Doug's father had been in surgery for an hour. Doug felt emotionally exhausted. His brothers and sisters-in-law were there spread out on the sofas in the tiny waiting room.
Doug's mom, Nina, was just too nervous to sit. Every time she tried she found herself standing up and pacing around the room. Finally, Mike looked at her and told her, "Mom why don't you at least change the scenery and walk down the halls." Her oldest smiled and pointed his head to the door. Nina smiled and let out a small laugh. "Good idea, I think that I will do that," Nina replied. She walked out the door into the hallway.
For his part Doug decided to try and get some sleep. He didn't think that he would be able to sleep. But he decided to try. It took about ten minutes and Doug was completely asleep.
Anne looked at Thad, "I have a good feeling about him, Thad, he's strong. I think he's going to make things work." Thad smiled at his sleeping baby brother and replied, "I know he will Anne. Deep down inside Doug is tough. He's a fighter just like dad." Anne smiles and puts her head on Thad's shoulder.
Ste walked to the ICU Nurses Desk and saw an African-American Woman standing there reviewing some charts.
Ste asked, "excuse me, could you tell me where I could find the family of Mr. Nick Carter?"
She looked at the well-dressed foreigner and said to him, "I'm sorry this floor is reserved for family only." With a cheeky grin, Ste replied, "I am family. I am Mr. Carter's son-in-law. His son, Doug, is my husband." That caused the nurse shake her head and laugh, "why is it the best looking ones are always gay," she says. A bewildered Ste looks at her and says, "excuse me." "Nothing honey, come this way and I'll take you to them," she says.
She moved around the nurses station and sees that he has a duffel bag. She looks at him inquisitively. Ste looks down at the bag and then to the nurse, "I just arrived from England," Ste says to her. "You don't say," she says as she gives him a smile. "Tell you what why don't we leave your bag here behind the nurses station while you are here," she says. Ste smiles at her, "Oh thank you that would be a big help." Ste puts the bag down and then follows her down the hall.
Nina Carter feels like she had worn a path into the hallway. She feels the nerves within her, and she tries to quiet her mind. She rubs her eyes. As she does, She doesn't see Ste and the nurse approaching her. "Mrs. Carter, the nurse says, I have your son-in-law here to see you." Nina looks up and standing before her is this gorgeous young man in a black suit holding a bouquet of flowers. Ste doesn't speak at first. He only smiles at her. Nina says to the nurse, "thank you so much Janice. I appreciate you bringing him down here." Janice pats Ste on the shoulder and returns to her station.
Nina continues to look at Ste. He is here standing in front of me, she thinks. He was taller than she remembered. She could see why her baby had fallen for him. He was handsome. Now, here he was in the flesh. He made the trip from England across the Atlantic to New York City just to be here. She thinks to herself if that is not love then what is? Dougie, you have to see that.
Nina interrupts the silence, "I'm Nina, Doug's Mom. I don't know if you remember me or not" Ste says to her, " I do. It's a pleasure to see you again. I hope that I'm not imposing by coming here." Nina replies, "Of course not...after all...you are family. I know that you and Doug have had some problems." Ste does not say anything only nods his head a little. "What's important is that you are here. Thank you for making the long trip. The waiting room is down here. Doug's there now." Ste hands her the bouquet of flowers. She puts a hand on his cheek and smiles at him. "So very sweet, thank you very much, Stephen" Nina says. "Please call me Ste. I much prefer it, Ste says to her."
Nina opens the door and comes into the small room. Mike says to her, "I thought that you were going to take a walk." She has a serious look on her face. Mike and the rest of the family soon understand the reason for her expression. Ste follows Nina into the room. There was a pregnant pause when time seems to stop and everyone holds a collective breath. Mike whispers, "does he (pointing to a sleeping Doug) know?" Nina shakes her head and quietly speaks , "No it is Ste's surprise." Suddenly the mood in the room brightens as they realize that Ste has come from England to surprise his husband. Camilla whispers to Mike, "Oh My God how Romantic."
Nina motions for Ste to stay where he is. Ste nods and stays in place. Nina approaches a sleeping Doug. She gently rocks Doug and quietly speaks into his ear, "Doug, it's time to wake up." Doug slowly starts to wake up. "Is the surgery over? Is dad okay," a groggy Doug asks. "No honey, he is still in surgery, Nina says to Doug. "Did you have a good nap sweetheart," Nina asks him. "I did," Doug replies, "Ste was there." His mom doesn't say anything only smiles.
