One Indecent Night

by Hargrove, A. M.

  “What else?” Evan asked.

  “That’s it. The owners accepted your offer, so basically the house is yours if you still want it.”

  Evan asked, “Sylvie, are you in?”

  “I am if you are.”

  “It’s a yes, Marti. We need to go to closing then, and my bank will need all of the owners’ bank information for the wire transfer.”

  “Excellent. I’ll set it up and get back to you ASAP.”

  I left in a daze while Evan was excited. He was used to large monetary transactions, while I, on the other hand, was not.

  “Hey, you with me or on another planet?”

  “Huh?”

  Laughing, he said, “I’ve been talking to you and getting no response.”

  “Oh, sorry. I’m a little overwhelmed. I can’t believe we just did that.”

  He stopped walking and turned me to face him. “Listen, I’m looking at it as another investment. And if we absolutely hate it, we sell. That’s it.”

  “I need an attitude adjustment. So what were you asking me?”

  “What decorator do you want to hire?”

  Oh shit. He’s going all decorator on me now.

  “I don’t know any.”

  “I don’t up here, but I’m sure Mom does. You have to tell me what you like, Sylvie.”

  “Comfort not stiff. I love how your place in the city is done. It has that lived-in feel. I don’t want ultra-modern.”

  “I agree. I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page then.”

  We decided to furniture hunt for the hell of it because if we rented out my townhouse or even kept it if I wanted to spend the night there, we’d still need it furnished. It was hilarious testing out the beds, but then Evan said he wanted a bed like the one he had in Manhattan.

  “Oh, my God, yes. That’s the best bed in the world. It’s so comfy.”

  “Great, then that’s off the list. I’ll order those for each of the guest rooms, and we’ll leave the baby’s room for later. I assume you’ll want to use that small room off the master for a while.”

  “Yes. After the first few weeks. At first, I want nubbin to be next to me by the bed, so I don’t freak out.”

  He held my hand as we walked through the store. “I understand. I don’t want to freak out either, plus, it’ll be easier with the feedings. But we’ll have video surveillance for the baby.”

  “You mean a video monitor.”

  “Nope. I want the entire house equipped with video surveillance so we can see that baby at all times with the nanny. I’m not taking any chances.”

  Damn, this was steroid safety protocol. I touched my belly and said, “It’s hard to believe there’s a baby inside me.”

  “I know. I can’t wait for the next doctor’s appointment to see how much he’s grown.”

  “You mean she.”

  My phone buzzed. It was in my coat pocket, so I dug it out. “It’s Dad. I hope it’s a good report.”

  “Hey Dad.”

  “Syll, I’m following the ambulance to the hospital. Your Mom had a seizure and then another one immediately after. I’m not sure…”

  “Dad, we’re on the way.” My heart ripped through my chest at his words. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.

  Forty-Eight

  Evan

  We rushed to the hospital, where John and Sylvie’s sisters waited.

  “What’s happening?” Sylvie asked.

  “They’re talking about transferring her to the hospital in Manhattan.”

  “So soon? They don’t even know what she has yet.”

  Grey came out. He’d probably been here anyway. “Hey. Sorry this is happening. I talked to her doctor as soon as she got here. The tumor’s causing the seizures, which is why they want to transfer her. Uncle John, I’m assuming you told them?”

  “Yes.”

  “Usually when someone has a seizure, they have a latent period afterward, but she’s not. These aren’t the usual seizures you think of either, with convulsions. She’s having temporal lobe seizures, which is where the tumor is located. She presents like she’s having a stroke in a way. Our concern is that they aren’t really stopping, so her neurologist wants to get her in to the doctor that’s going to treat her.”

  John asked, “You mean surgery?”

  “Hopefully, if they can. If not, radiation.”

  Sylvie latched onto my hand. “But Grey, do they even know what it is?”

  “At this point, they need to stop the seizures and they know she has a mass on her temporal lobe in the brain. Even if it’s a non-aggressive form of cancer, something needs to be done.” Grey scratched his head. “The conclusive pathology reports aren’t back yet, which they should any time now, but we know the frozen sections indicated a malignancy.”

  Then we noticed the neurologist walking toward us. “Hello everyone. I know Grey’s filling you in, but I wanted to update you. We have her transfer approved and the hospital in the city is ready with a room. Her new doctor will be Dr. Bernard Casey. He’s one of the best neurosurgeons around. We also got the results of her biopsy. I’m afraid it’s a glioblastoma.”

  John said flatly, “That’s the worst possible kind.”

  Sylvie asked, “How do you know, Dad?”

  “I’ve been reading up on the different types.”

  Grey patted him on the back. “Uncle John, I’m sorry. But if anyone can help, Dr. Casey can.”

  I stepped forward. “If any of you want to stay at my place, I have plenty of room. There’s no need to get a hotel. I also have an extra apartment, if you want privacy. Neither of them are far from the hospital.”

  “That’s very kind, Evan,” John said.

  Grey looked at us. “Go home and pack a bag, everyone. You’ll be there for several days at least. Don’t forget, Hudson and Milly are there too if you want a place to hang out with screaming kids and barking dogs.”

