It Had To Be You (32 page)

Mama began to cry, a slow, pitiful cry. “Oh, my Bella. You scared us to death!”

Good grief. Couldn’t a girl even faint without getting in trouble? “I’m sorry, Mama. I didn’t plan for it in advance.”

The pounding in my head continued, and I felt nauseated.

Marcella’s doctor gave me a brusque nod. “It’s not unusual for people to faint in hospitals. We see it all the time.”

“Ah. See there?” I looked at Mama and shrugged. “It happens all the time.”

The doctor drew near. “How have you been feeling? Before this fainting spell, I mean.”

“Pretty overwhelmed,” I admitted. “And I’ve been having some strange, well, chest pains.”

“Chest pains?” He gave me a pensive look. So did my mother, who let out another cry.

“You’ve been in pain and didn’t tell me?”

“Who had time?”

“Tell me about these pains,” the doctor prompted. “When did they start? How long do they last?”

I tried to explain—though my words didn’t make sense, even to my own ears—that it wasn’t really pain I was feeling, but more of a gripping sensation. That my heart flip-flopped. Regularly. It drove me nuts.

The doctor reached for the blood pressure cuff and wrapped it around my arm as I continued to explain. “What else?” he asked.

“Sometimes I get a little short of breath. And queasy.”

He continued to take my blood pressure, his eyes widening as the numbers came up on the screen: 152/102.

The doctor gave me a thoughtful look. “When a person faints, it’s usually because their blood pressure or blood sugar is low. You’ve got the opposite problem, at least with your blood pressure. It’s much higher than it should be, and I plan to take that very seriously. We’re going to draw some blood. Run a few tests. I think it would be wise to keep you for a couple of days to see if we can figure out what’s going on.”

“A couple of days? But … I’m getting married on Saturday.”

“You’ll be out in plenty of time for that,” he said, waving his hand. “I’m going to check your blood sugar and your thyroid levels. How has your diet been these past few weeks?”

“Diet?” I shook my head. Who had time to eat? I was a busy woman, after all. Eating would come after the wedding, not before.

“Mm-hmm.” He wrote something on my chart. “I suspected as much. “And I assume you haven’t been sleeping, since you’ve got a wedding coming up.”

“She keeps me up all night,” Sophia said, crossing her arms at her chest and locking me with her gaze. “I never get any rest.”

“W-what?” The other way around was more like it. Still, I didn’t argue. What good would it do at this point?

“Well, as I said, I will give you a few days for some R & R, and I’ll run tests while you’re resting.” The doctor stopped writing in my file long enough to offer a weak smile, his first attempt at being personable.

“Impossible.” I shook my head. “You don’t understand. I’m a wedding planner. It’s what I do. Half the battle—half the joy—is in the
planning
, not just the actual day. And the week before the big day is when everything gets done. Surely you can see that.” I repeated myself, just in case he hadn’t fully understood. “I’m. Getting. Married. On. Saturday.”

He shook his head. “I’m assuming you want to live to see your first anniversary, right?”

“Well, of course.” I leaned back against the pillow, finding little or no strength to argue anymore.

“Then let me run the tests. I can’t have a patient complaining of chest pains and then do nothing about it. We’ll do a full workup on your heart—EKG, echocardiogram, nuclear stress test …”

On and on he went, describing the various tests he would perform over the next few days. I heard him, of course. Saw his lips moving. Tried to make sense of the words. But I could not. Had the man not heard me say I was getting married on Saturday?

When he finished, Mama looked my way and clucked her tongue. “You don’t take care of yourself, Bella. This isn’t good.”

“I’ve just been so overwhelmed with work. I … I’ve tried to do too much.”

“I know, but we’d like to keep you around awhile.” Her expression softened. “And not so you can work, baby. You are my girl. I need you to be healthy and strong.” Her eyes filled with tears, and she looked away.

Rosa took a more practical stance. “You haven’t eaten a decent meal in weeks. It’s affecting your blood sugar. I’m going home to make some real food. Some pasta and gravy will be just the ticket. And protein. You need protein. I’m making salmon.”

“Rosa, that’s a wonderful idea,” Mama said, clasping her hands together. “A good meal will work wonders. So will a good night’s sleep. I’m convinced that Bella needs rest.” She looked at me with tenderness in her eyes. “We’re going to leave you alone for a few hours, and I hope you’ll sleep. Don’t think about anything. Don’t plan anything. Just rest. Promise?”

