The Nurse’s Shocking Warning Led Me to Discover Something Under My Husband’s Hospital Bed

During what I thought was just a normal visit to the hospital, the nurse quietly pulled me aside and said, “I don’t mean to worry you, but… when you go back to your husband’s room, take a look under his bed.” A chill ran down my spine as I fumbled for my phone, ready to dial 911, not knowing what I was about to uncover.

As I write this, I’m still in shock. The absurdity of it all makes me want to chuckle, but what about the other part? The other portion keeps playing back every tense moment from last Friday night.

Ethan, my husband, had been in the hospital for over a week now, recovering from a long-standing hip issue that had finally caught up with him. After surgery, he’s been making progress, but it hasn’t been an easy recovery. My days have been filled with a whirlwind of work, taking care of the kids, and ensuring Ethan is as comfortable as possible. That morning, as Tommy pushed his cereal around in his bowl, he asked, “Mom, when is Dad coming home?”

“Soon, sweetie,” I had answered, attempting to conceal my weariness. “He needs to get stronger first.”

Sarah had added, “But I miss him,” with a quivering lower lip. “It’s not the same without him here.”

“I understand, sweetie. I also miss him. More than you realize. I had embraced them both tightly, inhaling their comforting aromas and finding strength in their warmth.

While the children are at school, I usually pay Ethan a visit in the mornings or afternoons. However, my dad volunteered to watch the kids last Friday.

He had said, “You look like you could use a break,” with worried eyes. “When was the last time you had a full night’s sleep?”

To be honest, I couldn’t remember. But it felt like a lifeline when he offered. I thought it was a great idea to pay Ethan a surprise visit in the evening. And perhaps make his day a little better.

He looked up from his phone and instantly froze when I entered his hospital room.

I smiled and replied, “Hey,” placing my bag on the chair. “You weren’t expecting me, huh?”

He gave me a nervous laugh and blinked a few times. “No. Didn’t you come earlier today, I mean?

“Yes, I did. But here I am because I had some spare time. I sat down next him and shrugged. “I miss you, you know.”

He reached for my hand but stopped in the middle, whispering, “Sam…” “You ought not to… You must be tired, after all. The children—”

“The kids are with Dad,” I said, observing his expression. His face made me feel sick to my stomach. “Ethan, they really do miss you. Sarah sobbed once more this morning.

For a second, his face crumbled. “I detest this, God. being stranded here and left to manage everything alone.”

“Hey, isn’t that the purpose of marriage? In health and in illness?” I made a joke, but my voice sounded a little off.

Ethan grinned, but something was wrong. Distracted look in his eyes, I’m not sure. As if his mind was working on something else all day.

“You okay?” I watched him intently as I asked. “You seem… different tonight.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” He picked at his blanket’s corner. “How are the kids?”

I peeled an apple for him, which is his favorite food, and we engaged in small talk for a while. However, I couldn’t get rid of the uneasy feeling I had the entire time. Ethan’s responses were more succinct than normal. He continued to stare at the door.

“Remember when we first started dating?” I spoke, attempting to break the awkward pause. “You used to bring me apples every day because you heard somewhere that ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away.'”

The sound of his laughter was strained.

“Ethan,” I said as I extended my hand once more, and he allowed me to grasp it. “Speak to me. What’s happening? Do you feel pain? Do I need to phone the nurse?

“No!” he exclaimed too hastily before lowering his voice. “No, I’m all right. Actually. Simply put, exhausted.

I made an effort not to overthink things. Perhaps he was just weary, I thought. You do realize that surgery has a cost?

However, I ran into Carla while I was heading outside the ward to throw the apple peelings in the dustbin.

One of Ethan’s nurses is Carla. She’s friendly, talkative, and the type of person who instantly makes you feel comfortable. She appeared nervous this time, even though we had spoken a few times previously.

Glancing uncomfortably down the hall, she stepped into my path and then lowered her voice. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Obviously. What’s going on?”

She was fidgeting with her ID badge, her palms quivering a little. “This is not what I should be doing. Although we shouldn’t interfere in patients’ private affairs,…”

“Carla,” I said, softly grabbing her arm as my heart began to rush. “I’m afraid of you. Does Ethan have a problem? Did the tests reveal anything?

She gave a swift shake of her head. “It’s not medical,” I said. It is. She nibbled on her lip. Her voice fell even lower as her gaze swung to Ethan’s chamber. “Listen, I don’t want to alarm you, but… look under your husband’s bed when you go back to the room.”

Confused, I scowled. “Under his bed? “Why?”

“Just trust me,” she replied hastily, with a beseeching look on her face. “You’ll understand when you see it.”

“Carla, please,” I said with a little crack in my voice. Tell me if there’s a problem. I’m capable of managing it.”

Whispering, “I can’t,” she peered over her shoulder. “But you must be aware. Take a peek.

I stood there with a growing pit of dread in my gut as she turned and left.

What was she discussing? Did Ethan have a problem? Was there a secret of some sort I should have known?

“Wait!” She had already departed, her shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor, when I called after her.

Trying to seem normal, I took a big breath and went back to the room. I had to stuff my hands into my pockets because they were shaking so much.

