“Yeah, he will.”
“When?”
“Days? Weeks? It’s difficult to say.”
“And he’s stable?” Valerie asks.
“Yes.”
“Then can we fly him home? On his jet?”
“Under careful monitoring and a specialized neurologist, yes. But that’s expensive.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“What?” I ask, shocked that Valerie wants to do that now and so soon.
“Let’s take him home. You know what we need, and with Larry’s help and your specialist expertise, let’s take him home. Now.”
I blurt out, my mouth working faster than my mind, “I know the top neurologist in Canada. He works in my hospital, and I can have him on standby for when we land.”
“Could you fly him over now? And he can return with us?” Valeria enquires, sounding so serious that I know there is no stopping her now.
“Yes.”
“Then make it happen,” Jack says, returning with a sandwich and a cup of coffee, and the biggest selection of chocolate bars I’ve ever set eyes on. “Make the call.”
“Okay.” I grab my cell, my hands shaky, my brain working at a million miles an hour as I think about all the things we’ll need on the flight.
“Only the best for my golden boy.” Valerie reaches up and pats Leon’s hand. “Oh, I forgot to say something.”
“What’s that?” I lift my head as I hit the number that will put me through to Dr. Gilbert’s secretary and place my cell phone to my ear.
“Welcome to the family.” Her eyes soften around the edges, but I can tell she’s worried, and she’s trying her best to hold it together. We all are.
But what if he never wakes up?
And we end before we even got started.
CHAPTER FORTY
Erika
Four weeks.
Four weeks since Leon’s horrific accident.
Four weeks of barely any sleep from worry, pain, hurt, guilt. My body hurts while Leon sleeps peacefully, unaware in his private room, dozens of floors above me in the hospital, being carefully monitored by Dr. Gilbert and his team.
He’s here but not really here. Trapped somewhere in his mind, stuck just existing rather than truly living and thriving.
Encouraged to return to normal by my friends and family, today is my first day back at work. I see their point. It’s stupid of me to sit and wait around for him to wake up, but they are under strict instructions to call me as soon as he does.If he ever will. So here I am, on my way to the ER to start my first night shift in weeks.
I tug on the ends of my new stethoscope. The one Leon bought me, feeling closer to him as if I’m wearing a part of him around my neck.
A metallic sparkle catches my eye.
There it is. My wedding band, glinting at me, as if reminding me of the tiny piece of metal that binds us together. How cansomething so small carry so much weight? The simple circle of gold signifying our hearts as one… to infinity. If I were allowed to wear my engagement ring on shift, it would be firmly nestled beside my wedding band, but due to infection control, it’s safely tucked in the safe in my home.
