by Lydia Rose
Alexandra nodded. “It is. Mary must be so thrilled.”
The rest of the meal was pleasant and when it was time for Rachel’s parents to leave, Alexandra took a cleansing breath.
“Thank you both for coming over. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you both,” Alexandra said holding Rachel’s arm.
“We’ve enjoyed ourselves too,” Roberta said through a forced smile. “Next time you both will have to come to our house.”
“Sure,” Rachel said, accepting a quick hug from her parents.
Once the door closed Rachel and Alexandra faced each other. “They still don’t like me, but at least they were civil,” Alexandra said with a chuckle.
“Give them time, honey.” Rachel wrapped her arms around her. “At least there were no arguments.”
“I know you didn’t want to do this, but I’m glad we had them over.” Alexandra went to her phone. “I’m going to call Mary.”
“Go ahead. I’ll clean up down here.”
*
Alexandra felt better about her relationship with Rachel after the dinner party. She knew that she would never be close to Roberta, but there was nothing she could do about that.
“Are you going to the hospital?” Alexandra asked Rachel at the end of the day.
“Yeah, I have to check on a few patients.” Rachel answered kissing Alexandra’s mouth softly.
“I’m going to go grocery shopping. Anything special you want?” Alexandra asked holding Rachel’s hand.
“Not that I can think of right now.”
“Well, if you think of anything, give me a call.” Alexandra kissed her mouth once more. “I’ll see you later.”
“Love you,” Rachel said before Alexandra stepped out of the office.
“I love you too, honey. See you later.”
CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT
Rachel was walking toward the elevators anxious to get home and to Alexandra when a nurse ran up to her.
“Doctor Benson,” she said excited.
“Yes, Sally.”
“Your father needs you in his office.”
“I know. He left me a message,” Rachel said with a smirk. “I’ll call him when I get to the car.”
“No,” Sally said firmly. “You need to go see him now.”
“Why? Is anything wrong?”
Sally didn’t answer her question. “You just need to go see him.”
Rachel looked at the worried nurse’s face. “Okay,” she said, glancing at her watch. “I’ll go up to his office.” Rachel pushed the elevator button. She knocked on her father’s door and walked in. “Hey, Dad. What’s going on?”
“Have a seat, Rachel.” Steven came out of his seat and walked around the desk.
“I’m fine Dad. What’s going on? Is Mom okay?”
“Your mother is fine,” he said softly. “It’s Alexandra.”
“What about Alexandra?” Rachel asked as her eyes narrowed.
“She was in a car accident.” Steven watched as the color left Rachel’s face and she grabbed the back of the chair for support. “Sit down, honey.”
Rachel sat down with a thud. “Is she hurt badly?” The tears were already forming in her eyes.
Steven nodded. “She’s in surgery now. Your mother is operating on her now.”
Rachel lowered her head to her lap feeling everything around her going blurry. “Is she going to die?” Rachel asked, afraid to hear his answer.
“Alexandra has internal injuries.”
“What operating room is she in?” Rachel asked sitting up.
“You can’t go in there, honey.” Steven took her hands. “Your mother will come here after the surgery.”
“No, Dad. I need to see her now.”
“Don’t you think you should call her family?”
She looked at his face. “And tell them what?”
Steven shrugged. “They have a right to know.”
Rachel stood up. “Dad, if you don’t tell me.” She wiped the tears on her face. “I’ll find out myself. Please save me the time of searching.”
Steven sighed loudly. “OR 5.”
Rachel ran from the room. She grabbed a mask before entering the OR. “Mom, how is she?” Rachel asked standing away from the table.
“Rachel. You shouldn’t be in here.” Roberta looked at her daughter before going back to work on Alexandra.
“Mom, just tell me. Is she going to be okay?” The words came out in a strangled voice.
“Let me do my work and I’ll come find you when I’m done.” Roberta looked at Rachel. “Honey, I can’t save her and talk to you. Please leave.”
