A/N: What can I say, all of a sudden too much time had gone by. Here's the next chapter, long enough I think to make up a little. Hope you enjoy, love the reviews !
Chapter 91
The alarms on Ty's watch, iPhone and iPad all went off within a few minutes of each other and he was up, 4:15 AM. He stopped for a second and then remembering the plan and texted Betty that he was moving, she would text Ty back and make sure the girls were awake too. He hadn't slept well and assumed that nobody really had as he received a text from Betty that she was also up and he headed into the shower to get ready.
He didn't shave and chose comfortable clothes one step above ratty; worn but not ripped jeans, a dark black Allman Bros. T shirt, a dark green flannel and his most comfortable light hiking books. He found the twins and Betty in the kitchen, the girls were sipping cocoa from travel mugs and Betty slid the same of black coffee on the table for Ty.
Ty hugged and kissed each of the girls and then Betty before sitting and taking his first sip.
"How long ?" He asked.
"He should be here any time now Poppa." Maddie said. She sounded and looked tired, as did Charlie and Betty. Ty did as well.
"I wondered if you were all still here." Lisa said as she and Jack turned the corner into the kitchen.
"You two should try to get some more rest." Ty said looking up.
"We'll go back" Jack assured him but we were up "my clock's all screwy anyway."
"That must be it GG." Charlie said with a grin.
"Well, it's a bunch of stuff Charlie." He said with a gentle smile back.
Casey and Lily showed up a moment later.
"Well that didn't work." Ty said looking at the four in their robes or in Casey's case sweats.
"He's here" Betty said looking at her phone. "Meg and Steph will be by soon to get things rolling here and before you get all over that they insisted. Ty's right, you should all try to get some more rest, it's a long day, and you all had a long day yesterday, he may not be out until mid afternoon."
They all hugged and received messages of love to be delivered, got their coats and were on their way a couple minutes later. There were some thermal bags and boxes in the back with them. There was a reserved parking spot at the hospital waiting for the limo and the valet on site pulled the cone. Pat opened the door to help Betty out and then grabbed two bags assigning the last two, one each to Maddie and Charlie.
In the elevator Ty looked down "what's in the bags ?"
"Breakfast and snacks. Part of the job description." Pat answered with a grin.
"He's mom's junk food dealer, whatcha got Pat ?"
"Breakfast sandwiches and donuts Mad and I'm not her dealer."
"Oooh donuts, what kind ? Could they be Maple Walnut Frosted from Dunwell ?" Charlie asked.
"And jelly."
Ty was surprised that the large waiting area was darkened and followed Betty through and down the hall. Before they had gotten far Trish popped out into the hall with a big smile. Ty noted the difference in her dress, her attending nurse uniform now changed to green surgical scrubs. She wore surgical booties over her clogs and a tight Harley surgical cap to cover her head. Her mask was pulled down past her chin but there ready to go.
"He'll be a minute, they're wiping him down, why don't you all put your stuff into the family room and I'll get you when we're ready. Ty you can stay with me."
"Give me your backpack poppa." Charlie said softly reaching over and tugging gently.
"Uhm, Ok Charlie thanks."
She smiled back and Trish took Ty's hand, "try to smile Ty, he's been asking for you."
He walked into Jackson's room and looked around. He hadn't spent much time in here Monday and immediately noticed pictures from April on the walls and photos of the family and his horses on a small table nearby. Two small bouquets of flowers also stood across the room. The room art was of fish and horses, one a trout rising for a natural fly. Ty had to admit it was probably the nicest hospital room he'd ever seen, TV or movie worthy he thought.
"Oh hey dad." JT said. He was watching Amy put an X on his left leg. There was no chance anyone in that surgery could mistake JT's left and right legs, the left came replete with long scars but JT had seen a video that said the x was a tried and true method and he insisted, which was fine.
Ty walked over to the bed opposite Amy and leaned over for Jackson to wrap his arms around him and snuggle him in.
"Are there Maple frosted donuts out there ?" JT asked.
"And jelly" Ty added leaning back and then across the bed to kiss Amy.
She was wearing some sort of lounging outfit that was somewhat tight fitting and yet looked warm and comfortable. Her hair was in two braids on either side and she wore her short bootie mukluks.
"I can't have any till a couple days, maple frosted, they're my favorite."
"I promise we'll get you some as you can have some Jackson." Ty whispered.
"Ok JT, let's get this leg covered up and you can take your pill and we'll let Gran and your sisters in for a couple of minutes." Trish said walking over and taking his gown edge from Amy. She smoothed it back in place and and then pulled his blanket up and smoothed it with a practiced hand. The pill was on the small table beside her and she held it out in a cup with some water.
"This will calm him a bit, it's very mild, just take the edge off" she explained.
Jackson sat up and took the pill, it had never been an issue for him and then lay back down. Trish dropped both cups into the bin, opened the door and chocked it open while she walked across the hall.
Ty moved to the end of the bed when the girls and Betty came in. Betty went first and leaned over to kiss him and give him a big hug. She whispered to him how much she loved him and Jackson didn't mention her sniffles.
The girls were next and went to either side of him as Amy backed away and left Maddie access on her side.
"Time for the rodeo bro." Maddie whispered leaning over with a smile to gently kiss him as well.
"You'll do great JT and we'll be waiting. We love you you know."
"I know Charlie, love you guys too, you better go."
They both sniffled and reached down for a last kiss before backing away again. Crooked smiles and sniffles for all, Betty reached around both to herd them to the door.
Ty and Amy moved back on either side of him and Amy took his small hand again. Time seemed to almost speed up at that point for Ty when Shoshana and Ben Goldman walked in.
"How are you feeling Jackson, a little tired ?"
"A little" he said softly, "time ?"
"Time sweetie" Shoshana said gently and then turned to Amy and Ty while Ben and Trish affixed heart monitors to him and set him up for his IV. "Everything looks good guys, we'll send out reports when we can."
