by June Kramin
“Still got the late shift, Holly?” Ellie whispered. It hurt too much to attempt to talk any louder.
“I love the late shift. You horrid patients are much less work when you’re asleep.” Holly and Ellie had worked together often and always got along. It felt funny for Ellie to be on the other side of things now.
Although Ellie was irritated with her sister, she still needed to know that she didn’t do through all of this for nothing. “How’s Nancy?”
“She’s fine. Not that she deserves to be. I’m sorry, that was mean. Things seem to have gone just fine. How are you feeling?”
“Okay I guess. Just a little sore.”
“You need anything?”
“I was just wondering what time it was.”
“You’re looking for your boyfriend.” The nurse grinned.
“He was here when I woke up last time.”
“Hon, he’s been here the whole time. We finally had to kick him out. Sent his ass home. Actually, his mother showed up and made him go home.”
“She came here?”
“Yup. She brought you the most gorgeous flowers too, but you know you can’t have them in here yet. Sorry.”
Ellie drifted away as Holly carried on with stories from her shift.
When she woke up the following morning, the nurse told her Bix was waiting outside. They agreed to let him in for just a few minutes. He immediately went to her side and kissed her cheek. “They kicked me out last night. Were you up at all?”
“Just for a little bit. Thank your mom for the flowers.”
“You can thank her yourself. She wants to come meet you.”
“Like this? I bet I look like hell.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said with another kiss. “She can’t come today. They will only let me stay for a little bit and that’s because I’m being a pain in the ass. I’ll be back with her tomorrow though if they give the go ahead.” They talked for a few minutes. Bix had to hear about everything Ellie could fill him in on about her end of the surgery.
“We’ve been through all of this, Bix.”
“I know. I just don’t want to do anything that could even remotely hurt you, babe.”
“You’re fine. How are things going with your mom and dad?”
“Dad actually can’t show up for a couple of days. Color me surprised with all his concern.” He kissed her forehead. “Sorry. I don’t want to bitch. Just rest, babe.” After another few minutes, Ellie fell asleep to him stroking her hair. The next morning she felt a lot clearer but even the slightest movement hurt. She was beginning to get irritated with the whole thing. She tried to be pleasant through Bix’s visit that day, but it was tough. At least her catheter and IV were removed last night. That helped considerably.
“The nurse wants you walking right away. You want a short jaunt to stretch or you want breakfast first?”
“I need to pee. You can help me to the bathroom, and then I want coffee.”
“Again, color me surprised.”
After helping Ellie back in bed, he said he was going to the nurse’s station to see about getting her some coffee. He returned with a cup for her after a few minutes. “They weren’t happy but you got the go ahead for a cup.”
“My hero.”
While Ellie savored the weak coffee, a nurse came in with her breakfast.
“You may not have much of an appetite yet, but please do what you can,” the nurse said. Holly had gone home and Ellie didn’t know this one. Her nametag read “Betty.” Ellie promised to try to do her best. “A walk around the floor when you’re done would be good, too. Will you be here to help her?” she asked Bix.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Ellie was given a walker and Bix stayed close to her side the whole way. Half way through their walk, Bix stopped at a door. “This is her room. You want to go in?”
“Not particularly. This is harder than I thought. Can we go back?”
“You want me to get a wheelchair?”
“No, I can make it back to the room.” After she got settled in, Ellie asked Bix to leave. “I want to take a short nap. I’m sure you can go help your mother with something. You don’t need to stay and watch me sleep.”
“She was heading to the funeral home to make arrangements, but I can take a hint. I’ll get out of your hair.”
“Not that I don’t love the company. I’m just tired, Bix. I’m sorry.”
“Hey. Nothing to be sorry about. I’ll come back later.” He gave her a quick kiss goodbye and left. Instead of a nap, Ellie got a nurse to help her into a wheelchair and take her to Nancy’s room. Once there, Ellie asked the nurse to give them a minute alone.
