The Way Your Heart Sounds

The next morning, Lauren couldn’t wait to tell all of her friends and co-workers the big news. She couldn’t wear her ring, because the hospital only allowed nurses to wear plain wedding bands, so she decided to put it on a chain and wear it around her neck, under her scrub top.
While she was at the nurse’s station charting, she noticed a familiar face approach her.

“Congratulations,” Dr. Kramer smiled. She came out from behind the desk and gave him a quick hug.

“Thank you so much. You didn’t have to come all the way across the hospital,” she replied.

“Don’t mention it. I have to say I’ve never seen Jimmy more excited for anything in his life. Which is saying a lot, he’s quite excitable,” the doctor laughed, sticking his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket.

“How long ago did he tell you?” she asked, out of curiosity.

“Well, he pretty much told me from the get go that he intended on marrying you. As for when he actually told me he was proposing, maybe a week or so ago.”

Lauren couldn’t help but grin ear to ear. It was amazing to her that she and Jimmy had this intense connection from the very beginning of their relationship, enough for him to know that she was the one. Dr. Kramer noticed her response and smiled, patting her on the shoulder.

“I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world. And please invite me to the wedding.”

“Of course,” Lauren smiled.

After the doctor left, Lauren felt her phone vibrate as she was getting ready to see another patient. An ‘I love you’ text from Jimmy. He was working on music with the guys this morning, but they were actually planning on having a party at the house later on that night. Brian insisted that they celebrate the new engagement, so he was organizing the whole thing. Jimmy’s family, as well as all of their friends were going to be there.

With all the pending excitement about the party, Lauren was hoping that her shift would go a little faster. She couldn’t wait to get out of work and see everyone. As soon as her shift ended, she reported to her relief nurse, changed in the locker room, and quickly made her way out the door towards home. When she pulled up in the driveway, she saw Matt and Jimmy outside. Matt was hanging balloons on the railings of the front step. Jimmy saw the car pull up and immediately went towards the car to hug and kiss Lauren.

“How was work?” He asked as he took her bag and started walking with her towards the house.

“Not bad. Dr. Kramer came over to the ER today to congratulate me,” she smiled.

“He’s the best doctor ever,” Jimmy said. “Some people are already here and the rest are on their way, so come inside.”

She stepped inside the living room with Jimmy to be greeted by his parents, his sisters, Val, Michelle, and the rest of the guys. Everyone asked to see the ring, and she remembered that it was still on her neck. She unhooked the chain, and slipped the ring back onto her finger.

“They don’t let you wear an engagement ring at work?” Val asked.

“Nope. I’d probably end up tearing holes in the ten million pairs of gloves I have to put on in a day,” Lauren laughed. Val nodded in agreement.

“I can’t believe my baby is getting married,” Jimmy’s mom said as she went over to hug her son, then Lauren.

“Mom, I’m twenty-eight. This shouldn’t be a huge surprise,” Jimmy laughed, putting an arm around his mom’s shoulder.

“Not a surprise, but it’s always a big deal. You’ll understand if you decide to become a father one day,” she said. Jimmy smiled.

Brian came out of the kitchen when he heard Jimmy’s voice and hugged the happy couple.

“Thanks for inviting everyone over, Brian,” Lauren said to him.

“My pleasure. Anything for my best buddy and his girl,” Brian ruffled Jimmy’s hair, and Jimmy responded by picking him up and squeezing him.

The rest of the night was spent celebrating and having a good time with their family and closest friends. Lauren had also invited a few of her friends, such as Dani and Taylor, who got to properly meet Jimmy for the first time. Towards the end of the night, everyone slowly started heading home. Eventually, the only people left were Matt, Val, Brian, and Michelle.

“So, are we going to get some work done tomorrow?” Brian asked, addressing the guys.

“Sure. Jimmy, are you going to stop hoarding songs?” Matt smirked at Jimmy, who faked a hurt expression in return.

“I am only hoarding one song,” he pouted.

“Are we ever going to hear it?” Brian asked.

“Soon. I’m almost finished.” Jimmy was being super secretive about this particular song, and Lauren couldn’t help but wonder why. Was he really that scared to let other people hear his work before it was finished?

“Have you guys picked a date yet?” Val asked, clearly bored with the conversation the guys were having.

“Not quite. We’d like to do it next summer, though,” Lauren replied.

“What are you guys planning for Christmas?” Val smiled.

“Not sure if I have to work yet. I think we’re headed to Jimmy’s parent’s house Christmas Day if I’m not.. All of us should hang out on Christmas Eve,” Lauren said. Val nodded and said she’d spread the word to the guys, since they were still talking about music, not listening to their conversation.

The rest of their guests eventually started to leave around midnight. After they left, it was only Lauren and Jimmy for the rest of the night.

“I’m exhausted,” Jimmy commented. “I’m going to go lay down.”

“I’ll join you. I’m just going to go brush my teeth,” Lauren answered. Jimmy kissed her on the cheek and disappeared down the hallway.

As Lauren walked to the bathroom, she noticed a crumpled piece of paper on the floor of the hallway. She picked it up and smoothed it out, to see what it was. Jimmy’s handwriting was scribbled across the page. Some things were crossed out, and she could only make out certain words.

‘Memories seem to fade
Wash my view away
Hey, I can’t live in here for another day
Darkness has kept the light concealed
Real as ever
And it seems I’ve been buried alive’

What if this was the song Jimmy has been hoarding from the guys for ages? Lauren wasn’t sure what she should do with the paper. She stuffed it into her pocket, and then continued to get ready for bed. When she walked into their bedroom, he smiled at her.

“I think you dropped something in the hall,” she told him, pulling the crumpled paper out of her pocket. Jimmy scrunched his eyebrows and unraveled the paper.

“Did you read it?” he asked.

“I did, just because I had no idea what it was,” Lauren replied.

“They’re song lyrics. I must have dropped them,” he said. He folded the paper up and stored it away in the night side table.

“Is that the song you’ve been hoarding from the guys?” she asked, climbing into bed next to him.

“Believe it or not, it actually isn’t. I wrote that in the hospital. The guys have heard my demo vocals for that one already,” Jimmy said. He seemed sincere. Lauren nodded along with what he was saying.

“They’re really good lyrics, you’re an excellent writer,” she smiled, leaning on his shoulder. He kissed the side of her face as a thank you for the compliment.

“So, when are you going to show them the ‘masterpiece’ you’re working on?” she asked, using air quotations around ‘masterpiece’ since that’s what Jimmy referred to his hoarded song as.

“It’s almost done. Maybe in a few days. You’ll hear it soon, I promise,” he shrugged and grinned.

Notes