"We just take each day as it comes," Katherine said. "And do the best that we can."
***
Dan and Marcia went home soon after that, declining Katherine's offer to stay for dinner. Marcia said she'd be by the next day to visit and wanted Katherine to call her any time of the day or night if she was needed. She wanted to help out as much as she could. Denise and Gary went into the kitchen to make soup and sandwiches for anyone who might be hungry. Chelsea went to her room and Chris watched television quietly in the living room
The depression in the house hung thick, and Katherine felt a hundred years old as she went upstairs with a tray of food for Darla and Craig. She found them lying in Darla's bed, watching an old sitcom, Darla gently dozing on Craig's shoulder.
"How's she doing?" Katherine whispered to Craig as she handed him a cup of soup and placed a plate with a sandwich on the night stand.
"She's okay," he whispered back. "Just tired, I think. How's everyone else doing?"
Katherine sighed and settled on the leopard chaise lounge she'd so despised the day Darla moved in. "Everyone's still in shock. The depression downstairs is so thick, I think I'll move in up here with you two."
Craig chuckled. "That's fine with me. But you get the leopard seat."
Katherine broke out in a broad smile. "Isn't this thing just awful? I'll never forget the day Darla moved in and the first thing I saw was this. Only Darla would own such a piece of furniture."
"She can be colorful, that's for sure."
Katherine nodded agreement as she studied the spots on the lounge chair. There were so many things that had happened over the past year with Darla that she could now laugh at. It had been quite a year.
"Maybe we need another party," Craig said nonchalantly between bites of sandwich. "That would perk up everyone's spirits."
Darla's eyes opened slowly. "Who's having a party?" she asked sleepily. As Katherine watched her wake up, an idea began to plant itself inside her head.
"You know what, Craig? You're exactly right. We need a party." Katherine stood and smiled at them mischievously. "I'll be back in five minutes," she said and headed out of the room.
"What's up with her?" Darla asked Craig, wide awake now. He shrugged and offered her a cup of soup.
Katherine found Gary and Denise in the kitchen washing dishes. "There's a meeting up in Darla's room in five minutes," she said, heading for the kitchen door.
Denise turned to her, startled. "Is something wrong?"
"No, just be there." Katherine hurriedly left the room as Denise and Gary exchanged questioning glances.
"Meeting in Darla's room in five minutes," Katherine told Chris as she passed through the living room on her way upstairs. The boy never had a chance to respond, she was up the stairs in seconds.
Katherine poked her head into Chelsea's room. "Meeting in your mom's room in five minutes," she said softly. Chelsea looked up from the spot on the floor where she'd been staring. Her eyes were red, but no sign of tears showed. "Is Mom okay?" she asked, confused.
"She's fine, hon. Just be there in five, okay?" Chelsea nodded and Katherine ran down the hall and into her office. She picked out a photo album from her bookcase and headed back down the stairs and up to Darla's room. Everyone was waiting for her when she entered.
"Great. Everyone's here," Katherine said cheerfully, perching herself at the foot of the bed next to Chelsea. "Chris, come sit here next to Chelsea, and Denise, you and Gary move that leopard thing over here so we have a nice, tight circle."
Everyone did as they were told, still staring at Katherine as if she'd gone crazy. Darla lay propped up against her pillows next to Craig. Denise and Gary sat together on the chaise lounge and Chris and Chelsea finished the circle on the other side of Katherine on the bed. In the middle of the bed, Katherine placed the photo album.
"What's this all about?" Darla asked, her voice tired but her eyes interested.
"It has been a tough day for all of us," Katherine began, scanning her eyes slowly around the room from face to face. "So I decided we could use a little fun." She laid her hand on the cover of the photo album as all eyes gazed at it. "After Darla told us she had AIDS, I started this photo album of pictures, newspaper clippings, and other mementoes as a sort of remembrance of this time. I call it my 'Darla Book'. I started with old pictures I had of her and worked my way to today and I keep adding to it as things happen." Katherine flipped the book open to the first page. Smiling up at them was a picture of three teen girls on a beach, the ocean foaming behind them.