"Last goodbye for now" Trish said backing away. Jackson now had a stream of wires from his chest for monitoring his vitals, they'd insert the IV's in the operating room.
Ty bent over first and kissed him one last time, it was a little awkward with the wire pack. "Love you buddy, see you soon."
"Love you dad."
Amy moved over next and sat down as best she could and not caring, leaned over to hug him. She was smiling when she leaned back and touched his cheek, there were no longer any stray hairs for her to lovingly tuck away, they were under his cap.
"I love you so much sweet boy, I'll see you soon."
"Love you mom."
And then it was done, Trish lightly placed her hand on Amy's shoulder and squeezed gently. Moving up she deftly tapped down on the wheel lock closest to her and heard the catch snap up sharply. Another surgical nurse, Tovah, snapped the other side and Amy and Ty looked down one last time at Jackson who smiled valiantly.
"You like Maple Walnut donuts dad ?"
"Probably a bit sweet for me son."
"Well, more for me then" he said with a last smile, shining eyes and a short wave from where his arm lay. Ty and Amy smiled back and then he was gone. This floor was set up to take a patient from their room and return them back to the same room without a parade through the 'public' spaces. As Amy and Ty left to the hallway several staff members moved in a few monitoring machines that would be used later. Amy stared at the space where the bed was and sobbed low as Ty put his arm around her and led her into the hallway and across to the lounge.
Betty took her from Ty's arms and sat her down drawing her in as only a mother could and wrapped her in a loving hug as Amy cried.
Ty sat down in a recliner and leaned over with his face in his hands. He felt her hands on him and looked up as Charlie pushed him back and crawled into his lap and into his arms. "Shhh" she whispered as he cried quietly no longer able to hold back.
"Hey, he'll be fine, he's the toughest kid in Ithaca." She whispered with her head against his chest.
"Nothing to it" Maddie said with a broken smile moving over and sitting on the edge of the recliner and taking Ty's free hand.
They sat quietly comforting each other until a nurse popped in for a second "They've started." She said quietly and smiled at the small group.
Ty looked up at the big clock on the wall then down at his watch. He sighed "6:40."
"Have some coffee and some breakfast Amy, you need to get yourself together."
"OK Gran, let's do that." She answered standing and then stretching. Maddie was up and arm in arm with her a second later. "So breakfast ?" Maddie asked "would that be one donut or two mom ?"
"One for now and some coffee, I'll eat after my shower." She smiled back grabbing a plate and one of the rather large Dunwell donuts. She didn't wait to bite down before pouring coffee and Ty smiled at her licking the telltale frosting off her lips and then fingers. She grabbed a cup of coffee, looked back, grabbed a second donut and sat at the small table set up in the corner.
Ty reached into the thermal bag and pulled out two breakfast sandwiches, poured himself coffee and joined her.
"Where do you shower ?" He asked swallowing the first bite of his egg sandwich followed by a big gulp of coffee.
"There's a faculty gym upstairs so I'll run and then shower and change, about an hour."
Ty nodded back and looked up at her as he took a second bite. "These are amazing."
"Sloppy greasy corner deli egg sandwiches, another staple. You Ok Ty ?"
"He looked so small in that bed."
"It's a big bed Poppa." Maddie countered.
"I'm going to head down to the chapel for a little while."
"Time to lay down the law Gran ?".
"Hush Madelyn, no reason to be disrespectful." she said walking by and kissing her head. "Pat's on his way to Teterboro, you should get going" she repeated to Amy, "come on, grab your stuff and I'll ride you up."
They both leaned over, Betty to kiss Ty's cheek and Amy his lips. She smiled at him "I'll be back soon my love."
"I'll be here." He said with a smile leaning over to reach for his backpack and moving to a recliner. Before leaning back with his notes he glanced at the girls laying on opposite ends of the long leather couch each reading a book by John Steinbeck. Maddie was reading The Grapes of Wrath" and Charlie "Of Mice and Men." It seemed when they had a choice they chose different books, it was easier writing assignments this way rather than when your conclusions were so alike that you'd get odd looks from your teachers. Even reading books by the same authors could elicit those looks but the girls did have a reputation to uphold and no matter, they did in fact read the books and write their own papers.
Ty glanced up at the clock when he found concentrating on a case was harder than he thought it would be and called up the file on Jackson's surgery. He knew there was a crowd of orthopedists in the theatre above the operating room and also knew he wasn't going up. He ran through the procedure that would be done in several stages. They would be removing and refitting the hardware that held Jackson's leg together with his hopefully final set of hardware. JT's leg had titanium support in his left hip, femur, patella, fibula and tibula, they would do it all.
So far, Jackson's restorations were done using sleeves and screws that were changed several times to allow his leg to grow naturally. At this stage, based on Jackson's progress he would be fitted with cutting edge sleeves designed to grow with the bone. As the sleeve 'grew' with the bone and expanded with JT's natural growth, the sleeve would adjust the inner screw in increments programmed using a complicated formula designed using Jackson's own DNA, growth forecasts and computer simulations.
He'd of course be under constant scrutiny and be required to take the same quarterly images. There would be limitations but thankfully Jackson was a good rider so aside from the most extreme riding he'd be fine. He'd make the most of not trick riding, rodeo or racing a thoroughbred. So far and for the time being as it had not yet happened, they were fine with his jumping under scrutiny. Amy was fine with him just walking, anything else was a miracle and a gift.
Ty read through the file twice and then put his iPad aside and sat back. He sighed and closed his eyes then looked at his phone.
"Come sit here by us Poppa ?" Maddie said from the couch.
"Will that help Mad ?"
"How about it'll help me" she answered smiling across and putting out her hand.
Ty smiled and grabbed his stuff over to the big chair next to the couch. When he settled Maddie raised her hand for him to take.
She smiled and went back to her book, now perched with one hand, her other locked with Ty's.
"Much better Poppa, thank you."
It was awkward and he didn't care, he grabbed his iPad and balanced on his lap, called up his first case study.
