Talania - a Trip Down Memory Lane... (28 page)

“Tristan, you just had pins put in your leg because you were being stupid. Do you honestly think you need to be jumping around like an idiot?”

I stare at this crazy-ass beautiful girl of mine.

“So dey called ya, huh?”

She puts her hands on her slender hips, grinning. “Your parents thought that you breaking your leg was something I should know about!”

I am too happy –these painkillers are amazing! “You are soooo pwetty.” I chuckle, not realizing my words are slurring.

Evelyn barks out a laugh. “Oh good God, what did they give you?” She walks over to my side and picks up my bottle of happy pills. “Really? They gave you fucking morphine? Are they stupid?”

No, these things are awesome. “Dey’re not stooopid. Dese pills are aweeeesome.”

“Oh boy,” she whispers, choking back laughter.

“I wuv you,” I slur, not realizing I now have drool coming from the corner of my mouth.

“I drove all the way here to see you and what do I find? A drugged up version of you that will not even remember that I was here! I’m going back home.”

Wait, where does she think she is going? “Don weave. Pwease don weave me baby.”

She shakes her head, grinning at me and bites her beautiful lip. “Why should I stay? You obviously don’t need me.”

Is she crazy? Oh yes, she is. Man, these pills are awesome. I want to bite on her lip. Oh right, yes, don’t leave.

“Tristan?”

Oh, right! I shake my head, trying to clear the cobwebs that are growing. “Don weave baby. I lalays nee you.” I guess that’s the right answer, right? I mean these pills are fucking awesome.

“You’re really high, aren’t you?” By now, she is having trouble not outright laughing.

“I non’t do dwugs! Oo kno dat.”

“Of course I know you don’t do drugs. I’m talking about the pill high you are on, you idiot!”

Wait… oh shit, I am! “Tae dem, I no wannem,” I growl, swiping the bottle off my nightstand.

“Baby, you need them. It’s okay, I promise.” She sighs, picking them up off the floor and putting them back on the side table.

“I weally urt my yeg,” I whisper as I close my eyes.

“I know you did baby.”

“I’m stoopid, you know dat wite? Jur wif a didiot.”

She giggles. Damn, do I love that sound. “Yeah baby, I know you’re an idiot. Now, I haven’t seen you for three weeks. You gonna let me lay down with you?”

“Oo dona take tare of me Ev?”

She climbs into bed with me, careful not to hit my leg. Wait, I can’t feel my leg. Is it still there?

“I tan’t fee my yeg,” I groan in panic.

“Probably not baby. That’s what the pills are for.”

“So ur yoo dona take tare of me?”

“Yeah baby. Today is Thursday. Dad said I can stay for the weekend and skip school tomorrow.”

The entire weekend with my baby and I am stuck in bed!

“Ear stuck in bed awe eekend ad I dot a gimpy yeg.” I slur, drooling more.

“I’m gonna take care of you,” she whispers, brushing her lips against mine.

“Ear aways donna tate care of each oder, wite?”

She grins against my lips. “Of course we will Tristan. We love each other.”

“I was supposed to take care of her,” I croak, leaning back and knocking my head against the wall. “It’s all my fault. How could I let this happen?”

“Come on, son. Let’s get you off the floor and into a chair.” I look up and see my father and nod, letting him help me up.

I look around and see that everyone is here. “When did you all get here?”

“I called them on the ride here Tristan,” Drake answers.

Oh! I can’t help but wonder just how long I’ve been out of it.

My head is spinning and I wake to monitors beeping all over the place. My entire body is sore, but why do I feel this way? Why can’t I open my eyes? I feel something grasping my hand tightly and I squeeze it back.

“Evelyn.”

That’s Tristan’s voice!

“Evelyn baby, are you awake?”

I am awake! I am awake!

“Baby, squeeze my hand if you can hear me,” his voice comes through more clearly this time.

I use all my strength and squeeze as tightly as I can.

“Oh God, baby, you’re awake. Drake, wake up! Go get the doctors. She’s awake!”

“Tristan,” I rasp. My mouth is as dry as a desert.

“I’m here baby,” he whispers, brushing his lips against mine.

“Water,” I gasp.

“Oh, right.” He pulls away.

No! Come back! Do not leave.

“Here baby, open your mouth a little please.”

I open it as far as I can. Dang, where did my energy go?

Our baby!

“Our baby,” I gasp.

Tristan sighs.

Oh no! Oh no! I don’t know if I want to know.

“Tristan,” I whisper.

