Chapter 10

I decided to take the morning for myself and practice self-care. I ordered room service and sat on the balcony, waiting for my breakfast to be delivered. While waiting on the food, I took out my phone and called a fellow surgeon in Oklahoma City to see if she had any recommendations for a great physical therapist. She was able to give three that she would recommend highly.

I spoke with her briefly and told her I would be back in town by the end of the week. I looked up the number for all three physical therapists and gave each a call. I could only speak with one person without opening for a new patient, but I left messages for the other two.

After 30 minutes of waiting, my food was delivered, and I sat out on the balcony to eat it in pieces. While eating, I browsed social media and found multiple posts about Max and his injuries.

I was just about to stop scrolling when I came across a post from the woman I saw in Max's hospital room. My curiosity got the better of me, and I started scrolling her feed. In her last post, she posted a tearful video saying how her heart was broken because Max ended their relationship.

She went on to tell them that his ex came back in the picture and pushed her out. She went on to say I was pregnant, and she bet the baby wasn't even his.

Looking at her posts raised my blood pressure. Interestingly, none of them include photos of Max.

I decided I couldn't dwell on her post and went inside to shower and head to the hospital.

By 1:30, I was walking into the hospital. I reached Max's room, knocked, and heard someone center.

I enter the room and see Max and his parents sitting there talking. Max looks up at me and says, "Did I miss your call or text to let me know you were on your way?"

I say, "Sorry. I got preoccupied with looking at social media posts about your injuries and let the time pass me by."

He smiles and says, "You were thinking about me so much that you had to go online to stalk my hot self."

I laugh and say, "Yes, your hotness is what I needed to be reminded of since you are so not sexy anymore."

I turn to speak with everyone, and my phone rings. I looked at the call ID and saw that it was one of the therapists I had contacted. I answer the phone and say, "Give me one moment. Let me step out of the patient room."

Once in a quiet area, I asked if she had an opening for a new patient. She said she could accommodate another patient if necessary.

I started to explain the injuries, surgery, who the patient was, and that Max would be returning with me for the birth of our daughter.

Dr. Mason said she would see Max at her office next Wednesday to review the treatment schedule. This would give him time to rest after traveling.

I told Dr. Mason, thank you for the help, and we would see her next week.

After the call ended, I returned to the room to speak with everyone about the call. I tell them I just got off the phone with Dr. Mason, the top doctor who was given to me for therapy.

I let everyone know she has agreed to see Max next Wednesday to review his plan of treatment for his recovery.

Frank looked at me and said, "We can never thank you enough for all you have done to help Max. Please let us know what we can do to assist you with his recovery."

I smile and reply, "I'm happy to help in any way I can, and I will let you know what you can do to help."

I asked everyone to step out for a few minutes while examining Max to determine whether we could travel the next day. I told them I would text them when they could come back in.

Once everyone was out of the room, I turned to look at him and said, "It seemed that you may need a few minutes without everyone in the room."

Max says, "I love my family, but they have been here since 8 a.m. and never stop talking. I need a minute. Plus, I wanted to speak with you alone because I sensed something."

I tell Max I have an idea about giving family something to do, where they can feel important, and they are helping. Ask him to list additional things he needs from home, and they can pack everything for him.

He smiles and says, "You are a genius; this is a wonderful idea."

While he was making his list, I went over his medical record and looked at his surgery incisions.

I tell him everything looks good and feel comfortable with us leaving tomorrow.

I told him I would call my brother and get him to send the jet tomorrow so we could leave for Oklahoma.

My brother Jessie picks up on the second ring. "Hello, sis, how is everything going?" I tell him things are looking up, and we are ready to head there tomorrow. He says to give him a second, and he will text the pilot.

While he was doing that, I asked Max if he needed a hospital bed, and he said, "No!!" I laugh at his response.

Jessie returned the phone and told me the plane would be ready to leave LA tomorrow at 9 am. He said the pilot said they would leave tonight and stay the night so we could leave early in the morning. I thanked him and said I would see him the next day. Before he hung up, he said he would pick us up tomorrow.

