by Leger, Lori
Giselle smiled, remembering a discussion she’d had with Carrie about a year ago. She’d said almost exactly the same thing about Jackson. “Red, try to see it from Dr. LeBlanc’s perspective, would you? She’s been performing complex surgeries for eight years, building a reputation in a male dominated field. I know she’s the right surgeon for Jackson, and I want you to cut her some slack.” Her eyebrow rose dangerously as he clamped his jaw shut.
“I’ll try.”
“You’ll do more than try if you don’t want to deal with me,” she snapped.
He shook his head and laughed. “Remind me not to piss you off, okay Scrappy? I’m glad you’re in his corner.”
She sipped her coffee. “So which parent handed down the Red hair and blue eyes?”
“Dad, definitely. His father came to America from Scotland after WWII. My grandma called him her ‘Red-haired, blue-eyed devil’.”
“It must be wonderful to have that connection to family. Being adopted, I’ve never known that. I can’t have a connection to the past, but you know what? I will have a connection to the future, and I can live with it, as long as Jackson’s a part of it.”
“He will be.”
“Thanks, Red. Now I know why your mother is so terrified that you won’t procreate before she dies. She wants more of you—another handsome, auburn-haired, blue-eyed devil, and who can blame her? We’re gonna have to find you a lady friend.”
He rose from the table, waving off her comment. “The only commitment I have time for are my clubs; the one I have, and the one I’m about to build.”
“Yes, well life may decide differently—just barrel on through without getting your permission.” She laughed at the face he made. “Tell me more about what it was like going to college with Jackson.”
He traced the rim of his coffee mug. “I was a sophomore Jackson’s freshman year. We were the only two underclassmen who started on the team, so we had a blast. Coach asked me to show him the ropes, and we became friends right away. After Jackson’s injury, he buckled down and got serious about his studying. At first, I thought he was depressed about not being on the team anymore, but he didn’t seem to be. Shrugged it off as if it never mattered to him in the first place. I, on the other hand, loved playing baseball. My sports scholarship served me well.”
“So, you have a business degree and your club. What’s next?”
“More clubs, I guess. It’s what I do, for now. It keeps me from being bored.”
“With your Hugh Hefner lifestyle?” she teased.
“Don’t judge me because of my grotto pool. I’m not the dog Jackson thinks I am, you know. You do remember that I didn’t have a date for my own club opening?”
“I’d wondered about that.” Her phone chirped and she took the call from Amanda. After giving her updates she asked to speak to her girls. By the time the call ended, she was misty eyed.
“Mac and Lexie said to tell him they love him a bunch, a bunch.” The tears rolled down her face. “That was something the girls and their dad used to say to each other before bedtime.” She took a deep breath to collect herself. “I want us to be a family, Red.”
His McAllister blue eyes sparkled as he gave her a nod. “You will be.”
The group spent more agonizing hours waiting for some word. Giselle stood when the surgeon scuffed in, still in her scrubs, head cover, and disposable shoe booties. Pulling the cap from her head to free her blonde ponytail, Dr. LeBlanc motioned for her to stay as she approached the group.
“It went better than I expected. I believe we managed to clean up the area enough to stave off any bone infection, and the heavy doses of antibiotics will help.”
The surgeon lifted one foot to slip off a bootie then stood on the opposite to pull off the other. The second one caught on her laces, and when she jerked it, she lost her balance and reached for the nearest arm to steady herself. It happened to be Red’s. She glanced up at Red and seemed to suck in her breath.
“Oh, sorry.”
“That’s quite all right, doctor.” His tone contained none of his former animosity toward the surgeon.
Dr. LeBlanc faced Giselle again. “His heart is in excellent shape, as well as the rest of him. He should do well with his physical therapy.” Her eyes creased with a sincere smile. “Are you Giselle?”
Giselle nodded and wiped the tears from her face.
