Love Slave for Two: Family Matters

by Tymber Dalton

  He closed his eyes for a moment then wrote again.

  Sorry.

  “No, don’t apologize. I just felt…overwhelmed. I didn’t handle the stress very well.”

  Tyler knew she’d lied to him. He didn’t understand why, but Nevvie couldn’t lie to him any more than he could lie to her. Not successfully, at least.

  If Thomas was around and all right, she wouldn’t be left alone. She wouldn’t be speaking as if Thomas wasn’t around. Tyler knew she didn’t realize what she’d said.

  He gripped the pen tighter. Love you.

  She kissed him. “I love you, too. Baby, you don’t know how much I love you.”

  A?

  “Uncles Eddie and Pete.”

  OK

  Nevvie reached across the bed. “I want you to have this back.” She slipped his wedding band onto his finger and squeezed his hand. “You’re not allowed to scare me like that ever again, got it?”

  He nodded. That’s when he noticed her right hand and felt a chill wash through him.

  She wore Thomas’ wedding band on her thumb. Thomas never took it off, except to work on the car. He wouldn’t have it off now.

  He’d be standing by Nevvie’s side, with her, not letting her go through this alone.

  Whatever had happened while he was unconscious, Tyler knew he wouldn’t find out from her. He wrote again.

  Go eat. Now.

  “I don’t want to leave you.”

  Their one-sided discussion was interrupted by rounds. The cardiologist sounded cheerful and positive.

  “We’ll get that breathing tube out of you soon, Mr. Paulson, then we can get you up and out of bed sometime today. I know it’s uncomfortable, but as I told your wife, it’s necessary.”

  Tyler nodded, trying not to stare at Thomas’ ring on Nevvie’s hand. There was only one reason Tyler could think of that she’d be wearing it, and he didn’t want to contemplate it.

  As the doctor left, Tyler noticed Nevvie glanced out of the room. He tapped the clipboard again. Go eat. Now.

  She finally smiled. “Okay. I’ll be back soon. Everyone wants to see you.”

  You take nap.

  “We’ll see.” She kissed his forehead, stroked his cheek. “I love you. I thought I was going to lose you.”

  He tapped the paper. Love you.

  He noticed she closed the curtain behind her as she left, so he couldn’t see where she went.

  * * * *

  Nevvie slipped into Thomas’ cubicle with the doctors, pulled the sliding doors shut behind her, and kept her voice low as she spoke with them about his condition. Thank God for the solid walls and doors between the bed areas. Still wait and see. Nothing that could be done short-term except monitor him and wait for the swelling to go down.

  “Okay. Please, remember, I don’t want Tyler knowing he’s here.”

  Tyler still had the breathing tube in place when Nevvie visited an hour later. The restraints had been loosened enough he could easily write but still not reach the breathing tube. He’d taken the time to write a few things on the clipboard. He tapped it, showing her.

  What’s going on? Where’s T? What aren’t you telling me? Be honest.

  She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “Everything’s fine. Don’t you trust me?”

  He studied her. Of course he trusted her. He also knew she would withhold information, thinking it would help, probably worried the news would give him another heart attack. He wrote on the pad. Tell me.

  Her eyes flicked to his, then away. More confirmation of his suspicions.

  “There’s nothing to tell. Peggy and everyone else will be here in a little while. I need to talk to your doctors, and I need to take care of some things. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

  He nodded. Before she could leave again he tapped on the clipboard to get her attention. Leave curtain open pls.

  “Okay.” She kissed his forehead and quickly left.

  Now he had a clear view of the duty board attached to the side of the nurse’s station. He’d glimpsed it off and on all morning as people came and went from his bed area. Finally, he could read it. Unfortunately his earlier views proved correct.

  He knew he occupied bed twelve, and there he was, listed on the board: T. Paulson, Carol, HOCM/SM, Robertson.

  In bed thirteen, the line below his name: T. Kinsey, Carol, TBI-m/c acc, Gonzales/Spivey.

  Tyler closed his eyes and cried.

  * * * *

  He’d composed himself a few minutes later when Carol returned with a doctor.

