Page 39 of Starting Anew

“Let’s just say that, by the end of the week, I was going stir crazy.” She offered him a smile and hoped that would be enough for now. “How about you? How was your week?”

“It was a long one.” He gave her a pointed look. “Maybe we can talk later?” There was no missing the look of hope on his face.

When she smiled her agreement, he rested his arm beside hers, the warmth of his skin sending tingles through her own.

She continued to eat her muffin as they all sat with only the waiting room television to fill in the silence.

It was nearly an hour later before the doctor finally entered through the double doors at one end of the room. Lynn got to her feet along with the others.

Dr. Lang smiled reassuringly. “The procedure went smoothly. Perry is in recovery, but she’s still asleep. I’ll need to keep her here at the hospital for several days, but I see no reason why she won’t make a full recovery.”

Mom burst into tears as she turned to hug Dad. Lynn smiled, tears of relief flooding her eyes as well. “Thank you, doctor.”

“Of course. A nurse will come let you know when Perry wakes up. At that point, you’ll be able to come sit with her. Do you have any questions for me?”

Mom asked several about how to care for Perry once they got her home. The doctor assured her that he’d have full instructions for them before Perry was released from the hospital.

Moments later, he disappeared again.

The waiting room seemed brighter and less ominous than it had been before the doctor came in. Lynn slowly let a lungful of air out as she bounced on the balls of her feet. “Praise God!” She smiled. “I can’t wait to see her! She’s going to be so surprised I’m here.”

That earned her a sharp look from her father. “You know Perry will be okay now. You should leave.”

A blow to the stomach couldn’t have hit Lynn any harder than his words. She blinked at him, sure she had to have misunderstood him. “But I want to see her. Let her know I’m here and praying for her.”

Her father gave a decisive shake of his head. “No one asked you to come here. Your mother and I are here for Perry, just like always, so it’s time for you to leave.” With that, he opened his magazine again as though he’d given her the time or informed her of the weather.

Lynn’s stomach rolled as she turned her attention to her mother. She was the one who let Lynn know about the surgery in the first place. Surely she would say something about Lynn staying.

Mom looked sad, but only said, “Go. I’ll send you an update by text later today.”

Lynn bit her lip to keep the tears at bay. She refused to cry in front of her parents. Keeping control of her emotions took all she had, and she was afraid if she looked at Nathan, that would be the end. She slung her bag over one shoulder and rushed from the room.

~*~

Nathan fully expected Mrs. Truitt to run after her daughter, but she remained seated next to her husband, sad eyes on the floor at her feet. Nathan may not know enough about the Truitts—or even the history that led to the clear emotional separation between parents and daughter—but he couldn’t imagine speaking to Mia like that.

When he didn’t leave immediately, Mr. Truitt finally raised his gaze, his expression stern. Nathan was being dismissed.

He shook his head, amazed at how cold Lynn’s parents were being. He intentionally used the name that Mr. Truitt had called Lynn. “Bethany is one of the kindest, most amazing women I’ve ever met. I hope you know what you’re doing by pushing her away.”

With that, he left the waiting room. He found her down the hall by the elevators. She was staring out a small window, her back to him, and he heard her sniff as he approached.

“Lynn? Are you okay?”

“I’m sorry.” She sniffed again and swiped at her face. “I should be used to this. I should’ve known better.” Her shoulders slumped in defeat. “Knowing my father, he won’t even tell Perry that I was here.”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Certainly not for anything that happened today.” Nathan desperately wanted to step forward and wrap his arm around her, but didn’t know if she would welcome it. Or if he even should. Instead, he stood shoulder to shoulder with her and allowed his arm to brush hers. “What your dad said was completely unacceptable. And I got the feeling your mom didn’t agree with him.”

“Maybe not, but she never speaks against him for any reason. That she even called and told me about Perry’s surgery was a shock.” Lynn swallowed hard and turned her head to look at him. “How pathetic is it that, after all these years and after my dad acts like this, I still miss my family?”

“It’s not pathetic. It’s normal.” Nathan slipped an arm around her shoulders then. When she leaned into him, he rubbed her upper arm with his thumb. “I’ve told you some about my childhood. My biological parents were neglectful at best. My adoptive parents deceitful and vindictive. Despite all that, I still sometimes miss them. Or at least miss the idea of a normal family, even if I’ve never really experienced it.”

Lynn leaned her head against his shoulder and nodded. “Maybe that’s it. Maybe I miss the idea of a normal family. You know, one that sits in the waiting room together and then bursts into Perry’s room with flowers and balloons and takes turns keeping her company until she’s released.” She quieted for several heartbeats. “I’ve never experienced a normal family, either. Do you think such a thing even exists?”

Nathan chuckled. “Probably not. Every family has their problems. That’s why it’s a good thing that, in the absence of biological family, we can choose our own.” He was referring more to the way Chess had formed a family, and how they’d all welcomed him and Mia into it. Or how Lynn and Sharon were so close and could support each other.

But as the words left his mouth, he couldn’t stop thinking about himself and Lynn. Despite the questions he needed to have answered first, it was way too easy to picture creating a family with her. Too easy to see Lynn rocking Mia to sleep every night. And Nathan waking up next to Lynn every morning? Yep, that was super easy to imagine, too.

---