The Widow

Scene 16 - How happy you make me

Scene 16 – How happy you make me

Aiden stared at Clara, his fingers entwined with hers, she hadn’t woken up yet and it had been eight days, Aiden was getting worried so was the doctors. It wasn’t supposed to be this long, one of the doctor said.

“Wake up please.” His voice croaked, “Kieran is waiting for his mommy to hold him.” He said, “I’m waiting for you.”

He brought down his head and rested it on her arm, why wasn’t she waking up yet? Why did this even happen to her, up until that night, her pregnancy was normal, everything was okay. She didn’t even have the Braxton’s hicks or preeclampsia. It was a normal and healthy pregnancy.

Then it happened, the doctors hadn’t known how to explain it to them. It just happened, they said. Well, fuck it, they needed to explain it, they needed to get her to wake up.

“Aiden.” His mom called out, he lifted his head and turned over his shoulder, his mom was holding yet another basket of flowers and balloons. Clara only made few friends since she moved here but it didn’t stop the flow of the get well soon baskets. Because of course, somehow it was leaked to the press that Senator Spence’s son, the assistant US attorney was engaged and had a son.  

He blamed the hospital. Damn hospital staff, why couldn’t they shut their freaking mouths and let them have the privacy they obviously wanted.

“Mom, I have to go see Kieran in a while would you mind staying for a bit?” he asked, he didn’t like the idea of leaving Clara alone in her room, what if she woke up disoriented, she needed someone she knew right beside her.

He wished it was him but he needed to go to NICU and spend time with Kieran. He smiled as he remembered how Kieran would follow his eyes whenever Aiden walked inside the room.

Kieran even smiled at him one time. He knew Aiden, he knew him as his father and that made his heart soar in happiness.

“Of course.” Melanie said, he stood slowly, pulling his hand away from Clara’s and went to the corner to grab his phone, he needed to call Ian to update him, update him with what, he didn’t know, it wasn’t as if there was any progress with Clara.

He followed his mom’s gaze, it was on Clara’s left hand, on her ring finger was the diamond he slipped in her finger, he had asked his mom for his grandmother’s ring right after they watched Clara’s movie that night.

“It fits her just perfectly.” His mom said, “I’m glad she’s the one wearing it.” The thing was, his ex-wife never got to wear that ring, he never felt asking his mom for the ring. He loved Selene, he did, he wouldn’t have married her if not, but it just didn’t feel right and she wanted a customize ring, a ring just designed for her and not a family heirloom which cost more than that ring he bought for her.

“It’s meant to be hers.”

Just as he was walking out, he heard his mom’s gaps and that unmistakable voice, it was Clara’s, he spun and saw Clara’s eyes opened and was directly gazing at him. He was by her side in no time, “You’re awake.” He breathed.