Page 117 of Secret Love

“Right,” she says.

“Will you still be able to pick me up?” Gracie asks, her little voice pitiful.

“Yes. Not right after surgery, but yes, peanut.”

“Girls, we don’t have much time. They’re gonna take Dad back any second to get him ready. Let Tru get in there,” Bree says. She shoots me an apologetic look.

I smile to let her know it’s not necessary. “I’m glad he got to see you this morning.” I squeeze Cassidy’s shoulder. “This is the happiest he’s looked all week.”

Henley reaches out for my hand and tugs me toward him. “I love you. I’m sorry I haven’t been?—”

I put my fingers on his lips and kiss his forehead. “No more apologies out of you, sir. You’re the best man I’ve ever known.”

The nurse comes in and raps on the door. “Okay, Mr. Ward, it’s time to take you back.”

“We love you. I'll be here when you wake up,” I promise.

“Love you, Daddy,” the girls say in unison and it makes us all laugh.

“I love you all so much.” He’s smiling as they roll him out of the room.

“I’m really glad you came. You made him so happy.” I put my arms around the girls and we huddle together. When we make our way out of the room and into the waiting room, Bowie, Weston, and Penn are in there. They stand up when they see us and hug everyone.

Rhodes walks in a minute later with a drink carrier filled with coffees and sets it down.

“Hey, let me in there too,” he says, and we do a huge group hug. “He'll be all right, you guys, but he's gonna need lots of these hugs when he’s home.”

“We're not going anywhere,” I say.

“Yeah,” the girls pipe up. “We're not going anywhere.”

“Except to school,” Bree reminds them, and they groan.

She assures them they’ll see Henley later, and they head out.

Sadie and Caleb stop by for a little bit too, and playing with Caleb is a nice distraction while we wait.

It’s almost two hours before the surgeon steps out.

“Tru Seymour?” she says.

I walk over to her. “That’s me. Hi.”

“I’m Dr. Cermak. Surgery went well. Henley’s waking up and asking for you. Dr. Grinstead said you’d want to see him right away.”

“I do. Thank you.”

She’s already turning to go through the doors, so I follow. I turn to look back at the guys, seeing all the questions they have, but Dr. Grinstead walks out and stays with them while I go to Henley.

Henley’s eyes are closed when we enter the room, but when I sit down next to him, they open and he looks at me groggily.

But then his face breaks out into the biggest smile.

I smile back in surprise and take his hand. “Hey, you look so much happier than I was expecting.”

“I amsohappy to see you.” His words slur, but even as he talks, I can hear the smile in his voice. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever known.” He lifts my hand up to his mouth to kiss it, but he misses. He laughs. “Oops. I dreamed about you.”

“You did? When you were in surgery?”

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