  It was meant to be humorous, but we only nodded. We were too somber to think humor right now.

  Pulling Grey to the side, I asked, “Look, I know legally you’re not allowed to tell me anything, but do we need to look outside the area for help on this, as in a better doctor?”

  “I honestly don’t think there is one.”

  “How long?”

  “I can’t really say, but if I had to guess, less than a year.”

  “Fuck.”

  “I did not tell you that. Understand?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “And Evan. Again, this is not my area of expertise and doctors have been known to be wrong all the time so …” He held his hands up.

  “I got it.”

  Sylvie and I went back to her place to gather our things.

  “Evan, Mom has to make it another thirty-eight weeks. She has to live to see her first grandchild.”

  “Babe, let’s think positive. This guy, Casey, is supposed to be the best. And if he’s not, we’ll find the best. Are you doing okay?”

  “Fuck, no! What kind of a question is that? I want this tumor to disappear. I want rainbows and flowers and I want Reynolds to make her unicorn to wield some magic right now.”

  I let her vent until she was out of words. “So do I, babe.” I held out my arms and she walked right into them. “Of all the things I can do for you, taking this away isn’t one of them. But I promise to be here and do whatever I can for you and your family.”

  “Thank you. I’m grateful you’re here. Sorry I snapped at you.”

  “That’s what I’m here for.”

  Her phone buzzed and I asked her if she wanted to get that.

  “Not really. I do need to call Leeanne at work. She needs to be aware that I may be missing more than the next couple of days.”

  “Will that be a problem?”

  “It might be because they don’t have extra counselors on hand.”

  “Hopefully your mom will fly through this and you won’t need to worry about it.”

  “Evan, I pray to God she does. I c
an’t imagine life without her. All those times I complained about her are coming back to haunt me. I feel terrible now, knowing she was really sick.”

  I rubbed her back but didn’t know how to respond. It was a heavy burden their family carried. “How could you have known? How could any of you? She didn’t complain of the usual symptoms except for her strange behavior. Even the doctor said it was unusual. I know it must be a terrible thing to bear, but sweetheart, even in retrospect, you probably wouldn’t have done anything different.” I kissed the top of her head and just held her.

  “Thank you for those words. It’ll be a while before I allow myself to believe them. I know cognitively they’re true, but my heart aches something fierce with the knowledge of what’s going on…” She only shook her head.

  “It’s okay. Well, not really, but maybe it will be. Now let’s get moving so we can be there at the hospital when she arrives.”

  We gathered our things and left. On the way out to the car, I said, “Sylvie, you’re the most important person in the world to me. If there’s anything you or your family needs, please let me know. I can help however you want.”

  I called Robert on the way and filled him in. Then I asked him to meet us at the garage. It would be easier to have him drop us off as opposed to taking a cab. After the call, I said, “Robert extends his hopes that your mother has a speedy recovery.”

  “He’s always been kind to me.”

  “Yes, I’m fortunate to have him.”

  Robert was there, waiting for us when we arrived.

  “Hello, sir. I’m sorry to say it’s good to see you.”

  “Thank you, Robert.”

  “Ms. West, may I say the same for you?”

  “Thank you, Robert.” Sylvie began crying again. Robert said, “Ah, now, Ms. West, you must be positive. Doctors don’t know everything.”

  Sylvie went up to him and hugged him. “Robert, her situation is bleak. The tumor is the worst kind and even if she makes it through the surgery, I’m not even sure how long she has.”

  “Ms. West, only God knows the answers to that so go and be by her side because she needs you now.”

  Good advice. “We’ll take our things upstairs and be right back down.”

  Robert stopped me. “Sir, I’ll take care of that after I drop you off.”

  “Thank you. I guess we can go.”

  We got into the limo and rode to the hospital. When we were close, Robert wanted to know at which entrance we wanted to be dropped off.

  “Let’s go to the main entrance and start there.” I relayed this to Robert.

  There was a large information desk when we walked in so that’s where we went and gave Cindy’s name. They, in turn, asked us for identification.

  I had never been to this hospital, but it was certainly secure, which was a good thing. We pulled out our driver’s licenses, and then the guard gave us badges with our names on them. “Stop here every day when you come in and pick one of these up as they’re only good for twenty-four hours.”

  “Thanks,” I told him.

  There was an escalator straight ahead, and at the top sat a huge bank of elevators. She was on the eleventh floor, which was for surgery patients, according to the guide. When we stepped off, we easily located her room.

  We were the first ones to arrive. Two nurses were with her when we got there.

  “Mom.” Sylvie rushed to her side. She was out of it and barely opened her eyes.

  One of the nurses said, “She’s heavily sedated to keep her calm. They medicated her before transporting to keep the seizures at bay and we just gave her another dose. I’m Marilyn and this is Dena. We’ll be here until eleven when the shift changes. Dr. Casey should be in any time, but if you need anything, we’re right out there. When she goes to surgery, she’ll be transferred to the SICU, of course, so we’ll see you back here when she’s well enough to leave there.” She had kind eyes and a warmth about her. I supposed working in this environment would make you sort of special that way.