Nancy was lying with her eyes closed. “You up?”
Nancy’s eyes opened. “Yes. You’re up already?”
“You should be, too. They haven’t had you walking yet?”
“I told them to get the hell away from me.”
“I didn’t go through all this bullshit so you could screw your body up again. If I wouldn’t tear stitches I’d pull your ass outta that bed. Do what the nurses tell you, stupid. They’re good people and I don’t want you causing them any grief.”
“Who died and made you the boss of me?”
“Nice choice of words. Go to hell. You owe me big and I’m cashing in.”
“I knew there’d be a catch.”
“Damn right,” Ellie said, scooting closer.
“What do you want? Or should I say how much?”
“I don’t want your money. I want you to stay away. Forever. Get out of my life and stay there.” Ellie said the words calmly and delivered them perfectly. She had rehearsed it many times, only once it was finally out, she didn’t feel as good as she thought. She gingerly spun the chair around and headed out. The nurse was right outside the door and pushed her back to her room. Ellie fought tears the whole way but when she saw her older brother, Nick, sitting in the room waiting for her, she lost the fight and broke down.
Nick leaned down and held her tight. “Hey, kiddo. You all right?” He excused the nurse and helped Ellie back into bed.
Wiping away the tears she said, “I’m fine. Just tried to do too much too fast. Did Nathan come too?”
“He’ll be here later. Did you see Nancy?”
“For the last time ever, yes.”
“Come on, El. We’re all we have. You guys can’t keep this up.”
“She’s not the same person with you that she is with me. You’d never believe how she was behaving. You think I was trying to kill her, not save her life.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“No? She tried to jump my boyfriend’s bones in my own house.”
“Again? Sorry, I mean…you’re dating? It’s about time. Will I like him or want to go hunting with him? By hunting I mean ‘two go out, but only one comes back.’”
“You’d like him. I really don’t know how it happened. I did nothing but try to push him away.”
“Why does that not surprise me?”
“You here to cheer me up or kick me while I’m down?”
“I just wanted to make sure my sisters were okay. I came as fast as I could, El. Sorry I couldn’t give you any warning. She made me promise not to tell you. She wasn’t sure she was going to be able to ask you.”
“I find that extremely hard to believe.”
“She’s not as bad as you think.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t you go try to cheer her up? Room 412. I’ve had all the cheering up I can stand.”
“You’re crabby. Take a nap.” He got up and kissed her on the forehead. “Love you, kiddo.”
“Come back with chocolate next time.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Bix came back after lunch. He stopped in the doorway when he saw two other men in the room. Ellie looked up and smiled.
She put her hand up slightly and waved for him to come in. “They don’t bite, Bix. Not on weekdays anyway. Come in.”
“Bix?” The man closest to him
extended his hand. “Is that short for something?”
Bix laughed. He wondered if anyone would ever not say that. “Nope. It’s just Bix.”
“I’m Nathan. The ugly one there is Nick.” Bix shook their hands then leaned down and gave Ellie a kiss.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I wish they’d let me out of here tonight.”
“No way, El,” Nathan said. “The nurse said they’d rather you stay one more night.”
“’Rather’ being the key word. If Doc says I can go, I want to go. I feel fine.”
“We’ll see what he says first, okay, babe?” Bix gave her hand a squeeze. Her brothers made no secret of showing their shock at him talking to her like that.
“I like it, Nick,” Nathan said. “Computer boy here doesn’t seem to be afraid of her…yet,” he added with a playful, evil laugh.
“Stuff it, Nate. He’s afraid of me just the right amount, aren’t you, Slick?”
“Absolutely.”
“How are things going? Did you find the will?” Ellie asked him.
“Will? Who died?” Nick asked.
“Bix’s grandfather. A few days ago.”
“Sorry, man.”