“The baby…the baby is fine.”

Why doesn’t his voice sound reassuring?

“Tristan,” I groan.

I pull all my strength together to open my eyes.
OUCH!
I quickly close them. The light is so bright. Why is it so damn bright?

“Baby, they’ve had you in a medically induced coma for the longest two months. They took you out three days ago and we’ve been waiting for you to wake up ever since.”

Coma?
“Why?”

I reach down and feel my swollen belly. I missed it— I missed everything. Tears start to form in my eyes.

“I missed everything. I’m almost eight months pregnant now,” I cry.

“They had to Ev, so you wouldn’t exert yourself and the baby could be healthy. In two weeks, they are performing a C-section to deliver him. Then you will have to go straight back to chemotherapy. You have had another full lapse and the cancer is back full on again baby. All the headway we made before has disappeared with the coma.”

“But the baby is okay?”

All I care about is our baby being okay.

“He’s fine baby. He’ll only be a few weeks early when they deliver him.”

Why was I in a coma though?

“Why did I need to be put to sleep Tristan?”

He is not telling something me. I can see it in his eyes. I know he said it was so I wouldn’t exert myself, but that is not all there is to it.

With a deep sigh, he says, “You wouldn’t wake up after the concert that night Ev. You were bleeding everywhere. In order to stop the bleeding, they had to do emergency surgery. Then your organs started failing, so they put you into a coma to give your body time to heal. You had a bone marrow transplant right before they started weaning you off the medication that kept you in the coma.”

I knew it! I knew there was more to it.

“Can you shut the lights off Tristan? I would really like to open my eyes.”

I hear the click of the switch and slowly begin to open my eyes.

“There are my beautiful chestnut eyes.”

I smile and turn my head to look at my beautiful man.

“So I still have cancer? Damn,” I joke. I learned very quickly that joking about my cancer was a bad thing to do.

“Ev,” he growls, “that’s not funny.”

Before he can really yell at me, my doctors walk through the door.

“Well would you look at that! Sleeping beauty is awake.”

Dang cheeky doctor! At least someone has a sense of humor.

“Hello Dr. Zelanburg. Dr. Mongetto. Dr. Rocalli.”

My doctors spend the next hour explaining to me in medical terms what Tristan has already discussed with me. After hearing all that had happened during the two months I “slept”, I only had one comment to make.

“Well, after two months of sleeping you would think you miracle doctors would have gotten rid of this pesky cancer by now. What, do you need more time?”

They grin, so glad to see that I am taking everything that has happened so well.

“Well, we had to keep that little boy healthy. We just couldn’t risk anymore time.”

“I know,” I sigh.

As the doctors are leaving, Dr. Z turns back to me and says, “We are really glad that you are back with us now. You get some rest. The nurse will be in here in a little while to check your vitals again.”

I nod at him and wave as they leave. It seems all I have done for two freaking months is rest.

“Where’s Adella?” She is my best friend; she should be here.

Tristan groans.

“Apparently Adella and Shawn had a falling out a few months back and they are staying away from one another. She only comes by once a day in the morning. Shawn comes by in the evening.”

“That arrogant asshole!” I struggle to sit up, forgetting my belly is bigger. That brings a smile to my face.

“Whoa! How do you know it’s his fault baby? And be careful, your belly isn’t small anymore!”

“Because he doesn’t understand what he has,” I growl, rubbing my hands over my swollen tummy. “Why are you laughing at me Tristan? I am freaking serious. And I am hungry. I want food.”

“Change the subject much babe?”

“Shut up. I need food.” I grin.

“They said only soft food,” he warns with a sigh. He knows that I am going to win this one.

“I want a hamburger. Stop acting like I haven’t done this before. That wasn’t my first coma. Call someone and get me a hamburger, fries and a Coke, stat!”

“Whoa bossy pants!” Tristan is out right laughing at me.

I know I won’t have an appetite once I start chemo again! I just want a damn hamburger!

“Tristan, let’s see if you understand this. Chemo starts again in two weeks and I won’t be able to eat jack shit!”

He holds up his hands and smiles. “Got it. Boss lady wants food while she’s still hungry.”

I smile as he pulls out his phone. Just then, Drake walks back in with food in his hands.

“You didn’t!” I gasp and clap my hands in delight!

“How did you know I was about to call for food?” Tristan laughs.

“She hasn’t had chemo in two months because they had her in a coma. Of course, the girl is going to be hungry. Where the hell did you think I went for an hour while you two talked to the doctors?”