by Kaci Rose
The grip Noah has on my hand tightens, and he pulls me in for a kiss. This kiss is soft, sweet, and full of promise, leaving me breathless. When I pull back, I rest my forehead on his and run my hand over his scars one last time.
“I love you, angel. I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you too, Noah. Fight your way back to me.”
“Always, angel, always.” He says before I step back and watch them wheel him out. I make my way to the surgery waiting room to find Johnny, Becky, Mom, and Dad, waiting on me with breakfast and coffee.
I sit down to eat, and just as I’m finishing, his mom calls.
“I’m on my way to work, but wanted to check in.”
“They just took him back, and there’s nothing to report yet.”
“Okay, well call me soon as you do, no matter what, okay?”
“I promise,” I say and hang up.
I start pacing the room and know I need a distraction, so I sit down next to Becky.
“Have you guys picked out baby names yet?” I ask them.
“No, we don’t even know what we are having yet.” Becky laughs.
“Great, let’s pick out some names,” I say, pulling out my phone and looking up baby name lists.
“I love you, sis, but you don’t get a say in this,” Johnny says.
“Humor me,” I tell him, and he nods, understanding it’s a distraction.
We start with girls’ names, and they actually agree on a few and add them to their list. We laugh at some of them.
“Did a movie star really name their kid Banjo?” Becky asks.
“I really hope they were high. The poor kid.”
“At least, once they’re eighteen, they can file for a name change.” My mom says, shaking her head.
Before I know it, the doctor comes out.
“Lexi?” He asks.
I jump up. “Yes?”
“Everything went well. It was a textbook surgery. He’s getting transported to recovery now, and the nurse will be out soon to get you.”
I call his mom and relay what the doctor said, and then I start pacing the waiting room.
“Do you want some lunch?” My dad asks.
“I couldn’t eat if I tried.”
“Why don’t you sit down?” My mom pats the chair next to her.
I just shake my head.
About twenty minutes later, the nurse who took him to surgery comes out.
“Lexi, right this way.” She smiles, as I hug Mom, Dad, Becky, and Johnny. I promise to call them with updates and agree to let them bring me dinner later before I follow the nurse back.
I enter a large room with beds lining the walls, all separated by curtains and a nurse’s desk on the opposite wall facing the beds. It’s set up a lot like the hospital in Germany.
“He’ll be in and out of it, as he comes out of the anesthesia. Then, he’ll be groggy with the pain medicine he’s on.” The nurse says.
Sighing, I nod, “Not our first rodeo with the pain medicine haze.”
I sit in the chair next to his bed. Thankfully, it’s on his left side, so I take his hand in mine and start talking to him. More for my benefit than his. I tell him that I called his mom, and then tell him about our baby name conversation in the waiting room.
Then, I move on to talking about my house.
“I’ve been trying to decide on wall colors for the house. I want to keep it natural and close to what would have been there when the house was built, but they used wallpaper, and from what I’m finding, when I peel off some of the wallpaper, what they have used is horrible. But I’m thinking my next project will be to put a garden in. Something with a water feature, maybe some herbs. Every summer I think of putting in a pool because it gets so hot here.” I say, lost in thought.
“Pools are a lot of fucking work,” Noah croaks, his voice groggy and scratchy.
“Hey there, sexy.” I smile.
“Angel.” He groans.
“What do you need?”
“Water.”
I hold the straw to his lips, as he drinks. Then, he leans back and looks at me. He starts to smile, and then groans.
“Fuck, that hurts.”
“Anesthesia makes you cuss like a sailor.” I joke.
“Not a sailor, a Marine.” He grunts.
I laugh and lean in to kiss the cheek that isn’t bandaged. I then go on to repeat everything I told him, while he was still out about his mom and the baby names.
I shoot off a text to his parents that he’s awake and doing well, and we’ll call once he’s out of recovery.
When the doctor comes in, and he starts talking about exactly what they did, I zone out. I can’t handle the talk of everything they did to his face. No wonder he’s sore.
* * *
This becomes a routine for us. Every two weeks, he’s in another surgery, and the waiting for him doesn’t get any easier. Thankfully, Mom, Dad, Becky, and Johnny join me for each one.
Now, I talk almost daily to his parents, keeping them informed of what’s going on.
I’m sitting next to him, waiting for him to wake up from yet another surgery, which thankfully, is the last one.
He wakes up with a groan, and I’m there with water for him. His eyes open and focus on me. It’s been a habit after each surgery for us to have a moment, when his blue eyes are focused on me for the first time, and that look does something to me.
It’s like our souls are reconnecting after being apart. When the spell is broken, I smile.
“So, I have a surprise for you,” I tell him.
“What’s that, angel?”
I hold up a phone, and he looks confused.
“What? Is it on your phone?”
“No, this is your phone.”
“Nope, I shut my phone off, and it doesn’t look like that.”
I laugh. “Actually, I added you to my plan. I have a few long work days coming to get caught up, and I thought this way we can video chat, even after visiting hours. Maybe, I can give you a tour of the house.”
