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My jaw hung open. She was listing the greatest players from the LA Dodgers to counter my comments about the Yankees being the best team in history.She’d heard me.
She crooked her finger and whispered in my ear again.
“Wingsuit diving is safer than walking down the street in Manhattan at night.”
I started to cry like a baby. “You’re awake. You’re really awake.”
She smiled. “I’m not a coward.”
“No, sweetheart. You are definitely not. You’re the bravest woman in the world. But how do you feel? Are you in pain?”
“Like an elephant sat on my chest.”
“I think that’s probably normal, but let me get the doctor.” I turned to roll off the bed, but Nora grabbed my shirt.
“Five minutes.”
“You want me to wait five minutes to get the doctor?”
She nodded.
I rolled to my side, facing her, eyes wide. “I can’t believe you’re awake. You made it through a freaking heart transplant.”
Nora frowned. “A lot can go wrong.”
“A lot can go wrong any day of the week. That’s life. It’s filled with chances and ups and downs.”
“Even if I get through the rest of this, I’m going to die young, Beck.”
I cupped her cheeks. “I’ll take every day we can get. We’ll make each one about quality, not quantity. I’d rather be happy for a little while with you than miserable for a lifetime without.”
Tears streamed down her face. “That’s what my dad said about my mother. I love you, Beck. I’m sorry I never said it back, but I’ve loved you since almost the beginning.”
“I knew even without you saying it, sweetheart.” I smiled. “But hearing it is pretty damn nice.” I cupped my ear and leaned close. “Maybe you should say it again.”
“I love you, Beck. I love you, I love you, I love you.”
“It’s definitely better hearing it.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. I really am.”
“I don’t care about that. But I wish you would’ve told me about your decision to go on the list and have the surgery. I would’ve been here the entire time.”
“I know you would’ve. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up and hurt you all over again if I didn’t make it through.”
“We’re going to talk about this when you get better. If you expect me to accept your decisions, you need to accept my decision to be with you through thick and thin.”
She smiled sadly. “My dad said that, too.”
“William is a smart man.”
She glanced around the room. “Is he here?”
“He left about midnight to sleep a little. He’ll probably be back soon. We started taking shifts. But I should call him. He’d want me to wake him up so he can get back here.”
“Okay.”
“I should probably get the nurse now, too,” I said. “One more thing though, what made you change your mind? To go on the transplant list?”
