Pursuit For Lucidity (Crashing Waves) (67 page)

“
Where is Alex?” my father asked.

“
He’s in surgery.  He will be here right after he’s done,” I replied.

“
Sweetheart, after you’re discharged from here, why don’t you come home and I will take time off to take care of you until you’re better,” my mother’s idea.

“
I’m fine, mom.  I just want to be with Alex at my place.  He takes very good care of me,” I replied.

“
I know he takes good care of you, I’m not saying he doesn’t.  Wherever you want to stay is fine with me.  I just wanted to offer,” she said.

“
Thanks mom.  I don’t know what I would do without you guys,” I said, looking at my father.

M
y parents stayed for a while, but noticed I was getting very tired.  After they left, I realized how nice it was of Alex to call them and let them know what had happened to me.  Not even ten minutes after my parents left, Stefano walked in with flowers and
get well soon
balloons.

“
Hey you.  I’m so sorry about what happened to you, Claire.  How are you doing?” he asked.

“
Hi, Stefano, so sweet of you to come.  Let me guess.  Alex called you last night,” I said.

“
Yes, he did and I didn’t like what he had to say.  I’m just glad you’re all right.  It could have been so much worse,” he replied.

“
How have you been?  How is Mandy?  I missed you guys,” I confessed.

“
We missed you too.  Mandy is very good, actually.  She couldn’t come with me because of work, but she sends you good health wishes and hopes you feel better very soon.  You need to stop spending time as a patient in these hospitals, Claire,” he joked.

“
Believe me, I tried, but it just didn’t happen,” I smiled.  I was so happy to see Stefano.  He kept making me laugh, but the pain in my ribs wouldn’t allow me to have any fun.  I begged him to stop, as it was difficult to tolerate when I began to laugh at his jokes.

“
Knock knock,” Alex said as he returned from morning surgery.  I hadn’t realized it was almost one o’clock in the afternoon.  He greeted Stefano as if he were his good friend.  I liked the change I saw in Alex that day.

“
I’m going to head out and leave you two lovebirds alone,” Stefano joked.  “I hope you feel better soon and I will come see you with Mandy next time,” he said as he leaned down and gave me a light hug, making sure he didn’t hurt me.  He gave Alex a quick hug as well and headed out.

“
Alex, how sweet of you to let my parents and Stefano know about my condition.  My day went by so fast, since they all visited.  I’m feeling so much better and my mood is much higher than it was this morning after you left for work,” I confessed.

“
I contacted all the people you care about and who care about you.  You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this,” he said as he lay down on the bed next to me, trying hard not to hurt me as I was still in pain from my ribs.  He gently put his hand on my face and turned it to face him.

“
I love you, baby,” he said, softly kissing my dry lips.  “I love you so much that if anything had happened to you yesterday, my life would have ended as well,” he confessed.

The nurse came into the room to check on me as she did every hour
to make sure I was comfortable.  “Oh, hi Dr. Blake.  How are you feeling, Miss Morgan?” she asked.

“
It hurts a lot when I try to take a deep breath,” I replied.

After looking in the computer, she agreed that
it was time for some IV pain medication.  She left the room and came back with the medication she pushed through the IV, causing my eyelids to get heavy, but making it so much easier to take deep breaths.  Alex made sure I exercised my lungs, so that they didn’t collapse, as he feared could happen.

I must have slept for a good three hours because when I opened my eyes, Laura was standing next to me, speaking with Alex.  Her eyes lit up when I awakened, “Claire, how are you?  I’m so glad you are all right.  Why didn’t you mention anything about cramping
yesterday?  I would have stayed with you and wheeled you to the doctor,” she said.

“
I really didn’t think I was going to start hemorrhaging and miscarry,” I replied.  Laura was such a genuine person.  She stayed with me for a few hours and told me about the interesting day she had with Taryn barging into Walter’s office as usual.  She was making me laugh until she realized it was too painful for me and began to talk about serious things.

A gentle knock on the door brought in Katherine and John, and my brothers Kyle and Calvin followed with Molly
holding a box of my favorite chocolates.  Alex hadn’t left anyone out.  He knew the only way to bring my mood up was to be surrounded by those that I loved.

As if
I didn’t already have a room full of visitors, Walter and Taryn showed up as well.  I wasn’t comfortable with Taryn in the room at all.  I couldn’t help but feel that she was happy about what had happened to me.  I didn’t need her artificial sympathy.

“
We missed you up there today, Claire,” said Walter.  “Take all the time you need to recover.  I don’t want you to come back until you’re one hundred percent back to your healthy self,” he added.

Alex helped introduce everyone to each other as I was lacking energy from entertaining visitors since that morning.  Everyone began to mingle with one another, making small talk, when Taryn decided to open her mouth, “So, Claire, you’re not going to sue the hospital or anything are you?  I mean you
did
fall at the work place,” she laughed.  No one else seemed to find it funny, especially Walter.  She must have noticed the tension because she made up an excuse about running errands and left.  Katherine looked at me and smiled, as she had finally met the promiscuous woman from work that I kept telling her about. 

Laura was the first to
speak after Taryn left the room.  “Only she would say something so uncomfortable,” she said.  We all agreed and laughed.  It was getting late and everyone headed back to daily routines.  The hugs, kisses, and good health wishes were endless.  After everyone left, Alex laid down next to me, “Guess what?” he asked.  “The doctor said that if you feel good tomorrow, he may discharge you, so you will be home in time for Thanksgiving,” he beamed.

“
Oh, Alex, I really hope so.  I really am feeling much better.  My headache is milder and I could take oral pain medication for my ribs.  My arm is manageable as long as I don’t try to use it,” I replied.

