<b>Chapter </b>144
<i>Grd’s </i><i>POV</i><i>: </i>
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After I finished my piece, I turned around to ce my violin on the table when suddenly, I heard what sound like a mumble. Startled, I immediately turned back around. My eyes shot wide opened, I couldn’t believe what I’d just saw…Kai’s eyes were opening!!
My heart instantly pounded! It worked!! It really worked!! I began to call Kai’s name; I needed to make sure I was right.
<i>“</i><i>Kai</i><i>…</i><i>Kai </i><i>can </i><i>you </i><i>hear </i><i>me</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
<b><i>SPLASH</i></b><i>! </i>
The sound of the water pitcher falling startled me causing me to turn around. Ma and Theo looked as if they’d seen a ghost. In a low and shaky voice, Ma spoke.
<i>“</i><i>What </i><i>did </i><i>you </i><i>just </i><i>say </i><i>Gracie</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
Before I could answer, Kai began to cough faintly. Ma and Theo immediately ran over to
his bedside.
<i>“</i><i>Kai</i><i>! </i><i>Honey</i><i>! </i>It’s <i>mommy</i><i>! </i><i>Can </i><i>you </i><i>hear </i><i>me</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
Ma was now crying. Just then, Ka and Grandpa Teddy walked into the room with a bag of snacks, each looking shocked.
<i>“</i><i>Somebody </i><i>get </i><i>the </i>doctors <i>in </i><i>here </i><i>now</i><i>!!! </i><i>My </i><i>son </i><i>has </i><i>awakened</i><i>!!</i><i>” </i>
I could see Ka’s eyes begin to water.
<i>“</i><i>Dad</i><i>…</i><i>what </i><i>did </i><i>you </i><i>just </i><i>say</i><i>???</i><i>” </i>
I could feel my eyes watering as well; Kai was finally waking up after six months in aa. As I turned back to face him, his eyes finally met mine. I thought he would look at me with confusion, after all, he had no clue who I was. Instead, he looked at me with what seemed to be a longing. Like he’d been waiting all his life to see me.
Weird.
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I wiped the tears out of my eyes. Before I could say anything, the doctor and nurses made their way into the room.
“<i>Please </i>excuse me <i>Lord </i>and <i>Lady </i><i>Christiansen</i>.”
We all stood back while the doctor began to exam Kai.
<i>“</i><i>Sir </i><i>Christiansen</i><i>, </i><i>can </i><i>you </i><i>hear </i>me? I’m <i>doctor </i>Connors.”
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Dr. Connors began to sh a light into Kai’s eyes; suddenly, Kai spoke in a low and groggy
voice.
<i>“</i><i>I </i><i>can </i><i>hear </i><i>you </i>Dr. <i>Connors</i><i>, </i><i>can </i><i>you </i><i>please </i><i>move </i><i>that </i><i>light</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>Absolutely</i><i>! </i><i>Do </i>you <i>think </i><i>you </i><i>can </i><i>sit </i><i>up</i><i>? </i><i>I’d </i><i>like </i><i>to </i><i>check </i><i>your </i><i>vitals </i><i>to </i><i>make </i><i>sure </i><i>everything </i><i>is </i><i>stable</i>.<i>” </i>
Kai began to move his body, we all watched in silence as he began to sit up. I could hear Ma gasp as Ka sobbed loudly. Theo and Teddy just watched on in amazement.
<i>“</i><i>Your </i><i>doing </i><i>great </i><i>Kai</i><i>! </i><i>Nurse </i><i>Lauder</i><i>, </i><i>let’s </i><i>get </i><i>a </i><i>reading </i><i>on </i><i>his </i><i>bp </i><i>and </i><i>heart </i><i>rate</i><i>.</i><i>” </i><fn24a5> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? fin?novel</fn24a5>
<i>“</i><i>Right </i><i>away </i><i>doctor</i>!”
Nurse Lauder beamed as she pulled the small table over with the vital machine. After
checking his vitals, they determined everything looked good.
