Surrendered

by Jennifer Sienes

  Katie’s laughter and Jackson Browne’s Baker Street fill the silence. Two steps and I’m at the entrance to the kitchen. Maris watches, hands on hips, as Katie tosses something into the air then lunges to get under it, mouth open. It bounces off her forehead and skitters across the floor.

  “Is this a new technique in food preparation?”

  The wail of a saxophone accompanies Katie’s grin. “I’m teaching Maris how to have fun.”

  Maris shakes a wooden spoon at her. “You won’t think it’s so fun when you have to clean the floor.”

  “That’s Tony’s job, not mine.” She plucks something out of a green basket in the center of the cutting block and juggles it from hand to hand. A cherry tomato. A pricey amusement this time of year.

  I open my mouth to reprimand her, but all that comes out is a sigh. What’s going to happen to the restaurant if Jake leaves? When he leaves? Because even if I can convince him to stay, this isn’t what he wants to do. And as much as I’d like to keep Dad’s legacy alive, I now know that forcing me back into school was for the best. This was his legacy, but it can’t be mine.

  “Watch this, Tess.” Katie launches the tomato into the air, steps beneath it and catches it in her mouth.

  “You should be so proud. We could get you a job with the circus—”

  Eyes and mouth wide, she clutches at her throat and gasps.

  “Katie.” I drop my purse and rush to her side.

  She claws at my arm, eyes panicked.

  Adrenaline shoots through my body as I look at Maris. “She’s choking. Do you know the Heimlich?”

  “No.”

  “Go find Jake and call 911.”

  Tearing Katie’s hands from me, I step behind her. Wrapping my arms around her, I probe for the edge of her ribcage and fist my hands. Oh God, please guide me. I don’t know what I’m doing. I thrust in and up, in and up. Nothing.

  I scream past the lump in my throat. “Somebody help me.”

  Julia rushes in with Jake and Maris, phone in hand, right behind.

  My eyes latch onto Jake’s. “It’s not working.”

  He takes Katie from me and hefts her onto a tall stool, his movements quick and efficient.

  Maris stands in the doorway, face ashen, hugging the phone to her chest. “The ambulance is on its way.”

  I drop to my knees in front of Katie. She latches onto my hands as if they’re a lifeline. Mouth still open, her lips now have a blue tinge. Her body jerks with each thrust Jake performs.

  She might not have a minute.

  “It’s not working, Jake. Do something!” Dear God, help her. I can’t lose her too.

  He bends her over one arm and thumps her on the back with a fist. “Julia, get some rubbing alcohol from the first aid kit and some gauze. Maris, find the smallest, sharpest knife you have and a pair of scissors. Tess, get a pair of latex gloves from the supply closet and a straw.”

  The air whooshes from my lungs. “What are you going to do?”

  Without looking at me, he scoops Katie up and lays her unconscious body on the floor. “Whatever I have to.”

  * * *

  Jake

  I snap the gloves on and feel Katie’s larynx. The patient’s larynx. Forget it’s Katie. Forget the fear and pleading in Tess’s eyes. Forget what happened to the last patient I treated.

  “Douse everything with alcohol and tear the packaging off the gauze.” I reach for Katie’s wrist and check her pulse. How long has she been without air? One minute? Two? Where the hell is that ambulance?

  Maris squats beside me, the emergency instruments laid out on a tray.

  “You clean the tray too?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Julia. Come hold Katie’s head.”

  Tess drops down beside Katie. “I’ll do it.”

  “No.” I look at her panic-stricken eyes. “I don’t want you to see this. Let Julia.”

  “But, Jake—”

  “Don’t argue, Tess.” My voice ricochets off the walls. “Go out in the alley and wait for the ambulance.”

  She opens her mouth but must see the desperation in my eyes. “Okay.”

  If this doesn’t end well, I don’t want Tess to witness it.

  Julia, face ghost white, scoots in place and slips her hands under Katie’s head, clamping down on her ears. “Will she feel it?”