Denise smiled. "I haven't seen that picture in years."
Katherine nodded. "You know, the first time I met Darla, I was thirteen and she was fifteen. Denise and I had just met that year at school and I had come over to their house so we could do homework together. Darla took one long look at me and said, "Oh, God. Another geek friend!"
Everyone in the room roared, understanding how typical of Darla that was.
Katherine continued. "Well, considering the fact that the person calling me a geek was wearing six-inch platforms and lime-green hot pants, I didn't take her opinion seriously." They all broke out into laughter again as Katherine pointed at another picture of Darla wearing the described outfit. Even Darla had to laugh. "Oh, God. Did I really wear those?" she snorted.
When the squeals of laughter died down, Katherine continued speaking. "We each have had our own little experiences with Darla, some good, others crazy. So, I thought it would be fun to go around the circle and share them. Something that happened to you because you know Darla, and only because you know Darla."
Darla made a face. "Oh, oh," she said, but the sparkle in her eyes showed she was enjoying this.
"Oh, and be nice," Katherine reminded everyone with a laugh. They all chuckled lightly as each person fell into his or her own thoughts about what to say.
"I'll go first," Katherine offered. She took a small breath as every eye in the room watched her. "If it hadn't been for Darla, I would never have jumped a cop and screamed 'I'll show you lesbian bitch' at him." The room erupted in laughter, then Katherine pointed to Denise on her right. "Your turn."
"Okay," Denise said, taking a deep breath. "Where do I begin, there's so many years to cover." She laughed along with the others for another moment, then said, "I'll start at the present and work my way back. If it hadn't been for Darla, I would never have punched that police officer in the eye." Laughter again.
Katherine pointed to Gary, who looked thoughtful. "Hmmm. Well, I haven't known Darla very long, and she hasn't done anything particularly evil to me, but I'll give it a go. If it hadn't been for Darla," he stopped and gently touched his eyes on Denise, "I might never have driven Denise to the Christmas party and found out how wonderful she is."
"Ooh," everyone said. Denise turned red, but snuggled closer to Gary. Katherine pointed past Darla to Craig. "Your turn."
"If I hadn't known Darla, I would have gone through life never having a jailbird for a girlfriend." They all chuckled, Darla included.
"Okay, Chris. Your turn," Katherine said.
Chris smiled mischievously. "It I had never known Darla, I never would have punched that kid at school." Everyone hooted.
Craig pretended to look scared. "I'm beginning to think you're a dangerous person to know," he teased Darla. Laughter continued to fill the room.
"Now you, Chelsea," Katherine said.
Chelsea was ready. "If it weren't for my mom, I'd never own so many mini-skirts."
The women giggled as the guys hooted with laughter. Darla shook her head at all of them, but she was laughing just as hard as they were. They settled down after a while and Katherine started the circle again. Her tone grew serious.
"If I hadn't known Darla, I would never have sold articles to The Seattle Times." They all nodded appreciatively.
"If it hadn't been for Darla and her outrageous behavior all these years," Denise said softly, "I would never have tried so hard to be the complete opposite of her, and
might never have ended up engaged to the perfect man." Denise bowed her head, embarrassed, and Gary kissed her on the cheek. Everyone oohed and ahhed.
Gary took his turn again. "If I hadn't known Darla, I wouldn't have learned so much about AIDS firsthand."
"If I had never met Darla," Craig said, his eyes touching hers, "I would never have found love again." Everyone smiled at them as Darla's cheeks actually turned pink.
Chris began softly. "If it hadn't been for Darla, I would never have had Chelsea to grow up with." He kept his eyes on the bedspread and turned red, as everyone once again said ahh.
Chelsea took a deep breath and looked directly at her mother. "If it hadn't been for my mom, I'd have never been born. Thanks, Mom."
