A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel

by E. Ayers

  Trent nodded.

  Buck repeated much of what he had told Trent. Cassie listened and then whispered to Trent, “I think it is much like what they said about the surgery. Anything can go wrong for any reason, but that doesn’t mean it will. The worst is over.”

  “Is it ever over?”

  “I think you’re right. As a parent, you’ll always worry about your son. You just need to let him live a normal life.”

  “Cassie is right. It’s going to be hard to let go and allow him to be a little boy,” Buck said, as he hung up the phone.

  Two doctors wandered into the room and Buck introduced them.

  Trent stood and then offered his hand to Cassie. “I think we should leave.”

  Cassie took Trent's hand and then gave Buck Zaro a one-armed hug. “Thanks for what you’ve done. We appreciate everything you've told us.”

  ***

  Robin Callahan was waiting in Shawn’s room. Trent frowned when he saw her and was obviously upset. He sat in a chair and ignored her.

  Cassie sensed the tension between them. “Mrs. Callahan, Shawn will be coming up in a few minutes.”

  “He’s out of surgery?”

  “Yes. The surgery is considered successful, but Shawn is still in danger. They have him in a chemical induced coma to allow him to heal peacefully. They also want it very quiet in here. He looks horrible with all sorts of tubes, including a thing in his neck that’s like an IV, and a--”

  “Don’t bother.” Trent hissed. “If she wants info, she can attend the press conference at three. She doesn’t need to be here. So get out.”

  Cassie sucked in her lower lip and bit it. “Trent, she is his grandmother, and she loves him, too.”

  “I don’t care,” Trent forcefully murmured.

  “Mrs. Callahan, please follow me. This is stressful for all of us.”

  Trent glared at her.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  She led the woman down the hall towards the small playroom.

  “Please, Mrs. Callahan, I’m not sure exactly what happened between you and your son, but I have a feeling it started long before I was part of the picture. He’s upset with you for Shawn thinking this surgery was going to kill him.”

  “That’s insane. I’ve never said anything such as that to him.”

  “Maybe you didn’t have to say it to him. Children are very intuitive, and it is possible that he’s overheard you voicing your concerns to someone else.”

  Robin shook her head as if in disbelief.

  “Here he comes.” Cassie stepped into the hallway and stopped the man pushing the gurney. “Please, give his grandmother a second to see him.”

  Robin looked at the child and burst into tears. Cassie motioned for the team to continue on their journey to Shawn’s room. Robin was leaning against the wall and looked very pasty.

  “Come, sit.”

  The woman didn’t move and Cassie wondered what she should do. Her heart went out to the woman who had helped raise Shawn, and loved him as much as Trent. Cassie reached out, touched Robin’s arm, and then hugged the woman.

  “Is he going to make it?” She blurted out between sobs.

  “He’s in God’s hands. The doctors have done their part, and they are thrilled with his surgery. Now, Shawn needs to heal.” She let go of Robin and hunted for a box of tissues. “Here.” She handed the box to Trent’s mother. “I can’t do much with Trent when we can’t exactly talk, and he’s too stressed out to handle the situation between the two of you.”

  “Things were fine until you came along.”

  “I doubt that, but I hate to see this riff between the two of you.” She didn’t like standing in the hallway discussing this. “If there is any change with Shawn, I will call you.”

  “Thank you. I’ll be working in the admissions office until eleven.”

  Cassie nodded. “I promise, I’ll call. I doubt we will know anything until tomorrow. I’ll keep you informed.”

  The woman nodded and walked away, leaving Cassie feeling very torn. She felt sorry for the woman, yet she knew this was a bigger problem than one that would be solved with a few kind words. She took a deep breath, and went to Shawn’s room.

  Trent stood in a far corner watching several people working on Shawn. She stood next to his injured shoulder and wrapped her arm around his back. She was more than aware that Trent was testy when he was in pain, and he hated taking pain medications. Add to it, the strain of Shawn’s surgery. The way Trent had pressed his lips together, and his partially hooded eyes, told her that he was teetering on the edge of losing it completely.

