....by Leslie
Chapter 7-"Waiting"
Dr McDonald immediately checked Cameron's pulse. Nothing.
"Paddles, quickly Dr.Donovan.Stat!"
The doctors worked feverishly to get Cameron's heart going. It seemed like hours passed by before they had his heart back in sinus rhythm again.
"Doctor…. Pulse is 80…. Blood pressure 110 over 80."
"Now that's more like it.Let's get back to work and get this man back on his feet.He's got someone out there in the waiting room I would NOT want to tell bad news too."
The entire medical team worked together for the next 1-½ hours and completed the work on Cameron's knee. He was then whisked into intensive care, since his heart did stop during the procedure. Dr McDonald wanted to check out why that happened and to keep a close eye on him for the time being.
Meanwhile, Amanda was in the surgical waiting room, trying to distract herself with what was on TV, even though she was not a regular viewer. She kept changing channels until she stopped on one with a daytime drama. She had heard of these before but never watched them.
"Hmmm…Another World? That man looks very familiar…"she thought.
At this moment, Dr McDonald came into the waiting room.
"Amanda?"
"Yes doctor?"
"The surgery is over. Mr. Sinclair is in the intensive care recovery unit. We're going to keep him there a day or two."
"Why? I thought you told me he'd be going back to his room after he was in recovery for an hour or so."
"Well, that's true. But his heart stopped during surgery and we are not sure why. We got him back in sinus rhythm rather quickly, but we have to find out why that happened."
"How soon can I go see him? He needs to know I'm here."
"Oh, he knows. That I'm sure of!"
"How would you know that?" Amanda asked.
"Because when we were talking about the operation the other day, you are all that man talks about. He must care about you very much. You will need to be there for him when he wakes up and during his recovery and therapy."He's got a long road ahead of him."
"Will you be his doctor during the therapy?"
"Both myself and Dr Donovan will be involved. Will he be staying at your house during this time?"
"Yes doctor. We will do whatever it takes to get Cameron back on his feet."
Dr McDonald said her good-byes and left to check on Cameron.Amanda relaxed a bit and went to call her mom and let her know Cameron was out of surgery and recovering. She also made one other call……
"Sinclair and Sinclair.Gary Sinclair here."
"Gary..It's me, Amanda."
"Hello Amanda". Amanda couldn't believe how cold Gary sounded on the phone. She knew he was still upset over the events in Boca Lynda and what happened since they returned. She didn't think he would ever forgive Cameron for what he and Josie did.
"Gary,I'm at the hospital."
"Why? You're not sick or anything are you?"
"No.It''s your brother."
"Amanda…I have no brother here anymore. I told you that before. I told him that too."
"Gary, Cameron just had…"
"Amanda, I don't care what he does anymore. He's nothing to me. You understand?NOTHING!! I let him back in my life and what does he do to me? He gets the hots for my wife while you and I are clinging to our lives in that tunnel. He should have died in that house too, right along side of Guthrie."
"Gary you don't mean that."Amanda pleaded.
"Amanda.You don;'t understand. You didn't live through what Cameron and I did when we were kids. I hated him after what he did to our father. Then he gets out of jail, works secretly with my wife…. in more ways than one."
"Gary …..STOP!!That's not how it happened and you know it. I didn't think I could get through it but I did.Cameron and I aren't trying to get back to where we were before Boca Lynda.We want to get past that and move on…we will make things work this time."
Amanda,he wouldn't know how to treat a good thing if it came up and bit him in the……"
"Gary,that's enough.Your brother had surgery today and I almost lost him again. I cannot let that happen anymore. I'd'rather die than live without him."
"What do you mean..You almost lost him?"
"His heart stopped during surgery and they don't know why.They are keeping him in intensive care for a few days to check it out."
"Well,he certainly knows how to keep you on a string doesn't he?"
Amanda couldn't believe that this was Gary talking. She knew he was still angry.but he sounded different…
"Gary,I've got to go.Cameron's going to need me when he wakes up, and I'm going to be there when he does..even if you won't be.
Why can't you look past your own anger and think of doing what's best for him right now." Amanda didn't say good-bye, and hung up the phone.She went to the intensive care waiting room and called the nurse's station to see if she can go into Cameron's room.
"Nurses station. Sheila speaking. Can I help you?"
"Yes, this is Amanda Cory.I'd like to visit Mr. Sinclair if that's ok."
"Ms.Cory, we're just getting him settled in. Can you give us a few minutes and you can come right in."
"Thank you.I'll do that."
Amanda poured herself a cup of coffee but wasn't able to drink it.She walked through the doors of the intensive care unit and up to the desk. The nurse directed her to the last room on the right, which was Cameron's. She was certainly not prepared for what she saw.
