Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 14 - Visiting Melody

Greg and Zack walked out into the hallway from Melody's hospital room, and were on their way to the waiting room, when a man they knew turned a corner walking towards them. Like Greg, the other man was well known in the television and movie industry. He was also one of Greg's very best friends.

"Richard?" Greg said as he approached.

"Hi," Richard said with a grin. "Are you surprised to see me? I've come to keep Susan company ... and to visit Melody, of course."

"How did you know?" Greg asked in astonishment. Then he thought for a moment and said, "Cathy."

Cathy worked for the movie studio, often as Greg's assistant when he was involved in a production. But she was also Rosemary's mother.

"Yes. Apparently Susan called and left a message with her for Rosemary. Cathy called me about noon to tell me the news about Melody," Richard said.

"News certainly travels fast in our circles," Greg remarked.

"It certainly does. How is she?" Richard asked his friend in concern.

"That's what we're here to find out," Greg said. "They've admitted her for observation. We've known for almost a month that the cardiac shunt they put in when she was born is in the process of failing. When Melody began walking this past week, it couldn't keep up. It was intermittent at first, but then on Saturday when it happened again, the blue color we've been seeing never faded past making her pale. The rosy color to her cheeks never returned. Susan tells me Dr. Linn suspects the shunt has slipped farther out of position. They've done tests to try to verify it's new position, and they plan to do more tomorrow, but if Dr. Linn is correct, it will mean immediate surgery."

"I didn't know that," Zack said. "You mean Melody has to have another operation?"

"Yes," Greg told him. "That is most likely what will happen."

"Is it serious?" Richard asked.

"I don't know, Richard. I know she can't survive without the shunt, but I also don't know to what degree it has failed. My thought is, it can't have failed completely or they would have taken her to surgery immediately," Greg said.

"That does sound reasonable," Richard agreed.

"Greg, are we still going out to dinner?" Zack asked.

"You haven't eaten?" Richard asked. It was already past 7:00 p.m. Most families with children would have eaten hours ago.

"No, we haven't. We were at Lake Tahoe for the holidays. Susan flew home with Melody yesterday and the children and I drove home today. We came directly here, instead of stopping first for dinner," Greg explained.

"I'll stay with Susan if you'd like, while you get something," Richard offered.

"Thank you, however we plan to go home after we eat. Visiting hours will be over soon, and the children are all tired. I'll be back first thing in the morning," Greg said.

Richard nodded. "Take care, Greg."

"You too. Give my love to Marion and the twins," Greg said.

"Will do," Richard told him, and he watched his friend leave. It surprised him that he would, given his daughter was in the hospital; but then again if they came directly here after driving home from Tahoe today, he knew Greg must be exhausted.

"I'll watch out for them," Richard added quietly, but he doubted Greg heard.

He looked on as Matt, Mrs. Abernathy and Jessie joined Greg and Zack in the doorway to the waiting room, turned towards the elevator, and left together. They all looked tired as they walked away, and he realized that with Susan staying with Melody in the hospital, it was up to Greg to look after the older children they had. He knew how he felt. He felt divided too during those days right after his own children were born, when one twin needed to be in the hospital while the other was already at home.