“Thanks.” He returned his attention back to Ellie. “I still haven’t gotten in the safe but his lawyer called. He just got word about Gramps. It’s with him. We go in later today to go over it.”
“Hey,” Nathan said, interrupting. “We’ll let you guys talk and come back later, El. Bix? What do you say to a bar burger and beer at Black Out’s at seven? You free?”
“Sure. That sounds great if I can get your sister to stay another night. Otherwise I’ll have to pass.”
“If I go home, you don’t need to stay with me,” Ellie protested.
Her brothers walked out with their hands up. “Your battle, buddy. We’ll know if you’re not there.”
“Good meeting you anyway,” he said with a wave.
“Please don’t fight them about staying, Ellie,” Bix begged once they were gone.
“Not if I don’t have to.”
“Why not? Just so you can be as far away from Nancy as possible? That’s not a good enough reason to go home and take unnecessary risks.”
“I can lay on my ass at home the same as I can do here. I don’t need to be here.”
“We’ll see, okay?” He gently brushed her hair aside.
“So tell me what’s going on.” She was obviously avoiding making any promises she didn’t plan on keeping.
“Nothing to tell yet. Mom is doing all right. She’s making all the calls to family and taking care of funeral arrangements. The lawyer told her that much anyway so she could get that going. Dad is in town,” he said with a heavy sigh.
“How’d that go?”
“Haven’t seen him yet. He’s meeting us at the lawyer’s. I didn’t want to go, but Mom asked me to go with her.”
“Any idea what’ll happen?”
“Not a clue. I barely got to know the guy, Ellie. I was a distant grandson at most. I’m not going to be in the will at all. I wouldn’t expect to be. Dad will sell the property off to the farmer with the highest bid and I’ll be out on my ass again. It doesn’t bother me so much and I don’t know why. I’m going to miss him, not my cushy setup downstairs. At least now I have you. It was the best thing I’ve ever done deciding to move here. I’ll find a place soon enough.”
“You already have.”
“Huh?”
“Just move in with me, Bix.”
“You serious?”
“Yes, I’m serious. I’m not under the influence of narcotics if that’s what you’re asking. Maybe it is too soon to move in together, but I’m not asking you to marry me. I just love waking up with you. I wouldn’t mind you being there every day. At least until you wise up and get sick of me.” He was quiet and she seemed to imagine the worst. “You hate the idea?”
He leaned in and gave her a kiss. “Sorry for my silence. I’m just shocked. I never thought you’d say something like that, Ellie. I wanted the same thing, but I never would have said it. I was worried you’d think I was insane and go running in the other direction.”
“Maybe it is crazy, but it just feels right. So yeah?”
“Hell yeah. You know what’s crazier though?”
“What?”
“Me having dinner with your brothers.”
She laughed. “They’ll go easy on you, Slick. I think you’ll get along fine.”
“How are they with Nancy?”
“They never played favorites or treated us any differently. They gave her the ‘what-for’ when she acted up, but they didn’t see a lot of it, either, and what they did see, they chose not to believe. They’re not going to think anything bad about their own sister and no one would dare say it to their faces anyway.”
“I don’t suppose they would.” He gently stroked her cheek. “Please stay another night.”
“I’ll wait and see what Doc says. No promises.”
“Stubborn broad.”
“Pain in my ass.”
He kissed her again. “I’ve got to go. I’ll come back after the appointment if you’ll have me.”
“Come back and tell me how it went.”
“Mom wants to come say hi, too.”
“You can bring her. I’ll try to be presentable.”
“You’re beautiful,” he said again and stole one last kiss. “See you around five. If Doc says you can go, promise you’ll wait for me.”
“Cross my heart.”
Bix ran into Nick in the hallway. “Hey. We’re taking off. The girls are fine and we have things we can do since we’re back in town. Not to sound heartless or anything. We’ll be back for the late visiting hour. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Give me your card or something. I’ll call you if Ellie gets out and I can’t make it.”
