Chapter 14
Carlisle and Esme step off the elevator hand in hand. The medical prognosis for Bob was grim, but not unexpected … a stroke causing a fall. He had head, arm, and knee abrasions and a hairline fracture in the brittle bone of his forearm from bracing for the fall. The stroke's damage would only be determined after he woke, if he woke. They squeeze each other's hand in solidarity before Carlisle quietly pushes open the door.
The sound that reaches their ears stops them at the threshold.
Laughter, manly chuckles, and feminine giggles mix to fill the room.
Carlisle ushers Esme in, allowing the door to close quietly behind them.
The room is defused by light from the window, seemingly warming the sterile room. Bella sits on the edge of Bob's bed near his knees and Edward has his chair near the bed. With his back to the door, he rests his arm on Bella's thigh and leans forward deep into conversation with a shrunken version of Carlisle's old friend.
The change in Edward and Bella is staggering. They are relaxed, with words free flowing, finishing each other's sentences as they leapfrog in storytelling. Dunny listens animatedly as they share how they hit black ice on I-94 an hour west of Eau Claire; how they slid off the road with Bella screaming and Edward just knowing he had killed her before he could tell her he loved her.
Dunny laughs at Edward's expense patting his knee while Bella leans down to kiss Edward's temple without letting go of Bob's hand.
The couple by the door hesitates to intrude until Dunny sees them.
A broad smile spreads across his face and he moves to stand, having Edward and Bella turning toward the door.
Dunny walks around Edward's chair toward his old friend, and Bella motions for Esme to come, greet Bob while the men hug and slap backs.
Bella passes Bob's hand to Esme. "He squeezes my hand occasionally, usually at a punchline," Bella says smiling tenderly at Bob.
"Hello, Bob, Esme Cullen here. Carlisle and I have come to visit with you and Dunny." Esme says quietly giving the fragile hand a gentle pat.
Bella brushes his hair from his forehead as Esme speaks.
She places her hand over Esme's, "I'm so glad you're here," Bella whispers with a watery smile.
Esme gives her a hug before Bella walks to the group of men in the corner.
"Excuse me, guys," she prompts.
When the men turn to her, she tucks her hair behind her ear and Edward pulls her by the hip toward him in encouragement.
"Um—I was thinking of running to the cafeteria and bringing back some food." She looks at Edward, "would that be all right?"
He smiles softly and kisses her hair as Carlisle and Dunny share a knowing look.
"I think that's a very good idea, baby," Edward says softly.
He's glad she's here, that he's not facing this alone. He notes sardonically what a gooey sap this is making him, and he feels the heat on his neck as he releases her, avoiding the stares of Dunny and Pops.
"I'll go with you, Bella," Esme offers.
"Great," Bella says and pulls away from Edward. She turns back and motions for him to come lower. The two father figures watch their son bend as she kisses his cheek, whispering in his ear, causing his eyes to close. Carlisle sees his lashes cling with moisture as he straightens and turns toward the window.
With a flurry of movement, the two women are out the door and the room fills with silence.
"Come on, let's sit down," Dunny mumbles to Carlisle.
"She seems to be doing better," Carlisle says as Edward walks in with another chair.
Dunny looks up alarmed, "Is something wrong with Bella?"
"Ah, well," Edward shrugs, sitting down, "she was sick this morning, I think it was nerves."
Carlisle nods to Dunny, "she was so pathetic," and smiles tenderly in remembrance.
"It was the strangest thing. We got to the door of the room and it was as if a switch was flipped. She was back to herself." Edward says with another shrug.
"Maybe she was afraid she wouldn't get here in time," Dunny muses.
Carlisle sees Bob's lips move.
He stands and leans over Bob. "Did you say something, Bob?"—nothing—"I'm sorry, Bob I didn't catch what you said. Can you repeat it for me?"
He puts his ear to Bob's mouth.
"Sil—gr…" he says out of the corner of his mouth, soft as a breath, but Carlisle hears it.
"Silly girl," Carlisle repeats with elation, turning to Dunny's tear-filled eyes.
"Yes, yes our Bella is a silly girl to worry like that when we know you're as stubborn as a rock," he says with elation, patting Bob's shoulder.