Darla looked up at her daughter and both sets of eyes met, both sets of lips smiled. Denise was close to tears. Katherine's heart felt full. Darla had touched each and every one of their lives, and as they continued going around the circle of family and friends, they all began to appreciate how important they were to each other.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The impact of the doctor's words brought more activity to the house the following week as friends and family came to spend time with Darla. Dan and Marcia came daily to see their daughter, Marcia sometimes bringing food she knew was Darla's favorite to entice her to eat. Carl dropped by each evening after work, and Chelsea spent each day after school in her mom's room. Craig spent all of his time at the house now, and Denise worked partial days to be home more, too. Although the added hands were helpful for Katherine, the constant attention strained Darla's already irritable nerves.
"Why don't they all go away and leave me alone for a while?" Darla complained to Katherine one morning as she helped her change from her nightshirt into comfy sweats.
"They just want to be near you right now," Katherine told her. "So be nice."
Darla grunted. "They'll kill me with attention."
Katherine ignored her attitude, understanding it was because of the way she felt physically. Food didn't want to settle in Darla's stomach and she was having night sweats every night, disrupting her sleep and making her already worn body even more fatigued. And her muscles ached most of the time. Craig gently massaged her arms and legs for her but nothing seemed to soothe the incessant pain.
Darla didn't complain about Chelsea's or Craig's presence. Although Darla never said so aloud, Katherine knew that Chelsea's presence in her room every afternoon and evening cheered her. Chelsea would just lie on the leopard lounge and do homework, play poker, or simply watch television with Darla, her quiet presence giving Darla strength for each new day. When Chelsea was with her mom, Craig would quietly disappear for that time, understanding how important their time alone together was. The rest of the time he was there to tease Darla out of her moodiness, rub her aching muscles, or just hold her.
At Darla's urging, Katherine wrote up a piece for The Seattle Times about their care conference and the ways the family members were coping with the ending phases of AIDS. Katherine had been hesitant to share such personal information but Darla assured her she wanted her to continue writing about her until the end. Denise had agreed, too, when Katherine had brought her concerns to her. "It might help other families cope, too," Denise had told her.
Katherine was amazed, and pleased, at the unusual strength Denise had acquired since the doctor had spoken with them. She wasn't sure if it had been the doctor's words, or because of Denise's contented relationship with Gary that had strengthened her, or both. Whatever the reason, it was a relief to Katherine to finally be able to open up and discuss Darla's condition without fear of upsetting Denise. Her newfound strength helped ease some of the daily pressure of caring for Darla from Katherine.
The Seattle Times’ editor was pleased with the personal pieces Katherine sent in. Within days of running the care conference article, the paper was flooded with letters, phone calls, and e-mails from readers expressing their concern and well wishes for Darla and questions about every aspect of caring for an AIDS patient in their final stages. The response was amazing but by now Katherine was used to it. Although she couldn't answer all the letters personally, she did address as many issues as possible in upcoming articles for The Seattle Times.
The second week after the care conference, Darla's condition grew worse. She'd hardly eaten a thing for days, and even liquids didn't want to stay down. The doctor ordered an IV for fluids for her at home and pain medication through the IV for her muscle pain. Even he was concerned at the rate in which she was declining. Dr. Hanson didn't understand what was causing it to happen so quickly. "I still expect you to prove me wrong," he told Darla the day he ordered the IV.
"I'm trying to, Doc," was all Darla said. But no matter how hard she fought, it seemed AIDS was fighting harder against her.
The fluids helped boost her energy a little, but she still spent her days lying in bed or occasionally on the sofa by the fire. Her lungs were weak and any small movement made her wheeze and cough. Even talking was an effort and a simple sentence brought deep, heavy breathing. The fear that she might choke became a major concern for the others, so it was decided she not be left alone any time of the day or night.
Marcia continued coming during the day to be with Darla, leaving Katherine free to work in her office upstairs. Craig spent each night at Darla's side, but during the day he'd use the time Marcia was with her for his own doctor appointments or personal obligations. Darla still did not know about his having cancer, only Katherine knew. That was how he wanted it, and Katherine respected his wishes.
