by Susie Warren
Alda shook her head and insisted she was fine.
Isabel softly said, “Alda, you need to be checked out by a doctor just in case.”
Marc discretely called for an ambulance to take them to the hospital.
Alda stood, saying, “Would you come with us, dear? I don’t like hospitals and I don’t want Marc to be alone.”
“Of course.”
Within minutes, the emergency medical team had Alda safely in an ambulance. Marc and Isabel headed out the door and into a waiting limo. As Isabel listened to Marc giving instructions to the driver, she tried to dispel the memories of her last visit to Boston General Hospital. She remembered a hazy ambulance ride and crying out in pain as the emergency team worked on her.
“Are you familiar with the hospital?” Marc asked.
Instead of answering, she merely nodded and tried to clear her head of that awful night. It had taken a long time to recover, but as Isabel smoothed down the fabric that covered her legs, she realized that it was indeed behind her.
Marc remained silent until the limo pulled up to the hospital. As they walked into the emergency room adjacent to the main hospital, they were able to walk alongside the stretcher. Isabel reached out and squeezed Alda’s hand reassuringly and the small gesture was returned with a worried smile.
Isabel watched Marc with his aunt and the tenderness he showed to her. He automatically slowed his pace to allow Alda to feel that there was no urgency to their visit, and he spoke with the hospital staff.
They had been asked to go to the waiting room while a heart specialist examined Alda. The several minutes they were kept waiting felt like an eternity.
Isabel took the opportunity to look at Marc. He seemed engrossed in his phone until his eyes suddenly met hers. “Are you suitably impressed?”
“Excuse me?” She was forced to return his stare and felt as if she were caught doing something wrong. She tried to pretend otherwise.
“You were staring at me. Do you deny that?” His eyes held her gaze.
“I was just thinking that you don’t look like Alda.” Isabel was relieved and grateful that her mind was able to come up with a plausible explanation so quickly. She had already noticed he didn’t resemble Alda in looks or personality. Alda was quite petite and had hazel eyes and fair skin. He was darker, with black hair and aristocratic features, which included a long nose and masculine jaw that already had a faint shadow of a beard. He must’ve known how gorgeous he was, so why was he trying to make her feel uncomfortable?
“No, I take after my mother’s family.”
“Does Alda have any history of heart problems?”
“Not that I know of. She has always been in good health.”
The minutes ticked by as they waited for the cardiologist. When they were called back in, the resident assured them the specialist would be there shortly.
Alda had changed to a hospital gown and was resting comfortably on a movable bed.
The resident explained that her blood work showed elevated enzymes indicating a heart incident and they were giving her medicine to control the rhythm of her heartbeat. After a short period, the cardiologist met with them and explained that Alda needed a procedure to look at the vessels feeding her heart. They recommended having it immediately and if possible they would be able to place a stent to increase the blood flow to her heart. If they were not able to place a stent, they would need to send her to surgery.
Marc moved to Alda’s bedside and held her hand. “Don’t worry, Zia Alda. This procedure is considered routine.”
Alda said, “If something happens to me, please listen to your heart and don’t remain alone. I want you to be happy.”
Isabel decided to wait in the hallway to give them privacy.
After a flurry of activity, they took Alda to have the procedure while Isabel and Marc were shown to a private waiting room.
Crossing the room, Isabel took two water bottles out of the refrigerator and handed one to Marc.
“I’m sorry this is happening.”
“It’s a bit of a shock. Alda has always been the picture of health.”
Marc spoke about his childhood with Alda and related many funny stories of how he was easily able to trick her to get whatever he wanted. Isabel realized that he had a real fondness for his aunt and hoped the procedure would go smoothly.
After just an hour, the cardiologist came in and gave them a glowing report. He insisted that Alda was a prime candidate for the procedure and expected a full recovery with a few days.
When the doctor left, Marc said, “Alda was out of line earlier. She can’t dictate my future.” His voice was barely louder than a whisper as he stepped away from her. “With a little encouragement, I could be a very enthusiastic lover, but it would mean nothing to me.”
Marc could sense as well as see her withdraw in shock that he would actually spell it out for her. He continued in a low voice. “I have no intention of getting involved in a permanent relationship. We will be virtually living together over the next few weeks. So unless you are in the market for a casual affair, I suggest you tread carefully.”
He saw the anger spark from her eyes at his cool dismissal and it came as no surprise when she said, “I have no intention of getting involved in an affair with you.”
Instead of feeling rejected, Marc let a slow smile spread across his face. “Somehow I rather doubt your convictions. But rest assured, I have other commitments at the moment.”
Chapter 7
The next evening as Isabel walked down the long, deserted hospital hallway, she felt she had walked back in time. It hit her that she missed certain aspects of nursing. But while she was a patient, she couldn’t wait to escape the hospital.
Now it seemed so simple; she just had to give herself time to heal. Her body had repaired itself…except for the scarring, she acknowledged ruefully. But even that thought didn’t dampen her mood. When she got off the elevator on the surgical floor, she couldn’t wait to check on Alda.
