by Beverly Long
“We should get going,” Laura said quickly.
But Rico was staring at the child. “What do you know about heaven, Hannah?” he asked, his tone gentle.
“I know that Mama and Dada are there,” she said. “Dada went first and Mama said that heaven was a good place and that you didn’t have to eat your vegetables there.”
Now Rico was looking at Laura. “I thought you said...”
“Later,” she said.
He didn’t argue but she also knew that he wasn’t going to forget. She was going to have to think of something to tell him.
“Give me five minutes,” he said.
“I’ll wrap this up for the car,” she said, motioning to the flatbread. “You didn’t have a chance to eat.”
“Thank you,” he said. “Would you also make sure we take some food for Lucky and a bowl for water?”
And ten minutes later, they were all in the car. She and Rico in the front, Hannah and Lucky in the back. Rico had made a path through the snow, maybe wide enough for two vehicles if they didn’t mind rubbing door handles.
As they pulled out of the driveway and onto the gravel road, it was like driving through a big snow tunnel. The plows had piled it high on each side, maybe five or six feet. It would be dark in thirty minutes and she did not relish making the drive through the mountains in these conditions. “Are you nervous about driving?” she asked.
He shook his head. “No. I’ve driven these roads in worse weather.”
It was the last thing he said for almost ninety minutes. Hannah didn’t sleep as expected. Instead, she talked pretty much nonstop to Lucky. Twice Laura thought they might have to turn around because of the road starting to drift shut. But Rico drove through it, slipping and sliding some, but not letting it stop him.
Her stomach was positively jumping by the time he slowed to a stop. They were in a middle-class neighborhood, where the houses, probably built in the 1970s, were small ranches with brick fronts and siding everywhere else. The trees were mature and heavy with snow.
He pulled into the driveway of one. “This is my parents’ house,” he said. “My sister, Charro, and her family live next door.” He pointed to an almost identical house. “I’m going to leave Lucky here.”
“Will he be okay?”
“Yeah. He’s stayed here before. Do you want to come in?”
She shook her head. “We’ll wait here.”
Rico got Lucky’s food from the back and then let the dog out. He promptly visited a bush. After he was finished, Rico let him play around in the snow for a few minutes before whistling for him to follow him inside the house. He was using his crutches and she suspected the drive hadn’t helped his ankle. Within a few minutes, he was back outside. He got in, rubbed his bare hands together, glancing at the gloves he’d left in the SUV. “It’s cold,” he said.
“How much farther?” she asked.
“Less than fifteen minutes.”
When they reached the hospital parking lot, he said, “I’ll drop the two of you off at the door.”
She shook her head. “You’re the one on crutches. If anyone gets dropped off, it’s you.”
In the end, he used the valet parking so that they all got out curbside. Once inside, they got directions to the cardiac floor.
Five feet from the door, they could hear the chatter outside room 303. Rico gave a quick knock and they walked in. Him in front, her and Hannah trailing behind.
“Oh, my God, it’s Rico. Oh, you poor thing. On crutches. How is your ankle?”
It was a woman’s voice. Likely his mother.
Laura crossed the threshold. It was a private room, with just one bed. The man in it was awake, watching the television mounted on the wall. He could only have been Rico’s father; the resemblance was very strong. His skin was darker and he had a short beard that was salt-and-pepper. Other than that, they looked much the same.
“Hey, Dad,” Rico said, giving the man a careful hug, so as not to dislodge the IVs hooked up to his arm.
“Thanks for coming,” the man said, patting Rico’s back. “I hate to bother you with all this.”
“No bother,” Rico said. He stood up. Then hugged the older woman in the chair, then the younger. They had to be his mother and sister. They were both fair skinned. His mother’s hair was cut very short and a lovely silver. His sister’s hair was shoulder length and light brown.
“Dad, Mom, Charro,” he said, taking in the room. “This is Laura. And Hannah.” He turned to her. “My parents, Janice and Placido Metez. My sister, Charro Whittle.”
She felt a bit like a germ under a microscope. They were intensely studying her. Rico’s parents appeared to be in their early seventies—older than she expected given that he and his sister were both somewhere in the midthirties.
