Chapter Nine
"Ring! Ring!"
"Hello" Lance said groggily.
"Hey Lance!" the voice bubbled over the phone.
"Pam, may I ask why you are calling at…" Lance paused
as he cradled the phone on his shoulder and reached
for his alarm clock next to the bed. "at 7:30 in the
morning?" he noticed Christina move slightly and
lowered his voice to a whisper. .
"Oh, I just wanted to remind you two of breakfast at
Bob Evan's." Pam said as she smiled and kissed Justin.
"I know 9:30 exactly. I am going to go…bye." Lance
shook his head as he hung up the phone.
He carefully snuck out from under Christina's arms and
slipped his boxers on. He walked out to the living
room and picked up a phone book. Lance looked for the
doctor's number. He had gone to Dr. Eickman for years
and was extremely comfortable at her office. Lance sat
down on the couch and began to dial the phone number.
It was a small practice and had only the doctor and
her nurse in the office. But it was up to date with
all of technology. That was what made Lance the most
comfortable. She knew of all the new medical diseases
and developments and was continuing to take classes as
she developed her practice.
"Hello, Eickman's medical practice, this is nurse
Lynn, how can I help you?" the voice said cheerfully
across the phone line.
"This is Lance Bass, and I was wondering if I could
speak to the doctor?" Lance said. Unconsciously he
placed his hand on the bruise as he waited on a reply.
"Well she's busy right now. Can I help you?" the nurse
asked.
"It's Nurse Lynn right?"
"Yeah…but just call me Lynn"
"Well, about two months or so ago I ran into the table
in my apartment an I got a rather large bruise. I
didn't think anything of it until last night. My gi…I
mean fiancee found where it had been and notice it was
slightly discolored and that there seemed to be what
she thought was a knot under it. It has been a little
tender to touch but not bad. I tried to tell her it
was nothing and that it would go away in a few more
days. But she wouldn't go for it. So I was wondering
if I should make an appointment or tell her to stop
worrying?"
"So you said there seemed to be a knot under the
bruise. Have you been feeling fine lately?" Lynn asked
as she jotted notes onto the paper in front of her.
"Oh…well yeah, but I just got off of our long tour and
we are just starting to get some rest. I am feeling
more energetic each day that I get a full nights
sleep, but I guess I am still a slight bit tired."
"Hum…I don't think it would be a bad idea for you to
come in and let the doctor take a look at the bruise.
Just to be safe. I see in your chart that you haven't
been in a couple years. So we will schedule you for a
yearly check up and have the doctor check out the
bruise." Lynn said as she looked at the schedule in
front of her. "How about today at 11:00?"
"Yeah that will work." Lance said and rolled his eyes.
'Well there goes my day" he said to himself.
"See you then" Lynn said before she hung up the phone.
She quickly pulled out Lance's chart and jotted some
notes down. Then placed the chart next to the others
and went on with her job.
Lance hung up the phone and looked at the clock. It
read 8 A.M. "Well better go wake Christina up" he said
out loud to himself. Lance walked into his room and
sat on the edge of the bed. He put his hand on her
side as he said "Time to get up!"
"Grumble…grumble…what?" Christina said as she slowly
rolled over.
"Time to wake up!" Lance said as he took her hands in
his and pulled her into the sitting position. "That
shirt looks familiar to me" Lance said as he leaned in
to kiss her.
"Well it's new to me."
"Yeah, I'm sure it is." Lance said as they both smiled
and laughed. "We have to get busy soon. We've got a
lot to do today"
"Like what?"
"Well…we have breakfast at 9:30 and then I've got to
go to the dang doctor at 11:00."
"Oh…so you called! What did she say?"
"I talked to Nurse Lynn and she said it wouldn't hurt
to get it checked out."
"See…I told you it would be a good idea." Christina
said with a smile on her face.
"Yeah…yeah…don't get to confidant in your ideas. We
have a little over an hour to get ready and get out of
here so you need to get your butt out of bed and start
getting ready."
