Silvia had taken the next several days of her vacation to reinforce and plan.
To her disbelief and despair, Daire had followed her direction. He’d not tried to contact her or come by.
She wasn’t sure what today would hold, though. Could they continue working together, or would one have to transfer to a different station?
One thing was for sure, though. No one would chase her from her home and career again.
As much as she wanted Daire in her life, she couldn’t risk his life, too. Hers, she decided, was worth nothing if she ran, so she’d stay and face Luis if he showed, but she couldn’t ask Daire or anyone else to put their lives on the line by staying near her.
As always, Silvia wrestled with her locker. Unlike the other times, though, it didn’t upset her. This was one aspect of her life. Her life. A life she’d come to love.
After she got the thing closed, she searched for her probie. It was early, not even seven yet, but Daire usually arrived before her.
She didn’t bother asking any of her brethren. No sense in piquing anyone’s interest. She decided to head to LT’s office. To let him know she was back.
She rapped on the door that was always open a crack.
“C’mon in.” As soon as he saw her, he cocked his head. “You’re back today?”
“Yeah,” she offered, as confused as he seemed. She looked at her watch. Yep. Correct day. “Did you not think I’d come back after vacation?”
“Yeah, I just thought since Daire was in the hospital—”
“What?”
“I just thought you’d be there before he went into surgery.”
“Uh…” She suddenly wasn’t sure of the right amount of concern she should have for a coworker.
“Hmm… I guess I’m not as in tune as I thought I was. I would have sworn that you and Daire—”
“Sir, I didn’t know Daire was going into surgery this morning, but… Now that I do, and since you assumed I wouldn’t be here… Do you mind?”
The lieutenant shrugged, then waved at the door. “Nope. Let us know how he is. Can’t believe he’s actually going through with this…”
LT’s words faded behind her as she ran back to her locker.
She had no idea how dangerous donating part of your liver was. But the thought of Daire going under without knowing that she loved him hurt her more than Luis could ever hurt her. Maybe not if he killed her, but she couldn’t imagine losing Daire.
Inside her car, she pushed the old Subaru to its limits as she raced to Anchorage.
She knew the surgery center at Anchorage hospital well. Too many times, she’d accompanied Jean Bedard to the bedsides of recovering women after their partners landed them in the operating room.
Silvia tore into a parking spot, then bolted across the blacktop to the surgery center. Only slowing down long enough for the glass doors to partially open, she darted to the receptionist. Thankfully, she recognized the woman. She still had to glance at the woman’s nametag.
“Hi! Susan. I’m running late. Daire Belgarde’s room, please?”
Susan didn’t have to look up Daire’s information. “That boy has a huge family. He’s scheduled for surgery this morning, so he’s probably still in prep. The waiting area is on floor…”
Silvia took off while she was speaking. She knew where the waiting area was. She just wanted to make sure he was really going in for surgery.
She found the correct room. As soon as Claire spotted her, she bounded up from her chair. “Silvia?”
Claire sounded shocked to see her, and Silvia felt immediate embarrassment.
“I’m sorry I’m late. Can I see him?”
“Sam’s with him. He was going to wait until they wheeled him into surgery, though, so I don’t know if there’s still time.”
Thankfully Claire didn’t wait for an explanation from Silvia of why she was there or why she didn’t know he was going into surgery. The woman was already walking toward her. Claire hooked an arm through hers and hustled them down the corridor.
A nurse was at the entry, but Claire whispered something into the woman’s ear, and she let them pass.
Then Silvia saw him. “Daire,” she whispered. There were several patients awaiting surgery, separated only by machines and curtains.
Daire looked up and smiled, but his eyes were glassy. He lifted his phone from his side. “Hoping you’d call.”
Sam stood and offered her his chair. “They gave him something to relax, so he’s a bit loopy. He’s still awake, though. I think he was waiting for you to arrive.”
Instead of sitting, Silvia leaned over and kissed his forehead. “I’m so sorry, Daire. I’m not going anywhere. I promise. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Really?”
She choked on a half-laugh, half-sob. “Really. I love you. I love Alaska. I love my job.”
“But… What… about?”
She pressed her lips to his. “Shh… We’ll figure it out—together. But I’m tired of running.”
“I…love…you.”
“I love you, too.” She leaned down and kissed him again. “Be okay, all right? For me?”
He nodded, though weakly. “For us.”
“For us.” She felt arms around her and looked up to see Claire.
“We have to go, honey.”
Silvia waved a kiss. “I love you, Daire.”
Daire mouthed something, but she couldn’t hear him. She knew what he’d said, though. He loved her, too. Even drugged, the truth was coming out. Maybe because he was drugged. Maybe when he recovered, he’d yell at her for pushing him away. But not today. Today, he loved her, and that was all that mattered.
~ Daire ~
As hard as Daire tried, he couldn’t see through the smothering haze. If only he’d asked the nurse to wait a few more minutes before drugging him, he could have heard everything Silvia wanted to say.
But at least he’d heard the most important part—parts. She loved him and, more importantly, she wasn’t going to leave.
Sam had tried to take his phone for safe-keeping several times, but Daire had refused. He’d known with all his heart that she would call.
And she’d done better…she’d shown up.
As Sam, Silvia, and his mother left the area, his phone buzzed. Silvia knew he had it, so maybe she was sending him a note before he went under completely.
He lifted it up, and a text message from an unknown caller showed on the lock screen. Daire blinked, trying to bring the words into focus.
Found ya!
Thanks for the tip!
Tell her I’ll see her soon.
“No…” Daire blinked and blinked, but the words didn’t change. He tried to sit up, but he didn’t have enough strength to lift his head.
He pulled his phone across the blanket and tried to lift it up on a crease. He used his thumb to swipe up. No luck. He moved his thumb up the screen again, trying to push the phone upright to read his image.
It opened. He exhaled, exhausted by the simple task.
He pressed recent calls. Sam’s number was on top.
Sam would protect her.
“You all set?” The chipper voice sounded from his left. The nurse fussed around him, tucking in the blanket. “Are you cold?”
Daire tried to form words, but nothing came out.
The phone disappeared from his hand. “I’ll put this in your belongings bag. Okay?”
“Sam…” His mouth was so dry, and his head was so foggy. “Get… Sam…”
“Okay, sweetie. I’ll give it to Sam.”
Daire tried to repeat Get Sam, but like the thick room-darkening curtains his mother pulled closed to keep out the midnight sun, the world around him went black. And then, like a negative, Silvia’s beautiful face telling him she loved him was the last image he saw before his consciousness slipped away.