A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel (20 page)

“This much.” Shawn held up his fingers.

“Well, my tub requires much more water.” She filled
the tub and turned on the jets.

Shawn’s eyes grew big as he watched the water
swirling.

“These are the buttons.” She pushed each one and
showed him what it did. “Now, off with your clothes, and don’t
drown! Do you need help with your hair?”

Shawn shook his head.

She noticed he had pulled off everything, but his
Batman underwear.

“Soap, shampoo. And this is conditioner. Don’t use
too much shampoo, or you’ll foul up the jets.”

He stood perfectly still and she giggled. “Um, why
don’t I turn around so you can pull off your undies and get into
the tub? It’s awfully big, and I want to make sure you are safe
before I leave the bathroom.”

“No peeking.”

“No, sweetie. No peeking.”

Once she was certain he was settled in, she left the
bathroom. “Call me if you need anything, and don’t go getting out
all by yourself.”

“How is he?” Trent asked.

“I think he’s fine. Why don’t you go sit with him?
Take a little father-son time, while I take care of the
dishes.”

“You know this isn’t going to work. I can’t bring him
back here from the hospital. He’s going to need his own room and a
bed.”

“I know. We’ll work something out.” She watched as
Trent headed for her bathroom.

When Trent returned, he and Shawn were wearing clean
clothes, and she smiled at her men. She looked at her watch and
made a frown. “Think I’ve got enough to time and shower and
change?”

Trent nodded. “If you’re quick.”

Showered and wearing a knit dress, she returned to
the living room. Trent was packing Shawn’s things for his hospital
stay.

She cocked her head to the side and asked, “Got the
body crayons?”

“Right here.” Trent reached into a side pocket. “This
is going to be payback.”

Shawn giggled.

They drove the few blocks to the hospital and parked
in the high-rise garage. The admission process was rather quick,
and soon Shawn was in a room on the pediatric floor.

“Pirates! I got a pirate room!”

“Did you know that the kids from Drake Magnet School
paint these rooms?” Cassie asked.

Trent looked at her questioningly.

“Dallas Nixon started it. She comes back every year
to help the other students.”

“I didn’t know that. Did she do this room?”

“I’m not sure. I think the kids sign their
names.”

“They do. It’s a game. And I’m not telling,” said a
pretty, redhead nurse who came to check on Shawn.

What they thought was going to be a long boring
night, was filled with activity. Someone came and took blood from
Shawn. Then several doctors stopped by to check on him. Tate Bia
and Katie Olsen stopped by for just a moment, and brought Shawn a
super plush teddy bear and a bag full of goodies.

“Cassie, Trent, please call me. Everybody is coming
to my house tomorrow morning. You know we are all…” Tate looked
over at Shawn, “waiting to celebrate.”

Cassie smiled. “I’ve got your number in my cell
phone. I’ll call and let you know as we do.”

Tate nodded. “Good. Dad said that he couldn't say a
word one way or the other.”

Tate gave Shawn a kiss on the top of his head and
then hugged Trent and Cassie as she and Katie left.

Trent and Cassie settled Shawn into his bed and, just
as they were about to turn out the lights, Robin Callahan appeared
at Shawn’s door.

“I came to see my grandson.”

“Grandmom!”

“No,” Trent said.

Cassie put her hand on Trent’s good arm and leaned
into him. “For Shawn’s sake, let her see her grandson, and don’t
make a scene.”

Trent stormed out of the room.

~~21~~

Cassie sat still and let the woman visit for a few
minutes. Then as Robin Callahan was about to leave, Cassie
stood.

“Shawn, I’ll be right back. I need to talk to your
grandmother for just a minute.”

She steered the woman out of the room and down the
hall. “Please. I don’t want trouble.”

“You don’t want trouble? Seems to me you’ve caused
quite a bit of it.”

“Mrs. Callahan, please. I think we can all settle our
differences at a later time. Right now, we need to keep things as
positive as we can for Shawn. Will you be here tomorrow?”

“Of course, I will.”

Cassie nodded. “Then let me handle Trent.”

Robin Callahan turned and walked down the hallway. A
small sigh escaped as Cassie returned to Shawn’s room.