“I need her, Mom.” Rachel left the OR crying. “I was just with her,” she said to the empty hallway. She wanted answers and she wanted them now. Rachel headed for the elevator. Walking into the ER she looked for Tom Hayden who was on duty that night. “Tom,” she said catching him before he entered another room.
“Rachel. What are you doing here?”
“Were you here when they brought Alexandra Angelo in?” Her eyes were pleading.
Tom took her arm and moved her away from the patients and family. “Yes. Do you know her?”
“Yes. How badly was she hurt?”
“She had some cuts and bruises, but it’s the internal bleeding that has us worried.” He placed his hand on her arm. “Your mother is doing the surgery. She’s the best, Rachel.”
“Is she going to live, Tom?” Rachel asked begging.
Tom looked at her and then he looked at the ground.
“Tell me, Tom.”
“I don’t know, Rachel. They had a hard time getting her out of the car. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Thanks for the information, Tom.” Rachel began to walk away.
“Wait,” he said before she left. “Who is she to you?”
“Everything, Tom. She’s everything to me.”
Tom now understood. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I hope she makes it.”
As Rachel walked back to her father’s office, she heard her name being paged. She quickly picked up the nearest phone. “This is Doctor Benson.”
“Would you please go to Doctor Steven Benson’s office?”
“I’m on the way.” Rachel ran up the stairs not bothering to wait for the elevator. She rushed inside and saw her mother sitting there. “Mom.” Rachel was out of breath. “How is she?”
“The internal injuries were severe. We will have to wait and see what happens in the next twenty four hours, Rachel.”
Rachel leaned against the wall for support. “Is she going to live, Mom? Just be honest with me. Do I need to get her parents here immediately?”
“Honey, I can’t make promises. I did everything that I can do. It’s up to her now.” Roberta patted the seat next to her on the love seat in Steven’s office. “If it was my daughter, I would want to be here.” She took Rachel’s hand. “Call them and tell them we are optimistic, but they might want to get here.”
“Can I see her?” Rachel asked softly.
Roberta stood up and took Rachel’s hand. “Come on.”
They walked into the recovery room. Rachel stood next to the bed looking down into the bruised face of her lover. “Oh, Alex,” she said stroking Alexandra’s hair gently. “You can’t leave me, Alex. I love you too much,” Rachel whispered near her ear. “Honey, can you hear me?” She took Alexandra’s hand. “Honey?” Rachel felt a light squeeze of her hand. “Oh, Alex. I love you.” Her hand was squeezed again. “You fight, honey.” Alexandra squeezed again.
Roberta stood back watching the two women before she leaned near Rachel’s ear. “That’s a good sign, Rachel. She’s fighting.”
Rachel rubbed the tears off her face. “Alex, I’m going to call your parents and let them know. Is that okay?” Alexandra squeezed Rachel’s hand.
“Rachel, you’ve got to let Alexandra rest. Go call her parents. You can see her when she’s settled into ICU.”
Rachel nodded and moved close to Alexandra’s ear. “You get some rest now. I�
��ll see you in a little while.”
Rachel and her mother went to her mother’s office. “Give her family a call, Rachel,” Roberta said when they walked into the office.
Rachel nodded and sat down. She took out her cellphone, thankful that she had the number in her phone. Rachel waited as the phone rang.
“Hello,” Rose Angelo answered.
“Hello, Rose,” Rachel said into the phone. “This is Rachel Benson.”
“Oh, hello, Rachel.” Rose’s voice smiled. “How are you, dear?”
“Uh, Rose…” Rachel couldn’t finish.
“Rachel, what is it? Has something happened to Alexandra?”
Rachel swallowed her emotion. “She was in a car accident.”
“Is she okay?”
Rachel could hear the panic in her voice. “She’s out of surgery. I saw her already and she responded to me being there.”
“What hospital, Rachel?”
Rachel gave Rose the information.
“I’ll book our flight immediately.”