“I need more pain medicine.” Alda was complaining, and the nurse on duty was explaining she wasn’t due for more medication for a few hours.
Marc was insisting the nurse do something.
Isabel stepped into the small recovery room and asked Alda to take a deep breath. Giving the nurse a sympathetic look, Isabel reminded Alda she would be fine.
Marc met her glance and said, “Could I have a word with you?”
Stepping out into the hallway, Marc insisted that Alda wasn’t getting adequate care. It was just past nine o’clock and the lights had been dimmed and the corridor was completely deserted.
Isabel moved closer and lowered her voice. “Listen, the cardiologist has written the orders. Alda has an erratic heartbeat; it’s not surprising they are being careful with pain medicine.”
Marc reached out and grasped her arm. “She shouldn’t be in pain.” He let go of her arm, but his body was just inches from hers. As she felt his gold-flecked dark eyes search her face, she became instantly aware of a heat that quickly spread throughout her. He suddenly moved back as a thin veneer of civility was put in place.
Isabel knew that he was angry at the situation, and she couldn’t help feeling sympathetic, even though she knew that no one could snap their fingers and have Alda instantly healed.
“Her pain level is fairly low. She is worried and not used to being in a hospital setting.” Isabel let her words sink in before saying, “I’ll get some coffee for us.”
Coming out of the tiny kitchen on the unit with two cups of coffee, she almost collided with him. Isabel reached out and offered him the small Styrofoam cup of black coffee.
Marc nodded slightly in response and took a sip.
As Isabel took a swallow of her own hot coffee, she hoped that she wasn’t overstepping her bounds. Alda had asked her to come back and check on her, but Isabel didn’t want to intrude. Especially after she’d overheard Alda encouraging Marc to find a wife and settle down. The complex situation was becoming
more awkward with each passing hour.
But Alda needed support. Isabel knew how difficult a hospital setting could be. And they still planned to travel together to Carrara. She knew Alda needed someone to support and encourage her full recovery.
“You handle her well.” Marc’s words took Isabel by surprise and she glanced up at him. He looked exhausted, but she had to admit that he showed great compassion when dealing with Alda. Most nephews would have left hours ago.
Isabel replied, “Treating Alda with a soft touch may be the wrong approach.”
“I would like to leave you to handle her and I’ll come back first thing in the morning.”
Isabel nodded her agreement and was caught off guard when he gave her a brief kiss on her lips. As she stood watching him silently walk down the corridor, she admitted to herself that at another time she would have been keenly interested in him, but her accident had wiped that possibility away. She firmly banished the provocative thought from her mind and went back to watch over Alda.
Alda came home the next day with instructions to rest and a medication to help regulate her heartbeat. Instead of hiring a visiting nurse, Alda had asked Isabel to stay for a few days before the trip to Carrara.
Between her fondness for the older woman and a part of her that enjoyed being able to use her nursing skills, Isabel had easily accepted and looked forward to helping Alda recover fully. After settling her patient in to rest, Isabel decided to make a light meal.
Before she made it into the kitchen, Marc appeared in the doorway of the study. His angry look sent warning bells off in her head.
“Is something wrong?” she asked.
“I would like to speak with you.”
Isabel followed him back into the study and he gathered several sheets of paper from the desk and handed them her.
Her hands shook as she realized she was holding a copy of her employment records from the hospital.
“You were fired from the hospital.”
“I wasn’t fired exactly.”
“Denying it does not reflect well on you. The evidence speaks for itself.”
Isabel knew he was judging her without understanding the situation, but she felt reluctant to reveal the details of her accident.
“I don’t feel the need to explain myself to you.”
“You have two choices. Explain why you were fired or get out.”
Isabel lifted her chin and looked directly at him. She would not disclose the cause of the accident, but she would tell him as much as she had told Alda.
She paused, then spoke quietly. “As you already know, I was in a car accident almost two years ago. It took a great deal of time to recover and I decided to go back to school instead of returning to work. I was uncertain of what my plans were and kept putting off the decision until finally the hospital terminated my employment.”
“Why didn’t you just resign?”
A moment of silence passed between them.
“After the accident, I wanted to pursue the life that I was meant to live. I decided to pursue filmmaking. But that seemed to be too much of a risk for my family. So I put off the decision.” Isabel knew that she was being evasive, but there was no way she was going to tell Marc about the extent of her injuries or the betrayal by her fiancé. The memories were still painful and best kept locked away.
“Is this conversation upsetting you?”
His direct question startled her and she merely nodded without thinking.
Instead of answering, Isabel turned and walked out of the room. In a haze of tears, she began to walk towards the stairs, but within a few steps Marc caught up to her.
“Isabel, what am I missing? You were in an accident and took some time off, but what prevented you from resigning to pursue a new path?”
“I don’t know,” Isabel whispered as she looked down at her hands and hoped that he would let it go.
“Isabel, what was it about nursing that you couldn’t deal with? Did someone die in the accident?”
She looked up in surprise. “No one died. I was the only person injured. But after weeks in the hospital and then months in recovery, I decided I needed a new life.”