Nick handed him a business card. “Here’s my cell, but no worries. She’s staying.”
“You talk to the doctor?”
“A nurse.” Nick winked. “Ellie’s a tough nut, but she needs to knock off the shit and take a rest when she needs it. Holly is gonna fudge a blood test for me. Ellie can’t argue then.”
“Isn’t that highly illegal or unethical on the nurse’s part?”
“Yeah, well…when you got it, you got it.” He held his hands out wide. “Holly and I go way back and if she didn’t agree with me, it wouldn’t happen. She wants Ellie to stay and has no problem telling the doc she’s slightly anemic or whatever it’ll take. I don’t know if you have sisters, but they’re a pain in the ass and I got two of ’em. Those two think they’re so different, but they’re not. Other than that whole Nancy Does Dallas thing anyway.”
“You know about that?”
“I’m her brother, not deaf, dumb, and blind. I don’t condone it, but I’m not about to lose family over her poor choices. If she were a guy, she’d be getting pats on the back. Gotta run. See you at seven.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Bix was sitting with his mom in the waiting room of the lawyer’s office when his dad walked through the door. His mom got to her feet and walked over to him. Bix remained seated.
“You doing all right, Bart?” she asked him, giving him a warm hug. Bix cringed. How his mother could show him any kindness at all was beyond him.
“You get a look at the will at all yet?” he asked.
“Is that all you give a shit about, Dad?” Bix got to his feet. “Your father is dead. Massive heart attack. I found him in his shop already cold and lips blue. My girlfriend tried to revive him knowing he was already good and dead. She knew him for a couple weeks and loved him more than you do.”
“Don’t you judge me. I don’t see you shedding a tear at my funeral, boy.”
“We finally agree on something,” Bix said through bared teeth.
“You two knock it off!” his mother shouted. “This isn’t going to help anything.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. I can’t do this. C
all me later.” He kissed her on the cheek and walked to the door. She caught up with him.
“Please stay, Bix.”
“I don’t care for the company. I thought I could, but I can’t. I’m sorry. I have to arrange for a mover.”
“You’re going so soon?”
“You know he’s going to have control of it. I’m not staying there. I’m going to sit with Ellie for a while. I won’t be home for dinner either. Her brothers are in town. We’re going out.”
“Is it still okay to come meet her?”
“Sure. I told her you’d be there. When you’re done here come on over.” He glanced in his father’s direction and added, “If you come alone,” and walked out the door.
Bix went to Ellie’s work to grab a coffee and talk to her boss. He felt like he had abandoned him after setting things up.
Fred called out when Bix walked in the door. “There’s my genius! Mocha? On the house.”
“Sure.” Bix dropped a five-dollar bill in the tip jar and winked at Jean when Fred had turned around. “Everything working okay?”
“Running great. No complaints. The ad has only been run once and look.” He motioned with his arm around the room. There were three customers sitting with their laptops. “I haven’t been able to go see Ellie yet today. How’s she doing?”
“She’s fine. Feisty as ever.”
“Then she’s feeling fine. Sure miss her around here.”
“How’s the intern?”
“That sounds like such a ridiculous thing to say. In my day there were soda jerks. Now we gotta have a fancy ass name just to make a stinkin’ cup of coffee. Barista.” He scoffed and leaned in to Bix. “This intern, as they call him, can run circles around me. I don’t know where Ellie’s sister acquired her money, but if you ask me, this guy could teach classes. He’s already had the machine apart and completely cleaned. He replaced the boiler that I was going to have to change out in a few months. He said it was paid for ’cause it was part of his training. That would have cost me over a grand.”
“That sounds like quite a deal you’re getting then. Free labor and parts, can’t go wrong with that.”
“Does that mean you’re not going to tell me where her sister gets it?”
“I’d tell you if I knew. You know Ellie better than I do. She doesn’t talk about what she doesn’t want to, that’s for sure.”