Chapter 30 Chapter Thirty
Leilani nods her head slightly. Intertwining my fingers in hers, I pull her to her feet and lead the way out of the cafeteria. Stopping to throw her half-eaten sandwich in the trash. We wonder around the hospital going from floor to floor looking at anything and everything we can to kill time. After an hour of aimless wandering, we make a stop by the gift shop.
The gift shop is huge. It has every get well soon type gift and nick-nack you can think of. There are flowers, balloons, bears, cards, and there are even candies of all different kinds. Leilani’s eyes widen as she looks from wall to wall.
“What should we get dad?” She asks scanning over everything.
Stepping up behind her I wrap my hands around her waist as I lean in to whisper “You can get whatever you want.”
Leilani giggles softly. “What if I want one of everything?”
I smile as I kiss the top of her head. “Then we will buy one of everything.”
Leilani turns around quickly in my arms, pulling me in for a tight hug. “Thank you, Malakai. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“I will always be here for you, no matter what the situation is.”
Leilani gives me a brief peck on the lips before pulling away and walking further into the gift shop. Hopefully someday in the near future she will be more comfortable with public displays of affection, until then I will enjoy watching the blush that spreads across her face every time we kiss in public.
Twenty minutes, and five hundred dollars later we walk out of the gift shop with more flowers, bears, balloons and cards than any one man could ever need. I would do anything for Leilani, no matter how much it costs. Several heads turn as we make our way back to Tiberius’ room with all the gifts.
Once back in his room Leilani floats around the room placing flowers and bears strategically for the best visual display as she calls it. The room looks perfect when she finally calls it good. We collapse back on the pull-out couch waiting for news on her dad. I keep telling her to be patient but even my patience is running thin.
Thirty long minutes later Doctor Miyo comes in the room. “Oh, good you guys are here.” Doctor Miyo says in an unusually cheerful mood considering the situation.
“How is my dad? How did the surgery go?” Leilani starts rattling off questions seemingly without taking a breath.
Doctor Miyo laughs putting his hands up to calm her. “He is doing great. The surgery went better than expected. He is in the recovery room now, but you guys can see him in a few hours.”
Leilani bursts into tears. “Oh, thank god.”
“Thank you, Doctor Miyo.” I say pulling Leilani into my chest.
“If you guy’s need anything at all feel free to contact me.” Doctor Miyo says and we both thank him again.
Doctor Miyo walks out of the room, and I wrap my arms tighter around Leilani. “Your father is going to be okay Angel. The doctor said he is going to be okay.” I say, kissing the top of her head.
“I’m ready to see him.” Leilani says, and the sound is muffled against my chest.
“I know Angel. He’s going to be in recovery for a while, but as soon as he’s ready for visitors we will go see him okay?”
Leilani squeezes me tighter, and I kiss her head, breathing a sigh of relief. I am so happy surgery went well. I would have never forgiven myself if something had happened to him. Not only because he is Leilani’s father, but because he is my best friend.
We sit back down on the couch and Leilani snuggles into me. I hold her close. Thinking of what’s going to happen next. I know it will probably take a while for Tiberius to heal. Once he is awake, Doctor Miyo should come back in and tell us next steps.
What am I going to do about me and Leilani? I need to tell her father about us, before he finds out on his own. Now is definitely not the time though. I need to wait until he is completely healed, we will just have to be careful until then. I don’t want to give him any extra stress.
Five long hours pass before a nurse finally comes in the room, letting us know Tiberius will be moved back in here shortly. Leilani perks up, looking around the room. “Do you think he is going to like the stuff we got him?”
I kiss her cheek. “Of course he will baby.”
Leilani looks up at me giving me a small smile. “Thank you, Malakai. Thank you for everything.” She kisses me once and I hear the door to the room open.
We instinctively pull away from each other as two nurses wheel Tiberius back in the room on a hospital bed. Leilani starts crying, the second she lays eyes on Tiberius with all the tubes and wires coming out of him. He is sleeping when they bring him in and Leilani just stares at him. “You can sit beside him and hold his hand, Angel. That way when he wakes up, you will be the first person he sees.”
Leilani nods her head and takes a tentative step towards her father. She sits down in the chair beside his bed and stares at him. I come up behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders for support. She turns around and looks at me, and I nod my head encouragingly. Leilani slowly reaches a hand out towards her father’s and places her hand on his.
“He feels so cold.” She whispers, and I can hear the emotion in her voice.
“It’s okay Angel. He will start getting better now. We just have to be patient. It will be a long recovery, but I am here for you and he has you baby.”
Leilani sniffles and nods her head. “Don’t cry baby. He is going to be okay.”
“I’m just so scared of losing him.” Leilani whispers and I hear her voice break.
“Shh, Angel it’s okay. He’s here, he will be okay. Don’t worry, okay?” I say wrapping my arms around her shoulders.
“Okay.” She says wiping at her eyes with the back of her free hand.
“Leilani baby. Is that you?” Tiberius asks his voice rough and dry.
Leilani gasps. “Yes daddy. It’s me. I’m here.”
Tiberius slowly opens his eyes and smiles weakly at Leilani. “Don’t cry baby.” He says quietly.