  “Mr. Paulson? We’re going to remove your breathing tube.” It felt like they spent forever checking his breathing before finally pulling the tube. Carol removed his restraints and after some coughing and gagging they raised his bed so he could sit up and gasp for air.

  “Are you okay?” the doctor asked.

  “I wish to stand up,” he croaked.

  “Let’s let you settle for a little while. Just relax. We’ll let you get out of bed in a few hours but we need to pull your catheter first. Right now, sit up in bed, don’t rush it.”

  Tyler croaked, “Water?”

  The doctor nodded. “A few sips at first. Take it slow.” He noted the chart and left.

  Carol brought him a cup of water and a straw, holding it for him while he drank.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem, Mr. Paulson.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Where’s Thomas?”

  The nurse froze. “Mr. Paulson, I’m not sure who you mean.”

  She was lying, he sensed it. He released her. “My partner, Thomas Kinsey. He hasn’t been in with Nevvie.”

  “Do you want me to call your wife for you?”

  “You took care of Nevvie before, didn’t you? I recognize you.”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is he?”

  She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “Mr. Paulson, I’m sorry, but I need to check on my other patient.” She quickly left. It looked like she went into the cubicle next to his. If he remembered the layout correctly, it would be bed thirteen.

  He laid back and tried to relax. He hurt like hell, almost felt like his chest had been cut open from breastbone to bollocks although he didn’t have the nerve to look or touch the area yet. He dropped off to sleep for a while. Over an hour later, when Carol returned, he pushed the issue.

  “I wish to stand up. I need to use the bathroom.”

  “I can get you a bedpan.”

  “No. I wish to get up.”

  She finally relented. “Let me check with your doctor first to make sure it’s okay. If it is, I need to get some help.” She returned a few minutes later with an aide. They removed Tyler’s Foley catheter, unhooked his monitor leads and juggled his IV poles around so he could use the small recessed toilet in the corner. When he finished he stood and, holding on to the bed for balance, he slowly shuffled toward the front of the cubicle.

  “Mr. Paulson, you have to get back in bed.”

  “I’m going to check on my neighbor next door. You don’t mind, do you?”

  The nurse’s face fell and he knew he was correct. Steeling himself for their protests, he pushed on. “Either bring the IV poles or I’ll rip the bloody things out,” he softly said. “You aren’t stopping me.” He hurt like hell. He wasn’t nearly as steady on his feet as he pretended to be, but he had to see for himself.

  Finally giving in, the women followed him. Tyler paused at the drawn curtain. He thought he was prepared for anything, but the sight of Tom’s handsome face battered and bruised nearly beyond recognition almost brought him to his knees. He grabbed the end of the bed and held on as his knees weakened.

  “Oh, my poor, sweet Thomas,” he whispered.

  The nurse took his arm. “Let’s get you back to bed.”

  “I wish to sit with him. Get me a chair, please.”

  “Mr. Paulson—”

  He couldn’t pull his gaze from Thomas. His tears flowed. “Please,” he begged, “just let me sit with him for a
while. We’ve been together seventeen years. Surely you can’t deny me a few minutes with him?”

  She finally relented, setting him in a recliner on Thomas’ left side, with pillows and a blanket to make him comfortable. She brought in a portable cart with monitors and reconnected him, and hooked him up to an oxygen cannula. “Look, don’t get me fired. Worse, you’re gonna get your wife pissed at me.”

  He shook his head and held Thomas’ hand. “I’ll handle her,” he said, his eyes never leaving Tom’s face. “I need to talk to his doctors. Please.”

  * * * *

  Tyler spoke to Tommy’s doctors, his own doctor, and called Bob’s cell. Fortunately Nevvie was on the phone with Eddie when Tyler called Bob.

  “Don’t tell her you’re coming. I need to see you right now.”

  “Déjà vu all over again,” Bob quipped.

  “Don’t make jokes. It hurts too much to laugh.”

  “Sorry. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Tyler still sat at Thomas’ bedside when Bob arrived.