A sigh escaped. “I’ll try. I don’t know if that’s possible, though. I really need to be printing the programs for the ceremony today. And my dress! I’m supposed to pick it up from the alterations lady. I still owe her a hundred and fifty dollars. If I don’t take care of that today, she’s going to hold my dress hostage!”

“Bella, you’re not making sense,” Sophia said, patting my arm in a mother-hen sort of way. “Don’t worry about the dress. I’ll swing by and pick it up.”

“You just rest easy, Bella,” Mama said as she headed for the door with Rosa on her heels.

“Oh, wait!” I called out. “I forgot something.”

“What’s that?” Mama asked, turning back to face me.

“How is Marcella? In all of the craziness, I forgot to ask.” “She’s resting. Doctor’s orders.” Mama gave me a pensive look. “So, it looks like you’re both in the same boat.”

“Okay, okay.”

“Don’t worry, Mama,” Sophia called out. “I’ll stay here with her and make sure she rests.”

Sure you will.

I leaned my head against the pillow and closed my eyes, but my thoughts tumbled madly through my head. If Sophia was staying here, I needed to call the alterations lady to check on my dress. Maybe Norah could swing by and pick it up later. Oh, and D.J.! How could I have forgotten to call him? He needed to know I was in the hospital.

Turned out my family had already taken care of that little detail. By the time I reached D.J. on his cell, he was already in the hospital parking lot. He arrived in my room a few minutes later, and I could read the worry in his eyes.

“I’m fine,” I assured him. “Nothing to worry about. The wedding will go on, I promise.”

“Bella, the wedding isn’t what matters to me.” His eyes filled with tears, and he took a seat on the edge of my bed. “You’re all that matters. Getting you well. Making sure you’re okay.” He got choked up, and I had trouble making out his next words. “I-I don’t know w-what I’d d-do if a-anything ever h-happened to you!”

Then the tears flowed freely from both of us. I’d never seen D.J. so worked up before. Unfortunately, the automatic blood pressure machine kicked in, puffing up around my upper arm and eventually registering 155/104. Seconds later a nurse appeared with an IV in her hand. “We’ve got to get you hooked up, sweetie. Need to get that blood pressure down ASAP.”

The insertion of the IV was enough to send Sophia running from the room with the comment that she needed to spend some time with Marcella. D.J. offered to stay, of course.

The next few minutes were a blur of activity. Whatever they gave me for my blood pressure made me groggy. I found myself dozing off. Several times I awoke, finding D.J. in the chair next to my bed. Each time, he offered a reassuring smile and squeezed my hand. A couple of times, I even heard him praying, asking the Lord to bring healing and peace to my body. I felt so safe with D.J. nearby. Safe enough to drift back off to sleep once again.

Evening shadows were just falling when I heard a noise at the door. Looking up, I saw Rosa with her arms full. I could smell the garlic across the room. “Bella Bambina, wake up,” she said. “I’ve come bringing medicine from the Old Country.” A smile lit her face, and I sat up.

“What did you bring?”

“Garlic twists, of course. They’re just what the doctor ordered. And fettuccini Alfredo. I know it’s your favorite. And salmon, just like I promised. Grilled just the way you like it. Well, minus the salt. The doctor said you need to be on a salt-free diet for a while.” She put the food down on the table and began to open the Tupperware containers. The smell danced across the room, bringing hope.

Within minutes, the room was full of people once again. Mama. Pop. Sophia. Tony. Joey. Norah. Phoebe. They fed me, coddled me, prayed over me, and made me promise I would take care of myself. In short, they promised to love me back to health. All the while, I kept a watchful eye on D.J., who hovered over me like a mama hen, making sure I had the space I needed. God bless that cowboy of mine. He’d boot-scooted his way into my life, changing everything.

“More garlic twists, Bella?” Rosa called out, interrupting my thoughts.

When I nodded, she refilled my plate, not just with bread, but with every good thing. I couldn’t possibly eat it all. Still, with so many people looking on, I would give it my best shot.

I would give something else my best shot too. Whatever the doctor said, I would do. If it meant resting a few days, fine. If it meant eating more, fine. If it meant putting off the wedding …

Hmm. I had to admit—that one
wasn’t
so fine.

