Free Fragile Hearts by Colleen Clay Page B

place four days ago and
she just came out of intensive care last night. I saw her for a few minutes.
She can have visitors for short periods of time. I'll drive you there."
    I nod. "Can we go now?"
    "Do you want to finish your classes first?"
    "No."
    "I understand. Wait here and I'll get my
truck."

17:
Hospital Visit
     
    The smell inside the hospital makes me want to
wretch. After my accident, I spent months in the hospital and later in a
long-term care facility. I push memories aside and follow Tyce to the third
floor. We enter a room and again, I want to throw up when I see Lucy hooked up
to machines monitoring her vitals and tubes dripping solutions into her veins.
Her eyes are closed.
    Quietly, Tyce and I approach her bed. My
wheelchair makes a sound and she opens her eyes. Although she looks pale and
weak, a huge smile breaks forth. I stifle a sob, but can't stop tears from
leaking.
    Lucy's first words are, "They told me Kaylee
is doing great."
    I reach a finger to touch Lucy's hand. "Why
didn't you tell us?"
    She grins, "Because you're both worry
warts."
    Tyce pulls a chair to the other side of her bed.
"Still, that's no excuse," he scolds, but softens his words with a
smile. He reaches to brush a strand of hair from Lucy's forehead.
    Lucy sighs. "Tyce, if anyone but Morgan
owned your heart, I'd try to steal it."
    Tyce frowns and I quickly say, "Those are
some crazy drugs they've got you on."
    Lucy chuckles, "Yeah. Before you came in, I
was dreaming I was stomping around in that vat of grapes with Lucille Ball."
She yawns. "Did you ever see that episode?"
    I laugh softly. "I did."
    Lucy closes her eyes and says, "I think Lucy
is calling me back to the vineyards. Sorry to be so rude, but I can't keep my
eyes open."
    I glance across the bed at Tyce. He nods toward
the door indicating we should leave.
    As we walk down the hall, I ask, "Will Kaylee
ever know that Lucy is the one who saved her life?"
    "I'm not sure."
    "What floor is Kaylee on?"
    "She's on the fifth floor. I tried to get
in to see her last night, but the ward is blocked to visitors. They don't want
to take the chance of anyone spreading germs to the patients."
    "Are Kaylee's parents with her?"
    "Julie said they were both here for the
surgery, but her dad left after a couple of days to go overseas."
    "At least she has her mother here."
    "Maybe for a short time only. Julie said
Mrs. Ventura doesn't do well in this atmosphere and expects she'll leave as
soon as Kaylee is released to a regular room."
    "I can't imagine a mother leaving her
daughter like that. Why, when I was hospitalized, my mother and father camped
out in my room, literally. The staff brought folding cots for them to sleep
on."
    We reach the elevator and I glance up at Tyce.
His jaw is clenched and when his eyes meet mine, he quickly looks away. I
suppose he's as upset about Kaylee's parents' disregard for their daughter as I
am.
    The elevator ride is quiet, as is the truck ride
back to my dorm. Unexpectedly, Tyce asks if I want to stop at The Coffee Mug.
Even though I'm reluctant to be with him—not because I don't want to be, but
because my heart is breaking—I say yes.
    We go through the usual motions of him
retrieving my wheelchair from the back of his truck and then lifting me into
it. I love his smell as he holds me against his chest. I wish Lucy's words were
true about me owning his heart. He seems to hold me longer than necessary, but
I decide it's only my imagination.
    I push the wheelchair lever and steer across the
parking lot. Tyce steps in front of me to open the door. Because school is
still in session, there aren't many patrons in the coffee shop. I order a frozen
coffee drink and reach for my purse. Tyce places his hand over mine. "I've
got it." Then he grins and says, "I thought you didn't like
coffee?"
    Sheepishly, I say, "I lied. I love
coffee."
    We find a table in a corner and wait for our
orders to be called. I make conversation by asking Tyce when he's going to
visit Lucy