  “She’s unconscious.” Which doesn’t guarantee anything, but Julia doesn’t need to know that. I find the larynx and cricoid cartilage. “I need that knife.”

  Maris lowers the tray in front of me, and I snatch the knife. Palpitating the cricothyroid membrane, I take a deep breath. Dear God, have mercy on her. Guide my hands. Please. I insert the blade a half inch to make a horizontal incision.

  “Scissors.” Again, Maris lowers the tray. I take the scissors and insert them into the incision, opening them to allow adequate room for the straw.

  The whoosh of air reaches my ears the same time as the siren. Thank God.

  A paramedic appears with Tess on his heels. “What’d you do?” His tone is laced with shock and accusation.

  “It’s okay.” Tess, eyes shining with tears, looks at me. “He’s a doctor.”

  I jump up. “Get her bagged and in the ambulance. She was without air for approximately two minutes, maybe three. We’ll meet you there.”

  Two more paramedics appear with a stretcher, and I watch as they attach the ventilator and check her stats. Pulse is good. Heart rate strong.

  Tess tugs on my arm. “She’s going to be okay, isn’t she?”

  “They’ll take good care of her. She may need surgery, but my guess is they’ll be able to clear her airway without it.”

  Brow wrinkled, she starts to follow the paramedics as they wheel Katie out. “I’m going with them.”

  I snag her arm. “I’ll drive you.”

  Maris and Julia stand against the wall, faces pale, features drawn. I catch Maris’s eye. “You mind putting a sign in the window that we’re closed tonight?”

  She nods. “We’ll meet you at the hospital.”

  Julia grabs Tess in a hug as we pass, whispering something in her ear. Tess nods, sniffling.

  Halfway to the hospital, the adrenaline rush dissipates. I’m left with shaky hands, slick with sweat on the steering wheel, and a pounding heart. How can I face Tess if anything happens to Katie? Three minutes without air could leave her brain damaged.

  “Thank you, Jake.” Tess touches my shoulder. “I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t been there.”

  I pray she’ll still be thanking me when they finish assessing Katie.

  “No one else could have done that, you know.”

  Stopping at a red light, I look at her. “We’re not going to start that again, are we?”

  “What?” She crosses her arms. “I’m just saying. You’re obviously a good doctor.”

  I rub my temples. “That’s not the point.”

  She shifts to face me. “Then what is? That you’re scared? Because I don’t remember you being all that sympathetic when I had to face my fears.”

  “That’s hardly fair, Tess. Why don’t you handle your life and let me handle mine?”

  “Is that what you call pushing me to go back to school?” She smacks my arm with the back of her hand. “And what about hauling me away from Professor Field’s house like a sack of potatoes?”

  The light changes and I move the car forward.

  “And what’s with the pepper spray? Is that you letting me handle my life?”

  “Someone needs to police you.”

  She grunts and slams back against the seat. “You didn’t feel anything jumping in to save Katie’s life?”

  I want to plead the fifth. No way am I going to admit being able to help Katie felt good. Better than running a restaurant anyway.

  “Did you mean what you said last night?”

  I turn into the hospital parking lot. I’m not sure what she’s referring to, but everything I said was true. “Yes.�
��

  “About, you know, loving me?”

  Pulling into a space, I turn off the car and look at her. “That’s not the problem, Tess. We talked about it last night.”

  “No.” She fiddles with the strap of her purse. “You talked about it last night. How can you drop a bomb like that and then walk away? It would have been better if you never said anything.”

  Which is what a wise man would have done. But the foolish holds out hope. Another couple of days and it won’t matter. She’ll forget I ever said the words in the first place.

  Chapter 39

  Jake

  Rain pelts the windows of the O’Shay kitchen as I place the last item on the tray. The impending storm is here. But the laughter coming from downstairs? That changes the tenor of the day. I take a quick survey of the virtual feast I’ve prepared for Katie—chicken broth, strawberry Jell-O, and cottage cheese. Might not be the most appetizing, but it’ll go down easy.