Ty was on his sixth file when Betty got back. "Have you girls eaten actual food, donuts do not count ?"
"Not yet Gran, waiting for mom." Charlie said looking over "I am getting kind of grumbly though, Mad ?"
"Will you two stop, come have a sandwich and some milk please."
"Stop what ?" Ty asked smiling at Maddie as they got up together.
"It's never been scientifically proven." Maddie said.
Charlie put her arm around Maddie's shoulder "Completely anecdotal."
"Science, anecdote or not Ty, when one of them is hungry, well you get the idea. Come join us before the crowds invade."
Betty grabbed three sandwiches from the warming bin and opened the small convection oven to crisp them up. "Ty sandwich ?"
"Already had two Gran, I'll have coffee, what crowds are we talking about ?"
"We do not usually do this." Betty started leaning against the counter waiting for the oven. "When we switched here from Ithaca for surgeries it worked out that his last three were in the summer or at least over school break. Typically it's us, Erma and the kids, Meg and Sally to switch off depending on the farm schedule, Bobby, August and Tom kept those going while they were here."
"I miss having the kids." Maddie said sitting down with a container of milk.
"How did we end up here then ?"
"Well how do I tell 2 grandmothers and 2 great grandparents not to come ?" Betty asked pouring herself coffee and offering a mug to Ty. "Not like we can plead poverty or lack of resources, I did get Lou to hold off so Katie can come on the weekend but it's a crowd and Amy, well."
"School's on, can't just keep April or Cars from school, Trish is here already so Aunt Meg and Aunt Steph is the alternate plan." Charlie added while putting some ketchup on her sandwich which had come out of the small oven piping hot and crispy. "Farms actually take a lot of work in the winter especially the Potter's, all the cheese and livestock. Tom's got a business and Erma's got a rather large pop up wedding to deal with."
"And Brin and her mom are neck deep in music school rehearsals this time of year." Maddie added.
"Ok, leave aside the difference in group relationships and your mom what's the issue ?"
"The issue my love" Amy answered walking into the room and over to the refrigerator for a bottle of water "is that I'm unpredictable."
"Not the word I'd use but Ok." Maddie said giggling.
Betty laughed and playfully swatted Maddie's head "Moody is a better word Ty."
"Whatever" Amy said grabbing two sandwiches and popping them in the oven. "When ?"
"Well, assume Trev, Bert and John about 9:30. Pat will go from dropping them back to the house so maybe 10'ish ?" Betty answered.
Ty finished his cup, looked over at the pot and sighed. Getting up he put his cup in the dishwasher and went for a bottle of water. He looked up when Tommy walked in followed immediately by Robin.
"Tovah said they started on time ?" Robin asked grabbing a cup of coffee, taking a sip and moving to rinse the now empty pot.
Maddie immediately rose to move her aside and take over with a cheerful smile.
"Thanks Mad" she said leaning back as Tommy loaded two sandwiches in the machine, "last meal" he said looking up.
"Really Tommy, don't joke." Robin said swatting his hand playfully.
"Come on mom."
"6:40 Robin."
"Thanks Ty, that's about right for 6:00 prep. Eric and Louis are having breakfast in a diner and coming over. They're prepping Marie, I think they'll come in for breakfast, Babs promised Marie half a donut now and half later."
"The tried and true, when all else fails, bribe them with candy." Charlie said. "Gotta love Grandma Marion."
"A very smart woman" Babs announced in a heavily accented patois walking in behind Marie. "One half maple walnut donut please. Amy how was Jacque this morning, go sit at the table my sweet blossom" she finished patting Marie gently.
"He was fine Babs, come sit with her and I'll get you coffee. Marie some juice or we have your oat milk."
"Milk please."
Maddie walked over with half a donut and put it down smiling.
"Here you go sweetheart" Amy said putting down the small glass after sliding Bab's coffee across to her.
Marie smiled at her and took a sip.
"You know Marie, if Mama says it's ok maybe Maddie and I can come in and watch a movie with you so she can take a break later. How about Beauty and the Beast ?"
"Oh, I love Beauty, Ok mammon ?"
"Of course Marie, thank you girls."
"Just send up a rocket Babs." Maddie answered with a smile.
The mapping and scans weren't painful or even really uncomfortable in the case of the kids, all done from the hips down, they were free to stay awake and keep themselves occupied with one exception, they had to stay put, or at least their lower halves, sometimes for over an hour at a stretch. They could stop in the case of an emergency but didn't like it so they got to choose. Marie was young and liked the company. Jackson was fine as long as there was someone to talk to. The Israeli's were a happy chatty bunch and of course there was Trish so he was fine. The boys also loved the machine and were fascinated by it. They lay or sat or reclined on a long comfy couch that was somewhat confining but not tight. The scanner moved around them on it's own, like a robot, it beeped and swirled and spun and whirred. Like having R2D2 dance around you taking pictures. They had the use of their hands, tablets, phones, TV, games and video. They had also all fallen asleep at one time or another during long scans.
One of the floor orderlies stopped in for a moment "they've opened the larger room and set the elevators on free."
Amy nodded her thanks, she couldn't see the young woman's name tag and the orderlies were not specific floor staff, she couldn't keep up with all the names.
"Let's move down if we're done eating and leave this space for quiet family time." Amy said to her group. She then walked over to Babs and Marie and hugged each. "Let us know if you need anything and we'll send word about Jackson if we get any."
"We'll come too" Robin said "the men should be here any time now I'd say." She also reached over to hug Babs and Marie as Tommy packed his bag, he high fived the little girl.
It took two trips and the girls handled most of it including moving some of the treats out as well which required them to put together some platters to make them more presentable for the public space. They also set up two pots of coffee and checked to make sure the fridge was stocked. Before settling near Amy, Ty and Betty they moved some of the furniture to clear an area they would use to handle the onslaught of well wishers gifts that they knew were already piling up in the small side lobby.
"Pat's on his way over the GW and they're all eating at the house. I figure we've got about an hour for the full load."
