Liam's story - 15. Chapter 15

I will admit, I was panicking a little when dad told me mom was in the hospital, my mind went through all the worst case scenarios. I had just lost Josh, I couldn’t lose my mom too. Turns out as usual I was being a little dramatic. Mom had fallen off a ladder in the back yard, why she was up on a ladder I don’t know. But she fractured her right ankle, right upper arm, and right collar bone. They couldn’t do anything at our small hospital in town so mom got transferred to Branston. She needed surgery on her ankle.

I found her car keys and made my way back to Branston. She was on the third floor; orthopaedic surgery. I quickly parked and made my way to her room. She was lucky and had a double room but no roommate to share it with. I don’t know why but walking into her room and seeing her in a hospital bed made me very emotional. I went to her side to give her a hug (very gently as she was pretty banged up) she wrapped her left arm around me and I started to cry. I hadn’t realized how scared I had been. Before Josh, death wasn’t something that really scared me, I almost never thought of it. Not my own, and not my loved ones. Sure, I had lost two grandparents, but they were old, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Josh’s death had awoken a fear in me. I now realized my own mortality and that of others as well. Mom was fine, but what if she hadn’t have been. I don’t know if I could handle that.

“It’s okay sweetie, I’m okay. They’re taking me to surgery at 3, but its a simple operation. Done all the time. I’ll be okay. It’s okay.” I felt bad, she was laying in the hospital bed, and trying to comfort me. I should be the one trying to make her feel better, but I couldn’t help it. I kept crying and she kept hugging me and trying to reassure me it would all be okay. I finally got my emotions under control. I sat back on to the chair beside her bed. I wiped my face off with my hands a looked at her. She was starting to bruise around her neck and face as well as the bruising down her right arm. I had to ask.

“Mom, what were you doing up on the ladder?” I had to know.

“It seems silly, but I was trying to hang some hooks to hang some potted plants, just beside the patio doors to the back yard. I thought it could use some colour.”

I couldn’t help but laugh “Maybe next time someone else should maybe do that for you.”

She laughed along with me for a minute before getting more serious. She used her left hand to reach up and hold my face, lifting it up so I was looking her in the eye. “Are you sure you’re okay honey?” She asked, she looked concerned for me.

“Yeah, just scared I guess. Dad said you were fine on the phone, but I still could help but worry, I guess it was a relief to see you when I walked in the room.”

“Okay honey, if you're sure thats all.”

“Yeah. Well, thats all that was going on with me now, but I was going to talk to you when I got home today about some other stuff. If you’re not up for it right now it can wait.”

“I have nothing but time, well until 3.” She smiled.

It took a few false starts, but once I got going i just kept talking. I told mom everything. That I was gay, my years long secret crush on Toby, our closeness since Josh’s death and our now relationship. She didn’t interrupt me, just listened to me talk. And held my hand while I did. I had finally finished rambling she looked like she was about to speak when her room door opened and dad walked back in. The three of us just sat and talked until mom’s surgery. We spoke a little about me, and my situation and Toby. Dad already knew and now mom did too. As predicted she was okay with everything, just said she wanted me to be happy. Dad told me I did’t have to wait around the hospital, that he would keep me updated but I didn’t want to leave him alone.

I texted Dylan and let him know what had happened, and that I couldn’t meet him. I also texted Toby and told him. I hadn't expected it but at five o’clock that evening while we were waiting for news about mom and her surgery Toby came walking in to the waiting room with a paper bag filled with take out.

“Figured you guys might be hungry.” He said as he dropped the bag on a table in the waiting room and started pulling out food.

“Thanks Toby.” My dad said as you could hear his stomach rumble. He chuckled. “Guess I am hungry.”

“Thanks babe.” I said, standing an awkward distance away, I wanted to embrace him or something but felt weird about it with my dad right there. Toby didn’t. He closed the gap between us and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re welcome.” He quietly spoke into me ear before kissing me on the side of my head. He didn’t let go right away, just head me to him. “You okay?” He asked as we disengaged.

“Yeah, mom’s okay, and should be out of surgery soon.” I replied, instantly missing the closeness of his hug.

We got started on our food, he gained my dad’s favour by bringing him a loaded burger and poutine. He brought me a grilled chicken breast with a salad and dressing on the side. I looked towards him and my dad, both starting in on their big, amazing looking burgers and then to my chicken. Toby caught my eye. “Hey, you’re the one who said you wanted to get back into shape. You wouldn’t eat my bacon this morning in favour of oatmeal and a banana, I figured you would appreciate a healthy supper.”

“I do, yours just looks a lot better than mine.” I laughed before starting in on my bland meal. I did steal some of Toby’s fries though.

We were still working on our food when the nurse came in to let us know mom was out of surgery, she was in the recovery room. The surgeon would come see us in a few minutes and we could see mom when they moved her back to her room in about an hour. The surgeon followed shortly after, he was a smaller man but pleasant enough. He explained moms surgery, that she now had a metal rod in her lower leg a couple of screws in her ankle. She would wear a temporary cast for two weeks, then when the swelling was down come back and get another one for another four weeks. After he left we sat and waited rather impatiently for her to be moved back up to her room where we could see her.

She was moved back to her own room just before seven. I saw her briefly but visiting hours ended at eight and I got the sense dad wanted some time alone with her. Since she had no roommate the nurses were allowing dad to spend the night in her room on a small fold out arm chair.

Toby was still waiting for me in the waiting room when I came out from visiting mom. He wrapped me up in a big once again, I let my self fall in to the comfort of his arms before leaving the hospital to head home. Toby offered to let me sleep at his place here in Branston, but I wanted to go home. We decided since I would be home alone anyway that Toby would follow and come home with me.

It was still early when we got back to my house, just after eight, but I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was shower and go to bed. I expressed this to Toby and he was onboard. We went upstairs and Toby started the shower for me, he of course joined me, but it wasn’t anything erotic, just comforting. I’m not sure why but I was still quite affected by my mom’s accident. It really shook me. Toby seemed to pick up on that, and much like the night he brought me home after Josh’s funeral he just took care of me.

It wasn’t even nine and we were in bed, me laying on my side with Toby cuddled up beside me. I drifted off to sleep.