  Tray in hand, I descend the stairs as another burst of laughter comes from the family room. Katie refused to be cooped up in her bedroom like a sick person. She’s getting to be more like Tess every day. Thank You, God, for sparing her life. It’s been my constant praise over the last two days. How is it these sisters feel more like family than my own?

  They don’t seem to notice me as I step into the room, and I take a moment to observe them. Katie, wrapped in a blanket, sits in Sean’s well-worn recliner. Her hair’s pulled back, face flushed, eyes clear. Epitome of health, aside from the stark bandage on her throat.

  Tess leans over her, adjusting the blanket, then squats beside the chair, her hand on Katie’s arm. Since the restaurant incident, she seems to take every opportunity to touch Katie. As if she needs the continual reassurance that Katie’s fine. I’ve had to resist the urge myself. Not just with Katie, but with Tess. I thought leaving here before it got any harder would be smart. Get out before she throws me out. But maybe God has another plan. Least I can do is give Him a chance. Doesn’t much matter. I can’t leave them now. Katie’s fine, but Tess still has the trial to get through.

  Katie spots me. “Hey, Doc.” My new nickname since she awoke at the hospital. “Is that my lunch?”

  I cross the room and place the tray on her lap. “I know you requested a cheese burger and onion rings, but you’ll have to work up to that.”

  She wrinkles her nose at the meal. “Jell-O? What am I, four?”

  I sit on the edge of the couch. “It’s a hospital staple.”

  Tess arranges the utensils like a hovering mother. Must be the Italian in her. “Be grateful you’re eating anything, kiddo. If it weren’t for Jake, you’d be hanging out with Dad right now.”

  Katie picks up a spoon and dips it into the broth. “As long as there aren’t any cherry tomatoes. I don’t think I’ll ever eat another one.”

  “It wasn’t the eating.” Tess squats beside her again. “It was the acrobatics.”

  Katie rolls her eyes. “Are you ever going to let it go? I’ve crossed my heart, pinky-sworn, and promised on Dad’s soul I won’t do that again.”

  Tess gives her a watery smile. “I’m just grateful…” Her voice breaks.

  “It’s okay.” Katie pats her head with her free hand. “I’m not going anywhere, Tess. You’re stuck with me for another gazillion years.”

  She nods, pushing off the floor, and clears her throat. “I’m going to go upstairs and make you some tea. It’ll soothe your throat.” She gives me a smile on her way out of the room.

  “I still can’t believe you’re a doctor.” Katie slurps a spoonful of broth. “When Tess told me what you did…” She looks at me. “I know I’ve been a pain in the butt lately.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” I laugh at her scowl.

  “Almost dying, it changes things. It’s like I get a second chance, you know?”

  “Second chances are good.” Could use one of those myself.

  “So, if you’re a doctor, what are you doing here? I mean, you must have made loads of money.”

  “Hate to break it to you, kid, but there’s more to life than money.”

  She stabs the Jell-O with the spoon. “I never thanked you for saving my life.”

  “Not necessary.”

  Her green eyes, so like Tess’s, land on mine. “They told me in the hospital that you saved me from brain damage. Or worse.”

  “The ambulance was right there. Even without me, you would’ve been fine.”

  “It doesn’t matter. It was you who saved me. Tess’ll never forget it either, you know. We both owe you one.”

  If it were only that easy. I could call it even when the truth hits the fan. Second chances. Sometimes, you just gotta take them.

  Pushing up from the couch, I point to her tray. “You need to finish that. Keep up your strength.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Need to make a trip down to the Bay Area.”

  “Now?”

  I check my watch. If I leave in the next few minutes, I can be there by four. “No time like the present, right?” I kiss her on the head as I pass.

  When I enter the kitchen, Tess is standing over the sink, staring out the rain-speckled window. She turns as I approach.

  “Do me a favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “Cover for me at the restaurant tonight?”

  “Where will you be?”

  “There’s something I need to take care of.”

  Her eyes narrow. “You’re not leaving, are you?”

