Legacy of the Dreams

Chapter 150 - Watching the Clock

Greg and Susan spend a restless night with Melody at the hospital. Every movement she made, every sound that erupted from her chest or one of her monitors caused them to awake, anxiously wondering if she was in pain, or if the next breath would be her last.

Twice Susan visited the nurses' station asking for pain medication for Melody. The nurses kept increasing the dose, but after a while, Susan began wondering if it would help.

She found herself watching the clock. Midnight. Two a.m. Good Melody actually made it to the next calendar day. It was now July 29th. Then four a.m. came and Greg volunteered to stay awake to ensure Susan got a little sleep.

Susan slept fitfully for the next two hours on the sofa. But when the nurses began to prepare for the change of shift, Susan got up. She washed her face, changed her clothes and did her best to prepare for the day. The family would be here very soon. So would Richard with Forest.

"How is she?" Susan asked when she emerged from the bathroom.

"Sleeping peacefully. She seems more comfortable now than she has been," Greg said.

"That's good," Susan said.

She tried to speak softly but Melody heard her anyway.

"Momma?" she said looking out from fluttering eyelids.

"Hi," Susan said. "Good morning."

"Morning," Melody told her. "Go home today?"

"Maybe. Your Father did say that," Susan agreed.

"Is Forest here?" Melody wondered.

"He will be in about an hour," Greg said. "How about some breakfast before he gets here."

"Okay," Melody agreed. There was little of the animation in her voice that was there the day before. She might be awake, but she came across as sleepy and very tired.

"Do you want Cheerios again?" Greg asked.

Melody shrugged. "Cereal," she said vaguely.

"I'll ask what they have at the nurses' station," Susan said. She returned with more Cheerios, milk, a spoon and a bowl. "They are bringing you some applesauce in a little while."

"Okay," Melody said.

"Shall I help you to sit up?" Susan offered.

"Papa do it," Melody requested.

Susan moved from her place and let Greg manage the controls for the bed. Once her head was raised to a sitting position, she did feed herself, but not as readily as she had the night before. Melody didn't object when the technician interrupted her breakfast to get a blood sample. Susan looked over what was being ordered and though the concern was there in her eyes, she did her very best to smile; to be happy and positive for the sake of her child.

After the technician left, Melody went back to her breakfast, but she was interrupted again when Zack walked in.

"Hi," Zack said when he saw her eating.

"Hi," Melody replied. She pushed her bowl away. "Don't want it, Momma. It's soggy."

"It is a bit," Susan agreed. "How about something else?"

"I'm not hungry," Melody said.

"Not even for hot chocolate?" Zack asked. "I bet they'd make you some if you asked."

"Okay," Melody agreed, though Susan suspected it had more to do with the fact Zack thought it was a good idea rather than because she really wanted some.