“Angel.” He says, his voice still rough and scratchy. “This is amazing, and I love it, but I’ll pay for my own line.”
“No, you will not, Noah. You just worry about getting better. Do you hear me? Once you’re up and walking, and they release you, then you can argue about it. Until then, you let me do this for you.” I tell him in my no nonsense voice.
“Deal. Now, get over here and cuddle with me.” He says, holding out his arm.
The nurses here in recovery just smile, they know us well by now. I crawl into bed with him, and the exhaustion from the last several weeks takes over.
Chapter 25
Noah
I get my bandages off tomorrow. Today, my physical therapist is meeting with me to see what progress I’ve made, so he can set up a plan because I’m starting PT soon. I’ve never been so happy and so willing to get my ass kicked every day.
When Parks comes in, I’m sitting with Lexi on the couch. He’s my physical therapist and insists on being on a first name basis with me.
“Noah!” He says, walking into the room with a huge smile on his face.
After a small bit of chitchat, he pats me on the back. “Let’s see what you can do!”
Helping me stand up, he puts me through some basic moves. I can stand on my good leg, but I’m a bit unsteady, using my right leg.
“You’re making good progress, even if you don’t see it. I’ll have a fast paced program ready, so be prepared for the pain, because it won’t be easy or fun.” Parks says.
“I’m more than ready for it,” I assure him.
As he leaves, I sit back on the couch and pull Lexi into my side.
“I want you to promise you won’t push yourself too far. You can do damage and set yourself back if you overdo it.” Lexi says.
“I promise to do as Parks says,” I tell her.
We don’t get to continue the discussion, because Dr. Taylor walks in.
“Well, Noah how do you fee
l about removing those bandages?” He says.
“I thought that was tomorrow.”
“Yes, but your nurse says everything is looking good, and you healed faster than expected, so we can do it today.” Nerves hit me like I just ran into a wall. He and Lexi help me back to the bed, as Brooke prepares to help the doctor remove the bandages. Lexi is at my side, holding my hand, as they start.
“Now remember, there will be some swelling for a few weeks, but it will go away. You need to be careful that nothing is thrown at your face, no hitting your face and try not to sleep on this side. All that we went over before surgery.” He reminds me.
He steps back.
“Noah…” Lexi gasps.
I clamp my eyes shut afraid of what I’ll see on her face.
“How bad is it?” I ask her.
“Oh, Noah. You’ve always been sexy to me, but holy shit, you’re hot.”
My eyes snap open, and her face says it all. She’s running her eyes over me, and there’s a smile on her face.
“I remember seeing you before when I’d be there with my brother, and I always thought you were good looking, Noah. I wasn’t the only one. How you settled for Whitney I will never know. But Noah, you know, it’s different, but it’s sexy as fuck.”
Hearing her cuss like that for the first time gives me the courage to pick up the mirror Brooke placed in my lap and take a look at my new face.
There’s some swelling, and it’s evident around my eye mostly. There’s a scar down the center of my forehead, the skin is a little rough near my ear, and the corner of my mouth. But where the skin was jagged and raised before, it’s smooth now. If you look closely, you can see the different skin grafts, because each is a slightly different color.
Almost like Dr. Taylor notices that’s what I’m looking at he speaks.
“The color will even out over the next four to six weeks, as the grafts heal. You won’t be able to tell them apart.”
I just shake my head, “It looks so much better than I thought possible.”
“Can I touch him?” Lexi asks.
“Yes, just very gently. If it starts to hurt Noah, you speak up.” The doctor says. He then gives me some care instructions, and the doctor and Brooke leave the room.
Lexi hasn’t taken her eyes off of me, and when my eyes lock with her, the rest of the world falls away. I realize then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of me, only what this amazing woman in front of me thinks.
She leans forward and gently runs a finger down the scar on my forehead. I close my eyes, don’t move, and just feel. Her fingers sweep over my eyebrow and next to my eye, over my cheek, and down to my mouth, where scars meet my lips, before replacing her finger with her lips.
At first, she kisses me gently, like she’s afraid to hurt me. I wrap my hand behind her neck and pull her in, deepening the kiss, bringing her closer to me. She comes willingly and climbs into my lap, turning to straddle me. As her body sinks against mine, we never break the kiss.
It’s a passionate kiss but still somehow gentle, and she doesn’t try to push it further.
When we break apart, I rest my forehead against hers, and we are both breathing hard and holding on to each other. This moment is one I wish I could stay in forever. I have my girl in my arms, and everything is good.
Tomorrow, brings change, as neither of us knows what PT will hold, so tomorrow we start a new normal.
Chapter 26
Lexi
We have been in a good routine for about a week now. Noah goes to PT and comes back sore, but with a smile on his face. Brooke comes in and assesses his pain, he eats lunch, and then we nap. Waking up, he does some moves Parks gave him for his sore muscles, and then we spend the rest of the evening together until visiting hours are over.
Dr. Taylor has been in a few times to check on Noah, and he’s here again today.
“You’re looking really good.” Dr. Taylor says, after checking out Noah.
