After about half an hour they both stepped out and their expressions were unreadable. I had a fleeting thought that they must teach how to maintain a poker face in medical school. Before they could call us over to them, we all flocked around them, and my brother spoke first.
“Hey, I’m Dr. Dante Henson, Director of Neurology and Bailey’s brother. I hate to meet everyone under these conditions.” He gave everyone a small smile as he shook Titan’s father’s hand after he extended it. “So, I went over Titan’s scans and vitals. Has he ever talked about his blood pressure because it’s extremely high. Now, I don’t know what caused this kind ofspike in his blood pressure because it looked fine as I went over his history. However, he needs to take it easy. I’m concerned that he had a Transient Ischemic Attack, which is a mini stroke-like attack. There was a small blockage I saw on his brain scan, but Dr. Williams has administered a blood thinner.”
My knees buckled but Trent held me up as everyone listened with rapt attention. When Dante finished explaining Titan’s condition, Devin said everyone could see him. I let Titan’s family go in first. I wasn’t family, and I knew they were anxious to see him. I looked to my left and saw Devin and my brother talking further down the hall. I assumed they were discussing a treatment plan for Titan and Giada was leaning against a wall across from them. I needed to focus on something to keep myself from making myself sick with worry, so I stared at Giada and narrowed my eyes. Now that her jacket was open, I noticed something different about her and walked over to her.
“So, how are you doing?” I asked, looking at her stomach as I approached.
“I’m good, just hungry and pregnant.” As soon as she ran her hand over her slightly protruding stomach, it was like a silent whistle for Devin because one minute he was talking to my brother then I blinked, and he was by her side.
“You ok, baby? How are my babies?” He asked quickly and covered her hand with his.
“I beg your finest pardon. Did you saybabies?Plural?” I was doing a terrible job to keep my voice down.
“Yeah nosy, we’re having twins. We don’t know the sex, we’re keeping it a surprise.” She smiled, and it almost knocked me off my feet because she looked so serious a minute ago. Now she was glowing.
“Devin wants to have a baby shower,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Since you’re making me money with your marketingideas, I think it’s only right to invite you and your man to the party when the time comes.”
I accepted the invitation at the same time Torrence opened the door to Titan’s room and called down the hallway.
“Hey, he’s awake… and Bailey, he’s asking for you.”
Me, Dante, and Devin walked quickly down the hall and into Titan’s room. I let my brother and Devin walk past me as I stood by the door. When I looked at my baby, I teared up because although he looked exhausted, his eyes were alert as he laid in the bed looking around the room. As soon as his eyes landed on me, he gave me a weak smile and as soon as he turned his palm up, I hurried to him and laced my fingers with his.
“Hey, I never thought I would see you again like this,” My brother said at Titan’s bedside, “Do you remember me? And can you tell me your name?” Dante asked.
“You’re…Bailey’s brother… My name…is...Titan.” He spoke slowly and when he finished, I noticed his speech was slightly slurred, and I caught the quick look Devin and Dante exchanged.
“Can you remember what happened today?” My brother asked.
Titan looked like he was thinking hard but eventually he shook his head no and I saw my brother's eyebrow furrow.
“I want to admit him for observation his blood pressure and this slurred speech are concerning. I want to run more tests; we’ll go put in the orders,” Dante said, addressing Titus and Grace after they agreed to admit him, they thanked my brother and Devin profusely before they left the room to start the admit paperwork.
“Bailey, thank yousomuch for calling your brother,” Grace said, turning to me and gave me a big hug. Once again Giada must have snuck in while everyone was focused on Titan because when Grace turned to her, I didn’t even know she was here.
“And thank you too young lady, the white doctor who was assigned to Titan when the ambulance brought him here was so rude asking me if my baby took any hard drugs before he passed out, didn’t ask nothing else, just assumed drugs. If it wasn’t for Dr. Williams coming when he did me and Titus would have been in jail for choking the hell out of that bastard. Dr. Williams let us know he was your fiancé and that he took over because you called him before you and Bailey showed up.” When Grace looked like she was about to hug Giada she smoothly backed up a couple of steps.
“Don’t mention it, my man is the best doctor here. You all take care… Bailey, I’ll call you later.” Giada waved once to the whole room and left.
Titan spent three nights in the hospital, and I was there each day and when I arrived whoever was there from his family would give me an update before they left. It was like we were working in shifts.
Dante said that Titan improved significantly the first night, but he still couldn’t remember all the events that led up to him coming to the hospital, and he wanted to keep him longer to make sure he did not regress.
Once he was discharged, Lloyd was there to pick us up and take us to Titan’s house. When we arrived, Lloyd helped me get Titan inside. He was walking great, just a little slower.
We were still holding hands when we went to the living room, and after we both sat down, Lloyd left. We filled his prescriptions before we got here, and I wanted him to take his first pill now.
“I’ll get you some water so you can take your pressure medicine,” I said and before I could stand up Titan gripped my hand tighter. “What’s up, baby? You ok?”
“Please stay,” he whispered.
“Ok but I want you to take your medicine before we go to bed,” I said, grabbing the remote off the coffee table before I sat back down. We were on the couch for a few hours watching TV when his doorbell rang. When I moved to get up again, Titan tightened his grip around my waist to keep me there, and I chuckled.
“Babe, someone’s at the door. I’ll be right back,” I said, giving him a quick kiss.
When I opened the door, I was greeted by a large flower arrangement of several dozen roses of assorted colors on a flat cart that was being pushed by a delivery man. I guided him to the small table near the door and signed for the arrangement while he hefted it onto the table then left. I was locking the door and when I turned around, Titan had walked into the foyer to look over the flowers. I walked toward him and watched him pick up the card and read it. Without warning, he picked up the large vase and slammed it against the floor.
“Fuck you, Eva!” He shouted in rage before punching the wall in front of him.
