himself out of his chair. He looked like he wanted to walk right down the hall and see who was in that private room.
“You wouldn’t be covering for anybody, would you?” he asked Leila.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You damn well know exactly what I mean.”
She bristled at his tone. “I’m sure, I do not.”
“You met up with Ryan down in Australia.” The tremor in his left hand seemed to worsen as he spoke his son’s name. “Did you convince him to come?”
“Can you imagine me talking him into anything, especially something like this?” Leila smiled and spoke as convincingly as possible. “No, he adamantly refused. Said he was never setting foot in the States again.”
“Just like him. A traitor to his own country. No damn good. Never was.”
Leila stiffened, anger coursing through her like an electrical shock. She wanted to lunge at the old man and heave him right out of that chair. How dare he? How dare he? Her hands shook with the force of her rage.
“Don’t…” She waited until she could control the tremor in her voice. “Don’t speak of him to me again.” She straightened her shoulders and turned away. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to go see Callie.”
June touched her arm. “You want me to go with you?”
“No, Mom. I really wish everyone would call it a day and go home.”
Margaret stared at her. “Why, Leila. You’re crying. Why? Because of Ryan?” Her tone sharpened. “What does he mean to you?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. Why couldn’t everyone just leave her alone? How had this turned from a happy celebration about her daughter to anger and invective spewed at Ryan? “My emotions have been on a roller coaster all day and I’m exhausted.”
Margaret wasn’t buying it. “You were asking about Ryan earlier. You wanted to know why we’re estranged.” She stepped up to Leila until she was right in her face. “What is going on? Is he here?”
“No. Don’t be ridiculous.” She moved away from the other woman. “Would everyone please leave me alone?”
Jack started wheeling his chair down the hall, toward Ryan’s private room. In a few quick paces Leila was in front of him, stopping him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“Going to see for myself. Now get out of my way.”
“I will do no such thing. You will not bully me, Jack Warner.” She lifted her head and spoke to her mother-in-law. “Margaret, I suggest you take Jack home before this gets ugly.”
“But we have a right to see for ourselves,” Margaret said.
“Rights? This is my daughter and her donor, and the two of you are here because I invited you. I am now, politely, asking you to leave.” Leila had never spoken to her in-laws like this before, and it left an unpleasant taste in her mouth. She felt horrible being this rude to them, but she had no choice. Ryan was depending on her.
She straightened her shoulders, ready to do battle. “I don’t understand why you’re questioning me. I deserve a little more respect from the two of y
ou.”
“As Callie’s grandparents, we have legal rights,” Jack answered, his voice raised in anger.
Legal rights? This was getting seriously out of hand. Why didn’t they just leave? “And what would those rights be?” she asked Jack.
“Don’t get smart with me.”
“Then don’t try to throw your weight around,” she snapped back. “We told you that Crystal wants this day to recover. I invite you both to come back in the morning and pay her a visit. She’ll enjoy seeing you then.”
“What has gotten into you, Leila?” Margaret asked. Her face was flushed, her bosom heaving.
“Nothing. Crystal did us an enormous favor and I’m returning it. That’s all.”
Margaret sighed and seemed to visibly deflate. “Okay, that sounds fair.” She turned to her husband. “Come on, Jack. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. The doctor made a mistake, that’s all.”
“Fine,” Jack said. “But Crystal better be in that room, Leila.” He ran his shaking hand down his bum leg, and she figured it was giving him pain. “If it’s that no good son of mine, I shall be extremely disappointed in you.”
“It’s not, I promise.” She bent down and kissed Jack’s cheek. “I’m sorry we had angry words.”
He didn’t apologize, but she hadn’t expected him too.
Margaret gripped the handles on the back of Jack’s wheelchair. “We’ll see you in the morning, Leila. Take good care of Callie, won’t you?”
“Yes. Of course. I’ll give her your love.”
Margaret glanced at June. “Want to walk out to the parking lot with us?”
“Not just yet,” June answered. “I’m going to peek in on Crystal. You two go on ahead.” She smiled and gave a little wave.
There was not a lot of love between the grandmothers.
Leila waited until the Warners were out of earshot before thanking her mother.
“My pleasure. They were really starting to tick me off. That Jack is such a bully, and Margaret can be such a pushy bitch.”
ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE- 4 Book Bundle Page 20