On the day of Perry's surgery, Paul stayed home with the girls while Maureen took her parents to the hospital. Once they had taken Perry back, Maureen took her mother to the waiting room. "I'll call you when he's out," Della told her daughter.
"I'm not leaving," Maureen said. "You shouldn't be alone right now. Physically or emotionally."
"I'm at a hospital."
Just then, the rest of the Mason children walked in, "did they already take him back?" Max asked.
"Yeah," Maureen answered.
"What are you all doing here?" Della asked a bit irritated.
"Our father is having major surgery," Vince said.
"We decided to come since the two of you keep getting into trouble," Vivian added.
Violet sat next to her mother and took her hand, "you okay?"
Della looked at her daughter and smiled, "I'm fine."
Three hours later, it was past lunch, "why don't I go get some food?" Max asked.
"I'll help you," Maggie said.
Everyone was writing down what they wanted. Della was in another world. "Mom?" Violet nudged her mother.
"What?"
"What do you want to eat?" Maggie asked.
"Oh, thank you, but I'm not hungry."
"Mom, you have to eat," Maureen said.
"Really, I'm fine."
Maureen gave Maggie a look and the woman knew to just get something for her mother anyway. Max and Maggie left once they had everyone's order. The others could tell that Della was getting antsy. "Mom, why don't we go for a walk?" Violet suggested.
"No, I am not leaving until I know about your father."
"Mom, he's going to be in there for at least another two hours," Violet said.
"I need to be here in case something happens."
"Mom," Violet started.
"Enough!" Della had rarely if ever, yelled at Violet. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "He's always been the one in the waiting room. I'm not used to this."
"It's okay," Violet said.
Two and a half hours later, the doctor walked out, "Della," he said as the woman stood along with her children.
Della saw the look on the doctor's face, "what happened?"
"We're having trouble bringing him out of anesthesia." Della began to collapse, but her sons caught her and helped her sit down. The doctor knelt in front of her, "why don't I take you back there? Maybe you can talk some sense into him." The woman just nodded, "do you want one of your kids to go with you?"
"I'll go," Vince said. He looked at his siblings who all agreed. Vince helped his mother up and held on tightly. Violet handed her mother's forgotten cane to her. The doctor led the two back to recovery. Both were surprised by the amount of weight Perry had lost from the surgery. The doctor placed a chair by the bed and Vince helped her sit. The doctor left and the nurses kept watch. Vince knelt down next to his mother, "mom, I bet I know how to wake him up."
"I don't know if I can," she choked out.
"Well, it won't work if I do it." He started to soothingly rub her back, "take a couple of deep breaths first."
The nurses watched the tender moment. Della took her husband's hand before taking a deep breath, "I'll be loving you, always. With a love that's true, always. When the things you plan, need a helping hand, I will understand. Always, always. Days may not be fair, always. That's when I'll be there, always. Not for just an hour. Not for just a day. Not for just a year, but always," Della finished and saw her husband stir. "Perry?"
The man opened his eyes and smiled at his wife who quickly stood and kissed him, "hey, what's wrong?" He felt Della lay her head on his shoulder and begin to cry.
"Mom, you probably shouldn't..." Vince stopped when his father shook his head.
"Shh," Perry said, "it's okay. You don't have to talk about it right now."
Della straightened up with her son's help. She wiped her eyes, "sorry."
The doctor walked over, "look who finally decided to join us. You took so long that your room is ready."
Vince looked at the doctor, "could you have someone go tell my siblings where the room is? I don't want to leave her and I know she won't leave him."
The doctor smiled, "sure," he said, "I'll tell them, personally."
The doctor walked away and Vince helped his mother back up so Perry could be transported to his room. Vince kept an arm around his mother to help comfort her. They waited outside until Perry was settled. When they entered, Vince placed the recliner by his father's bed so his mother would be more comfortable. "I'll leave you two to talk for a bit," Vince said and left.
Perry reached out his hand and Della took the hint, "what did the doctor mean when he said I took so long?"
Della felt tears begin to form in her eyes, "you, um, you wouldn't wake up from the anesthesia."
"Well, you sure knew how to get me to," Perry smiled. He saw how his wife was trying to hold it together. "Come here," he opened his arms.
"Oh, Perry," Della broke down and laid on the side of the bed in her husband's arms.
"Shh, it's okay. I'm okay," he said, "I didn't mean to scare you. I guess I've been doing that a lot lately." Della continued to sob. The door opened and the children started to walk in. Perry saw them and slightly shook his head. After a few minutes, Della had calmed down. "Feel better?"
"A little," she answered.
"I think our children are waiting."
"I don't know if I can get out of this bed."
"Grab the railing and I'll help you as best as I can."
Della grabbed the bed railing with her right hand and Perry held her left as she turned. She slowly stood and grabbed her cane before heading to the door. Their children made sure she went back to the chair right away. After a half-hour, everyone but Maureen and Della left. "Mom, let me know when you want to go home."
"I'm not leaving," Della said.
"Yes, you are," Perry told her. "I'm fine and you need a proper night's sleep in a bed. I doubt you've eaten."
Della was reluctant, but she agreed to go home. Perry was getting tired so they decided to leave. Before walking onto the elevator, Della stopped and sighed before looking down. "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said softly, "I just got dizzy."
"Do you need me to get you a wheelchair?"
"I don't think so," Della slowly raised her head. "I'm fine now."
Maureen helped her mother onto the elevator and to the car. That night, Maureen slept in her parents' bed with her mother. Della was still recovering from her stroke and they didn't want to leave her alone.
