“She’s cold,” Alice said. “She told me how cold she always is when she’s trying to wake up. Can I put this on her?”

The nurse looked to Dana’s doctor, who signaled her approval.

“Talk to her Alice.” Dr. Wilson said as Al tenderly wrapped the cotton blanket around her wife. “Let her know you’re here.”

“Hey Dane,” Al murmured, tucking the soft material around her shoulders. “Everything’s going to be okay. You can wake up now. I’m here.” Al paused. No response. “C’mon baby,” Alice’s alarm became evident, “open your eyes.” Still nothing. “Dana,” Alice commanded, “open your eyes.”

It was fleeting, but it was long enough. Dana’s eyes fluttered open to Alice’s palpable relief. She squeezed Alice’s hands and answered correctly that she was in the hospital. Somehow she managed to mouth ‘Baby?’ Before Alice could even try to answer Dana slipped into a sound sleep. 

When Alice emerged from the recovery unit, Bette was waiting for her.

“She woke up,” Al managed a wan smile, “but she fell asleep again before I could tell her. They said they’re going to move her to her room in about thirty minutes.”

“And you’ll be waiting for her there,” Bette responded gently, “but first I think you should call Dana’s parents. They must be out of their minds with worry.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Panic crept over Alice. “How am I going to tell them? Oh, God, how am I going to tell Dane? I can’t Bette. I really can’t do this.”

“Tina and I took care of everyone else, except your brother and mother,” Bette replied as she pulled Al into a protective hug. “And, if you’d like me to, I’ll call them. As for Dana, when the time comes, you’ll know what to say.” She gave Alice a moment to collect herself. “Would you like me to call Dana’s parents too?”

“You would do that?” Alice was surprised by the offer, but found strength in it.

“Absolutely.”

“You would too, wouldn’t you?’ Al didn’t give Bette a chance to answer. “I’ll do it, but they’ll have the right to hate me all over again. I only told them that Dana was having some unexplained pain and that they might have to operate, but I kept it really vague. If Dana had her way, I wouldn’t have called them last night at all. She didn’t want to tell anyone anything until we knew what was going on, but when we did, there was no time.”