“I’m going downstairs to the cafeteria,” Jenna said. “I’ll see what they have and bring up some food for everyone.”
She returned a short time later with a tray laden with sandwiches, snacks, coffee and sodas. The day turned into night, and they alternately took turns sleeping in the only comfortable chair in the room, or resting in the lounge.
By dawn Jenna knew she had to take a break. Her mouth tasted like she was growing fungus on her tongue, and her face felt like sandpaper. She told Rob she was going back to the house for a shower.
She looked at the others. “Mom? Kids? Want to come back with me?”
Kelly and Nick weren’t ready to leave their mom, but Sharon nodded.
“Thank you, Jenna. Yes, I would like that.” She picked up her leather backpack and jeans jacket. “Will you be okay for a few hours without me?” she asked the others.
Rob yawned and stretched. “We’ll be fine. The kids can stay here while I go visit Amy.”
Jenna and her mother left the hospital, and stepping out into the sunshine and fresh air made Jenna feel almost normal. She took a deep breath. “I’m glad you’re coming with me. We haven’t seen each other in years.”
“I know. I’m sorry about that too. We’ve wasted too much time not speaking.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Jenna had been so distressed when she had parked at the hospital the day before, it took her a minute to remember where she had left the SUV. Eventually they found it. “Have you got a bag?” she asked her mother.
“No, I didn’t stop to pack. As soon as Rob called, I ran out the door.” She shrugged. “Didn’t seem important at the time.”
“No. I’m sure you can borrow whatever you need from Cindy or me.” Jenna and her mother climbed into the eight passenger truck. “I was following behind her when it happened. She needed to take her car in for service.”
“Oh, Jenna. How horrible for you.” Sharon stared at Jenna, looking deeply into her eyes as if she were searching for something—some sacred bond that had eluded them for nearly forty years, perhaps. “You must have been so frightened.”
“Yes. I still am.”
“Me, too.” Her mother squeezed her hand. “You’ve always been a good daughter, and such a loving sister to Cindy. She’s always looked up to you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Jenna backed up, found the exit, paid for the overnight parking, and followed the signs to the I-95. “I hope you’ll stay for a few days. The kids were really happy to see you.”
“I plan on it. My grandchildren mean the world to me.” She stifled a yawn. “I do need to go home and take care of a few things, but I’m coming back. Tom will be lost without me, but he’ll survive.”
“Congratulations on your marriage, Mom. I hope he makes you happy.”
“So far so good, but it’s early days. We’ll see.”
Jenna took the Northlake exit off 95 and made her way west to the gated golf community where Rob and Cindy lived. As they drove along the beautiful tree-lined boulevard, Jenna compared her sister’s existence with her own.
Here, instead of horns blaring and street vendors and glaring neon signs, beauty and serenity resided. Gorgeous purple and pink bougainvillea bushes bloomed everywhere, while colorful hibiscus plants and impatiens lined the cobblestone driveways and sidewalks.
Jenna parked in the three car garage next to a golf cart, then she followed her mother into the house. A huge half-bear-half dog bounded into the hall, sniffed Jenna, before crowding around her mother.
“Beethoven, behave yourself.” Her mother pushed aside the dog’s head. “Kelly rescued him from an animal shelter when he was a puppy. That was three years ago. He was never supposed to have grown this big.”
“She told me. I’m surprised Cindy allowed Kelly to keep such a big dog.” Beets as the family called him, was a big, loveable mutt, who slobbered and drooled and shed. She tried to get past him in the narrow entryway. He head-butted her and nearly knocked her off her feet.
Her mother laughed. “He’s playing with you.”
“He’s quite a handful, isn’t he?” Jenna smiled through gritted teeth. She didn’t particularly like large dogs, and the fact he was slobbering on her expensive shoes did nothing to alter her opinion.
Once she got past the dog, she was in the kitchen. It was enormous, with granite counter-tops, high antiqued cupboards, and beautiful stainless steel appliances. It flowed into a great room, with a soaring fourteen-foot ceiling, a sliding glass door, and numerous windows to optimize the view. There was a sparkling pool and spa, and the lake and golf course just beyond.
