by Jeny Heckman
“Do you see them a lot?” Abby asked through her mask.
“Well, some more than others. But we love that they donate so much of their time and money to give back. So,” Lilly said, taking a deep breath.
“What happens during surgery?” Raven asked.
Lilly eyed the singer. The woman looked like she needed more reassurance. Glancing back at Abby, the little girl wore the same expression. Lilly decided to speak so the little girl would understand it too.
“Abby’ll get some giggle juice to knock her out and make her sleep. I’ll make a little cut right here,” she said, revealing Abby’s sternum. “It’ll be about this long.” She measured seven inches between her fingers. “We go right through here.” She indicated where the aortic valve would be. Lilly looked over to make sure the three adults were grasping the planned procedure too. “She’ll be placed on a heart and lung machine.” She looked down at the little girl. “I know that sounds scary, but it actually helps because we need your heart to not move. You’ve got a bunch of love bouncing around in there, and we need it to stay super still, so there are no mistakes.
“The machine takes over for the organs to protect the body while we work.” she clarified, looking over to the adults. “Then, we’ll place a thingy called an ICD just below here.” She touched Abby’s collarbone. “And then we connect it to her heart.” She leaned down and looked into Abby’s eyes. “Then we’re going to turn everything on to make sure it works, and you’ll be good as new. Easy-peasy.”
“How long will all this take?” Wyatt asked.
“In a perfect world, she’ll be going back in about two hours for pre-op. I’m anticipating the surgery to be about four hours. She’ll be in ICU about one to two days after that. Then we’ll move her to the floor for about another three to five days.” She looked back at Abby. “You are a young, beautiful, healthy and strong little girl. We’re gonna do right by ya.” Abby smiled, and Lilly winked.
“Okay then.” She looked back at the room. “Now I’m gonna go have a steak dinner and some cocktails. I’ll be back after that.” They laughed, as she chuckled out the door.
****
True to her word, six hours later, Dr. Morgan came out to the waiting room in her institutional green hospital scrubs, searching for the trio. They flocked around her, as she told them how well Abby had done and that the surgery was a huge success. Afterward, each was allowed to see Abby, just long enough to see she was okay.
Que stayed but insisted the twins leave and get some rest. They arrived at Raven’s condo, where Wyatt immediately toed off his shoes and shed his jacket in the hallway. He padded over to the sofa and flopped down face first.
“I’m not sure I can move,” he announced.
Raven walked over and smacked him on the butt, then fell onto the couch beside him.
“She looked good though, right? I think she had some good color.”
He rolled onto his side and groaned as he sat up. Putting elbows on his knees, he vigorously ran fingers through his hair and scalp for circulation, exhaling deeply.
“Yeah, the little shit looked good.” He glanced over at his sister. “In fact, you look worse than she does.” He narrowed his eyes. “So, what’s going on with you? And don’t tell me nothing.”
“What?” she said, not meeting his eye, then stood and walked to the kitchen.
“What?” He mimicked in a falsetto. “Is it just this or are things not okay in paradise?”
When she didn’t answer Wyatt stood up and walked to her. Taking her by the shoulders, he looked directly into her eyes and saw the truth there. As the tears formed and overflowed, he cradled his sister’s head to his chest, as she cried. When the worst was over, he held her on either side of her face and tilted it up to his.
“Now tell me what the hell’s goin’ on.”
So, she did. She told him about meeting Finn and Dee, about Jason coming over and the two men sparring with each other. About Finn’s first kiss, the seals, his work, then the strain between them and that last morning. The only thing she left out was Dee’s theory.
“He’d just been acting a little off, not taking my phone calls, and then his friend Nate called me about Alaula.” She looked at her brother. “That seal and her baby were like family to him. I-I just wanted to help him, talk to him. Then,” she howled again, “a naked woman answered the door.”
“Naked? I thought you said…she was completely naked? Didn’t you say he looked surprised?”
