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CHAPTER
70
Lily
As I sat here, waitingfor the doctor to return to us with more news, I couldn't bear being near anyone, knowing that it was because of some of them that Brice and Vance were here fighting for their lives. If they didn't make it... I didn't know how I could ever forgive my father for sending them away the way he did. I did know for certain that I would never forgive Vitale let alone marry him, it was then that it dawned on me. Looking up at my father, I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. “I'm so sorry for what you had to do today, Papa.” I whispered in his ear. “No parent should ever have to choose between their children the way Camilla forced you to do today.”
“Thank you baby girl, but I will never forgive myself for creating the monster that she became. It's because of me she turned out the way she did. You, you’re a good girl, you’re not like her because your Momma raised you to be better than the family you were raised in. A better person than me or your sister. I knew when she was a teen that I had been too much of an idol in her eyes. I destroyed the woman she could have been with this world, but not you, your Momma made sure of that. She wouldn't allow me to make the same mistakes with you that I made with Camilla.”
“Papa, I do love you, so much, but Camilla chose her own path, she could have been a good person, she just chose not to be. That doesn't mean I won't ever think of the sister who I used to go horseback riding with or play hide-n-seek with. I'll miss who she was, not who she became.”
With tears in his eyes, he pulled me in tight. “Oh baby girl, I'm so sorry for everything, including making those two men in there leave the way I did. Those two men who gave their lives so selfishly for you and your mother. I will forever be in their debt for that, nor will I ever be able to re-pay them for what they did for me today, but I’m going to try.” He finished just as his phone rang. Looking down at it, kissed my forehead. “I need to take this I'll be right back.”
I moved back over to my corner spot with my legs curled into my body for what seemed like hours when I heard a gravelly voice call my name as if he were struggling to keep an even tone in it. I looked up to see Carter and Hudson walking into the waiting room and all the tears that had finally dried up came pouring out all over again as I ran into Carter’s arms, hugging him tightly.
After I'd given them an update on Vance and Brice, I introduced him and Hudson to my parents’. I could see the glare in their eyes that they gave my father, knowing he was partly responsible for the chain of events that took place today. The doctors entering the room cut off our conversations instantly as we all waited with hope filling our hearts that the news was good.
The first doctor spoke up, breaking the heavy silence. “We were able to repair the damage to Mr. Martinez’s lung and he's resting comfortably now. He will however need to stay here for the next five to six days and go through some physical therapy to rebuild the strength of his lung again, but pending no infections, he should make a full recovery.”
Running up to the doctor, I gripped his hand tightly. “Thank you so much, you have no idea how thankful we all are.” Looking to the other doctor I asked. “And what about Brice? Is he going to be okay, too?”
“There were a few complications during his surgery, and we did lose him.” My mind began to splinter apart at his words that Brice was gone, but before I could completely fall apart, I heard his next words. “But we were able to bring him back and finish the repair to his heart. So just like Mr. Martinez, pending no infections, he should be able to leave the hospital within a week or so, give or take.”
With wobbly legs, I reached out and took the other doctor’s hand in mine. “Thank you so much.” Releasing him I looked up at the both of them. “Thank you both so very much. When will we be able to see them?”
“I'd say in about an hour. The nurses need to get them moved to the recovery rooms and all of their IV’s and everything else hooked up to monitor their conditions and then someone will come out to get you. Only three people at time will be allowed in there, though.”
“Thank you, doctor,” Carter said as him and Hudson each shake the doctors hands and then hug one another before opening their arms and including me in their hug. “Fuck, I need to call and tell everyone that they're going to be okay.” Carter announced, breaking the hug.
“You call Porter and Tanner, I'll get a hold of Kelan.” Hudson told him as I walked back over to my chair and just melted into it with an exhaustion running through my body like I had never felt before.
“Lillian.”
Looking up, I saw Vitale standing over me. “What, Vitale? I'm a little worn out right now.”
“I know, I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for the way things turned out. I’ve never wanted to see you in that kind of pain, and I hope I never have to again.”
Trying to figure out the hidden meaning to his words, my brain was just so fried that I couldn't even begin to decipher them
so I just answered the only thing I could think of. “Thank you.”
“Now that I know they're going to be okay I need to get going. I have a few meetings to attend.” Not really caring whether he's here or not, I just nodded as my answer. “Goodbye Lillian.”
Why did that just sound so much like a final goodbye?
Feeling the comfort of my mother’s arms around me, she hugged me tight. “How are you holding up over here?”
“Much better now that I know they're going to be okay, but I'm so tired. All I want to do right now is crawl into a bed between the two of them and sleep for a whole week and feel them with me.”
“I have to go baby girl, but I'll be back later, okay? You should really get some rest.” My father interrupted, walking over to us.
“I will Papa, I will. I just need to see them for myself first and know that they're really okay.”
“Donna.” I heard my father say.
“I'll be right back, dear. I'm just going to talk with your father for a second.”
“Okay.” I told her as Carter and Hudson came to take the vacant seats by my side.
“You holding up over here?” Carter questioned as they took the chairs on either side of me.
“I will be once I'm in their arms again,” I leaned into Carters chest. “I love them both so much.”
“I know you do.” Were the last words I heard as the exhaustion took hold of me, pulling me under.
