Hot Summer

by Judy Powell

  The only other way she could think of reaching Lance was through Derrick but he had told her that he was going to be in Jamaica for the whole week so she knew he was out of reach. As a last resort she tried Lance’s cell phone again. Still just voicemail.

  She left him another message. “Lance, this is Summer again. Please. Get in touch with me as soon as you can. My mother had another stroke so she’s in the hospital. I’m home right now but I’m heading back there in a little while. You can reach me there at the main hotel number, just ask for room 231. Ask them to connect you. Just please, get in touch with me.”

  Summer showered quickly and stuck a microwave meal in the oven. She gobbled it down as fast as she could, pulled the comb through her hair, grabbed her purse then dashed back out the door. She didn’t want her mother to wake up and not find her there.

  She caught a cab and within two hours of leaving Summer was striding down the corridor, heading back towards room 231.

  “Miss Jones.”

  She turned at the sound of a female voice and saw the nurse approaching.

  “Miss Jones, just wait a minute, please.”

  “Yes?” Summer looked at her questioningly.

  “Please come with me. The doctor would like to talk to you.”

  “Talk to me? Is…is my mother worse?”

  “Just follow me, please. Let me take you to his office.”

  “No, tell me now. What’s wrong?”

  “Miss Jones. Please.” The nurse was insistent. “Come with me and the doctor will explain everything.”

  She turned on her heels and quickly walked away and Summer was forced to run to catch up with her. The nurse ushered her into Doctor Jabez’s office and pulled the door shut behind her.

  The doctor indicated that she should have a seat. She sat on the edge of the chair and stared anxiously back at him.

  “What’s the matter, doctor? Are you going to have to operate? Is she worse? What’s going on?” The words tumbled out of her.

  “Miss Jones,” he paused and looked very uncomfortable and sudden fear gripped Summer’s heart. “Miss Jones, I’m sorry, but we lost her.”

  “Lost her?” Summer stared back at him in confusion. “Lost…her?”

  “Yes. Your mother passed away shortly after you left this morning.”

  “My mother…is dead?” She stared back at him, bewildered.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “My mother is dead?” she said again, not believing what she was hearing.

  “Yes. I’m really sorry but she’s gone.”

  “But…but I was just here. I was with her.” Her voice rose with each statement. “She was sick but she was still alive.”

  “I know, Miss Jones, but she was very weak. She couldn’t fight it. She tried but her body gave up.”

  “But…why didn’t somebody call me?”

  “We knew you were heading right back and I didn’t want to give you such news on the phone. I wanted to speak to you face to face,” the doctor explained gently. “I’m very sorry but your mother was a very sick woman. With the Multiple Sclerosis and the stroke her body just couldn’t handle it.”

  “No, no. I can’t believe this.” Summer shook her head then looked pleadingly at Doctor Jabez. “Tell me you made a mistake.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t. She’s gone.”

  “Oh, no. Oh, God.” When the doctor went over and put his arm around her she clutched at him as if she were drowning. “Oh, God. Mom.”

  Summer remembered very little else except being led to a room where she was put to lie down. When she awoke an elderly lady was by her side.

  “Are you feeling better now?” The woman’s voice cut through her daze.

  “Who are you?” she groaned, blinking as she tried to focus.

  “It’s Amy Spence, from the nursing home.”

  “Yes? What…what do you want?”

  “Miss Jones, I know this is a difficult time for you but I’m here to discuss funeral arrangements. For your mother.”

  Summer remained silent and just stared at the woman as if she were senseless.

  “You have nothing to worry about,” the woman continued. “Your mother arranged it all. After her first stroke she discussed it with me and put everything in place.”

  “Discussed it with you?” Summer repeated, still dazed.

  “Yes. She planned her funeral arrangements and already paid for everything. She told me that you were pretty much alone and she didn’t want you to be burdened at her passing so she asked me to be in charge of everything.”

  Amy Spence straightened her spectacles on her nose and continued in a more businesslike manner. “I am organizing the funeral for tomorrow evening, according to her wishes for a speedy burial. She said there were no relatives who needed to be advised, but I just want to confirm that with you. Is there anyone who should know about this?”

  “No.” Summer shook her head. “I don’t have any family. It’s only me.”

  “So it’s only…you?” The woman still looked doubtful.

  “Yes. I said I don’t have anyone else,” Summer said, exasperated. “Please just do what you have to do.”

  “Alright, I understand.” The woman nodded and stood up. “I know this is rough for you. I’ll take care of everything.”

  As Amy was about to leave Doctor Jabez entered. “How are you feeling now?” he asked, placing a cool hand on her forehead.

  “I’ll live,” she muttered, not looking up.

  The doctor sighed. “Well, you may go if you feel up to it. I’m sure you’d prefer to be with family and friends right now.”

  “I’ll take you home,” Amy said quickly, turning back towards Summer. “I don’t think you’re up to finding your way home in your condition,” she said as she helped Summer out of the bed.

  “Thanks,” was all Summer could say as the woman took her arm and led her out of the room.

