The Boss

Chapter 24: Tell Him I Love Him

Sauli

Candlelight flooded the room as I sat across the table holding my fiancé’s hand. My dad was released from the hospital and doing perfectly fine so I had gone back to NYC with Adam to for our anniversary. We were at the fanciest restaurant wearing rented tuxes. He looked so handsome. The food was so good but I DEFINITELY didn't want to know how much Adam was paying for it, it had to be VERY expensive. We finished eating and Adam grabbed my arm and pulled me close as we walked. We arrived at a brightly lit building covered with lights.

Adam: Baby, let’s get married?

Me: When?

Adam: Now.

Me: Now?

Adam: Yeah, a justice of the peace is waiting on the roof for your answer. We'd have to come back here anyway.

Me: Of course baby.

We took the elevator to the rooftop. There was a rooftop garden with a fountain and twinkle lights everywhere. It was pretty magical. He grabbed my arm again and we started walking toward the other end. As we got closer I realized that my mom, dad, sisters, Katri, and 2 of my best guy friends were there. I looked Adam in the eyes as he smiled.

Adam: Surprise baby.

Me: You didn't ...

I wrapped my arms around him and tried not to cry. We walked over as everyone watched smiling as we were pronounced husbands. We gave hugs to everyone and went to get a few drinks to celebrate. It was getting late and we wanted to get back to the hotel to celebrate our wedding night so we left everyone at the bar. We were walking toward the hotel holding arms and laughing ... just having a good time. A car started driving toward us from the other direction and we didn't pay any attention to it as I leaned in to give Adam a chaste kiss. The next thing I know there was a flash of light and 2 loud bangs. I saw Adam fall to the ground and suddenly everything went dark. When I opened my eyes Katri was sitting in the room. She saw I was awake and ran out of the room. Moments later a doctor ran in with her following. He started checking my eyes and I was getting frustrated but I was on a ventilator so I couldn't talk. The doctor finished his testing and took me off the vent. He left the room and Katri walked over.

Katri: You rest ok ... you've been thru a lot these past two months.. Four surgeries and in a medical coma.

Me: Where's ... Adam?

She didn't answer just made shh noises at me. I started getting more and more desperate and tried to get out of bed. She quickly and carefully held me down.

Katri: No Sauli ... no you can't get out of bed.

Me: Where's ... my Addy? Where's ... my husband?

She looked at me with sad eyes and caressed my face. I started crying and shaking.

Katri: No baby don't cry ... please. He's in a coma.

Me: I want to ... see him.

Katri: Sauli, you're not stable enough. I can go see him for you ... would you like that?

If that was the only option then it was better than nothing. I nodded and she kissed my cheek.

Me: Tell him ... I love him. Please ...

Tears streamed down my cheeks and she gently wiped them away and walked out of the room. Adam was in really bad shape. He had been shot in the head and had been in a coma ever since. Every day he stayed in it they had less and less hope for him ever coming out of it. It took all of two days for them to finally take me to see him because I wouldn't take no for an answer and threatened to disconnect all the tubing. They wheeled me into the room and I cried. My poor Addy ... my love. They had shaved off all his hair and there were at least a dozen machines hooked up to him. He had a giant wound on his head from them having to open up the skull to retrieve the bullet and fix what was damaged. They wheeled me right up to the side of the bed and left the room for a few minutes so we were alone. I took his hand and gently rubbed circles on the back of it like I had done so many times before.

Me: Addy ... it's Sauce. I hope you can hear me ... I love you. I love you so much. Please wake up baby ... please?

I reached up and rubbed his cheek, they felt so lifeless. I had promised I would stay seated in the chair but I had to kiss him. I gently balanced myself and shakily stood. I started to get wobbly and luckily Katri came walking in at that moment and ran over to help. I kissed his perfect cheek and Katri helped me sit.

Me: He looks awful Katri.

Katri: This is good compared to how he was. You both scared me I thought I was going to lose you both.

Me: I don't know what I'll do if he doesn't make it ...

I started to sob and Katri rubbed my back. Suddenly the hand I was holding moved a little and he wrapped his hand tightly around mine. Katri saw and ran to get the doctor. I watched him and slowly his eyes fluttered open. He looked scared and confused until his eyes met mine. His eyes softened and he slowly lifted his arm and stroked my cheek with a finger.

Me: Hi Addy ...

A doctor and a nurse came into the room. The nurse grabbed the wheelchair to move me out and Adam started to freak out and his blood pressure started to rise. They brought me back in the room which calmed him down. They said they were going to wean him off the vent but they wanted to do neurologic testing first. His eyesight was great and his arms and hands were great, but when they went to do testing on his legs he couldn't move them. They had expected it with his type of injury. Sometimes the paralysis reverses itself and sometimes not. Within a few days I was well enough to be discharged but I didn't leave I stayed in Adam's room with him. Katri stayed at Adam's house and came in to visit for a couple hours every day. Today was the big day they were finally going to take him off the vent. I was sleeping when they took him off of it and I woke up in the chair against the side of his bed. He was sleeping and had his hand draped over on my stomach. I smiled and lifted it up to kiss it. He stirred and looked at me. I was nervous because they didn't know if his speech would be affected as well.

Adam: Sauce ...

Me: It's so good to hear your voice. I thought I was going to ... lose you.

Adam: I love you ... I want you to be ... happy.

Me: I am happy baby ... so happy. You go back to sleep you look exhausted.

He weakly puckered his lips and I reached up and kissed them.