"Okay…I hear you. I think you might be worse then my
mom when it comes to telling me to get ready."
Christina said as she kissed him and climbed out of
the bed.
"Yeah I might be worse then your mom but at least your
up and moving" Lance said as he stood beside her and
kissed her again. "Now go shower."
"Yes SIR!" Christina said as she soluted him and then
grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom
grumbling about it being to early.
An hour and a half later they pulled up to Bob Evan's
and saw JC's Jeep and Justin's Mercedes parked in the
lot. They hurried inside to find a long table with two
empty seats.
"About time" Chrissy said.
"Hey, it's 9:30 exactly…I am not late…so bite me."
Christina said as they sat down.
"NO THANK YOU"
"It wasn't an offer. So what is everyone having?"
Christina asked as the waitress came to the table and
everyone ordered. They sat around talking about the
new engagement and what how it had happened. Everyone
was happy for the lucky couple.
"So where will the wedding be?" Trisha asked.
"We haven't discussed that really. Last night was busy
and we didn't get much time to talk after we got back
to my aunts." Christina answered.
"Well, I can guarantee that it will be in Indiana,
Mississippi, or Orlando." Lance said with a laugh.
"Oh don't narrow yourself down to a specific location.
Wouldn't want to eliminate any where." Sarah said
sarcastically.
"We won't" they both answered laughing.
"When's the wedding?" Andy asked.
"Next December"
"Yeah, we have plenty of time to plan wedding showers,
and bachelor parties." Chrissy said.
"Hey what about a stripper?" Carla chimed.
"Carla…" Christina said shaking her head "you and your
obsession with strippers."
"Hey, I can't help it."
"Okay I don't want to know what you are talking
about!" Lance said.
"I agree…So what going on today?" Justin asked.
"Christina and I are both busy until this afternoon."
Lance said.
"What are you doing?" Chris asked.
"Oh…Christina found the little bruise…"
"Little my butt" Christina interrupted.
"Okay not so little, bruise I got a while ago when I
ran into the table. And she convinced me that I needed
to go to the doctors to have it checked out. I go at
11:00 and then I am free the rest of the day."
"Didn't you run into that table over three months
ago?" JC asked.
"Yeah, I guess so." Lance said.
"And you still have a bruise?" Carla and Chrissy both
asked, as the nurses in them came out.
"A slight one but Christina said she felt a knot that
is why she wanted me to go in."
"Then you should go to the doctor." Carla said.
"Yeah, I think Carla's right," Justin said.
"It wouldn't hurt to go make sure everything's okay"
Chrissy said.
"Well, I'm going. But everything is fine." Lance said
as their food was served
Everyone ate their food and sat talking. At 10:45
Lance excused himself to pay the check. When he
returned they said goodbye to everyone and said they
would drop by Justin's after they were done at the
doctor's.
"Be careful," JC said, " and let us know what you find
out."
"We will" Lance said as he took Christina's arm and
they walked out of the restaurant.
They got into the truck and drove to the office.
Lance noticed how quiet Christina was being.
"Penny for your thoughts!" Lance said. She smiled and
told him she was just spacing out. "Nothings wrong. We
are starting our perfect life together. I'm probably
low in iron or something stupid like that. You know
how I don't take care of myself when you aren't
around. I don't remember to eat or anything. So that's
probably a big part of it. I know I haven't been
taking the vitamin supplements I am suppose to, so who
knows. I bet she will just tell me to take my medicine
and put some ice on it or something. Everything is
fine." He said pulling the truck into the parking lot.
"Come on…let's go get this over with and enjoy the
rest of our day." He said as he got out of the truck
and walked around to her side. Taking her hand in his
they walked to the reception desk together.
"Oh…Mr. Bass." The nurse said.
"Yes…Nurse Lynn." Lance said, "call me Lance."
"Okay, Lance…well come on back. Dr. Eickman's with
another patient but we need your weight and height and
some info. It's been a while since we saw you last."
