Page 18 of More Trouble
“He’s going to be fine. Maybe it’ll be a long recovery, but no-one is stronger than Wes,” I reassured her, stroking her hair. If I kept telling myself that, I’d start to believe it.
“Dre’s right,” echoed Maddox. “He’s a fighter.”
“About as much of a fighter as you two have been recently,” Lyla chipped in, as she reached up to stroke Maddox’s bruised cheek, before glancing at me.
Despite everything, Maddox and I exchanged a wry grin.
There was nothing left to do but wait.
We sat in the uncomfortable chairs of the surgery waiting room. Scarlett rested her head on my shoulder, occasionally getting up to use the restroom. Lyla brought us some drinks from the vending machine, but the coffee was so bad I couldn’t stomach drinking it. I wasn’t sure I could face anything until I knew Wes was going to be okay. The waiting room was silent; too quiet for my liking. It was terrifying, like we were all holding our collective breath.
My mind raced and I struggled to process what the hell had happened.
Not four hours ago, they had this life planned.
They were having a baby.
Wes was going to marry Scarlett.
They were going to live happily ever after.
That was the dream.
Now that dream had been shattered.
After what felt like several hours, but was only around fifty minutes, the nurse came out with a bag of Wes’ things.
“You can hold on to these,” she said, giving the bag to Scarlett. “When he’s out of surgery, the doctor will come and talk to you.”
“Will I be able to see him then?” asked Scarlett, her eyes wide.
“Of course.” She gave us all a reassuring smile. “I’m sure it won’t be much longer now.”
Scarlett opened the bag. I glanced over and saw his phone was there in a baggy, along with the contents of his pockets.
She let out a loud gasp and I knew why. There, lying amongst a bunch of banknotes, keys and change, was the small square-shaped velvet box Wes had shown Maddox and I earlier.
“He was going home to propose,” I explained. “That’s what he told us earlier.”
Scarlett snapped open the box and her hand flew to her mouth as she set eyes on the beautifully simple solitaire diamond ring. “Oh,” she breathed. “It’s perfect.” She pulled it out of the box and slid it onto her engagement finger. Of course, it fit perfectly.
Lyla and Maddox both stood up and rushed over to us.
“Scarlett, it’s beautiful,” said Lyla. She took Scarlett’s hand and examined the ring from all angles. “Wes has amazing taste.” She nudged Maddox in the stomach, no doubt trying to give him the hint.
“Of course he does. He chose you, didn’t he, Scar?” Maddox beamed at her.
“I’m never taking this off,” she announced. “The answer is yes. It’s always been yes, and I’ll tell Wes that the moment I see him again.”
An air of serenity settled over the room as we quietly celebrated Wes and Scarlett’s engagement. We’d be able to celebrate properly once this nightmare ended and Wes could come home.
Scarlett was sleeping on my shoulder and Lyla was curled up in Maddox’s arms, both dozing. I appeared to be the only one awake.
It was close to three in the morning. Luckily, I’d never spent much time in the hospital, and I was fascinated with the activity, even at this time of day. The staff spoke in hushed tones, as if trying not to disturb anyone who might be waiting. There were a lot of earnest conversations over clipboards and people who came and went without having to wait. I wished we had been as lucky as they were, and Wes would be coming out of surgery with a plaster cast and a pair of crutches.
The longer things went on, the more I doubted he would. He’d definitely have to stay in until he was better—no one marched out of surgery this long, did they?
A doctor came out, spoke briefly to the nurse who had addressed us earlier and glanced over to our group.