Bob makes no more acknowledgment of the conversation around him, but that doesn't stop the men from slapping backs and grasping shoulders as they share this victory.
They continue their casual conversation, the three of them catching up while watching Bob for more input.
None comes.
Esme opens the door with Bella darting around her to get to the bed.
Carlisle speaks as she crosses the room, "Bob says you're a silly girl for worrying about him."
He smiles brightly at her shock.
She tucks her hair behind her ear, "He did, did he? Well, Bobby, I'll have you know you're worth every icky feeling," she says laying her cheek on his forehead, "Don't worry, I'm better now." She adds softly and feels his hand move under hers.
Esme steps further into the room, "they're going to be coming in for his vitals and such. Bella and I set up lunch in the waiting room," she says reflecting Carlisle's smile.
"Oh good, I'm starved." Edward shoots out of his chair before stopping himself. "Is this going to set you back?" he asks Bella.
She straightens and walks around the bed to him. "No, I carried it up and it didn't bother me." She smiles softly at his concern.
~o0o~
They sit around the table in the waiting room staring at dirty paper plates covered with wrinkled napkins and remnants of food.
"Dunny, I know you want to be here for Bob, but you need to rest while he's in good hands so that when he comes home you're strong and fresh to be there for him." Carlisle says with authority.
Dunny's shoulders drop slightly. "I'm plum worn out," he says looking at his hands in his lap.
Carlisle caps his hand on his friend's shoulder and says, "We made arrangements for three adjoined rooms. I believe two are allowed to stay here. Let's set up a schedule and we'll make sure you are up here tomorrow after a good night's sleep."
Dunny nods his head, giving his friend a weak, watery smile.
Bella leans into the discussion. "I'd like to stay tonight."
Esme straightens, "Bella dear you were sick this morning. You should get a good night's sleep."
"We'll stay tonight, Mom," Edward states, brokering no discussion.
"You'll make sure she rests?" Esme asks.
"I will, Esme, Moondoggie will sit on me if I don't," Bella smiles and squeezes the motherly hand.
They take the time to map out the next few days, the progress of Bob speaking spurring them on with tentative hope.
~o0o~
After Carlisle and Esme leave with a very weary Dunny between them, the room stills.
Edward props up between two chairs by Bob's bedside, but Bella flits about the room straightening things, throwing away coffee cups and snack food wrappers. She checks on Bobby every few minutes talking with him, touching him.
Edward lets her run herself out. When she stands in the middle of the room ringing her hands, all activity spent, he calls her to him. He pulls her onto his lap so that she is lying across his torso with her legs dangling off one side.
"Sweets, how are you feeling? You doing okay?" he asks smoothing his hand down her back.
She doesn't answer and it takes a moment to register that she is crying. The trembling is the only evidence, there is absolutely no sound. He takes her lead and comforts her with quiet actions. He lets her cry but fears her restraint will make her sick.
While the wet spot on his chest grows, he tries not to imagine what his sweet, sweet girl must have endured to perfect the ability to cry in silence. He closes his eyes against the thoughts and pulls her protectively to him holding her tight.
She's with him now, safe.
He closes his eyes in relief as she slowly melts into him.
~o0o~
"Dah—Dah-nnn !"
"Now sir, I'm so glad you're awake and communicating, but you need to calm yourself. Please, just calm down." The night nurse struggles to keep Bob from swinging his left arm.
Edward dumps Bella unceremoniously into a chair. She lets out a squeak as he moves to the left side of the bed and leans over to let Bob see him.
"Bob, dude, no pinching the nurses, they pinch back," Edward says smiling.
Bob stills, and cocks a crooked grin. After the relief of seeing Edward passes, a wicked glint remains.
Edward laughs at the sight. "Good to see you up to no good again, old man," Edward pats Bob's shoulder and nods at the nurse to do what she needs.
Bob is slipping back to sleep as Bella joins Edward on his side of the bed. She brushes his hair back and kisses his forehead. Bob smiles one, last, crooked, contented smile and closes his eyes.