Cindy and Rob had moved here the previous year, when Cindy realized they were having an addition to the family. Rob owned three restaurants, and they were doing well.
Jenna put some water in Beets’s bowl, and gave him his doggy food. She knew he was probably dying for a walk, but he’d have to be content with a quick visit outside.
After the dog was taken care of, Jenna and her mother took their showers, and rested for an hour. The moment Jenna closed her eyes she drifted off to sleep.
When she came back downstairs, she found her mother snoring on the couch. She watched her sleep and tried not to remember the many times she had come home from school to see her mother passed out. Her stomach tightened with the same sick feeling she’d had as a young girl, wanting her mother to get up and take care of them.
Watching her mother now, she sensed Sharon was at peace. Her face was serene, almost youthful, and Jenna felt her heart expand and open a crack. You only have one mother in your lifetime, and even if you can’t pick them, you still have to love them.
Abruptly, her mother’s eyes flew open. “What are you looking at?” she asked, sitting up. “You’re creeping me out, staring at me like that. It’s like you’re waiting for me to turn back into a lush.” She smiled sadly. “That was me at an all-time low. I’m not that person anymore.”
“I know, Mom. I’m sorry.”
“Okay, then. Come on. Let’s go back to see Cindy.”
* * *
When they walked into Cindy’s room, they found Rob sleeping in the chair. Sharon put her finger to her lips and they stayed quiet, allowing Rob to rest. Unfortunately, a few minutes later, a nurse came in and started chatting cheerfully with her comatose patient. Rob instantly opened his eyes.
“Hey,” he said to Jenna and Sharon. “How long was I out?” He looked embarrassed for having fallen asleep.
“Don’t know.” Jenna smiled at her brother-in-law. “Not long enough is my guess. You want to go back home to freshen up? You’ll feel a whole lot better.”
“No. I’d like to visit Amy again and then grab some breakfast. How about you two?”
Sharon took Cindy’s hand. “You two go. I’ll stay here until you get back. Are the kids at breakfast?”
“No, they left with my mom about an hour ago. They’re going to stay with her until we all return.” He leaned over and kissed Cindy’s cheek. “I’ll be back, sweetheart.”
Rob and Jenna found Amy awake. When the baby spotted her father, she smiled and held out her chubby hands.
Rob stayed with his daughter for a half hour and then said he wanted to get back to Cindy. Jenna wasn’t ready to leave Amy yet. She wanted to ask Dr. Marshall what to expect when she brought Amy home. She hoped he would be coming in that morning, and so she sat down next to the crib to wait.
“Ms. Cassali?”
Jenna’s eyes flew open. Dr. Marshall was standing over her. “Oh.” She sat up straight, hoping she hadn’t snored. “I didn’t realize I’d drifted off.”
Dr. Marshall smiled. “The nurse said you wanted to speak with me?”
“Yes, yes, I did. I mean, I do.” Why was she acting like a tongue-tied fool? Just because he was Hollywood handsome was no reason for her brain to short circuit. It must simply be exhaustion or the result of stress.
“I’m free right now,” he said, “if you’d like to ask them.”
“Of
course.” She licked her lips and ran a hand through her hair. Finally, her eyes met his. “Basically, I just wanted to know what to expect since I’ll be taking care of Amy, and this is unfamiliar territory. She undoubtedly has her own pediatrician, but I wondered if I should call you if there’s a problem.”
“Yes. Certainly.” He pulled up a chair next to hers. “Taking care of a baby is mostly common sense, and I have a feeling that you are a very capable woman. But because Amy has had a concussion, there are some important things to watch for. I can give you a written list, but I’ll go over them: convulsions, drowsiness, if you can’t wake her up. Unequal pupils or unusual eye movements are other signs.”
