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“Just being here is as big a risk as what’s in her head. I trust you; are you telling me I shouldn’t?” I ask, standing up and looking the guy in the eye.
“I told you, I’m the best, and that’s a fact. She needs me to sort out her head, but the rest is on you.” He doesn’t know our story, but he knows enough.
“Deal, now get your part done.” I’ll guard her while we’re here, and if he can just get that tumor out of her head, test it, and give me the results I want, then I’ll breathe again.
“I’ll get back to you. I assume you’re staying here tonight?”
I thought I’d made myself clear from the very beginning that I won’t be leaving her alone. “Not leaving her.”
“Fair enough. I’ll organize a cot for you.” I almost told him I’ll sleep on the floor, I don’t care about a bed, but he doesn’t need to hear it. I think he gets the message with my body language.
“I’m looking at my surgery roster, and providing she settles tonight, I’ll come in early tomorrow morning and do the biopsy before I start my day. That way we can send the sample for testing, and by the time I’m out of surgery later in the day, hopefully we’ll have our answers.” Yes, this is what I need, a man of action. “I’ll have the consent forms brought in, so when she wakes, have Cassie sign them and we will be ready to go. You have my number, but the nurses will also let me know if there’s any change.”
The way he’s typing away into his tablet, not even looking at me, I can tell the man has a brain like mine. It’s firing in ten different directions at any one time, and he is managing all of it with ease. The door opens slowly and another doctor steps quietly into the room.
It’s a woman with her dark hair pulled tightly back in a bun but with the kindest eyes. I know from my background research that she is Tate’s wife, Arabella.
“Hi there, you must be Earl. I’m Bella, Tate’s wife. He’s told me about you and your wife.” It sounds funny hearing her use my fake name we’re using while Cassie’s in the hospital. Tate smiles at me, and this is the moment I know I can fully trust him. He has kept the full story from his wife, and a man does not do that lightly.
As she gets closer, he turns to her and kisses her on the forehead. The love between them is clear. Even when they are both in their professional roles, they can’t hide it. The first night we met, he told me he understood my protectiveness, but now I see it oozing from him.
I trusted him because Ashton told me I could, but now that I’m here, I know I wouldn’t want anyone else looking after Cassie. Tate is the man.
“How is she doing?” Leaning forward, Bella brushes Cassie’s forehead with such tenderness.
“As we expected. Just couldn’t see what I needed to on the scan.” Tate holds the tablet sideways for his wife to see.
“Damn, so when are you doing the biopsy?” I can see the two doctors are having an unspoken conversation between themselves about what the scan shows.
“In the morning. Can you sort out the kids? I’ll come in early before my first booked-in surgery.”
“Of course,” she answers, nodding to her husband. “Don’t worry, she is in the best hands,” she tells me. And I can tell this isn’t just the biased words of a wife, they are the words of respect from a fellow doctor who admires his talent. That is comforting.
“Thank you.” Tonight’s going to be a long one, and I think tomorrow will be even longer.
“Ready to head home?” Tate looks down at Arabella now, and his whole demeanor has changed. No longer the neurosurgeon but just a man who is ready to take the love of his life home for the night.
“Absolutely, it’s been a hell of a day. Get some sleep, Earl, and I’ll pop in tomorrow if I get a chance to meet Cassie when she’s awake. Any friends of Ashton are friends of ours.”
“Call me if you need me.” And with that, Tate and Arabella are gone, and I’m left watching over Cassie. Just the two of us, the way it always is.
CASSIE
It feels like a lifetime ago that I woke during the night and Ghost told me everything that happened. I haven’t slept one minute since. I knew deep down that I had a tumor in my brain, but I prayed for a different answer, we both did. Last night there was shock as I tried getting my head around it, and I even pretended to sleep at one stage so Ghost would get some rest. He is going to need it today. I just needed to be alone with my own thoughts and process everything.
But this morning I’m angry.
Why me?
Surely life has thrown enough at me. First my parents’ deaths, then Jason, and although that brought me Ghost and I wouldn’t change that for the world, this still sucks. How many stressful things am I expected to handle and keep bouncing back?
This is just the beginning of my story, and I don’t even know how to cope with it. I have two children who depend on me that I need to be here for. That’s been the whole reason I have hidden and had no life all these years, and now it could have all been for nothing. I can’t voice this to Ghost, because I promised him to fight and that I would tell him everything. I just can’t. If I start, I may not stop, and the way my brain is acting at the moment, I might say things to him that come out wrong or things I don’t mean. Instead, it’s buried down inside, and it can stay there. I’ll be damned if I waste time arguing with him now.
I’m lying here in the hospital gown waiting for them to come and take me to the operating room. Tate was in early to see me and tried to reassure me, but no words will take away the fear that I’m feeling. I’m thankful that Ghost isn’t talking either. We are both in our own worlds of anguish.
The door opening startles us both.
“I love you,” I blurt out as Ghost is already moving to me at the same time.
