Lacy's Lane

by Patricia Strefling

  That thought just entered her mind when the surgeon entered the room and introduced himself.

  “Dr. Miller here. Miss Linden?” She nodded and he continued. “I understand he has family nearby.”

  “Yes, his grandfather,” she managed to choke out, “but he’s in assisted living right now. Thad keeps in touch with him.”

  Why was he asking that? She searched his face for answers.

  “He’s in recovery.”

  “Thank you, God! He’s alive!

  “He’ll be in there overnight. The surgery took so long because we had to repair his face and chin. There was a lot of damage to the tissue. We fixed an area near his eye. Another quarter inch and he would have lost that eye.”

  Lacy wanted to cry. Thad’s handsome face! It didn’t matter to her, but she knew it would matter to him and the rest of the world who watched him on their television screens.

  “But he’s going to be okay?” She realized she had been holding her breath.

  “Yeah, most of the damage was to the face, but the handlebars cracked some ribs. Thankfully none are broken, which meant his lungs are okay. And he has a couple broken fingers. We’re going to watch him close. He’s pretty banged up. Motorcycles give no protection of the head which is where most of his injuries are. He’s suffering from a pretty serious concussion so we want to keep our eye on him for a few days.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Only for a few minutes. We’ve got him sedated so he will sleep through the night, but if you want to go in and talk to him quietly, let him know you are here, it always seems to help.”

  She followed the young doctor and entered the ICU to find machines that were beeping and blinking and all sorts of people in the room checking numbers. Getting as close as possible, she carefully lifted his uninjured hand with hers and spoke softly.

  “You’re all done now, Thad. You just have to rest. I’ll be here all night. Relax and we’ll talk in the morning, okay?”

  Lacy laid his hand down gently and stared at his motionless body for a few moments.

  “Don’t worry,” A female nurse said quietly. “He’s out right now, but you should be able to talk to him tomorrow.”

  “Thank you,” Lacy closed her eyes a moment and grabbed for the door handle.

  “You’d better get something to eat.” One of the young male nurses told her. “I’m breaking for dinner. Come with me.”

  Lacy didn’t even blink. She followed him with heavy steps.

  “Name’s Jon. And you are Miss Linden. Lacy right?”

  “How’d you know?” Her head swiveled to note his brown eyes and blond hair. Just like Thad’s.

  “He’s been mumbling your name. Just before he went out…”

  “We were high school friends.”

  “Ah.” Jon said and asked her what she wanted to eat.

  “A sandwich, anything just to get by.”

  “Coffee or tea? You need something hot.”

  “Tea.”

  Numbly she pushed the tray along and hardly noticed as he pulled down a sandwich and spooned some soup in a bowl, chose cottage cheese and a bowl of fruit.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. My wife reminds me often that eating is part of being a nurse. You don’t eat, you don’t help anyone.”

  Lacy smiled at him. His dry humor almost made its mark. “That’s for sure.” She said.

  “Follow me. I know the best corner. It’s quiet over here.” He led the way, set his tray down and pulled out a chair for her.

  Thad used to do that. Open doors for her. Suddenly tears began to spill from her eyes. Jon, accustomed to tears, let her work through them.

  In a few moments, she wiped the tears from her face and nibbled on the sandwich.

  “Sounds like Mr. Gannon has a full life out there in California.”

  “Yes. Yes, he does. He owns a house in Malibu on the Pacific.”

  “Yeah? You think he’d let me and my wife go out while he’s laid up here?”

  Lacy looked up and saw the teasing smile.

  “You know, he probably would.” She felt her heart calm. “I’ve never been there, but he’s shown us pictures. It’s beautiful.”

  “He has a strong will.”

  “He does?” she pushed a straw in her cup and drank.

  “Yep, he made it all the way here on the plane. Four hours. Do you know why he wanted to come all this way instead of going to LA County-USC Med Center? They have the best plastic surgeons there.”

