His Healing by Perfect Love

Chapter Nine

The cool breeze of the air-conditioning unit did wonders to Georgia's sweaty body as she walked in through the doors of the hospital lobby. Goodness, she'd thought Costa Rica was hot, but summer days in Canada were giving her opinion a run for its money. She adjusted the sunglasses on her face as she searched for Julie, glad that she had worn shorts and sneakers today. The yellow camp T-shirt she wore stuck to her moist back as she raised her hands up to tie her hair in a messy bun. Where was Julie? Ellen had asked her to drive out to collect Joe's wife, since everyone else was practically busy doing something else and trying to keep the kids entertained with activities meant to distract them from the fact that Joe was unwell. She had only been on the campgrounds for a day, but she could already tell just how much those kids adored the big, friendly man that had picked her up at the airport. The adults loved him too, from what she gathered from their solemn conversations when they each worked their butts off last night trying to get the kids settled into their cabins and keep the parents calm. Joe was clearly the foundation on which Muskoka Oaks stood...but now, their rock had fallen and well...things just weren't the same. It was the reason why she had agreed to come to the hospital, the directions weren't that hard to follow on the GPS and besides, she personally needed to know how he was doing.

A devilishly handsome blonde doctor walked by her and blatantly checked her body out as he pushed a patient in a wheelchair, but Georgia's heart didn't once skip a beat. Only Alex had that effect on me, she thought, and her mind unwillingly trailed off to the softest lips she'd ever felt from a man. A man so hard and big that she felt like a fragile china doll just standing next to him. A man that oozed masculinity and mystery wherever he went, who would make any girl, with a pulse, swoon with the sort of kiss he had placed on her forehead that night. Her heart skittered in her chest as she thought of him and she wondered how long she'd been standing there in her own world when Julie called her name. And from the bewildered look on her face, it seemed like she was calling it repeatedly too. Georgia ducked her head in embarrassment and apologized.

"It's fine, dear, we have all zoned out to places we wished we could be." Julie smiled at her, but the warmth didn't quite reach her hollow blue eyes. "How is the team holding up?"

Georgia took off her glasses and rested them on top of her head. "They're all missing Joe and the kids are worried; but we're doing our best to get their minds off of it." She searched Julie's weary face, frowning when she saw nothing but sorrow there. Her heart hurt for her new friend; everything was going so well up until this moment. Just a few hours ago they were bonding over small talk at the barbecue and she was trying to figure out what about Julie's face made her think about Alex, when seconds later, Joe had hit the ground. She reminded herself to pray for the elder couple when she returned to the cabin later but for now, a burning question was on the tip of her tongue. Georgia nervously played with the car keys in her hand and decided to quit being shy like Samantha had urged her to, so many times before.

"Can I see him?" she blurted out. She awkwardly shifted her weight to the other foot and looked at Julie. "It's just...he's been so nice to me on my first day and well he's so cool... for on old guy." Oh, great now she was rambling.

Julie chucked, the first glint showing in her eye since she'd arrived. "Of course, you can see him, but he isn't awake yet." The dark shadow returned to her face as they rode the elevator in silence. "They need to operate on him" she said quietly, all traces of laughter gone. Georgia couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through. She had never suffered a loss or had any close friends or family members in the hospital...other than her grandfather and he had died when she was barely five. The only thing she remembered about him were the sweets and toys he always brought for her.

The curtains were drawn when they entered Joe's room and Julie walked to the window and drew them back, allowing the much-needed sunlight to shine in the previously dark room. The rays danced on Joe's pale face as Georgia took a seat in the chair next to the hospital bed. The slight rise and fall of his chest gave her some comfort as she boldly took his hand in hers. He was hooked up to a fresh IV that seemed to drip with every breath he took, while an oxygen mask still rested on his face, providing him with air he needed to breathe. Georgia struggled not to cry as she looked at his face, longing to see the twinkling brown eyes again that were now behind tightly shut lids. She looked across at Julie, still standing by the window. Her arms were folded across her chest and a pool of tears gathered in her eyes. Georgia's heart sunk. She immediately got up and went to her, enveloping her sobbing frame in hers.