AllFreeNovel
Share Us
23
New York City, 2000
After Roman left, life became foggy. I was a wife. I was his wife. After eight years of knowing this man, after loving him, hating him, and loving him all over again, God saw us as one. The peaceful sentiment was safely settled in my bones and core. My body was giving up on me. I haven’t bothered the doctors with how bad the pain has gotten, because I knew damn well there wasn't anything they could do, except pump me up with morphine, and I preferred spending this time I had lucid so I could enjoy my daughter and the people around me. The only thing that was missing was Roman, who just kissed me once and said he’d be back soon before vanishing.
Remy was sleeping on my arm, cuddled in the bed with me, while I forced myself to sit up so I could chat with Lola and Catherinelle. Muse insisted on staying too, but her son was fussy today, and the hospital was no place for a baby so I virtually pushed her out the door, telling her husband to take her home.
“Where the hell is he?” I hissed and the girls giggled.
“Down, girl.” Catherinelle laughed at me. “It’s not like he’s at a strip club. It happens sometimes; they are called to handle some business that can’t wait at the worst possible time. Hugo had to handle a job on the day of our wedding.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope. For a while I thought he deserted me. I had to track the asshole down. So, don’t worry, Salvatrice. He’ll be back soon.”
“Right.” I’d asked Roman to go home to get some rest and he refused to go, but this was different. I was peaceful and I was happy, yes, but I was also a little scared. Maybe with my next breath, one of my lungs would just say fuck it and drop dead, taking me with it. I wanted to see him one more time before that happened.
The thought made me turn to Romina and softly stroke her cheek. My beautiful angel. She was so beautiful when she was sleeping and I wished to tell her that I loved her no matter what, and to not be sad if I left her, but that would mean upsetting my baby, and I wanted to stay happy as much as I could.
Out of the blue, Dr. Sullivan, with whom I became quite familiar in the past days, busted through the door with a huge smile on his face. He was so noisy in his entry, it made Romina jump from her sleep.
“Oh, I’m sorry for waking her.”
“It’s ok.” I took her in my arms to calm her down after the scare. “What is it, doctor?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your tea party, ladies, but we need to take Salvatrice for prepping.”
“What?”
“We’re preparing you for surgery. It’s happening, Salva. We have a match. A pair of young, healthy lungs, that are a perfect match for you. I just got the confirmation. The organs will be here in forty-five minutes, but I want to consult you one more time, so let’s go. I’ll send the nurse in with a wheelchair.”
“Wait, how?” I couldn’t comprehend what he was telling me. He was talking about a transplant – my transplant – but how was this possible?
“I’m not allowed to disclose any information about the donation, Mrs. Stefani, it’s federal law, but you don’t need to worry yourself with that. You need to focus on yourself and think about the long honeymoon you’re going to take after we discharge you. Seriously, Salvatrice, I know this is a lot to take in, but I would like to start everything right away. Kiss your daughter and say goodbye to your friends.”
Lola and Cat were up on their feet, holding their breath and Romina was looking at me with curious eyes.
“Why do you have to go, Mama?”
“Oh, I…I’ll be back soon, baby. Dr. Sullivan has to take me to his room and make me better, ok?”
“Ok. And then we’ll go to Disneyland? Daddy promised, remember?”
I bit my tongue to not start crying. This was the first time I’ve heard her calling Roman daddy and it was very overwhelming. She finally had a family.
“Yes, baby, we will.” I looked back to Dr. Sullivan. “Can we wait a couple of moments? I need to see Roman before going into surgery.”
“I’ve talked to your husband, Mrs. Stefani. He’s caught up in an airport in Houston. He won’t make it for a few more hours and we’re not going to wait that long. You’ll see him when you wake up.”
“Houston? Roman is in Houston? What the hell?” I looked at Catherinelle hoping to find some answers. “He left the state without telling me?”
“I told you, babe, it happens sometimes.”
“Yes.” Lola came to her aid. “Go ahead and we’ll be here, keeping an eye on Remy and waiting for Roman, ok.” To my surprise, in Lola’s eyes I spotted a few sparkling tears.
They both hugged me, and I talked to Remy, assuring her that everything would be alright and daddy would be with her soon. I couldn’t believe this was happening. The chances were so slim, no one dared to hope for it, especially me. The only person who held out hope was…Roman. A thought crossed my mind. How was this happening right now when he was mysteriously called out of the state? I didn’t want to delve into the possibilities, but he loved me. He loved me desperately, just like I loved him and I knew what he was capable of.
But did I want to know? Did I want to ask him? Or just embrace the supreme gift that was thrown my way?
This was the last thing I thought before a nurse put something over my nose, told me to count to ten, and I passed out.