“I’m optimistic that the bones will fuse with no problems. From here on out it’s vigilance that counts. Keep it clean, keep it immobilized, and keep him infection free. I don’t know if the other surgeons told you or not, but he’ll be here for at least a week. We need to monitor the head injury, the spleen, as well as the leg. As long as he’s here, we’ll have a much better chance of stopping any kind of infection before it gets out of hand. Before this is over with, his broken arm may be the biggest inconvenience for him because he won’t be able to use crutches. Oh, and by the way, his arm is in a plain old cast—Just like in your day, Mr. Broussard.” She grinned at Bill.
Giselle laughed through her tears and grasped the surgeon’s hand. “Thank you so much Dr. LeBlanc. You’ve been wonderful. It was so nice to meet you.”
The doctor flashed a brilliant smile at Giselle. “Oh, you haven’t seen the last of me. I monitor my patients closely.”
“Excuse me, doctor,” Red interrupted. “I know you’re not the surgeon who worked on his head injury, but maybe you’d know. Is there a chance he could be in a coma for a few days? My sisters tell me sometimes it’s part of the healing process while the swelling goes down. They’re not surgeons, but one’s a physician’s assistant, and one’s a nurse practitioner.”
Dr. LeBlanc cleared her throat, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “Normally I’d say your sisters are right, but not in this case. After I left you, we prepped him for his leg surgery.” She turned to grin at Giselle. “He woke up, and told the anesthesiologist that he sure could go for a big, juicy steak—and some Giselle.”
Giselle’s mouth fell open in shock. “Are you serious?”
Dr. LeBlanc joined in with everyone else’s laughter. “Absolutely. That’s how I knew your name. The surgical ward’s still buzzing over it.”
“Jackson never liked to miss a meal,” Carrie volunteered. “And we know how he feels about you. He’ll be just fine.”
Giselle exhaled slowly, releasing all the pent up tension from the long hours of waiting. “Can I see him?”
Dr. LeBlanc reached over and placed a hand on her arm. “He’s still in recovery. As soon as he’s fully awake, I’ll come get you.”
Giselle fought to control tears of relief. “I know you must be busy, you can send someone else.”
“Are you kidding?” Dr. LeBlanc laughed and waved away Giselle’s concern. “It’ll be worth it to be the one to bring you back there. Besides, he was my last surgery of the day.”
Red opened his arms to Giselle for a hug, and ended up spinning her in a circle. By the time he put her down she was still a little dizzy. But not too much to notice Dr. LeBlanc standing at the double doors watching them, a broad smile plastered on her face. She sent Giselle a slight nod before vanishing through the doors.
Dr. LeBlanc ushered her into a room where she could see a body covered with blankets except where his left shin, all wrapped up with surgical gauze, had a metal contraption sticking out of it. She walked quietly up to the bed, staring at the barely recognizable bruised and battered body of the man she adored. She’d take this sterile bandaged version of him over seeing him lying in a cow pasture any day of the week. She leaned close to speak to him. “I’m here, Jackson.” He opened his one good eye and focused on her. “Hey baby.”
It took him a moment to speak. “Giselle,” he croaked.
“Yes, it’s me.” For a moment, she thought he’d lapsed back into sleep. “Jackson?” His next words proved her wrong.
“Will you marry me?”
She beamed at him and nodded. “Yes Jackson, I’ll marry you. And don’t think you
can get out of it, either. I have all these witnesses.” She waved her hand to encompass the hospital staff that’d gathered curiously.
“No way,” he said, through a mouth still dry and fuzzy from surgery. “Let’s do it now.”
“No, babe, we’re going to get you better first. Mac and Lexie said to tell you they love you a bunch a bunch.”
He smiled. “Tell ‘em—I love ‘em too. A bunch a bunch. Tell Red—best man.”
Giselle glanced up as a smiling Dr. LeBlanc told her it was time to leave. “I’ll see you when they bring you to a room of your own. I love you, Jackson.” She placed a soft kiss upon his swollen lips as he squeezed her hand.
“Love you, Giselle.”
She left the surgical ward, but not before receiving several congratulations from hospital staff, including Dr. LeBlanc.
Giselle pushed through the double doors and faced the Jackson Broussard cheering section. “He looks like crap, but he’s conscious and talking.” She gave Bill the first hug.
