He was kneeling at her bedside, holding her worn hands in his. For a moment, he studied the creases and freckles they displayed and saw every one as beautiful badges of honor. These hands have been strong enough to take down men twice her size, agile enough to wield a scalpel with precision and intelligence, gentle enough to hold the hands of her adopted children as they played ring-around-the-rosy.
Tears slipped silently down her cheeks as she nodded. “I don’t want to fight you, Theo. I finally got my best friend back after all these years. I love you and I love our children. We can make this work, right?”
“We will,” Theo smiled widely as he carefully slipped a sparkling diamond ring on the fourth finger of her left hand.
“I love you, Margo. Will you please marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?” he grinned hopefully at the woman always meant to be his.
“Theo, now? You crazy, silly man! You’re asking me to marry you moments before I’m told whether I’ll ever walk again?” Margo’s eyes were lit with surprise and joy at the romantic fool on his knees in her hospital room.
“I’ll take care of you no matter what. Please, Margo. No one could love you more than I do. I’ll do anything you want, just please say ‘yes’.”
“Theo, what if I’m not even able to walk down the aisle?”
“I’ll carry you.”
“What if I can never make love to you,” her eyes dropped, embarrassed to bring up the subject.
“I’ll make love to you.” Theo answered without hesitation.
“What if our children hurt one another?”
“Our children are old enough and intelligent enough to handle their differences with respect for our family.” Theo’s jaw was locked with decisiveness.
“What if…”
“Margo, there is nothing you can imagine that would make me change my mind. I love you. Marry me.”
“Yes,” Margo burst into the widest smile and giggled and coughed through tears of joy.
“Yes?” Theo stood without letting go of his fiancée’s hands.
“Yes!” Margo nodded looking up into the bluest eyes of the man who loved her unconditionally.
“SHE SAID ‘YES’!” Theo hollered to the room that instantly filled with family. Evan, Meg and Creed came bursting in clapping and whooping up a storm.
Meg, having sensed exactly what Theo was up to the moment he stepped out of the elevators, felt like flying she was so happy for her mother and Theo.
After a barrage of hugs and kisses were exchanged, Margo spoke loud enough to be heard over everybody.
“Where are the others?”
Meg immediately bit her lip.
“Well, I have good news. First, Meg convinced Cole’s attending physician that he was well enough to go home,” Theo looked over and smiled widely at Meg, feeling very thankful for her gift. “So his enhanced healing abilities won’t be questioned. Sloan is at the house taking care of him.”
“Okay, what about Alik and Farrow?”
Meg spoke up, “Alik’s evolution has begun, Mom. Farrow’s taking care of him and Danny at the house.”
“His evolution? Now?” Margo’s eyes looked worried instantly.
“He’ll be fine in a few days, Mom. He’s a little weak and feverish right now.”
“You’re sure he’s going through his evolution?”
Meg looked over at her little brother, Evan, who had been tending to Alik all night.
Evan picked up on the hint and started talking. “He’s going through a very similar stage of illness we saw with Meg. He is experiencing the high fever and low blood pressure. His blood cells look to be changing like Meg’s changed. It’s been fascinating to watch as he seems to be shifting molecularly. I’m very excited to see what will happen to his gift once his evolution is complete.”
Meg grinned at her little brother’s excitement, though she knew him to be exhausted.
Chapter 34 “The Journey of a Thousand Miles…”
“So this is where all the hollerin’ is coming from!” Dr. Gentry strode into the room with confidence, four residences as his entourage.
“Dr. Gentry, it’s good to see you,” Theo said, walking over and shaking the man’s hand enthusiastically.
“It’s good to see you, too, Dr. Andrews,” Gentry answered slowly peering around the room as if he was looking for the punch line of some joke.
“What’s all the excitement about?”
“Theo and I just got engaged,” Margo said, still beaming with happiness.
“That’s wonderful news! Congratulations to you both!”
“Thank you, Doctor. Now I’m hoping for some more good news,” Margo said pulling her blankets back so Dr. Gentry could have easier access to her legs.
“No matter what, Margo, today was the day you got engaged, right?” Gentry reminded carefully.
“Of course,” Theo responded for Margo.