Fathom(16)
After signing a ton of paperwork in which we promised up and down that we wouldn’t sue the hospital for allowing me to be released, and that we were leaving despite doctor’s objections, the hospital grudgingly consented to me leaving.
A young man, nearly as tall as our seven foot friend Vitahl, entered the room with a wheelchair. Grinning from ear to ear, he popped a white headphone from his right ear and swooped a long arm across the seat.
“Your chariot awaits, my lady!”
“Oh, no!” I shook my hands taking a step back. “Honestly, I don’t need that.”
“I know,” he wheeled it closer to me, “but you know what? If you don’t allow me to escort you the entrance, I will get in trouble!”
Oh geez, he was good. The guilt card.
“You’re going to guilt me into riding that thing?”
He snickered, his shaggy red hair shaking. “I’m not above using manipulation to get you into this hideous contraption.” He patted the back of the seat. “Come on!” He sang as if trying to get a baby to take their first steps.
“What’s your name?” I asked taking a step toward the thing.
“Kevin’s the name, wheeling’s the game.” He pushed on the brakes and offered his hand to me.
“I’m fine!” I sat down, crossing my arms.
“Yeah, yeah – that’s what they all say.” Kevin slid the foot plates down and I placed my feet on them. “Shall we dupart?” He asked, accenting the last word heavily in a French accent.
“By all means,” I flung my hand in front of me, “lead on!”
When the elevator doors opened and we entered, no one followed us in. We were left alone in the steel cage with Kevin who suddenly announced that the song on his iPod was one of his favorites. So we stifled our laughter as we listened to him “ba da bum bum bum” the chorus of The Final Countdown all the way to the first floor. When the doors opened, I breathed a sigh of relief.
Outside, the afternoon sun was beginning to drop in the sky and some of the city lights had turned on. As the doors opened, I was wheeled to a beautiful white limousine.
Thayde stepped out dressed in black slacks and a crisp white dress shirt. He’d had his hair cut and it couldn’t have been more perfect for his handsome face. He was so beautiful, it almost made me embarrassed to be with him. I knew I looked like the walking dead.
When the wheelchair came to a stop, Kevin whispered into my ear. “You’re the prettiest patient I’ve ever had the pleasure of escorting from the hospital. Take care.” To Thayde he said, “Your lady awaits!”
“Thank you Kevin,” I managed to say before Thayde bent down effortlessly and scooped me into his arms.
“What’s all this?” I asked.
“It’s a surprise.” His smile was full of excitement.
“All this is for me?”
“Of course,”
He ducked into the open door and we were followed by Mom. A loud squeal greeted us - Tiesa and Ezen sat in the back of the limo with Tammer.
“I’m so happy you’re okay!” Tiesa grabbed me into a huge hug as Thayde sat me down. “I’ve been worried sick!”
Ezen gave me an awkward hug and returned to her side. “We’ve been praying you’d get through it.”
“Thank you both!” I said. “I’m so surprised to see you!”
“Good surprised or bad surprised?” Tiesa joked and shoved a present into my hands. “I hope you like it!”
Thayde eased next to me, the leather seat creaking and his smile happy and excited for me. It was as if I were seeing him for the first time again - I couldn’t get over how gorgeous, how caring, how incredible he was. Why had I been so cruel to him?
“Open it!” Tiesa ordered and Ezen took her hand.
“Give her a minute, love!”
“Sorry,” she held up her hands and snuggled into her fiancé. “How are you doing?”
“I’m better. Feel much better than I did a few days ago. Why is everyone here?”
Tammer cleared his throat. “We thought seeing your best friend would cheer you up.”
“Oh, it does!” I backtracked. “Don’t get me wrong! I’m very happy you’re all here. I just don’t know why you’re here. What’s going on?”
“You sort of destroyed part of our apartment,” Thayde spoke up, “and with everyone here, I know they don’t want to leave right away. I thought it might be nice to stay somewhere else for a while, just until the damage is taken care of.”
“Okay,” I didn’t see what he was getting at.
“So, I’ve reserved us a suite at a hotel.”