Chapter 31
Manny and Chester are getting ready to leave to go back home to Toronto from his parent's house
Chester: Mom, are you sure you're going to be ok?
Mom: Yea, honey. I'll be ok. Your brother's are going to stay a little longer
Chad: We got her, buddy.
Chester gives his mom a hug
Chester: I love you, mom. Call me if you need anything.
Mom: I will, son. I love you too
Manny gives Chester's mom a hug
Manny: Bye mom
Mom: Bye sweetie
Manny and Chester get in their car and begin driving home, as they get closer to home Chester places his hand on Manny's leg
Chester: You ok, dear?
Manny: Yeah.
Chester: Babe, I'm sorry.
Manny: I know.
Chester: I shouldn't have took it out on you, and I know -
Suddenly Chester loses control after sliding on black ice and the car crashes into a guardrail, Chester comes to, looks around and see what happened and tries to wake Manny up, he begins freaking out when he can't get her to wake up, when suddenly he sees emergency lights in his rearview mirror
Chester: Manny? Manny honey? Wake up
Firefighter: Is everyone ok in here?
Chester: I'm ok, but I- I don't think my wife is. She wont wake up.
Firefighter: Let's get you out and then we will get to your wife
Chester: Get my wife first, don't worry about me
Firefighter: Sir, I promise we will get your wife out safely, but we need to get you out first.
Chester: Manny, honey? Can you hear me? Baby, if you can hear me wake up.
The fire fighters get Chester out of the car and take him to the paramedics to get checked out
Chester: I'm fine, I just want my wife to be ok
Chester begins crying worrying about Manny as the fire fighters work on getting Manny out of the car
Chester (crying to himself): Please be ok, baby. Please
The firefighter comes up to Chester
Firefighter: We got your wife out of the car, however she is unconscious, and has a cut on her head, so we need to get her to the hospital
Chester lets out a deep sigh and nods as he gets in the ambulance with Manny and the paramedics
Chester (to Manny): I'm right here, Manny. I'm not leaving you, I promise
They arrive at the hospital, as Manny is placed into a room, Chester pulls up a chair and sits at her bedside holding her hand
Chester (weeping softly): Please be ok, I need you. I just lost my best friend; I can't lose future too.
Chester softly kisses Manny's hand as a tear falls from his cheek, his phone buzzes
Chester (to Manny, softly): I'll be right back baby.
Chester softly kisses Manny's forehead as he steps away to answer his phone
Chester: Hello?
Chuck: Hey, you guys make it home?
Chester: Not quite.
Chuck: What do you mean?
Chester: I slid on black ice, and we crashed into a guardrail
Chuck: Are you ok?
Chester's voice begins to break
Chester: Manny's unconscious, I couldn't get her to wake up after we crashed.
Chuck: Damn Chester, she's going to be ok right?
Chester (cries): I don't know buddy, but I'm scared.
Chuck: Alright, I'm on my way. I'll be there soon
Chester: Ok, do me a favor and don't tell mom or Chad about the accident. Mom's got enough on her plate, I don't want her to worry about me and Manny being in a car accident
Chuck: You got it buddy. I love you; I'll be there soon
Chester: Ok, I love you too. We're in room 6 in the Emergency Room
They hang up, Chester goes back to Manny's bedside and places her hand in his
Chester (softly): I can't lose you, baby. I need you to open those beautiful brown eyes, so I can tell how much I love you and how lost I am with you.
A short time later, Chuck arrives at the hospital
Chuck: Chester
Chester: Chuck
Chester stands up as Chuck gives Chester a loving, comforting hug as Chester begins to cry
Chuck: It's going to be ok Bro. Manny's tough
Chester: She's got to be ok, man. I just lost dad, I can't lose her too
Chuck: I know buddy, I know
Chester: I need her to know how much I love her and how much I need her
Chuck: She knows how much she means to you Chester. I promise you she knows.
Chester continues to cry
Chester: I need her to realize how sorry I am for how I treated her over dad's death
Chuck: She understands you were grieving.
Chester begins pacing as he cries
Chester: What if she doesn't wake up? or what if she wakes up and still think I'm going to be cold to her?
Chuck: You need to relax and calm down, Chester. You're getting yourself all worked up, she's going to be ok. I promise you.
Chester: I cannot lose her Chuck.
