Chapter 9: It's In the Appendix, But It Should Be In the Middle

Sally greeted them in the waiting room. “Teresa? Thank you for bringing him. Let’s sit down. Forgive me, I had to do some creative things to be linked to her case. I’ll get back to that later. First, Carl—look at me and listen—you did nothing wrong. Second, she is seriously ill, but can have a complete recovery. She has an extremely inflamed appendix. If it bursts, she will have peritonitis, which is very dangerous.”

Carl was weeping. (So was Teresa.) “They are moving her into surgery now. If they can remove the thing before it ruptures, that’s best. Otherwise, they have to open her up and wash all the infection out, and then she gets a few weeks of antibiotics, and may be back to light work after that. We will know more after they finish.“

“Carl, Honey, calm yourself. Cecie is going to live. And marry you, if you want.” “Of course I want!”

“Carl, you haven’t known her very long. Is there any family we can contact?” “I don’t know; I don’t think so (sniffle). She told me, ‘I just grew, like fungus.’ That’s why Pig Man hurt her bad when he dumped her and took back the ring.”

“Then I’m glad I told the hospital that I was her next of kin. We need to add you as her fiancé as well.”

A few minutes later, a tired-looking surgeon approached them, pulling off her paper hat and mask. “I have good news, Cecie’s surgery was successful. We got the little bugger out without a mess; no bursting. We’re going to admit her for three days to guard against complications. She should be fully recovered in two weeks with just a small scar. No lifting, bathing, or sex until then. You guys should go have dinner and she should start to wake in a couple of hours.”

“Thank you, Doctor.” Next were the required phone calls. Edward and the girls were relieved. Darlene was shocked but promised to keep covering Cecie’s shift. Carl left a voicemail for his boss explaining why he would be off tomorrow.

Sally took them to a chain restaurant for a simple dinner. Returning to the hospital, Carl got out and Teresa stayed with Sally for the ride back to her home.

When she started to awaken, Cecie was disoriented. The last thing she remembered was being in the Cauldron with Sally. Seeing Carl, she relaxed a little.

“Where am I?” “You’re in East County Medical Center, with your fiancé, Carl Watson.” “Ha, ha. Where’s the ring? Why do my guts hurt? What happened to Sally?” “All in good time, my love. When you stepped out of the Cauldron, you started retching and passed out. Sally got you an ambulance, which is how you got here. Sally is your next-of-kin, and I am your fiancé, so I can stay with you tonight. You had severe appendicitis, and emergency surgery. I was crying, but now I’m happy, because I love you. Will you marry me?”

“Oh sure, you wait ‘til I’m half dead and full of anesthesia and antibiotics, not to mention carved open like a roast turkey. This is when you get all mushy and romantic? Of course I’ll marry you, you asshole. Now be quiet so I can rest.”

Carl shut off some of the lights and leaned back, watching her nod off to sleep again. She was pale, disheveled, and wearing wires and tubes. And right now, the most wondrous woman he’d ever known.