Read Online Meeting Destiny by Nancy Straight - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nancy Straight
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straight into my eyes as he delivered his message.
“ This is your absolute, very last warning. Go home now while we are still on speaking terms. Stay any longer and I’ll call the nurse.”
“ You’re acting like a child. Grow up.”
With the fury I felt pulsating through me with every heartbeat, I pressed the, “call the nurse” button on the bed’s remote and waited for her to arrive.
A nurse came into my room, “Yes, Dear.”
In as syrupy sweet tone as I could manage, I responded directly to her, “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I am unable to get my visitor to leave. Would you mind taking him off my visitor list and asking security to get him out of my room?”
Seth’s eyes were ablaze, and if there had been any doubt, it was obvious this really was our first fight. I knew he thought I was bluffing, and when I so pleasantly requested his forcible removal, I could see he finally was taking me seriously. The nurse wasn’t certain whether this was some kind of a joke or if I was serious. “Lauren, are you sure? Seth has been here nearly every moment since you got here.”
Seth turned to the nurse and asked, “Give us a minute?”
The nurse looked at me, not wanting to get in the middle of our quarrel. I stayed stoic, not wanting to acknowledge that even a minute was acceptable. She nervously told him, “Seth, I think just a minute, go ahead and say your goodbyes.”
“ I know you’re in pain, and I really think you are striking out at the wrong people. Your mom doesn’t deserve this treatment and neither do I. If you want to play the ‘poor little me’ card, I’m only too happy to let you wallow in your grief.”
“ I’m not playing that card; in fact, I was defending my actions to my mom when she told me how selfish I was by jumping over the counter. I would have to say that my action is likely the least selfish thing I’ve done my whole life. So don’t pretend that you have any idea what happened between her and me. How long have you known her? How many times has she embellished a situation to make herself look like the good guy? A lot right? So when I tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about, I mean you don’t know what you are talking about!!”
Seth gave no response, but I knew I had struck a chord.
“ You know I’m right, so why automatically assume I’m the melodramatic one?”
“ I don’t think you’re being melodramatic, but I kind of agree with her. I mean, what were you thinking? You didn’t even know that kid. Did you have a death wish or what?” And there it was, no pride in the sacrifice I was willing to make for a stranger. No acknowledgement that I had quickly surmised the situation and gotten as many people out of harm’s way as possible. No admission that I had any level of courage. If this was truly how he felt, we really were at an impasse.
I knew there really was no need to argue. He’d never see my action for what it truly was - a valiant effort to do what was right. “A death wish? No, not even close. Maybe you don’t care that I did the right thing, but I know I made the right decision.”
“ I know you put a stranger above your family and me.”
Without one ounce of emotion, I simply declared, “I really don’t have anything more to say.”
“ Yeah, I guess I don’t either. I will be back in the morning and you will not be ugly to me. Do you understand?” His forceful tone took me a little by surprise. Seth leaned into me, kissed me lightly on my forehead, then whispered in my ear, “I miss you already.”
Not wanting to overanalyze this conversation, the one with my mother, or the dream that kept replaying in my mind, I turned on the television and watched mindless sitcoms.
Several hours went by and the low illumination coming through my windows changed to pitch black. Without even realizing that I had drifted asleep, I woke up to
“ This is your absolute, very last warning. Go home now while we are still on speaking terms. Stay any longer and I’ll call the nurse.”
“ You’re acting like a child. Grow up.”
With the fury I felt pulsating through me with every heartbeat, I pressed the, “call the nurse” button on the bed’s remote and waited for her to arrive.
A nurse came into my room, “Yes, Dear.”
In as syrupy sweet tone as I could manage, I responded directly to her, “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I am unable to get my visitor to leave. Would you mind taking him off my visitor list and asking security to get him out of my room?”
Seth’s eyes were ablaze, and if there had been any doubt, it was obvious this really was our first fight. I knew he thought I was bluffing, and when I so pleasantly requested his forcible removal, I could see he finally was taking me seriously. The nurse wasn’t certain whether this was some kind of a joke or if I was serious. “Lauren, are you sure? Seth has been here nearly every moment since you got here.”
Seth turned to the nurse and asked, “Give us a minute?”
The nurse looked at me, not wanting to get in the middle of our quarrel. I stayed stoic, not wanting to acknowledge that even a minute was acceptable. She nervously told him, “Seth, I think just a minute, go ahead and say your goodbyes.”
“ I know you’re in pain, and I really think you are striking out at the wrong people. Your mom doesn’t deserve this treatment and neither do I. If you want to play the ‘poor little me’ card, I’m only too happy to let you wallow in your grief.”
“ I’m not playing that card; in fact, I was defending my actions to my mom when she told me how selfish I was by jumping over the counter. I would have to say that my action is likely the least selfish thing I’ve done my whole life. So don’t pretend that you have any idea what happened between her and me. How long have you known her? How many times has she embellished a situation to make herself look like the good guy? A lot right? So when I tell you that you don’t know what you’re talking about, I mean you don’t know what you are talking about!!”
Seth gave no response, but I knew I had struck a chord.
“ You know I’m right, so why automatically assume I’m the melodramatic one?”
“ I don’t think you’re being melodramatic, but I kind of agree with her. I mean, what were you thinking? You didn’t even know that kid. Did you have a death wish or what?” And there it was, no pride in the sacrifice I was willing to make for a stranger. No acknowledgement that I had quickly surmised the situation and gotten as many people out of harm’s way as possible. No admission that I had any level of courage. If this was truly how he felt, we really were at an impasse.
I knew there really was no need to argue. He’d never see my action for what it truly was - a valiant effort to do what was right. “A death wish? No, not even close. Maybe you don’t care that I did the right thing, but I know I made the right decision.”
“ I know you put a stranger above your family and me.”
Without one ounce of emotion, I simply declared, “I really don’t have anything more to say.”
“ Yeah, I guess I don’t either. I will be back in the morning and you will not be ugly to me. Do you understand?” His forceful tone took me a little by surprise. Seth leaned into me, kissed me lightly on my forehead, then whispered in my ear, “I miss you already.”
Not wanting to overanalyze this conversation, the one with my mother, or the dream that kept replaying in my mind, I turned on the television and watched mindless sitcoms.
Several hours went by and the low illumination coming through my windows changed to pitch black. Without even realizing that I had drifted asleep, I woke up to
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