Page 345 of Under Her Skin
Blaine nods and pushes the door open. Terry’s mother is in the room, packing up his things. “What’shappened?”
She looks at us with a smile. “Go to the chapel and find that out foryourselves.”
Leaving the room, Blaine says, “I want to see if Mr. Sanders will let us see Meagan before we godownstairs.”
I nod and we go toward her room. At least we know there’s good news, even if the man is still being a jackass. Knocking on her door, I call out, “It’s Nurse Richards and Mr. Vanderbilt. We’d like to askyou...”
The door is opened, and I’m caught up in a hug, then I see Blaine is too. Her mother and father are in tears as they hug us. Then they let us go and point toward the chair at the side of thebed.
There sits Meagan. It’s the first time I’ve seen her out of bed. She has on a red dress and a red bow is taped to her bald head. Her blue eyes are shining like diamonds as she looks at us. “Merry Christmas, you two. Are you having a goodone?”
Blaine lets my hand go and walks over to her, picking her up. He can’t even talk as he hugs her. So I talk for him, “We are having the best Christmas on record. And I think you aretoo.”
“I am.” She pushes against Blaine’s chest and sees the tears running down his cheeks. Wiping them away with her little hands, she says, “I’m better now. So you don’t need tocry.”
He nods and tries to smile, then bites his lower lip—to keep it from trembling, I’m sure. I step up beside him and smile at her. “He’s very happy. Those are happy tears. I’ve never seen him cry those. You’re pretty special to make that happen,Meagan.”
“Yes, I know that. And don’t worry. I’ll make the most of the gift I’ve been given. I won’t take one single day for granted. I promise.” She hugs Blaine again. “Thank you for yourhelp.”
He closes his eyes, and I can tell it’s taking everything in him not to fall apart. “We should go see what’s happening in the chapel,Blaine.”
With a nod, he sets her back down and looks at me. I know he can’t talk yet, and I think Meagan does too. “I’ll be leaving the hospital as soon as I gain five pounds. So I’ll see you around. Maybe we can have lunch together oneday.”
“We will see you every day, Meagan. And I will make it my personal mission to get that weight back on you. So be prepared to eat well, my little princess,” I tell her, then take Blaine’s hand and leave the room, making sure to give her parents a nod as wego.
Blaine falls against the wall after we walk out and pulls me in for a hug. His body is shaking, and I know this is the most emotion the man has ever felt. I let him hug me until his body stops shaking and he clears his throat. “Okay, I’ve taken charge of myself again and am ready to hear other news. To the chapel,baby.”
As we head to the elevator, his arm tight around my shoulders, I can feel the difference in the atmosphere. A positive charge is in the air, surrounding us all up here on this floor rightnow.
When we get on the elevator, Blaine looks at me with shimmering eyes. “Is this real, baby? Am I dreamingthis?”
“It’s real, Blaine. This is the most miraculous thing I’ve ever heard of. But I have to admit, I’m afraid of what kind of news we’re going to have about Colby. So please hold on for whatever thatis.”
He nods as the doors open and we walk out, heading to the small chapel where I hope to be married on New Year’s Eve. Now, more than ever, I see this place as a place ofhope.
The doors are wide open and Christmas music is playing softly. At the very front of the room, two young men are on their knees in front of the preacher who is praying overthem.
Blaine and I sit in the back, waiting for Terry and Colby. We hold hands and give each other looks of complete joy to find Colby there, next to his friend. I still don’t know what’s going on with them, but I know they’re both alive, and that’s got me feeling better than I didbefore.
The preacher ends his prayer and the boys stand up and shake the man’s hand, then turn back and see us. We get up as they hurry to us. Both have the broadest smiles on theirfaces.
“It’s a miracle, Blaine!” Colbysays.
Terry nods. “It is! And we both wanted to come see the preacher and give ourselves to the Lord. We’re going to get baptized in a littlewhile.”
“You can stay for that, can’t you?” Colby asks. “Because after that, I get to go home.Home!”
“Me too,” Terry says with so much enthusiasm that it’s heart wrenching. “Home!”
Blaine has a huge smile plastered on his face. “This is so amazing. I just can’t believe it. All of my favorite patients arebetter.”
“All of them?” Colbyasks.
I nod. “Yes, every one of the kids who Blaine’s visited and made friends with have been given great news this morning. Isn’t that something?” I pat Blaine on the back. “Seems his prayers wereanswered.”
“You prayed for us?” Terry asks with a wrinkled brow. “Lastnight?”
“No, it was very early this morning. And Nurse Richards prayed with me.” He holds up my left hand. “I asked her to marry me last night and she accepted. We’re getting married right here on New Year’s Eve. I hope you two will joinus.”