At Jenna’s expression, he quickly reassured her, “Don’t worry. We wouldn’t release her if we thought she’d have any of these problems, and I seriously doubt she will. However, if any of these symptoms do appear, please call me immediately and bring her in.”
“I will. You can be certain of that.”
“Is there anything else?”
“Do you have a clinic nearby? Or are you strictly hospital staff?”
“I have an office in Palm Beach Gardens, near the mall. You can make an appointment and see me there, but if it’s an emergency, you’ll want to bring her here. If you have any doubts whatsoever, call me night or day. I’ll give you my cell phone number. Use it anytime.”
Jenna breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Doctor. That does put me more at ease.”
“I’m glad I could help.” He got up to check on Amy’s charts. “She had a good night, and we’ll monitor her today and see how she’s doing. You might be able to take her home this afternoon.”
“That soon?”
He smiled. “That’s supposed to be good news.”
“But I don’t want to leave the hospital just yet. I want to stay here for Cindy.” She straightened her shoulders and looked him straight in the eye. “I would be more comfortable with her here, in your care, for a few extra days.”
“I could probably extend her stay for one extra night.” A dimple flashed in his cheek. “Would that help?”
“Yes, thank you. I’ll check and see if Rob’s mother would take her for a night or two.”
He nodded. “I’ve got to make my rounds. I’ll probably see you later.”
“I hope so. I’ll have my list of questions all ready for you.” She gave him a quick smile, then shut it down when she realized she was flirting.
After he left, Jenna decided to make a list of things to do. She’d have to let her office know that she wouldn’t be returning on Monday, that she would need an indefinite leave of absence. She got out her cell phone to check her schedule and start making notes. Contact the superintendent of her apartment building to hold her mail, cancel a dentist appointment, reschedule with her hair stylist…The list went on and on.
Life, as she knew it, was about to end. For a little while at least, she would be slipping into Cindy’s shoes, whether she was a good fit or not.
CHAPTER FOUR
The day dragged on and Cindy had still not awakened. Rob went home to freshen up and to get his business in order. Jenna and her mother took turns watching over both Cindy and Amy.
Rob returned near dinnertime, giving Jenna and her mother the freedom to leave. Her mother fought back a yawn. “I’m going to head back to the house. I need to call Tom and then catch some shut-eye. Don’t stay too long, Jenna. You didn’t sleep at all last night.”
“I know, but I can’t rest now. I’m too much on edge.”
She hadn’t seen Dr. Marshall on his afternoon rounds and she still had so many questions that needed answers. Hopefully, she’d catch him before he left for the day.
Jenna slipped into Amy’s room and sat down to wait. The baby was sleeping peacefully, so after about ten minutes she left to grab some coffee. She passed a nurse in the corridor and asked if Dr. Marshall was available to answer some questions.
“I’m sorry, but you’ve missed him. He left about an hour ago.”
“Will he be back tonight?”
“No, not unless there’s an emergency. But you can catch him in the morning. Is there another doctor that you’d like to speak to?”
“No. No, that’s quite all right. It can wait.”
She got her coffee from the vending machine and returned to Amy’s room. She stood there for several minutes, watching the rise and fall of her chest. Such a tiny little body—how did something that delicate survive?
She sat back down in the only comfortable chair in the room and found a magazine to flip through. Nurses came and went, and still she sat there, with nowhere to go. She felt like an imposter in Cindy’s home. She didn’t want to be there without her sister.
Closing her eyes, she imagined herself back in New York, in her high-ceilinged, spacious apartment on Riverside Drive. She missed it already—the city smells and noise, the never-ending energy. It really was the most exciting city in the world, and she loved being a part of it. Sitting in her big office that overlooked Washington Square Park, she could see the famous arch from her desk. When she walked to her windows, she could see the playground filled with children and old men squaring off over games of chess.
She was still dreaming of New York when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She must have drifted off.
“Ms. Cassali, I’m sorry to disturb you, but the nurse said you were looking for me?”
Her eyes opened slowly, and she gazed at the handsome doctor who was kneeling beside her chair.