Lynn said as she escorted them back to the scales.
"Step up here please" She set the weights right and
then said "You've lost about 20 pounds since the last
time you were here. Oh okay come this way."
She jotted down a few more notes and led them to an
examining room. The room was covered in pictures of
smoke filled lungs, and other common diseases.
"Okay take a seat Lance" Lynn said as Lance sat on the
table and Christina sat in a chair against the far
wall. "Now for the usual question." Lynn said as she
asked about smoking, which Lance only answer with a
laugh, sexual activity, and anything else going on
that he noticed. "Okay well that's all I need for now.
The doctor should be in soon." Lynn said as she walked
out of the room and shut the door.
The room was silent except for the music in the
background. The dream from earlier was still bothering
Christina and Lance was just thinking that he wanted
out of there as soon as possible. He slowly realized
that he recognized the music that was playing in the
background. It was the ending of their song "I Drive
Myself Crazy". He shook his head and giggled.
Christina looked up to see him laughing and smiling
and then finally heard the music; she just shook her
head and smiled. As the music stopped and the DJ began
talking, Lance stood up and started to pace the room.
He continued to pace the room, he was slightly nervous
about what it could be or what the doctor would say,
but mostly he just did not want to be there. He
stopped pacing as the next song started. He listened
as the music played and realized right away what song
it was, "From This Moment On" by Shania Twain. Walking
over to Christina he extended his hand and asked, "May
I have this dance?"
"Lance, we are in a doctor's office!" Christina said
as she gave him a questioning look.
"Yeah we are, but there's music I like this song, we
always dance to it, so we need to dance." He said as
he took her hands and pulled her into his arms as he
began to sing to the music.
"From this moment,
Life has begun.
From this moment,
You are the one.
Right beside you is where I belong.
From this moment on.
From this moment,
I have been blessed.
I live only for you happiness.
And for your love I'd give my last breath.
From this moment on.
I give my hand to you with all my heart.
I can't wait to live my life with you.
I can't wait to start.
You and I will never be apart.
My dreams came true because of you."
"You remember the first time we danced to this?" Lance
asked.
"Yes, it was that night we slept on the beach in
California when we visited Shannon. It was the first
time you told me you loved me and then this song came
on as a special request to a special girl from her
special someone. And then we dance under the moon and
you sang it to me. It's been one of our songs ever
since then. Of course I would remember." Lance only
smiled and began singing again as they swayed to the
music with their eyes glued on each other and their
arms around each other.
"You're the reason I believe in love,
You're the answer to my prayer from up above.
All we need is just the two of us.
My dreams came true,
Because of you.
From this moment on.
As long as I live,
I promise you this,
There is nothing I wouldn't give.
From this moment, I will love you.
As long as I live,
From this moment on."
Lance quietly let his voice fade as he leaned in and
kissed Christina. He whispered, "I meant every word as
much if not more today then I did the first time I
sang them to you. I mean everything, every time I say
I love you I mean it more then the time before. I
really do want to be with you forever." They kissed
slowly and lovingly, then broke apart and starred into
each other's eyes.
"Well…I don't think anyone has ever danced in my
office before." Dr. Eickman said as the couple turned
to see her.
"Oh…hi…sorry about that." Lance said as they separated
and sat in their seats.
"That is quite fine. I actually thought it was sweet.
I am taking it that you are engaged? Don't ask how I
know let's just say that I can tell," the doctor said
as she started looking at the chart "So…Mr. Bass…"
"Call me Lance"
"Okay, Lance, why did you come in today?"
Lance explained what had happened the night before
when they had laid down to go to sleep. "Okay let's
see this bruise. We'll make it quick to get you out of
here as soon as possible." The doctor said with a
smile. Lance lifted his shirt and the doctor examined
it touching and prodding with her fingers. "Well it
looks like a normal old slow healing bruise…" the
doctor started.
