Before Khalil could respond, a middle-aged man wearing scrubs and a white jacket, a doctor he assumed, entered carrying what looked like two cell phones.
Malcolm touched Khalil on his uninjured shoulder, pointed toward the door and mouthed, “I’m leaving.”
After his brother left, the doctor pressed a few buttons on the gadgets, then handed one to Khalil. Khalil had been correct about it being a cell phone. He glanced up to see the doctor talking and started to get frustrated until the man pointed at the phone in Khalil’s hand. He shifted his gaze and saw the words automatically being typed on the screen as the doctor talked.
The man introduced himself as Dr. Moyer, the ear, nose and throat specialist and asked several questions before examining Khalil’s ears. “Both eardrums have been perforated. The tear in the right ear is slightly larger than the left.”
After reading the information, Khalil asked, “So, how long will it take for my hearing to return?”
Dr. Moyer shrugged. “Most times the eardrums heal themselves within a few weeks and your hearing will get back to normal. But sometimes it doesn’t.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“Then they may need to be surgically repaired.”
“And this will guarantee my hearing will return?”
The doctor shook his head. “I can’t guarantee to what degree your hearing will return, or if it will at all. We just have to wait and see.”
He didn’t even want to think about not being able to hear again or surgery. “How long before you determine whether I have to have surgery?”
“If your hearing hasn’t returned in three months, we’ll reevaluate our next steps. In the meantime, you’ll need to make sure no water gets in them. I’m going to prescribe an antibiotic eardrop to help protect from infections and I want you to make an appointment with my office so we can get you some information on resources.”
Khalil groaned and closed his eyes. He didn’t have time for this. He had too much to do with the new gym opening in three months, the renovations at the current one and the mess with the members. He sensed the doctor moving closer and opened his eyes. He lifted the phone and followed the words on the screen. “No, I don’t have any other questions.” Nothing other than why couldn’t the man fix the problem right now, instead of waiting?
Brandon poked his head in the door and Khalil waved him in. Not like he’d leave anyway. Khalil was certain Brandon had seen the doctor enter and waited as long as he could. Although marriage had mellowed his big brother somewhat, his intense nature still hovered below the surface. Khalil watched as the doctor and Brandon talked. He assumed Dr. Moyer was sharing the same details he’d given Khalil. Brandon seemed particularly interested in the speech-to-text app and Khalil could see the wheels turning in his brother’s head.
Dr. Moyer handed Khalil a card. “Here’s my card. You can email me with any questions. I know this is a big change, but there’s no reason you can’t continue living a full, productive life.” He pointed to the phones. “I’ll leave these here for you and your family.”
Khalil nodded. “Thanks.”
As soon as the doctor closed the door, Brandon said, “This is so cool. I’m going to talk to Justin and have him check this out. He may be able to design a better app.”
He rolled his eyes. Just like I thought. Always business. Their brother-in-law, Justin Cartwright, had partnered with Gray Home Safety to market his in-home alert system. The system sent real-time data to a smartphone letting the user know whether a door had been opened, a stove had been left on or if there had been no movement in the house for an extended period. The product gave peace of mind to families whose aging parents wanted to continue living independently. “Did that doctor not just tell you I may not ever get my hearing back? Who cares about that damn app right now? Why does everything have to be about business with you?” Khalil blew out a frustrated breath.
Brandon studied Khalil a long moment, then picked up the phone the doctor had left on the bedside tray. “That’s not what he said at all. He said it could heal in a few weeks. In the meantime, you have the equipment for your new gym to finish designing, as well as overseeing the opening to keep you busy. You know we’ll all help.”
“How in the hell am I supposed to do that? I can’t hear a damn thing! I don’t want to depend on anybody driving me everywhere I go, or have everybody write down whatever they want to say all the time. I can’t live like this,” he gritted out. He sat up abruptly and pain shot through his ribs like a crack of lightning, slapping him back down. Khalil cursed. He clenched his fists and took several shallow breaths. It took several moments for the agony to subside.
Brandon’s calm expression hadn’t changed. “Are you done?” He paused for a beat. “Khalil, you are one of the smartest people I know. You learned Spanish and French when you had those modeling gigs in Spain and France, earned two degrees while traveling around the globe and single-handedly turned a gym that was folding under the previous owners into one of the best around. Your right hand is sprained, not your left. I don’t know anything about the driving laws, but none of us have a problem taking you wherever you need to go, if necessary. As far as communication...” Brandon held up the device. “Done. Now, Mom and Dad are out there and anxious to get back in here. If you don’t want Mom insisting you move in with them after you leave this hospital, I suggest you get yourself together, little brother.”
Khalil wanted to punch something. But he knew his brother was right. Khalil was thirty-three and had been living on his own since age eighteen, but that wouldn’t mean a thing if his mother thought for one moment that he couldn’t manage on his own. “Fine. Give me a second before you let them in.”
Minutes later, his parents rushed in behind Brandon. The frown on her face and the rapid movement of her mouth gave Khalil the impression that she was fussing at Brandon. Brandon gave him a look that said, “I told you.”