Cameron was unconscious..hooked up to all sorts of machines.One was a heart monitor,the other one to check his pulse..and another to regulate his oxygen levels. This isn't what she expected.Even though she knew he just had major surgery,she half-expected to see Cameron sitting up with that silly grin on his face, like he had when he snuck into her room that morning at the house.
She took her hand and ran it along his cheek. His face was warm to the touch. His hands seemed a little cold so she covered them with the blanket.
Amanda pulled a chair over to the side of Cameron's bed and sat down. She took his left hand in hers and stroked it gently.
"Cameron.I'm here.I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere.You rest now."She leaned down and kissed his hand like he did hers many times.
"I love you Sinclair.You hear me? I said I love you. And I'm going to make you a promise that I will say that to you every day of your life from now on…"
The nurse came in to tell Amanda that the doctors needed to examine Cameron while on rounds and that she needed to leave for a bit. She didn't want to, but she knew she should.
"If he wakes up, please tell him I'll be right back."
Amanda left intensive care and walked over to the phones to let her family know what was going on. Her mother wanted to come to the hospital, but Amanda said that wasn't necessary.She'd keep them informed.
She then walked down the hall to the chapel, taking a seat in the back row. It was then that the tears came…and wouldn't stop. She was worried that what happened during surgery would happen again…. Why now? Why Cameron?
Amanda stayed a few minutes to regain her composure before going back to Cameron's room. She felt safe here. Close to Cameron.
When Amanda got back to his room, Dr. McDonald was waiting for her.
"Amanda, I'd like to talk to you for a minute. Can we go over here?"
Amanda walked over to where the doctor was standing. He led her by the arm to a small private waiting room outside intensive care.
"I'm concerned about Mr. Sinclair.He hasn't regained consciousness since the operation. I am unsure if this has to do with what happened during surgery and the incident with his heart. His pulse and heart rate are strong, but there has been no type of movement whatsoever. The next 24 hours are critical to his care. The sooner he regains consciousness, the sooner we can determine what, if any, problems he has with his heart. I just wanted you to be aware of the situation."
"Thank you for being honest with me Dr McDonald.Can I go in now?"
"Go right ahead. The nurses have finished with him for now."
Amanda took a deep breath and went into Cameron's room. His condition had not changed. She sat down and again took his hand in hers. She held it close to her face and kept it there for a long time.
"You'll be all right,Cameron.You have to be.I'm here…..I'll always be here."
The hours went by slowly. The next shift of nurses came on about 3pm,and they had to come in to check Cameron's vital signs. No change. Even Dr McDonald, who by this time had gone home, called to check on his condition. The nurses told him what they had told Amanda.
Amanda by this time,was tired and hungry but she didn't want to leave Cameron.The nurses encouraged her to grab a bite from the cafeteria and assured her she would be paged if he woke up. "If?" she thought.
She wandered to the cafeteria in a daze, not knowing what to eat or drink or if she wanted to. She started to feel unsteady when she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder.
"Need some help here,Miss?"
"Gary??What are you doing here? After I talked to you,I thought…"
"Yeah, well, I thought too. I also called Rachel and she filled me in on what's all been happening with you and that brother of mine lately. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because you made it clear you didn't want to know.Cameron knows how you feel about him.You made that clear to him too."
"Yeah, well…I'm not saying what he and Josie did was right. I'll never understand what they did in Boca Lynda.But he is my kid brother, and he did enough for me before..when we were kids .I guess I can be here for you..and him..now."
Amanda grabbed Gary and hugged him tightly. She relaxed for the first time that day while she and Gary ate a mildly acceptable dinner. They both went back up to Cameron's room to check in on him.Still no change.
"Gary,I'm going to sit with him for awhile.You go.I'll call you when he wakes up!"
"Amanda, I'm going to go check my messages and I'll be right back. I'm staying put!"
Gary leaves and Amanda turns around to check on Cameron more closely.She goes up to the head of the bed and runs her fingers along his forehead,memorizing each line on his face..each hair on his head.She bends down and kisses him lightly on his cheek,then runs her lips slowly over to his mouth and then to his other cheek.She whispers in his ear,"I love you like crazy Sinclair."
Amanda then sat down in the chair beside Cameron's bed and bent down to pick up something up that fell on the floor.
"I..I..I love you too, Princess!!"
Back into your arms I descend..
Just like it was all brand new…I'm falling in love with you!
Look at how far we've come…
Our love is forever young,
Remember when we first met…I'll never forget just how good it feels to be…
Falling all over,
Falling all over again,
Falling in love with my very best friend,
Now and forever,
This love will never end.