Doug looks at his brothers and his sister-in-laws and for some reason they are all smiling. Doug is confused but attributes that to having been asleep. His mom interrupts his thoughts, "Doug, someone is here to see you," she says. "See me," he asks. Nina says, "turn around Doug"
Doug turns to see standing there in his black suit. Doug shakes his head as if it was all a dream. "Hi Doug" is all Ste says. Doug momentarily looks down and gets up from the chair. Doug's eyes have started to fill with tears, and he walks over to meet his husband's outstretched arms.
Doug just lets go of all the pain and hurt and starts to cry. The more he sobs the tighter that Ste embraces him. Doug tries to talk through a tear-strained voice. "Your email…..so beautiful. Now…..here" "Shhh don't cry," Ste says, "baby, I'm here now." Ste wipes the tears away from Doug's Cheeks. "I love you, where you go I go. Don't leave me again Doug. You are my life I don't want to be without you." With tears still flowing from those beautiful blue eyes, Doug doesn't say anything just nods.
Ste guides Doug back to his chair and bends down next to him to speak. "I don't care what has happened in our past. I married you. That commitment means something to me. You mean everything to me. I came here for you and to support you. All of you."
As Doug's family looks on, Doug continues to cry as he looks down at the floor away from Ste.
Doug starts to speak and his voice is filled with remorse. "I am so ashamed so embarrassed. I couldn't be the husband you needed, Doug says."
Shaking his head, Ste puts his hand under Doug's chin and tilts his face upward so he can look him in the eye. Ste says, "Doug, you loved me with all your heart. It was me, not you that failed. I was caught up in my own problems. Too often I could not adequately explain and I took my problems out on you. That wasn't right. I'm so sorry. I had your love and I had no idea how precious it was. It was my fault. Can u ever forgive me? I can't bear the thought of being without you in my life.
Doug looks Ste in the eye and shakes his head. "I did all the wrong things for all the right reasons," Doug says. "I wanted so much for you to be free of your past. But every time I stepped in I made a mess of things."
Ste strokes Doug's check and tells him, "That's not true Doug. It was never you. I was the one who couldn't see what was right there in front of me. It was you who made me want to be a better man, one that was worthy of someone as wonderful as you. You are the one that helped me be a better father to the kids. I can never thank you for all that you've done for me. So don't say you made a mess of things cause I don't think that."
Looking around at Doug's family Ste goes on, "And although I don't know them. I don't think your family thinks you any less a man. I was stupid."
Doug shakes his head and pull Ste close to him. "Don't ever see that. You are not stupid," Doug tells him.
Ste gives him a slight smile, "I am when it comes to love and us. You were right there my everything and I did not see it. That makes be stupid or blind," he says laughing a little to break the mood in the room.
There is a silence. No one is sure what is going to happen next. Ste decides I have to do it. I have to put me whole heart out there. I gotta do this. I traveled here to do this so here goes.
Ste speaks and this time he chokes up a little and tears form in his eyes. "Doug," he pauses and takes Doug's right hand, "I don't want to lose you." And quite defiantly Ste says, "I have no intention of losing you. I'm going to fight for you Douglas Carter. I'm gonna fight for us and our family. This is not our end. I love you. We belong together!"
Doug just looks up deep into Ste's eyes. He can see fire there beneath the tears. Doug always loved that look when Ste's fierce protective instincts took over. He knows that a determined Ste is a forced to be reckoned with when he has made up his mind.
Doug nodded and says, "I want so much to try and put us back together. I think we have so much to talk about. Ste says I'm not going anywhere Doug. I'm here."
There it was Doug thought. He does want us. He wants to be with me. No one else but me. You gotta try, Doug, he says to himself. You love this man like you've never loved anyone before. Don't throw it away. You let love go, and it came back to you. Isn't that what you said to him at the airport?
Doug gives Ste a real smile from ear to ear. Thank you he says to him and pulls him into a kiss. This was not just any kiss. This was one of those passionate kisses that had both Doug and Ste wishing they were anywhere but a hospital waiting room.
