Chapter Twenty-Two
The weeks flew by faster than I’d ever experienced before and soon, Christmas Eve had arrived.
I woke up early to begin preparations for the next day.
Both our families would be showing up for dinner on Christmas Day, so we’d decided to have our gift giving a day earlier.
I wasn’t feeling too well, however.
When Bradley and I decided I’d stop taking my pills, it had been a long time since I had PMS symptoms. And boy, had I forgotten how much I hated them.
I had definitely woken up grumpy this morning and I didn’t see my mood improving, especially alongside the cramps I currently experienced. However, I tried really hard not to take my bad mood out on him or my mom and daughter; I really should’ve received an award for my efforts because none of them seemed to notice anything off about me all day.
Annalina practically jumped up and down in her seat at dinner in excitement, patience gone as she waited to open presents. My mother seemed to watch her reaction with amusement, as this would only be the second year in a row where she received more than the bare minimum for Christmas. Of course, we would balance out of personal gift giving by helping out at local shelter the day after Christmas, which was a tradition we did every year.
Even Bradley would be helping out, having taken the day off at my request to join in, and making me exceedingly happy in the process.
He sat next to me at the table, watching my daughter and mother discuss what they could’ve possibly gotten for gifts, and held my hand underneath the table. Our fingers entwined, he seemed to pay more attention to me than the rest of the food on his plate.
“I think you will enjoy my gift,” he said in a low voice, leaning in to speak close to my ear. “You’ll never guess what it is.”
“Probably not. You already spoil me enough.”
“As you should be.” He lifted our hands and kissed the back of mine. “After all, you may very well be the mother of my child here soon. Your comfort is my number one priority.”
“Shh. I don’t want them to hear anything about babies until it happens,” I admonished, blushing all the while. “No need to spoil me until then.”
“I like to begin as I intend to continue. I’ll spoil you and you’ll like it.”
“Is that a command?”
“Yes.”
A smile stole over my face before I could stop it, and I squeezed his hand. “So, what did you get me then?”
“Why don’t you go get dessert so we can finish the meal, then we’ll begin the gift giving?”
“All right.” I released his hand and stood up, which made Annalina and my mother gaze at me with expectant looks. “Just going to get dessert. I’ll be right back.”
Once in the kitchen, I opened the freezer and pulled out the ice cream cake — my favorite kind of cake because it always held two things I loved in one — and placed it on the counter.
I crouched down, intending to look for a platter to place the cake on, and opened up the cupboard. Even though the kitchen was well lit, I stuck my head in just a little as I looked for a specific item, as laughter reached me from the other room.
“Mom?”
The unexpected voice of my daughter had me misjudging the distance to safely lift my head, and I smacked the back of my head against the frame hard. I swear I heard something crack.
“Shit!” I lifted my hand to cover the area and rose to my feet, only to grab the counter as a wave of dizziness hit me. “Um…”
I looked over at my daughter as the world wavered in front of me, my eyes watering, and saw her open her mouth and say something, yet heard nothing.
The last thing I remember is falling, the floor rising up to meet me.
~*~
It’s interesting when you know something has happened, but you’re inside your head, unable to respond to the things you hear around you.
You only manage to get bits and pieces, then you try to fit those parts into what happened, and what is going on right in that moment.
I used to watch enough t.v. to know that the one thing they tell you to do with coma patients is talk to them. I didn’t know if I was in a coma, but I couldn’t manage to lift my eyes.
Yet I felt someone holding my hand. I heard a mumble of voices around me, going in and out, yet unable to make out what they were saying.
My head throbbed but otherwise, I felt no pain.
I had to wake up. People were waiting for me, and I was going to be late to dinner. I didn’t even get to eat my cake.
The voices murmured again, and someone squeezed my hand, kissed my cheek.
I didn’t know if I was awake or not, but I was so tired, I drifted off.
~*~
Small brain bleed according to the CT.
Brain bleed?
I tried to open my eyes at the word, but they still wouldn’t cooperate.
Swelling seems to be lessening on its own. We’ll wait before deciding if surgery is needed or not.
Surgery?
Why can’t I speak?
Where’s Bradley? Annalina?
Could be a week or two, but we’ll keep a close eye on it. As long as there is improvement, no need to worry.
How can that be true? They aren’t the one laying here unable to move or say anything or lift their eyelids.
…Coma…everything looks fine…otherwise…no…
Ugh, my head pounded again, words became jumbled, and I needed to sleep once more.
~*~
Come on Lucille, wake up. I demand it.
Bradley!
I tried to get my hand to move, but it wouldn’t cooperate.
It’s been nearly two weeks. You’re in a coma. I need you to wake up. So wake up.
Two weeks? I missed Christmas and New Years?
I wanted to cry, but even that is something I can’t do in here.
I begged my hand to move to show him I’m listening, because I know he’s holding it, but nothing happened.
I can’t work with you laying here. Your daughter and mother are worried. I’m not even sure you can hear me.
I could, I wished I could say I did.
The swelling has gone down. You had a small brain bleed. Who knew my cupboards could do that much damage? I thought your head was harder than that.
I hope he knew I’d smile at that if I could.
