| Chapter 61 Leighanne was fidgeting with her hair when she heard the door bell. She ran downstairs and opened the door to find Gary standing there, a dozen white roses in his hand. "Hi Anne, these are for you," he said handing them to her. "Gary, you shouldn't have. I can almost open my own flower shop already," she said with a laugh. Leighanne took the flowers and put them in water and set them with the rest. She turned around and looked at Gary, "So, where are we going?" He smiled, "It's a secret." "OK, let me ask you one thing, does this secret come with food, cause I'm starving," Leighanne said with a smile. Gary laughed, "Well then, we better get going." He opened the door for her, and escorted her to the car. He opened the car door for her and she got in. Alright Lee, calm down. This is Gary, your friend. Just be yourself and have fun, she told herself as Gary made his way around the car and into the drivers seat. He smiled at her as he started the car, and they headed down the street. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lyn was sitting next to the bed when Nick woke up. He looked around the room, Brian and Tara weren't there. Lyn noticed he was awake and walked over to the edge of the bed. "Hey, how are you feeling?" she asked. "Tired," Nick said, "Where are they?" "I had Uncle Ted take them to the house. They are gonna stay in the one you rented and were gonna drive your rental car back when they got ready," Lyn answered. Nick looked at her, she looked extremely tired. "You haven't slept?" he asked. She smiled, "No, not really." "Why not?" Nick asked. Lyn sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand in hers, "Cause I was worried about you." Nick smiled at her, "Lyn, I'm gonna be OK." "I know, it's just that you still have a fever, and you got so sick so fast, I guess I'm a little afraid of it happening again," she said. Nick reached over and tucked Lyn's hair behind her ear, "It wont happen again. I feel alot better." She just stared at him, wondering if he really did, or if he was just saying that to make her feel better. Just then a knock came at the door, and a nurse stuck her head in. "Ms. Jackson, I have a supper tray for him if he's hungry," she said. "Bring it in," Lyn said. The nurse brought the tray in and set it down, "Can I get anything else for you?" "Yeah," Lyn said, "Have someone run down to the diner across the street and get me a number 4." Lyn pulled some money from her pocket and handed it to her, "This should cover it." "Yes mame," the nurse said and left the room. Lyn looked back at Nick, he was almost laughing. "What's so funny?"she asked. "I just realized that everyone that works here actually works for you, it's kinda funny," he said. Lyn smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "Guess I'm used to it. OK, let's see what they brought you to eat." She pulled the cover off the tray to reveal some cherry jello, tea, milk, and chicken noodle soup. "Alright, what do you want first?" she asked. "I really don't want anything," Nick said, not impressed with his choices. Lyn put her hand on her waist, "Nick, you haven't eaten in I don't know when. You're not going to get better if you don't start." "I'm just not hungry," he said. "Nick, if I have to, I'll get some orderlies in here and strap you to the bed and force it down you. Now you're gonna eat, the question is are you gonna do it the easy way or the hard way?" Lyn said, a most serious look on her face. Nick stared at her for a moment, "You aren't kidding are you?" She shook her head, "Not at all." Nick sighed in defeat, "I guess I'll take the jello." Lyn smiled and scooped some of the jello into the spoon and fed him. After a couple of bites, Nick held his hand out for the spoon. "I can feed myself, you don't have to," he said. "It's OK, I don't mind," she said. He took the spoon from her hand, "I'll do it, besides your food will be getting here soon." "OK, I'll make a deal with you. If you finish everything on the tray, I'll share a little of mine with you," Lyn said. "What'd you get?" Nick asked. "A double cheese burger and fries," she answered. Nick smiled, "Say no more." He had eaten everything on the tray by the time Lyn's food arrived. The nurse took the tray out, and Lyn cut about a fourth of the hamburger off and handed it to Nick. He looked disappointed. "Hey, I said a little," she said with a smile. "OK, OK," Nick said, downing the small piece she had given him. He laid back in the bed and watched her eat. He soon became lost in his thoughts. He really cared for her, and more and more he was falling for her. It was the little things she did, the way she smiled, or laughed at something he said. He really meant what he'd said, he loved her. Nick smiled to himself as he settled down in the bed and closed his eyes. He was asleep before Lyn finished the last of her burger. