Fragile Hearts

17: Hospital Visit

The smell inside the hospital makes me want to wretch. After my accident, I spent months in the hospital and later in a long-term care facility. I push those memories aside and follow Tyce to the third floor. We enter a room and again, I want to throw up when I see Lucy hooked up to machines monitoring her vitals and tubes dripping solutions into her veins. Her eyes are closed.

Quietly, Tyce and I approach her bed. My wheelchair makes a sound and she opens her eyes. Although she looks pale and weak, she gives us a huge smile. I stifle a sob, but can't stop tears from leaking.

Lucy's first words are, "They told me Kaylee is doing great."

I reach a finger to touch Lucy's hand. "Why didn't you tell us?"

She grins, "Because you're both worry warts."

Tyce pulls a chair to the other side of her bed. "Still, that's no excuse," he scolds, but softens his words with a smile. He reaches to brush a strand of hair from Lucy's forehead.

Lucy sighs. "Tyce, if anyone but Morgan owned your heart, I'd try to steal it."

Tyce glances away and I quickly say, "Those are some crazy drugs they've got you on."

Lucy chuckles, "Yeah. Before you came in, I was dreaming about stomping around in that vat of grapes with Lucille Ball." She yawns. "Did you ever see that episode?"

I laugh softly. "I did."

Lucy closes her eyes and says, "I think Lucy is calling me back to the vineyards. Sorry to be so rude, but I can't keep my eyes open."

I glance across the bed at Tyce. He nods toward the door indicating we should leave.

As we walk down the hall, I ask, "Will Kaylee ever know that Lucy is the one who saved her life?"

"I'm not sure."

"What floor is she on?"

"She's on the fifth floor. I tried to get in to see her last night, but the ward is blocked to visitors. They don't want to take the chance of anyone spreading germs to the patients."

"Are Kaylee's parents with her?"

"Julie said they were both here for the surgery, but her dad left after a couple of days to go overseas."

"At least she has her mother here."

"Only for a short time. Julie said Mrs. Ventura doesn't do well in this atmosphere and expects she'll leave as soon as Kaylee is released to a regular room."

"I can't imagine a mother leaving her daughter at such a time. Why, when I was hospitalized, my mother and father camped out in my room, literally. The staff brought folding cots for them to sleep on."

We reach the elevator and I glance up at Tyce. His jaw is clenched and when his eyes meet mine, he quickly looks away. I suppose he's as upset about Kaylee's parents' disregard for their daughter as I am.

We don't say much during the elevator ride or the truck ride back to the university. Unexpectedly, Tyce asks if I want to stop at The Coffee Mug. Even though I'm reluctant to be with him—not because I don't want to be, but because my heart is breaking—I say yes.

We go through the usual motions of him retrieving my wheelchair from the back of his truck and then lifting me into it. I love his smell as he holds me against his chest. I wish Lucy's words were true about me owning his heart. He seems to hold me longer than necessary, but I decide it's only my imagination.

I push the wheelchair's joystick and steer across the parking lot. Tyce steps in front of me to open the door. Because school is still in session, there aren't many patrons in the coffee shop. I order a frozen coffee drink and reach for my purse. Tyce places his hand over mine. "I've got it." Then he grins and says, "I thought you didn't like coffee?"

Sheepishly, I say, "I lied. I love coffee."

We find a table in a corner and wait for our orders to be called. I make conversation by asking Tyce when he's going to visit Lucy again. He asks if I want to come with him and I tell him yes. He says we'll go tomorrow evening.

He asks, "How's the swimming coming along?"

I smile. "Actually, it's better than I expected after being on break."

"Are you keeping up the weight lifting?" His serious expression turns playful for an instant.

"I am. I'm even thinking of becoming a body builder." He looks surprised and I laugh. "Just kidding."

Tyce reaches across the table and trails his index finger down my forearm. "Morgan, I have no doubt that you can do whatever you set your mind to."

I'm sure he can feel the goose bumps on my arm.

We stay at the coffee shop for at least an hour talking about school and life in general. Tyce will be graduating this year so I ask him how his job leads are coming along.

"I was offered a position with the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix as a physical therapist."

My eyes widen. "That's wonderful! Are you going to accept?" Part of me is elated for Tyce, the other, not so much. If he takes the job he'll move out of the area.

"I'm not sure."

"What's holding you back? Are you waiting for an offer from another facility?" I'm unable to read the strange look on his face.

"I have a few more applications out there. I want to wait and see what happens with them."

We finish our drinks and Tyce sighs. "We've played hooky long enough. Guess I better get us back to school."