“We’ll be moving you to the rehab part of the hospital probably tomorrow since you don’t need to be here anymore.”
That catches my attention, so I follow him out into the hallway.
“What do you mean he doesn’t need to be here anymore?” I ask him.
“Well, he only needs his PT and any appointments with his therapists. Many patients can do that from home. However, because Noah doesn’t have a place to go, we move him to the rehab wing and help transition him out.” Dr. Taylor says.
“So, if he has someplace to go, he can go home?”
“Yes, but he told me he doesn’t have any place to go.”
I rub my forehead. What is Noah thinking?
“When I was stationed back at Fort Hood, they had a military rehab home, where we could send guys,” Dr. Taylor explains. “All their appointments were handled on the grounds, and they had their own rooms and all sorts of activities to attend. Plus, they had men in the same position to bond with.”
“There’s no place like that here?” I ask him.
“Sadly, no.”
“Is the place in Fort Hood run by the military?”
“No, it was run by a couple. They had the military seal of approval and military funding, but it was privately owned.”
“Do you have any information on it?”
He pulls out a pen and starts writing on his clipboard. “Their names are Judy and Keith, and this is their website.” He says, handing me a piece of paper.
“So, if Noah had a place to stay, he could be released?”
“Yes.” He nods.
“What does he need? Anything special?” I ask.
“Someone to get him to and from appointments, because he won’t be cleared to drive for a while. He’ll need someone to make sure he takes his medicine and be there in case he needs help. He’s still unsteady, so no stairs or walking long distances, until cleared by PT. He also shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time, until his therapist clears him.”
“Then, he can stay with me. I have an eight bedroom home. The master bedroom is on the main floor with an attached bathroom, and I have plenty of extra rooms to set up anything he needs.”
Dr. Taylor looks surprised. “Well, if Noah is okay with it, I don’t see why not.”
He hands me a pack of paperwork on caring for him at home. I flip through it.
“Give me a week to get it set up. I need to redo the room, so it’s easier for him to get around. I’ve been using the area for my work.”
“Sounds good. We will move him to the rehab wing, until then.”
I flip through the pack of papers, glancing over recommended items to have on hand, before stomping back into Noah’s room and closing the door. I stand at the foot of the bed and cross my arms, glaring at him.
“Uh oh,” he says and sits up straighter on the bed.
“You told the doctor you have no place to go?”
“I don’t.” He shrugs.
“Yeah, you do. You will stay with me. The doctor gave me this packet of information, and I’ll get the house ready.”
“Lexi…”
“No, Noah. This isn’t negotiable. You don’t deserve to be cramped in the hospital any longer than you have to be, and as of today, you don’t have, too. The master bedroom is on the main floor, so you’ll have a bathroom, and there are several rooms near, but we can make it into anything you need or want. Since I can work anywhere, I’ll take you to and from appointments. Don’t fight me on this, Noah.” I say and finally take a deep breath.
“Come here, angel.” He says with a smile on his face.
I walk over to the side of his bed, and he pulls me down for a kiss.
“No fighting.” He agrees and looks into my eyes. “You’re amazing Lexi, and I feel like I don’t deserve you.”
“Noah, it’s me who doesn’t deserve you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go shopping.” I wave the packet of the paper Dr. Taylor gave me. “I will see you tomorrow.”
I kiss him on the cheek and head home
. When I walk in the front door, I stop to take a look around. This big, old house is going to have to work for Noah. If we come in through the side door, he can easily get to the master bedroom. The bathroom has a walk-in shower, so that isn’t an issue. My office is in the room across the hall from the master, so I can work nearby.
The kitchen is a little further away, but I can move the table I have in the kitchen nook to the room next to my office, and there’s another smaller room that can be set up, as a small gym for him. It can be Noah’s wing until he’s able to move around the house more easily. That way he can get to the back porch for some outside time, too.
As I walk to the other side of the house where the kitchen, living room, and formal dining room are, I begin to see the house with new eyes. I always knew this house would reveal what its purpose would be, and I think it’s yelling at me right now.
I head into my office and pull up the rehab home in Texas that the doctor told me about. It looks like a bed-and-breakfast with a few differences. It seems to be smaller than my house, but the grounds have the same acreage. I shoot them an email with a few questions, before pulling up an online store to order something for Noah. Though, I go a bit overboard, there’s plenty of room, and I want him to feel like this is his home, too.
The rooms need to be painted and touched up, so I call Becky to tell her my plans, and she calls a few other wives, and their guys are ready to help. We make plans to meet tomorrow to get going on my idea.
Then, I go to the store and get the paint we’ll need, plus cleaning supplies, and a few other things.
When I get home, I have an email reply from the rehab home in Texas. The owner invited me out to the place, so I call Becky.
“I’ll be heading out for town for a few days. It’s work related, so can you and Johnny hang out with Noah?”
“Of course, but I know you, this isn’t work.”
“It’s kind of is, but I promise to explain everything when I get home.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
My next call is to my mom and dad. I ask them to supervise the work being done on the house, while I’m away. They both jump at the chance, and I think my dad is happy to have something to do.
