Page 74 of You Loved Me Once
“Good morning, Dr. Adams,” Allison says with so much happiness, it’s infectious.
This woman always has a smile on her face. As much as I was dreading this, being around her instantly makes the traces of regret vanish. She’s a warm light you can’t help but feel better around.
“How are you feeling?”
“Good, I’m almost done and then we can go to our apartment.” She looks over at Bryce. “I haven’t gotten to see it yet, but I’m sure it’ll be perfect.”
His eyes are trained on me, and I focus only on her. “I’m sure it’s great.”
She nods quickly. “I’m excited to be out of the hospital.”
Sometimes I feel like I live in the hospital, so I know the feeling of being sentenced to serve time here.
Bryce grips her hand. “When can we expect to be released?”
It’s the first time he’s addressed me since all that was said on the street, and I don’t know what it is, but I don’t feel that flutter in my stomach when I look at him. Instead, there’s a sense of—finality. After everything that happened last night, I saw myself clearly for the first time. I’d been holding onto this love that couldn’t endure. My heart was refusing to let anyone else in, and I’d been a fool.
I had allowed the wound that was Bryce to fester, and now it’s time to heal.
“Tomorrow morning. We’ll finish up this round of medication and as long as her vitals are good, we’ll release her, and then she’s due back in two weeks for the next dose.” I turn to Allison who is beaming.
“Did you hear that? We have two whole weeks off!”
You’d think I told her she was pregnant, she’s so happy.
“When will we know any kind of results? I need to head back to North Carolina for a short while,” Bryce informs us both, and her face falls.
I want to punch him for ruining her mood. Seldom do patients maintain this attitude, and I truly believe a person’s will is sometimes stronger than medicine.
“Peyton,” she complains.
“It’s the reality we face, baby. I have to go to work for a bit and I need to plan around your treatments.”
“I know, but can’t we just enjoy what we have right now?” she asks him.
I shift my weight a little and they both stop. “It’s okay,” I reassure them both. “Allison will be monitored with more frequent scans since she’s on the trial. She has six doses ahead, and we’ll do scans each week, but remember, she’s been given a strong dose of chemo, and though she may be feeling okay today, we don’t know how she’ll respond in the next three days. I would keep an eye on her if you can.”
“Yes, that means no going back to North Carolina. Doctor’s orders,” Allison points at him.
“Okay, I’ll call my firm now,” he sighs.
“Just don’t back down,” Allison urges him.
“I won’t.” Bryce grabs his phone, kisses her forehead, and heads out of the room.
“I know he can be harsh,” Allison says.
“Who?” I ask, knowing she means Bryce.
She smiles impishly. “My husband. He’s been through a lot, and sometimes his need to save me overrides his sense of diplomacy and reasoning. It’s like he can’t see what’s in front of him, because he’s already a mile away.”
“Sometimes we’re all weak when it comes to certain things,” I reply.
Allison shrugs. “I just...I wish you knew the man I know.”
My chest is tight as I try to scramble for the right thing to say.
“Don’t worry about anything, it’s my job to make sure everyone is comfortable.” It’s as close to the truth as I can get. “I want you to promise that you’ll keep smiling though, Allison. The more positive you are, the better it will be when things are hard, okay?”