Amy looked up and nodded at Betty. She was about 4 chapters into the first volume of her set. She was laying sideways across a cushy leather chair and had a big pillow tucked against her head. The book lay open against the pillow while she read, she used her left hand to turn the pages while her right lay tucked in Ty's who sat in an identical chair that he moved to be closer. He too balanced his iPad on a pillow and used his free hand for everything else. Betty sat across from them knitting.
"We're gonna take a walk and get some fresh air mom, we'll have them start sending stuff up in the meantime."
"Ok Charlie, not too long."
"We won't, do we need anything ?"
"Not right now Mad." Amy said looking up with a smile. "Get me one of those jelly donuts though and a bottle of water before you leave please sweetheart."
Maddie smiled and a few minutes later as Amy licked powdered sugar from her lips the twins stopped at the entrance desk, spoke with the attendant who nodded to the side where he showed them a sizable pile of flowers and gift baskets growing.
"Start sending them up and we'll make a list and then send them around to nurse's stations." Charlie explained "no helping this, sorry."
"It's fine" the young man said "it happens more often than you think, you really have to wonder if some of these people have ever actually seen a hospital room, some of these are enormous."
Maddie thought for a second and then just said. "I think most of these people know we're about to fill a hospital with flowers, it's a money thing."
The young man smiled at her "so, you two are rich huh ?"
"Nah" Charlie said "we work for the family."
"I'm Matt by the way and you are both full of it."
"Ok well, I'm Charlie, that's Maddie and we're loaded, later Matt."
Pat, Trever, Charlie and John got out of the elevator along with a metal cart with flowers that were signed for by Betty and placed alongside the others in the space the girls set up.
Amy pried herself from her chair when she saw them and stretched noisily before smiling and stepping up to hug each of them right behind Ty.
"I'm heading to the house Amy, anything you need ?"
"Are there more flowers downstairs, maybe a couple bouquets for the house ?"
"They've got half a cart down there, I'll load that."
"Excellent, come back for lunch."
"I'm bringing lunch, Louis ordered from a West Indian place where he knows the owner."
"Oh, Ok, great."
It was confirmed a moment later when Eric and Louis stepped out of the newly arrived elevator.
"Text me when your friend has a time Louis."
"I will Pat, thank you."
The men each went over to the table and grabbed coffee. John looked over and got the nod that the donuts were vegan, all DunWell made and some of the best donuts in Manhattan, vegan or not. Bert joined them a few minutes later having stopped at the surgical theater before joining the group.
"They're finishing up the hip, one of the orthopedists told me it's going well. I'm going to grab breakfast and head back."
Amy looked over at Bert when he sat down "he's fine Amy." It wasn't enough as she started to cry softly.
"Damn" she said as if the tears were a failure. Betty was there in the moment kneeling in front of her and drawing her into a hug.
"Shhhh, he's fine sweetheart, he's strong and indomitable."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"Sorry, what are you sorry about, come on, let's go back where it's quiet and gather ourselves for a few minutes."
Ty had stood and was standing next to the couple as they got up and took a second to touch Amy's shoulder and have her melt into his side a moment later. "I'm Ok, I just need a few minutes." She whispered and turned with Betty. She wiped her eyes against her sleeves going down the hall and Betty slapped at her hand. The last thing Ty heard was Amy's feeble giggle.
Ty sat down and watched the stroll down the hallway.
"How are you doing ?" The deep voice said surprising him as he didn't realize John had sat down.
"Just off that I guess." Ty said softly nodding down the hall.
"I'm heading in" Bert said kneeling by him "I'll stop out or text with progress reports."
"Thanks Bert" Ty said patting his shoulder.
"I assume you saw Trish this morning ?"
"I did John, I can't tell you how much I, we appreciate that she does this."
"You don't have to Ty, the girls around ?"
"Went for a walk, I guess they're due back any second as are the house crew, I think I'll go check on Amy."
He found Betty sitting at the table, Amy had gone to the bathroom to wash up.
"She's fine Ty."
"Oh I know, truth is I don't know what to say out there or if anything's expected of me."
"Nothing's expected and there's no law that says you have to stay out there, that's what this space is for."
"Regrouping."
"As good a word as any."
Amy came down the small hallway and smiled at him "worried ?"
"A little but mostly uh, well, regrouping." He answered with a grin.
"Good word" Amy said taking his hand.
"Then it's unanimous." Betty said getting up "shall we ?"
The girls were hanging up their coats when they got back to the large waiting lounge. Maddie turned first "I think I saw the limo at the corner but around here, who knows."
Charlie stood by the floral layout on the floor. Two stacks on carts, maybe 2 dozen various arrangements. "Let's separate them into sizes, smaller for rooms and larger for nursing stations and waiting rooms."
"Just make sure we know who gave what Charlie and make sure you set some around here and in the kid's rooms, Marie likes the Lilies and Dahlias."
"Ok mom."
"And Pat took some back to the house so add those when we get home later." Betty added.
Amy settled back into her chair and grabbed her book taking her back to a world of her own with Heartland tugging at her thoughts, the chapters, all about the horses she learned from in Hudson brought back many memories that sometimes flooded her senses. She cringed at the voices when the elevator opened and the girls greeted the grandparents. Pat walked past and down the hall and Amy watched him duck into a bathroom.
"I'll settle them" Betty whispered with a tap to Amy's leg that brought her attention back to the present.
"Thanks Gran."
Ty and John were helping the girls move around the floral arrangements and to deal with the newest arrivals, a cart of assorted foods and baskets. Betty moved over to deal with these and elicited Jack and Lisa to help decide on what to keep and what to send off as gifts to the other floors. Looking at the piles growing Betty moved over and spoke to the girls for a moment before taking out a card she had taken from the downstairs welcome desk and dialed the four digit extension to the hospital center's charitable giving coordinator.
Amy looked over and saw Lily sitting and watching the groups deal with the gifts and looking down at her book got up and walked over.