“Did he know you?” he asked.
“I sure as hell hope so. He asked me to marry him.”
Red chuckled. “Did you give him an answer?”
“I said yes, of course.”
“Good!” Bill said.
She hugged Carrie, Sam, and Gwen then turned to Red, who wore the biggest grin of all.
“He said to tell you you’re his best man, Red. Think you can make it this time?”
He sent her a wink. “You just try and keep me away.”
Giselle shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
To Jackson, it seemed like an eternity before he was settled in a room in ICU. It may have had something to do with the fact that he couldn’t wait to see Giselle again. Giselle—his future wife. Nothing would stop him from marrying that woman. He didn’t have to be told by doctors that he was in shit shape. He could see for himself. He didn’t feel much, thanks to drugs and anesthesia still in his system, but that would change eventually. No matter. He was as determined as he’d ever been about anything that he, Giselle, and the girls were meant to be a family.
Finally she walked in with Uncle Bill. She came to him immediately, kissed him. He tore his gaze from her to speak to the man who’d raised him like a son. “Uncle Bill.”
Bill nodded. “Son, you look a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw you. Listen, I just wanted to say that I love you, boy, but I’m going to give you and Giselle some privacy.” He walked out, wiping his eyes discreetly.
The old softie.
Giselle leaned in close. “How do you feel?”
“Never better.” He attempted a weak smile.
She laughed. “You are such a liar. The girls are thrilled at the prospect of having you for a daddy. They said to tell you they can’t wait. Neither can I.”
“Could get married—hospital.”
She grinned as he gave her hand a squeeze. “We’ll talk about it later. Red is here, so are Sam, Carrie, and Gwen.”
Of course Red and Carrie would be here. The two biggest worriers of all, as well as supporters. “Send in Red and Carrie?”
She nodded and hurried out.
A minute later, they walked in. Red balked at first, enough for Jackson to see his condition through someone else’s eyes. He must look like shit if McAllister was shocked.
Carrie walked right up to the bed and stood looking down at him. “Well, Jack, when you do it, you do it good.”
He’d have shrugged if he could feel his shoulders. “No point, otherwise.”
She beamed at him. “Congratulations are in order I hear. I’m the matron of honor.”
He smiled, wondering if it even looked like a smile. “Cool. Thanks.”
“Sure. I told her as long as she doesn’t make me wear some awful shade of taffeta in a style made for skinny women.”
He’d have laughed if it didn’t take so much effort. He faced Red. “You?”
Red gave him a somber look. “I’m with Carrie. I draw the line at awful shades of taffeta, too. We’re holding out for something both stylish and figure complimenting.”
“Your ass.”
Red laughed. “Just try to keep me away from this one. I’m happy for you, man.”
Jackson gave a slight nod. Or he thought he did, anyway. Carrie wiped her eyes, drawing his attention from Red.
“You already know how I feel about it,” she said.
“Always in my corner,” he said.
Carrie busied herself smoothing his blankets. “Well, somebody had to be. Poor baby, you had it coming from both sides for a while, there. You deserve to be happy, dammit.” Her voice cracked, and she mumbled a quick ‘see you later’ before turning away.
Jackson watched her leave and focused on Red. “Acts tough. Just a pushover.”
Red nodded. “Hey, bet you didn’t know that Dr. Tanner Collins works here.”
Tanner—bastard. “He work on me?”
Red picked up the glass of water and put the straw to Jackson’s lips. “Nah, I called him to tell him you were here. I told him to come in and give everyone updates, or else.”
Giselle walked in. “It worked too.”
Jackson had a vague recollection of a conversation between some of the nurses talking about a Dr. Collins.. “Heard nurses talk. He screws around on fiancée.”
Red snorted, “I wouldn’t expect anything else from him. Listen, I know you’re just humoring the rest of us. You really just want Giselle in here.” He gave him a wink. “I’ll see you later, bro.”
Red passed through the waiting room and hit the elevators, needing to be alone for a while. This thing had affected him in a strange way, sending the message that life could change in a single, solitary instant. Eventually, he ended up in a secluded area on the west side of the building.
