Jed was wheeled into the operating room, which was filled with high-tech equipment. Nurses and other OR staff were wearing gowns and gloved up. All had caps over their hair. Doctor Gordon wandered in just as Jed slid onto the table. An IV was inserted in his arm, and he was covered with a blue sheet.
“Jed, are you ready?” Doctor Gordon wore a mask as she leaned over him, but he’d recognize those beautiful dark eyes anywhere.
“Not really, but let’s get this going.”
She held the mask to her mouth and nodded.
Jed reached out to touch her arm. “Hey, do me a favor. Get me back to my wife in one piece, and if there’s any chance it’s not going to work, close me up. Make sure Doc Hardy closes me up.”
Doctor Hardy strode in, hands in the air and on Jed’s other side. “Jed, we’re going to put you under now. We need you to start counting back from ten.”
“Promise me,” he said to Doctor Gordon, but everything dimmed before she could answer. He didn’t see her hesitate as she glanced up at Doctor Hardy, and he didn’t see her nod.
***
“How long have they been in there?” Diana hadn’t sat for the past three hours. She’d paced the waiting room, the same circle in the checked carpet, at least a hundred times. She’d even taken to counting the squares as a way to keep from going crazy.
Neil leaned against the window, crossing his booted feet in front of him. Brad was trying to recline in one of the waiting room chairs, but they weren’t made for solid six-foot cowboys made of nothing but lean muscle. Rodney and Becky were sitting across from Laura and Andy.
“It’s only been an hour since you last asked. Maybe you should get out of here for a while, Diana. We could go out for dinner, take your mind off this,” Andy suggested.
But Diana kept walking. “No, I’m not going anywhere. You guys go for dinner.”
Andy pulled himself out of his chair, and Laura didn’t say a word. “Diana, how about a walk just to clear your head?” He stood right in front of her, watching her, and she knew there was concern there.
“Andy, maybe you should take your wife out for dinner. Brad, Mom, Dad, maybe you’d like to go with them. I’ll stay here with Diana.” Neil was behind her and slid his arm around her shoulder.
Diana realized there was something going on between Andy and Neil. “Neil, you don’t need to stay. Why don’t you all go and take a break.”
“I’m not hungry, but I’m going to call my wife,” Brad said. “Give her an update as to what’s going on. She’s damn worried and about ready to pack up all the kids and drive out here.” Brad hefted himself from the chair and pulled up his jeans, and he slapped Andy between the shoulders. “Come on, cousin. Bring that pretty wife of yours. I’ll walk you out.”
Andy hesitated, but Laura stood up and slid her cloth purse over her shoulder. She walked around Brad and touched Diana’s arm. “Can I bring you anything?”
Diana hugged Laura and felt her stiffen for a moment. “You go. Thanks for being here, though. Oh, could you do something for me? I don’t want to leave, but I’m worried about Danny. Could you call Jules and check and see if Danny’s okay?”
“Of course I will. I’ll go find out for you. I’ll go down now with Brad and call.” She turned to leave and glanced up at Andy, but he made no move to go with her, so she stepped around him and walked out.
Brad studied Andy, shifting his gaze to Andy’s departing wife and then back to him. “I hope you’re going after her.”
Andy hesitated a second, let out a heavy sigh, and then left after Laura.
Brad exchanged a worried glance with Neil.
“Is there something going on I should know about?” Diana asked, crossing her arms.
“No, just Andy’s got to figure out a way to be a husband and look after his wife.” Rodney spoke up and then patted Becky’s knee. “How about some fresh air or a bite to eat?”
“No, I’m staying with Neil and my daughter-in-law, but you go,” Becky said.
“Mom, Dad?” Brad asked.
“Go on, son. Tell Andy to take his wife out for dinner and that we’ll let him know if we hear anything.”
Brad hesitated and stared at the Friessen family vigil. He raised his cell phone in the air and said, “Let me update Emily, and then I’ll be right back.”