"Damn! Where the hell is that plane?" Lance mumbled to himself as he paced back and forth through the waiting area of the airport. He looked at his watch again only to notice a mere ten minutes had gone by since the last time he looked.
"Lance, calm down. You're not helping anyone by getting yourself all upset." Lonnie, Lance's bodyguard, told him as he led him toward a chair and told him to sit down.
"Lonnie, I have to get to New York City fast. You know how serious this is. I can't afford to waste even a minute now." He replied as he looked over his left shoulder, hoping that he would see someone from the company jet. "I have to get to her, fast!"
Another five minutes passed when he finally saw Richie, the co-pilot, walking over to him. "Hello Lance. The plane is just about fully fueled and then we'll be on our way. It should only take about fifteen minutes, total."
"Well, then we'll go ahead and board the plane. I don't have time to wait here and then board." Lance said firmly as he stood then began to walk out the door and to the plane.
As he was walking, he began to think to himself, why did I have to come all the way to Los Angeles now? I should have stayed home. Damn! Lance had a very important contract negotiation that he needed to be present for. It was the worst possible time to leave, and he had originally said no. Melissa, his wife, had convinced him to go. She promised she'd be fine while he was gone. Then, less than six hours after arriving in L.A., he had received the phone call. Her father had called to let him know that she had been rushed to the hospital, and he had to return. He had practically ran out of the hotel that just a few hours he had checked in to. Now he feared he would be too late.
The plane took to the air, and he was on his way. The pilot had informed him they would be in New York in about five or so hours. He feared that wasn't sufficient. He stared out of the window and then closed his eyes. As he prayed, he drifted back to their wedding. They were still just newlyweds. The wedding was beautiful, but a private affair. Of course, the families were there as well as their closest friends. In total about seventy-five guests. It wasn't much considering his fame. Still, it was plenty for the love-struck couple. The honeymoon was equally special. They had gone to Hawaii. The memories of the passion and love that they shared made tears wail up in his eyes. He again looked at his watch. Four and a half hours to go. His stomach sickened. He couldn't bear the thought of her being alone.
Lonnie tried to talk to him to try and help him keep his thoughts straight. He knew Lance had to be strong right now, especially for Melissa. He understood that Lance would want it that way. If Lance were to fail at that, what would it do to Melissa? Lance remained silent. He managed an agreeable nod here and there but that was it. He really wasn't even listening or hearing Lonnie at this point.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless flight through an endless night, the plane was approaching its final descent. Lance could see the runway from where he sat. It was, after all, a small jet. The landing was bumpy due to the fog that lay across the runway. The pilot applied the brakes, and the plane came to a full stop. Lance was at the door before the plane completely stopped.
Lance had half run across the lot and into yet another airport. He had only brought one carry on and had it tossed over his right shoulder. As he rushed through the airport, he knocked into several people. In fact, he almost knocked a woman off her feet. It wasn't like him to be so rude but he didn't care about that woman or anyone except for his wife right now. Lonnie was close on his heals and was apologizing left and right for him. He crashed open the doors to the parking lot and looked for the car he had arranged to pick him up once he got there. He stood still momentarily until he finally spotted the vehicle about five hundred feet from him. He dashed to the car and jumped in. Lonnie climbed into the backseat, and they were on their way to the hospital. The half-hour drive was a quiet one. Lance spent the trip praying. He prayed God wouldn't let him be too late. He searched his inner self for that inner peace that God gave him in desperate situations only to find it not there.
Upon arriving at the emergency room, he pushed past a few people and grabbed the secretary by her arm asking, "Where is my wife?"
"Sir, please take your hand off my arm and tell me whom your wife is. There are a lot of wives here. I need her name." She said yanking her arm away from his grasp.
"Bass. Melissa Bass." He answered without hesitation.
"Let me check the charts. I'll be back in a few minutes." The secretary told him as she began to walk away toward the back of the emergency room.
He stopped her saying, "Please. I don't have a few minutes. Find out now!"
She simply looked at him with confusion then compassion at the same time. "I'll hurry. I'm sorry. I'll be right back." She returned in less than thirty seconds saying, " Mrs. Bass in on the tenth floor. Follow the yellow line to the elevators and make a right then a left. You'll see the nurses desk."
He was on his way to Melissa, not even saying thank you. Lonnie took care of that for him. As they got off the elevator, he followed her instructions and found the desk. He found a nurse and asked where his wife was. She told him, "Mr. Bass, she's in surgery. I'm sorry. They took her up just a few minutes ago."
Surgery�I know that's not good. Damn! I'm too late. Why surgery? As the words silently went through his mind, he spoke aloud. "Why surgery."
"Mr. Bass, could you follow me into another room where we can talk in private?"
