I prayed. Out loud. It seemed to go on forever, but I am sure it was only like ten seconds long. I spoke quickly, and my hands got clammy. But, my words were sincere. I wanted Robin to be okay. I wanted Walt to be okay. I wanted everything to work out. So I told God that. Who knows whether He was listening or not.
When it was over, Walt looked relieved. Maybe I just imagined it, but it seemed to be there. He thanked me and said that the prayer was just what he needed.
We sat there in silence for a little while longer. It was already past four in the morning, and my thoughts turned toward class that day. I wanted to stay with Walt, make sure everything was okay. But, I also didn’t want to leave the school without another teacher when so many were already out sick.
I slept briefly in my chair and then I got up to find a vending machine that spat out coffee. When I came back with two cups in hand, Walt was standing in the middle of the emergency room waiting area with a doctor. Walt was nodding, looking concerned, but the doctor seemed to be talking steadily and didn’t appear to be delivering bad news. I had gotten used to reading the body language of doctors who were either delivering good or bad news.
The doctor walked away as I reached Walt. I handed him a cup of coffee, and his hands were shaking as he took it.
“Thank God,” he said, barely above a whisper. I hoped he wasn’t saying that just because of the coffee.
“What did the doctor say, Walt?”
I took a sip of coffee and almost immediately spit it out. I expected it to taste like vending machine coffee, but it was much worse.
“He said they just got her out of surgery and into recovery. He said she suffered a thoracic aneurysm. And that it was a miracle she got here to the hospital when she did. Any longer and she might not have made it.”
His voice trailed off, and I knew he was allowing himself to play the “what if” game. And in this case, it wasn’t a good one. I tried to bring him back.
“So, the surgery, it was successful?”
“Yeah, he said it went well, and she’s resting as comfortably as possible. We can go back and see her soon, I guess.”
Soon didn’t come very quickly. It wasn’t until after six when we were let back into her room. I would have to check on her and leave pretty much right after so I could go get clothes and head to work. It was going to be a long, rough day.
Robin looked to be in pretty bad shape. I had never seen her quite like this, obviously. The sight of someone else I loved in a hospital bed wasn’t easy. I had flashbacks that I immediately tried pushing away.
“Look who it is?” Walt said, leaning forward to give his wife a kiss on the forehead. “He’s been here with me all night.”
She smiled weakly, and I took her right hand in mine.
“They’ll let anyone in here, won’t they?” she said, voice weaker than I had ever remembered hearing it. Her humor could be like mine, though, no matter the situation. It was another reason we got along so well.
“Once I got past Nancy the narcoleptic nurse, it was smooth sailing.”
“You, always with appropriate alliteration.”
We are English nerds. It comes out at the strangest times. Walt and Carrie used to mock us.
Carrie. Hospitals. I was getting sick to my stomach again. I hated these places.
“I’m going to have to get out of here pretty soon,” I said. “Don’t want to be late for the morning meetings.”
She looked at me with eyes that screamed. “Since when do you want to be at the meetings on time?”
“Okay, okay,” I laughed, “I don’t WANT to be there on time, but I don’t think I can afford to be late too many more times.”
She smiled. “How are things going for my sub?”
“Well, I told her you’d be back in no time, but she’s already putting up family pictures and repainting everything. You need to hurry back and show her who is boss.”
I let go of her hand and stood up from the chair beside her bed.
“Seriously though,” I said. “Everything is running smoothly. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of getting her the lessons plans until you come back. I think I probably owe you that from something. Maybe a past life.”
“Thank you. And thank you for coming to check on me, and being with Walt.”
She looked over at her husband, who stood up at the mention of his name.
“I can walk you out, if you’d like,” he said, always a gentleman.
“Oh, hush,” I said. “You stay here with this wife of yours. Take good care of her. We need her back soon!”
“Bye, Luke,” they both said in unison as I reached the door to leave her room. I turned around and did a little wave.