Chuck: Chester, you're not going to lose her
An hour goes by, Chuck is still comforting Chester when Manny begins to wake up
Manny (softly): Chester?
Chester turns around to see Manny awake as he lets out a huge sigh of relief and runs to Manny's side with tears in his eyes
Chester: Shh I'm right here
Chuck places his hand on Chester's shoulder
Chuck: I told you she would be ok. I'm going to go down to the cafe
Chester nods at Chuck
Manny: Where am I? What happen?
Chester runs his fingers through her hair
Chester: We were on our back home from mom and dad's, we were in a car accident, I slid on black ice, and you were knocked unconscious
Manny (groans): my head hurts
Chester: You got a cut on your head from the crash. Just relax honey, you're ok.
A nurse comes in the room and checks on Manny, smiles and walks out of the room
Manny: Why were you crying?
Chester: I was scared
Manny: Is that why Chuck was here?
Chester nods yes
Chester: When I couldn't get you to wake up, I was scared I was going to lose you.
Chester sweeps Manny's hair back
Chester: Manny, I am so sorry for how I treated you when dad died, I was lost and I was hurt, I should of never taken it out on you. You mean everything to me; I love you with all my heart. I'd be lost without you in my life, honey.
Manny (coughs): No, you shouldn't have taken it out on me, or your brother, but you were grieving. I love you; I know that wasn't the man I fell in love with and married, but you can't shut the people who love and care about you-
Manny coughs
Chester: Baby-
Manny: You can't shut the people out who love and care about you when you're hurting, Chester. Especially me, I am your wife. I married you, for better or for worse, but I don't deserve the way I was treated when you were grieving babe.
Chester (softly): I know, I'm sorry.
Chuck returns to Manny's room
Chuck: knock knock
Manny: Hey, come on in.
Chester gets out of the chair and sits on the end of Manny's bed and Chuck sits in the chair
Chuck: How are you feeling?
Manny: I got a headache, but other than that, I'm just tired
Chuck: Well, I'm glad you're ok, you gave this one here quite the scare
Chuck points to Chester, Chester looks down in embarrassment
Chester: Look, I just lost dad, not even a week ago. I was worried I was going to lose my wife too
Chuck and Manny laugh as she looks at Chester and holds her hand out, Chester places his hand in hers and smiles
Manny: I heard how scared you were. I heard everything.
Chester: You did?
Chuck: Told you, she'd be ok Chester.
Manny: Babe, I heard everything. How you needed me to wake up, so you could tell me how much you love me and how much you need me, I heard everything.
Chuck: Well, I'm going to head back to my house, now that I see you're ok.
Chuck gets up and gives Manny a hug
Chuck: Call me if you need me. I called Sean, and had the car towed to his shop and I left my car out front for you, so you have a car
Manny: Thanks Chuck.
Chester nods at Chuck as he leaves
Chester (kisses Manny's forehead): I was so worried about you.
Manny: I know you were honey.
Chester: I'm glad you're ok.
Chester lays next to Manny in her hospital bed
Manny: I'm not going anywhere.
The doctor comes in
Doctor: Mrs. Johnson, how are you feeling?
Manny: I feel good, except for the headache. I'd really just like to go home honestly
Doctor: I see, given you had a head injury I'd like to keep you overnight just to be safe
Manny: Doctor, with all due respect, I really just want to go home with my husband, we just lost his father last week to cancer and just got married not even 2 weeks ago, so we really haven't had a chance to celebrate. We were on our way home when my husband slid on black ice.
Doctor: I see
The doctor looks over Manny's chart
Doctor: I'll tell you what, you let me run a couple tests and I'll release you early
Manny: Sounds like a plan to me
The doctor leaves
Chester: Baby, it's ok to stay overnight. I'll be right here next to you
Manny: No, I want to go home and celebrate us
Chester: Honey-
Manny: Babe, I'm serious.
Chester: I love you, with all my heart. I never want to have that fear of losing you again
Manny (smiles): I love you. I need you to be open with me, not shut me out when you're hurting, baby.
Chester: I know honey, I will. I promise.
Chester kisses Manny as he snuggles next to her in her hospital bed. A short time later the nurse comes in to take Manny for her tests. A few minutes later she comes back and sees Chester asleep in the chair next to her hospital bed
Manny (softly): Baby, wake up
Chester (groans): What's wrong?