"Come sit with me Lily, I'll show you something, you know, you're in my book."
"What would I be doing in one of your books Amy ?"
Amy looked at her with a bright smile and her hand out for Lily to take. "Come on."
Ty glanced over and saw Amy pulling a chair close to hers and having Lily sit. She reached over into her work bag and pulled out a folder as Lily settled.
"Now this manuscript is without pictures but there'll be some and I happen to have this one which we'll be using. Do you remember him ?" Amy said sitting back and showing the picture to Lily.
"Alcatraz." Lily whispered putting out her hand to touch the picture as if she could actually touch the horse itself. "Of course I remember, when Brad died right ?"
"That's right, Alcatraz Run was his name and he and you shared some some trust issues that you overcame together."
"What became of him ?"
"He became a Para horse, working with paraplegics, helping them build confidence by riding, rodeo actually."
"So this man in the wheelchair ?"
"Bryce, his owner, Alcatraz is retired I hear, enjoying the meadow."
"That's so sweet."
"See, this is where I wrote about you and how the familiarity with the right human can have a profound effect." Amy leaned over and watched as Lily read a smile growing on her face. When she was done and about to speak Amy stopped her by turning to another page and showing Lily a line with her name under the acknowledgments.
"Look at that, my name in a college textbook, thank you Amy."
"You were great as I recall, you deserve to get that credit." Amy said leaning over to kiss her cheek and give her a hug.
"I should call Wade, he should be up by now."
"Be positive, last report said it was going well."
Amy was at the table fixing herself a mug of tea when the elevator opened and an older woman dressed impeccably in a dark blue business suit stood for a second surveying the room before stepping out. Her grey hair in a tight bun and sea grey eyes were the finishing touches on a woman whose very presence and stature demanded respect. John and Jack were having a quiet but animated discussion on the worst place they ever broke down and John was relaying a story of him and Trish on leave in Europe when he glanced over at the figure that just appeared.
"Excuse me Jack" he said turning and straightening. It would be hard to believe that a man who stood over 6 ½ feet tall could seem taller but in that moment you would have believed anything as his hand shot up to form a perfect salute.
The woman's almost naturally stern gaze turned on him for a moment and then softened considerably as a small smile took it's place. "At ease Master Sergeant, we are both retired after all."
"Yes ma'am" he said lowering his salute after her acknowledgment, his stance did not change. "Trish is in surgery ma'am."
"I know John, I'm actually here to touch base with Amy."
"Colonel it's good to see you again" Amy said leaning in past John and just moving in to hug her. She reminded Amy of Ruth who melted just a little through the hug but maintained that aura of control.
"You too Amy, I'm sorry not to have stopped in earlier."
"Trish mentioned you were away."
"I'll stop back, just wanted to make sure everything was fine."
"Perfect Colonel, thank you, if you have a minute to meet my family ?"
"I'd love to and Trish tells me you're engaged ?"
Let's start there" Amy said turning into what seemed to be a line of her family members.
"Ok, well, Colonel Molly Harris, Chief Administrative Nurse, Dr. Ty Borden, my fiancé, my grandfather Jackson Bartlett, grandmother Lisa Stillman, Step mom Casey McMurtry and Ty's mom Lily Dalton and you know the girls." She leaned in and shook each hand as they were introduced, a firm commanding handshake.
"I'll stop back and spend some time after my meetings but for now welcome and please let someone know if there's anything amiss, it's not a hotel but we try."
She shook hands with each of the others, Meg, Steph, Charlie and Trev who all knew her and then she stopped to visit for a second with the Thibaults and Engels before smiling, stopping and chatting with Amy as she waited for the elevator.
"Who is she Amy ?" Lisa asked a moment after the doors closed.
"Basically the head nurse."
"She was Trish's superior officer in Germany, she ran the Rammstein Hospital Center in Germany, Full bird Colonel, US Army retired." John said. "She gave Trish away at our wedding, sort of almost like Trish's mom."
"What'd she make of you ?" Ty asked with a grin.
"It's all in the presentation Ty, you know make a good impression, first time she met me was on my way into surgery handing me off to Trish, two bullets and a hunk of shrapnel, last thing I saw going under was Trish's smiling blue eyes. Molly Harris judges everyone from the inside out, hell of a woman and a hell of a soldier. Wait'll you see her uniform."
"She's invited ?" Ty asked.
"She is" Betty answered "already responded, she's at your table John."
John laughed, "that's funny, a whole table of guys bouncing up and down every time she stands."
"And you ?" Ty asked.
"And me, hell, I salute here."
Amy spent a minute going over what the girls were doing. Casey was with them and they were having a good time talking. She also met and touched base with Adrienne who was sent to coordinate the orderlies who would distribute the bouquets around the building as they were logged. The girls also had final say in the foodstuffs that stayed. Typically the overage was sent to student and employee lounges and the small floor areas they used for a moments relaxation.
Amy had settled back with her book while Ty settled with Lily, Jack and Lisa. Betty stayed close by Amy knitting as always. She checked her watch continuously, fidgeting between chapters which flashed by her robotically.
"Amy ?" Jack said softly having sat in the chair next to her without her realizing it.
"Oh Grandpa, hi, I'm sorry I didn't see you, how are you doing ?" She said closing her book carefully while tucking the page holder between the pages. Sitting up she reached across and took his hands.
"How's the arthritis ?"
Jack smiled and flexed his hands, "better for the cream and tea but not any younger."
"I imagine not, I don't do those miracles."
"I just wondered how you were doing ?"
"Getting by Grandpa, it's been busy lately."
"And worrisome ?"
"Well, I've learned that goes hand in hand with parenthood, up and down I guess."
"Amy ?" Betty said leaning forward.
Amy looked up and saw Shoshana make a quick check of the family lounge before walking towards them. Seeing Amy look up she smiled her most reassuring smile and stopped at the edge of the hallway just before the lounge As Amy got up, glanced at Betty and walked over towards Shoshana. She had seen Ty get up also and put out her hand to take is as they reached Shoshana.