“<i>He </i><i>looks </i><i>great </i><i>Lord </i><i>and </i><i>Lady </i><i>Chris</i>, of course <i>I’ll </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>have </i><i>an </i><i>ekg </i><i>and cat </i><i>scan </i><i>done </i><i>to </i><i>make </i><i>sure </i><i>his </i><i>heart </i><i>and </i><i>brain </i><i>are </i><i>fine</i><i>. </i><i>But </i>so <i>far</i><i>, </i><i>he </i><i>appears </i><i>healthy</i><i>. </i><i>We’ll </i><i>take </i><i>it </i><i>easy </i><i>as </i><i>he </i><i>just </i><i>woke </i><i>up</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
Theo and Ma nodded in agreement, tearsing down their faces as they made their
way back over to Kai who was now being hugged by Ka.
<i>“</i><i>Don’t </i><i>you </i><i>ever </i><i>scare </i><i>me </i><i>like </i><i>that </i><i>again </i><i>you </i><i>jerk</i><i>!!</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>I’m </i><i>sorry</i><i>! </i><i>Can </i><i>you </i>ease <i>up </i><i>on </i><i>the </i><i>hug </i><i>though</i>.”
I smiled brightly at the brother and sister reunion, suddenly, something hit me.
“<i>Um</i><i>, </i><i>Dr. </i><i>Connors</i><i>…</i><i>what </i><i>about </i><i>his </i><i>diet</i><i>? </i><i>Will </i><i>he </i><i>be </i><i>able </i><i>to </i><i>eat</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
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I asked the doctor before he could leave. He smiled brightly at me.
“<i>That’s </i>a great <i>question </i><i>Mrs. </i>Christiansen. <i>I </i><i>would </i><i>say </i>let’s <i>start </i>out <i>with </i><i>liquids </i>such as <i>broths </i><i>for </i><i>the </i>next <i>two </i><i>days </i>and <i>then </i><i>we’ll </i>move to <i>solids</i>. <i>Mainly </i><i>soups </i><i>if </i>possible<i>.</i><i>” </i>
I nodded in agreement.
<i>“</i><i>Thank </i>you<i>!</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>You’re </i><i>very </i><i>wee</i>. <i>Take </i><i>good </i><i>care </i>of him.<i>” </i>
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I beamed as I turned around to make my way back to Kai. As I got closer, the talking and crying suddenly stopped as we locked eyes on each other.
I suddenly felt shy; I could feel my cheeks begin to redden. Why was he staring at me so intensively. Was it because he didn’t know who I was? Was he angry his parents set up an engagement with aplete stranger? I began to feel nervous. I decided it was best for me to at least introduce myself. Smiling brightly, I spoke.
“<i>Hello </i><i>Kai</i><i>. </i>I’m <i>Gra-</i>”
<i>“</i><i>Gracie</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
<b><i>WHAT</i></b><i>!!!! </i>
How the hell did he know my name??? Had Ma or Theo told him? I looked at him
nervously as everyone else beamed. Finally, Theo spoke.
<i>“</i><i>Everyone</i><i>, </i><i>why </i><i>don’t </i><i>we </i><i>give </i><i>them </i><i>a </i><i>moment</i>.
<i>” </i>
Ka began to protest.
<i>“</i><i>What</i><i>!! </i><i>This </i><i>is </i><i>the </i><i>part </i><i>I </i><i>was </i><i>waiting </i><i>for</i>!”
Ma tapped Ka’s shoulder.
<i>“</i><i>Your </i><i>father’s </i><i>right </i><i>Ka</i><i>. </i><i>Let’s </i><i>give </i><i>them </i>a <i>moment</i>.‘
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“<i>Why </i><i>don’t </i><i>we </i>go <i>grab </i><i>lunch</i><i>, </i><i>I’m </i><i>sure </i><i>everyone </i><i>is </i><i>a </i><i>little </i><i>hungry</i><i>.</i>”
Grandpa Teddy suggested.
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In all honesty, I wasn’t hungry, I was too nervous. Kai and I continued to stared at each other as everyone began to leave, suddenly, remembering what the doctor said, I called out to Teddy.
<i>“</i><i>Grandpa </i><i>Teddy</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
<i>“</i><i>Yes </i><i>dear</i>?”