She smiled. “Hi. You came back.”
“Yes, I did.” He smiled too. “I needed some paperwork that I’d left on my desk.”
“I’m glad.” She still felt sleepy, and relaxed, and talking to Dr. Marshall made her feel almost normal—at least, not as frantic as before.
“You okay?” He stood as he spoke.
“Yes. I’m holding up.” He loomed over her, looking awfully big and solid from where she sat. She needed to be on equal ground when she talked to him.
She reached for her handbag and stood up, meeting him eye for eye. “Maybe you should sit. I’ve got a lot of questions.”
He laughed and took a seat.
“Okay, I’m ready. Shoot.”
She sat down again, flipped open her notebook, and read aloud from her list of questions.
“Doctor, do you know if Amy hit her head, and whether there’ll be any bleeding around her brain?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay. Next.” She squinted to read her writing. “In your opinion, will there be any risks of brain damage?”
“No, again.” He was smiling now.
She licked her lips. “I’ve got a list of about thirty questions.”
He nodded, but didn’t laugh. Patiently he answered all of her questions one by one.
“Thank you, Doctor. I know you probably think me silly, but this is more than a little overwhelming for me.”
“I don’t think you’re silly at all.” He stood up. “As a matter of fact, I think you’re a very intelligent, capable woman in need of a friendly shoulder to lean on. May I buy you a cup of coffee?”
She smiled. “Sure. I’d love that.”
To her surprise he led her past the cafeteria and out the door. “Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“There’s a Starbucks around the corner.”
“Um…Dr. Marshall? Would it be rude of me to ask if we could go someplace else?” She tossed her hair back from her face and breathed in the fresh air. “I could use a real drink.”
He laughed. “I was thinking the same thing myself.”
“Let’s do it then.” She grinned naughtily, stepping back as he opened the door of his luxury sedan for her to slide in.
“God, it feels good to escape,” she said as he got in behind the wheel. “Almost like I’m free again.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “Oops, that was a horrible, thoughtless comment. You must think I’m a terrible person.”
“No, I certai
nly do not.” His gaze rested on her face. “You’ve been through an extremely emotional ordeal, and it’s not going to get better anytime soon. You’ve been strong and brave for two full days. You’re allowed to be human for a moment or two. It’s okay to let down.”
“I don’t need to. I’m fine,” she whispered, but a tear ran down her cheek.
He scooped it up with his finger. “It’s okay to cry.” He cuffed the back of her neck, and his fingers massaged the knotted muscles.
She shifted in her seat, leaning toward him. “Oh, that feels so good. I’m not generally a crier. I need to remain strong.”
He bent his head and kissed her lips gently.
“I probably shouldn’t have done that,” he murmured. “I had honorable intentions, I assure you.”
She laughed. “You could do that all night long.” She glanced up at him. “I feel better all ready.”
“Good.” He pulled away. “Let’s go get that drink.”
Fifteen minutes later they were having a drink at a Palm Beach sidewalk café. The moon was a mere sliver on this balmy night. The sky was full of stars. This was exactly what the doctor ordered, she decided. It’s already doing me a world of good.
She sipped on a Cosmopolitan and he drank his Scotch on the rocks. In silent agreement they avoided all talk about the hospital, Cindy, Amy, and the challenges Jenna was about to face. Instead they compared their tastes in books, movies, and music. By the end of an hour, they were fast becoming friends.
“I guess I should be getting back,” Jenna said at last. “I should check on Cindy once more. Then I’ll go home to sleep in a real bed tonight.”
Grant parked near the main entrance of the hospital. “I’m glad you came out for a break, Jenna. I enjoyed tonight.”
“Me too.” Smiling shyly, she leaned toward him. “May I kiss you good night, Grant?”
He put an arm around her shoulder and drew her toward him.
She lifted her face, and then his warm mouth was on hers, tasting of Scotch and something that was purely him. She put a hand on the back of his neck, holding him fast and encouraging him to deepen the kiss.
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