“Until after we dance? What are you talking about?” Reese asked.
“I need to get up,” Roan said. “The kids and I have a surprise for Reese.”
Other than the proposal?
Roan tried to stand. Dr. Lawrence and Jason each took one of his arms, helping him to his feet.
“We can still do the dance,” Roan said. “Right, guys?”
“Are you insane?” Jason asked.
“You guys are dancing?” Reese asked no one in particular. At the same time, Dr. Lawrence said, “You need to go to the hospital. You have hypothermia. You fell through ice. You’re lucky to be alive.”
“I’ll go after we dance.” Roan looked past them to the kids. “Did you bring the costumes?”
Emma drew closer. “Yes, but we don’t have to do it. Not if you’re not up to it.”
“Or we could do it without you,” Cody said.
“I walked through a snowstorm for this. We’re dancing.” Roan said. “And anyway, what did we agree to? You dance. I dance.”
Cody nodded, looking grim. “Yeah, okay.”
“What are you guys talking about?” Reese asked.
“We have a surprise for you,” Emma said, sniffing. “Or we did.”
“We wanted to perform our dance for you,” Julia said, pressing her hand against her mouth. “But it’s okay. We can do it some other time.”
“I’m doing it,” Roan said. “Tonight.”
“Absolutely not,” Reese said. “You almost died.”
“We practiced all week for this,” Marcus said.
Julia wiped her eyes. “We were so excited, but I don’t want Roan to get hurt.”
Roan reached out, took Reese’s hands in his. They were still cold, but warmer than just minutes ago. “Please, baby, let me do this. For you. And for the kids. We’ve been working so hard on it.” He looked at Dr. Lawrence. “Give me medical clearance. Three minutes. That’s all I need.”
Dr. Lawrence shook his head. “This is against every bit of medical advice I should be giving you.”
“But?” Roan asked.
“But if we get you in dry clothes, keep you warm, and I stay right next to the stage in case you collapse again, you can do one performance. Three minutes. Then you’re going straight to the hospital in the ambulance when it arrives. No arguments.”
“Deal,” Roan said.
Dr. Lawrence sighed. “He needs dry clothes.”
Jason offered his button down shirt, saying he had a T-shirt on under it. One of the male servers said he had an extra pair of work pants in his locker.
“Okay, Jason, take him to the restroom and help him change,” Dr. Lawrence said. “Keep a close watch on him.”
“Yes, Doc. I’m on it.” Jason took hold of his brother and they started toward the bathroom.
Emma rushed forward with a bag, handing it to Jason. “That’s his hat and vest.”
Roan smiled, even though he was still shivering slightly. “What more could I need?”