Manny: Nothing's wrong honey, I'm back from my tests
Chester: Babe, I really wish you would stay for the night and listen to the doctor
Manny: Chester, I want to go home. I just want to be in my bed with my husband.
Chester takes Manny by the hand as he sweeps her hair out of her eyes
Chester: I love you; I know you want to be home with me, but I care more about your health then anything.
Manny: I know you do, but I just want to go home baby. We've already gone through so much these last few weeks, we never got a chance to really celebrate our marriage
Chester kisses Manny
Chester: You amaze me more and more, every day
Manny: It's all part of my charm honey.
Manny smiles
Chester: I don't know what I would've done if I couldn't see that beautiful smile again.
Manny: And you won't have to worry about that, for a long time honey.
A short time later, the doctor walks in
Doctor: Mrs. Johnson, I have your results,
Manny: And?
Doctor: Everything came back good. Looks like you'll be able to get out of here early. I'll have the nurse get your paperwork together and get you out of here soon
Chester (smiles): Thanks doc.
The doctor smiles as he walks out
Manny: I'll be so happy to be back in our bed
Chester: I know, honey. Soon enough, we'll be home. Why don't you try and get some rest, I'll wake you up when the nurse brings your papers honey.
Manny (smiles): ok.
Manny begins to drift to sleep, a while later the nurse comes In
Chester: Manny, wake up
Manny: What's going on?
Chester: The nurse just brought in your discharge papers, let's get you home.
Manny and Chester leave the hospital and go home
Manny: It feels so good to be heading home. I miss my bed
Chester smiles as he places his hand on her lap on the way home
Chester: I'll be happy when we get home
Manny: Me too, we've been through so much these last few weeks, I just want to be home with you and celebrate us, that's all I want.
Chester: I know honey, I can't thank you enough for being by my side through everything, being there before dad died, allowing us to get married so he can witness the ceremony, and most importantly, sticking by my side, even when I didn't deserve it. I can't tell you how much that means to me
Manny: Chester, There's nowhere else I'd rather be then by your side when you needed someone the most
Chester: I've honestly never believed in love until you and I got together
Manny smiles as they pull up in front of their house
Manny: Home at last
They get out of the car and Chester unlocks the door, then picks up Manny
Chester: Welcome home, Mrs. Johnson
Chester said as he carries Manny across through the threshold
Manny: I do enjoy the sound of that
Chester (smiles): Good
Chester kisses Manny, as he puts her down
Chester: What do you want for dinner, sweetheart?
Manny: What are you in the mood for baby?
Chester: Why don't you take a bubble bath and I'll whip up dinner
Manny (smiles): Sounds like a good idea baby.
Manny kisses Chester as she goes and takes a relaxing bubble bath while Chester's in the kitchen making them dinner. He finishes dinner and lights 2 candles at their dining room table, A couple minutes later Manny comes out of the bathroom from her bath
Chester: There's my girl
Manny: Something smells good
Chester: I whipped up your favorite, babe.
Manny: Smells delicious, I love the romantic touch with the candles.
Chester: Let's eat, shall we?
Manny sits down, and Chester pours 2 glasses of red wine and brings them to the table
Manny: Thank you, baby.
Chester sits down and raises his glass to propose a toast
Chester: I want to make a toast
Manny: Ok
Manny raises her glass
Chester: Happy anniversary baby, it's been an amazing 4 years with you. I love you with all my heart, I can't wait to spend forever with you
Manny: Awe honey, you remembered. Happy anniversary my love
Chester: With everything we've been going through, we didn't get to celebrate our anniversary or our wedding.
They cheers their wine glasses as they take a drink of wine and enjoy their dinner
Manny: This is perfect
Chester: What is?
Manny: This moment, just being here with you, celebrating us.
Manny said as they finish their dinner
Chester (smiles): As long as your happy, that's all I care about, Manny.
Manny: I've never been happier
They finish their dinner and enjoy a movie together as Manny snuggles in Chester's arms on the couch
Chester: You really scared me, you know that?
Manny: What do you mean?
Chester: When you wouldn't wake up from the accident.
Manny wraps her arms around Chester a little tighter
Manny: Even though I wasn't awake, I could hear everything you said, your phone call with your brother, I heard everything honey
Chester: I told myself If you'd just wake up, I promise I would do everything in my power, to make you see how much I love you and how much I need you.
Chester kisses Manny's head
Manny: Well, it's a good thing you have forever to prove your love
Chester (laughs): This is true.