CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Tom reached their building. he parked the car, and went to the apartment. He knocked the door, and Virginia came to open it.

"Tom! Hi." she said as she opened the door.

"Hi Virginia. Sorry I didn't call first."

"It's OK. We didn't have anyother plans anyway. Come in. We were just going to have dinner."

"Oh, then I better go. I don't want to disturb."

"You won't. Go to the dining room. You know the way. And make yourself at home."

"Thanks." Tom said and went inside.

"Wolf! One more plate honey."

"Ok pumpkin!" Wolf replied from the kitchen.

Tom sat near the table at the dining room. Wolf came in with the plates.

"Hi Tom. So, what happened?" he sat next to him.

"Wolf, I don't know how to thank you. You saved my life!"

"Nah. It's nothing. I"m happy for the both of you. Now we only have to wait for Mary to get better."

"Yeah. And guess what I've bought today."

"Umm, lamb chops? hehe, just kidding."

"A ring."

"Huffety-puffety! That's great Tom! can I see it?"

"Sure." Tom took out the ring from his pocket and showed it to Wolf. His mouth dropped open. Virginia came to the room, with the main dish in her hands. She put it on the table, and looked at the ring amazed.

"Tom, this is so beautiful." she said.

"It's the moon." Wolf said.

"It is. The woman who worked there told me that the pearl is the moon, and those little diamonds are the stars."

"Wow. And how much did you pay for it?" Wolf asked.

"Wolf! It's not polite to ask about the price of a present." Virginia said.

"It's not for us. I guess it's OK to ask, right Tom?"

"Sure. I paid three thousand for it."

"Dollars?" Virginia was in a shock.

"Yes."

"Oh my God! It's so expensive. But it really does worth it. It's so beautiful." Virginia said.

"Yeah. I just hope that I wouldn't get a reject." Tom said, as he put the ring back in it's box, then inot his pocket.

"You won't get a reject. I'm sure of it." Wolf said. "When are you going to propose?"

"Tomorrow."

"Are you sure it's the right time?" Virginia asked.

"It's the best time." Wolf jumped in.

"OK, I'm getting hungry. Let's eat and continue talking." Virginia said. And they sat around the table, and started to eat.

After dinner they went to the living room. They talked a little, and after a couple of hours Tom decided to go home.

"I think I better go home now. It's getting late."

"You can stay here if you want." Wolf offered.

"Oh, no thanks. It's really nice of you. But I have some work to do. I need to do some plans for Mary's surgery."

Tom got up and wished them good night. He went home, and sat in front of his desk, trying to figure out the best operating way to fix Mary's face. At dawn, he finally found it. He put the papers on a side of the desk and to his room to get some sleep before the big event.

He slept untill noon. When he woke up he found himself in his clothes. "God! I didn't even change." he said to himself. He got up and went to the bathroom.

After taking a shower, he got dressed and went to a flower shop. He ordered a big bouquet of red roses. He took it and went to another shop. He bought some chocolates, then he went to the hospital. He reached Mary's room. Knocked the door, and entered.

"Hi." he said.

"You're late! I was getting worried." she said.

He came near her and gave her a kiss. "Sorry. It won't happen again. I promise. And these are for you." He gave her the chocolate box, and put the roses in a vase.

"Yummi. I was getting tired of the hospital food. It stinks." she said.

"It's all yours." he smiled.

Mary opened the box and started eating the chocolate. Of course Tom helped her by eating some too. Suddenly Mary noticed a little black box in the middlt of the chocolates.

"Hey what's this?" she opened it and saw the ring. She was amazed, that her eyes filled with tears instantly. "Tom, you..."

Tom got on his knees next to the bed and held her hand. "Will you marry me?" he asked.

"I am your mate for life." she said. Tom took the ring and put it on her finger. They were happy. They kissed each other.

"I love you" Tom said.

"I love you too. I'm the happiest person on earth!" Mary replied. Tom gave her a hug.

"You still have three more days untill getting rid of these stuff on your legs."

"I can't wait for them to pass."

"Me too."

"Will you please call Wolf and Virginia to come? I really miss them."

"OK." Tom took out his mobile phone and called them. "They'll be here soon." he said after hanging up.

"Tom, will I have my same face?"

"Yesterday I was working on that. And I'm happy to say, yes." Mary sighed in relief.

"Oh. I almost forgot!" she said. "They can't see the catalogs!"

"Right. Where should I put them?" he looked around the room to find a proper place, but couldn't.

"Put it under my legs. They won't see it there."

"Good idea." Tom lifted the cover, and put the catalogs under it, and covered her legs again. "We have to sit and wait now."

After 30 minutes, Wolf and Virginia came. They congratulated the couple on their engagement. And they all sat there talking. Wolf and Virginia told them what they did to Tony, in order to make him let them stay in one room together.

*^_^* *^_^* *^_^* *^_^*

After three days..

Dr. Simons enters Mary's room. Tom is there with her. Mary is happy. She will get rid of the gypsum that is starting to bother her. Dr. Simons and a couple of nurses, remove the gypsum from Mary's legs. He tests if her legs still work, and if she can feel them. And Mary says that they're fine. Only she can't move them.

"Honey, you'll need to do some exercises." Tom said.

"Not again." Mary complained.

"If you don't do them, you won't be able to walk dear." Dr. Simons said.

"When can I do my surgery doc?" Tom asked.

"In a couple of days. Do you want to do it here? I can arrange that."

"Oh, yes please. At my hospital we're not allowed to operate relatives."

"Ok, then. After two days, you come here and everything will be ready. The staff, instruments. Everything you need."

"Thank you doc."

Untill the operation day. Mary kept herself busy with exercising. Virginia came to the hospital every day and helped her with it.

"You know. I'm kinda nervous about the operation." Mary said.

"Why?" Virginia replied.

"I'm afraid that I won't have my face back."

"But Tom said that he has the plan that is needed. The operation istomorrow. I'm sure you'll be fine."

"I hope so."

Virginia looked at her watch. It was 6 pm. "Oh, I better go now. Wolf must be starving."

"Poor him." Mary smiled. "I'll see you after the operation?"

"Of course. I'll be here tomorrow."

"Thanks. Say hello to Wolf."

"I will. Take care, and try to relax. everything will be fine."

"OK. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." Virginia went home. And Mary sat on her bed. She was walking only with the help of a nurse. She couldn't walk by herself yet. She lay in the bed, and thought only about the surgery.