Chapter36
Eddie refused to leave Janet's side. He stood there while she was taken off the IV and EKG machine. Eddie found Janet's bag of clothes and handed them to her. He insisted on tying her sneakers for her and helped her into the wheel chair the hospital insisted she needed. When they got to the waiting area they realized the game was over. Eddie called Hannah and assured her all was good and that they would be ready and waiting whenever they got to the hospital.
It wasn't too hot in the shade so Eddie and Janet chose to wait outside on a bench away from the "crazies" in the waiting room.
Eddie turned, straddled the bench and just stared at Janet. "I'll have you know Edith, you scared the pants off of me today."
"Well I'll have you know Edward, I was mighty scared myself."
"I don't every want to feel that way again." His voice was quivering, he looked down at his hands.
"I hear you. Edith? You haven't called me Edith since we went to my Grands."
"Yea. I really like your grandmother and I like calling you Edith whenever you remind me of her." He said hugging her tightly.
"Well, I'm going to need a nickname for you. Hmmmm what will fit you?"
Eddie chuckled. "Oh this should be fun. OK give it your best shot."
"It may take a while." Janet leaned into Eddie's embrace and relaxed for the first time since the attack happened.
"I'm not going anywhere." Eddie answered kissing the top of her head.
"Bear." She announced sitting up.
"Bear?"
"Bear. You're a big ole Teddy Bear. Bear."
"Oh great and you don't think the guys will beat on me if they hear you call me Teddy Bear?"
"Oh grow up. You can tell them it's cuz you fight like a grizzly bear. But I'll know the truth." She hugged him a little harder and Eddie hugged back. There they sat holding onto each other not saying a word until they saw Hannah pull into the lot. "Come on bear." Janet said getting up. Eddie smiled.
"Not so fast Edith. I'm still your "fiancé" and you'll do what I tell you….. Until we get into the car." He held her hand knowing she was fine enough to walk on her own. They waited at the curb for Hannah. Janet wanted to sit in the back with Sam so Hannah sat up front while Eddie drove.
On the way home Janet told Sam about what happened. The ambulance, the ultrasound, the EKG. Then Sam told her about the game. He tried to take a picture of the jumbo screen when it said Happy Birthday and listed all the people who were there for their birthdays. He tried to catch a ball but didn't and then he took out the program and told her about all the plays he could remember. Hannah would occasionally look back at her friend sitting behind Eddie just to make sure she was ok but she no longer worried. She could tell by the conversation that Eddie had told the truth. She would need surgery but there was no immediate problems. Hannah rested her head against the door and closed her eyes. The day was almost over.