Previously…

“I just… I just love her so much,” I admitted, tears rolling down my cheeks once again. “I love her more than anything in the world, and I need her to be okay. I need her to wake up. Do you hear that, Bette? Wake up for me, baby. I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. Please, Bette, please come back to me. I’m so sorry, for everything.”

I choked back the tears and placed a hand gently on her cheek. “I love you, Bette.”

I kissed her forehead softly, trying not to jar or disturb her, and sat back in my chair. I reached for a Kleenex and wiped the tears away, then looked up at Leslie. She had tears in her eyes as well, and as I handed her the box of Kleenex, I heard a soft but unmistakable noise from Bette’s bed. A noise I’ve heard many times but could never tire of, especially not now. It was soft, simple, and sweet, but I knew then that everything would be okay.

“T…”

* * * * * * * * * *

“Oh my God,” I said, gasping and looking at Bette.

Her eyes were slowly opening and she was rolling her head over to face me. I instinctively went to her and held her face gently in my hands. She tried to speak again but I put a finger on her lips to quiet her, not wanting her to strain herself as she started to come to.

“Shh,” I said to her, our eyes locked on each other. “Don’t talk.”

“I’m going to grab the doctor,” Leslie said, her eyes wide at Bette’s fast recovery.

As Leslie sped out of the room, I turned back to Bette… my Bette… my beautiful, hurting, loving, amazing Bette. She managed a weak smile as her heavy eyes struggled to stay open.

“You’re gonna be fine,” I told her in a hushed voice. “Don’t worry, Bette. I’m gonna be right here and I’m gonna take care of you.”

“I… I…” Bette tried to say. “Please, baby,” I said, stopping her, “don’t talk. The doctor will be in here in a minute, just save your strength, okay?”

I searched Bette’s eyes, trying to see the depths of her soul and understand what she was trying to say to me. I didn’t want her to talk for fear that she’d wear herself out before the doctor could even get to her. As I stared into those deep, brown eyes of hers, I saw that look that I once knew so well, the look that told me everything I needed to know, the look that Bette gave to me and me alone. I smiled as a tear of joy slipped from my eye.

“I know, baby,” I said softly. “I love you, too.”

Bette’s expression softened and the corners of her mouth turned up into a sweet smile. Just then, the doctor and Leslie came barging back into the room, both of them wearing expressions of shock and disbelief.

“Bette, I’m Dr. Taylor,” the doctor said as he approached Bette’s bed. “You were in an accident. Do you know where you are?”

Bette looked over at me with pleading eyes, and I reached over for her hand to comfort her. I knew she was scared, and I tried to calm all of her insecurities and fears and worries in one gentle squeeze of her hand. I nodded at her, prodding her to talk to the doctor so he could examine her.

“Hos… hospital,” Bette stuttered with a scratchy and shaky voice.

“That’s right,” Dr. Taylor said, nodding. “Mercy Hospital. You were brought here about fifteen hours ago and we had to perform some emergency surgery when you were first wheeled in.”

I watched Bette’s reaction as Dr. Taylor explained her condition, and her eyes filled with fear as he mentioned the surgery.

“You’re fine now, though, baby,” I reassured her, not even knowing if it was true but feeling the need to give her some good news. I gently stroked her cheek with the back of my hand, and I noticed her expression soften once again. She looked back up at the doctor and nodded her head slightly, telling him to continue.

“I need to run a few tests,” Dr. Taylor continued, “but it’s simply amazing that you’ve come out of this so quickly. I really have every hope that you’re going to have a full and speedy recovery.”

Bette smiled weakly and I felt her lightly squeeze my hand. Her eyes were drooping and she struggled to keep them open.

“Okay,” Dr. Taylor spoke up, “I’m going to start running these tests now, while we still have you awake and alert.” He turned to me and locked eyes with me. “I’m sorry, Tina, but I’m going to have to ask you to step out for a moment.”

“No,” I replied sternly. “I’m not leaving her.”

“Why don’t you get a cup of coffee,” Dr. Taylor suggested, “and tell your friends that Bette is awake. This will take a half hour, tops.”

I looked over at Bette, who was pleading with her eyes for me to stay. It broke my heart to have to leave her, but I knew that it was best for Bette’s recovery if I wasn’t around to distract her while the doctor ran the tests. She needed to be able to fully focus on what he was doing, and I didn’t need to be in the way. Begrudgingly, I sighed and nodded.

“I’ll be back soon,” I told Bette, “I promise you. I’m not going far.”

I leaned down and kissed her forehead softly, then moved my lips over to her cheek. Our eyes locked and I wanted nothing more than to climb into that hospital bed with her and hold her, protect her from the hurt and the pain and comfort her the way she needed to be comforted. But instead, I settled on a soft and sweet kiss on the lips, the first time in months that I felt her mouth on mine. No matter how much time or hurt feelings or anger had passed since our last kiss, it still felt as electric and passionate as our very first kiss, and I knew that this was truly my home.

“I love you,” I whispered into her ear before backing away from the bed.

Turning to Dr. Taylor and Leslie, I swallowed the lump of emotions that were taking up permanent residence in my throat and took a deep breath. “Promise to take care of my baby while I’m gone.”

It was more of a command than a request, and they both nodded as I walked out of the room. Once the door had closed behind me, I leaned my back against the wall of the corridor and closed my eyes, trying to absorb all that had just happened. In the past hour, I had gone through every single emotion known to man: residual anger from Bette’s betrayal, twisting pain in my stomach when I heard the news from Alice, fear, worry, anxiety, confusion, heart-break, sadness, hope, and – finally – love.

“She’s gonna be okay,” I whispered to myself, smiling. With a light heart and a bounce in my step, I headed to the lobby to find the girls and tell them the good news.

(TBC…)