Relentless Hope (Resilient Hearts)

by Cassidy, Ashley

  “Aiden, what a nice surprise. I’m so glad you are here. Come on in.”

  Hearing that name makes my heart skip a beat. I whirl around quickly to confirm my suspicions. Aiden is standing at the doorway in all his gorgeousness, about to take a step in, when he sees me. As soon as his eyes fall on me, he freezes. His mouth hangs open, his eyes moving between David and me for a few seconds.

  He finally locks his piercing eyes on me, before shaking his head repeatedly in disgust.

  “Really, Grandpa? So now you’ve moved up to giving a woman as young as her a job at the company in exchange for being your plaything? I thought being on your deathbed would at least make you a little less of a prick. Apparently, it’s had the opposite effect,” he hisses, his voice filled with anger.

  Before either one of us has a chance to respond to the burgeoning accusation, Aiden turns his back to us as he storms out. “I’m out of here. Don’t need to see this,” he says, as he walks out.

  I stay rooted to the floor staring at the spot Aiden just vacated, as I try to wrap my head around what just happened. He remembers me is all I can think about for a few seconds. Why does that make me so giddy? Wait, did he just say I was David’s plaything?

  A pull on my arm brings me out of my haze. I turn to see David trying to push himself back into his recliner, and my eyes fall on his devastated face. He looks heartbroken; harboring such a look of despair that one look at him is enough to clear my head. I can’t let Aiden leave like this.

  I run after Aiden as fast as my legs allow me to, and catch up to him right as he is about to turn the doorknob.

  “Wait. Please don’t leave.”

  He hesitates for a moment before slowly turning around. “Why the hell not?” he demands, “I think I’ve seen enough for one day,” his voice dripping with anger.

  “Because,” I stumble, “I don’t know what you think you saw in there, but there’s nothing sinister about my relationship with your grandfather. We’re just friends.”

  A sarcastic laugh escapes his lips. “I’m not stupid. I know my grandpa very well and I can put two and two together.”

  His insinuation irritates me and I remember what he said about me taking the job in return for being David’s plaything, and suddenly a surge of anger overtakes my body. How dare he suggest such a thing?

  “You don’t know me. You’ve seen me twice in your life. How dare you suggest I would do such a thing?” I hiss, my voice louder than I intended.

  He takes a step back, surprised by my reaction, holding his hands up.

  “I wasn’t trying to offend you. I’m just stating the obvious, based on what I saw.”

  I take a deep breath trying to calm myself and remember David’s face. I need to put my pride aside for David’s sake.

  “Look, I understand how things may have looked when you walked in, but your assumptions are wrong. Your grandpa was about to fall into the table. I had just caught him and we were trying to get our footing when you walked in. Your grandpa and I are just friends,” I emphasize the last word.

  He narrows his eyes at me, making me get defensive.

  “I know that may sound strange because of our age difference and everything, but it’s the truth. If you don’t believe me, that’s fine. Frankly I couldn’t care less what you think of me,” the lie dripping from my mouth before I get a chance to think about it, “but please don’t leave because of me. He’s very lonely and he needs his family. You know that he doesn’t have much time left. He needs you guys. You don’t know the look of longing in his eyes when he talks about all of you, particularly you. I understand that he hasn’t had the best relationship with his family, but he really wants to fix that and he is running out of time. Please, now that you’re here, at least go in and visit with him. It would break his heart knowing that you came by and left in anger before he got a chance to talk to you. Please just go in for at least a few minutes.”

  He stands still, fixating his piercing green eyes on me. Studying me. Making me feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny. I tilt my head to the side, pointing to the hallway, “I’m going to go get my purse. I was about to leave anyway.” Another lie.

  Before I walk too far, his voice stops me in my tracks. “You’re either a very good actress with an agenda or you really care about him. I’m not sure which one of those two scenarios is more disturbing to me.”

  I feel my phone vibrate in my purse for the fourth time in the last half hour. I usually don’t check my phone during work hours, as my boss passes by my desk quite often and I don’t want to be caught looking at it, but as I hear this last notification, I suddenly get a bad feeling. What if something bad has happened to someone? I grab my phone quickly, noticing that I have two missed calls and two text messages from Nick. I open the text massage application first.

  Nick: David had an accident. We took him to the hospital. Thought you might want to know.

  Nick: They just took him in for surgery. I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.

  My heart drops, my head going in a million directions. Accident? What kind of accident would he have? And what would he be in surgery for? It must have been serious, if he’s in surgery. I dial Nick’s number with trembling hands. He picks up on the first ring.

  “What happened Nick? How is he doing?” I gush out.

  “He’s still in surgery. Messed up his shoulder pretty bad. He also had a few big cuts on his hands and arms that he had to get stitches for,” Nick says, sounding very tired.

  I breathe a small sigh of relief. At least this has nothing to do with his cancer. When I first read the text message, I worried it might be related to his chemotherapy, as the treatments have been pretty rough on him lately, but injuring his shoulder sounds like a big deal too.

  “How did this happen? What kind of accident did he have?”