"See I told you" Lance said to Christina with a 'nah
nah' look on his face. "Miss worry-wort herself"
"BUT…if you don't mind letting me finish…I am worried
about the knot and the coloring so I want to have the
nurse take some blood work and do some tests." Lance's
face fell from one of 'I was right' to a face of fear.
"I'm sure nothings wrong but I have a policy of making
sure to be safe and not sorry."
"Thank you Doctor" Lance said.
"It's my job. Lynn will be right in and get the blood
and a few other things." The doctor left the room and
shut the door behind her.
"Christina are you okay?" Lance asked after a few
minutes.
"Hum…yeah sorry." She said trying not to show her
fear. The dream she had was getting to her but she
didn't want to say anything to Lance. A few seconds
later Lynn walked in the room with a tray of needles
and vials.
"Well, now I get to play vampire." Lynn said as she
prepared the needles and the gloves that she needed.
She walked over to Lance and found a vein quickly,
then withdrew three small vials of blood and marked
them. "Now the doctor wants some blood surrounding the
bruised area. So please lie back on the table please."
Lance did as she said and lifted his shirt. He turned
his head from the nurse and looked at Christina
through out that part of the procedure. "Okay you are
all done." Lynn said as Lance sat up. "We'll call you
as soon as all of the tests come back, it shouldn't be
more then two days tops."
"Thanks" Lance said half heartily as he stood and took
Christina's hand then walked out of the office. They
got in the truck and started the engine. "Are you
okay, hun?" he asked.
"Something just doesn't feel right." She said.
"It's all okay I promise. Remember we are going to be
together forever." He said as he took her hand.
Christina shivered as she heard the song on the radio.
"I Will Remember you" was playing. It sent chills up
and down her body. It was almost as though someone was
trying to tell her something. 'But what?' she asked
herself. Everything was perfect in her life. She just
finished school, Lance was there, her friends were
there, and her family was supportive. Everything was
perfect.
"Come on calm down, Ann" Lance said. No one ever
called her Ann but Lance, and that was only when she
was upset or scared to help her calm down. It was his
special nickname for her. "Everything's fine you'll
see," he said. He had no doubt that everything was
fine and he wasn't worried. They drove to Justin's
house where they found everyone relaxing. Lance
explained what the doctor had said and answered all of
the questions they thought of. Finally satisfied they
decided to spend the day shopping.
TWO DAYS LATER…
"Lance, your cell phone is ringing." JC said.
"Okay thanks." Lance said as he ran to grab the phone.
"Hello" he answered as he walked into his kitchen. Two
days had passed since the doctors visit and he had
been slightly jumpy all day.
"Mr. James Bass?" the voice asked.
"Yes this is he"
"This is Lynn, from Dr. Eickman's office"
"Yes, I was expecting you to call." Lance said as
Christina walked into the kitchen. Everyone had
gathered there that day to watch movies and swim in
the pond near the condo. "So what's the results. More
iron and vitamins?" Lance said hopefully, as Christina
wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on
his chest.
"Well, Dr. Eickman wants you to come into the office
to get the results as soon as possible."
"Why?" Lance asked slightly concerned.
"Just a policy she has. So can you come in about an
hour?"
"Yeah I guess. I'll be there." Lance said before he
hung up the phone. He explained to Christina that the
doctor wanted to see him and then he explained the
same thing to the rest of the group before they walked
out of the condo. He left them sitting with stunned
looks on their faces.
Lance and Christina slowly drove to the doctor's
office silently. Lance tried to keep his mind from
racing. Both of them knew that it usually wasn't good
when the doctor asks you to come back in but they
tried not to think of that. It was a silent ride until
he reached the office. Walking away from the truck
Lance stopped Christina and put his hands on both
shoulders and forced her to look up. "Everything's
fine. We're fine. I love you more then anything.
Nothing's wrong. Have I ever been wrong before." He
asked.
Christina could only shake her head in agreement and
say "I love you too!" knowing in her heart that for
once Lance was wrong and everything wasn't okay.
Chater Ten
