Chapter Ten

Sam began to wake as the morning light danced its way over his face. He had slept in the chair by Ivy's bed for the remainder of the night in case she woke up. He strained to sit up in the chair and let out a yawn. It had been a very long night for the Bennett Family. He checked his watch: eight-forty a.m.

He looked at his wife, who was still sleeping, and then at each machine and tube that was hooked to her fragile body. He just couldn't get over how much she had deteriorated over the past year. She had always been so strong, so sure of herself in body and spirit, and now this.

Sam reached over and began to stroke her hand, "Ivy, I'm here for you. I made a vow over twenty-five years ago that we would always be together. A few things may have gotten in our way, but that still hasn't stopped us. I remember once in the park," he let out a light laugh, "we were having a picnic and saw your father there walking in our direction. We thought for sure we had been caught and ran behind some bushes. We waited and watched as he met up with one of his business partners. I can still remember feeling so relieved that he hadn't seen us," Sam grew serious then, "There was always that risk with you Ivy. Our love had to stay hidden, but not now. I can shout from the rooftops that I love Ivy Winthrop Bennett and no one can take you away from me. I just want you to know that I have always loved you. I know that you think being sick is a burden to me so you pretend like everything is fine. But it's not a burden, Ivy. You have to understand that when times are tough, when you think you've hit rock bottom, even when life becomes hopeless, I'll always be here for you."

Sam continued to talk to her until he saw her eyes slowly flutter open. Her hand went to the oxygen mask and she struggled to remove it.

Sam placed his hand on hers to stop her, "It's okay, it's okay. Leave it on. Thank God you're awake," he said, taking her hand and kissing it. "I'll be right back. I'm going to get Eve."

He stopped in the doorway and looked at her for a few seconds more. He had never been more scared in his life than he had been in the past seven hours. He had always known how serious her illness was, but it had never quite sunk in until that night.

A few minutes later Eve walked into the room with Sam close behind carrying a pitcher of water and a cup.

"I'm glad to see that you're awake, Ivy," Eve said as she walked to the monitors and wrote down the results on her clip board, "Your vitals and blood pressure are a lot better this morning. You can remove the oxygen if you'd like. I told one of the nurses to bring in a nasal cannula so that you can remove the oxygen mask and talk to us," she smiled, "Are you feeling better?"

Sam helped Ivy get the mask over her head and then handed her a cup of water which she gladly accepted. After a couple sips she replied, "I don't remember much about how I got here, honestly. The pain in my back is terrible, though," she said as Sam sat beside her in the bed.

"I'll increase your medication drip then," Eve said as she made some adjustment to the IV, "Are you feeling well enough to go over the test results?"

Ivy nodded, although she wasn't sure if she wanedt to know what the results were.

"I was telling Sam earlier…" Eve went on to tell Ivy about the test changes and surgery options.

"So there's a chance that it might not work or it could be fatal?" Ivy looked down at the white cover that was over her lower body, then at the machines that were all around her. Was that really how she wanted to spend the remainder of her life?

"There is a possibility that it may not work, but it could be your only option for a cure. And yes, complications could arise that could cause death, as in any major surgery," Eve answered.

Ivy considered this for a moment. Looking from Sam to Eve she finally replied, "I'll take my chances. I want to have it."

Sam let out a faint cry; of relief-or fear-he wasn't exactly sure. The surgery could possibly save his wife's life, but it could also take her away. He gave Ivy's shoulder a tight squeeze and tried to remain positive, "You'll do just fine Ivy."