"It's good that he was awake and moving, isn't it?" Bella asks the nurse.
"It's very promising. I should think we will have a visit from a physical therapist tomorrow. We'll see what the doctor says," She smiles as she finishes changing out the saline bag on the stand.
"Thank you, Mary," Edward says as he wraps his arm around a very weary Sweets.
After Mary leaves, Edward tows Bella back to his makeshift bed. He puts a pillow on the chair to save his butt, stretches out between the two chairs and pulls Bella to drape over him.
"I'm too heavy. You won't sleep well," Bella protests.
"You make the best blanket, all soft and toasty. Are you comfortable?" He asks.
"Yes, thank you," she says kissing just below his jaw. He drapes a blanket lightly over her and leans back with a sigh.
He's just drifting off when he hears, "I love you, Moondoggie," brush softly against his neck. He kisses her hair and pulls her into sleep with him.
~o0o~
The morning brings hope and purpose. The news of Bob's outburst in the night has reached urban legend proportion on the ICU floor. Doctors, nurses, cafeteria staff, cleaning staff, and the occupational therapist float in and out through the day with praise for his stellar improvement. Dunny sits next to him, beaming at every compliment. Clean, fed, and well rested, Dunny sits straight in his chair monitoring every person who works with Bob.
Bob floats between agitated and asleep. At one point, the frustration of being limited in movement and speech has him throwing an empty plastic pitcher to the floor. Esme picks it up and reassures him it will get better.
Carlisle notices quickly that Bob calms to Bella's voice and touch. When he doesn't find her, his eyes shoot around the room until they land on Dunny or Edward before he relaxes again into his pillow. He decides as they rotate, one of the three should always be with him. That makes it difficult when Edward and Bella are so joined at the hip.
As Dunny gives Bob a blow by blow of last night's game, Carlisle thinks of Edward and Bella. He's so thankful to have them back. But seeing them travel together and the way they are with each other here at the hospital, they are literally inseparable. It's as if they need to touch at all times, even while they eat, they share their food, eating off the same plate at times, with their hands and thighs touching.
He ponders for a moment if that's healthy. After knowing each other for such a short length of time and being so on fire, would they burn out just a quickly? He has a pang of fear shoot through him for his son.
He sighs heavily and decides to trust his son's ability to make the right decisions. He intervened before with dire consequences. He won't make that mistake again.
Bella's a good girl.
Edward is a smart man.
He'll leave it at that.
~o0o~
December 29th brings the celebration of Bob's movement to a regular room. Esme stays at the hotel making plans for when Dunny and Bob go home. Carlisle and Dunny take the day shifts from noon to midnight. Edward and Bella take the night shift from midnight to noon.
Edward makes sure Bella sleeps at least eight hours. When she is not at the hospital, she gets her nervous tummy and reverts to her Queasy Pops. He's learned to keep some on him at all times, hating her discomfort.
He has enjoyed going over and spending time with his mom while Bella sleeps. He didn't realize how much he missed her comforting presence.
Carlisle and Dunny bring a chessboard to the hospital, and over the next few days, Bob, in his broken speech calls out moves to Carlisle or Edward to beat Dunny.
On the thirtieth, Dr. Banner holds a meeting to determine how best to discharge Bob.
"We feel with the remote location of Mr. Marcus' home that it's in the patient's best interest to have him moved to a hospice care facility here in Reno." Dr. Banner begins.
"No!" Dunny shouts.
At this outburst, Dr. Banner puts on his most soothing voice. "Now, I can understand your concerns, but we all want the best for Mr. Marcus. He would be given the best care in this time of decline."
Dunny's impotent fury at the notion puts the room in motion. Edward wraps his arm around his shoulder as Bella moves to stand behind him in defiant solidarity. Carlisle leans forward, motivated by his distress and pats his hand, "Trust me, Dunny?" he asks, looking into his old friend's distraught face.
Dunny's lip quivers as his eyes blaze. He blinks once and nods, wiping his nose on his sleeve.
Carlisle turns back to the room. "Dr. Banner, we can appreciate your concern with Mr. Marcus being so far away from a care facility, but we truly feel it will impair Bob's quality of life to remain removed from his home and family. As a doctor, I can assure you he will have the care he needs to walk these last steps safely and with dignity.