Mom, I love you. We all love you. You missed your present. It was a big one.
The tears in her voice tortured me as I felt her hand on mine next.
I wanted to ask you if we could really be a family, if Bradley could adopt me. He said he would but I had to ask you, ‘cuz you're my mom and it’s up to you.
God, my love for that man grew tenfold. It knew no bounds.
I really want to hug my daughter right now, tell her it’s absolutely okay with me.
I tried to move my hand…and succeeded with a few fingers.
Did you see that?! Her hand moved a little! Mom, do it again.
I did, but I must’ve fallen asleep because I don’t remember anything else.
~*~
It was rather dark in the room when I finally got my eyes to obey and open. Probably a good thing — I didn’t think I could handle any bright lights anyway.
It surprised me to discover nobody else in the room with me.
Surrounded by beeping, I moved my head a little to look around, lifting my hands to look at the IV’s, then up to my nose where I found what I figured to be a thin feeding tube.
I was searching for a way to get someone’s attention when the door opened. I stilled.
And, of course, in walked Bradley.
I let him sit down next to me and place his hand on mine before I covered his hand with my free one.
He jerked, then stood up and leaned over me. “Lucy?”
“Ah…” I licked my lips and coughed, trying to speak once more. “Water?”
“Let me turn on the lamp for a little light.”
“No.”
“Of course, too bright. I knew that.”
I wished I could laugh right then, but I barely had the energy to repeat my request. “Water?”
“Right. Let me alert the nurses so they can arrange for the tube to be taken out. Don’t speak anymore. That’s a command, by the way.”
I waved a hand at his babbling, but he took the time to lean over and kiss my cheek before leaving the room.
The next bit of time passed in a hurry — they took out my tube, did some more testing to make sure everything looked good, then decided to monitor me a little more before releasing me, just in case. I also received my water, then it was time to rest once more.
My throat ached, so when Bradley sat down beside me after we were alone and handed me a piece of paper and pen, I smiled.
“I know your throat is a bit raw, so write anything you want or need on here and I’ll get it for you, all right?”
Yes, I scribbled. Where’s mom and Anna?
“At home. It’s about,” he paused to lift his arm up and read his watch, “well, it’s two a.m. but they will be back at eight. I told them to go rest in their beds.”
How long have you been here? You look like you need some rest.
“Every day. I probably look like shit, don’t I? I’m glad to see those beautiful eyes of yours.”
So sappy. Did you enjoy my cake?
“It melted.”
:( Do I get a new one?
“You can have as many cakes as you want when you’re home again.” He took the pad and pen from me with a mock stern look, then immediately followed it up with a bright smile. “You should get some rest.”
I frowned and shook my head a little, but he wasn’t having any of it. He put his mouth close to my ear and said in a soft voice, “Please. I know how tired you are, and I’ll be here when you wake up again.”
Maybe it was the fact his hand was in mine, his body close to mine, and his words were filled with a warmth that seemed to grow by the second, but I don’t even remember him pulling away.
I drifted off with a smile on my face.
~*~
Annalina’s face was the one I woke up later that morning.
She watched t.v., unaware I had awakened until I whispered, “Hey you.”
Her head whipped around, eyes widening for a split second before she grinned. “Mom.” She stood up and lowered the railing, then hesitated. “I wanna hug you, but I’m afraid I’ll hurt you.”
“Please.” I opened my arms and she leaned over until I could close them around her, as she used her hands to keep her body from resting on mine. “Much better. I love you.”
“I’m sorry,” she blubbered into my shoulder. “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t’ve come up on you like that—“
“Shh, shh. None of that.” I tightened my arms around her. “No need to apologize.”
“I was so scared. But you should’ve seen da—“ Her words cut off, and she pulled back with a gasp. “I mean, you should’ve seen—“
I decided to tease her, but only because she looked so horrified. “Da? Who is Da? A new friend?”
“No—mom. I—“
“Annalina, calm down. It’s okay.” I laughed, happy to discover it didn’t hurt, then patted the bed beside me. “I heard you, you know. Was that my surprise at Christmas? I’m sorry I decided to take a nap if that’s what I missed.”
Her mouth dropped open as she took a step back. “Mom, this is not funny!”
“Honey, if I can’t laugh at this, then no one else can. What would be the fun in that? I was taken out by a cupboard.”
“Actually,” Bradley’s amusement filled voice chimed in from the doorway, “you cracked the cupboard frame and now I need to replace it. I’d say both of you lost that fight.”
Annalina looked from me to Bradley and back again, then covered her mouth and giggled. “Okay, I guess it’s a little funny.”
“Where’s mom?”
Bradley approached the bed and sat on the opposite side of where Annalina stood. Leaning over and sliding his hand behind my neck, he brushed my lips with his and pulled back. “She’s down in the cafeteria, but she’ll be up soon. How are you feeling?”
“Like I want to go home. This bed is uncomfy.”
“Soon.”
Just then, a nurse walked in with a wheelchair, and after declaring I’d get to go home in a little while, removed my IV’s and helped me into the chair.
“First,” she said, “we have to check on one more thing.”
She wheeled me out of the room, Bradley and Annalina trailing us, making me laugh the whole way with their banter.