  When Summer got home she locked the door, threw herself on the bed and burst into tears. She still couldn’t believe it. She had lost her mother. She would never see her again. She didn’t know what to do.

  She thought about Lance, thought of calling him again. She got up and went to check her voicemail. Nothing.

  It was like she was living her childhood all over again. Just like her father, this man she loved had abandoned her. Just when she needed him most he was nowhere to be found.

  The tears started rolling again, faster and faster, and she sat on the floor and leaned her head on the wall and bawled.

  She just needed somebody right now and there was no-one near. Lance had let her down. She’d left messages, she’d reached out to him in desperation, and he hadn’t even bothered to call back. He was no friend of hers. She couldn’t rely on him. She never wanted to see him again. As far as she was concerned he was nothing to her, and never would be anymore.

  She sniffed loudly and wiped her eyes then picked up the phone and dialed Brian’s number.

  23

  For Summer, going home after the funeral was the hardest part. She had just said goodbye to the only family she had left and now there was nothing, no-one. After the ceremony some of the nursing home staff had come around, trying to comfort her, but she hardly knew them and she just wanted to get away.

  The only person she still leaned on was Brian. He was the one who drove her back to her tiny apartment and held her to him as they took the elevator upstairs. He was the one who took the keys from her trembling fingers, opened the door and led her gently over to the couch so that she could rest. It was Brian who took her shoes off and rested her feet on the couch and told her to rest while he went to make her some supper.

  Right now he was in the kitchen opening cupboards and banging pots on the stove. Summer didn’t care what he made her. She did not even feel as if she wanted anything at all. She was just empty inside. Her heart felt as if it had turned to stone and there was no feeling left inside her.

  She lay on the couch and stared up at the ceiling and t
hought about her mother. Her mind went back to all the agony that her mother had suffered at her father’s hands and she hated him all the more now that her mother was dead. She had always resented her father for his abuse but now that her mother was gone her hatred for him intensified.

  She had always wanted to do so much for her mother, just to make up for all the suffering she had gone through, but now the chance was gone - forever. She hadn’t even graduated yet. She had wanted to start a real career so that she could afford the big house she had always wanted to buy for her mother, the boat cruise she had wanted to take her on. None of that had happened. And now Mom was gone.

  Her greatest happiness had always been to make her mother happy. Now that was gone, too. She felt cheated of the chance she had always wanted to grow up, become successful, make her mother proud and do everything she could to make the twilight of her life her best years.

  She sighed as the thoughts raced through her mind. She felt like she would never be happy again.

  Some time later, Brian peeped out of the kitchen and said, “I’ve got some soup for you, Summer. Come on over. You need to have something in your stomach.”

  Summer stared at him for a moment, still absorbed in her thoughts, then she dragged herself back to the present and all the sadness that came with it.

  “Come on, honey. You have to eat.”

  He walked over to her, stretched out his hands, and took hers in his. He pulled her up and led her gently to the stool then pushed the bowl of steaming soup under her nose.

  “Oh, Brian.” She looked at him, tears still burning her eyes. “I don’t think I can eat. Not even a spoonful.”

  “You have to try, Summer. You have to eat or else you’ll get sick.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “But I do. Come. Have some of this soup.”

  He dipped the spoon in the bowl and held it up to her lips. She took a sip and the hot liquid burned a trail down her throat and into her stomach. It growled.

  “Now, you hear that? You’re starving. I’d bet you haven’t had a thing to eat all day.”

  “I didn’t want anything.”

  “Well, you’re going to have something now. I’m not gonna let you starve to death.” He dipped up another spoonful and put it to her lips and she swallowed. She was able to have almost half of the bowl but as soon as the sharpness of her hunger was softened she pushed his hand away and refused to have anymore.

  “I’m alright Brian. I don’t need any more.”

  “Okay, honey.” He took the bowl to the sink then turned to her with a questioning look. “Hey, how come you haven’t mentioned the boyfriend? Where is he, anyway?”

  “I don’t want to talk about him.” Her answer was curt and she refused to meet Brian’s eyes.

  “But…I don’t get it. Shouldn’t Lance be here with you right now? I would think…”

  “I said I don’t want to talk about him,” she growled. “I never want to hear that name again.”

  Brian turned startled eyes to her then, without a word, turned back to the sink.

  “Brian, I’m sorry.” She dropped her head into her hands. “I’m sorry. I just can’t take any more of this.”

  He dropped the spoon back into the sink and gathered her into his arms. She was enveloped in the warmth and bigness of him and it made her feel so safe, just for a moment, that she burst out crying all over again.

  “Alright, honey, alright. I know it’s tough but you just gotta hang in there.”

  Brian stayed with her until almost ten that night. Then he lifted her in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed then covered her with a blanket.

  He kissed her on the forehead then said, “Try to get some sleep, alright? And if you need me you know where to find me.”

  She pulled the blanket over her face but she stayed that way for over an hour before sleep mercifully came to her.

  ******

  Summer woke with a start.

