page35 (1/2)

"Not even," he gru to be sick and I'm stuck out here I should be there with you"

"No, you should be right where you are, doing your job," I tell hi to stay with et easier I et sick"

I can hear hi to me, but my attention is immediately diverted to entrance of the treatment room

"What the hell?" I say into the phone,low

"What?" Garrett de?"

"Oh, you are not going to believe this Hold on," I tell him as I put him on speakerphone and i it out in front ofmy way and text it to Garrett "I just texted you a picture And now, all of a sudden, I a you were here instead of Stevie"

I wait aon the other end as he pulls upthat?"

"I have no clue, but let ame?"

"Sure thing, baby Rest up and be well Miss you"

"Miss you too," I say distractedly, then I disconnect

And I stare up at Stevie standing there with a huge s a six-foot inflatable palhtly out of breath and his face is red, but what stands out thewith palm trees patterned over it, and flip-flops He has several leis around his neck made from what looks to be plumeria

"What are you doing?" I ask, incredulous

"Just hold tight," he says vaguely as he puts the palht beside my IV stand "I'm not done yet"

Glancing around the roo our waysoirl who sits two chairs over with a bright pink scarf covering her bald head watches with large eyes and a tiny tilt to her lips There are a total of five other people in treat here watching liquid fall droplet by droplet into your body I' they've ever seen while getting their chemo

Stevie walks back out, and within just e cooler heels and a huge beach bag over his shoulder I watch in stunned awe as he lugs everything right up to my recliner

"You're going to get us thrown out of here," I hiss at hi over to the nurse's station, which is eoes on in the treatment room, and usually a nurse will coress

Stevie doesn't say a word, but plops the huge beach bag on the floor and starts ruh it Out comes a beach towel that he unfolds and lays on the floor a few feet fro station, which he places under the palm tree He never looks at me, but takes his iPod and connects it With a feipes of his finger over the screen, the sounds of ocean waves and seagulls crying out fill the air around ivesout another docking station that he sits on the other side of my chair He pulls his phone out of his pocket and connects it Within moments, the soft strains of Hawaiian music can be heard

"You are unbelievable," I say in awe

"I' back into his beach bag, he pulls out two plastic cups shaped like halved coconut shells Stevie opens the cooler, dips in for soer ale He pours some for me and then places a straw and a freakin' little paper umbrella on the side

"Your cocktail, madame," he says with flourish as he presents my cup to me As soon as I take it, he whips one of the leis off and places it over my head

"Un-freakin'-believable," I say as ers absently stroke the soft flower petals

Stevie pours himself a drink and then sits down on the beach towel in front ofsure his sarong stays demurely tucked in "Today's chemo theme is Tropical Paradise Do you like?"

"I love," I whisper to hi to like this"

Stevie shrugs "I'll take it out if they wantBesides, this place can be a drag I wanted to liven it up for you a bit"

Taking another sip of ginger ale, I just shtfulness Stevie gives irl is still staring at us

"You want to get in on some of this beach action?" he asks her, and she lowers her eyes shyly Herwith her, shter to whisper in her ear

Stevie pops up fro, and walks up to the girl and herout on ot coconut cups for you and your ht even perform a special Hawaiian dance for you"

The little girl looks up at Stevie with big, unblinking eyes but doesn't say a word He turns to herwith us?"

"Sure," the mom says, and she sticks her hand out to Stevie "I'hter, Ruby"