"Hey sweetheart." Diane came in and sat down beside Randy. "I guess you two were hiding quite the secret."
"That's not entirely true." He sighed. "But I am sorry."
"What is the truth?"
"I just found out before the accident. She just told me."
"It's hard to believe that she kept something like this a secret. That's not like Katie."
"I know. She was scared. She said she didn't know until last month, maybe the month before and I believe her. Am I stupid?"
"No. That child has been just like me all her life and I was four months pregnant with her before I missed my monthly visitor. She hasn't been herself lately. I was so worried that her father may have damaged her more than she could ever overcome."
"He may have." Randy sighed. "But she's at peace now."
"I hope so."
"I know she is. She was an angel here, so I know she's in heaven now."
"Heaven? Randy, Katie survived. She had a rough night and day, but she woke up about an hour or so ago."
"She's okay? Thank you." He closed his eyes and prayed. "But she was gone." He tried to wrap his mind around what he had felt in the car and what he was hearing. "I didn't feel her breathing."
"They saved her, sweetie. They were able to bring her back and she stayed." Diane smiled through her tears. "Something very strong kept her here and I think it was you and that little girl."
"I'm so sorry."
"Randy, everything happens for a reason." Diane smiled and looked at her granddaughter. "Isn't' she precious?"
"She's' beautiful."
"You should go back and rest." She stroked his hair in a motherly fashion.
"I want to see Katie."
"You and Katie will see plenty of each other in a day or so. AS soon as the doctor gives the okay she will be moved to your room."
Randy laughed. "I never thought our parents would allow us to be roommates.
"It's not like we have to worry about the two of you doing anything. For a long time." She laughed again. "Go to bed kid. You better sleep while you can because when that little one comes home, you and Katie will be doing the three am feedings. Not grandma."
"Yes, ma'am."
Randy was taken back to his room. His father was sipping coffee and eating a burger. He scowled at him while he was placed back in his bed. Randy hung his head, waiting on the words that would wound. Instead, Bob threw a double cheeseburger at him. "Don't make a habit of it, kid. Eat."
Randy could barely stand it the next day. The day went by so slowly and by nightfall Katie still had not joined him. The bed beside him remained empty. He called the switchboard, trying to get her room but they told him that the ICU rooms did not have phones, so he dialed Diane instead.
"Randy," she sounded tired. "Katie slipped into a coma."
"No." He shook his head. "You said she was getting better."
"I don't know what happened. She was smiling and then she closed her eyes and …"
"Can I talk to her?" Randy begged. "Can you hold the phone to her ear?"
"Okay."
He didn't know if it would do any good, but he talked to her. He talked to her for a long time and he knew that Diane had him on speaker phone, but he kept talking. He talked to her all night until he fell asleep. "I love you baby." He told her so many times that it became the only clear words he could emit.
The next day, his room was invaded by people in scrubs and white jackets. The other half of his room was being filled with machines and equipment. He guessed he was getting a new roommate and his hopes of seeing Katie in the bed beside him diminished.
Then Diane walked into the room.
"They're bringing her up." She sat beside his bed and tapped his hand. "She smiled last night while you were talking to her. She is responding to your voice. I want her with you. Those doctors say that it's just a reflex and not to get my hopes up." She began to cry. "She was hurt so badly. But I know she hears us. She hears you. They said she's going to die so it doesn't matter where I move her. They want me to sign papers so they can remove … I can't. I can't give up on my little girl."
"Move the bed closer to mine." Randy wanted to yell at the people with their hopeless expressions. They all shook their heads as if Diane and Randy were foolish. He saw the pity in their eyes. They felt sorry for the people who loved this young woman too much to accept reality, but they obliged him and rearranged the equipment and pushed the bed as close to his as they could, then they moved his away from the window so they could still get him in and out of bed, leaving his bed touching what would be hers. Katie was brought in an hour later and he stretched his hand out and took her hand. Randy talked to her every waking moment. He went to visit his baby girl a few times a day and when he would come back, he would tell her all about her progress.
"She's getting so big, sweetheart. You have to wake up soon so you can see."
He went on and on. When he had visitors he talked to her as if she was awake and involved in the conversation. His friends from school thought he had gone mad. Maybe he had. They couldn't believe he had fathered a child with her. But he was proud and vowed he would never again deny how what he felt for Katie.
Ryan walked in later that day, the look on his face when he saw Katie laying there so helpless told him that he had been the one. Randy was livid when he sat down in the chair beside her. Too far away for him to try and take a swing at him. Ryan didn't care. He took her hand and kissed her cheek, completely disrespecting Randy.
"Katie, girl I see you got yourself in another mess." He laughed. "Come on back, beautiful. You're a sweetheart and we need more girls like you in this world." He sighed and turned his attention to the man lying as close as he could get to her. "You're a lucky man, Randy. I know how much she loves you and you don't have to worry about me getting in the way."
"I hope not."
"You don't. But I can't stop wondering about the baby."
"You slept with her two months ago, Ryan. She was almost six months. What makes you think that child is yours. That little girl wouldn't exist if Katie wasn't so far along."
"I guess not. I loved her too Randy." He wiped a tear away. "But you always had her heart. I'll see you around. I hope there's no hard feelings."
"Life's too short for that crap."
"That's true. You're all in my prayers. Katie … you and the baby."
"Thanks." He waited for him to leave. "OH, baby. I need you." He squeezed her hand. "I don't care about Ryan. No one does. How can I be mad at him for wanting you? You're so beautiful and sweet and kind. Everyone loves you once they get a chance to know you. Hell, I even heard John say something about falling for you once." Randy laughed. "He pissed me off. I had to deck him." He thought he felt her fingers move, but he sighed, knowing it was his imagination.
Everyday someone tried to convince Diane to shut off Katie's life support. The entire time he would sit beside her in his wheelchair, squeezing her hand and begging her to wake up. Maybe he was selfish, but he would rather have her lying in eternal sleep in that hospital forever, than bury her in some cold cemetery. Either way she would be gone, but at least his way, he could still look at her whenever he wanted. He could hold her hand and talk to her. She would never be completely gone and there would always be hope.