“Is he still in danger?” Cam asked.
“We’ll keep him overnight at the least, but I think the clot will dissolve fully. However, you should know that, after a TIA, one in three people go on to have a major stroke within a year. We need to get him on meds, and he needs to start doing some things differently.”
“I’ll make sure he follows through. I’m not losing my father,” Spence said, the doctor in him never more evident.
“I know you will, Spence. Give the nurses about fifteen minutes to get him moved to his room, and then you can visit. If the people now filling this lobby are all here to see Martin, you know to take turns.”
With that, Dr. Eiseman left them and a hush fell over the crowded lobby, which seemed to be growing more crowded by the minute as news about Martin spread through their small community.
Michael finally spoke up after maintaining his silence the entire time. “Does this mean he’s going to be fine?” he asked.
“Yes, Michael, he should be fine,” Spence assured his brother.
“I’m still not going to feel better until I can see him,” Michael said.
The whole crowd nodded their heads in agreement. Fifteen minutes seemed to take forever, and then there was chaos when it came time to deciding who could go in first.
“Cam, why don’t you and Grace take Eileen back there?” Spence said as he gave his brother a compassionate look.
Eileen objected. “You kids should go and visit him first,” she said.
“I have a feeling he’s going to want to see you,” Spence told her before leaning down and kissing her cheek. “Go give him hell for scaring us so much.”
Eileen attempted a smile but was unable to pull it off. Grace wrapped her arm around the woman and led her through the hallway to Martin’s room. When they paused in the doorway at the sight of him, such a large, robust man looking so pale and tired with his eyes closed, it brought more tears to Grace’s eyes.
“If he’s sleeping, we shouldn’t disturb him,” Eileen said as fresh tears tracked down her face.
“Eileen? Is that you?” His voice was so hoarse, it broke Grace’s heart. She stood back as Cam and Eileen moved forward.
“I’m here, darling. I’m here,” Eileen whispered. She sat in the chair by the bed and reached out to take his hand.
He opened his eyes and gazed at Eileen with such a look of love that Grace could see the radiance from ten feet away. She felt like an intruder. Cam moved back by her and whispered in her ear.
“How did I miss this?”
“I don’t know how any of us did, Cam.”
“Now, don’t you be crying for me, Eileen,” Martin said. “I’ll be just fine. I wouldn’t leave you or my children. There’s too much life still to be lived.”
“Oh, Martin, I’ve never been so frightened. You’re my life now, and I just . . . I can’t lose you, my love.”
She leaned forward and rested her head on his chest, and he lifted his free arm and wrapped it around her.
“I love you, too, Eileen, so much that my heart aches when you aren’t around. Not everyone gets to find two soul mates in this lifetime, but I’m one of the lucky ones. You bring me joy and there’s no way I would give that up to something as silly as an itty-bitty clot.” His voice was stronger now, love coming through it loud and clear.
“Well, we’re making some changes, Martin. I’m talking to your cook right away, and we’re both going to eat healthier and drink less and get more exercise.”
“I’ve been doing just fine with how I live, Eileen. This was just a little bitty thing, nothing to get so worked up about. I promise you that I’ll still be swinging you around the dance floor when we’re ninety.”
“I’m going to make sure you keep that promise, Martin,” she said, a smile finally filling her lips as she lifted her head and looked into his eyes.
“Then you will have to become my wife so you’re with me every single day.”
Eileen couldn’t speak through her tears, but she nodded, and it was the most beautiful thing Grace had ever witnessed.
“Let’s leave them alone,” Cam whispered as he pulled Grace into the hallway.
“I thought you needed to talk to him,” Grace said.
“I just needed to know he was okay, to see it with my own eyes. My dad has been alone for a very long time. He’s found love again with an amazing woman. This stroke scared him enough, it looks like, to admit it to her—or maybe to us, I don’t know, but I’m grateful. Let’s go tell the rest of them to give the lovebirds a few more minutes.”
“It’s kind of funny, but I think your father and Eileen—the town’s favorite grandparents—are going to have a wedding before I do,” Grace said with a laugh.
“I wouldn’t count on that,” Cam muttered as they pushed through the waiting-room doors.
Grace’s heart nearly stopped with his comment, but before she could ask him to clarify it, they were surrounded by people asking questions about Martin. Soon, Grace was pulled from Cam’s hold, and the crowd between them kept growing wider.
When their gaze connected a few minutes later, she saw something shining in his eyes that gave her hope of finally getting her happy ending. Even though he hadn’t asked her to love him forever yet, her own eyes answered him with a glowing yes.
“I need coffee. Can I get you any?” she asked Sage.
“I’ll follow right behind you,” Sage replied. “I want to chat with the nurse for a minute.”