“They’re...uh...friends of mine,” Rico said, obviously realizing the need to give some explanation for their presence. “We were riding out the storm together.”
“At your cabin?” Placido asked.
“Yes.”
Rico did not offer any additional explanation. No one asked for one. Perhaps they were accustomed to Rico bringing women around. But she didn’t think so.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Laura,” Janice said. She held out her hand. His sister extended her hand as well but didn’t say anything.
Hannah took two steps toward the bed. “Your name is Play-Doh?” she asked.
It broke the tension in the room. Everyone laughed. “Placido,” Rico’s father said. “But you call me what you want.”
There was seriously no telling what was going to come out of the child’s mouth. “I’m sure you have things to discuss,” Laura said. “Hannah and I don’t want to intrude. We’ll be in the waiting room at the end of the hall.”
Before Rico could protest, she pulled on Hannah’s hand and they were out of the room and down the hall. Chairs lined all three walls. She tried four spots before deciding that they were all equally uncomfortable. Didn’t matter. Anything was better than being back in a hospital room.
It was hilarious, really. She had a doctorate degree in physical therapy. In the big world of health care, she was an insider. Knew the lingo, could walk the walk. Three years ago had finally paid off her college debt that proved it all.
But the truth of the matter was, she hated hospitals. Hated the smell of the antibacterial hand gel that hung on the wall, hated the hushed voices that discussed mostly bad options, hated the damned mashed potatoes in the cafeteria.
But loved the healing. Loved knowing that with the right therapy, lives were regained, that motion thought lost was motion again enjoyed.
Such a battle. But she’d made peace with it, for the most part, by pursuing her work in the outpatient world. Nothing really made her happier than knowing that she was keeping patients from having to go back inside a hospital.
The sooner they were out of here, the better. But she understood the need for Rico to be here, to see his dad before surgery. She understood the need for families to band together, more so now, for having lived through her and Joe’s splitting at the seams when he disagreed with her.
She opened her bag and retrieved a coloring book and colored pencils. She also pulled out a handful of doll clothes. Dressing and undressing her doll could keep Hannah busy for quite a while because they could make up a story about the doll in every outfit.
Hannah grabbed for one of the dresses. “Ja-Ja has to visit the hospital. She needs to have her heart put back in.”
* * *
For the last hour, his head had been whirling. Hannah had said her parents were in heaven. Laura had said they were traveling outside the country. What the hell was the truth?
He’d initially been prepared for Laura to lie to him. But now. After having been so close, it seemed to hurt so much more.
He’d wanted to dri
ll Laura for more information but Hannah had stayed awake the entire drive, and it wasn’t as if he could have that discussion in front of her.
And now he needed to focus on what was in front of him and sort the rest out later. He pulled a chair up next to his father’s bed. “How are you, Dad?”
“Feeling as if everybody’s making a heck of a fuss,” he said. “But I guess I’ve got a problem with my ticker.”
“What’s the doctor saying?” Rico asked.
“That he needs bypass surgery. And he’s going to have it.” This from his mother.
“What time?” Rico asked.
“In the morning. That’s all they’ve told us,” his mother said.
“Are you both comfortable with this?” he asked, looking at his mom first, then his dad. “Do you want a second opinion?”
Janice and Placido shared a quick glance. His dad shook his head. “I trust the doctor. She’s a pretty lady.”
Rico smiled. Glad that he still could. His dad always noticed a pretty woman and generally commented on it. Many times within earshot of said woman. Never said it suggestively, just appreciatively.
“That one on your arm, she’s also very lovely,” his dad said.
“Not on my arm,” Rico corrected. If his parents even suspected that he was romantically interested in Laura, she was toast. It would take a small army to keep them from ambushing her with a thousand questions. It wouldn’t matter that his father had just had open-heart surgery. He’d still find a way.
“Is the doctor expected back in?” he asked. He really wanted to talk to her himself.
“Not until morning,” his mom said. “Charro and I were just discussing which one of us would stay tonight. We don’t want to leave your dad alone.”