I'm falling all over again!
Amanda couldn't agree more. It was right this time. Perfect. And she knew just how to celebrate…with Cameron.
His next few weeks of therapy went better than the doctors ever hoped for.His knee was gaining strength and its' range was almost back to 100%. So when Amanda told the doctors her plans for Cameron that evening, they just smiled.
She went up to Cameron's room where he was reading.
"Hey you.How did it go today?"
"Great.The docs said I can get back to my mornal activities soon.And I know just where I wanna start!!" He grabbed Amanda around her waist, and spun her around, making her a little dizzy.
"Stop that!I just came into check on you.I gotta go."
"Now where?"
"Well I'm meeting this rather handsome devil at his new apartment about 6pm or so. I have to get some things together before I go.."
"WHAT??? I thought you and I.."
"Gotcha again Sinclair. I'll be meeting you at your new place."
You're kicking me out of here before my little broken heart and leg are healed?"
"Of course not.Gary found you a new place when you are ready to leave here..after your recovery and all….but I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time alone..together."
"Hey,I like your style Miss Cory."
Then you be ready at 5:30 and I'll have someone come by and pick you up."
"Where will you be?"
"You''ll see.Now don''t be late."
Amanda had this way of leaving a room, which made Cameron wish for 5:30 to come and come fast!
So it did.Before he knew it,it was time to get ready.He took a nice long shower and let the warm water refresh him.Cameron put on the fragrance that he knew drove Amanda crazy along with that green shirt that she said brought out the softness in his eyes. He was ready.
The doorbell rang,and there was Gary on the other side.
"Come on,little brother.Your lady awaits."
"What?You're going to be there too?"
"No. I just know how to get there and you don't.So are you coming now or are you prepared to face the wrath of Miss Amanda Cory?"
"Not in this lifetime.Let's go."
Gary drove Cameron to the new apartment . Cameron thanked him but before he left the car,Gary handed him this note.It said,
"Speed it up Sinclair.I wait for no man…well,maybe you.It's apartment 13b"
Cameron would have run those stairs himself,but he wasn't foolish.He got to the door and knocked. He was intrigued by the voice on the other side, which said…"Come on in, you!"
Cameron opened the door and there stood Amanda,looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her. She had on a royal blue off-the shoulder velvet dress ,with a small strand of pearls.Her hair was upswept to the side with a few ringlets on both side.She was a vision!
"My,my,my..And what did I ever do to deserve all of this?" Cameron glanced around the room.Amanda had candles everywhere. In the middle of the room was a table set for two,with a bottle of champagne chilling next to it. That was it-no other furniture-just the table for two!
"Cameron,you've always deserved it.So have I.And it's about time we let ourselves have it..and enjoy each other.Surprised?"
"Oh Princess,you always surprise me.And I love it." With that,he sauntered over to where Amanda was standing,put his arms slowly around her waist and began to kiss her passionately.They could both feel the heat between them as they clung to each other.
When they finally came up for air,Amanda asked Cameron to sit down. She brought out a picnic basket from under the table and opened it.
Cameron couldn't help but laugh again when he saw what Amanda put on his plate to eat.Pizza!!And to drink?Beer!This is what he wanted for their wedding reception the first time.
"Amanda,you always know the way to my heart."
"Of course I do.Now eat..but wait.Look at this.I got it in the mail today."
Cameron opened it.It was a wedding invitation.On the outside of the card,it said…
"True love is the gift that God hath given to man alone beneath the heavens.The silver link, the silver tie…. Which heart to heart and mind to mind…. In body and in soul can bind."
"Who's getting married Amanda?"
"Look on the inside."
Cameron's mouth dropped as he read it once..then again…and again…
Because you have shared in our lives
By your friendship and love,we
Amanda Cory
And
Cameron Sinclair
Together with our families
Invite you to share
The beginning of our lives together
When we exchange marriage vows
On Saturday,June fifth
Nineteen hundred and ninety-nine
At 2:00 in the afternoon
At the hill where we first met.
Cameron couldn't see now.He was crying.He couldn't believe this was true.That Amanda still loved him enough to want to marry him.
"Well,Sinclair.Do you have an answer for me or do I have to stand here with cold pizza and a beer in my hand?"
Cameron couldn't speak.He was overwhelmed with love for Amanda-his Princess.
"Cameron,I love you.Plain and simple.You are the most important person in my life.You make me the happiest I've ever been. I can't imagine my life without you.You make me so mad sometimes…then you go out and do something that makes me fall in love with you all over again. Will you marry me?"