“Thank you,” I murmured and sat. I released Dash’s hand only long enough to slide it through one of the openings in the guardrail for better access.
“They’re encouraged for your husband,” she said, speaking softly. “The recovery’s going to take time. Be patient.”
“That’s fine,” I said my truth. “Whatever it takes.”
My mom came through the room’s door, wearing all the protective kit. “How’s he doing?”
“Breathing on his own,” Carter said, relief evident in his tone.
I glanced over my shoulder, caught my mom’s eye, and she came to me.
“Son, I’m sorry you had to come home to this,” she said, pain lacing each syllable. She reached around me for a tight side hug.
“I should’ve never left. I had all sorts of bad feelin’s. How’s Amelia holdin’ up? She doesn’t like the hospital. It has to be hard on her,” I asked.
“She’s a mess,” my mom said, pulling up another smaller chair. “She’s cleaned your house thoroughly from top to bottom. She’s also made you tamales, saying they’re your favorite.” My mom pointed to the rolling tray that had been pushed aside, and my stomach instantly growled. “Shouldn’t you be wearing protective wear?”
I shook my head no. “If Amelia and the girls didn’t get sick, and if you and Carter, especially Carter because he’s been here twenty-four seven, haven’t gotten sick, I suspect he’s not contagious. They didn’t give me grief about the decision to go without. But you keep it on. If I’m wrong, you’re going back to my kids and I don’t want them anywhere near this. Where’s Kailey?”
“She’s in Sea Springs with us, doing online classes. We’re staying on the third floor. You made it a nice suite for Amelia. It’s been easy to transition from Virginia to here. Kailey’s sleeping in the girls’ bedroom at night. They adore each other. Amelia sent me with a video of West belly-scooting across the floor.” My mom’s hand caressed over Dash’s calf as she babbled about all the important things to me. “Did the nurse say that Dash has a long road to recovery?”
“I didn’t pay a lot of attention because he’s gotta wake up first. As soon as he can get home, we need to make it happen. He’ll recover faster with Amelia and the kids there,” I said. I was fucking tired. After a few hours’ sleep, maybe I could think like a normal person. “I have some money saved. Maybe the hospital has contractors that can help make our house more user-friendly for Dash. If that’s even a thing.”
“Most likely. Scott told me to tell you he’s got everything covered and to not worry about anything. He and Lauren have been helping Amelia and Belle. Lauren’s keeping the kids occupied. They’re all in a karate class now. There’s so many of them between the two families that they formed their own class. Kailey’s been involved too,” my mom explained.
“How’s Livie doin’ in karate?” I absolutely couldn’t picture her participating.
“She brings a notebook and draws the moves so everyone can practice them at home. She was kicked one time and decided against joining directly in the training again.” I grinned, easily seeing everything my mom described. “Mia’s a natural. Ava has a hard time with the discipline required. She’s always ready to pound her opponents. She takes as good as she gives.”
I nodded. Exactly what I thought would happen. “Mom, I don’t want to leave here until he does. Should I call home and talk to them, or wait since they think I’m out of town? What’s better for them?” I asked. The question caused a rawness inside me. I wanted to see my girls, but I couldn’t leave Dash while he wasn’t able to care for himself.
We stared at one another, clearly neither of us knew the right answer. The chance of Dash waking and jumping from the bed ready to go home was growing smaller by the second.
“I say tell them the truth,” the nurse interjected. “You know your children better than I do, but from what I’ve seen, they tend to act out when they know something’s not right, but can’t find the answers. You can’t go wrong with the truth.”
“They’re pretty protected children,” I said to my mom. “We don’t want ’em to learn to be bad. So I’ll call this evenin’ after dinner, but before bed.”
Mom nodded and rose from her seat. She gazed lovingly at Dash. The gentle way she touched me as if I was valued, was the way she touched Dash.
She spoke directly to Dash as she said, “Your family said we’re waiting on you to return. And Amelia wanted me to reaffirm her lesson that making people wait is rude. We love you, Dash.” She inhaled and exhaled slowly, her body shuddered, trying to fight the tears. “I brought everything you asked for, including clean clothes, his phone, and the portable speaker he uses. Playing his music was a brilliant idea. It’s in the bag by the door.”
“Thank you.” I did nothing to retrieve it or even stand for that matter. “I’ll set it up after I get some sleep…” The yawns were coming one right after another now. “You go. I’m gonna stretch out here so I don’t miss anything. I’ll set it up when there’s less traffic in here. He likes his music. The girls put together different playlists and talk to him through the songs, for his birthday or Father’s Day. He loves to listen to them explain the meaning of the songs that they’ve never heard before. I figured I’d start there.” Another yawn shot out. I suspected I had about five minutes before I crashed. The fatigue was getting the best of me.
“His physician said he hopes Dash will wake in about forty-eight hours. They’ll reevaluate after that time.” Only extreme appreciation made me rise to shake Carter’s hand. “Thank you for being here when I couldn’t. Thanks, Mom, for makin’ all this happen and takin’ care of our family. I’m gonna have a lifetime of guilt.” Stupid tears again built in my eyes but I managed to blink them away. My mom’s tears spilled silently down as she came to hug me. “Best mom ever. I always knew you were.”
She placed tissues in my hand and turned away, going for the door. Carter smiled the smallest smile ever and followed after my mother. I was barely back in my seat again when the nurse shook out the blanket and put it over me.
“I’ll keep an eye on him. Go to sleep.”
“I’m glad it went well today,” I said, lowering the seat into an almost flat surface. “Thank you.”
I let that be enough, and fell asleep thinking of Dash’s sweet lips on mine.
10: The Chaos
Beau
Houston Methodist Hospital
