Chapter 21

The doctor finally made it to Niles' room. Daphne felt like she had been waiting forever for the doctor to arrive. The nurse came almost immediately but it took the doctor awhile longer because he had a patient in surgery. He came straight to Niles' room after the surgery. He was glad to know that Niles was awake because he was in a coma longer than he should have been. The doctor was worried that Niles would never wake up, but he's just glad he's finally awake.

The doctor continues to examine Niles as he shines a light in his eyes. His pupils dilate indicating that his sight is restored and that is a very good sign. Daphne watches the doctor examine Niles.

"How is Niles, doctor?" Daphne asks.

The doctor stops what he is doing for a moment and looks at Daphne.

"So far he is doing well. He has his sight back."

Daphne grins.

"Oh that is wonderful news! I am so happy to hear that!"

The doctor nods and smiles back at Daphne. He then turns back and continues what he was doing.

"I am going to be at this awhile if you would like to go get a cup of coffee or something."

Daphne agrees.

"That's a good idea, it will also give me a chance to call the family and give them the good news. Thank you, doctor."

The doctor looks up and nods as Daphne excuses herself to find the coffee machine and a place to call the family.

Meanwhile…

Ashling has been enjoying spending time with her grandparents. She was playing with the dog outside before it starting raining. Now she's playing Monopoly with her grandparents. The game is interrupted when Martin has to excuse himself to go to the bathroom.

Martin makes it to the bathroom and locks the door behind him. He sits down on the toilet and takes a pill bottle out of his pocket. He opens the bottle with shaky hands, takes a pill out and places it under his tongue. He then grabs a towel and wipes the sweat from his forehead. He hasn't been able to tell his wife or family that he has a heart condition. They don't even know he is taking Nitroglycerin. He has been able to hide it well. He doesn't know how much longer he will be able to keep it from them because he has had to increase his dosage. He is up to five pills a day now and it's only a matter of time before that won't even be enough. He hasn't told the family because they have enough to deal with, with Niles being in the hospital. He doesn't want them to worry about him as well. He knows he will eventually have to tell the family, he just doesn't know how or when.

Martin finally makes it out of the bathroom and hobbles back into the living room. Just when he gets there, the phone rings. Ronee is the one to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hi Ronee, it's me Daphne."

"Oh hi Daphne, is something the matter?"

Ashling hears her mother's name and joins her grandmother by the phone.

"Put it on speaker, Grammy!"

Ronee puts the phone on speaker.

"Are you there, Ronee?" Daphne asks.

"Yes Daphne, I'm here. Ashling just wanted me to put the phone on speaker. So what's going on? Why are you calling?"

"Well, I have the best news. Niles is awake! He woke up just a little while ago."

Martin, Ronee and Ashling are all in shock at first, disbelieving what they are hearing.

Ashling is the first to say something.

"Daddy's awake? Is it really true, mummy?"

"Yes, it's true sweetie. Daddy's awake and he can see."

Martin, Ronee and Ashling are as happy as they hug one another with tears of joy.

"Thanks for letting us know, Daphne. We will be at the hospital as soon as we can."

Ronee hangs up the phone and goes back to hugging her husband and granddaughter. This is the best news ever. They celebrate for a few more moments and then gather their things to leave for the hospital.

Meanwhile…

David's friends finally made it and were all down in the basement listening to music and hanging out. They are getting ready to order some pizzas. Emily, Sarah, Katie and Vanessa are still in Emily's room hanging out and talking. They decide that they want pizza too so they leave the bedroom to find David so they can tell him what kind of pizza they want. On their way to the basement, Vanessa is admiring all their photos and things on the walls when she comes across an authentic Union Jack flag hanging out of a vase next to an American flag. She picks it up and looks at it.

"Emily, why do you have a British flag in your house?"

Emily stops walking and looks at Vanessa.

"I'm sorry Vanessa, what did you ask me?"

Vanessa holds up the flag and poses her question again.

"Why do you have a British flag in your house?"

Emily looks at the flag before answering.

"My mother is English."

Vanessa smiles as she puts the flag back in the vase.

"That is very cool."

Emily smiles in agreement.

"Yes it is very cool. She has promised to take me and my brother and sister to visit someday soon."

"That would be a lot of fun to see where your mom grew up." Vanessa replies.

"Yes it would, my mom is always telling stories about Manchester. It is always so fascinating listening to her stories. I will admit though she can be hard to understand when she really gets going. It's rather funny actually." Emily explains with a smile.

Her friends smile back as they continue talking, forgetting what they had set out to do. They are so engrossed in conversation that when the phone rings, it startles all of them.

"Sorry excuse me. I have to get that."

Emily excuses herself to answer the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Emily, it's me."

"Oh hi, mum. I know you are calling to check up on me. We are fine; we were just about to order some pizzas."

"That's just fine, Emily but that's not why I'm calling."

Emily starts to become concerned.

"Why are you calling then?" she asks.

"Your daddy is awake, sweetie. He woke up just a little while ago."

Emily gets a big smile on her face.

"Daddy's awake?"

"Yes and he's doing great. He's got his sight back, too."

"Oh mum, that's the best news ever! I can't wait to see him. I will let David know. "

They finish their conversation as Emily hangs up the phone. The girls approach her.

"Is everything all right, Emily?" Sarah asks.

"Everything is better than all right. My father just woke up from his coma."

The girls are as happy for Emily as they hug her with big smiles on their faces. Sarah and Katie fill Vanessa in on what's going on as Emily goes to find her brother to tell him the good news…

To be continued…