"It's going well but we're running a little behind, no problems but the audience sometimes takes time to deal with, we do want them to see and have some minimal interaction with the process. Asher is finishing up smoothing the patella socket before heading down, it's all good Amy."
"Time Shosh ?"
"Out by 2:30ish and you'll see him 3:00 – 3:30 maybe ?" It was a rough guess and Amy and Ty both knew that. "Give me a second for the Engels."
They watched Shoshana walk over to Robin and Eric, Tommy who was with the girls joined them.
Shoshana put her arm around Tommy's shoulder. "We'll start getting you ready at 2:00 buddy, figure surgery about 3:00."
"Ok, no lunch right ?"
"Sorry Tommy, as much as you want for dinner though."
"Jackson Ok ?"
"He's fine sweetie, any questions ?" She asked and then scanned Robin and Eric. "Tovah will start getting you set up and I'll be in about 2:30."
"Thanks Shoshana" Eric said.
She smiled and then headed back to Amy and Ty who had now grown to Betty and the girls. "I'm going to head back in, I expect Trish to stop out and check on Tommy after lunch, everything is going as expected, now I have to get back in."
She reached out and took both Ty and Amy's hand's, one in each and squeezed and smiled. "See you soon."
Amy exhaled as if she'd been holding her breath all along, it came with a slight shudder and a sound as if the wind had been knocked out of her.
"Gran, tell everyone he's doing good, mom needs a breather." Maddie said nodding to Ty.
"Come on Ames, let's sit for a few minutes" Ty said turning her in his arm and shielding her while walking to the family lounge.
Amy sat down on the closest couch and Ty sat with her, Charlie also sat while Maddie grabbed a tea pot and strainer, mom was a tea person, she looked at the shelf and set up a mango chamomile to steep.
"Charlie, text Erma, Sandy and Bridgett with an update that he's fine and on schedule please."
Maddie poured 4 mugs a few minutes later and passed them out in two trips. After a few calming sips by all but Ty who took one and pulled back.
"Maddie what is this ?"
"Mango Chamomile."
"Not for me, I'll grab coffee."
Maddie stopped him from putting down his cup "No, no poppa, we've been noticing how much coffee you drink, you have a high stress job, young children."
"At least give the tea a chance to grow on you." Charlie asked. "Please ? For us ?"
Amy couldn't help but giggle at Ty's predicament. "Maddie grab a mug and brew Grandpa one of his tisane, there's a jar there and we'll go out."
"Why mango chamomile ?" Ty asked sipping.
"Digestion and calmness" she answered, "West Indian food, have you had it ?"
"Possibly, I honestly don't remember."
"Fish, greens, curries, spicy though and there'll be some vegan stuff. Oh and Louis dishing it out."
"and plantains." Maddie added.
"Plantains, how could I forget, and that chewy molasses spice cake."
With Jack's tea done the group made their way down the hall where most waiting smiled and expressed good wishes at the report from Shoshana. Amy took the mug from Maddie and handed it to Jack who smiled and took a sip.
Betty came over from the Thibaults with a report that Pat was picking up food.
"I was going to suggest that maybe you all take a few hours this afternoon, shop, see a museum or something." Amy said to her family who had sat down. "There's no point in waiting here, I, we, appreciate it but the truth is they won't let you see him until maybe tonight when he eats before he goes back under. We'll only see him awake for a few minutes after the surgery, I promise to let you know any news as soon as we do."
"Where would we go, I'm not one for museums."
"I used to think that way Grandpa, you should really give them a chance, you'd be surprised how art can move you, besides" Amy said leaning over to whisper "you're not an island." She said it as her eyes darted to Lisa, Casey and Lily. "The Guggenheim has a visiting collection of Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers, my guess is they're right up your alley."
"I love those" Lily said "those little kids with those big eyes in the candy shoppes and doctors offices."
"There you have it, we'll have Pat drive you over after lunch, if nothing else the museum itself is a wonder to walk through. Girls fetch a patrons card for GG."
"Amy."
"Please Grandpa ?"
"Come on Jack, a couple hours, you can't tell me that being inside a hospital all day is how you want to spend your day." Lisa said putting her arm on his and smiling at Amy.
"I'm in" Casey said eliciting a thankful smile from Amy.
"You all too" Amy said to Trev, Charlie and John. "Go to the club after lunch for a few hours or something, where are Meg and Steph ?"
"They went for a walk, some fresh air. Probably not a bad idea, we'll head to the club after." Trev said.
"Girls, you want to join us ?" Lily asked.
"Thanks Grandma, we'll stay, there's enough here to keep us busy but we're on for shopping on the avenue tomorrow after school."
"I look forward to that." Lisa added smiling as did Lily.
"Am I included in shopping ?"
"We'll buy you something GG." Maddie said.
"I don't need anything Maddie."
"Nothing ? come on GG everybody needs something, how about a Tesla, you don't have one of those."
Ty laughed "I honestly don't know what sounds stranger, Jack parking a Tesla at Maggie's or that I'm almost positive these two can walk into a dealership and buy one."
"Yeah, Uncle Charlie would get a text."
"Yeah, there's a stop gap, trust me, your uncle Charlie is 50 50 on that one. Jack, maybe if Charlie could make a call we can actually get you fitted for a suit for the wedding, on me."
"I can definitely do that Ty." Charlie said walking over, "what do you say Jack, let the boy buy you a suit."
"Oh Jack, you should definitely do that."
"I don't need a new suit Lis."
"Your granddaughter is getting married, of course you need a new suit, Tim's getting one."
"Well Casey, good for Tim."
"Why do you have to be that way Jack ?"
"I just got a suit in the summer and a sports coat."
"None are appropriate for a wedding, now I insist, come on Jack, let us give back a little." Ty said with a slight grin.
"Fine, one suit."
"And a couple shirts."
"I have shirts."
"Not like these you don't Jack, trust me." Ty said "Charlie, make the call for tomorrow afternoon."