  “I think it was because of his grandfather. He lives nearby.”

  “Does he know yet?”

  “Oh, no. He’s in an assisted living condo and I didn’t call him. I wanted to wait to see how … how bad things were. It wouldn’t do to upset him.”

  “Good idea. We’ll know more tomorrow. You from around here?” He scooted his chair back and relaxed.

  “Yes, Marston.”

  “Yeah? My wife Heather is from Marston. A farm girl.”

  “Really?” Lacy sat up straighter and picked up her fork.

  “You want anything you just holler. I’ll go get it. There’s more hot water for your tea right behind me.”

  “Thanks, I think I will have a second cup.”

  Jon stood up and filled her cup.

  “I’m a farm girl, too…so not used to all this Hollywood hoopla. And the paparazzi…I have no idea what that looks like.”

  “You don’t want to know. We’ve had celebrities here before. I’m going to have to escort you by the back way so they don’t recognize you or the next thing you know there’ll be some sort of immaculate conception and you’ll be in the papers pregnant with his child.”

  Lacy jerked her head up, not knowing whether to be insulted or laugh. Then she saw his brown eyes twinkle.

  “That’s about the way it is, too, isn’t it?”

  “Yep. Heather warns me that if my face ever shows up in the papers with another woman, she’ll tell them a bigger and better story than the one they made up and make money on me before she leaves me.”

  “Your Heather sounds like quite the woman.”

  “Oh she is,” he winked.

  When they finished, he took their trays and emptied them. “You want to take anything to your room?”

  “My room?”

  “Yep, you are about to become a patient, hospital gown and all.”

  “What?”

  “Follow me.”

  Lacy stood and they talked as he led her through several turns.

  “We’ve got orders to set you up in a bed in a little cove we have for situations such as this one. We call it the Comfort Suite.”

  Lacy just looked at him.

  “You have to don a hospital gown, robe and slippers, which will be provided for you. Those seen coming and going from the room must be either staff or patient. You are the latter.”

  “Oh, boy. “

  “Now for propriety’s sake the people seeing you come out of your room next door —it does have its own door to the hallway—will think you are just another patient, when all the time there is a door between your room and Mr. Gannon’s room.”

  Lacy knew enough now to go along with “Mr. Jon,” as she called him. He was a great jokester and she told him so.

  “No joking. Orders are orders. You’ll be in the room right next to his.”

  Lacy stopped and stared into his eyes, hands on hips.

  “That’s the way I like my patients. Good and mad.” He kept walking.

  After a series of turns, her strength coming back, they finally arrived and went into a door that read Dr. Doolittle.

  “Dr. Doolittle is our code term for entrance to the private suite of those who have enough money to pay for it.”

  “Thad’s got money,” Lacy laughed as they entered the room on the other side of the door.

  “Word is—and keep this to yourself,” Jon warned, “that his producer is paying for his actor to be more beautiful than he was before he got himself in
here.”

  Lacy swallowed hard. She knew how important looks were in the big, wide world of television, but was this really necessary? Did Thad know about this?

  Finally, they walked into a patient room.

  “Well here we are. Pink or Purple?”

  “Pink or Purple what?”

  “Slippers, of course.”

  “Purple.”

  He opened a door with a tap and looked at her feet. Medium. He tossed them on the bed. “Now for the fun part. Which gown do you want?” He held up two.

  They were the same material.

  “You are trying to make me crazy, aren’t you?” Lacy’s hands landed at her hips.

  “That’s the plan. Secret is to keep the one who’s waiting entertained. Am I doing my job?” He wiggled both hangers waiting for the answer.

  “Both. One that closes in front and one that closes in the back.”

  “Smart woman. That way if you have to make a quick getaway, you won’t have your backside in the newspapers.”

  “You are sick!” She laughed.

  “There, got a laugh.” He took the gowns off the hangers and tossed them on the bed.”

  “You are not kidding, are you?”