  “Close the doors and curtains, please,” he asked.

  Bob did, giving them more privacy.

  “How is she? Really?”

  Bob shook his head. “Again with the déjà vu. Didn’t I have this conversation with her a few years ago in this same ICU? Do you have an asshole administrator on your case, too?”

  Tyler managed a wan smile. “Seriously, how is she holding up?”

  He leaned against the wall, on the other side of Thomas’ bed. “She’s been better. We had a close call when she found out about Tommy.”

  Tyler knew Bob wasn’t telling the full truth but didn’t press further. “My poor girl. What would we do without you, Bob?”

  “Yeah, you say that now. Wait ‘til you get my bill,” he teased. “She seems a lot stronger today. I think the shock has worn off. With you awake she was like a new woman when she got back to the house. If one of you had died I think she’d be in a hospital bed, too.”

  “According to them, I did die.”

  “Yeah, but you damn paranormal authors are like vampires, just keep coming back.”

  “Ow! Bob, please. No jokes.”

  “Sorry.” He looked at Thomas. “How is he today?”

  “They can’t tell us anything. It’s wait and see.”

  “I hate to be the bringer of bad news, but we need to look to the future. That’s what you pay me to do.”

  “If he can’t go back to work?”

  Bob nodded. “Who runs the business, should you sell it, all of that. He could be back at work in a month, he might be dependent upon the two of you for the rest of his life.”

  Tyler willed Thomas to open his eyes even though he knew medication kept him in a coma. How was their poor girl supposed to take care of both of them? Tyler knew he was her emotional support, but Thomas was every bit as much a grounding foundation for him as for Nevvie.

  How did they manage without him?

  “We don’t need to decide all that today, do we?”

  “No. I just need you to keep it in the back of your mind. Nevvie is in no condition to think about it. I haven’t even mentioned it. I’ve already talked with Kenny and Maggie. For the duration, I’m supervising operations at Kinsey Consulting. Nevvie needs to focus on you guys and Adam.”

  * * * *

  Nevvie drove Peggy and Karen to the hospital. She felt a lot stronger knowing Tyler was awake. How long could she stall him? Certainly once they removed the breathing tube he’d be asking questions and she couldn’t keep lying to him.

  They walked into the ICU. When they approached Tyler’s bed, Nevvie panicked when she didn’t see him. The door and curtain to Tommy’s bed were pulled closed.

  They found Carol. “Where’s Tyler?”

  “Calm down.”

  Peggy tapped Nevvie’s shoulder and pointed as Bob emerged from Thomas’ alcove. Nevvie glared at him and pushed past, freezing when she saw Tyler seated next to Tom’s bed. He looked up at her.

  She turned on Bob. “You told him? I trusted you!”

  “Nevvie.” Tyler’s soft, firm voice stopped her in her tracks. “Come here, love.” He held up his hand and, unable to resist him, she went. “He didn’t tell me, sweet. I figured it out.” He pointed to the duty board. “I saw it on there. And I saw this.” He touched Thomas’ ring on her hand.

  She closed her eyes and cried, kneeling in front of him, her head in his lap.

  “Shh,” he soothed, stroking her hair. “It’s okay. I’m all right.”

  “I didn’t want you to worry. I was afraid it would…that you would…” She couldn’t continue, sobbed against him.

  “Love, didn’t you know I’d figure it out sooner or later?”

  “I didn’t think that far ahead,” she admitted. “I had you back. I didn’t want to lose you again. I wanted to wait until I knew you were stronger.”

  “I’m all right, sweetheart.” He looked at the others. “Can we have a few minutes alone, please?”

  Bob walked outside to wait with Peggy and Karen.

  “Love, stand up.”

  She did.

  He held Thomas’ hand. “Let’s put that back where it belongs.”

  She cried and slipped the ring from her thumb onto Tom’s finger. Tyler captured her hand. Together they held Tommy’s.

  “Love,” he whispered, meeting her eyes, “he will come back to us. Please don’t stress yourself. You need to stay calm for him and for Adam.”