She walked to a small, dimly lit room. They stood together as she explained that there had been unforeseen complications that none of Melissa's doctors had expected. She instructed him to wait there, and he would be the first to know how Melissa was progressing, if there was to be progress. At this point, she was unsure. He knew by the look on her face and the way she spoke that it didn't look good. He, almost by instinct, sat down. After about two hours the nurse returned. He listened intently to her. Melissa was on her way to recovery now and then would be going directly to the intensive care unit. He swallowed hard.
"When can I see her?" he asked holding back the tears.
"As soon as they get her settled in the ICU. If you want you can go to the fourth floor and wait. I'll call down and let them know you'll be waiting." She sadly smiled at him.
"The fourth floor.� He said as he walked out of the dark room he had sat in and began to walk down the hallway.
"Yes. I'm going to call now and let them know you're on your way. Lance? I've gotten to know Melissa pretty well in the last couple of months and she's a fighter." She tried to encourage him.
After sitting on the hard, uncomfortable chairs for about an hour, the nurse came to get him. "Melissa is in her room. Lance, she's had a very rough few hours and it was touch and go for most of it. Don't upset her. I know that's going to be hard, but you have to do this for her."
"I know that!" he said insulted at the thought that he would do anything to make this time worse for her.
"Lance�you need to stay calm. Promise me or I can't let you see her."
He lowered his head and quietly apologized. "Yes. I promise. I just need to see her. I can't wait here any longer."
She nodded and took him by his arm. "Okay. This way."
He stood briefly in the doorway shocked at what he saw. Wires tubes and a total lack of color in her face. He knew inside this could happen but had managed to lie to himself. Now that she was helplessly lying in the bed in front of him, he realized his worst fear had come true. He remembered his promise. He faked a smile on his face and took a deep breath. He then entered the room. He sat beside her in a chair because he was afraid to sit on the bed with her for fear it may cause more complications.
Melissa flickered open her eyes. They were still glazed over from surgery but she managed a smile. "Hey cutie, I see you made it." She said in a weak, raspy voice.
He thought she drifted back to sleep, but realized she was still with him. "Of course I made it. You, my sweet, are the most important thing in my life�. well at the moment." He chuckled trying to cheer her some. She smiled. Then she fell back into a deep sleep. He sat beside her holding her right hand in his just as he did at their wedding. He caressed her cheek then brushed his fingers through her hair. He sat for hours like that and just loved her. That was the best he could do for her at this point.
After about three hours, the nurse came into the room. She looked at the grief that covered his face. She smiled at him and walked out of the room without saying anything to him.
She returned about ten minutes later smiling. "Mr. Bass, could you step out for just a moment. You can wait over there." She commented as she pointed to another row of chairs against the far wall. After a few minutes, she returned to him saying, "You can come back in now." She said as she walked away.
Although his knees were weak and a sick feeling washed over him again, he returned to his wife. The curtain was now pulled around her bed. He slowly opened it. As he looked at Melissa, he gasped. "Would you like to meet him?" Melissa asked.
"Mel�Melissa� honey�I thought�"
"I don't care what you think or thought, I asked if you'd like to meet him?" She smiled.
He reached out and took him into his arms. There he cradled him gently.
"Dad, I'd like to introduce you to your son."
The words she spoke rang through his ears and straight to his soul. "My son! Melissa I thought that with it being so early and the condition you are in that�"
"Lance." She shook her head. "Didn't I promise that I would be fine while you were away?"
"Yes you did. Oh, yes you did." He shook slightly. The adrenaline rushing through him.
"Daddy, I'd like you to meet your son, Lance Jameson Bass." She grinned.
"Well, little Mr. Bass, it's a honor to meet you in person, finally." He beamed.
The new parents and their newborn lay on the bed together for about a half-hour or so when the baby began to cry. "What's wrong with him honey?" Lance asked afraid he may have been hurting him.
"Lance, hand me the baby." Melissa instructed her husband.
Lance reluctantly placed the newborn in his mother's arms. The last thing he wanted to do was to let go of him.
"Daddy" she said with a sigh, "He's just hungry." She was now laughing slightly at the fact that it seemed as though he had forgotten everything about babies and how to be a father.
"Oh�yeah�I guess he does need to eat." Lance laughed with her. As he watched her feed their baby, he thought there was no way possible that there could be a better feeling than this. "He leaned down and kissed her forehead telling her, "Melissa, I love you. I love you so much. You have made me the happiest man on earth. And this little guy�I'm speechless."
Melissa told Lance that she loved him just as much and how happy she was that she could give him a son. A son they would cherish and love the rest of their and their baby�s life.
They were indeed the happiest family on the face of the earth. Lance and Melissa were positive that they would remain that way too.
