More Than Friends

Part 187 (Hardin)

I'm sitting in a chair next to Tessa's hospital bed, when a doctor walks into the room. "Mr. Scott, I'd like to talk to you about Miss Young's prognosis."

I immediately sit up straight and nervously ask, "Is she going to be okay?"

"She's very lucky. She's going to make a full recovery. After a few more days in the hospital, she'll be ready to go home."

I let out a sigh of relief. "Do you hear that, baby?" I ask a currently unconscious Tessa as I squeeze her hand. "You're going to be okay."

"And it's a miracle... your baby's going to be fine as well."

I immediately jolt my head to look at the doctor. "Baby?" I ask in shock.

"You didn't know? Miss Young's only a few weeks along, but both mom and baby are healthy."

"A baby? I-I can't believe this... I'm going to be a... dad?"

Suddenly, I'm startled awake by the beeping of Tessa's hospital machines. It takes me a moment to realize the news about Tessa and having a baby were only a dream.

In reality, Tessa's been in the hospital for two weeks already. Not long after she arrived at the hospital, she went into a coma from her head injury and every single day I wait for her to come back to me.

I stand up and stretch my legs for a moment before sitting back down next to Tessa's bed. "Good morning, baby," I say softly as I rub her hand. "I was dreaming about you again. This time the doctor not only told me you were going to be okay, but also that you were pregnant. It felt so real, baby."

Every single day for the last two weeks I've been by Tessa's side, waiting for her to wake up. I've only left to go home to pack Tessa a bag with some of her favourite things, including those dreadful fluffy cloud pants she loves so much, to shower and to pick out a new book to read to her.

"Is today going to be the day you come back to me, baby?" I ask as I continue to rub her hand. "Everyone's waiting for you to wake up. Emma and Nate came to see you yesterday. They brought you that gigantic teddy bear that says it loves you when you squeeze it. Steph came to visit the other day and brought you those balloons. And Kimberly visits every single day and brings a new bouquet of lilies for you. My mum wanted to fly in, but I told her to wait to come see you when you're well again. I promised her you'd wake up soon. I know you're very stubborn, Theresa, but don't make me a liar."

"If none of that makes you want to wake up, then you should know I have something special for you, too." I reach into my jacket pocket and pull out Tessa's engagement ring. I've had it with me every day since the day I planned on proposing to her. "You see, Tess, I have this engagement ring I want to give you. The day of your accident, I was planning on proposing to you at the lake during sunset. I had everything planned out perfectly, but then you had to go and upstage me. You have to wake up now, so I can finally put this ring on your finger. Aren't you excited to become Mrs. Hardin Scott? I know that was your favourite title. I'm only kidding, baby. I know you thought it sounded too possessive. Don't you want to wake up and yell at me?"

Tessa's machines start to beep a little more than usual. The doctors say that can happen, but I like to think it's her way of letting me know she can hear everything I'm saying to her.

"Come on, Tess, please wake up. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to complain to you about how uncomfortable this chair is to sleep in. Or how utterly disgusting the food here is."

"Okay... the truth is I need you to wake up because I'm completely fucking lost without you. I try to act brave in front of you, but whenever I go home to shower or pick up a book to read to you, I completely break down. I look around at our apartment and everywhere I look, something reminds me of you... like all those damn cushions and throw blankets you bought, the photos sitting on our nightstand, the spot on the floor in front of the fireplace... I just break down into tears. One of the last things you ever heard me tell you was that since the first moment I saw you, I've loved you. You have no idea just how true that is, Tess. I... I can't do this without you, baby. You're supposed to be by my side, for the rest of our lives. I miss hearing you tell me how much you love me. I miss you being able to hear me tell you how much I love you. I miss holding you. Tess, I miss holding you..." I trail off as I start to sob uncontrollably.

I hear the doctors and nurses approaching the room for Tessa's daily tests, so I frantically wipe at my tears.

"Oh, Mr. Scott, how are you today?" one of the nurses asks me.

"Still heartbroken." I sigh.

The nurse walks over to me and sympathetically grabs a hold of my arm. "She knows you're here with her. She can feel your love. Don't give up hope. She's going to come back to you. She has so much to fight for. It's not very often one experiences the kind of love you two share."

"Thank you," I say quietly. I get up and before I leave, I lean down and kiss Tessa's forehead. "I'm leaving now, baby. I won't be long. I'll make sure to bring another book to read to you. How does that sound?" I gently tuck Tessa's hair behind her ear. "I love you, baby." I give Tessa one last kiss before leaving the room so the doctors can run their tests.

Tessa's tests usually take a few hours, so I leave to go home and pick out a new book to read to my sweet, beautiful girl tonight.