Chapter Forty
Laurence wanted to stay the night at the hospital in case Arianna woke up. So Sammy had to go home with Lauren.
"Daddy, come home with me?" Asked Lauren worried about her poor daddy.
"No princess, I can't leave mommy alone here. She'd be scared. So you go home. I'll come with your mommy," said Laurence.
"You love my mommy?" Asked Lauren curiously.
"Yes sweetheart, very much," he answered. Sammy's eyes glistened and he turned away with a nod towards Laurence.
"Me too daddy," said Lauren as Sammy led her away.
"Me too," said Sammy in his mind but outwardly he just had a sad smile on his face.
Sammy took Lauren to Ben's home. It was late and she needed to be fed and put to sleep.
Laurence sat the whole night in the ICU lobby waiting for his Arianna to wake up. He dozed off to sleep in the wee hours of the morning being tired and exhausted. The nurse incharge of Arianna woke him up. "Sir, Arianna Lennard has woken up. Do you wish to see her? We'd be shifting her out of the ICU to our rooms on the floor above," informed the nurse.
"Do you have rooms where family members would be allowed to stay with the patient?" Laurence asked hopefully. He knew that this wasn't a big hospital with lots of amenities but there was no harm in asking.
"Yes sir for our pregnant patients we have such rooms but they would be expensive," answered the nurse.
"Fine. I'll take the most expensive one. We have a child too. Can she stay with us?" He asked hesitantly.
"Yes, we do allow older children to stay with their pregnant mothers, " informed the nurse.
"Thank you. Please shift Arianna into the room you mentioned. I'll go and meet my wife, " he said, happy with the arrangements. He walked into the ICU towards Arianna's bed. She turned and looked at him with wide eyes.
The whole night she had dreamt of a happy fulfilling life with him but now seeing him before her eyes, she couldn't help the tears from falling down her cheeks. She knew that she had lost him forever. Maybe he had come to take her child away. More tears fell from her eyes.
Laurence sat by her bedside and wiped her tears. "Don't cry Aria. I'm sorry for everything that you had to go through. I couldn't protect you. I've failed you. Please forgive me. Now that I'm here, let's be happy that we've found each other again, " he said, holding her hands in his own.
"I beg of you, please don't take Lauren from me. I'll die without her," she whispered brokenly.
Laurence stared at her with surprise. "Why should I take her away from you? I've come to take both of you home with me," said Laurence.
"B but you're married, " said Arianna, confused by what he said.
"Not anymore. I'm yours and only yours. We belong to each other for life, ' he told her with honesty and sincerity shining in his eyes for her to see.
"Then what about your second wife?" She asked perplexed. Laurence told her everything that happened and how his mom forced him to remarry. How his wife was pregnant and in love with another. He told her about the condition that he had told his wife and everything else that happened.
"This time I'm not going to take you back to that house. Troy had checked a house in your absence and I've bought it. I had got it ready for us after I was well enough. We will move into it. Lisa can also live with us if you don't mind," said Laurence. Arianna smiled happily, her eyes shining with tears of joy.
"I had given up all hope Laurence and now that you're here, I really can't believe that I could be so lucky to have you back in my life. I Iove you baby," she whispered. Laurence got up and kissed her forehead.
"I'm the luckiest man alive. After my accident, I had lost hope too. I had hired the best private investigators to search for you but they couldn't. I found your damaged sim card in a trashcan near the hospital where I was admitted.
"Oh, my phone fell in the underground parking of your house, " said Arianna.
"My parents might have found it and disposed it off," said Laurence.
Arianna sighed, "You don't know what happened to me that day," she said. She told him everything that happened. Laurence heard from her and swore to break all ties with his parents.
"I met Samuel Hughes last night. He told me everything. I met Lauren too. She has accepted me as her daddy. All because of Samuel. I'm indebted to that man," said Laurence.
"Yes he's done a lot for me and Lauren. So has Ben and Jane. I'll introduce you to them Laurence, " she said softly.
"First get better. Are you in a lot of pain?" He asked her gently, caressing her cheek.
"Not at all. They're administering painkillers, " she informed him.
"I'm having you shifted to one of the family rooms and Lauren and I can stay with you here till you're better to return home," said Laurence.
Arianna grinned happily. "Really? I hate lying here all alone," she said.
The nurse came into the room. Mr Lennard, if you can go to the reception and complete the formalities, we can shift Mrs Lennard as soon as possible," informed the nurse.
"Sure. I'll just do it. Aria I'm coming back after doing the formalities. Okay?" Said Laurence. Arianna nodded and he left. She couldn't help happy smile on her face. Hwr Laurence was back and everything was falling into place. They still loved one another and the dream she dreamt last night of a happily married life came into her mind again and again. The nurse got her ready to be shifted. The doctor came in to check her.
Laurence returned after completing the formalities. "Excellent improvement Mrs Lennard. You should be released in a day or two, " he informed Arianna. The doctor talked to Laurence as he took an update about her health and about her future treatments in Vegas.
Arianna was shifted into the huge room with two double beds. There were seating arrangements in one corner. A dining table with four chairs in another corner. There was a small attached pantry and an en-suite too. Arianna called Jane and updated her about everything. She asked her to pack hers as well as Lauren's clothes and stuff and send it to her with Sammy.
"Send Lauren too please. Here Laurence had shifted me to a family room and he wants Lauren to stay with us," said Arianna.
"Sure. We'll come down after lunch," said Jane. Arianna smiled happily.
"Thank you Jane for everything that you've done and are still doing for us," she said.
"Rubbish, we're sisters, remember?" Said Jane.
"Yes we are. Laurence will take me away to Vegas but you and I will remain sisters and keep in touch forever, " said Arianna.
"You bet we will," said Jane with a laugh. She disconnected the call and started packing.
"Can I embrace you a little? A loose hug?" Asked Laurence with a happy smile on his face.
"Sure, a loose hug won't harm my broken bones," said Arianna with a laugh. Laurence hugged her in a gentle embrace. Then he looked longingly at her lips.
"You can kiss me too. My lips aren't fractured, you know," whispered Arianna with a grin.
"Oh really? Just give me a list of things I can do and can't do with you. Don't forget to mention the time frames too. It'll be easier for me," he said with a grin.
"Shut up and kiss me," she said and he didn't waste any more time. He just claimed her lips gently in a sweet, loving yet passionate and lingering kiss. His tongue worked wonders with hers and she moaned into his mouth, loving the feel of him after so many years. It didn't feel like they had parted for four years, the memory of him was so fresh in her mind that it felt like she had kissed him just yesterday. They deepened the kiss and soon lost track of time, both not getting enough of the other.
A throat cleared at the door and they broke the kiss to look up. Arianna's nurse stood with a shit eating grin on her face. "Scale it down please, else she'd get more bones broken," she chuckled and Laurence groaned.
Arianna smiled shyly and she administered some medicines and left the room with a smile on her face. Later Ben, Jane brought Lauren along with their luggage. Lauren jumped into Laurence's arms. "Daddy, I miss you," she said, her small hands going round Laurence's neck.
"Daddy missed you too sweetheart, " he said. Lauren went to her mom and kissed her gently.
"Don't worry mommy. You'll soon be better," she said lovingly. Arianna introduced Jane and Ben to Laurence and he thanked them for all that they had done for them.
"We're family now. Please come down to Vegas anytime you want. Arianna and I will always keep in touch with you, " said Laurence.
"Where's Sammy?" Asked Arianna.
"He's left last night," said Jane.
"Left where?" Asked Arianna.
"Don't know, he'll be fine, don't worry." Said Ben.
