“Did you drop her off okay?” I ask as Caleb comes to stand between us.
His hand moves over Jessica’s still resting over my nape, and he leans down, leaving a lingering kiss on my mouth.
“She was fine. Maggie got her one of those huge bones she loves.”
“Of course she did,” I say, winking at Jessica, recalling our earlier conversation.
Chapter Forty-Eight
CALEB
Noah was the epitome of calm as we made our way to the hospital, to the point I might have believed it if it wasn’t for the slight tell when he gets nervous.
Only once he’s signed all the paperwork and he’s settled in his private room, do I see the cracks starting to show.
I reach out and grip his hand in mine.
His palm is sweating.
Jessica is making herself busy with his overnight bag and putting some stuff on the bedside table.
It’s clear she needs to do something, so neither of us says anything as we watch on as she keeps moving the stuff around until she’s happy.
Too soon, a nurse comes and asks Noah to change into a gown and a pair of surgical socks.
And then he’s called into surgery.
Both Jessica and I give him a kiss, ignoring the nurse as she hovers by the door waiting to walk him to surgery.
Waiting is the worst part. I alternate between pacing and pulling Jessica into my arms as we sit and wait to be told Noah is in recovery.
“How much longer do you think it will take?” Jessica asks, her voice small and full of worry.
I turn my wrist and check my watch. “Anytime now, I should think.”
I don’t say how worried I am, that the longer it takes, the more concerned I become. The deep-rooted fear that maybe they found out it has spread. And I fucking hate myself for letting the intrusive thoughts in.
We were told it can take a few hours, but does that include recovery and being prepped for surgery?
Fuck, I should have asked.
“Hopefully not too much longer, little one.” I kiss the top of her head and pull her into my arms and hold her with an almost desperate need.
It feels like an eternity before a doctor comes to find us in the waiting area and informs us Noah’s surgery went well and that he’s just in recovery now before they’ll move him to his room.
Jessica physically sags in my hold and a soft sob of relief passes her lips as I rub my hand over her back in support.
We make our way back to his room, ready for his return. We have no idea how he’ll be when he comes to, but there is no way he’ll be alone. This is why we have a private room with a cot, because we’ll be staying here with him tonight. It’s why Maggie agreed to have Aspen, one less thing to worry about.
Jessica chews on her thumbnail to the point it’s almost bleeding, and I gently tug her thumb away from her mouth and bring it to my lips, kissing the pad of her thumb.
“You’ll make it bleed, sweet girl.”
She sighs. “I know, I just can’t help it,” she replies. It’s been a long time since she’s been this anxious and I fucking hate it. I hate that I can’t fix it, make it all go away. I’d take away her worries and Noah’s pain, if I could. Seeing the ones you love hurting and suffering physically and emotionally is the worst kind of mental torture.
I pull her into my lap, not giving a shit we’re in a hospital room, and kiss her temple. Wrapping her in my arms, I softly rock her back and forth.
Her heart rate begins to slow and her breathing evens out. Any other time I’d believe she’s asleep, but I know she’s not. She won’t rest until Noah is here, and maybe not even then. The last few days leading up to the surgery have been restless for everyone, most of all Noah.