Carl continued to visit each evening and Jeff stopped by from time to time to cheer her up. He'd bring her flowers or a music CD she could play on the portable player in her room. Sometimes Chelsea brought out her violin and played a new tune she'd learned in orchestra. She'd become quite accomplished over the past year-and-a-half and Darla actually enjoyed her private concerts. But nothing any of them did could stop the virus from weaving its way through her system. Day after day, they watched her slowly deteriorate before their eyes and even Darla knew her days were numbered.
As Katherine helped Darla change into a nightshirt one evening in her room, Darla sent Craig down for a cup of tea. He looked surprised but pleased that she wanted to attempt to drink on her own, so he happily left the room to fill her request.
"You must be feeling better tonight," Katherine commented cheerfully as she tucked the covers around Darla. It had been some time since Darla had actually asked for anything to eat or drink and Katherine thought it was a good sign.
"I wanted to talk to you alone," Darla told her, each word an effort. "I need you to do me a favor."
Katherine picked up the sheets she'd just changed, set them on the lounge chair, and turned to give her full attention to Darla. She saw serious eyes staring back at her, sunken in their sockets. "Okay. I'm listening."
Darla reached over and picked up an envelope from her night stand. She held it out to Katherine. "I need you to deliver this for me."
Katherine stepped up and took the envelope from her, relieved that it was something as simple as sending a letter. "Sure. Where do you want to send it?"
"I want you to deliver it personally. It's for Chelsea's father."
Katherine's mouth dropped open as she stared at the envelope, then at Darla, completely wordless. No one knew who Chelsea's father was and Darla had never mentioned him through the years. Katherine and Denise had suspicions as to his identity but they were never confirmed.
"Shocked you, didn't I?" Darla asked, her eyes twinkling mischievously. Talking made her breathing become labored and she had to settle back against the pillows for a moment to calm down. Finally, Darla was able to speak again. "I want to make sure he gets that before I'm gone. It's just a letter and pictures of Chelsea, but I think it's important for him to have them."
Katherine nodded her head. "Okay, I'll make sure he gets it. Where does he live?"
Darla waved her hand in the air at the envelop
e. "The address is written on the other side." She watched as Katherine turned over the envelope, watched as Katherine's brows furrowed in disbelief.
"New York City? He lives in New York?" Katherine asked, exasperated. "You want me to go all the way to New York to deliver this myself?"
Darla nodded, undisturbed by Katherine's irritation. She'd expected it. "And I want you to do it as soon as possible. I want to make sure it's done."
Katherine eyed her as if she'd already acquired dementia. "This isn't asking just a little favor, Darla. This is something big. Maybe too big."
"I know you'll do it," Darla said with complete conviction.
Katherine became angry with Darla's know-it-all tone. "Why me? Why not send Denise? At least she's family. Or just mail it. Why do I have to bring this across the country to someone I don't even know?"
Darla looked her straight in the eye. "Because I need you to, okay? It's important to me. You have to do it. Not Denise, not by mail. You."
Katherine closed her eyes and tightened her jaw, hardly believing what Darla was asking of her. She stared long and hard at the sealed envelope for what seemed like hours. She could say no and mean it. Darla was definitely overstepping on this one. But as Katherine stared at the envelope, she realized that she just couldn't say no. Darla had her reasons, however insane, and she felt she should respect them. Finally, she gave in with a sigh. "Okay, I'll do it," she said quietly. "But I think you're crazy."
"And soon," Darla insisted. "As soon as possible."
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll go soon!" Katherine threw her hands in the air. "I'll go tomorrow. I'll just drop everything and fly off to New York tomorrow. Is that soon enough?"
"Good," Darla said, ignoring Katherine's sarcasm and laying her head back against the pillows. "Good," she said again, tired but satisfied her wishes would be carried out.
Katherine didn't say another word. She picked up the dirty laundry and headed downstairs, mumbling to herself all the way.
Widow, Virgin, Whore - A Novel Page 24