<i>“</i><i>Kai </i><i>can </i><i>only </i><i>eat </i><i>broths </i><i>for </i><i>the </i><i>next </i>two <i>days</i><i>!</i><i>” </i>
Ma smiled warmly at me. Suddenly, she walked over to me and hugged me tightly. <b>I </b>could feel my cheek getting wet as her tears fell down.
<i>“</i><i>Take </i><i>care </i><i>of </i><i>my </i><i>baby</i><i>.</i>”
I nodded in agreement. Once everyone left, the room grew ufortably quiet. I turned
to look at Kai who hadn’t said a word. Was he mad?
<b><i>Kai’s </i></b><b><i>POV</i></b><b>: </b>
I couldn’t believe I was looking her directly in the eyes. Those same light brown beautiful
eyes that had haunted me since I was twelve. I’d spent years trying to find her with no
luck. After we retuned to Phoenix, I must’ve went to that beach a million times hoping to
see her again. And now, here she was standing before me. My brain was screaming,
<i>‘</i><i>Kai</i><i>! </i><i>Stop </i><i>being </i><i>weird</i><i>! </i><i>Say </i><i>something</i>!!!‘
But I couldn’t help but stare. She was so beautiful. My heart felt like it was falling out my
chest. She still had that same beautiful thick reddish brown hair; her skin was still that
same caramelplexion. Her eyes were still big and beautiful. She was breathtaking. She looked nervous. Probably because I kept staring at her. I was just about to say something
when she spoke first.
“<i>I’m </i>sorry.”
Huh? My brows instantly furrowed.
<i>“</i><i>For </i><i>what</i><i>?</i>”
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She pulled the stool up to my bedside and sat down. She was so close to me. My heart started to race. Gently grabbing my hand, she continued.
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<i>“</i><i>I </i>know you’re <i>probably </i><i>angry </i><i>your </i><i>parents </i><i>set </i><i>this </i><i>engagement </i><i>up </i><i>without </i><i>your </i><i>permission</i>, <i>but </i><i>please</i>… don’t <i>be </i>angry <i>with </i><i>them</i>.<b>” </b>
Engagement??? Wait!!! We’re engaged!!! Really???
I was so busy talking in my head that I almost missed what she said after that.
“<i>Your </i><i>mom </i><i>has </i><i>already </i><i>agreed </i><i>to </i><i>it</i><i>. </i><i>So</i>, <i>I </i><i>can </i><i>let </i><i>her </i><i>know</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
“I’m <i>sorry</i><i>, </i><i>let </i><i>my </i><i>mom know </i><i>what</i><i>?</i><i>” </i>
She lifted her head up, there was a sadness in her eyes. No!! Why????
“<i>I’ll </i><i>let </i>her <i>know </i><i>the </i><i>engagement </i><i>is </i><i>off</i><i>.</i>”
WHAT!!!!! I began to panic!
<i>“</i><i>Wait</i><i>!!! </i><i>Why </i><i>do </i><i>you </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>do </i><i>that</i><i>???</i><i>” </i>
Her eyes widen as she looked at me with a confused expression.
“<i>Don’t </i><i>you </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>call </i><i>it </i>off?<i>” </i>
WHAT!!!! Why would she think that? I couldn’t help butugh. I’d spent over ten years trying to find the girl I’d fallen in love with and here she was trying to end our engagement. She looked extremely confused now. I ced her hand back into mine. I would never let this hand go again. Smiling, I rified her confusion.
<i>“</i><i>Gracie</i><i>, </i><i>you </i><i>have </i><i>it </i><i>all </i><i>wrong</i><i>. </i><i>I </i><i>don’t </i><i>want </i><i>to </i><i>call off </i><i>the </i><i>engagement</i>.
Her eyes widen.
<i>“</i><i>Really</i><i>?</i>”
Smiling.
<i>“</i><i>Really</i><i>. </i><i>You </i><i>have </i><i>no </i><i>idea </i><i>how </i><i>happy </i><i>I </i><i>am </i><i>that </i><i>I </i><i>finally </i><i>found </i><i>you</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
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