His Nanny

3. She made it

At 8:00am I finally gave up and decided there was no point in staring at my ceiling anymore. I hope that beautiful Doctor wasn't only good at styling his hair in the morning!

I tried to drag out my morning routine but after a long shower and drying my hair, my patience was wearing thin. I quickly brushed my teeth and decided enough was enough. I was going to have to just go to the hospital and wait in the family room for cancer patients.

Throwing on my denim skinny jeans and an oversized top, I reach for my converse and just stare into the living room. It was only half nine and I was more or less ready to go. She would've been in theatre for half an hour by now. I pray to all the Gods that Dr. Ross knows what he's doing!

Sighing with the weight of the world on my shoulders, I finish tying the laces on my shoes before checking I have all that I need in my bag.

When I pull up to the hospital it's nearly half past ten. I know that my mother won't be out of theatre for another couple of hours. At least with me being in the family waiting area, it would only be minutes before I can see my mum and not a whole car journey after the phone call.

When I reached the ward after my long walk down the corridors, I quickly told the nurse at reception that I decided to wait here instead of home. The sympathetic look she gave me was endearing to some extent. At least she was better than the nurse I saw yesterday.

I sat in one of the corner chairs and turned my body so that I could lean against the wall. I tentatively brought my knees up to my chest and rested my feet on the chair. I quickly looked around to check I wasn't going to get told off for having my feet up and when it looked like no one cared, I finally reached into my bag for my book.

Every now and again I would look around and check for a familiar face or a sign that she was back but there was never any hope. I tried my best to get lost into my book but my head just wouldn't allow it.

I was just finishing the last couple of words of my book when a hand was placed gently onto my knee. I looked into the warm eyes of the reception nurse and smiled a small smile.

"I didn't want to scare you, love. I thought you'd like to know your mother is out of surgery and she's in the intensive care unit. She'll be there for another two hours and then she'll be put onto the high dependency unit. You'll be able to see her when she's settled onto the HDU."

I just blink back at the nurse. A small part of my brain registered that her name tag says her name is Norma but my whole body feels like its close to shutting down.

"Is she ok?" It's all I can manage. She nods at me calmly and gives me that reassuring smile once again.

"She's come out of surgery well. It's just routine to keep her in intensive care because of the invasive surgery. She hasn't shown any signs of concern so far so it's a good start. I'll let you know when I know more ok Honey?"

I nod my head in thanks and she walks back to her desk. My head is spinning and I feel like I'm all over the place. She made it! She actually managed to pull through. I'm so proud of her. I'm so proud of Dr. Ross.

Slowly, I let my mind drift into a whirlwind of thoughts and eventually I started to think about going on a lovely family holiday. It would be a fantastic idea to be able to go and celebrate life with my family once this is all over. I could see us boarding a jet to sunny Mexico when I felt someone nudge my shoulder.

What the hell?!

I open my eyes and then it sinks in that I must've drifted off to sleep in the waiting area. How bloody embarrassing! Things felt a lot worse when my eyes adjusted to be able to see the person who nudged me awake. Shit!

"Sophia...sorry to wake you but we don't normally let people nap in here." He looks concerned but I'm probably not the first to do it.

I can't believe I drifted off. I guess hearing that she was out and doing ok made my head find peace somewhere.

"I'm sorry Dr. Ross. I umm...well I guess I just didn't sleep last night. How's my mum?"

"I guessed as much. Didn't I tell you she would be fine?" He raised a singular eyebrow at me once again; his signature look I had began to realise. He just stood there eyeing me like I he was waiting for something but I had no idea what.

"Does that mean she's in HDU now?" He nods at me slowly and smiles. Before I can even let my body and my mind make any form of connection, I'm on my feet and wrapping my arms around his neck. When my brain finally catches up, I realise I'm hugging this man in front of me.

Hugging him because I needed it but also to say thank you for looking after my mother. He doesn't hug me back but I'm not surprised nor was I expecting him to.

I can't help but breathe in his tempting smell of fresh linen and pine. He smells as good as he looks. I feel the most relaxed I've been in a long time until I realise how this must look.

When I pull away after a slightly too long hug, he just stares at me saying nothing. I guess it's down to me to break the silence.

"I wanted to say thank you for getting her through it and umm...I guess I just needed a hug myself." I smile at him and put my head down. It was only a hug but I feel like I've over stepped all of a sudden. Oh my god what if he thinks I'm coming onto him?

"Oh God." I rub my hands over my face and swallow hard. "Please don't think anything by that. I'm so sorry. I should've asked if I could hug you. No, I should never have hugged you. I don't know why I thought it would be ok!" I kept rambling but he never intervened. I definitely overstepped.

My shoes become the most interesting thing in the room and I stare at them aimlessly. When I hear him chuckle I look up and see he's got a playful look on his face.

"I've never seen someone so scared after a hug." Is he being serious? I'm terrified. He's my mothers doctor. I can't afford for him to be annoyed with me.

"Sophia, it's fine. I know people act on their emotions during a time like this. You must feel very emotional and tired right now. Please, don't worry about it. I guess I'm just not much of a hugger." He smiles and turns to leave before turning back to me and smiling one last time.

I waste no time thinking about his cryptic looks and grab my things to go rushing into the HDU. It doesn't take long to find the woman who brought me into this world.

She looks completely out of it but so peaceful. I wish she just didn't have all the tubes sticking into her. It makes her look sick. I know she is but this is the first time she's looked it.