Chapter Seven
Yesterday’s Feelings
I leftThomas at the theater to lock up by himself. Cleo explained that they were about to sedate him so if I didn’t get there quickly, I wouldn’t get to talk to him.
I pulled off the pink dress and shoved it roughly into the box. The gun and pillbox hat was tossed on top and slid under the couch.
“I’ve got to go. My husband is in the hospital. I’ll see you later,” I said and ran out the back door and leapt into my car.
I sped towards the hospital and was quickly directed to the proper floor. He was no longer in the ER. They had admitted him. Stepping into his room I found the band sitting around his bed chatting lightly. They all turned to me when I came in.
I looked at the bed where my husband slept. My heart fell. I had missed him. Cleo saw my face and stood up to hug me.
“He was in a lot of pain, so they just went for it.”
“What happened?” I asked, moving to his side. Adrian and Derek moved to let me through. His right shoulder was all sorts of wrapped up. I raised my hand to his forehead and brushed his light hair back. He looked peaceful.
“He tore his rotator cuff. He’s going for surgery first thing in the morning.” Adrian told me. My gaze was ripped away from Mark. I gasped.
“Oh no. It’s that bad?”
“It’s hard to say. The doctor said he thinks it’s been torn for a while. Which would make sense. I guess the tear is pretty big. He said after surgery and proper recovery he’ll be 100% and ready to play. We’ve all been pushing ourselves a little too hard these last few weeks. It was a matter of time before one of us finally cracked.”
“How was he? When he was awake?”
Derek snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
“Whiny mostly. Woe is me. I’ll never play again. It hurts so much. Blah blah blah. The doc said he’ll be fine; he’s just freaking out.” I whipped my head around. I could punch him right now. Derek saw the look in my eyes and backed off. Cleo yawned.
“Okay, well he’s asleep now. Renee, do you want us to stay or do you want to be alone with him? Are you staying the night?”
I nodded.
“I’ll stay with him. Can someone go let the dogs out for us?”
Derek raised his hand. “I got it.” I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t in the mood for him right now.
“Do you want some clothes for both of you?” Cleo asked.
“Yes please. Just go into our room and you’ll see the closet. We’re not picky, thanks Cleo.”
“Sure, anytime,” she told me, rubbing my shoulders. They left and Adrian returned an hour later with a bag of things for us.
“Cleo packed it, but she wanted to get the kids settled for bed. Do you want company or would you rather I leave?”
“You can go. Your family needs you more than we do tonight. Come back tomorrow. Thanks for the clothes. I’m going to go to sleep soon. The nurses brought me a blanket.” He nodded and took his exit.
I dimmed the lights and reclined in the chair provided in each room. I put a pillow under my head and reached for the extra blanket. Mark was fast asleep. He tried to turn but instantly winced. I sat back up but noticed that his eyes never opened. They must have really doped him up. The nurses stopped in twice throughout the night to make sure his IV was working still.
When he woke up, he was thirsty. I went to get him ice water and when I returned, the doctor was talking to him.
“Okay Mark, we are going to get a nurse in here to make sure you’re prepped. They’ll take you shortly to the operating room. I’ve done this surgery hundreds of times. Your tear is pretty big, but still fixable. By the looks of it, it’s been torn for a while, but you finally tipped it over the edge.” He eyed my husband like a father expecting his son to fess up the truth over something. Mark looked away guiltily.
“It’s been hurting awhile. I’m a drummer. I get sore,” he confessed. The doctor shook his head.
“If you had come in when it first flared up, we probably wouldn’t be here prepping you for surgery. Next time know your limits, take a break if you are starting to get sore. I think you’ll heal okay this time, but the more it happens the less likely you’ll be going back to your drumming.” Mark gulped and then nodded, understanding what the doctor said, but not wanting to hear it. The doctor cleared his throat and continued.
“It is outpatient, so you get to go home and rest comfortably instead of here, so that’s a plus. Do you have any questions?” Mark’s eyes trailed to me and when I shook my head that I didn’t he told him no.
