Two of them rolled the dice and won.The other didn’t.
But I shake the thought out of my head.This is something to celebrate.
“Is it too late for me to see him before they take him in?”I ask.
“No, I think they’re still prepping him.He might be a little drugged up at this point, but he’ll at least know that you came by to wish him well.”
“Great.”I turn to Dr.O’Rourke.“I’ll get changed and start working the second I’ve seen him off.”
Dr.O’Rourke nods.“Take your time.”
I quickly cross through the nurses’ station to Lou’s room.He’s been moved to a gurney, and a nurse is administering a few drugs.
“Lou!”I grab his hand.“I just heard the good news.Congrats!”
“Nurse Alissa.”His eyes crinkle with a smile.“Nice of you to see me off.”
“Of course.”I pat his shoulder gently.“How could I not see my favorite patient off?”
“Second-favorite patient.After Carol.”
“I love you both equally.”
He chuckles.“Hell, she’smyfavorite patient.She told me she’s recovering well.”
“Yes, and the two of you will be able to live out your golden years together.”
He frowns.“If I make it through the transplant.I just signed a bunch of forms saying I understand the risks, and they’re not trivial.”
“Lou, you can’t think like that.”
He holds up a hand.“I’m just being realistic.When you get to be as old as I am, you learn to take things at face value.”He looks at me intently.“You have a glow about you, do you know that?”
I laugh.“I think your drugs are just kicking in.”
He shakes his head.“No.It’s not the drugs.It’s you.You have the air of a woman in love.”
I cock my head.“What?”
“I said what I said.I’ve seen it before.”His gaze grows distant, a wistfulness in it.“A woman is at her most beautiful when she’s in love.When she’s a little girl and looks up to her doting parents.When she holds her newborn child in her arms.Or when she meets that special person who completes her.And I see that kind of beauty in you, Alissa.”
I wipe a tear off my cheek.“That’s lovely, Lou.”
He chuckles.“I saw the same glow about Carol when we first met.She really has that beauty.The most beautiful woman I’ve met since my late wife.”He smiles.“You’re a solid third.”
I can’t help a laugh.“I’ll take it.”
“You can laugh, but trust me.”He pats his chest.“I know a thing or two about hearts, broken or otherwise.”
“Mr.Chambers, it’s time to go,” the other nurse says.
“Of course.”He winks at me.“I’ll see you on the flipside.”
“Good luck, Lou.”I give his hand another squeeze.“I love you.”
“Love you too, Alissa.”
I utter a silent prayer that his surgery will go off without a hitch.Lou and Carol deserve to live out the rest of their lives in peace and in each other’s arms.