  “Ma’am we have a very famous television star in here and you have no idea what lengths we will go to protect our patients. Nor to what extent the paparazzi or a fan will go to get pics of our very famous patient.”

  Lacy knew he was serious.

  “Here are the rules. No makeup. Muss your hair a bit. They will spot immediately that you’re not real. You are not to leave through the patient’s door. Ever. You may visit the patient only when allowed by hospital staff. No overnight visits. “ He shot her a look. “The reason you’re here is to help our patient. He is going to have trouble adjusting to the surgery. Especially since his work is about his looks. We have found that people heal much better, especially in cases like this, when they are with family or loved ones. That’s why you are here. That and the fact that his producer paid us $20k for the room.”

  “You’re not kidding are you?” Lacy checked his eyes.

  “Nope.”

  “Mr. Gannon will be in his room next door by tomorrow at this time, if everything goes all right in ICU for the next 24 hours.”

  “I’ll be at your beck and call for twelve hours a day and Justine will be here for you the other twelve. You need anything, let us know. So…all that said, would you like me to bring you some books or magazines? Chocolate from the store down in the lobby or anything else?”

  “Magazines…and chocolate would be good.”

  Gardening, People, decorating, or trash newspapers?

  Decorating.

  “Nuts or no nuts.”

  “Oh pecans, if they have them.”

  “Deal.” He waved and disappeared through a door she didn’t even know was there.

  She sat down on the bed and took a breath. This is way too crazy. She pulled out her cell and called Allison.

  “Allison, I’m here. Thad is here. He’s in recovery right now. Everything went as well as could be expected they said. I’m staying at the hospital in a room nearby. Have you gotten any calls?”

  “Yes, two. One from the agency and one from Mrs. Anderson.”

  “Oh no, we should have known she’d see the reports on television. I’ll call her in a minute so she can tell Gannon. I should have thought of that,” she groaned. Today seemed like one emergency after another.

  “I think that would be a good idea. Second call. Your girl Ting is coming into Chicago in three days as planned. We faxed your signed permission and our photo ID’s. They are going to call your number to confirm tomorrow. And things should go like clockwork.”

  Lacy blew out a breath, but felt far from calm.

  “Thank you, Al.”

  “Yes, that’s all we know right now.”

  “Thank you for being there for her.”

  “No problem, Lace. Have you seen him?”

  “For three minutes before the surgery. It took more than three hours for the surgery. He’s recovering in ICU and I won’t see him until tomorrow.

  “I’m in a room next door. They are hiding me from the supposed paparazzi. I haven’t seen any cameras.”

  Lacy heard Allison’s laugh.

  “Sorry Lace. You are so out of your element. Can you imagine your face splashed all over the television and the tabloids? And as much as you love the media…”

  “I doubt they will even know where to look.”

  “Think about it, Lace. Do you know how many women swoon over him? He has his own fan club and if any locals knew he was here and not in L.A; there’d be a rush like Ann Arbor has never seen. Believe me they’re looking.”

  “I don’t know what for. It’s just Thad.”

  “Just goes to show you need to get out more!” Al laughed, then said. “This is the big-time, sis. I can’t believe you’re right in the middle of it. After this, coming out as author of your book will seem like a sleepy bedtime story.”

  “You’re probably right,” She heard Al’s laugh.

  “So how are they keeping you undercover?”

  “I can’t wear makeup or go out of the room. I’m supposedly a patient, in full hospital regalia. They even have a secret door.”

  “What?” Allison laughed. “Do you have to wear the hospital gowns?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh Lacy, I can just see you!”

  Her sister was laughing again and repeating to Dario everything she said.

  “Stop it, Al. This is not exactly the way I meant to spend my time.”

  “Oh Lace, it’s perfectly timed from God. He’s giving you a rest.”

  She couldn’t help but feel a little glad. She had been wound up tight and now that Thad was out of surgery and doing all right, she could let herself relax.

