Page 68 of For Love & Torture

“I could pee. My stomach is too tense to do anything else.”

With a nod, he pats me on the back. “Care to help her go to the bathroom? Or should I get a nurse to help her? We’ll need to catch the urine in what we call a hat so we can test it.”

“I can do it. This lady and I will not be parting at all. I can’t lose her again.” I take her hand and help her up. “Point the way, Doc.”

He pushes the curtain open and points to the door across the hallway. “Right that way. Just leave the catch in the hat.”

Taking her inside the bathroom, I find her looking at me with a blush on her cheeks. “You can just turn around. I can do this on my own.”

Cocking my head to one side, I smile at her. “Baby, you and I are soon to become one.” I help pull the gown up for her and ease her down onto the toilet. She’s weak as a baby all of a sudden. “One day we’ll be in this very hospital, having our first baby. You better know I will be right there every step of the way. I’ll be bathing you, helping you do everything you need to do.”

I hear the tinkling and smile at her even though she’s blushing up a storm. “Who are you?”

With a shrug, I say, “I’m the man who loves you, baby. I’m the man you’re going to spend the rest of your life with. And now that I’m positive our souls go on, you get me for the rest of eternity too. Is that okay with you?”

There goes that bottom lip again. And here come the waterworks. “Oh, Grant…” She’s so overcome that she can’t do anything but let the sobs wreak havoc on her body.

I pull out all the stops and wrap some toilet paper around my hand and wipe her dry. I hate that she’s crying as I do it, but love that she’s letting me. “I love you, Bell. My sweet little Bell. Forever and always.”

I give her one soft kiss then help her up. She wraps her arms around my neck, her sobs finally turning to little sniffles, and kisses my cheek. “I love you, Grant. I do. I never want to lose you.”

“Then you never will.” Scooping her up, I carry her back to the hospital bed and lay her down. Then I pull the blanket up to cover her. “Let’s get this taken care of, then I’m taking you home and holding you until we both feel better.”

With a nod, she agrees, and I take a seat on the edge of her bed.

I can see our future and know it’s bright.