Page 69 of Free to Breathe
And we’re a heaping mess of laughter. That is until the guys come back in with an addition.
“Corinna, you have a guest,” Colby says tightly. “He demands to talk to you as soon as possible.” His hand is cuffed behind the neck of Dr. Bryan Moser. “He was recently told by your primary care office you were no longer a patient. Since you haven’t returned his messages, Dr. Moser interpreted that to mean he thought you had…” Colby doesn’t finish his sentence. After shoving Bryan forward, Colby moves next to me. “Trust me, princess. There is nothing you can say that’s going to prevent me from beating the shit out of Jack the first minute I get the chance.”
As Bryan tries to get his bearings from the overwhelming greeting, I reply faintly, “I’m not sure I’m going to want you to.”
Colby’s face marginally relaxes, and he says, “Good.” He presses a hard kiss to my lips.
Standing, I face my neurosurgeon and feel the flicker of anger nip at me. “Dr. Moser, before I introduce you to my family, I’d like to apologize to my siblings for your unexpected presence. In addition to interrupting a family dinner and waking their children with your dramatic entry, this isn’t quite the professional setting they should be meeting you in.”
“Oh, shove it, Corinna. For the last twelve hours, I’ve thought you were dead.” As Bryan wraps his arms around me, I’m helpless to the torment in his voice. Catching Colby’s eye, I mouth, “What the hell?”
He shakes his head, but I can tell he’s pissed. There’s more to the story he found out in the hall.
Crap.
I pull away from Bryan to see he’s visibly distressed. “I’m okay.”
He mutters, “And we’re going to make sure you stay that way.”
“Hear, hear,” Jason calls.
“Listen,” I say gently, “let’s get you something to eat and drink, and I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“I owe you an apology for being an ass.”
“Yeah, but we’re pretty famous for that in this family,” I quip . His answering smile is shaky, but it’s there. Colby slips his arm around me. “First, this is Colby Hunt. He’s…” I stumble. What is Colby to me?
“Hers. I’m Corinna’s,” Colby interjects smoothly.
Bryan blinks a few times. “Wow, finally got your shit sorted, huh, Cori?”
I punch him in the arm. “Shut it, Bryan.”
“Good. Because you’re going to need a great support system for surgery.”
I suck in a huge breath. “Bryan, I’m still not sure…”
“I am. That’s why I was calling to notify your primary care physician to get everything scheduled. Forty-five days max.” The collective inhale in the room sucks out all of the oxygen. I’m so glad Colby’s holding me up because I feel my legs give out. “It’s time to get that thing out of you once and for all.”
32
Colby
Corinna sways unsteadily in my arms. “Forty-five…days?” Her voice is so unsettled. She’s squeezing my forearms as if her life depends on it.
And right now, maybe it does.
Jason speaks up from behind Dr. Moser. “Isn’t it a bit sudden, Doctor? Typically, surgical patients have a longer time to prepare for the procedure, considering the in-depth amount of physical and psychological protocols involved.”
Dr. Moser runs his hands through already out-of-control hair. “Cori, how free am I to speak in front of all of these people?”
She lets out a deep sigh, her body molding to mine. “Pull out your cell phone, Bryan.” She waits for him to do so. “Can you flip to video?” His face flashes with understanding. “Let me know when it’s ready.”
Dr. Moser fumbles for a moment before he holds up his phone. “Whenever you’re ready.”
Stiffening her spine within my arms, Corinna announces, “My name is Corinna Freeman. I was Johns Hopkins patient”—she spits out a string of numbers—“I recently transitioned to Greenwich Hospital under the care of Dr. Bryan Moser. This video is to serve as authorization of the release and discussion of my medical care with my immediate family: Phillip Freeman-Ross, Cassidy Freeman-Lockwood, Emily Freeman, Alison Freeman, and Holly Freeman, as well as the following spouses or significant others as identified. This includes Dr. Jason Ross, Caleb Lockwood, Keene Marshall, and Colby Hunt. At the time this video is being made, I am of sound mind and in the presence of my doctor, Bryan Moser, as well as my attorney, Alison Freeman. Thank you.” Her head drops, and I hear her mutter, “I never wanted to do that here, Bryan. You could have just trusted me.”
He’s sympathetic but firm. “I’m sorry, but we’re running out of time.”
