“Taevin, oh my god.” I don’t manage to bite back my chuckle, instead my cheeks heat and I fall into a fit of laughter.
That is, until I realize she said her stomach hurts. My face falls and I rush to grab her hand. “Are you hurting, baby?”
She hums a sigh of content. “Have I ever told you how sexy it is when you call me that?” she asks, completely ignoring my question. “Makes me putty in your hands.”
“I’m going to go grab her something for the pain. Be right back,” the nurse says, leaving us alone.
I focus back on Tae, giving her a small smile. “You may have mentioned it a few times while we were dating.”
“And then we got married.” She sighs with a smile.
My lip twitches at the corner. “We did.”
“And you told me all about the babies you were gonna give me.”
An ache explodes in my chest. Before I can answer, she continues, “And now, I’m guessing I’ll never be able to do that. Bummer because I would’ve died to have your babies. They woulda been so cute. Your curly hair, my dark eyes. Could you imagine?”
I can. I really can.
“There’s still a chance, baby.”
Now it’s her turn to be interrupted because before she can speak, the surgeon comes in.
“Good morning, Taevin. Jackson, nice to see you,” Dr. Prescott greets us.
“Good morning, Dr. Prescott,” I greet her while Taevin’s eyes close and her head bobs as if she might fall back asleep before her eyes shoot back open and she blinks a few times.
Dr. Prescott stands next to the bed. “Taevin, I realize things may still be a bit foggy for you from the anesthesia, but I wanted to stop in to give you an update on how things went before I head back into the OR for my next surgery.”
“Thank you,” Tae rasps, her eyes fluttering open and closed as she struggles to stay awake.
“As you know, prior to surgery we discussed the plan for a partial hysterectomy, meaning we would leave only your ovaries and we’d remove your uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix. Your ovaries were viable and there was no evidence of disease on them. We did, however, have to remove several lymph nodes near your cervix. If you choose to do a round of egg retrieval, you can begin the process after your two-week post-op check-up. Once the egg retrieval surgery is complete, you would then begin chemotherapy treatments.”
“Well that’s just—” Taevin starts but cuts herself off to puff out a breath before her lip begins to quiver. “Thank you.” Her voice breaks and it’s as if the news has snapped her out of her fogginess.
“If you think of any questions or you have any complications, please be sure to reach out to the care line that will be listed on your discharge paperwork,” Dr. Prescott informs her.
Taevin still looks overcome so I reply for her, “We will. Thank you, Dr. Prescott.”
“You’re welcome. Rest up, and I will see you in two weeks for your next appointment.”
Once Dr. Prescott is out of the room, Taevin’s walls come crumbling down, and for the first time I’m seeing the devastation and fear consume her.
“Baby,” is all I manage to whisper, standing up so I can lean over her and kiss her forehead.
“I-I still h-have a ch-chance. I-I c-can st-ill be a m-mom,” she stammers through the sobs.
My heart fissures down the center for her, and I make a silent vow to do everything in my power to help her egg retrieval be a success.
The next day, I take off at a sprint toward the front door, opening it and placing my pointer finger in front of my mouth in a hushing motion. If I didn’t know she was coming to stay here, I wouldn’t recognize the woman with the bright pink pixie cut standing in front of me as Taevin’s best friend, Ryan.
Though recognition would soon set in because when she sees it’s me who answers the door, she says, “Oh, hello, hockey boy. Did you miss me?”
Shaking my head, I gesture for her to come inside while I grab her suitcases. Yes, suitcases being plural, as in she packed three large ones. “Ryan, good to see you. Thanks for coming.”
“Thanks for letting me stay here a few days while Taevin’s getting up and going.”
Shutting the door, I scratch the side of my face before gesturing to her luggage. “Of course. But are you sure you’re only staying for a few days? Seems like you’ve got enough baggage to stay indefinitely.”