  “He told me on the phone, before he left Ft.Myers, while you were in surgery…” She closed her eyes. “He told me to tell you he loves you. That if I saw you first, to tell you for him.”

  Tyler somehow managed to hold onto his composure. “All right, love. Thank you.” Talk about irony. She’d told Thomas to relay the identical message to him after Alex stabbed her.

  He kissed Tom’s hand and gently placed it on the bed, stroked him with his fingers. “Help me up, please. And call the nurse. I think Peggy and Karen should be alone with him, if they choose. I’m ready to go back to bed.”

  As Nevvie and Bob helped the nurses settle Tyler, Peggy and Karen hovered around Thomas. Finally, thirty minutes later, they came to Tyler’s bed.

  “Hiya, Blue Eyes,” Karen said, her voice much softer and more somber than normal. She leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. “You sure are a frickin' drama queen, you know that?”

  He weakly smiled. “I’m sorry I scared everyone.”

  Nevvie had sat at his side, holding his left hand, ever since he’d returned to bed. “Quit apologizing, Tyler. Next time you don’t feel good you’re getting dragged to the doctor, like it or not.”

  “Yes, love.” He looked at Peggy. “Thank you, Mom.”

  “For what, sugar?”

  “For saving my life.”

  “You think I’m letting you get outta raising my grandson, you’re off your nut.” Her tone sounded ragged but she smiled. “You just get better so you can help Nevvie with Tommy.”

  “You’d better believe it.” He squeezed Nevvie’s hand. “Did you eat today?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Go eat,” he ordered. “I’ll be here when you get back.” He gently tugged on her hand. She stood and kissed him.

  “You’d better be here.”

  “Not like I’m running a marathon this afternoon, pet.”

  Nevvie visited Thomas again before she left. She leaned over and placed a long, lingering kiss on his forehead and stroked his arm. “Come back to us, Tommy,” she softly pleaded. “Please. You have to come back to us. We love you.”

  They rode to the house in silence. Nevvie called Eddie to bring the baby home.

  Eddie arrived after Nevvie had finished eating. Bob had gone to his office but would return later, and Pete had errands to run. Karen and Peggy drove to the grocery store to get more food before April and Cheryl arrived.

  Eddie’s red eyes and puffy nose betrayed him. He handed Adam to her and smiled. “There’s Momma
, you big chub.”

  Adam babbled and grabbed Nevvie’s hair. She closed her eyes and inhaled clean baby scent. Eddie was, not counting Peggy and Karen, the world’s best babysitter. “Thank you, Eddie. I appreciate it. I don’t know what I would do without you and Pete.”

  He touched her shoulder. “Hey, you don’t ever have to worry, you know that. Whatever, whenever you need something, you say it and it’s done.”

  “You want to go say hi to them?”

  He looked at his feet. “Pete warned me maybe I shouldn’t see Tommy yet.”

  “Well, he’s out. It won’t bother him if you cry.”

  He rubbed his nose. “I don’t want to get Ty worked up.”

  “It’s okay,” she gently said. “The evil genius has assured me he won’t go into shock if we get emotional around him.”

  He sniffled. “Okay. Yeah, I’d like to see them.”

  She installed the car seat in Tyler’s Lexus and loaded the baby and his stuff. Eddie followed her to the hospital. The found Tyler sitting up in bed, dozing.

  When he heard them he opened his eyes. “Hey.”

  Eddie leaned over and gave him a careful one-armed hug. “Man, don’t you ever scare us like that again, you friggin’ jackass.”

  “Thank you for taking care of them, Eddie. You and Pete are truly the best.” He reached for the baby. Nevvie shook her head. “No, you can’t lift him yet.” She carefully laid him next to Tyler. The baby looked up at his father and smiled, softly babbled.

  “Are you sure you should bring him in here, love?”

  “I wanted him to see his daddies. I know I shouldn’t bring him in the hospital, but today I had to.”

  “It’s okay, sweet. I understand.”

  Tyler stroked the baby’s hand. Adam grabbed his finger, squeezed it. Nevvie sat next to the bed and rested her chin on her arms on the bed rail.