“Let me know what flight you’ll be on, so I can have someone pick you both up.”
“Just take care of my daughter. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
Rachel’s next call was to Helen. “Hey, doc.”
“Helen, would you reschedule tomorrow’s appointments when you get into the office tomorrow?”
“Sure. What’s up, Rachel?”
“Alex was in a car accident.”
“Is she okay?” Helen asked quickly.
Rachel began to cry. “No, Helen, she’s not.”
“How bad?” Helen asked.
“Bad. We have to wait and see.”
“Rachel, you take care of Alexandra, and Callie and I will take care of the office.” Helen sighed. “I guess she can’t have visitors?”
“No. She’s in ICU. Her family is flying in.” Rachel felt drained.
“Call us tomorrow if you can and let us know how she is doing.”
“I will, Helen. Thank you.”
“Tell Alexandra we’re praying for her.”
“Go home and rest, Rachel. You can’t do anything more tonight,” Roberta said to her daughter.
Rachel looked at her mother. “I’m not leaving, Mom. I’m not leaving her alone.” She got up and stormed out of the office.
As she reached the ICU, the nurse looked at her badge. “Alexandra Angelo?” Rachel asked.
“Bed three, Doctor Benson.”
“Thank you.” Rachel went through the door and sat next to Alexandra’s bed. Her hand immediately took Alexandra’s hand. Another nurse stopped in the entry. “Any change? Rachel asked.
“Vitals are good, Doctor.” The nurse saw how upset Rachel was, and asked, “Do you know her?”
Rachel nodded. “Yes.”
The nurse patted Rachel on the shoulder. “Stay as long as you want.”
“Thanks,” Rachel said as she walked away.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Roberta Benson found her daughter at Alexandra’s side when she checked on her in the morning. “How is she doing, Rachel.”
“She hasn’t woken up, but her vitals are good.”
Roberta stood there reading the chart. “They are good, Rachel. That’s a good sign. What time are her parents getting here?”
“They will be here at eleven.”
“Are you picking them up?” Roberta asked.
“No. They said they would take a cab.”
“Honey, have you eaten or gotten any rest?” Roberta asked softly.
Rachel didn’t answer. She just held onto to Alexandra’s hand.
“I’ll stay with her while you get something to eat.”
“I can’t eat, Mother, until I know Alex is all right.”
Roberta tried another tack, “What will Alexandra think if she wakes up and finds you sick?”
Rachel looked at her mother and then back to Alexandra. “You’ll stay with her?”
“Of course.”
Rachel leaned over the bed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes, Alex. Thank you,” she said to her mother.
Roberta sat next to Alexandra and looked at her face. “Rachel will never forgive me if you don’t pull through,” Roberta said to the sleeping Alexandra. “She’ll find a way to blame me. So you better pull through.”
Ten minutes later, Alexandra opened her eyes. Roberta stood up and leaned over the bed. “How are you feeling?”
Alexandra looked at Roberta. “Where’s Rachel?”
“I made her go get something to eat. She’s been here all night.”
“Thank you for taking care of her.” Alexandra whispered.
“So how do you feel?” Roberta asked taking Alexandra’s pulse.
“Sore.”
Roberta smiled. “I’m sorry, but that can’t be helped. You had some internal injuries from the accident. I had to operate.”
“You operated on me?” Alexandra asked not remembering anything from the day before.
“Am I going to live?” Alexandra asked, looking at Roberta’s face.
“You look much better than you did yesterday. You’re a fighter.”
Rachel was sitting in the cafeteria listening to the message she had missed. Her eyes opened wide when she listened to the first message.
Rachel, I’m sorry. I’ve been in a car accident and the fire department is trying to get me out of the car. I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”
Rachel could hear the car being ripped apart and the paramedic at her side telling Alexandra to hang up the phone. Rachel’s phone now beeped with a text.
Alexandra is awake.