  “Listen don’t worry, Kew will explain everything to Ting and we will take pics. Dario will take a video, too, so you won’t miss anything.”

  Lace pressed her fingers over her lips. “Thank you, Al. And Dario, too.”

  “Go get in that gown, grab a book or, better yet, turn on an old movie and climb into that bed, sister. I’m so jealous.”

  Lacy laughed. Then she did exactly what her sister suggested.

  When Jon came back half an hour later, he laughed out loud.

  “Well I see the patient is going to cooperate. Even took your makeup off.”

  “I don’t wear much anyway.”

  “Well, you look just fine. Here are your mags. Chocolate with pecans and I brought you several bottles of water. Just mark the patient menu for your meals and leave it on your tray.”

  “They feed you too?”

  “Yep, the room is paid for, you may as well enjoy your stay. And enjoy the fact you are not hooked up to any machines.”

  Lacy noted he said that seriously.

  And at this point she couldn’t agree more.

  When he left she called Mrs. Anderson and filled her in. “Tell Gannon I’m with him. But tell him not to tell anyone I’m here. I’ll call when I hear something. And I won’t leave until he’s better.”

  “Thank you dear. Thaddeus is just sick that the accident was on his motorcycle. He knows that makes things so much worse than if he’d been in his car.”

  “I know. It’s especially hard on him because of Thad’s father.”

  “Well, we will wait for your call. He’s calling to me now so I’ll let him know you’re with him. Bye.”

  Lacy laid back and shut her eyes for a few minutes.

  Two hours later she woke and looked around. It felt very strange to look out the huge glass pane on the top floor and see the sun going down leaving a bright orange and lavender picture framed by the window.

  The dinner hour passed, she noted on the menu card, so marked it for tomorrow and figured she’d have to wait to eat. Jon was probably on his rounds by now.

  Stretching, she got up and slipped her feet into the soft, cushy hospital s
lippers. With nothing to do, she turned on the television and grabbed a magazine. HGTV magazine.

  “Oh, this is great.” She opened it up and studied the new kitchen designs.

  Half an hour later, she was bored stiff and wondered if Al would think to water the flowers out back.

  Then she heard a knock on the wall. She froze. Should she respond?

  She chose to be quiet. Suddenly the secret door opened slightly and she heard Jon calling.

  “Yes, come in.”

  “Reporting in. How’s the patient in 229?”

  She smiled. “Bored stiff.”

  “Oh boy, a workaholic trying to rest. We’ve had your kind before.” He stood, arms crossed. “Looks like we might have to give you some sleep meds.”

  “Oh no you don’t. I’ll be just fine, thank you very much.”

  “Good. Don’t you have a boyfriend to call, or is he in the next room?”

  She saw Jon wiggle his eyebrows. “That, Mr. Jon, is none of your business. And what makes you think the man next door—or soon to be next door—would look twice at the girl he went to high school with when he has all those Hollywood girls to choose from?” She smirked. That ought to shut him up.

  “Sounds like you’ve got some major hang-ups, Miss Linden.” He laughed. “I wasn’t sure you were awake. I’ll be right back.” He slipped out the door.

  A moment later he returned with a huge bouquet of flowers. Pink and cream roses with baby’s breath and beautiful fern. It was so big Jon had to set it on the floor.

  “What in the world? They’re pink!”

  “They’re for you. Producer-Man sent them. We are not allowed to use his name around here, lest there are microphones turned up and eyes that can see through walls.”

  “You are crazy, you know that?” Lacy found herself laughing.

  “Been called worse,” he winked.

  “Isn’t it about time you went home?”

  “Yep.” He checked his watch. “One more hour and I’ll be heading to my own bed. After Heather and I go out for a great steak and baked potato.”

  “At this hour?”

  “When you’ve worked twelve hours straight living on toast and sandwiches, food is the first thing on your mind. Sleep the second. I intend to grab both while I can. Justine’ll be here to take over. You’ll like her. She’s a real live wire.”