  “Thank you, Marilyn. I’m her daughter, Sylvie, and this is my fiancé, Evan. The rest of the family should be here any time now.”

  As she finished speaking, the other family members walked in. John went directly to the bed, while Piper and Reynolds hung back. Marilyn gave them the same speech she’d given us before the two nurses left the room.

  Piper said, “You two made it here fast.”

  “Our things were mostly packed,” I explained.

  “Right.” She looked like she’d been crying.

  “Hey, where do you want to stay? Honestly, there’s room in my place. It has four bedrooms, so each of you could have your own room. I also have a cook, so you’d have great food at your disposal, and a driver as well. But if you’d rather stay in the apartment, that’s fine too.”

  “My dad doesn’t want to put you out and is talking about a hotel,” she said.

  “That’s ridiculous when I have much better options.”

  “What does Sylvie think?”

  I glanced over to where she was, next to her dad, and said, “We haven’t discussed it, but I think she’d say my place. It’s plenty big. I’d hardly know you were there. There’s even a garage for you to park in and come and go as you please. It would save you from all those expenses.”

  “We don’t want to impose.”

  I huffed out a breath. “If it were an imposition, I wouldn’t have offered.”

  “Then I’ll make the decision and go with your place. That way we’ll all be in one spot and it’ll be easier going back and forth.”

  “You have chosen wisely.”

  She bowed and said, “Thank you, old knight.”

  “Are you an Indiana Jones fan?” I asked.

  “Oh, yeah. And from that line, I know you are.”

  “I have the entire collection. We can watch it if…”

  “Yeah, if…” she said.

  It was an awkward moment until Sylvie joined us. “Hey, at least Mom is comfortable.”

  “Good. Evan and I took the bull by the horns and made the decision of where we’d be staying,” Piper said.

  “Oh?”

  “They’re staying with us,” I said.

  “I’m glad. There’s plenty of room and you’ll be more comfortable.”

  Dr. Casey walked in with his iPad and introduced himself. “Can we talk outside? There’s a private room right across the hall.” We followed him and everyone took a seat. “Normally, I like to try a few things before surgery, such as radiation, but your wife, Mr. West, isn’t getting any better. I’ve had the opportunity to review all her scans and with the seizures she keeps having, I believe we need to see if we can remove the tumor, or at least part of it. I’ll be honest. I don’t want to fill you with false hopes. I’m not happy with the location of it, or the size. I’m not sure how much you know about glioblastomas, but they’re not our friends. They’re aggressive, and as I like to say, they have a rootlike consistency to the way they spread, which makes removing them complicated. The other difficulty is the location. The temporal lobe controls many functions of the brain such as, memory, sleep, hearing, not to mention it also contains the hypothalamus which controls many of the bodily functions. So removal is always a risk. But, my opinion is at this point, we have no other option unless you want to keep her sedated, as she is now.”

  Shit. I didn’t think it was this bad. Sylvie slumped and pressed a fist against her chest. I took her free hand, though it didn’t do much good. It was lifeless as I held it. I felt as useless as the pad of paper sitting on the table in front of me. And the worst thing? There wasn’t a damn thing I could do to make it any better.

  Forty-Nine

  Sylvie

  Dear God, please let Mom go peacefully. If your plan isn’t for her to be here much longer, I beg you not to let her suffer.

  I repeated those words over and over in my head. The thought of life without her was unbearable, but life with her in pain, was even worse. I’d heard stories o
f people with brain tumors and they weren’t pleasant. It was something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, but my mom? I would take the tumor and put it in my own head if I could.

  Dad’s vacant stare had me worried the most. He and Mom were peas and carrots. They had barely spent any time apart. What would he do without her?

  “Babe,” Evan whispered in my ear.

  “Yeah.” My voice sounded dead, even to me.

  “Let’s take a walk.”

  I allowed him to lead me away from the room of doom. That poor doctor. How did they do it? How did they tell patients terrible news like that and then go home and deal? I could never. Then I thought about my cousin, Grey, who had to deliver news like that. I’d never thought about it before.

  “How do you think Grey handles it?”

  “Handles what?”

  “Telling patients their loved ones are about to die or have died.”

  Evan stopped and faced me. “Oh, Sylvie. I hate this with everything in my heart. I don’t know what to say to you other than I’m so very sorry, my love.”

  “I know. And you don’t have to say it.”

  “As for Grey, I never gave it much thought, which is totally insensitive of me.”

  “Same here. I thought about what Dr. Casey told us and I don’t know how they do it.”

  “You amaze me.” He reached out and touched my cheek. “You’ve just received terrible news and yet you’re thinking about the doctor instead of yourself. How selfless can you be?”

  I placed my hand over his. “It’s not selfless. It’s the analytic counselor in me.”

  “Hey, don’t pull yourself off the pedestal I’ve placed you on.”

  “Stop it, you goofball.” Happy that he brought a smile to me for the first time in I didn’t know how long, I kissed him. It was supposed to be a quickie, but I folded myself around him and deepened the kiss. There was no way I was stopping this moment. Eventually, someone cleared a throat behind us and said, “Get a room.” We broke apart to see Piper and Reynolds.