Brandon showed their parents how to work the speech app and his mother took it and rushed over to the bed.
“How are you feeling, baby? Do you need me to get you anything? Where does it hurt? Do I need to have the nurse bring you something for the pain? Don’t worry, when you’re released, you can stay with us for a couple of weeks until you’re back on your feet.”
The words flew across the screen so fast there were no spaces between the questions. “Mom...” The questions continued. “Mom.” He reached up and gently pried the thing out of her hand. “Mom.” She glared at him. “I’m okay. I do not need to stay with you and Dad. I’ll be fine in my own home.” Or so he hoped. But, then again, he wouldn’t even know if the phone or doorbell rang, or hear his alarm in the mornings. He sighed inwardly.
Over the next half hour, all his siblings came in and out of the room and his mother continued to hover. He appreciated their love and support, but the only thing he wanted was to be alone and prayed that when he woke up in the morning, he’d be able to hear again.
Chapter 5
Thursday morning, Lexia wrapped up her meeting with the contractor hired to repair the broken windows and hurried over to where Brandon stood near the cash register. From the navy tailored suit he wore today, she assumed he was on his way to work. When he stopped by yesterday, he had on sweatpants and a long-sleeved tee. He’d told her that Khalil had a rough first night and hadn’t taken the news about his hearing well. She couldn’t imagine what he felt, but remembered the same thing happening to Elyse. Her friend had cried for weeks, became depressed and withdrew from everyone and everything.
“Hi, Brandon. How is he?”
Brandon shook his head. “Same. He won’t eat and is pretty much ignoring everybody except our parents. He may be pissed off, but not enough to risk Mama’s wrath,” he added with a wry chuckle.
“This is going to be a huge adjustment for him and he just needs a little time.” She wanted
to go see him so badly, but held back from asking.
“I guess.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “Maybe you should take him a piece of that coffee cake he’s always raving about. I bet he’d eat that.”
Lexia smiled. “If you’re visiting him today, I can put a slice aside for you to pick up on your way out. We close up at three, but I’ll be here until about four thirty or five.”
Brandon angled his head thoughtfully. “I think it would be better if you delivered it yourself.”
“I...um...” True, she wanted to see Khalil, but what would he think about her showing up at the hospital?
He smiled. “Yeah. That would be perfect.” He glanced down at the expensive gold watch on his arm. “I have a couple of meetings this morning, but I can leave around one thirty to make a quick visit. The lunch rush is pretty much over by then, right?”
“For the most part, yes,” she answered slowly.
“Is there a problem with you being gone for an hour or so?”
Her eyes widened when she realized where the conversation was headed. “Well, no, but—”
“Great. I’ll stop by and drive you over. That way you won’t have to worry about figuring out where to go once you reach the hospital.” He took another quick peek at his watch. “I’ll see you around one thirty. And thanks.” He spun on his heel and strode out the door toward the elevator.
Lexia stood there stunned, wondering what just happened.
“So should I go cut that piece for you, Lexi?”
She spun around and met Sam’s smiling face. “I am not talking to you.”
Sam laughed and brought a hand to her heart. “Why? I didn’t do anything.”
“Exactly. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Something like what?”
Lexia threw up her hands. “I don’t know...something. Since you were over here eavesdropping, I’m sure you heard what his brother said about Khalil ignoring everybody. Besides, I can’t just up and leave.”
Sam folded her arms. “Sure you can. You do it all the time to pick up supplies or run some other errand. And, yes, I did hear what he said. But, like Brandon—that is his name, right?”
She nodded.
“Like Brandon, I believe you’re exactly the person Khalil needs to see. One, the man is clearly interested in you. Two, you make the best guilt-free coffee cake anywhere. And, three, you know precisely how to deal with someone who’s lost their hearing.” She smiled and shrugged. “And if you don’t know what to say, I’m sure Elyse will be happy to help you.” She sighed. “Look, I know you’re nervous about starting up with another man, but just think of this as helping a friend for now.”
“I guess,” Lexia mumbled. Sam was right. It was just helping a friend. Although, she wouldn’t really say they were friends since she’d only known him a couple of weeks. “Well, I need to get some work done before then.”
Her smile widened. “You can save all the hot stuff for when he’s better.”
She ignored Sam, rounded the counter and started toward the back.
“So, are you going to cut his piece, or shall I? There isn’t very much left.”
Lexia groaned, dug out a to-go container and filled it with a slice. She held it up for Sam’s approval. “Happy?”
“Khalil will be.”
“I’ll be in my office.” Once there, she placed the container on her desk and dropped down into her chair. Brandon had flipped the conversation and handled her with such finesse she didn’t realize what happened until it was too late. “The man is probably ruthless in a boardroom,” she muttered, and rotated her chair to her computer.