After I hung up, I told Max the plan for the next day. He told me that my brother doesn't waste time. I told him that all those years in the Navy instilled in him the idea that all tasks are done quickly, and that's how he lives his life.

I asked Max if he was done with his list, and he nodded. Then, I texted Ashley to let them know they could return to the room.

I sit on the bed's edge, waiting for his family to return. I felt Max grab my hand, and that little affection made me happy.

When the family returns to the room, they see we are holding hands and smile at us.

Once everyone took a seat, I explained that after looking at Max's progress, I felt safe for him to travel and leave the hospital.

I told them we had arranged for my family jet to take us to Oklahoma tomorrow. It would leave LA at 9 a.m.

Max looks at his family, takes a deep breath, and starts talking. He tells them he is up to the journey and wants to be settled to begin his recovery.

He continues to tell them that he has to work on his recovery and be present in the remaining months of my pregnancy. He and I also have to work on our relationship. But he says that doesn't mean you can't come to see us.

Max looks at Jeremy and says, "Bro, I know you are busy with the team, and I understand you can't be involved much until the season is over, but just know I will watch every broadcast, and we will talk after each game."

Jeremy says, "Thank you for saying that; I was worried you would think I was abandoning you in your time of need."

Their conversation improved the mood in the room. Max tells his family that he has made a list of things to pack for him.

He asks the family if they could pack everything and put it in his parents' car so they have the most significant SUV that would be the most comfortable for him to travel to the airport.

Max then asked his parents if they would drive us to the airport tomorrow, and they said yes.

He told them he would send the list to the group chat and asked if they could head over and pack while he took a nap.

I tell them I will stay with him while he naps, and they will pack everything. The family says their goodbyes and heads out.

We wait until everyone is gone and turn to look at each other. Max says, "Okay, tell me, what bothers you?"

When I came across Melody's post, I explained that I was looking at social media posts about his injuries. He asked me to please show him the post.

I took my phone out, looked for the post, and showed it to him. He started to watch, and you could tell he was getting upside down. Max returned my phone, picked his phone up, and made a call.

I sat quietly while he spoke on the phone. He was most likely talking to his PR firm or agent.

Max was firm that he wanted the post down, apologized, and wanted it to be transparent to Melody that she was not speaking about me, our child, or him again. Please remind her of the NDR that she signed.

Once the call is over, he tells me that his team will handle her and her post. Max says, "Mia, we need to have a conversation, and it may be painful, but we need everything in the open between us."

Max takes a deep breath and starts telling me everything. As he had said previously, once I left, he fell apart and started drinking and just not being himself.

He continued talking and told me that he met Melody and had her sign an NDA stating that she could not speak about him to anyone.

Max tells me that he was straight with her from the beginning. Their relationship was just a physical encounter, which would never be normal.

As he keeps talking, I can feel the tears trying to escape me, but I hold them in. He says he knew she wanted more, but he just wanted sex to forget.

He told me that she had never come to his house, that he had only gone to hers or the hotel, and that they hadn't even spent the night together.

Max tells me that he knew she was getting attached, but he didn't stop it until the day she showed up at the hospital.

The day she came to the hospital, he said he was vulgar to her and was harsh. He asked her why she was there, and she said she wanted to be there for him.

He said he told her it was only a good time and nothing more and that they would not be seeing each other anymore.

Melody asked him who I was and why I was allowed in the room. He said he told her I was his future and would be the only woman in his life.

After he was done speaking, I felt relief and sadness simultaneously. Honestly, I felt sorry for Melody.

I just sat there and said nothing. Max looked at me and asked, "Do you have anything to say or ask?"

Softly, I reply, "I'm glad you told me, but it still hurts even though it was just sex."

Max asks me to lie beside him on the bed. I rush, but I give in and lie down beside him.

He holds me, and finally, I let the tears come out. I lay in his arms, sobbing over the pain I felt from him, finding comfort from another woman and knowing it was my fault.

Max doesn't say a word until I've cried myself out. He softly whispers, "I promise never to hurt you like this again. I will do everything I can to show you how much I love you and want to be a family."

