True Love Waits

'After she wakes up, I'll help her glow like a mother-to-be again, 'Wesley mused.

Gifford Li crawled forward towards Blair and sat on her leg, looking at the woman who was asleep every time he saw her. She wasn't very interesting to him.

Wesley thought Gifford Li might call Blair "Mama." That was doable, but the child made no sound. So Wesley patted him on his bottom and urged, "Mama."

"Mama," Gifford Li called, reaching out his tiny hand to grab Blair's. Blair's hair had grown much longer. A few strands had fallen loose, covering her forehead. Wesley tenderly tucked it behind her ear. "Honey, our son's here to see you. You've been sleeping a long time. Could you open your eyes and hold him?"

There was no change. She still had her eyes shut, her breathing regular.

"Honey, the Spring Festival is just around the corner. What are you wanting? Tell me. I'll buy it for you. You said you wanted to buy me a down jacket. You always said I wasn't wearing enough. If you get up, we can go shopping with our son."

Gifford Li held Blair's finger and shook it. "Mama," he called lightly.

Wesley stroked his head and said, "Attaboy. Keep saying it. When your mom hears you, she'll wake up."

Later, after placing Gifford Li on the sofa, he fetched a basin of water, grabbed a towel and started cleaning Blair's body. Meanwhile, he kept an eye on his son.

Two hours later, carrying Gifford Li, Wesley walked out of the ward and into the attending physician's office.

"I want to take my wife home," he said simply.

The doctor thought about it and then replied, "I know. But you don't have the necessary medical equipment at home."

"My brother's a surgeon. He's going to be living with me for some time after his wedding. Tell me what kind of equipment we need, and I'll buy it. He knows med-techs, and they can set it up." Niles and Irene were getting married. At Cecelia's request, he transferred to a hospital up in his hometown so he could be closer.

"Okay. Let's go over instructions for outpatient care and get her discharged."

"Thank you, doctor."

day as soon as he got off work. He also hired

the Spring Festival, Debbie gave birth to Terilynn. When the baby was a month old, Carlos held a party to celebrate. Wesley was there, too. He wouldn't miss it for the world. Afterwards, the old gang-Debbie, Curtis, Colleen, Damon, and Adriana-and the

and Hartwell had just visited her, so they didn't come along this

Gifford Li was a

came upstairs for Wesley. They opened the door to his bedroom and saw that he was cleaning Blair's face with a towel. She was still in a

told him to call Blair "Mama" every morning, every night before he went

about putting off the wedding until Blair

Wesley up short. "Okay," he said. 'She'll wake up

wouldn't have happened if I

every night. Every time she closed her eyes, she could see Blair, covered

count of how many times he said this. Guilt and shame ate at him. For more than ten years, he was known as a hero. Yet, in the end, he couldn't even protect his own

down Cecelia's cheeks. Wesley continued washing Blair's face. Keeping an eye on her grandson, Cecelia rose from her chair and complained, "I hate the Zhuges. They keep trying to fix you up with their

refused to open her eyes, and then out

thought there must be something wrong with her ears. "Wesley, if you're thinking what I'm thinking, cut it out! I'll disown you if you cheat on Blair! I won't have a son like

into the basin and looked at his

him and then went back to playing with

mommy?" he asked the

Li wasn't quite articulate yet. "Yes. We

new, more beautiful

back of the head

didn't understand what Wesley meant. "Why?" he

eyes to look at you. We don't want her anymore." Then a smug smile stole

Gifford Li responded, still