“I’ll be right back, sweetie. I think Daddy went to
find a cup of coffee.”

“No, he didn’t. He’s mad at Grandmom.”

She took a deep breath. She knew there was no point
in trying to lie about it. “You’re right. I’m going to go find
Daddy.”

She gave Shawn a quick kiss and went to find Trent.
She spotted him in a small waiting room at the far end of the hall.
In the dim light, she could see he had tears rolling down his
cheeks.

She sat next to him and ran her fingers through his
hair. “He’s going to come through this and be fine. You’re giving
him the chance to live a healthy life.”

Trent wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

“We need to go back to Shawn.”

Trent nodded.

The short walk back to Shawn’s room, gave Trent the
time to compose himself. He smiled at his son playing with his new
stuffed bear and his very old stuffed dinosaur.

“You need to settle down and get some sleep,” Trent
said, while tucking the sheet and light blanket around his son.

“I don’t want to go to sleep.”

“Don’t be scared.”

Shawn ignored his father.

“Sweetie, when this is over, we’re going to take you
back to the beach. The water will be warmer, and so will the sun.
You and Daddy can play in the waves and have a grand time.”

“Daddy can’t get wet.”

“That’s just for now. He’ll get that cast off before
you’re out of the hospital. They’re only doing it to keep him from
moving his shoulder and arm while he heals.”

“Are they going to put me in a cast?”

“No, son. The doctor told you they are going into
your heart through a little hole they are going to make right
here.” He touched the spot on the top of Shawn’s leg. “Now, say
your prayers. You need your sleep.”

Trent listened to his son, and then they all tried to
get some rest. The reclining chairs in the room were not exactly
comfortable, and the nursing staff seemed to come in every few
minutes to check the monitor they had connected to Shawn.

Cassie opened her eyes and stared at her watch, and
then at the nurse who was hooking an IV to the line they had put in
Shawn’s hand when he first arrived at the hospital. She reached
over her head and stretched. Her neck, shoulders, and back ached
from the functional, but uncomfortable chair in which she had
slept. Trent’s eyes were open. She knew he had to have been twice
as uncomfortable with the cast that wrapped his chest and arm. She
stood and stretched again, this time going on her tiptoes and
extending her arms towards the ceiling. She whispered,
“Coffee?”

“Thanks.”

“At the end of the hall by the main nurses station,
there’s a room with coffee. You’re welcome to have some,” the nurse
said in a soft voice.

As Cassie walked down the hall, she was more than
aware of her new piercing. With each step it seemed to pull and
tug, sending little bolts of pain through her. She fixed two cups
of coffee, then made the decision to take an extra cup and a dozen
small packets of salt. It wasn’t sea salt, but it was salt. She had
to do something, being she had forgotten her little squirt
bottle.

As soon as she got back to Shawn’s room, she grabbed
her purse and went into the small bathroom. Using her compact
mirror, she could see that she was red and swollen. Mixing the salt
into hot tap water, she sat on the toilet and dribbled it over her
swollen labia into the water below. At first it burned, causing her
to suck in her breath as she did it, but then the pain subsided.
She poured the rest of the saltwater over her and attempted to pat
the area dry.

She could tell they were getting Shawn ready for
surgery, as there was more noise in the room. Quickly she exited
the bathroom and stood next to Trent.

As the nurses switched Shawn from his pajamas to a
surgical gown, they started to giggle. Shawn was covered in funny
little drawings, signs, and good luck wishes. Cassie reached into
Shawn’s bag, produced the body crayons, and handed them to the one
nurse, who wrote her own message and smiley face. Dr. Ramsey came
in with Dr. Zaro. They did a few last minute checks and offered to
answer any questions.

As the doctors were leaving, Buck Zaro put his arms
around Cassie and whispered in her ear, “You’d better call my
daughter, or she’ll never forgive either one of us. She's got the
whole pack there.”

“I will.” She smiled although she could feel the
tears welling in her eyes. “Keep him safe.”

He hugged her a little tighter, then let go before he
extended his hand to Trent. “He’s in top notch hands. We’ll keep
you informed. The press is already in the lobby.”

“Thanks.”

Shawn was awake, but groggy as they lifted him onto
the gurney. Trent and Cassie followed Shawn until they reached a
set of doors.