  Slowly, the hospital staff began to leave the room, except for one young male. He stood quietly, watching the monitors, and looking over several computer printouts.

  He turned and introduced himself.

  “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Anon,” Cassie said, extending her hand.

  He motioned for them to follow him into the hallway.

  “We don’t want any stimulus. We want complete quiet. I’m sure you want to be here with your son, but we’d prefer that you weren’t. If you want to see him, do it from this side of the glass. Go home and come back this evening for a few minutes. I will call you if there is any change. He’s in a deep sleep, and we want him to stay that way.”

  “I need to get my purse and a few things from the room.”

  “That’s fine. Do it quietly. It's imperative that he has complete quiet.”

  ~~23~~

  Getting Trent out of the hospital was not easy, but in the comfort of Cassie’s apartment, he stretched his legs out and turned on the TV. She fixed her bed so he could nap in a more upright position.

  “I don’t want to take a nap. I’m not sleepy.”

  “You don’t have to sleep. Just try to relax and rest your shoulder.”

  “This cast is killing my back.”

  “Where?”

  He reached around with his good arm and pointed. She lifted his shirt and looked. The skin did look raw where the cast ended.

  “Maybe I could tuck something there to cushion that edge.” She looked in her drawers and found an old cotton tee shirt. She cut a strip off the bottom and tucked it under the edge.

  Trent moved a little and it fell out.

  She cut a wider strip, folded it, and tucked it further under the cast. “Try again.”

  This time it held.

  “Okay, now go get comfortable, if that is possible.”

  “It’s not,” he grumbled.

  She helped him out of his jeans and sneakers and then refolded the quilt to give him more cushioning behind his back.

  He stretched out on the bed. “Oh, yeah, this is much better.” He eased his shoulders into the pillows she had stacked in front of the quilt.

  “Oh, I don’t think that’s quite enough.” She grabbed a cushion off the sofa and brought it in. “Sit up.”

  She stuffed the cushion behind the quilt and then repositioned the pillows.

  “Now try it.”

  He eased back as he slowly exhaled. “Almost perfect.”

  “What can I do to make it perfect?”

  A sly smile spread over Trent’s face. “If my son were healthy and well, and you were naked, it would be perfect.”

  “Naked I can handle, but I doubt either one of us is really that interested.”

  “True, but I’ll take a kiss.”

  ***

  Cassie leaned over Trent and kissed him. Her warm, sweet lips pressed to his, as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her to him until she lost her balance and almost fell onto him. “Sex is the furthest thing from my mind, but your love for Shawn and me has been a huge comfort.” He held her tight. “I’m sorry that I’ve been such a wimp.”

  She rolled off of him and sat on the edge of the bed. “Why would you say that? You’ve done very well.”

  “Men aren’t supposed to cry.”

  “I’d seriously wonder about a man who couldn’t show his emotions.” She got up and
brought him a box of tissues. “I think most men cry. They just try not to do it publicly.” She leaned into him and gave him another kiss.

  There was no perfume, just her natural scent. Her warm body and her soft lips pressed to his.

  “M-m-m, I’ve fallen for an older woman, and I’m in love.”

  “I’m glad you’re in love, but please don’t remind me that I’m older.”

  He grinned. “Yeah, you’re older, wiser, and better educated.”

  She glared at him and then giggled. “Get some rest.”

  He watched her leave the room and close the door. His mind was spinning with images of Shawn lying on the hospital bed, his mother expecting to see her grandson, and Cassie’s sweet kiss. But it was the image of Shawn lying there with tubes running everywhere and monitors all around him, that sent talons into Trent's heart. He's made it this far. Please don't let him die.

  ***

  Cassie and Trent sat quietly, waiting for the doctor to make his morning rounds. They had both noticed the difference in Shawn’s coloring. Instead of being pale white, he seemed to have a pink glow about him.

  Cassie saw Dallas Nixon and tiptoed out of the room. “Hi. You’re an early bird.”

  “I didn’t think I’d be able to get up here. Fortunately, I know some back stairways. How’s he doing?”