  A noise had woken her. It was the telephone. Her heart pounded. Who could it be? Something must be wrong. Was it her Mom?

  Then suddenly, she remembered. It would never be her Mom anymore. She was gone. There was no-one left for her to worry about. No-one left who would worry about her.

  She glared at the phone and felt like throwing it off the nightstand. It was always the bearer of bad news. But she had got the worst news of her life two days ago and there was nothing else that could phase her right now.

  The clock winked eleven forty-eight. Maybe it was Brian checking up on her.

  She picked up the receiver and spoke. “Hello.” Her voice sounded dead to her own ears.

  “Summer, I’m sorry to call you so late but I wouldn’t do it if this weren’t an emergency.” It wasn’t Brian at all. This was a heavily accented female voice.

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s Jennifer. Remember? Michelle’s mother.”

  “Jennifer from Jamaica?” Summer was confused. Why would this woman be calling her? And at this time of night?

  “Yes.”

  “What is it, Jennifer?” Summer knew her voice was not very friendly but she really didn’t care.

  “I’m calling to tell you about what happened to Lance.”

  “Lance? Has something happened to him?”

  “Yes. Derrick called me just this evening and told me that Lance was in a car accident. He’s in the hospital. Derrick called me from the airport. He was actually on his way there but he told me about it and asked me to get in touch with you. He didn’t want to be the one to give you the news.” She paused, then said hesitantly, “He said he was afraid you would get emotional on him.”

  “When did this happen? Today?”

  “No. It happened Tuesday night but Derrick didn’t hear about it until yesterday and so he left Jamaica today to head straight for California.”

  “But Lance…is he alright?”

  “No, Summer. It’s really bad. He’s in a coma right now.”

  “Oh, God.”

  “Yes, they say he was thrown out of the vehicle and sustained head injuries.”

  “So he’s all alone there now?”

  “No, his mom and sister flew down yesterday and, as I told you, Derrick is on his way. In fact, he should be in California by now. And I’m trying to get a flight out by tomorrow or Saturday. So he’ll have family around him. But we just wanted you to know.”

  Summer willed herself to stay calm. “Jennifer, do you know what hospital he is in?”

  “Yes, Derrick told me. Just hold on a minute.”

  Jennifer came back within seconds. “It’s Atlantic Christian Hospital. I don’t know the room number but I guess you can call the hospital and they can put you through. But remember, he can’t talk.”

  “No, it’s okay. I won’t call. I just need to get down there.”

  “Alright, Summer. I’ll let you go now because it’s late but I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thanks, Jennifer.”

  Summer hung up phone and put trembling fingers to her mouth. Oh, God. Not another one. I can’t lose two of them at the same time.

  Then another thought struck her. There she had been, hating Lance for not calling her back, when all this time he’d been lying in a coma. The guilt swept over her. She felt like she was being punished for her sins. She had hated him, and now she was in danger of losing him altogether.

  She got out of the bed and opened the closet. She pulled out a small suitcase and threw it on the bed. There was no way she could sleep now. She began to pack. She was going to catch the first flight out to Los Angeles.

  24

  Lance opened his eyes slowly, painfully, but the glare of bright lights made him close them again quickly. He had a splitting headache. It was as if a thousand drums were beating in his head. He waited a while then slowly opened his eyes again.

  He squinted, trying hard to focus, but everything was swimming and blurry. He closed his eyes a third time then opened them a
gain, this time forcing his eyes to remain open. He let out a groan as he felt sharp pains in his head.

  Immediately, a face came into view. It was a woman. She was fuzzy but he could make out that there was a look of concern on her face.

  “Lance?” she whispered and peered into his face. He struggled to speak but no sound came out.

  “Lance?” she called again, and his eyelids flickered then he was staring into deep brown eyes. She turned quickly away and he heard her say, “Go call the doctor,” then she was looking back at him. He felt that he knew this woman but his mind was so muddled he was totally at a loss as to who she was.

  Then vague memories slowly drifted into shape inside his head and the face became clear. He knew her. He knew her intimately.

  “Summer?” His voice was hoarse as he struggled to speak and it came out as a croaking whisper.

  “Yes, Lance. I’m here.”

  “Where am I?” His eyes searched her face but all he saw there was relief and gladness.

  “You’re in hospital, Lance. You’ve been unconscious for four days.”

  “How…”

  “You were in a car accident. You got head injuries and you’ve been in a coma ever since.”

  “I don’t …remember,” he groaned.

  “Shh. Honey, don’t try to remember anything. Just lay back.” She stroked his face as she spoke. “I’m just so glad you’ve come back. I thought…you might not make it.”

  “Was I…that bad?”

  “Yes. The doctors said they did all they could but then they could only leave it up to your body to heal itself. Thank God you’ve come back.” Summer leaned over and hugged him gently, trying not to disturb any of the needles in his arms.

  At that moment the doctor rushed in with Lance’s mother and sister right behind. Doctor Francis walked over to his patient and greeted him. “Mr. Munroe, you had us scared for a while.”