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Brian, have you ever seen a more beautiful view?" Tara asked. She was standing next to the windows, looking out over the ocean. "I can see why Nick picked this place," Brian said walking over to stand next to her. They stood there watching the waves for a few minutes. "I think I'm going to take a shower and go to bed for a while," Tara said. "Yeah, I guess I need to call Kevin and tell him how things are going," Brian said turning to find the phone. He kicked a bag as he was rounding the bed. "What's this?" he said bending down to pick it up. Tara looked over, "That's one of Nick's." Brian set it on the bed and looked through it. He picked up a notebook and opened it up to find several letters in envelopes. Each envelope had one of the guys names on it, and there was one with Tara's name as well. Brian started to open one, and Tara put her hand on his, stopping him. "Bri, don't,"she said. "Are these what I think they are?" Brian asked, already knowing the answer. Tara took the letters and put them back in the notebook, "Brian, we never found these. If Nick wants to share these with us, that's fine, but we're not reading them." Brian zipped the bag up and put it back under the bed. "I just can't believe that he did that," Brian said, "And if Lyn hadn't been here....." "We would already know what they say," Tara finished for him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Leighanne was exhausted by the time Gary had brought her back to the house. They had gone to her favorite restaurant and had stayed there for three hours, eating and talking. Then Gary had taken her to a new club that had just opened where they danced for hours. She couldn't remember when she'd had more fun. Gary took her key from her, and opened the door. Leighanne walked in and Gary followed her. "Anne, the premiere is tomorrow," he said. "Yeah, I know," she said collapsing on the couch. "Well, I was wondering if you would go with me?" Gary asked, sitting down next to her. "Sure," Leighanne said. Gary smiled, "Well, it's late, so I better be going." He got up and walked to the door, Leighanne right behind him. "So when should I pick you up?" Gary asked. "How bout five," she said. "Alright, five it is," Gary said. They stood there staring at each other for a few awkward moments, until Leighanne started laughing. "Why is this so weird now?" she asked. "I don't know. It shouldn't be," Gary said laughing too. "Yeah, but it is. I think we're taking this whole dating thing to seriously," Leighanne said, "Why don't we just stop trying to impress each other, and get back to being ourselves?" "I thought we were being ourselves. You mean you've been trying to impress me?" Gary said with a smile. "Oh shut up," Leighanne said hitting him on the arm. They both laughed as Gary pulled Leighanne closer and stared into her eyes. "Anne, I love you so much," he whispered. She smiled at him, "I love you too." Gary leaned down and gently kissed her. Leighanne was so lost in the kiss that it shocked her when Gary pulled away. He had the door half open already, "I need to go." "But you...." Leighanne started. "Anne, if I don't go now, I won't leave at all. See ya at five," he said, and walked out the door, closing it behind him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Hello," Kevin said. "Kev, hey it's Brian," he said. "Hey cuz, how are things going?" Kevin asked, hearing how tired Brian sounded. "OK, the doctor took Nick off the ventilator this morning, and he slept most of the day," he answered. "You sound like you could use some yourself," Kevin said. "Yeah, Tara and I are at the house Nick rented. We're gonna try and get some rest before we head back to the hospital," Brian said. "So Bri, what's this Lyn girl like?" Kevin asked. "She's really sweet. She's done a lot for Nick, and they seem to have a good relationship going," Brian said. "Really?" Kevin said a little surprised. "Yeah, you can tell that she really cares for him, and Nick feels the same way about her. I'm happy that they found each other," Brian said. "Huh, what does Tara think about her?" Kevin asked. "They really like each other, they um have a lot in common," Brian said. "Well, things sound like they're looking up," Kevin said. "Yeah," Brian said with a sigh. "So if things are going good, why do you sound like you lost your puppy?" Kevin asked. "It's nothing, I'm just tired," Brian said eyeing Nick's bag under the bed, "You know you can't sleep well in those chairs they have at the hospital." Kevin laughed, "You don't have to tell me that. I've been in them enough to know." "Yeah, well, anyway, do you care to call the others and let them know?" Brian asked. "Consider it done. Get some rest, and tell Nick he needs to hurry up and get well. There's no tellin what the �newlyweds' are doing in his house," Kevin said. Brian laughed, "OK, I'll call in a day or so." "Alright cuz, take care," Kevin said. "You too," Brian said and hung up the phone. Chapter 62 |