Page 84 of Death, Interrupted
Before I went to pick her up I made sure to prepare her apartment for her return. I stocked the fridge with things she liked, bought extra drinks, and cleared out anything that looked like clutter. I stripped the bedding, washed it, and put fresh sheets on the bed. I wiped down every surface, took out the trash, and left a lamp on for when she arrived. After the t-shirt accident, I wanted her to come back to a place she couldfeel safe in.
When I arrived at the hospital I parked near the entrance so she wouldn’t have to walk too far. I wanted to make this as easy as possible for her. Inside, I went up to the room and knocked softly before entering. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands folded in her lap, waiting patiently. She looked tired, but there was an energy to her face that said she wanted to get back to normal as soon as possible. Her nose was still bandaged, her left eye was still swollen and dark, but the other bruises were already fading.
The moment she saw me her eyes lit up. “Sly,” she said, her smile bright. “I’m ready to go home.”
“I can see that,” I replied with a grin. I stepped forward and stopped in front of her, then reached out to brush a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “How are you feeling, baby?”
“Better,” she told me, her eyes widening. “I’m ready to go home.” She emphasized the words this time, making me laugh.
I leaned in and kissed her gently. I kept my touch careful, aware of where she hurt. “I’ll get you home, baby.”
There was a knock at the door, and I turned to see Phoebe come in. She had a clipboard in her hands, and that same kindhearted expression on her face. She glanced at me, then looked at Sumner. “Hi, Sumner. Before you go, can I have a quick word?”
She nodded and sat up straighter. I stayed by thebed but took a step aside. Phoebe looked at both of us, then set the clipboard down on the bedside table.
“Doctor Moreau is currently in surgery so she asked me to come talk to you. We wanted to check in about follow up care,” she said. “Medically you’re stable, but with what you went through, it might help to see a psychiatrist or a therapist who has experience with trauma. Doctor Moreau has left names and numbers in here.” Phoebe pulled an envelope from the clipboard and handed it to her. “You don’t have to decide now, but we wanted to make sure you had the option.”
Sumner glanced at me and then back at Phoebe. I could see the hesitation in her face. “I’ve never done that,” she said softly. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“You don’t have to start today,” Phoebe answered. “Just know the option is there. Therapy can be practical. It’s someone who helps you sort through what happened without judgement.”
I squeezed Sumner’s hand, noticing her doubt. “You don’t have to decide now,” I told her. “We can look at it together.”
Phoebe smiled kindly. “Get home first and rest. You can call if you want me to set up an appointment. Or call the hospital desk and they can help. And if you need a referral for any follow up scans or a specialist, tell us.”
“Thank you,” Sumner said, her voice genuine. Shelooked down at the envelope, then handed it to me to put it in her hospital bag.
“You did good to get through this. Take it slow. If you need anything, we are here.”
Sumner nodded and thanked her again, and after Phoebe left the room I stood and helped Sumner to her feet. She leaned against me for a moment, and I gave her all the time she needed before we moved. I carried her bag and her jacket and opened the car door for her when we got outside.
“You want a donut?” I asked once I was in the car.
She turned her head, and I saw the surprise on her face. “What?”
“A donut. Do you want one?” I reached back and grabbed the box I got earlier.
She stared at the donuts as I opened the lid, and the confusion on her face was amusing. “You got me donuts?”
“Of course, I got you donuts. You deserve one. Actually, you deserve all six.”
She was still baffled by the simple act of me buying donuts and surprising her with them. It shouldn’t have been that surprising though, but before me, there was no one who had ever done small things like this for her. And I didn’t want to toot my own horn here…but I was pretty damn good at sweet gestures like this.
“I love you.”
I grinned at her. “I love you too. Now, take one.”
“No, Sly, I reallymean it.” She turned more toward me and gently pushed the box of donuts down to lean over and kiss my cheek. “Iloveyou. I don’t think you understand just how much.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, baby. Iknow.”
Her gaze was soft as she tilted her head to the side. “Okay, then…remember it forever, okay?”
“I will. Promise,” I told her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Now, pick one.”
I watched her closely as she decided on the one with dark chocolate on top, then she sat back with a pleased smile. But instead of biting into it, she looked at me with a serious expression. “Take one too.”
“They’re yours,” I said, ready to put the box away.