He continues, "I will show you nothing but respect and love every day going forward; please forgive me, babe."

I tell him, "I believe we both have done awful things to one another in some way, but today is a new start to our relationship. We must promise never to lie or feel like we can't tell each other what we think." "This is the only way I can, in good faith, start over with us."

Max says, "Babe, I agree, and I promise I will spend the rest of my life making sure our relationship is my top priority."

With that comment, I place my lips on his and kiss him with all the passion I have in me. I hear him moan and deepen the kiss.

Time seemed to stop as our lips sealed the deal for our new start. I broke away and looked at his face, which was filled with tears. I knew everything would be okay with our little family at that moment.

The emotions during our conversation seemed to win the war, and we both dozed off to sleep.

I was woken when the door opened, and his family walked in. Everyone looked at us, and Charlotte said, "A nap was good for you both."

Ashley tells Max they could pack everything he requested, clean his refrigerator, and remove all the trash.

She told him she would go over weekly to check on the house since they live the closest.

Max told them all how much he appreciated their help with everything.

While he was talking to his family, I went online to order a new bed for the guest room. I ordered a sleep number bed that could be used to determine what setting is most comfortable for him and help him set up without using a hospital bed.

I hear Max say, "Mia, what are you up to? I can tell you are doing something?"

I told everyone that since Max didn't want a hospital bed, I just ordered a sleep number bed that he could set the softness he needed and could sit up with.

Max says, "You didn't have to do that, but how much do I owe you?"

I looked straight at him and said, "We are going to be a family, and you are not paying me back for a bed that I will use also."

That declaration made him and his family smile. We all sat there for a while, longing for everyday conversations.

His family didn't want to leave yet and say goodbye.

Jeremy stands and walks over to his brother's bed and sits down. He has his throat and says, "I won't be able to see you off tomorrow because I have to report to practice. I want you to know I love you. I'll miss you, but I know you will be in good hands." Then he adds, "I'm so happy that two of my favorite people in the world are going to be a family."

Jeremy leans over and gives Max a light hug, and Max says, "I love you too and will miss you."

Ashley comes next, hugs him, and says, "We will come and visit in a month during the bi-weekly to see how everything is going. Are you good with that?"

Max says, " A month sounds good, and I'm excited to see you all."

His parents hugged him and told him they would arrive early to get us off to the airport.

I tell Max I will walk them out and return in a few minutes. I ride the elevator down to the first floor with everyone. Charlotte and Frank say goodbye, and they will see me tomorrow.

I hugged Ashley and Jeremy and told them, "I love you both and promise I will take the best care of Max." Then I told them that we both decided today was day one of our relationship and that we would do everything possible to make each other happy.

Jeremy says, "I have prayed, and I know you both can make a family, and I'm excited to have you as my sister one day."

Ashley smiles and says, "This will all work out, and I can't wait to watch our kids grow up together."

I look at them and ask, "When will you guys tell everyone about the baby?"

Jeremy says, "We've discussed it and plan to do it when we visit you."

I smile and tell them, "I will have my sister-in-law schedule the baby shower for me during the week you visit."

I told Ashley that if she wanted to be involved in the planning, her sister-in-law could contact. her.

She says, "Yes, please, give them my contact information. I would love to be involved."

We all say our goodbyes and hug each other. I stand there watching them walk off.

I turn and walk to the elevator, knowing my life has improved, and I feel so happy.

Once back in the room, I sit down and smile at Max. He asks, "Are you as happy as I am?"

I say, "Yes, and much more."

We talked for a few minutes, and I could tell he was getting tired. I told him I would return to the hotel, eat, and sleep since tomorrow would be a long day.

I bend down and softly kiss my love on his lips. I tell him I will see him in the morning.

As I walked out, I saw Dr. Thomas at the nurse's station and approached him. I told him everything looked good and that Max would leave tomorrow.

I told him I'd arranged transportation and scheduled physical therapy once we returned to Oklahoma.

He told me he would have the discharge papers in the morning so we could leave here on time. I thank him for all his assistance this week.

Once I've talked with him, I'm off to meet my Uber and go to the hotel.