He looks at Dunny with tears streaming down his face patting Bella's hand that rests on Edward's protective arm.
Dunny nods.
Edward and Bella nod in unison.
Dr. Banner clears his throat, "Let's see if we can make arrangements with the hospice staff to visit.
A feminine voice interrupts from Carlisle's phone.
"We will have a room set up for them to rest in if needed, complete with shower facilities," Esme says.
Carlisle shrugs and smiles at the room. "My wife's been busy."
~o0o~
Dunny sits like a propped up rag doll as everyone talks around him and fills Bob in on the conference with Dr. Banner.
Carlisle's confident voice fills the room smoothing over the ruffled feathers, "Bob, we spoke for you. Is this what you want? What you want is what we will do," He smiles and pats his hand.
"Bob nods his head awkwardly, "Ho—mm."
Dunny rocks in his chair and leans forward to rest his forehead on Bob's arm. As his rumpled frame shakes, a lone sob breaks loose. Bob rests his left hand on Dunny's head and looks across to Carlisle with a serene confidence.
Carlisle nods firmly, "Home it is."
Bella buries her face in the crook of Edward's neck. He feels a wet drop silently roll down his neck only to be stymied by his collar.
~o0o~
Edward pulls his phone out of his pocket, pushing buttons as he steps into the hallway.
"Mac, hey man," Edward says with a smile.
"Edward, hey Merry Christmas," a deep rich voice bounces back at Edward making his face light up.
"Merry Christmas to you too, uh—I've called for a reason, Mac," he says rubbing his neck.
Mac's voice sobers, "Oh, okay, what's up?"
"Well, you know Bob was diagnosed terminal a while back?" Edward pauses, "well, he had a stroke the day after Christmas. We're here with him and Dunny, but he's coming home with hospice. We talked with Dunny and Bob about, you know the tough stuff, funeral arrangements and the like . . ."
"Ah, dude that's rough, Dunny and Bob—they're good men." Mac cut in.
"Yeah well, the idea of a wake came up, inviting everyone, but Sweets thought it would be better to have a 'going away party.' " Edward rubs his neck again.
"A 'going away party,' what's that and what's a Sweets?" Mac asks.
Edward smiles shyly, "Sweets is my girl and she thought it would be better to celebrate Bob while he's here instead of waiting until he's gone. Bob liked the idea of seeing everybody one last time," Edward says with a shrug.
"Dude, that is fuck-awesome! Your chick is smart. But we need to call it something cooler, um—send off. Yeah—'The Bob Marcus Send Off'—I'm there, man. How can I help?" Mac booms.
Edward lets go of the breath he's been holding, "Thanks, man; that means a lot. Can you make some calls and get the word out? We're taking him home tomorrow so the party starts when everyone shows. He's holding his own for now, but this is time sensitive. We have now, you know?" Edward says.
"Yeah, got that, I'm on it. I think I can be there day after tomorrow. I'll text you my travel plan. Hey, I'll need some pictures of Bob, you know from the hey-day. And while you're at it send me a picture of your woman. Sweets?" Mac says.
"Bella, I'm sending you a pic now," Edward says.
He hears a ding at Mac's end.
"Dayum, she's a sweet little thang!" Mac barks out.
Pride and jealousy roil and run through Edward, "Yeah, that's my Sweets," he says awkwardly.
"Dude, I can't wait to get out there and meet her in person!" He laughs as Edward growls, "Seriously, Edward, I'm happy for you." Mac adds.
"Thanks, Mac, I'll get those pictures of Bob to you tonight," Edward says and he voice wavers as he adds, "Get out here, man."
"I'm on my way, my friend."
"See you soon, then," Edward says.
"Soon," Mac says ending the call.
Edward puts his phone in his pocket and rubs his face with his hands. He looks back at the room, but walks to take the elevator to the nearest exit.
In the cool night air, he takes a deep drag on his cigarette and slides down the wall, resting his arms on his knees. His head falls against the brick and he lets himself go, tears streaming as rasping sobs rack his body.