“You’re going to be fine, honey…,” Jenna whispered, stroking Dominic’s palm. “I’ll make your favorite pie, and we’ll watch movies together when we get home. Everything will be fine.”
Then Jenna arranged her pillow and blanket on the chair in Dominic’s hospital room, and while admiring her husband’s face, she dozed off….
Dominic and Jenna were one of those couples who are considered “the perfect couple”. In their 52 years of married life together, they have experienced, but always supported each other. Who would have thought that a coffee date would lead to 52 years together and the creation of a lovely family of two boys, who grew up, married and moved away?
After their children left home, Dominic and Jenna only had each other’s company, and they liked it. Every Valentine’s Day morning, Jenna would get flowers in bed, and on their anniversary, her husband would invite her to dinner at the place where they met, the restaurant right across the street from their university.
On their anniversary, the couple danced together to jazz music, followed by a passionate kiss, celebrating another year together and promising to see much more of them in the future. But sadly, one year, it all came to a halt.
Dominic had a heart condition that required surgery. The doctors confined him to bed, and Jenna worried about how long they would live together. Dominic was 88 and Jenna was 85. At that age, you start to fear the worst.
When Dominic was hospitalised, Jenna took a pillow and blanket with her in her car because she wasn’t going to leave her husband in hospital and go home. She would be there for him all the time.
True love is both inspiring and sweet.
“And you can’t convince me otherwise, doctor!”
Jenna fought with the hospital staff. They didn’t want her to stay in her husband’s room because it was against hospital policy.
“He is my husband! “she said firmly. “Who are you to separate us when we have promised to be together in sickness and in health! I am staying with him! Do you understand that? ”
“Ma’am,” sighed the doctor, helplessly. “You don’t understand. We can’t allow this. And it’s not just one night-we can’t let you stay with the patient every night.”
“Dr. Ferguson, I think we can,” a nurse abruptly interrupted. Jenna noticed her name on the name tag. It said, “Merelyn P.”
“Just a second, ma’am…”,
Merelyn pulled the doctor aside and spoke to him. He finally allowed Jenna to stay in Dominic’s room.
“Please continue, ma’am,” she said with a smile. “I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Jenna replied, smiling in return. “I will never forget your gesture. Thank you…”
From that point on, Jenna began sleeping in her husband’s room at the hospital. Each night, she used to hold his hands, say a short prayer, and then kiss him on the forehead before retiring to the chair.
And before going to sleep, she would admire her husband’s face and thank God for giving them strength to get through the difficult days.
“Please Lord, keep him safe,” she whispered one night, holding his hands. “He and my children are everything to me…”.
Thankfully, the Lord heard Jenna’s prayers, and her husband’s surgery was a success. He was soon to be released from the hospital. Little did Jenna know the surprise that awaited her…
On the day Dominic was released from the hospital, Jenna woke up earlier than usual and felt something in her hands.
“Oh, honey, did I hold your hand all night? ” she whispered, half asleep, thinking it was Dominic’s hand. Then she realized it wasn’t.
“What’s that? It smells like a rose… Is that a rose? ” she wondered as she reached for her glasses.
After putting them on, Jenna was surprised. She actually had a bouquet of roses in her hand. “Oh, how did I get that? ”
Jenna turned it around in her hands several times, but she couldn’t find anything attached to the flowers that would tell her who had given it to her. She set the flowers on the table next to Dominic’s bed and noticed a letter on it.
“For Mrs. Lancaster,” the letter read at the top. Surprised, Jenna opened the letter to read it.
“Dear Mrs. Lancaster,
I hope you enjoyed the flowers. It is a modest token of appreciation for the wonderful wife you are to your husband. Mr. Lancaster is very lucky to have you as his wife. No one will say otherwise.)
(Actually, he wanted to give you something to thank you for staying with him in the hospital. He asked me for help, and after looking at you, I thought a pretty lady like you deserved some nice flowers).
Honestly, you both remind me of my late grandparents. My grandmother was exactly like you. She fought with everyone for my grandfather’s sake. When I saw you arguing with the doctor that day, it reminded me of my own grandmother. I will miss you and Mr. Lancaster.
I wish Mr. Lancaster good health and many years of happiness together.
With love,
-Merelyn.”
“Oh, my God…”, Jenna smiled through her tears. “You’re a lovely girl, Merelyn. Thank you, sweetheart.”
Jenna kissed her husband, who was sleeping, and whispered a thank you to him, too. And before she left the hospital, she found Merelyn and gave her a warm hug.
“God bless you, honey,” she said. “I loved the flowers. Thank you so much for this thoughtful gift.”
