CHAPTER 8

Candy sits in a chair in Lisa's office watching her husband as he stands staring out the window. When she sees his hands go to his temples and begin to rub them in a circular motion she says, "Jeremy, are you all right? Is your headache getting worse?"

"Yeah, a little bit." He looks at her and sees the concern in her face, so he quickly adds, "But I'm all right. I just wish Lisa would hurry up. We've been waiting here for hours."

"It's been only fifteen minutes. Jeremy, why don't you come sit down beside me?"

"I can't. I'm too nervous. I'm sorry," he says as he continues to rub his temples.

Candy walks over to him. "Well in that case, I'll come to you. Here let me rub your temples." She begins to rub them and then she kisses each temple. "Does that feel better?"

Jeremy gives a little grunt, "Hrmph. It does some. You have such soft gentle hands." He takes her hands in his and kisses the fingertips. "And even softer lips. I'm going to miss them," he chokes up.

"Miss them? Are you planning on going somewhere without me? I don't think so, Mr. Bolt." She gives him a big hug. "Think positive, all right?"

"I'm trying, Candy. But I can't. I'm sorry." He puts his arms around her waist. "I'll try to do better." He starts to kiss her when the door opens.

Lisa rushes in with Jeremy's medical folder. "I'm so sorry to keep you waiting. I just wanted to check over your results one more time. Please, have a seat," she says as she sits down behind her desk.

Jeremy and Candy return to the chairs in front of Lisa's desk.

"Now then," Lisa begins. First, I want to say that each case we see goes before a panel made up of five doctors plus myself. All six of us intensively examined you individually. Next, we each study all the results individually, then we come together to go over our conclusions. In your case, we all as individuals happened upon the same conclusion. So when we got together it was really pretty simple to agree."

"That's all well and good," Jeremy interrupts. "All I want to know is, am I dying?" Candy reaches over and places her arm around his shoulders to try to calm him down.

"I'm coming to that, Jeremy. The conclusion we all agree on is that. . .there is. . . no evidence of a brain tumor."

Jeremy and Candy both burst out crying with relief as they hold on to each other tightly.

"I'm so happy I can give you some good news."

"Are you sure?" Jeremy asks as he parts from Candy. "I mean it's not like you can see inside my head or anything."

"No, we can't see inside your head. Wouldn't that be wonderful if we could see your brain? Maybe someday someone will come up with that concept," Lisa replies. "To answer your question, we can't be 100% sure about your diagnosis, but after all the probing and everything else we did to you, we are fairly certain there is no tumor. Plus we feel like if you had a tumor, you would be having harsher symptoms at this stage. Jeremy, how is your head today? Do you have a headache?"

He takes a handkerchief from his pocket and wipes his eyes. "Uh yeah, I have a headache."

Lisa asks, "On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the worst, how is the headache?"

"Hmm, I'd say about a 6 or 7. So, if its not a brain tumor causing the headaches, do you know why I'm having them?"

"Yes, we all agreed on that, too. We think there is a part of your brain that is bruised. Usually rest will take care of it in a few days, but you have had so many concussions in your short lifetime, that its going to take longer for you to recover."

"But he will recover, won't he?" Candy asks.

"If Jeremy follows our recommendations, we feel like he will recover and get rid of those headaches."

"Oh he will definitely follow your recommendations. I'll see to that," Candy states.

"Good. Now, what we want you to do Jeremy, is to check-in to our case study unit, It's located on the fourth floor. You'll be there for 2 to 3 weeks. The. . ."

"I thought this wasn't a hospital. At least that's what Dr. Wright told me," Jeremy says.

"We're not a hospital per se, We don't do surgeries or things like a regular hospital does. We are more into therapy. Now as I was saying, for the first week, you will be isolated. We want you to have complete bed rest with no outside interference. The room will be dark and you will more than likely be sedated for most of the time."

"Why?" Jeremy asks.

"Because we want your brain to be completely at rest."

Jeremy's forehead wrinkles as he thinks, then he blurts out, "Wait! Wait a minute! You said no outside interference. What do you mean by that?"

"It means exactly what it implies. No light, no sound, no visitors, no. . ." Lisa says.

"But Candy can still visit me, right?" Jeremy asks anxiously.

"No, I'm afraid not. Not for the first week, anyways."

Jeremy looks at Candy. "I have to be able to see Candy. She'll be here all alone. I have to know that she's safe."

Candy takes Jeremy's hand and squeezes it. "Jeremy, I'll be just fine. If this is what it takes to get you better, then we should do it, don't you think?"

"I don't know Candy. I don't like the thought of you wandering around this city by yourself. Anything could happen to you. No, it's too risky. I'll manage the headaches on my own," Jeremy informs her.

Candy bites on her lip. She stands and walks over to the window.

"Candy? You all right?" Jeremy asks.

Candy turns around and stomps her right foot. "No, I'm not all right. Jeremy Bolt, you will do this. You will do this for us, but mostly you'll do this for yourself. I can't watch you go through these headaches any longer. I want you well. I need you well."

"But Candy. I. . ." Jeremy begins.

"No buts about it, Jeremy. I'll be fine, I promise. If it will make you feel better, I will stay locked up in our hotel room. Only ordering room service."

Jeremy realizes that Candy means what she says and he knows she's right. He knows he has to do this. He still doesn't want to leave her alone for a week, but he reluctantly says, "Okay, you're right. When do I need to check in?"

"As soon as you're ready," Lisa tells him.

He closes his eyes to think. He then looks at Lisa, "Will tomorrow morning be all right? I want to be sure Candy is well taken care of before I check in."

"Tomorrow morning is fine. Now, you go get everything settled and we'll see you tomorrow." She stands and opens the door for them. As Jeremy and Candy start to leave she adds, "Jeremy, you're doing the right thing. And Candy, don't let him back out of this."

"Oh, he won't back out. You have my word on it," Candy laughs as she takes Jeremy's arm and they walk out on the street.

"Well, let's go send Jason and Josh a telegram letting them know they're still stuck with me. I can't believe it. I thought for sure I was a goner."

"Maybe you'll listen to me next time when I tell you not to give up," she giggles.

"Yeah maybe," he chuckles.

When they arrive back in their hotel room, Jeremy says, "Candy, I don't like this. You being all alone."

Candy sighs heavily, "Jeremy, I know you don't like it. I don't like it either. I can't even imagine what it will be like to not see you for a whole week. But please don't worry about this. I'll be fine."

"You don't know that Candy. Anything could happen to you. San Francisco is not like Seattle. There are some rough people here. What with all the ships that come in here. And all the saloons."

"I'm not planning on going to the docks or to any saloons, Jeremy."

"I know that. But those men from the ships and saloons like to roam all over the place. I don't want you to encounter any of them." He sits down on the bed and runs his hands through his hair. "Hey,

wait a minute! You can stay with Julie Stempel!"

"No, I can't. I talked to Aaron before we left. He said that Julie went to New York with some friends and won't be back for several months."

"Oh, too bad," Jeremy moans. "Do you mind if I lay down for awhile? My head is hurting." He takes a good sip of laudanum.

"No, you go ahead and rest."

Jeremy takes his shoes off, then lays back on the bed. He holds his arms open for Candy. "You can lay with me," he grins.

"I thought your head hurts," she replies.

"It does, but I can still hold you."

"Well, I'm glad of that." She takes her shoes off and moves into his arms. After a while she says, "Jeremy, don't worry any more. You just take it easy. Everything is going to be all right. We have so much to look forward to. I'm going to make you so happy. I can't tell you how right now, but soon, I will tell you. I love you." She raises her head to look at him and realizes he's sound asleep.