He collapsed against a brick wall, taking the time to let things sink in—then offered up a silent prayer of thanks for his friend’s life. He left an update about Jackson on his mom’s voice mail, and was about to call his club manager., when someone pushed through the door. Before he could make his presence known, the sight of Jackson’s pissy orthopedic surgeon, Dr. LeBlanc, stopped him.
For some reason, he kept quiet and watched—listened. Facing the opposite direction, she had no idea he was there. She pulled her satiny blond locks from its elastic band and gave it a fluff. She pushed a button on her phone and waited. After several moments, she lowered it, cursing softly, and pushed another couple of buttons. After a few seconds her head snapped forward, her entire demeanor tense. “Who the hell is this?” she demanded.
Red eased himself back to stay hidden from her.
“Tanner? Who’s the woman who just answered your phone?”
Red’s jaw fell open. Tanner? Dr. LeBlanc was Tanner’s fiancée? He listened in, with renewed interest.
“I thought you said you had to go home and rest?” … “Then why aren’t you at your apartment?” … “Tanner, I just called there. You’re in a club.” She sighed. “Yeah, whatever. Oh, in case you were wondering, your friend’s surgery went well. Did you hear me? Hello? Tanner?”
Red leaned forward to watch her. She glared at her phone, shaking her head before muttering something about a cheating son of a bitch. She leaned against the wall and sniffed delicately before pressing both palms to her eyes. Red waited for the impending waterworks—she’d be falling to pieces any second now. Instead, she lowered her hands, wiped them on her scrubs. She stood, pulling her shoulders back, and walked inside without another sound.
Tanner nodded, admiring the woman’s strength—her resilience. If he had to guess, he’d say Tanner’s shenanigan’s played a major part in her attitude toward men. The bastard had somehow coerced her into taking over his job of updating the family while he snuck off to play hide the bologna with another woman. From what he’d just heard, she probably suspected he was leaving to do exactly that. Definitely a mood crusher. He followed her inside, thinking he could forgive her snappishness. God knows, if he
had to deal with that slimy son of a bitch on a daily basis, he’d be living in a perpetual state of foul moods.
Jackson’s two day stint in Intensive Care proved to be torturous for him, as well as Giselle and the staff. On Wednesday morning, once they moved him to a private room where he could have ‘some Giselle’ all day long, he transformed from surly to the perfect patient.
Red made the trip on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday afternoon, this time meeting Lauren at Sam and Carrie’s place to pick up Mac and Lexie. At his arrival, the two girls came running, both excited to visit Jackson.
Lauren followed them outside, carrying Ava.
“Hey, twin, I bet you don’t remember me.” Even knowing he was to meet up with Lauren, Red still couldn’t tell them apart.
“Sure I do. Gretchen and I cheered with your sister, Annie, in Gardiner. She’s just a couple of years older than us.”
“Yep, she’s almost thirty and still living with my folks.”
Lauren grinned at him. “I saw her last weekend at the festival in Gardiner. She told me she got her Physical Therapy license. I put a bug in her ear about moving to Kenton. We lost one of the two sharing a practice here.”
“Keep bugging her, will ya? Mom and Dad could use the break.” He gazed at the toddler she carried. I recognize this beauty from Giselle’s videos. Hello, Ava Grace.”
Ava looked shyly up at him, then flashed him a cheesy grin.
“She reminds me of you and Gretchen when y’all were that age, Lauren. Ava, I’m going to see Jackson.”
At the mention of Jackson’s name, the toddler’s huge brown eyes lit up. “I go see Jackson!”
“You want to come with me to see Jackson?” He held his arms out. She nodded, and threw herself at him.
Ensconced on Red’s hip, she turned to Lauren and waved. “Bye bye, Mama. I go see Jackson.”
Red chuckled. “No wonder he fell in love with this one.” Lauren used Red’s phone to take a couple of shots and some video, before he and the girls drove to the hospital.
Jackson looked up when Red entered his room with Mac and Lexie.