Part 26

It had been a week since the accident. The doctors said other than her coma she was healing. No paralyses. 

Vince played different musical pieces. Once in awhile he played a song from his past.  Ironically, one of his old band mates had even gone back to school to become a nurse. He was at this hospital though not this department, but he had occasionally stopped by after a shift to check on them. Vince thought that is how his other band mates found out. They had either called or came by with well wishes. That was actually nice.

"Knock, knock," Vince heard behind him. He turned to see his old friend Stewart.

Vince got up and shook hands. "Stewart. It's good to see you. You didn't have to come all this way, but I am glad you did."

"Sorry it took me so long to get here. I had other engagements. How is she doing?" Stewart asked.

"Really well. She is pretty much out of the woods. We are all just waiting for her to wake up." Vince pulled up an extra chair. "Did you want to have a seat?"

"Sure. Thanks." Stewart sat along with Vince. "Oh ya, I brought you this. It is for Aileen. Douglas said you had mentioned how cold it is in that mausoleum you live in."

Vince took the package and asked, "What is it?"

"A pair for slippers that we make. Those sheep are sometimes good for something," Stewart said with a chuckle. "Write any new music lately?"

"Douglas talks too much. I am working on a few things."

"Doug said what he did heard was really good. Think you could play me some?" Stewart cajoled.

"Sure." With that Vincent grabbed his guitar and played a partially written song. 

"That was really good. Doug said he thought he heard a really exceptional song from his trips up and down the hallway," Stewart asked, hoping Vince would play it. 

Vince didn't want to share her song, but he hadn't thought about people hearing it outside her room. "Sure," he said reluctantly.

Stewart knew it was hard for Vince to open up ad share, but was so glad he talked him into it. The song was amazing. "Vincent, that was beautiful. That is better than anything we ever wrote. Or me for that matter."

"Thank you, Stewart. That is high praise indeed coming from you," Vincent said.

"You are welcome." Stewart looked at his watch and said, "Wow, it is late. Times flies when you are having a great time." He stood up and shook Vince's hand. "Vince I will talk to you soon. Bye."

Vince turned his attention back to Aileen, now that Stewart left. He moved his chair close to the bed so he could stroke her hand. Eileen and Scott had been gone for awhile to take care of things at the ranch, so Vince just sat there, quietly, thinking of things he needed to do later.

A nurse came in and said quietly, “Mr. McGregor? I need to check on Aileen’s vitals and get some blood. Then someone will come in and feed her.”

“OK. May I stay or do you need me to step out?”

“You can stay. I’ll just have you sit on the other side.”

“OK,” Vince said. He didn’t want to leave her alone if he didn’t have too. Not that he didn’t trust anyone, but he didn’t trust anyone. He had to admit, the hospital staff was very efficient as she was taken care of in about a half an hour. Vincent broke out his pan pipes and played her song, again, for a bit, then picked up his guitar and quietly sang to her.

Aileen was slowly coming to, but was stuck in this body unable to communicate. She couldn’t talk, open her eyes, move, or anything. And when they cleaned her up, she was so embarrassed. A single tear rolled down her face. Before she could try harder to get someone’s attention, she fell back into oblivion, wondering who had been in her room earlier.

The next day Eileen and Scott made Vincent go home. He needed some rest and a shower. He wanted to see about a ring. He needed a ring. After he got cleaned up he called Fiona to see if she would meet him in town to help him look for a ring.

"Fiona thank you for meeting me," Vincent said kissing her on the cheek. 

"I am more than happy to help. How is Aileen?"

"Her body is getting better every day but she is still in a coma."

"I'm sorry. But she has you," she said.

Vincent half smiled.

They walked into a small, quaint jewelry shop and slowly looked in the cases. 

"Vince, what about this one?" Fiona asked pointing to a pretty filigreed rose gold ring.

"Mmm, not that one," he said as he kept looking. Then he saw the perfect ring. "Fiona, come here. Look. This one," he said as he signaled to the clerk. "May I see this one?" The clerk pulled out the small tray and handed Vince the ring in question.

Fiona looked at the ring. It was beautiful. But out of curiosity she asked, "Why this one?"

"Aileen is not a filigree type of girl. She is from America. She is a strong woman and needs a strong ring. Plus it has the colors of the Scottish Thistle much like her hair." Vincent told the clerk he would purchase the ring with the assurance he could resize it later if needed.

Outside Vincent kissed Fiona on the cheek again and said, "Thank you for helping. I appreciate it."

"Of course, Vincent. I wish Aileen a speedy recovery." She waved goodbye as she got in her car and drove off.

A couple days later he was writing some new music, trying to be quiet. Putting down his notebook and pencil, he stood up and stretched. Looking down at his fairy pixey, he rubbed the tops of her unbandaged fingers, as he sat down again, holding her hand. After a bit he let go in order to rest his head on his arms as they rested on the side of the bed. He wasn't sure how long he may have been asleep, but he thought he felt someone touch his hair. He slowly turned his head and thought he saw her fingers move.

Excitedly he got up close to her ear and whispered, “Lassie, can you hear me? Move your finger if you can hear me.” As he looked down at her hand, he missed the lone tear disappearing into her hair.

It felt like it took her a year to move her fingers earlier. She tried so hard to do it again but she was too tired. She drifted back into a deep sleep.

Eileen came back by herself and found Vincent very melancholy. “Vince are you OK? You should go home and get some rest.”

“No. I’m good. Eileen, I swear she moved her hand but couldn’t get her to do it again. The doctor said sometimes the movements are just reflexes.”

“Maybe.”

Eileen liked Vincent’s loyalty. When Aileen got better she wouldn’t have a better help mate. She squeezed his shoulder and took an extra chair.

“Oh, how is Joe?” Vince asked all of a sudden. “He was just incredible keeping Aileen from rolling off the cliff. By the time I got there he was so upset.”

“He is still upset. He hardly eats. Just stares out towards the road.”

“Have you seen the white pony around?”

“No I haven’t.”

“Hmm. Normally you see him but can’t get close. Crazy but he let me ride him to where Aileen and Joe were.”

Aileen laid there listening. She was so proud of Joe, though she was not sure about the white pony. Maybe he was an angel.