“This is it. There’s a waiting room over there,” the
man, who had been pushing Shawn, said.

“We’ll be here for you, sweetie. I love you.” She
planted a kiss on his little cheek.”

Trent leaned over and kissed his son. “Yes, we’ll be
right here. You’re my boy, and you’re going to do just fine. Go to
sleep and when you wake up, we’ll be waiting for you.”

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you, too.”

Shawn raised his hand to wave as they pushed him
through the big doors.

Trent battled tears that were determined to spring
forth. His hand flew over his eyes as his thumb touched one temple
and his fingers touched the other. Cassie’s arm wrapped his waist
as she gently pulled him from where he was riveted.

“Don’t wander off, you don’t know if one of the
doctors will want to speak to you.” She kissed his good shoulder.
“Want something to eat? I’m going to go to the cafeteria. It should
be open soon.”

“Just coffee.”

She went down the hall and into the elevator. She
knew the whole trip probably didn’t take sixty seconds, but it
seemed like forever. Standing by the door to an enclosed garden,
she called Tate.

“Hi. Hope it not too early for you.”

“Not at all. I’ve got you on speaker. Is everything
okay?”

“Yes, they just took him to surgery. Trent’s upstairs
in the cardiac-surgical waiting room, and I just wandered down to
the cafeteria. It’s not open yet.” She stared at the fancy metal
gate that covered the entrance.

“Oh, they should open at five thirty.”

“That’s what the sign says.”

“How’s Trent doing?”

“Lousy. Dr. Ramsey and your dad stopped by before
they took him to surgery.”

“Cassie, I don’t know if this will help, but I know
Dad is very positive about this surgery.”

“Yeah, it helps.” She watched a young woman open the
gates to the cafeteria. “They just opened the door. I want to get
some coffee and get back to Trent. I’ll call you when I hear
something.”

“Thanks. Katie is here, Dallas and Becky should be
here soon, Amy and Amanda are coming, and so is Allison
Conway.”

“It does sound as if you have the whole pack.”

“Amy is going to early Mass and is lighting a candle
for Shawn.”

“Tell her I appreciate that. I’ve got to run.”

“Okay.”

Cassie pocketed her phone and went
into the cafeteria. She fixed coffee and looked at the breakfast
selection. She didn’t feel hungry, but the scrambled eggs and bacon
looked delicious. She bought several things and, as she turned to
take everything upstairs, she ran into Jim from
River Lights
.

“Hi, Dr. Jones.”

“Hi, Jim. I heard the press was here.”

He smiled at her. “Everyone is being very polite. The
hospital won’t let us near you.”

“Really?” She grinned.

“You know what I mean. There are six TV news crews
here on last count.”

“Six?”

“The big boys got wind of what is happening.”

“Jim, I’ve got your cell phone number programmed into
my phone. I’ll try to call you.” She looked at him pleadingly.
“Please keep the cameras away from Trent. In fact, the best place
for you is at Tate Bia’s.”

Jim raised his eyebrows.

“I’ve promised to keep Tate and the gang
informed.”

“Thanks. I’ll call Tate. Maria and Jack from the
newspaper are here with me. I doubt they’d miss me if I went to
Tate’s.”

“Jim, the doctors are all very optimistic about this
surgery.”

“Dr. Ramsey spoke to the press this morning. That was
the impression he gave. Tell Trent the whole city is praying for
Shawn.”

“Thanks. I will.”

She scooted back upstairs and found Trent with his
legs stretched out in front of him and his eyes closed. Carefully,
she tiptoed into the room.

“Don’t bother sneaking around. I’m very much
awake.”

She handed him his coffee. “I brought some food. It
looked too good to pass up.”

He sighed and took the clear plastic containers.

She handed him a fork and popped the containers
open.

“I can do that.”

“Not that well one-handed. Does your hand bother you?
It still looks swollen.”

“The hand is fine. I’d like to rip the cast open and
claw my shoulder.”

She grimaced. “I think that’s supposed to be a sign
of healing.”

“It’s driving me nuts.” He stuck a forkful of eggs in
his mouth.

She watched him eat his eggs, every strip of bacon
she had bought, and then start on the donuts.