“Why doesn’t your employment record list resigned instead of terminated? You should dispute it.” His tone was searching, as if he was trying to fit the pieces of a puzzle together.
“The day they expected me to return, I took the metro, but when it came to the stop for the hospital, I couldn’t go back. My reasons for not returning to the hospital had nothing to do with the demands of the job. I wanted something different. I had a hard time telling anyone that, including human resources. I was disappointed with myself…” Isabel let her words trail off when it became apparent that her emotions were involved in the decision.
Isabel felt her eyes beginning to moisten as she admitted her mistake. Marc pulled her into his arms and murmured, “I apologize. You’re exhausted and I shouldn’t have pushed you so hard.”
His kind words only made her feel worse, but somehow the strength of his embrace gave her back a scant amount of dignity. Isabel pushed against his chest and he moved back slightly, placing his hands on her shoulders and looking down into her face.
His closeness made her suddenly very aware of him. He was so attractive.
He disengaged himself and said, “You should get some rest.” Isabel turned away but he continued with, “If something is upsetting you, I want you to tell me before you become overwhelmed.”
Glancing back, Isabel nodded her agreement but made a silent vow that she would handle whatever came up on her own without any help from him.
Over the next week, an easy rapport developed with Alda and often they spoke in Italian while browsing in a grocery store or sitting and having tea. Isabel was able to tell when Alda was reaching the point of fatigue and gently persuade her to return home for a nap.
Alda had wanted to get out of the house, and they decided to go out for a leisurely lunch. During the meal, Alda spoke about the opera season and mentioned that a few formal gowns would be needed for the trip.
“Alda, I have a complete wardrobe already packed. And as far as evening gowns, I don’t think I’ll attend the opera opening.” The thought of wearing an evening dress filled Isabel with dismay; she hadn’t worn a formal gown since the final fitting for her wedding dress almost two years ago.
“Part of experiencing Italy is attending the opera. It’s an experience that shouldn’t be missed.”
As they left the exclusive restaurant, Alda said, “Maybe we should just take a look in a few shops. You may see a dress that you fall in love with.”
After several attempts at trying to interest her in elegant dresses, Alda asked Isabel to call for the car. She helped Alda into the luxurious vehicle with her bags.
Isabel felt chastised but decided not to tell Alda about the real reason she needed to wear clothes that covered her body. Her thoughts drifted to the time she woke up after the first surgery and thought someone else was in her bed. All she could see were bandages, tubes, and two swollen feet sticking out of the blankets at the end of the bed. Slowly she had come to the realization that the broken, bruised human form lying there was hers. At the time she was grateful to be alive, but as she looked at her parents, she couldn’t tell if they were crying tears of joy or sadness.
The memory faded as the car maneuvered sharply to the left to avoid another car.
“Are you feeling all right?”
Alda nodded. “I probably did too much today,” she said softly.
The next several days passed in a blur as Alda rested and Isabel edited the clips and images she had taken. Marc had left two days before, and Isabel noticed a loneliness permeate her work at Santoro Designs. She reminded herself to stay busy and not think about him. She had a project to complete and when it was done, Marc Santoro would be out of her life.
Chapter 8
As the plane touched down, Isabel felt her exhaustion in every muscle and bone. It had been an interm
inable flight. Alda needed more rest than the luxurious seats in first class allowed. At first, Isabel had been relieved when Alda insisted on delaying their trip and taking a commercial flight. Marc had wanted them to fly on his private jet, and early on in the flight she found herself wishing for his presence. Just the sight of him was enough to distract Alda from her incessant complaining. Quietly, she helped Alda gather her belongings, noticing that the flight attendant couldn’t get them off the plane fast enough, barely smiling when they walked past.
All thoughts of the weariness of the trip immediately vanished as Isabel gazed around the Pisa airport. It was exhilarating to be in Italy, and although the feeling in the terminal was undeniably different, or foreign, Isabel felt a deep connection to the culture present in the language and attitude of the people. As they proceeded to baggage claim, Isabel soaked in the sights and sounds of the Italian people. Alda immediately slipped into speaking Italian as she directed Isabel toward the waiting limo driver.
“Mrs. Santoro, do you have any luggage?”
“Niente, Marc took everything.”
Isabel walked along next to Alda making sure that she was steady on her feet, and she noticed many people openly smiling and nodding in acknowledgement. What was it about her appearance? Maybe they thought that she was helping her mother. Or could it be that she was recognized as a foreigner and people were curious? Isabel knew that her dark brown hair and deep brown eyes showed her Italian roots. Growing up, her relatives had often remarked that she had Italy in her blood.
Getting the opportunity to visit the country of her family filled her with a sense of joy. Even after the long flight and hours of complaints, Isabel found herself smiling and grateful to be given the opportunity to travel to Carrara and produce a film.
When they were safely ensconced in the comfortable backseat of the waiting Mercedes, Isabel noticed that Alda seemed relaxed as well. She helped Alda adjust her seat belt, then offered her a water bottle.
“No, thank you, dear. I think I’ll rest for a bit.”