"We'll stop at the club after for a drink." Charlie added.
"What club, no drinks."
"Come on Jack, I just got my card, the Cornell Club, let me buy you a drink."
"Fine, but I'm buying." Jack said.
"The drinks, I'm buying the suit." Ty said putting his hand around Jack's shoulder, "it's not that hard Jack, now do you want a Tesla ?"
Amy smiled from where she had returned to her corner and curled up with her book. Betty returned to her side and grabbed her knitting again.
Lisa took Ty by the hand and motioned to a couch along the same wall Amy was sitting on, a couch she couldn't see from where she was sitting.
"This was a mistake." Lisa started.
"I don't know if mistake is a good word. Typically it seems they keep it small with either Erma, Sally or Meg Caldwell until he's up a bit."
"I understand."
"I'm not sure I do Lisa."
"We're guests Ty."
"You're family Lisa."
"I appreciate that from your perspective, even if Jack and I fit as family to her, Casey and your mom, regardless, she feels the need to deal with guests and she shouldn't."
"She's been dealing with some other stuff that might have something to do with it."
"And that's probably none of my business, looks like they're here to set up for lunch."
"Caribbean." Ty said.
"How exciting, Jack loves to try new things." She said laughing and getting up to give the staff some room. "Do you know how this works ?"
"The hospital contracts with a caterer for things like conferences and big talks, teaching series, stiff like that. It's apart from hospital food. They stop by in the morning and Betty usually goes through what they need."
"So ordinarily they wouldn't do this."
"They would definitely eat Lisa." He laughed "let me check on the girls."
When he walked up to Amy he sat and reached over Amy's chair to take her hand and bring it to his lips for a kiss. She smiled and immediately cupped his cheek lovingly with her palm. Betty glanced at her phone which had softly vibrated and put aside her knitting. She stood and smiled at the loving couple and patted Ty's shoulder walking by towards the elevator.
Amy closed her book and lay it aside before shifting herself from her chair into Ty's lap and cuddling up against him sighing deeply as his arms wrapped around her.
"They're going to leave after lunch and they'll make some arrangements for tomorrow, I'm taking Jack for a suit with the guys."
"I didn't want to push them away but it's hard for me to focus and I feel like I"
"Shhhh, you don't need to explain, Lisa, well, forget it, everyone's good."
"You haven't kissed me in a long time, hours I think."
"Sort of tip toeing around but I've really wanted to." He said grinning.
"So maybe we should." She started and was interrupted as Ty leaned forward and muffled her words which became a sigh when his lips softly nuzzled hers.
"Goddess that smells good" Amy whispered as their lips parted.
Ty looked at her and laughed leaning forward to kiss her again. "it does smell good, and spicy, wow that's a lot of smells."
After a last tender kiss Amy squirmed out of his arms and stood "I'm going to wash up for a second."
"I'll check out the pop up buffet." Ty said walking over only to be met by the twins who offered him a plate.
"You two know your way around this stuff ?"
"Most of it, that goat curry is probably the hottest, those floaty things are scotch bonnets, pretty hot as peppers go." Maddie explained. "We take a tiny amount."
"The fish is usually awesome." Charlie added as they approached the end of the table and Babs walked up.
"Want a tour Ty, girls or guessing ?"
"I'd love a tour Babs." Ty said smiling "I'm out of my element."
He watched Amy head to the table and be immediately approached by Louis. They laughed as Amy helped herself and she chatted with him along the way.
"Stop staring Poppa, she's doing fine, this isn't anything like they used to be."
"How were they Charlie ?" He asked before biting into a perfect chunk of sea bass. "This is really good."
"Try the stew, so this is a refit or retrofit, he's basically healed, his leg is straight and growing on it's own, he's got good circulation. Hey mom."
Amy sat as Charlie continued "so back a few surgeries ago, they were dealing with arteries, veins, muscles and ligaments. The surgeries sounded scary."
"They were scary Charlie, bone breaking and shaving, stealing veins and arteries, ugh, and then the wait for color, movement, warmth, pain, imagine being happy that he felt being jabbed."
She stopped for a second as she chewed a chuck of goat meat with a sliver of pepper on it. "Woooohhhh" she exhaled moving the hot food around and then swallowing as the heat kicked in. She followed it immediately with a scoop of the dirty rice with pigeon peas and then exhaled again.
"Ok there mom ?" Maddie asked laughing.
"I don't know why I never quite remember how hot those things are. How's the chicken ?"
"Oh nice, not horrible spicy, the stews the worst." Ty said, "I'm on seconds on the fish and chicken."
"Not the Callaloo ?"
"Not my thing also pretty spicy."
"I love it, the smoky flavor, a little bite, I wouldn't eat it everyday but it's a nice change."
"Kind of not an Alberta thing I guess."
"Well, not a Hudson thing, I have a funny feeling that you can find a restaurant serving Callaloo in Calgary. Louis was not happy to learn we were in Montreal and didn't come in to eat." Amy said taking a bit of chicken wing. "Oh you see, this is good."
Ty smiled at the girls watching Amy eat. She commented again when she bit into a plantain. "We should get these, I'm sure I've seen them in supermarkets near us."
"When was the last time you were in a supermarket ?" Betty said sitting down looking at her "but yes we can get them, I'll see if I can pry a recipe out of the chef."
"I really don't know" Amy said stopping for a second and looking at Betty "I used to go all the time."
"With us and JT in the cart with you and we'd walk with Gran and fetch things." Maddie said. "We had more time back then."
"You bothered by that Mad ?"
"No, I mean what would we give up, we do have it pretty good, being busy at the ranch is usually fun and we're really not the laying about types."
"Besides, the money's not bad." Charlie murmured.
"Charlie ?" Amy asked with a smile.
"Come on mom, we're loaded, the jig is up."
Ty smiled at Amy trying to hold back a laugh.
"The jig is up" Betty repeated laughing under her breath.