  “We don’t know. He looks so much better than he did yesterday. We came last night and sat for hours. This morning we’re supposed to meet with his doctor.”

  “How’s Trent doing?”

  “Very well, under the circumstances. He’s had his moments.”

  “Here.” Dallas handed Cassie the newspaper. “Might want to check the front page. At least they didn’t use your name.”

  Cassie unfolded the newspaper and quickly scanned the front page. Shawn’s surgery was the headline and under that was an article about the museum and its financial situation.

  Dallas grinned. “Seems someone is taking a very hard look at the museum. Whose arm have you been twisting?”

  “Me? Seems you guys had Jim yesterday for hours.”

  “Not us. Ken Lyles wrote that article.”

  Cassie smiled at her friend. “Thanks for bringing this to me.”

  Dallas looked into the room. “Did you find the name of the artist?”

  Cassie shook her head.

  “Check the planks on the ship. That boy’s got some talent. You should see his computer animations.” Dallas smiled at a nurse passing them. “I’ve got to run. I know I’m not supposed to be here.”

  “Thanks for the newspaper.”

  “I’ve got my fingers crossed for Shawn.”

  Cassie smiled as she watched Dallas walk down the hall. Movement at the nurses’ station caught her attention, and she realized Dr. Ramsey was there.

  ***

  When Dr. Ramsey came into Shawn’s room, Trent stood and watched the doctor as he checked Shawn. “How’s he doing?”

  “Just fine. We’re going to discontinue the one medication. We want him to stay quiet, so we’re going to keep him somewhat sedated. He’ll be awake, but groggy. We want him to wake up. You may resume normal conversation or watch the TV.”

  Trent nodded, wishing he understood more. He knew Dr. Ramsey was top-notch, but the man never really explained much.

  Cassie asked, “Will he be awake enough to talk, eat, and use the bathroom?”

  “He’ll be on liquids and soft foods today. Tomorrow I’ll let him get up. He’s got to stay quiet.”

  Dr. Ramsey left the room, and Shawn’s nurse came in a few minutes later.

  He watched the nurse fiddle with several buttons on a box connected to Shawn’s IV’s, and then wordlessly she left.

  “So strange, they never really say what they are doing,” Cassie said in a whisper.

  “I know, and it drives me nuts.”

  Cassie went back to whatever she was doing on her computer, forcing him to stare at the pirate murals on the walls. He wondered what it would have been like to grow up in a room filled with spaceships and other galaxies. Fuel for the imagination.

  He flexed his swollen fingers. Maybe if my shoulder had been properly fixed back then, I wouldn’t be going through this now. He shifted in his seat and drew in a breath as pain seared where the cast cut into his skin.

  “You okay?”

  “It’s the cast. The shoulder is just a dull ache.”

  She put her computer to one side and went to him. “Lean forward.”

  Her fingers were cool against his skin as she raised his shirt.

  “You’ve got a problem. You’re raw and weepy. You will see Dr. Amory today.”

  She picked up the phone in the room and asked for Dr. Amory’s office.

  “No, you don’t understand. Next week is not soon enough. He needs to be seen today.” “Fine, have Dr. Amory call room 2262.” “Yes, he’s here in the hospital. His son has had heart surgery.”

  A smile spread across his face as he watched the flush of anger rise to her cheeks. She wasn’t a woman who hid her emotions.

  “Little nitwit!” Cassie spat in a whisper.

  He chuckled. “What makes you think he’s going to call me? I’m just another orthopedic patient. I go back in three weeks, just like anyone else.”

  “I don’t think so! Not with what you have going on back there.”

  Shawn stirred.

  Trent flew to his feet and stood next to his son. He took the child’s hand in his and gave it a little squeeze. “Hey, Shawn, Daddy’s here.”

  There was movement behind Shawn’s eyes as if he was trying to open them and had forgotten how.

  Cassie smiled as she ran her fingers through Shawn’s blond locks. “Hi, sweetie, are you going to wake up?”

  Shawn’s legs moved, and his hand went to his face as a little groan escaped.

