end. There’s no possible way for me to ever repay you, but I mean it when I say, if there’s ever anything I can do, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Spence smiled as he patted Joseph’s shoulder. “You’re family, Joseph. You’ve done more for me and my family than can ever be repaid. This was only a small thank you from me. It’s been my pleasure to be here. And we aren’t quite finished, so let’s cross that line together,” Spence said, his own voice a bit choked.
Both men turned away, clearing their throats. Then Spence went to consult with his staff, and Joseph went to his wife’s bedside.
“We’re going to be just fine, my love. I promise you we have many more years to live together, many more memories to make. When it’s our time to go, we’re going to do it together, and then we’ll watch over our family from heaven. But it’s not time yet, so you just cooperate with the good staff here who’ve been taking such great care of you. I’ll get to hear your voice soon, and then before we know it, we’re both going to be rocking in our favorite chairs with our grandchildren crawling all over us.”
He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, loving the warmth of her skin. She was healing. She was truly healing — and he was a thankful man.
He reached out and held her hand, his fingers trembling. Then he moved his other one to her cheek and cupped it, his thumb gently tracing her chin. He closed his eyes and bowed his head.
“Please, please let her come back. I know she’s special, and I know she’ll one day sing with the angels, but I need her right now, and her family needs her. So please give her back to me. Please,” he prayed as a lone tear slipped from his closed eyes and landed on their joined fingers.
A nurse walked in and quietly pulled a chair up behind Joseph, then took his arm to help him sit. He wasn’t willing to let go of Katherine. He was scared even though he refused to acknowledge it.
He was left alone again, and time stopped having meaning as he whispered words of encouragement to this woman he loved so much.
“It’s time, Joseph.” The words were uttered quietly, and Joseph looked up to find Dr. Whitman, and a team with him, moving toward the bed. “Are you ready to talk to your wife?”
“More than you know,” Joseph said.
“Okay then. We have Deek Hurns, who’s our respiratory therapist, and Ms. Rills and Ms. Bradford who have been Katherine’s nurses most of this past week. We all love your wife and can assure you she’s in good hands.”
Joseph listened to them explain the process one more time, but he didn’t really hear the words. He was too busy looking down at his wife, silently begging her to stay with him. He leaned down and kissed her one more time. “I’ll talk to you in just a few minutes my love.”
“Okay, Mr. Anderson, can you step back so we can wake up your wife?” Nurse Bradford asked. He squeezed Katherine’s hand one more time, kissed her knuckles, and then reluctantly let go.
Spence moved over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Joseph stared at his wife as the very competent team worked their magic. “It’s going to be okay, Joseph. Take some breaths in and out,” Spence calmly said.
Joseph let out a rush of air he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. His head was a little light and Spence led him to a chair and had him sit. He still didn’t take his eyes off of his wife.
The next couple of minutes were a blur. Medicine was administered, her breathing tube removed, and orders and numbers were conveyed to the team surrounding her bed. Something was said about breathing, and he stared in horror at her chest. It wasn’t moving. His body began shaking.
“It’s okay, Joseph. This is normal,” Spence said.
And then, just when Joseph began to feel pain in his heart, just when he thought he might be having a heart attack, the most miraculous thing happened — an audible breath filled the room — and Katherine’s chest moved.
The nurses and therapist were talking to her, holding her hand and saying words that Joseph couldn’t compute. He was shaking all over. For just a moment there, he’d thought she was gone. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that