  “The stupid lazy ass nurse left him in his library without his walker or even a cane around. She was gone for God knows how long. David had to go to the bathroom and tried calling the nurse or Maria for help, but neither one heard him. So, he got up and tried to walk to the door by himself, and you know how weak he’s been recently in his legs. He didn’t get too far. Lost his balance. He tried to grab his desk, but ended up hitting his shoulder to it instead. Somehow, on his way down, he knocked down a vase and his hands got caught in the broken pieces as he was trying to get up. Maria found him after God knows how long. She said there was blood everywhere, and the nurse was still nowhere to be seen.”

  “Oh, my God! Poor David. Which hospital is he at? I’ll leave work right away.”

  “You don’t have to come. I just wanted to let you know because I figured you would want to know.”

  “I want to come. Which hospital?”

  “Kaiser,” he responds.

  “I’ll be there as fast as I can.”

  I drive to the hospital with my stomach in knots and my heart aching. I can’t imagine what David must have felt being trapped in his chair for however long the nurse was gone and then lying injured and helpless on the floor of his library. He’s a proud man, and I know fully well, how much the mere knowledge that he’s become so dependent hurts him, let alone the actual pain. I can’t stop picturing him lying there helpless on the floor with blood gushing out all over, and the image makes me feel sick. The poor man deserves better.

  As soon as I see the hospital, I pull into the parking lot and park in the first spot I come across. I called Nick on my way here and he told me which part of the hospital they are at, so I find the elevators quickly and press the button for the fourth floor. Once out of the elevator, I follow the signs for the surgery waiting area. As the waiting area comes into view, I notice Nick leaning against a wall, in a serious conversation with a man I once saw at David’s house. His name is Lou and David introduced him to me as his old friend and personal lawyer. He said Lou was one of the only people in his life he wholeheartedly trusted.

  Lou is a short and bulky guy, probably in his mid-forties, with short s
alt and pepper hair. He has an easy relaxed demeanor about him, but as soon as he starts speaking, you can tell he is a successful attorney. He speaks with confidence and passion, and as I start getting closer to the waiting area, I hear his deep voice speaking animatedly with Nick. They both have their backs turned to me, seemingly in a deep conversation. I stop walking, not wanting to interrupt them. I hear their voices as they speak.

  “I can’t believe this incompetent nurse left him there on his own for over thirty minutes without at least making sure he had access to his walker. She should be fired immediately.”

  “She will be fired, but the issue is not that she is incompetent. It’s that she doesn’t care. She has an impressive resume, lots of experience and several certifications, so she knows what she’s supposed to do, but she is just too self-centered to care. That’s the problem with all of these people. They see a super-rich old guy and think if the guy has no family or anyone to care about him, why should I? Maria found the nurse sitting outside by the pool talking on her phone. She said she went to the bathroom and then had to make a quick phone call for an emergency at home, but you know that’s bullshit. She was just chilling outside enjoying the beautiful view.”

  “Of course she was. The problem is it’s hard to find someone that cares and is good. It would have been ok, if David were his old self. He used to be a strict, rather harsh employer, but these days he’s gotten way too soft. Plus, that man has so much pride. I had to twist his arm to convince him he needs a nurse at home. He’s not going to speak up to say the nurse is not paying enough attention to him,” Lou points out, as he runs his hands through his hair, his body language revealing his frustration.

  “The more I think about it, the more I come to the conclusion that we need to hire someone to watch over the nurses. To make sure they are doing their job,” he continues.

  “Yes, and then we need to find someone to watch over the someone who watches over the nurses,” Nick responds, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “It’s so hard to find a caring employee these days. How are we going to find someone good that is responsible and will care enough to actually pay attention?”

  “I can do that,” the words are out of my mouth before I can stop them.

  They both turn their heads instantly, shock registering on their faces.

  “Are you serious?” Lou asks, and I realize too late that I spoke aloud before giving any thoughts to what I was suggesting. But it’s too late. I can’t back out now.

  “Sure, if that’s what you think David needs,” I whisper, my voice filled with trepidation. Nick’s face lights up.

  “I think that’s a great idea. I don’t know of anyone that cares about him more than Aleah, and David loves having her around,” Nick says to Lou.

  “What about your job at Pierson? You won’t be able to hold your job and do this? This would be a full time job, maybe even twenty-four-seven. You realize that, right?” Lou asks.

  I think it over for a few seconds, and realize quickly that I won’t miss my job.

  “My job at Pierson was never meant to be a career path for me. It’s just a job that pays the bills. I plan on going back to school in the fall, and was just saving up money for that. If I can get a small salary for looking after David, I wouldn’t think twice about quitting my job.”

  “Of course David will pay you. As a matter of fact, I suspect he will give you a handsome salary, probably more than what you’re making now, but the work will require you to be there all the time. In fact, you should probably move into the house, to be able to make sure both the early morning and the late night shift nurses get there on time and do their job properly,” Lou points out.

  “That would work out well actually. I’ve been looking for an apartment to move into, since I have to leave the corporate apartment in less than two weeks, and was planning on signing a lease this weekend.”