I spent my second day in the hospital trying to stay calm— not an easy task with wires and tubes constricting my every movement. The morning started with a nuclear stress test. That was a blast. From there I had an echocardiogram—a somewhat easier process. After that, the bloodthirsty tech people came and drained me of every ounce of blood for more tests. Hadn’t they taken enough yesterday?

I tried not to think about the wedding. Tried not to let it bother me. After all, I still had three and a half days. Surely they would spring me from this place later today or tomorrow, right?

Finally back in my room, I closed my eyes and tried to rest before the next group of guests showed up. Most everyone in the family had been suspiciously absent this morning. Of course, they’d spent half the night trucking back and forth between my room and Marcella’s. I’d nearly dozed off when a soft voice roused me.

“Bella?” Mama entered, along with Aunt Rosa. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Tired. But a little better, actually.”

“Any test results yet?”

“No. Tomorrow, maybe.”

Another voice sounded from the doorway. “Knock knock!”

I looked up to see Twila entering the room with Terrell alongside her. I had to smile when I read her T-shirt advertising the Royal Caribbean cruise line.

“Twila! How are the honeymooners?”

She came toward the bed with a concerned look on her face. “The honeymooners are fine. The bigger question is, how are you? I had no idea my little Bella was sick!”

“Oh, I’m not sick. Not really.”

“Well, when I heard my girl was in the hospital, I couldn’t stay away.” Tears filled her eyes, and she reached for my hand, giving it a squeeze.

“Wild dogs couldn’t keep us from coming,” Jolene said, entering the room behind her.

“The minute I heard you were sick, I packed up my dancing shoes and came with,” Bonnie Sue added. “I thought maybe a little entertainment would lift your spirits.”

“She’s teasing about the dancing shoes,” Twila whispered. “Bonnie Sue thinks she’s funny.”

“I
am
funny.” Bonnie Sue winked, and I smiled in response. “But seriously, we just came to see you. To lift your spirits. And to bring you a few goodies.”

“Goodies?” I sat up a little straighter.

Earline entered the room behind Bonnie Sue, her arms full. “I’ve made chicken-fried steak with mashed potatoes and gravy, Bella. I know you love that! ’Course, I had to leave out the salt, but that’s okay. Figured you could use a good meal right about now. Get you up and running again.”

The delicious smell of fried steak permeated the room, overwhelming my senses. Still, my stomach was pretty full from all of Rosa’s offerings last night. Could I really risk another huge meal?

Staring into my future mother-in-law’s face, I realized I must. Besides, I could probably use the calories. And I sure didn’t need to worry about my wedding dress not fitting. The alterations lady had chastised me because of my weight loss. How often did a girl get that kind of critique?

Oh, the wedding dress! Did Sophia pick it up?
I would have to remember to ask her later.

Within minutes, we were all eating. Earline had packed enough for the crowd. By the time Jenna showed up, the room was filled to the brim with chattering guests. I enjoyed the diversion. There was something familiar and comforting about the sound of their voices.

The conversation started out light, but it quickly turned heavy when Twila asked a hard question. “Bella, I can see how you’re doing physically, but how are you doing spiritually?”

I paused for a moment, not wanting to make a liar out of myself. I’d been doing pretty well, right? I still read my Bible on occasion and prayed. On the run, mostly. But surely the Lord could see that I needed to stay busy. Otherwise, why would he have given me so much to do?

Looking into Twila’s eyes, I knew I had to tell the truth. “I’ve been struggling, to be honest. I don’t feel like I’m where I need to be right now. If things would just slow down, maybe I could get back to that place where everything made sense. Where I felt really close to God. But it feels like everything in my life is moving in fast-forward and I can’t seem to slow it down.”

“This whole thing reminds me of the twenty-third psalm,” Earline said. “You know that part about how God makes us lie down in green pastures? That’s where you are right now, Bella. In green pastures.”

“Are you saying the Lord caused me to get sick to slow me down?” I asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m just saying that while you’re here, you might as well take advantage of the quiet time to get back to that place with the Lord where you want to be. The Bible is pretty clear that the Lord can take what the enemy meant for evil and use it for our good. So why not let God do that? While you’re resting—even if it’s in a hospital room—think of yourself as lying in green pastures beside still waters. When you’re in that place—truly in that place—God promises to restore your soul.”