After two hours, Lexia leaned back and thought about how to manage the visit with Khalil. No doubt he would still be very angry and frustrated. How would he react to her visit? Would he ignore her as he’d done his family? Maybe she should tell Brandon it might be better if she waited to visit. She drummed her fingers on the desk for a moment then reached for her cell phone to send a text to Elyse. She filled her friend in on the explosion, Khalil’s injury and hearing loss and asked for some advice on what to do. She set the phone aside and turned her attention to the revised menu she had been working on.
The phone chimed with a text a while later and Lexia picked it up.
Elyse: I’m so sorry to hear about Khalil. Don’t approach him like you and Janice did with me.
Lexia: I don’t understand.
Elyse: The ‘oh, you poor thing’ approach. I’m sure he has enough people doing that. Be yourself, Lexi, and talk to him the same way you did last week. He needs to know that he’s still the same, in spite of what’s happened.
Lexia: Thanks. :)
Elyse: Let me know how it goes.
Lexia: I will.
“Lexia, Samantha wants to know if you can come out front for a few minutes. She has to deliver a lunch order upstairs.”
Lexia’s head came up. “Sure, Jayla. Tell her I’ll be right there.” She placed her cell in the drawer, saved the changes on her file and closed it and donned her apron.
She took orders and delivered food for the next forty-five minutes until the lunch rush had passed and only a handful of customers remained. She started back to the kitchen with an armload of empty plates and stopped short upon seeing Brandon entering. “Hey, Brandon. Give me a minute.”
Brandon stepped to the side so she could pass. “No problem.”
Lexia placed the dishes in the dishpan and poked her head around the industrial-size refrigerator to speak to the chef. “Mr. Willis, I’ll be gone for about an hour and a half. If there is something you need to add to the inventory list, just leave it on my desk if I’m not back by the time you leave.”
Mr. Willis stuck his bearded face around the door. “You going to get supplies?”
“No. Visit a friend in the hospital.”
He paused. “That fella you were sitting with that got hurt the other day?”
“Yes.” He scrutinized her with an intensity that almost made her squirm.
He wagged a thick finger her way. “You be careful. I don’t want to see you going through the same mess again.”
Lexia smiled. This man had been a fixture in her life since she was a teen and was another inspiration on her journey to become a chef. She remembered him telling her, “Cooking up something that tastes good always makes you feel better.” Over the years, he’d added some girth around his middle and a few lines bracketed his light brown face, but his warm smile had not changed. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “See you in a bit.”
She stopped by her office to get the coffee cake and her purse. As she lifted it from the drawer, she spotted Khalil’s phone and picked it up. She’d totally forgotten about it. On her way out, she passed the small mirror hanging on the wall and realized she still had on the apron and hairnet.
“Good grief, girl.” Lexia removed both and took a moment to fix her hair before going out to meet Brandon.
“Ready?” Brandon asked.
“Yes.” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll be back, Sam.”
“Take your time. We’ll close up if you’re not back.”
Lexia didn’t see any reason why she wouldn’t be back before closing. She didn’t plan on staying more than a few minutes. He led her to the parking garage, stopped at a late model black Mercedes and held the door open for her. She slid into the butter-soft seat and scanned the interior. Their family company must be doing well.
He got in on the other side, started the engine and pulled away. For a few minutes, they rode in companionable silence. Then he asked, “How did you come to own the café?”
A smile touched her lips. “A friend of mine let me know that it was closing and knew I was looking for a place.” When Cameron told Lexia about the previous ow
ners going under, he had almost begged her to lease the space. He’d mentioned the food being terrible and the tenants in the building wanting the convenience of an in-house place for food. Lexia had been still reeling from her divorce and the loss of her first diner and wasn’t sure she wanted to go through the hassle again. But Cameron and Janice, along with Samantha, had helped Lexia with the down payment and it had turned out to be the best thing she had done.
“Well, on behalf of everyone in the building, thank you. I hate to say it, but before you took over, the only thing I went there for was coffee. The food was terrible.”
She laughed. “Yeah, I heard that and I’m glad you’re enjoying the food. Khalil mentioned that you have a family-owned company. What do you do there?”
Brandon slanted her a quick glance, then refocused on the road. “I took over as CEO last year.”
“Oh. Wow.” She didn’t know what she expected—a management position for sure—but CEO? “Do you have any other siblings?”
“Two sisters and another brother. Only my older sister and I work for the company, though. What about you?”
“No. My parents wanted more than one, but after two miscarriages, stopped trying. Between music and all my extracurricular activities, my mother always said I kept her busy enough for three children.”
He chuckled. “Multiply that times five and you have our family.”
Lexia shook her head. “I can’t even imagine. It must have been great to always have a playmate.” Being an only child had been lonely at times and she often wished she had a sister to share secrets with. Elyse and Janice had filled that role somewhat.
“It had its moments.” For the remainder of the drive, Brandon shared stories of his and his siblings’ antics.
When they got to the hospital entrance, a case of nerves hit her. They took the elevator to Khalil’s floor and she followed Brandon’s long strides down the hallway. She could hear Khalil two doors down and he did not sound happy.
A Touch of Love Page 5