Rachel ran for the elevator. She came rushing into the ICU and saw her mother talking to Alexandra. As Rachel entered the room, Roberta stepped out of the room.
“Hi,” Alexandra said softly.
“Alex.” Rachel whispered as she leaned over the bed and kissed her forehead. “You had me scared for a while.”
“I’m sorry, Rachel. What happened?”
“Someone ran a stop sign and t-boned you.” Rachel conveyed the information she had been told.
“Your mother operated on me,” Alexandra said with a weak smile.
“Only the best for you, honey.” Rachel took her hand. “Your parents are on the way.”
Alexandra nodded and closed her eyes.
“You get some rest now.”
Alexandra opened her eyes. “You too. Your mother told me you were here all night.”
“But…” Rachel began.
Alexandra held up her hand. “Please, honey. Just lie down a while. Do it for me.”
“Okay, but I’ve got to make some phone calls.” Rachel could tell Alexandra was asleep again. She went to her mother’s office and made some phone calls. Helen had rearranged her schedule so that she was free for the next two days and another doctor would be checking in on her patients. Then she laid on the couch and closed her eyes.
By the time she got back to the ICU, Alexandra’s parents and her mother was exiting the room. Rose took one look at Rachel and rushed into her arms.
“Oh, Rachel. How are you holding up?”
“I’m okay, Rose.”
Rose stepped back. “Somehow I don’t believe you. Alexandra told me she sent you off for some rest. Did you manage to sleep?”
Rachel nodded. “Yes.”
“Hello, Fernando.”
Fernando hugged her tightly. “She’s going to be okay, Rachel.” He held her at arm’s length. “Your mother took good care of our girl.”
Rachel looked at her mother. The smile she wore told her everything she needed to know. “I’m sorry you had to come all this way.”
“We wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Rachel. We want to be here not only for Alexandra, but for you too.”
“Alexandra is sleeping, but I’m sure she won’t mind you waking her up,” Fernando said pushing her toward the door.
“Rachel, I’m going to take Rose and Fernando to your house. Your father
is bringing over some food.” Roberta hugged her daughter. “I will expect you within in the hour.”
“Yes, Mother.” Rachel rolled her eyes.
“I mean it, kiddo.”
“I’ll be there.” Rachel pushed opened the door and walked over to Alexandra. She hated to wake Alex up. So instead she kissed her cheek.
Alexandra’s eyes opened. “Did you get any rest?”
“Some,” she answered softly. “You’re the one who should be resting.”
“I will. I just wanted to make sure you are all right.”
“Me? I’m fine, honey.”
“I’m sure,” Alexandra said with a giggle. “Go home, honey. Please take care of yourself.”
“Why is everyone trying to get me to leave? I only want to be with you.” Rachel’s emotions were coming to the surface.
“I’m fine, honey. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to sleep. You can come back this evening.”
“Are you sure, Alex?”
Alexandra nodded and closed her eyes. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Rachel was walking toward the exit when she saw Natalie running toward her.
“Natalie,” Rachel said opening her arms.
“Oh, Rachel. Why didn’t you call me? I just found out from Helen that Alex was hurt.”
They two women hugged. “I’m so sorry for not calling you. I’ve been in a daze since yesterday afternoon.”
“I know, honey. How is she?”
“She’s hurt, Nat. She’s hurt bad, but my mother thinks she’ll pull through.”
Natalie sat Rachel down in a chair near the entrance and held her as Rachel cried.
“I can’t lose her, Nat. I just found her. I just don’t know what I’ll do if she…” Rachel couldn’t even say the word.
“Alex is a fighter, Rachel. She won’t go without a fight.” Natalie lifted Rachel up from the chair. “Let me take you home.”
Rachel held onto Natalie as if her life depended on it. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, honey. I would do anything for either of you.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
The house was quiet when Natalie led Rachel into the house. Everyone turned and looked at the two women when they walked inside.
“Hello, everyone.” Natalie approached the dining room. “I saw Rachel at the hospital and drove her home.”