CHAPTER 10
About midweek, Candy is getting ready for bed. She undresses leaving on only her pantalettes, then slipping one of Jeremy's brown plaid work shirts over her head as she had done ever since he went to that place for treatment. She hugs herself smelling the manly scent of Jeremy's after shave mixed with his perspiration. It almost feels like Jeremy is holding her in his arms. Almost. Laying down on the bed, she begins to cry. I miss you, Jeremy. Only three more days and then we can see each other again. I won't have to depend on your shirt to make me feel close to you. Surely you'll be able to wrap your arms around me and hold me close to you. Remember Together Forever, she thinks as she fingers the locket. I thought for sure Lisa would keep me informed as to how you're doing. What if something has happened to you? I'm going over there tomorrow to see if I can find out anything. I've waited long enough. She falls into a restless sleep.
The next morning after Candy gets dressed and has had her breakfast, she goes downstairs to the front desk. She asks if the young bellhop, Billy, is available to walk with her.. She needs to check on her husband.
When they arrive at the medical facility, she tells Billy to go back to the hotel. That she will be staying there at least an hour, maybe longer. He agrees to leave and return after an hour or so has passed.
Candy goes to Lisa's office and barges in without even knocking. Lisa is startled seeing Candy standing in her office. "Mrs. Bolt, Candy, what are you doing here?"
"I came to check on my husband. You do remember, Jeremy, don't you?" Candy asks angrily.
"Of course, I know Jeremy. I'm just shocked seeing you here. It hasn't been a week yet."
"I know that. But I need to see him. I need to see that he's all right," Candy begins to cry.
"Jeremy is fine. I promise."
"Lisa, please forgive me, but I demand to see for myself that he's all right. Please."
"Very well, but you can't speak to him. You can't even be in the same room with him. But I can let you see him through a window. Come with me." Lisa takes her up to the fourth floor. When they get to Jeremy's room, two nurses are sitting in front of a window looking into the room.
"Candy, these young ladies are taking very good care of your husband. They sit here and watch him until their shift is up, then two more ladies take their place. He is never alone."
"That's good to know. Thank you ladies for helping Jeremy," Candy says. "May I see him now?"
"Of course, but remember, do not talk to him. We can't risk him hearing us." She turns to the nurses and motions for them to step aside. Taking Candy's arm she leads her to the window.
Candy looks into the room and sees Jeremy laying in bed sound asleep with a sheet draped over the lower part of his body. Tears fill her eyes. She places her hand on the window and mouths the words, "Jeremy, I love you." She watches him hoping to see some movement. When she sees none, she whispers to Lisa. "Are you sure he's all right? I mean, he hasn't moved, not even a little twitch."
"Yes, he's fine. We do go in every couple hours to check his vitals."
"What is that?" Candy points to a bag containing a dark golden liquid hanging by the bed.
"That is a catheter bag. It collects Jeremy's urine. It's a fairly new procedure. Only been using it a couple of years."
"Oh my," Candy gasps. "And what is that thing in his mouth?"
"That thing is a feeding tube that goes into his stomach. We give him beef broth through the tube. Another new procedure that we've been using only for a year or so."
"Really? Does it not bother him having that in his mouth all the time?"
Lisa laughs quietly. "No, he doesn't even know it's there. At least this is better than the way we use to feed patients."
"How did you use to feed patients?" Candy asks.
"Oh, we would feed them beef broth through the rectum."
"Oh no. This is much better. At least Jeremy doesn't have to go through that." She continues to watch him.
"We need to go now, so the nurses can do their jobs," Lisa says.
"I know, but I don't want to leave him. I miss him so much," she cries silently. "I love you, Jeremy. I'll see you in a few days." Then she blows him a kiss.
When the week is up, Candy is at the medical facility bright and early. She can't wait to see her love.
Opening his door, Candy rushes in and sees that Jeremy is sitting up with his clothes on just finishing eating his breakfast.
"Jeremy! Oh Jeremy, I've missed you so much!" she cries as she throws her arms around him.
"Candy! Its so good to see you!" he replies as he wraps her up in his arms.
"How are you feeling? How's your head? Any headache?"
"I feel great. No headaches at all."
Looking at Lisa, Candy asks, "So does this mean his headaches are gone?"
"We certainly hope so. That's why we'll keep him another week just to be sure they don't come back. Now I'll give you some time alone to let you get reacquainted. If you need anything, just let us know," Lisa says as she leaves and closes the door.
"Well, have you been a good girl and not gone off by yourself?" Jeremy asks.
"Yes, I have. Mostly, I've stayed in my room. I did have someone walk me over here a couple days ago to check on you. I demanded to see you."
"Candy, you didn't?" he asks as he shakes his head.
"I did. I'm sorry, Jeremy, but I couldn't take it anymore. Not knowing what was going on. I had to see for myself that you were all right."
"It's okay. I don't remember anything. I mean I must have been really out of it not to remember at least something. The last thing I remember is they told me to close my eyes and count backwards from ten. I don't know if I even got to one."
"Just think, we can go home soon and live our lives the way we always wanted. No more headaches!" Candy kisses his lips, "Oh, how I've missed your kisses." She kisses him again. "And your arms around me, I've missed them too. I don't know if I'll ever let you go."
"Lay with me?" Jeremy asks.
"All right," she says then stops. She looks over at the window and sees that they are completely covered now. She smiles and lays down in Jeremy's arms. "Together Forever," she whispers.