  “Okay. I’ll talk to him after he’s awake and lucent enough to understand, but I doubt he would refuse such a generous offer,” Lou says.

  I nod my head in acknowledgment and walk to a chair in the waiting area, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. I collapse on the brown chair, trying desperately to hide my sudden nervousness and let my brain process what I just got myself into.

  Two days later, I move into David’s house. I am given a room on the second floor next to David’s room. I have never been to the second floor of his house, and as I walk up the spiral staircase that leads to the second floor and enter the living area, I am reminded again how beautiful this place really is. Large windows on multiple sides showcase breathtaking views of the infinite pool, tropical landscaping and the ocean below. The living area is complete with a huge TV and entertainment center, even though the first floor already has a theater room and both a formal and an informal living room. Two hallways on each side of the living area lead to multiple rooms. David’s room is at the end of the left hallway and my room is the one next to it.

  The room I’ve been given is large and filled with expensive Italian furniture. A four-poster bed faces floor to ceiling glass windows that show off stunning views of the ocean. The en suite bathroom features a large Jacuzzi tub with a window overlooking the ocean, and the walk in closet is larger than my entire room at my parent’s house. The room is nicer than anything I’ve ever seen, and as I unpack my bags, I have to remind myself that I should enjoy this while I’m here, but should not get used to it.

  Since moving into David’s house, I have taken over most of the responsibility of the day-to-day tasks with David. The nurses are still here. They give him his medicine and help him shower and get in and out of bed, and handle any medical needs he might have, but I try to provide all the personal attention he craves.

  Ever since coming back from the hospital he spends most of his time in bed or in a recliner in his room. I often sit next to him, trying to keep him company anyway I can. I read him his newspaper in the mornings and watch TV with him in the afternoons. We chat and play cards, spending the time in easy companionship.

  I have also been helping him feed himself. Since his right shoulder is still in a lot of pain, he has to use his left hand to eat, and with his shaky hands, that is not always an easy task.

  I watched one of the nurses feed him once and decided to take over after that. The nurses try to do their job, but they do it out of obligation, not affection, and it shows. David needs lots of love and a lot of patience, and the nurses just don’t have that.

  When the nurse tried to feed him, she didn’t have patience. She wanted to spoon feed him and be done with it. As I watched David’s face during the whole lunch, I saw how painful that was for him. David is a proud man. In less than a year, he has gone from being a boss to over a thousand employees to not being able to even feed himself. It is hard for him to accept that he is incapable of doing the most basic tasks for himself. The nurse feeding him hurts his self-worth.

  After watching that, I took over the task, because I know I can be more patient. Instead of feeding him, I let him do the work himself. I just sit there next to him to help if he drops the fork or spills something. It takes a lot longer for him to eat this way, but at least he doesn’t feel like an invalid.

  Today, however, he’s having a really hard time. His hands are trembling more than usual and he has already dropped the fork twice. Instead of watching him struggle, I decide to help. I cover his hand with mine and hold the fork steady in his hand as he lifts it up to his mouth. His eyes meet mine as he swallows the food and he holds my gaze, silently thanking me, but unable to say the words out loud. I nod my head in acknowledgement.

  As I sense his embarrassment at his inability to feed himself, I start a light conversation with him about the TV show we watched that morning to take the focus away from his shaking hands. I continue holding his hand this way and talking until I sense someone watching me.

  I feel the hair in the back of my neck stand up, and I know instantly who is standing at the doorway. I try to act normal and continue help
ing David eat, but lean back just a bit so my body is not too close to David’s. This is the second time Aiden has caught me and David in a position that can be interpreted the wrong way and I don’t know how he will react this time. The thought that he will lash out in anger again has my stomach in knots.

  I wait until David’s lunch is finished, wondering all along why Aiden hasn’t said a word. After David finishes eating, I turn my head slowly around. He’s leaning against the door frame, a questioning look on his stunningly beautiful face. His dark jeans are riding low on his hips and his black t-shirt showcases his taut muscles. The sight of him takes my breath away and makes my mouth dry.

  After a few seconds of being lost in his sparkling emerald eyes, I try to get a hold of myself and say something.

  “David – look who’s here,” I start, “you have a visitor … I’ll take the tray downstairs and let you two visit.”

  I leave the room quickly, fully expecting Aiden to walk in as soon as I am out, but instead I sense him following me out of the room.

  “Aleah – wait.”

  “You know my name?” I ask in surprise.

  “I know more about you than you think,” he starts, his penetrating gaze fixated on me. “I heard you moved in here, and came by to see how this arrangement was working out.” He hesitates for a few seconds avoiding my eyes, before continuing, “You care about him. I can tell. I don’t get it, and frankly, it’s a little creepy to me, but I was watching you for a while back there, and the way you treat him, it’s hard to question that you care about him… I’m glad he found you. He needs someone that really cares about him right now. He’s a lucky bastard and he doesn’t deserve it, but he does need it. So, thank you for being here for him.”

  I gape at him in surprise, not sure if I can believe my ears. I had prepared myself for another rant from him. Not this. This, his kind words leave me speechless. I open and close my mouth a few times, unable to get anything out.