Ethan was reclined in his bed, once more browsing through his phone.

I sat down, and he inquired, “Everything okay?”

“Yes. I simply threw away some garbage.

But my thoughts were racing. I kept thinking about Carla’s advice to “look under his bed.”

I required an excuse. Something informal. I hastily picked up the apple I had been paring earlier and dropped it as if it had fallen.

“Oops,” I squatted down and said.

I saw it at that moment. My heart stopped beating.

Eyes were peering back at me from beneath the bed.

I initially believed I was having hallucinations. However, no. Like a deer in headlights, a woman was crouching there and staring back at me.

“What the —” I leaped to my feet. “What on earth are you? Why do you stand beneath my husband’s bed?

The beeping of Ethan’s cardiac monitor increased. “Wait, wait… Samantha, it’s not what you —”

“You dare not ‘wait’ for me! after all that we’ve endured? following a decade of dating?”

“Sam, please —”

I stopped him in his tracks. “What is she doing here, Ethan?” I reached for my phone with trembling hands. “I’m going to contact the police. What is this? A joke of some sort?”

With a face as red as a firetruck, the woman scurried out from beneath the bed. She appeared ashamed.

“Please!” Ethan became anxious. He flinched when the motion tugged at his IV and groped for my phone. “Stop, Samantha. It isn’t what you believe.

“Not what I think?” My chest heaved as I gazed at him. My eyes were burning with tears. “Ethan, there’s a woman beneath your bed! What else should I be thinking? that her contact lens fell beneath it?”

The woman began, “Miss Samantha, I can explain —”

“How dare you?” I shouted and moved away from them both. “For what duration has this been occurring? Ethan, is this the reason you’ve been acting strangely?

The beeping of the cardiac monitor intensified. Ethan shifted in bed, swinging his legs over the side with caution and a squirm. His hands gripped the edge of the mattress for support as he moved slowly and deliberately. His hospital robe fluttered a little with the effort as he stood, shaky on his feet, the IV pole rattling faintly.

His knuckles were white as he braced himself, and I could see him straining to maintain his equilibrium. He said, “Please, just listen to me,” in a shaky voice. “I can explain.”

“Ethan, tell me what? That in a hospital room you’re cheating on me? While caring for our kids at home and exhausting myself in an attempt to maintain my composure?”

“No! No, God. That isn’t the case. He gazed at the woman, who seemed to want to bury herself in the ground. When he said, “Tell her,”

After a pause, the woman muttered, “I’m a wedding planner.”

I blinked. “A… what?”

She straightened, continuing to look away from me. “I was hired by Ethan to assist with planning a surprise wedding. For you.

I looked at her as if she had just said something in a different language. “A wedding? For myself? “What are you discussing?”

With a groan, Ethan combed through his hair. “That’s accurate. She and I have been collaborating to organize a wedding. For us. An actual one.

“However, why the secrecy? Why conceal her beneath the bed like some youngster skulking around?

“Because you weren’t supposed to be here!” Ethan shattered his voice. “We’ve been planning this for months.”

The woman gave an uneasy nod. “Everything, including your preferred flowers and colors, was being finalized. He desired perfection in everything. He advised me to hide beneath the bed because we heard you on the phone outside the ward and we didn’t want to ruin the surprise. I sincerely apologize for the miscommunication.

“The other day, I discovered our old wedding picture,” Ethan added, his eyes sparkling. “Remember? Me in my dad’s old suit, you in your plain white dress, City Hall? That hurried ceremony was far less than what you deserved.

I couldn’t decide if I should laugh or cry. My chest ached as the rage I had felt minutes before turned into something softer.

“You… you were planning a wedding?” I muttered. “All this time?”

Ethan reached for my hand and nodded. “I know that seems insane, but I wanted to give you a surprise. to bring you joy. to provide you with the wedding day you’ve always imagined.”

“Before what?” I squeezed his hand and pressed.

He muttered, “Before anything else can go wrong,” “Sam, you are loved. Above all. This time, I want to wed you properly in front of our children, relatives, and friends.

I just stood there looking at him for a while. My eyes began to well up with tears as I began to laugh slowly.

“You are insane!” Shaking my head, I said. How close did I get to dialing 911, do you know? I had the worst possible thought.

Ethan smiled sheepishly at me. “Yes, I apologize for it. Having Jessica hiding beneath the bed was not my favorite moment.

After muttering another apology, Jessica, the wedding coordinator, quietly left the room, leaving the two of us alone.

Ethan reached for my hand as the door snapped shut. “So, what are your thoughts? Are you still upset with me?

Heart full, I squeezed his hand. “Angry? No. However, you ought to give me a thorough explanation—and perhaps a drink after we leave.” I chuckled before whispering, “And Ethan? Even if we have to do our first wheelchair dance at ninety, I don’t care. as long as it’s in your presence.”

I could feel his tears moistening my shoulder as he drew me in. Whispering, “I love you,” he said. “Even after ten years, I fall more in love with you every day.”

“I love you too,” I returned the whisper. “How about a surprise the next time? Don’t put the planner beneath the bed, perhaps.

Everything felt normal again as his laughter filled the hospital room, this time warm and sincere.