chapter FIFTY-NINE
One week later, Friday, April 29
“Whoa, Momma! You’re lookin’ good,” Zane teased when he walked into Lorrie’s room. “You ’bout ready to bust outta this joint?”
Lorrie smiled at her youngest son. For the first time in a month, she felt human again. The pain was mostly gone. The infection was disintegrating thanks to the fact that the doctors had pinpointed it and knew how to treat it. She wasn’t sleeping twenty-four hours a day, and as of this morning, she was officially a free woman.
“More than ever,” she told him.
Yes, she was ready to get out of this place. She was ready to go home, ready to get back to living her life. These past few weeks had been difficult, but more so for her family, the ones who had lived minute by minute wondering if the worst would happen. That morning when the doctor had come in to sign her release, he’d told her that if she hadn’t remembered that little detail, she probably wouldn’t be with them today.
“Pop is bringin’ the truck around. I’m here to make sure you’re not mobbed on the way out the door. I mean, seriously, you got a town named by you.”
“Oh, hush,” she told her boy, giggling.
When the nurse came in a minute later, Zane grabbed her things while Lorrie got situated in the wheelchair so they could take her to the exit. She would’ve preferred to walk, but they insisted that she continue to take it easy, allow her body to heal completely before she tried to trek too far.
Lorrie wasn’t going to argue.
Fifteen minutes later, Curtis was helping her into the truck and Zane was climbing into the backseat. When Curtis started out of the parking lot, he took her hand, linked their fingers, and remained quiet for most of the way home. Lorrie didn’t mind the silence; she’d heard nothing but beeping machines and muttering voices day and night for weeks on end, so she appreciated the quiet.
“Is everyone at work?” she finally asked when they pulled into the driveway half an hour later.
“Back at it,” Zane confirmed. “You know how it is around here.”
She did. And she was glad that her boys could get back to their lives, back to their families. Those were the important things, and she didn’t want them to miss out on a second. She certainly hadn’t, that was for sure.
Curtis parked the truck, then insisted on helping her out and leading her to the front door. Once inside, Lorrie took a deep breath and… “What’s that smell?”
Zane’s grin went from ear to ear. “Dinner.”
“Dinner?” Lorrie looked at Curtis. “It’s only lunchtime.”
“It is,” her husband agreed, taking her arm and leading her into the living room.
And that was when Lorrie saw them.
All of them.
Her boys, their significant others, her grandbabies, the dogs, her nephews and nieces, brothers and sisters, in-laws. They were all there, crowded into the kitchen, spilling out into the living room and probably the dining room and maybe even the backyard, for all she could tell.
“Oh,” Curtis said, looking serious. “Did I forget to mention that we’re having Sunday dinner today?”
She pursed her lips and glared at him, unable to keep from laughing.
“Who’s doing the cooking?” she asked, turning to look at the others.
She noticed a small hand go up in the air from behind the others. “I am!” Zoey announced.
“Well, in that case, let’s eat.”
When the house finally cleared out, long after it’d gotten dark outside, Curtis wanted nothing more than to spend some quiet hours with his wife. He was proud of himself. For the better part of the day, he had managed not to suffocate her, but it hadn’t been easy. The only thing he wanted to do was wrap his arms around her, hold her close to his body, and never let her go. Ever.
He made his way to the bedroom, finding the door open and Lorrie sitting at her desk, writing in her diary. Tapping on the doorjamb to get her attention, he smiled when she looked his way.
“Writin’ in your book?”
She nodded.
“Can I read it?”
She nodded again.
After toeing off his boots, he crawled into bed.
“I thought you wanted to read it,” she said, watching him from across the room.
“I do.” He patted the bed beside him.
She gave a little head shake, clearly finding him amusing. Or so he wanted to believe. She got to her feet, picked up her book, then joined him on the bed. Before she could hand him the book, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him, clutching her tightly, her head resting on his chest.
A tear escaped him, but he didn’t try to stop it. He simply held her as tight as he dared.
“I’m sorry it’s been so rough these past few weeks,” she said, her words vibrating against his chest.
“It’s not your fault,” he told her.
“No, but I know it’s been hard. I hated seeing you and the boys upset.”
He ran his hand over her hair. “Honey, that’s part of it.”
“I know,” she told him. “When you love someone, the pain can sometimes be unbearable.”
“But it’s worth every second,” he noted.
“Yes, it definitely is. And we’ve had a lifetime of seconds.”
He smiled. “I hope you know that’s not nearly long enough. I need another lifetime with you.”
She laughed.
“I love you, darlin’,” he whispered against her hair. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all that. I would’ve given anything to take away your pain.”
Lorrie squeezed him. “You can’t fix everything.”
“No, but I’ll damn sure try.”
“I know you will. And that’s why I love you. That’s why I’ve always loved you.” She lifted her head and smiled, wiping away the tear on his cheek. “You are my love that lasts a lifetime.”
“Hey…” Curtis shifted lower, pulling her closer. “That’s my line. You can’t go stealin’ my lines.”
“What’re you gonna do about it?”
He grinned, and for the first time in days, he felt whole again. “I’m sure I’ll think of somethin’.”
“I’m sure you will,” she agreed. “You always do.”
April 29, 2016
It feels as though I’ve been given another chance, more time with the only thing that matters to me. Family. It’s been a rough few weeks, but I’m here, still fighting, still moving forward, just as I plan to be for years to come. I hope God knows that I’m not done here yet. I haven’t gotten to spoil all of my grandkids, or my great-nieces and -nephews, to watch them grow up and become the incredible people they will become. I haven’t had the chance to see our nieces and nephews get married, have babies. And I intend to be here for those moments, to share those happy memories with those whom I love, with the most incredible man at my side … for a long time to come.