Page 103 of Choosing Skyler

Thankfully, the new nurse didn’t have any problem with Devon and I both staying by Brady’s bedside after the shift change. She comes in every half hour to check the machines and containers that he’s hooked up to. She even brought us coffee from the nurses’ station a couple of hours ago. We’ve spent the rest of the day the same as this morning, sharing the single chair and taking turns talking to Brady and holding his hand.

Devon is standing by the window, talking quietly on the phone with Tracey, giving her an update. It’s six o’clock and I’m afraid that Brady isn’t going to wake up today after all. I lean over and lift his hand, turning it to press his palm to my cheek. I keep my eyes on his face as I tell him how much I love him.

I notice immediately when his eyebrows scrunch like he’s in pain and his thumb rubs along my cheekbone, rubbing the moisture from tears I hadn’t realized were falling. I let out a relieved breath and Devon rushes to his other side, still on the phone with Tracey.

“I think he’s waking up, now. I’ll call you back, Babe… I will. I love you too,” Devon says. “Tracey said open your damn eyes, Bulldog,” he says, leaning over Brady.

I push him back. “Give him space. I think he’s in pain. Will you get the nurse?”

As Devon steps back, Brady’s eyes finally fly open and widen in pain or shock. He starts to panic and his hand that I’m not holding flies to the tube that’s connected to the ventilator to try to pull it out.

“No!” Devon and I both shout as Devon grabs his wrist to stop him while I hit the call button for the nurse.

I grip his hand to my face, looking into his eyes to try to calm him. “They’ll remove the tube now that you’re awake. It’s okay. You’re okay.” I cry tears of relief.

The nurse rushes in and comes up beside me. “The doctor is on the way. Once he sees that you’re trying to breathe on your own, he’ll remove the tube. Are you in severe pain? Would you like more medication?”

Brady’s brows furrow in confusion, and he shakes his head. When the doctor comes in, I try to step back to give him room, but Brady’s hand goes to the back of my neck, holding me in place as he shakes his head again.

“Okay. I’m right here,” I tell him before turning my gaze to the doctor.

“I can work from the other side of the bed. Stay there if it will keep him calm,” the doctor says as he walks around to the other side of Brady’s bed. “Okay, Mr. Hargrove. I’m going to pull the tube out of your throat. As I pull, I want you to exhale through your mouth. Can you do that?”

Brady nods and the doctor removes the tube. Brady coughs and his grip on me tightens as he groans in pain. The nurse comes in with a syringe of pain medication and Brady shakes his head again.

“Don’t be stubborn, man,” Devon says as he walks around to stand beside me. “You got shot and you had major surgery. Take the meds.”

“Not… yet,” Brady chokes out, his voice raspy from the tube that was just removed. He pulls me to him until my forehead meets his. “Love… you… Beautiful.”

“I love you too!” My tears drip onto his face as I sob at being able to see his eyes open and hear his words, broken as they may be. “Now, please take the medicine. They are going to make me leave in an hour and I don’t want to leave you in pain,” I beg.

He kisses me and nods before whispering, “O-kay.”

The doctor and nurse continue their assessment after Brady gets his dose of pain medication. The doctor seems pleased with the progress he’s making already and assures us that as long as there are no unforeseen complications, he should make a full recovery. By the time they are finished, visiting hours are almost over.

“I’ve got her, man. I won’t leave her side, I promise,” Devon assures Brady when he’s worried about me going home alone. “You rest and we’ll be back first thing in the morning.”

Brady nods and turns his sleepy gaze back to me. I lean down to kiss him and tell him goodnight before stepping back and leaving with Devon before we get into trouble. It’s already ten after eight, but the doctor said to give us a few extra minutes since Brady just woke up. Still, I’d rather not push it after they’ve waived the rules for us all day and we’ll be asking them to continue doing it as long as Brady is in Intensive Care.

Brady

I drift in and out of consciousness after Devon and Skyler leave for the night. I’m anxious without Skyler here. We haven’t been away from each other more than a few minutes at a time in weeks. I know she’s safe with Devon, but I’d feel better if she were here with me instead. I lift my cell phone from the table where Skyler left it and see that’s it’s just after two in the morning.Still hours before she’ll be back.I know she’s probably sound asleep, so I text Devon.

Me: You up?

When he doesn’t answer for a few minutes, I assume he’s asleep. Just when I reach to lay the phone back on the table, it vibrates with his answering text.

Devon: Yeah. You okay?

Me: Sort of. I don’t like being away from Skyler. Is SHE okay?

Devon: She’s okay. I made her take an Ativan and she’s out cold. See for yourself…

A picture comes through of Skyler sleeping on Devon’s bed with her mouth partially open. I chuckle and wince at the pain it causes.

Me: You’ll have a drool stain on that pillow if you don’t already. Thank you for that. I feel better knowing she’s with you.

Devon: Oh, there’s definitely drool. She’s gonna smack me for taking that picture. And don’t thank me. You know I’m here for BOTH of you. Now, get some rest. We’ll see you at nine.

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