  Trent leaned over and kissed his son’s forehead. “You’ve been sleeping since yesterday.”

  Shawn’s eyes fluttered open, but it was as if he didn’t really see anyone.

  “Surgery is over, you’re going to be fine.”

  Shawn pulled the oxygen line from his nose.

  “Better leave that alone. It’s just air they are giving you.” Cassie fitted the tube to his nostrils.

  “Un-ah.” Shawn protested and went to grab for the tubing. His little foot kicked and a monitor started beeping.

  “Excuse me, the nurse said, as she reached past Trent to the monitor and silenced it. “Hi, Shawn. It’s over. Time to wake up.”

  Shawn pulled the tube from his nose and grunted.

  “Shawn, you need to leave that in place.” The nurse replaced it and Shawn immediately removed it.

  Cassie took Shawn’s hand. “Must he wear it? I mean, if it bothers him and he’s more comfortable without it…”

  The nurse glared at Cassie. “We are trying to do everything for him.”

  Cassie glared back and then pointed to the monitor. “If this is his oxygen saturation, then why not leave it off and see if it drops. If it doesn’t, then he obviously doesn’t need additional oxygen.”

  “I’ll check with the doctor, but until then he can wear it.”

  The nurse put it back on the child, and he instantly pulled it off.

  Trent took the tube from his son’s hand. “Please, check with the doctor.”

  Shawn reached up and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. Then that same hand ran down his neck to the tubing. Trent caught it.

  “NO!” Shawn yelled.

  “Sweetie, open your eyes.”

  Shawn responded by kicking the sheet off of him, thus setting off the monitor. Cassie grabbed his legs while Trent held his son’s hands.

  “Good morning, I’m Dr. Sanjay Anwar. I’m an intensivist. Shawn isn’t very happy. I’ve ordered something else for him.” Dr Anwar reached past Trent, opened Shawn’s eyes, and flashed a small penlight across them. “Has he ever taken a cold medicine and it made him hyper?”

  “He was given something as a b
aby when he had an ear infection and he screamed for hours.”

  Dr. Anwar nodded. “That’s what I suspected. I’m going to restrain him for a while, until we can get another medicine in his system and this one leaves.”

  The doctor took the restraints from the nurse and gently tied Shawn’s wrists and ankles to the bedrails. “Okay, you can’t kick or get to any of your lines. This is just going to be for a little while.” He looked at the old dinosaur and the fuzzy bear. “Hand me his favorite stuffed animal.”

  Shawn wailed.

  “Shh, no reason to scream. Here’s your dinosaur.” The doctor tucked it next to Shawn’s chest so the head was across the boy’s shoulder. “Nothing wrong with his lungs.”

  “What’s wrong with his heart?” Trent asked.

  “You mean this line?” Dr. Anwar pointed to the monitor.

  “Yes.”

  Dr. Anwar chuckled. “Nothing, just means he’s screaming his head off. Why don’t you two walk down the hall? I’ll sit here with him and see if I can calm him down. I’m waiting until we can get the old med flushed out and then we can get the new one into his system.”

  Cassie turned to Trent. “Let’s go find a cup of coffee.”

  “No. Dr. Amory might call.”

  “Dr. Amory?” Dr Anwar asked. “You have a problem?”

  Trent said nothing, so Cassie did. “Yes. The cast has rubbed a raw area on his back.”

  “I’ll have you paged if you stay on this floor.”

  Trent frowned as Cassie gave him a little push towards the door.

  ~~24~~

  Once out of the room, Trent and Cassie took a deep breath. From the other side of the glass, they could see Dr. Anwar talking to Shawn and his screams were more muffled, but they hadn’t subsided.

  Cassie wrapped her arm around Trent’s waist and leaned against him. The warmth of his body and his natural scent fueled a need that she had to push aside. He slipped his arm over her shoulder and held her tight. She looked up at him, only to find he was staring down at her. She noted that the tension seemed to leave his body.

  “Let’s go find some coffee,” she said in a low voice. "This is nothing more than a drug-induced temper tantrum."