Nora was pacing back and forth by the doors to the operating department. Ian was seated in the waiting area but his foot could not stop shaking. Despite his usual stoic expression, he had never felt so worried about someone in his life, besides that one time when it was his grandpa.
Richard was seated in the waiting area with his head hanging low. No one wanted to disturb him especially knowing how this experience has made him feel about himself. Alex was seated a few seats away from Richard but close to Amy as she attended to a call.
"Let auntie read you a story, I'll be back later... Uh, let's do this, I'll be there when you wake up... Of course! I promise! Now be a good girl and go to bed.... Mm. I love you sweetheart, goodnight", she made kissing sounds before hanging up.
She sighed in relief as she looked up to find Amy staring at her in amusement. She had been fascinated by how Alex was coaxing Stacy. Will her little one be like Stacy not wanting to sleep without hearing his/her mommy's stories or songs?
Alex chuckled as she put her phone away, "Your time is coming."
"I'll make sure Stacy influences her cuteness on this one", she patted her belly.
"Uh.... Do you want the honest truth or should I just leave you in that bubble?"
"What truth?" Amy asked though clearly amused.
"Stacy can be cute but she can be more like Nora to a certain degree. Are you sure you want that influence on your child?" Alex raised her brows at her.
Amy fell quiet and hummed in thought. Nora was someone who was straight forward, she saw it today, that's a character she would strongly want her child to have. "There's something to like about Nora."
Someone immediately settled on a chair in front of them and looked at Amy with a hopeful gaze. Alex and Amy were buffled by the speed Nora moved from the doors to where they were seated.
"Right? What do you think of me? I'm quite a beauty, nothing compared to you but still, it's something you can work with, yeah?" Nora wiggled her brows at Amy.
"Emily let me have a word with you", Richard had suddenly appeared beside them before Amy or Alex could get a word out.
"Dad! You're ruining my chances at love!" Nora whined as she saw Amy get up.
Alex chuckled and pointed at her sister as she spoke. "Are you sure about this?"
Amy shook her head helplessly as she followed after Richard. He led them out where there was some sort of a mini park with benches to seat on, there were nice trimmed plants in different shapes, and well trimmed grass that carpeted most of the floor besides the paving stone. There were patients in hospital gowns some with their guardians others alone sitting on the benches, being wheeled around, or dragging their IV drip stand as they walked.
But Amy's eyes were on Richard who led her to a bench where he gestured for her to sit after him. Amy could not help her nerves. Did he get offended by the financial help she lent them? She saw how hesitant he was. Was he about to tell her off?
"I don't know where to start", he suddenly said. He let out a self depricating laugh as he clasped his hands together. "A man who can't help his wife when she needs him to", he looked down to hide the tears he blinked back.
"That's not true. From what I saw, you were doing everything you could for Stella. Anyone could have easily seen that. I don't think Stella would want you to look down on yourself like this", Amy patted his shoulder.
He chuckled, "You're right, she wouldn't. And you know what else? She would speak up if she was curious about something."
"Huh?"
"How did you know to come home?"
Amy looked at him. He was currently looking down at his clasped hands and his foot kept tapping on the floor. She felt bad that such a great was putting himself in such a position.
"We don't have to talk about it", she told him but he shook his head. Amy sighed before she took out her phone, unlocked it before giving him to see what was on it.
Richard took the phone. His shoulders suddenly started shaking and he quickly cupped his mouth to silence his sobs. His heart ached as he pictured his wife who was in immense pain lying at the back seat composing a text to send to Amy while he had an episode in the car.
Stella: Emily, Richard needs your help. You'll find us in the car. Please hurry.
She hadn't explain his situation but Amy sensed that something was wrong; her heart was thudding wildly in anxiousness. That's because Stella would either call or waltz into her house to deliver her message. And her fears were proved true when she saw Stella lying unconscious in the back and Richard looking as white as a sheet of paper with cold sweat on his forehead.
Amy sat still as she let the man cry his heart out. Even in such a situation, Stella looked out for him. She didn't expose his weaknesses or made him feel like so. How did he become so lucky to have such an amazing woman? He wiped his tears and passed back the phone to Amy.
"Aren't you going to ask questions? I'm sure there's a lot you want to know."
"Richard, we all have our demons that we're not ready face. We don't have to talk about it", Amy assured him.
"Did you forget the words you said not too long ago? You're not a stranger. And I'm telling you this because I want to. I know I don't owe you an explanation but I still want to."
Amy nodded. Richard let out a breath, mentally readying himself to tell her his weaknesses. He was opening up to Amy the same way he opened up to his other daughters.
"I've been a trucker for most of my life. Well, I was. I met Stella through one of my travels when I went to New Jersey", he smiled as he reminisced at the fond memory.
"Stella's from New Jersey?"
That's a thought that never crossed her mind. There was a lot she didn't know about Stella. Maybe because she never asked. Even if she didn't want to pry about certain matters, getting to know Stella as a person should be something she should do especially when she cares so much about the older woman.
Richard chuckled when he saw her surprised face. "Well, that's a story for another day and hers to tell. But yes, that's what I've been for most of my life until seven years ago. A colleague's car had broken down one night, normally we would sleep in our cars, but that day, he needed to get it fixed as soon as possible because he had urgent business in our town.
"I gave him a ride to the nearest repair shop, but it suddenly started to rain heavily. We could hardly see, most cars didn't. One moment we were blinded by strong lights approaching, and the next I was lying on the side of the road covered in blood and staring at my overturned truck. Before I could blink, it exploded right before my eyes.
"I learned later that my colleague died in that explosion. I saw how devasted his family was by his death. From that moment, get flash backs whenever I get behind the wheel. It's been a weakness I have been unable to face and now", he sighed and looked back down. "When my wife needed me, I let my fear take over."
Amy saw the shaking of his shoulders and found herself moving towards him. She opened her arms and Richard hugged her. She comforted him with a pat on his back.
Richard felt warm by her gesture. Stella is always right, Amy felt like a daughter indeed. He deeply wished she was their own from the get go. But it wasn't too late for that. Soon or later, Amy would find out about their decision.
"Dad, mom's surgery is over", Nora announced from behind them.
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