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“Please take me to see him.”
“Let’s get you checked out first and then I’ll take you.”
“I don’t care about me…”
Caleb takes my face in between his hands, makes me look him in the eye, shakes his head, and says, “I care about what happens to you. If Clark wakes up and finds you in a bed beside him then ICU better have a bed for me by the time he’s finished with me. Clark is going nowhere. I’ve told Damien to call me if there are any sudden changes.”
I nod weakly. Right now, I’m in no fit state to argue with anyone. Not only can I not stand, I doubt I’d get very far with this brain fog hanging over me.
I’m coming, Clark. Hang in there, baby.
***
Caleb and Clay wheel me into a relatives’ waiting area, and Nancy jumps up from her seat and hugs me tight the moment she sees me.
“You poor child. I’m so glad to see you well. My old heart can’t take any more heartache today. How are you?” She pulls back from me slightly and looks me up and down. I guess she’s looking for injuries.
“I’m okay. Caleb and Clay got to us in time, thanks to Gail’s quick thinking. How’s Clark? Is he awake?”
Nancy shakes her head and takes a seat beside my wheelchair. Her warm hands clench around mine. “He’s critical, sweetheart. But we’ve got to believe he’ll pull through this. He’s strong. He wouldn’t leave you behind.”
Tears roll down my cheeks. I don’t know how I’ve got any tears left after the tear and snot fest I’ve had today.
“He’ll be okay, Nancy.”
I don’t know who I’m trying to convince more. All I know is that Clark won’t leave this world without a fight. He’s been through so much, fought his family for independence, built a life for himself, and turned into a wonderful man. He has so much more to give. Dreams to live.
“I can remember when Clark was a boy and he fell from the tree in the orchard. I asked him why he was climbing the trees in the first place, and he said because I wanted an apple. I laughed because there was a bowl full of apples in the kitchen. The silly boy was just too stubborn and independent that he had to do things the hard way.”
“I remember that day. He broke his arm in two places,” says Damien as he squeezes my shoulder before taking a seat beside Nancy.
“You were both always up to mischief. You were good boys, though. I’m just glad hair dye was easy to pick up when you were kids because my gray hair started coming through pretty early.”
We all laugh at Nancy as we remember what Clark and Damien got up to as children. We laughed, played, and even had our disagreements, but they were always short-lived. I never expected our lives to turn out the way they did. I hold our families responsible for all of it. All our families have done is tear us down and rip pieces away from our hearts and souls. This could have all been avoided. The heartache, tears, loss… we didn’t have to go through any of it.
“We’ll get through this… together,” says Nancy.
I look down at our joined hands and smile at the connection. In a way, I feel connected to Clark through Nancy’s touch. I just hope now we can all help Clark find his way back to us.
We’re here, Clark. Just keep fighting. I promise you’ll never have to fight again.
Chapter 37
Kally
I’ve sat in this hospital room for so long that every inch of it is ingrained in my head. I know how many tiles are on the ceiling, I know where every mark is on the windows, and I know the correct rhythm of the machines beeping. I’ve done nothing but pray since I entered this hospital. I’m not sure if anyone up there is listening to me, but I hope for Clark’s sake that they are. I need him to return to me. I need to show him how much he means to me. We’ve wasted so much time away from each other, and I hope I get a chance to make that right.
“Is it just me or are hospitals very depressing?” asks Damien.
I look over at him lazing on the couch in the corner of the room. Neither he nor I have left Clark alone. We’ve taken it in turns to shower, eat, and stretch our legs.
“They sure are. It makes you crazy looking at the same four walls. I was never so glad to hear that I was being discharged after Daisy…” I bite my lip and stand up to walk over to the window. “I just wish he’d wake up.”
“He will. I know he will. We’ve just got to be patient.”
“I’m not a very patient person anymore, Damien.”
“I’ve noticed. Clark will like this new, reformed feisty woman. You’ll keep him on his toes.”