  I slip my hand under her hair, sweep my thumb down her nape. “I promise you’ll know when I’m leaving. It’ll be your choice.”

  “My choice? But I thought—”

  I kiss her, pulling her body close to mine. My pulse races at the taste of her, but I step back. “Remember that when you’re ready to roast me alive.”

  * * *

  Tess

  Why is it one often doesn’t realize how important family and friends are until they’re gone—or almost gone? I can’t seem to shake the vision of Katie passed out on the floor of the restaurant, her face turning blue. She’s all the family I have left. It was hard losing Mom, and harder still losing Dad. Losing Katie would do me in.

  I stand in front of the mirror in the master bathroom putting my hair up for work. The door’s open so I can keep an eye on Katie, who’s sitting against my headboard surrounded by textbooks. One propped up on her knees and three more spread around her. Two days out of school and she’s already behind on the homework.

  I watch her through the reflection. “Are you sure it’s okay if I leave? The restaurant will be fine without me.”

  She plops her finger on the page to mark her place and gives me an are-you-kidding look. “I’m fine. You’re making more out of this than Jake and I combined.”

  She’s right, but I can’t shake the feeling of impending doom. “You’ll keep your cell with you?”

  “For the tenth time, yes.”

  “And keep the doors locked.”

  She nods, her eyes back on the lesson.

  “Maybe I should call Julia and see if she and Max—”

  “Tess. Stop it.” She glares at me. “Cut the cord, will ya? I’m good to go back to school on Monday, so I’m good enough to stay home alone.”

  Finishing in the bathroom, I step out and pluck my purse off the dresser. Why does it feel so heavy? Oh, the pepper spray. “Here.” I claw through the purse until I find the black canister. “Keep this with you.”

  She holds it between two fingers and squints. “What is it?”

  “Pepper spray. Jake gave it to me.” He won’t be thrilled if he finds out I handed it over to Katie, but that’s what he gets for being all enigmatic.

  “Romantic.” She drops it on the bed. “If it’ll get you out of the house without hiring me a babysitter, fine. Now would you go already? It’s not cool for the boss to be late.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I enter the restaurant by the alley entrance. The music is un
expected—is that Fleetwood Mac? Since when does Maris do mellow?

  I grab an apron from the hall closet and step into the kitchen. Maris is slipping a pan of lasagna into the oven. Tendrils of hair that escaped her bandana curl at her temple, and her cheeks have a rosy kitchen-hot glow.

  I criss-cross the apron strings around me and tie them off. “What’s tonight’s special?”

  She whirls around. “What’re you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home with Katie?”

  “Jake asked me to cover for him. Katie insists she’s fine.”

  “Where’s Jake?”

  I grimace. “Who knows?” My stomach does a flip. I wish he were here.

  I don’t have much time to miss Jake, as the restaurant’s hopping with the usual Friday night craze. Jeanine and Sarah cover the tables, while I seat the patrons. It’s like old-home week as people I haven’t seen in weeks come through the doors.

  Mrs. Morelli and her husband wander in around seven. Her mouth drops open when she sees me and her eyes sparkle. “It’s been much too long since we’ve seen you here, Tess. How is school going?”

  “It’s wonderful, Mrs. Morelli.” I lead them to their reserved table while talking to them over my shoulder. “And how about the two of you?”

  Mr. Morelli, his hand on the small of his wife’s back, smiles. “We’re living the dream, young lady.”

  I laugh. “Glad to hear it.”

  He holds out the chair for Mrs. Morelli, as is his habit. How long have they been married—fifty years? Sixty? What will Jake look like in half a century?

  I hand them each a menu. “Jeanine will be with you in just a moment.”

  “Oh Tess?” Mrs. Morelli glances around the room. “Where is that handsome young man of yours?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Jake.”

  “Oh ma’am, he’s not my young man.” Heat rises up my neck like I’d been caught exposing my girlish daydreams.

  She clucks her tongue. “That’s a shame. If I were you, I’d do something about that.”