“With what she was wearing, it wasn’t a stretch to think that she’d be naked soon or had been shortly before.” She moved away from him. “And if he was surprised, it was because he didn’t expect to see me, though somehow I missed the bit when he dissolved our relationship.”
“I just don’t get it, Wy.” She flopped back down on the sofa. “How did I read this so wrong? I thought he was going where I was. If you saw him, you’d know exactly how stupid that was.”
“Why?”
“He’s like a model, and he’s just…”
“Raven, you’re a successful, intelligent, gifted woman. And even if it’s coming from your brother, you’re hot, you’ve always been hot. So, don’t tell me you aren’t worthy of this guy, or you’ll seriously piss me off.”
“How come I meet these guys and just get it so wrong?”
“Because you’re trusting and for some unfathomable reason, you don’t yet understand that you don’t have to take their shit.” He sat down. “As for this thing, emotions were high everywhere, and people always make stupid decisions when that happens, right?”
“I guess.”
“I’m not saying he didn’t fuck up. Maybe he did, but I can tell you that sometimes things aren’t always as they seem. If there’s an explanation for what happened, you both deserve to hear it. Ya know what I mean?” She nodded absently. “There’s too much going on right now. Everyone needs to stop and take a collective breath.” He inclined her head up. “Now go take a hot shower and get some sleep. We’ll want to go to the hospital early.”
“I should’ve stayed for Que’s sake.”
“There was no place to stay, and she was right. Better to sleep well here and come in early than sleep shitty and not hear anything new anyway.”
****
Finn walked up the path to the bungalow that evening but saw the lights were out. Turning, he noticed her car wasn’t in the driveway either. It didn’t matter; he would wait as long as he needed. Yet when he stepped onto the porch and noticed the door ajar, he became worried, opened it, and called out.
“Raven?” Receiving no answer, he yelled louder, “Rave?”
When this still elicited no response, he checked each room, then ended with the backyard, but there was nothing. Walking back through the kitchen, he passed by the pad of paper on which she’d written the hospital name. He decided to call her and reached for the cell phone in his back pocket, then cursed remembering it had been ruined when he had gone to Alaula. Noticing the cordless phone by the sofa, he dialed her number, but it went straight to voicemail. Rubbing the phone on his forehead, where a monumental headache brewed, he desperately wanted to start this day over. He decided that she was probably trying to cool off. He’d give her the time and space she needed.
****
However, a week later, when she still hadn’t called or taken his call, he was determined to go to her again. This time, seeing a foreign car in the driveway, he jumped off his bike and ran into the house.
“Rave?”
Jason turned around and smiled at Finn. “She’s not here, and she’s not coming back.” The manager apprized him.
“Where is she?” Finn demanded.
“Ah, back home where she belongs, getting ready for her show.”
“Oh yeah, her show,” Finn said in disgust. “Fuckin’ show must go on, right?”
“That’s right.” Jason looked around the room and started collecting papers and tapping them evenly on the table. “Glad to see you’re finally on
board.” He paused and tried to inject a little warmth into his look of triumph. “I know you’ve enjoyed your time here with Raven, but whatever you think you had going on, it was only ever a summer romance. I tried to tell you that.”
“What’re we, at camp?”
“If you like.” Jason smiled sarcastically. “Honestly, she’s back home with her brother, Que, and Abby. She’s happy.” He stepped forward. “I don’t know what happened in the last couple of days she was here, but she’s made it very plain to me that she’d like to forget all about it. Can you respect that?”
Finn just stood toe to toe with him, wanting desperately to punch him. He looked down and saw the pad of paper with two words written in Raven’s neat handwriting: Children’s Hospital.
“So, if you’ll excuse me,” Jason continued, “I’d like to finish packing up her stuff so that I can get the hell off this godforsaken island. Nice to see you, Finn, thanks for stopping by, and have a great life.”
He extended a hand, which Finn ignored and walked out.
Chapter 27
“Raven, we’ll be fine,” Que said, scrunching up her hair and looking at her friend in the mirror. After her first trip home since Abby’s admission, Que was headed back to the hospital and Raven was leaving for her performance.