They split the leftovers into two batches that they sent over to large nursing stations with an orderly saving a few meals for the kitchen here. The girls returned to dealing with a fresh batch of gifts which were slowing, they were sure they were almost done.
They arranged for Pat to take the grands to the Guggenheim with Meg and Steph along for the ride. Charlie called down to have a cab called for a ride to the Cornell club. Soon after Amy and the family kissed and hugged everyone into the elevator with promises to call with any news. The last news they got was a text from Bert who told them that they had progressed to the fibula. They had about 60 to 90 minutes to go.
Maddie sent off the last of the floral arrangements. There were some food baskets they were holding on to in case they needed something handy. The girls loaded those onto a cart and wheeled them back to the private family room where the rest had gathered, leaving the front room empty.
"I'm sorry for the crowd" Amy said to Babs when she sat down.
"Oh, no matter Amy, I could have come here or gone to sit with Marie but she sleeps and Louis loves the company."
An interesting aside to these surgeries was that Betty, Sally and Erma had taught Babs and Robin to knit. Being from the Caribbean Babs never had a reason to learn and Robin went the dress making route and just never learned. Amy did not have the patience and preferred to read, get work done or spend her time with the kids, Betty had taught her and she made several scarves but in the end she abandoned the effort and left it to Gran.
They sat in a row Betty, Babs and Robin and their knitting. They had shown each other their patterns, Babs and Robin's sweaters were for kids, Betty was making a scarf and hat for Ty, he didn't know it yet and wouldn't until she handed him the hat for a fitting.
Tovah stood for a second before being noticed and locating her quarry. Tommy was sitting with the girls playing a game on one of the iPads.
"Tommy" Robin called out softly.
"Zero hour." Tommy said getting up along with Eric who was sitting with Louis and Ty.
Amy was reading tucked into her chair and Tovah strolled over, she glanced at Ty and loud enough for both told them that they were finishing up and Yigal, the team's plastic surgeon was getting ready to close. Shoshana would be out first.
"Thanks Tovah" Amy said straightening to get up.
"Hey Champ" Amy said to Tommy "come on give us a smoosh" Amy wrapped him in a hug and kissed his head "behave yourself in there." She then hugged Robin and Eric as did Babs, Louis, Ty and Betty. The girls had fist bumped Tommy which covered it as far as they were concerned.
Amy grabbed a cup of coffee and a hunk of the Jamaican Honey and Fruit cake she loved and sat down at the table in front of a stream of emails. She watched as her mail program sorted them and then started at the top after popping a chunk of cake into her mouth followed by a large slug of coffee. Engrossed in an email from Lou about a location for Maggie's Stampede Diner she didn't notice Bert grabbing coffee and walking towards her at the table which startled her.
"Shit Bert, you scared the hell out of me."
"Sorry Amy, Shoshana just scrubbed out and that plastics guy is waiting for Asher to triple check his work, the man is meticulous. It's all over, looked text book perfect to me, some of the ortho's near me thought so too."
Amy reached over and Bert took her in a hug. When they broke apart she was crying again but with a slight smile somewhere between fear and relief. There were hugs and smiles of relief and they settled a little less trepidatiously.
"Why the plastic surgeon, I thought he liked the scars and they aren't really bad."
"We don't have the heart to tell him Poppa" Maddie said "we had our surgery done almost 7 years ago, you can hardly see our scars because we had a plastic surgeon close, Gran insisted. Jackson's got a lot of growing to do and those scars will stretch and smooth, he'll get hair and they'll be hardly noticeable in 10 years."
"Yigal's great, they bring him when kids are involved for just that reason." Amy added and then with a slight change in tone, "Jackson might think they're cool but I don't like them."
Ty knew that tone and the sentiment and understood as did the rest of them that this particular conversation was over, it didn't actually happen often but when it did it was prudent to step away.
Marie was such a good girl through the morning that she was actually released for 30 minutes to eat her lunch in the lounge and so she sat with a small plate next to Bert who Louis insisted eat since he wasn't there for lunch.
Ty joined them and chatted while drinking a bottle of water. The girls would be joining Marie for a little while after she ate to give Babs and Louis a break. She understood that they would go for a few minutes to see Jackson when he woke up.
Shoshana stopped in and sat across from Amy, "I'm going to scrub in. Asher is out and Yigal is working. He'll come looking, the fits were amazing." She leaned over and they hugged. Ty and Betty had wandered over and the girls were close by, their smiles and relief growing.
Bert's plan was to grab a cab to the club for a little relief and then they'd all meet back at the house. The girls had already accompanied Marie inside. Louis and Babs were going down for a breath of air while Marie was cared for and Robin and Eric were due back when Tommy was wheeled away.
"How long does this part take ?"
"Yigal is quick," Amy said answering Ty "Trish will clean him up, maybe a new gown, figure they'll wake him 10 minutes later."
"And the tube." Betty interrupted.
"The tube" Amy nodded "he likes it out, fast and he doesn't want people so once he's in the post op anteroom figure 45 minutes and then they'll bring him forward."
"It feels like he's been in there forever."
"Always does." Amy agreed with a heavy sigh "He's out, he's out."
"And stirring a little" Asher said from the doorway still wiping his hands. It was obvious that he had changed into clean scrubs that Ty found himself grateful for.
"It was very good Amy, as close to perfect as we mortals are allowed I think. Ben and Trish are with him and I have to scrub back with Shoshana, maybe 30 minutes more."
He smiled at them and then stopped for a second to speak with Eric and Robin, Tommy had just gone in. Amy got up and opened her arms for Robin who gratefully accepted her sisterly hug, they'd been through a lot together to get to this point.
"You'll all come ride at our ranch this summer" Amy said backing away with a smile her arms out and still on Robin's shoulders. Robin looked up and smiled "we'll all ride, who would have thought."
Trish stepped through the door as Amy came around the bend from the bathroom a few minutes later. She had gone to wash up and redo her hair. The friends stared at each other for a second before the tall blonde nurse smiled "he's asking for you. They're calling for the girls."