“
I’m not working tomorrow.  I asked one of my colleagues to cover the surgery.  It’s very minor and he’s pretty good, so I’m going to spend the day with you and hopefully take you home,” he smiled.

“I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a very nice day,” I winked.

“It is, indeed.  Now, get some rest, so you can prove you’re ready to go home tomorrow,” he commanded.

“
I know, I know.  Doctor’s orders,” I replied.

“
I’m going to grab a change of clothes from my locker and shower,” he replied, kissing me softly on the lips before heading out the door.

As Alex was heading out the door, Kristen and Mandy walked in with flowers and balloons.  Alex greeted them and excused himself, since he wanted to shower and change.

“
Hey, girl,” Kristen said as she walked over to me, putting her hand on the top of my head as a mother would to her child, “I’m glad you’re all right.  I’m so sorry about the baby,” she said with compassion.

“
Hi, Claire,” Mandy wanted to give me a hug, but recalled the broken ribs and didn’t want to hurt me.  “It’s good to see you in one piece.  I wanted to come with Stefano yesterday, but work always gets in the way of what I want to do,” she said, chuckling.

“
Thank you.  I’m so glad you two came.  You girls didn’t have to go out of your way. I know it’s a busy week with Thanksgiving around the corner and all,” I replied.

“
You’re definitely missed in dance class, Claire,” Kristen began.  “It’s not the same without you.  I hope someday after you’re back on your feet again, you can return,” she said.

“
I hope so.  Let’s see what the future holds for me,” I replied.

Alex returned shortly, showered and changed
into clean scrubs, with his wet hair fallen partially over his eye.  Kristen and Mandy looked like two star struck teenagers in his presence.  I didn’t blame them, as even I felt that way at times.

After Kristen and Mandy
left, I asked for pain medication, as it was getting more painful to take deep breaths.  The nurse came back with it and pushed it into the IV.  I had talked and laughed so much with my friends and family visiting that day, that I had overexerted myself.  I was drowsy in no time and could hear Alex mumbling something in my ear about how much he loved me.  I tried to keep my eyes open, but failed.  I couldn’t wait to get out of that hospital and sleep in my own comfortable bed.

<><><>

I was cleared for discharge the following morning and couldn’t be happier.  The doctor told me I would have to rest and take it easy for the next six weeks until my ribs healed completely.  I was quiet on the drive home, quiet enough for Alex to question what I was thinking about.

“
I’m thinking about taking a nice warm shower and washing my hair,” I confessed.  Alex laughed and promised he would take care of that as soon as we got home.

What a relief it was to walk into my condo, knowing that I would be in the comfort of my own home during my time of healing.  Alex helped me
up the steps to take a shower.  He undressed me slowly and assisted me into the shower.  He undressed as well and joined me, as he had promised to help me wash my hair.  The warm water felt wonderful on my skin.  Alex shampooed and conditioned my hair and lathered my body and was very careful with the areas of my body that were still very tender from the fall.

I felt a sudden emptiness and couldn’t help but begin to cry.  It hurt to cry, as it was hard enough to breathe normally due to my fractured ribs.  Alex held me close and assured me that everyth
ing was going to be all right.

“
We’re going to get through this together, baby, I promise,” he assured.

I knew we would get through it
, but I didn’t know when or how.  I was glad Alex had taken the remainder of that week off and I wouldn’t be alone.  I was glad the following day was Thanksgiving, as I had plenty to be thankful for.

He turned off the shower and helped me get out, dried me off, helped me into my clothes, applied the splint to my forearm that he had removed before the shower, and dried my hair.  There wasn’t anything Alex wouldn’t do for me.  It was clear to me that he would mov
e mountains for me if he could.

Alex’s sister Melissa and her boyfriend Paul were headed to the hospital when Alex told them I had been discharged and was home.  They paid me a visit with flowers and balloons as well.  My condo was filled with bea
utiful flowers and balloons.  Melissa was so happy to see me that she hugged me quite hard, then realized that wasn’t comfortable for me.

“
Oh, I’m sorry, Claire.  I should be more careful.  I’m just so glad to see you on your feet after what I heard happened to you,” she said.

Paul agreed with her, “So glad t
o see you’re doing well, Claire,” he said.  Melissa had asked me to a fashion show, which was just a few weeks away, but I had to decline.  She understood that I probably wouldn’t be completely healed by then.

“
I was really looking forward to it, Melissa.  I was going to call you and let you know I would come, but unfortunately I have to pass this time,” I explained.

“
No worries.  We just want you to get better, so you can put this behind you.  There’s light at the end of the tunnel for you and Alex.  This is just a bump in the road,” she assured.

After Melissa and Paul left, I felt a bit better.  Alex lit the fireplace, put on a funny movie, and made popcorn and hot cocoa. 
I ended up to be the boring date, since I fell asleep less than twenty minutes into the movie.  When I awakened, I was in my bed with Alex asleep beside me.  I took a hold of his hand before I fell asleep again.  It was a sense of security, holding onto him.  It made me feel as though the nightmares would vanish as long as I held tightly to his hand.  With those thoughts, I drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

<><><>

The days passed by very slowly with Alex at work and me at home with nothing to do but rest, so I could heal quickly before Christmas.  My follow up visit with the doctor had gone very well and the chest x-ray showed I was almost back to my old self, however I was to be off work for at least another month. I had set an appointment with Dr. Holmes as well to ensure I did not have any more surprise pregnancies in the future.

“
I think an intrauterine device is a great option for you, Claire.  You don’t have to remember to take a pill and if you decide you want to try to get pregnant in the future, we will just remove it.  It’s as simple as that,” she explained.