Wyatt stepped out of the bedroom in a crisp white-collared shirt and jacket over nice jeans.
“Well?” he asked, “I’m sexy and…” he gestured at the women to finish it for him.
“We know it?” Que answered as a question. He pointed to her and Raven smiled, then turned to collect the rest of her things.
“Let us just take you, then you can arrive at the hospital in style, and I can run in quick and see Ab,” Raven whined.
“Fine.” Que sighed and grabbed her purse.
****
Dr. Morgan approached the hospital holding the hands of two small children. Que rolled down the window of the limo and called out to the trio. The children’s faces lit up like neon signs when they saw the car.
“What’s all this?” Lilly asked, then remembered. “Oh, is it tonight?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to see Abby again,” Raven said. “Being in rehearsal all day, I haven’t gotten a chance to, and I need to get her request.” She opened the door, and the kids sprinted over to the car, mother forgotten.
“Ah well.” Lilly gestured at the kids’ retreating. “My sitter just dropped the kids off unexpectantly, so my hour of rounds just went into an exhaustive sprint. I was going to check on Abby first anyway, so let’s go on up.”
“Is this your car?” the little boy asked Wyatt.
“Oh, I’m sorry, these are my kids,” Lilly said. “My son Travis is seven, and Chelsea’s six.”
“Wow, a year apart. You were busy,” Raven noted.
“Right?”
“You’re cool, right?” Wyatt asked, peering at each kid. Travis straightened, looking at the big, handsome man in the fancy car.
“Yes, sir.”
“Me too, me too,” sang Chelsea.
“Well, cool kids deserve a ride in a cool car.” He looked over at Lilly’s tired face.” “Ask your mama if she can find something to do for fifteen minutes.”
“Really?” Travis glowed with hope and turned to his mother. “Please Mom, can we go?”
“Please Mommy!” Chelsea said immediately after him.
Lilly looked back at Wyatt helplessly, who nodded his head and winked at her. She also looked at Que.
“I was going to stay with him anyways,” she remarked. “So I can bring ’em up when we get back, and they can play with Abby; she’d love it.”
“See, everything’s arranged,” Raven sang and grabbed Lilly’s hand, who yelled over her shoulder to be good. The door, however, was already closed and the car, rolling off the curb.
“Your kids are pretty adorable. They both have your eyes,” Raven said as they rode the elevator.
“Yes.” Lilly smiled. “And my freckles but the rest, especially Travis, is all their dad.”
“Oh, what’s your husband’s name?”
“It was Dave, David. He passed away three years ago.” The elevator pinged open, and they walked in.
“Oh wow, I’m so sorry Lilly. Can I ask how?”
“Stage four pancreatic cancer. We started all the treatments but just caught it too late. Dave died about ten months after diagnosis. The kids were just three and four.”
“So young.”
“Yeah, it’s harder now ’cause I’m not sure if they have a real memory of him left or if it’s just my stories. He was a pretty fantastic guy. So, I got to be the domestic goddess of my home for about two years before everything went to hell.”
“How are all of you now?” The elevator pinged and they got out on Abby’s floor.
“Oh, you know, we muddle through. Travis especially has a hard time. He’s at the age when a boy really needs his dad. But I don’t like them to wallow in misery too much. So, we turn lemons into lemonade or whatever ridiculous adage they use these days, as often as we can.”
When Raven looked down at the floor, Lilly stopped and laid a hand on her shoulder. “Thank you for asking, seriously. We have good days and bad ones, and the only thing I truly know is life is short. There’s absolutely no time to waste on regret or living in the past too long.”
Raven nodded, knowing full well the pain Lilly’s children faced. Having such a well-adjusted mom would help. The doctor grabbed Abby’s chart from the nurse’s station and nodded for Raven to go in first.
****
“I want it a little heavier in color. The costume is turning her orange. She needs some more makeup. Damn it, Raven,” Donovan yelled, and she jumped. “You know what tanning does with the makeup and costumes. How could you be so careless?”
