Preview 2

Here is a chapter from the next installment “A Son’s Anguish”

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Bill paced in the lobby while they got Julie admitted. He was waiting to go back with her when the rest of the family came in. “How are you doing?” Brittany asked him.

“I’m fine. I just want this to be over and for her to be home.”

“I know,” she rubbed his back.

“You can go in now,” the nurse came out and smiled at Bill.

“Oh, right,” he smiled and looked at the family.

“Go, we’ll come in a few minutes,” Brittany said.

He nodded and walked into the room. His heart jumped when he saw her, the IV running in her arm and the machines making noises. He walked assuredly to her, a smile on his face.

“Hi,” he sat down and took her hand in his.

She smiled, immediately better because he was there. “Hi. I asked them why they were making such a big fuss over a biopsy, but they said because of my issues, it was better to be prepared.” She shrugged. “I’m not sure what they are preparing for.”

He smoothed her hair off of her forehead. “We can ask Tommy, but I’m sure they are just doing their job. They know they are working on the most important person here, so they have spared no expense.”

She grinned. “Thank you for last night; and this morning. I really enjoyed myself.”

He blushed. “Really? I didn’t notice.”

She laughed and reached to touch his cheek. “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine.”

“I know. I’m not worried. I’m a soldier; built to handle the weight of the world.”

She eyed him and he rolled his eyes. “Okay, you’re right, but I’m okay. I know you’ll be fine.”

“Knock knock,” Jack said as the whole family stood at the door.

Julie waved. “Come in,” she watched as Bill moved to stand out of the way.

“How are you doing? Any questions?” Stephanie asked her.

“I don’t think so. The doctor said if he saw something when he takes the biopsy, he might fix it right then. I don’t know what they might find, but I’m all for fixing it,” Julie smiled at them. “Why are you both so nervous?”

Tommy and Jack looked at each other. “It’s not me, Jack is having trouble. You know how sensitive he gets.”

Jack glared at Tommy. “Right. I’m the baby.”

“You said it, not me,” Tommy crossed his arms.

“Very mature jackass,” Jack said.

“Both of you, stop it,” Julie rolled her eyes. “It’s amazing I grew up with any brain cells left having to listen to this for so many years.”

Stephanie grinned at them. “You guys are just too cute.”

They all looked up as the doctor walked in. “Are we ready to go?”

Julie nodded. “Can I talk to my husband one more time alone?”

“Of course,” the doctor walked out and Stephanie and Brittany walked over to kiss her, followed by Jack and Tommy who kissed her forehead and held her head for a minute before walking out.

Bill walked to the bed and sat down facing her. She sat up and took his hands in hers. “I love you.”

He nodded. “I love you too.”

“Listen to me for a minute. I’m going to be fine, but if anything happens.”

“Stop this, Jules. I don’t want to hear any talk like that,” he said, his voice catching in his throat.

“I need you to be okay. I need for you to know how proud I am to be your wife and how honored I am to have you as the father of our children. I just love you so much. I’ll love you forever.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly. “Feel me in there with you my love. I am fighting with you.

“Always,” she leaned back and he kissed her softly.

“It’s time,” the nurse said and Bill held her hand while they unhooked the bed and wheeled her out. He let go and watched her disappear behind the double doors.

“Come on back with us,” Brittany broke through his thoughts.

“Huh? Oh, right, okay,” he said and followed her back to the lobby.

They all waited in silence. The minutes ticked by and then it was almost an hour. Soon it was over an hour and Tommy stood up.

“I’m going to go see how it’s going.”

“I’ll go with you,” Jack said.

“Both of you need to sit down,” Stephanie said.

“Do you think something is wrong? Should they have been done by now?” Bill asked quietly.

Brittany was sitting next to him and she shook her head. “No. There is no reason to think anything is wrong.”

They looked up as the doctor walked out in a rush. “I need to talk to you,” he said to Bill.

“Please talk to all of us,” he said.

“We found what has been causing the issues with your wife’s kidneys. There is a large amount of scar tissue, which has built up from her previous injury, most likely exacerbated from her recent pregnancy. The scar tissue is impeding on the blood flow to the kidney, and has resulted in the left kidney completely shutting down. From what we can see, there is something underneath the tissue as well.”

“What do you mean ‘something’?” Bill asked.

“It’s possible it is more scare tissue, or it could be a mass.”

“Oh God,” he said and faltered. Brittany held his arm.

“We need to go in and remove the kidney and clean the area as much as we can. Hopefully that will help the other kidney to restore full function. I would like to go in now and do that.”

“Is it dangerous?” Bill asked.

“The kidneys are very vascular organs, and their close proximity to the liver is precarious, but we have an excellent team here and will do our best to get her through this.”

“I’m scrubbing in,” Tommy said.

“No. I do not want either one of you in the room. You are too close to the patient and I will not have any distractions in my OR. I would like to request Dr. Stephens to assist.”

Stephanie nodded. “Of course. I’ll go get ready.”
Jack and Tommy couldn’t argue with that, although they wanted to be there. Stephanie walked to Bill and hugged him. “Try not to worry.”

He nodded. “Please help her.”

She smiled and walked to kiss Jack before turning to go to the OR. The doctor sighed. “I’ll let you know when we know anything.”

They all watched as he walked away. Bill wondered if his life was over.