“No problem. I was just calling to tell you I was on my way. I’ll be boarding my flight momentarily and should be at the hospital around midnight.”
“Okay, good. I’ll give your name to the nursing staff so they know you are coming and authorized to hear about her care.”
“Thanks Janet, I appreciate that.”
“Rose is like a sister to me, so it’s no problem at all.”
“If you need to leave before I get there, I understand.”
“There’s nowhere else I need to be. I’ll text you with her room number as soon as I have it.”
Before I can reply, an announcement comes over the speaker. “Now boarding Chicago to Charleston flight zero-one-two-one.”
“Janet, they are calling for us to board, so I’m going to run. I’ll see you soon.”
“Okay. Have a safe flight.”
I end the call and pull up my boarding pass before picking up my violin case and getting in line to board my flight. The attendant scans my boarding pass and I make my way down the jet way and onto the plane. I locate my seat, place my violin case in the overhead compartment, take my seat and fasten my seatbelt. I pull my phone from my pocket, unlock the screen to put my phone in airplane mode and a picture of Rose and I fills the screen.
I run my thumb across the screen and smile. We took this photo on the day we spent at the park. Her nose is sun-kissed and her brown eyes sparkle as they stare back at me from the screen. It’s mind-blowing to me how much Rose has worked her way into my heart in such a short amount of time. The thought of her being hurt and alone fills me with sorrow.
“Sir,” the flight attendant says as he stops next to my seat. I look up and he nods toward the phone in my hand. “Please power off your phone, we’re about to take-off.”
“Yes, of course.” I put my phone in airplane mode and slip it into my pocket. As the plane begins to taxi down the runway, I lean my head back against the seat, close my eyes and pray all goes well with Rose’s surgery.
Chapter 13
Rose
Pain radiates through my arm, and I whimper in pain as I hear someone whisper to me.
“Shh, it’s okay sweetheart. I’ll call the nurse.”
I recognize the voice soothing me immediately as confusion fills me. My eyes feel as if weights have been applied as I struggle to open them only to fail at the attempt. My mouth is dry as the Sahara as I try to rasp out his name. “Alek?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I’m here.”
He kisses my hand and I attempt a smile before sleep claims me again.
Light hits my eyes and I try once again to open them as I hear a woman’s voice ask, “How’s our patient doing?”
“Still sleeping, but I think she’s trying to wake up.”
Alek. He is here, it wasn’t a dream. I try again to open my eyes and this time they cooperate and begin to flutter.
Alek’s hand tightens around mine, and this time I see him more clearly as I open my eyes. “Hi there, beautiful.”
I smile at him and blink again, “You’re here.”
He kisses my hand again, “I had to come and check on my girl.”
“Well, good morning Ms. McDaniels,” the nurse says as she walks back into the room. “I’m Kandace, your nurse for the day. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been hit by a truck, and thirsty.”
“I’m going to do a quick check of your vitals and then I’ll get you a drink of water.” She checks my blood pressure and temperature before checking my bandages. “Do you remember what happened?”
I look over at Alek and then back to the nurse, “I think I fell off a ladder?”
“That’s correct. You were brought in with a concussion, broken arm and fractured shoulder. You underwent surgery for the arm and shoulder, are you feeling any pain?”
“Some, yes.”
“What would you consider some, on a scale of one to ten?”
“Maybe an eight.”
She makes a note on the tablet she’s holding and then hands me a glass of water. “Small sips to start with,” she instructs. “I’m going to get you something for the pain, and check on a breakfast tray for you.”
“Thank you.”
She smiles kindly, “Of course. Call me if you need anything.”
I turn my attention back to Alek, “What are you doing here?”
“I called you last night after my performance and Janet told me what happened, so I booked the first flight back to Charleston.”
“What about your tour?”
“Rose, you are more important than any tour. I can reschedule the tour. I couldn’t let you go through this alone.”
The fact that he’s here willingly, steals the breath from me. I’ve never had anyone put my needs first and yet here’s Alek cancelling his tour to be with me. “Alek, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“Rose, you didn’t ask, I volunteered. There’s no place I’d rather be than here with you.”
Tears sting my eyes as I caress his cheek, “Thank you. I’m glad you’re here.”
His hand covers mine and he places a kiss on my palm sending a rush of warmth through me.
As promised, a few minutes later, Kandace returns with pain medication, and a bowl of oatmeal. She sits the oatmeal on the tray and hands me a paper cup with a tablet inside, and I take it with a few sips of water. “I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I could do for breakfast.” She places a couple of strawberry jam packets next to the bowl, “These may help flavor it a bit.”
“That’s fine, thank you.”
Alek is on his feet adding the packets to the bowl and giving it a stir for me.
Kandace smiles at his attentiveness, “The cafeteria is open for visitors, if you’d like to get something for