Raven was getting ready with Caprice Starr, the Hollywood siren, that had come to lend her support to the cause by emceeing the event. She hadn’t noticed her ex-husband’s entrance, and after three months, that was likely the only welcome she’d receive from him. Behind him followed a pretty brunette in stilettos, her old backup singer, and his mistress. She gave Raven a self-conscious grin, who smiled back despite herself. A stagehand approached.
“Raven, your costumes are in one. And here’s the final set list.” He handed it to her, and she read it over. Jerking her head up, she noticed her ex’s retreating back. He was still barking out orders and instilling fear of his wrath upon everyone.
“Donovan?” she called but ignoring her, he kept walking. “Donovan!” she yelled more forcefully and his shoulders hunched, red-faced and fuming.
“Do not shout at me again.”
“Sorry.” She held up the papers. “You said I could have three originals and I only see one on the set sheet.”
“I only ever agreed to consider one. Now we don’t have time for any. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll consider a vocal piece. It will not be an instrumental.”
“But Donovan…”
“One.” He held up a finger in her face, then turned and bumped into Jason, and closed his eyes with frustration.
“You said we’d have three.” She looked at Jason pleadingly.
“I know, I know,” he agreed, “but we’ll do tonight his way to placate him, and then we’ll do our thing tomorrow.” He looked at a guy with a clipboard. “Oh Mike, hold up.” Turning to Raven, he cooed, “Go get on your first costume. I gotta talk to him.”
Caprice gave her cascade of strawberry blonde hair and freshly made up face a glance, before watching Raven in the mirror. The seductress lowered her eyes and seemed to make a decision.
“You know honey, at some point you’re going to have to take a stand.”
“I keep hoping he’ll see my point in all this.” Raven looked at her, and the corners of her mouth turned slightly up.
“Oh come on.” Caprice laughed. “You don’t genuinely believe that?” She stood and smoothed her hands down the emerald green silk gown she wore over her insanely lush curves. �
�He’s Donovan Fortner. Everyone knows who and what he is. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard what Raven Hunter stands for.” And with a final glance in the mirror, Caprice laid a hand on her shoulder and walked toward the stage.
Raven walked into her dressing room and eyed some of her old costumes and skyscraping high-heeled shoes that always pinched her feet. The first costume, marked with a large red one, was an electric blue micro-mini dress, with feathers, fringe, and rhinestone chains hanging from the bottom to mid-thigh. Trying to zip it up, she felt like it cut off her circulation. She gained some weight on her ultra-thin frame. Jason walked in and seeing her only half dressed, never looked her in the eyes. He clearly opted to covet her barely covered naked breasts.
“Jason, can you try and zip this?”
“Happy to help.” She turned around, exposing her bare back to him. He walked over and bunched the material together so she could pull the dress up and be zipped in. He leaned forward and kissed her shoulder before she could evade. “Wyatt’s outside, should I have him seated?”
“No,” she countered eagerly. When her brother was at a show, he always watched from the wings, staying with her until she had to step on stage. He walked in a second later and simply gawked at her.
“What?” She touched her back-combed hair, shellacked with hairspray. “Good?” She watched him furrow his brows. “Bad?” When he still said nothing, she said, “Damn it Wy.”
“No, it’s just…”
“What?”
“You look exactly the same as you did before you left.”
“Okay Rave, we’re a go.” Jason checked his watch, while she simply stared at her brother, his words still vibrating in the air. “Earth to Raven, I said let’s go.”
“Watch from the wings?” she pleaded, and he nodded.
Wyatt’s eyes shifted to all the clothes, makeup, curling irons, hairspray, and shoes, then sighed, before turning to follow her. They walked into the large, brightly lit, reception area, and watched as people ran around in confused chaos.
They parted ways, at the stairs—Raven to her mark and Wyatt to his place in the wings. As he approached the area, Donovan raised a hand to stop him.