"Your mother isn't in pain. I think she's just frustrated," Victor said into the phone.
"Are they thinking about changing her meds again?" Melissa asked, doodling on a piece of paper.
"It's a possibility. Were you coming in for the party on Saturday anyway?"
"I was planning on it. Are Doug and Julie still planning on having the party?"
"I don't know. Everything is up in the air now," Victor said.
"How are you doing?" Melissa asked.
"I'm just in a holding pattern. She makes me go to the office for a couple hours each day and home for sleep and showers. But all I want is to hold her and make her better," Victor said.
"I know the feeling. But right now, you just need to be patient. Victor, Mom gets mean and crabby when she gets sick. "
"I found that out today. I had to pull off the road on the way to the hospital to convince her to go," Victor said.
"Dad was wonderful at the home stuff but the hospital made him uncomfortable. Being one of the only Hortons not in the field of medicine wasn't easy. I think Grandma or Julie stayed overnight with Mom in the hospital more than Dad. My father loved my mother so much, but there were things he wasn't good at. This was one of them. That fact you're staying with her the majority of the time is a change for her," Melissa said.
"I took a leave of absent from work," Victor said.
"Ah. Does she know?" Melissa asked.
"No. I just go to the office and stare at the walls. I can't throw money at this. She would just resent me if I flew specialists in. But the waiting is killing me," Victor said.
"Well, she's not having much fun, either. Just be patient. Did you ask her yet?" Melissa asked.
"Yeah, we're looking at summer in two years. I should thank you for forgiving me for what I did to you. The past things I've done…" Victor trailed off.
"Will remain in the past. I've watched you with Mom and Mom does much better with you than without you. Sarah grudgingly agrees. So right now you just need to wait and don't let her push you away. I fly in Thursday night so I'll see you in three days. Call me if anything changes, "Melissa said.
"I will. Bye," Victor hung up the phone. He stared at the wall again.
Julie looked up from her book as Nathan came in. She started to get up but he shook his head.
"I'm on my break and wonder if she needed anything. I'm running out for pancakes," Nathan said.
"It's like two-thirty in the afternoon and you want pancakes?" Julie asked.
"I've been here for thirty-one hours. It's breakfast time to me," Nathan shrugged as he read Maggie's chart.
"How is she?"
"Actually I shouldn't tell you," Nathan said.
"Actually, Dr. Horton, you shouldn't be reading my chart," Maggie corrected sleepily.
"Hello, Grandma," Nathan leaned over and kissed Maggie.
"Breakfast break?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah. Rod and Staff has a special. Do you need anything?"
"No, I'm good. Did your mom call you?" Maggie asked.
"Yes, she's coming in Thursday. How are you?" Nathan asked.
"Exhausted. I keep sleeping through my visitors," Maggie said sheepishly.
"Well, you need sleep. Your I.V. needs to be change. I'll mention that to the nurse," Nathan said, on his way out.
"Where's Victor?" Julie asked.
"Work. He gets anxious if he doesn't go in for a couple hours a day. I get annoyed with him if he's here all day," Maggie explained.
"And yet you want to marry him," Julie said.
"Yeah, well, he's good in bed," Maggie said dryly.
Julie looked at Maggie, wanting to make a comment but knowing she shouldn't. Maggie's eyes sparkled with mischievous.
"I wouldn't know. We never got that far on our dates," Julie said.
"You missed out," Maggie said.
"Oh, in that case, do you think you and Doug would mind if Victor and I went out?"
"I think Victor would mind if I lend him out to you," Maggie said, laughing.
"Why are you lending me to Julie?" Victor asked, entering the room.
"I'm not. It's—" Maggie shook her head. Julie laughed.
"I'll let you visit. Bye Maggie. Victor," Julie said.
"Hi, sweetheart," Victor kissed his fiancée.
"Hi. How was work?" Maggie asked.
"Good. Melissa called. We had a good talk. How was your day?"
"I just slept all day. They keep running new i.v.s through me and no better," Maggie shrugged.
"But no worse?" Victor asked.
"The same. I feel like I'm in limbo," Maggie sighed.
"Limbo's not bad, maybe."
"Mmm. Could you take the day off tomorrow?" Maggie yawned.
"Of course. Whatever you need," Victor said.
"Whatever?" Maggie smiled.
"I'd buy the whole country of Greece for you," Victor said.
"Just hold me."
"I can do that," Victor climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around Maggie.