“Of course. I can stay,” Rico said.
“And what will Laura and Hannah do? Hang out in the waiting room all night?” Charro asked.
It wasn’t a good plan but he did want to spend some time with his dad. “They can take my car and drive to the hotel.”
The minute he said it, he realized he’d made a big mistake.
“A hotel?” his mother asked, like he’d said a four-letter word. “The three of you will stay at the house.”
“Mom, we don’t want to put you to any trouble,” he said. How was he going to explain this to Laura?
“It’s no trouble. You’re family. She is your friend. She is going to have a tired child on her hands in a little bit. I’m not crazy about driving at night so it probably is a good idea if we take your SUV and she drives. I’ll leave my car here for you in the event of an emergency.”
Rico held up a finger. “Just give me a second, okay?”
He quickly left the room and walked down the hallway. Laura and Hannah were coloring in one of the coloring books that she carried in her big purse.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Good. Any news?” Laura asked.
“No. Doctor will be back in the morning. Somebody needs to stay with my dad and I’d really like to do it. My mom...well, let me just say it, my mom wants you and Hannah to stay at the house. With her.”
Her reaction wasn’t as bad as he’d prepared himself for. She just raised one corner of her lip. “Really?”
He nodded.
“She’s going to think I’m really rude if I say no?” Laura asked.
Rico held up his hands. “I can handle my mom.”
Laura shook her head. “No need. This is fine. It’s very sweet of her.”
He was relieved that it wasn’t going to be a big deal and that he wasn’t going to have to make some excuse to his mom. But still, he didn’t really want to let her go with his mom. He wanted a minute with her by herself, out of earshot of Hannah, to demand an explanation for the child’s odd statement that her parents were in heaven.
It appeared that conversation was going to need to wait. “Okay, take this,” he said, pulling the valet ticket from his pocket.
“I can’t drive your SUV,” she protested. “What if you need a vehicle?”
“My mom will leave her car here. You better get going. It’s still coming down pretty hard.”
“I want to play in the snow,” Hannah interjected.
“Tomorrow, sweetie. It’s too dark now. Let’s pick up your crayons. Mrs. Metez, Rico’s mom, has invited us to stay at her house.”
“Another new bed?” Hannah said.
“That’s right.”
“All part of the adventure,” Hannah said.
Rico raised an eyebrow but Laura said nothing. She did, however, very much regret that she’d initially explained to Hannah, as they were crossing Missouri, that they were having an adventure. At the time, she’d thought it would ease the child’s fears because one of the child’s favorite books at the daycare was about a monkey who went on grand adventures.
When they got back to the room, Laura took a step forward. “It’s very kind of you to offer us your home,” she said.
“Hotels,” Janice said, waving her hand. “A house is better for a child.” She knelt down to Hannah’s level. “I have two grandchildren. They’re older than you now but we’ve got lots of their old toys. Would you like to see what we’ve got?” The woman extended her hand and to Laura’s surprise, Hannah took it without hesitation.
“My mom never met a child she didn’t like,” Rico whispered.
“Have you had dinner?” Janice asked, looking at Laura.
“Uh...no.” She figured she needed to be honest because Hannah would likely just correct her.
“We’ll make something at home.” Janice leaned over her husband’s bed. “Behave. Do what they tell you.”
“I’m lying in a bed, woman. How much trouble can I get into?” Placido asked, feigning outrage.
She kissed him, smack on the lips. “I will be here early. Before the doctor arrives.” She turned to her daughter. “Charro, are you coming?”
“I’ll be along in a few minutes. I want a chance to catch up with Rico.”
“Of course. You’ll be there to eat with us?”
“Absolutely.”
Laura gave Rico a smile and followed Janice and Hannah, who were still hand in hand. She was nervous about driving Rico’s SUV in the snow. The city streets had been plowed but there was still a whole lot of snow.
Once the valet delivered the SUV, they piled in. He’d already used the snow brush to clear all the windows. She could see the snow gathering on the cars in the lot, making it look that it might have snowed another inch in the time they’d been inside. She checked to make sure her lights were on and how to work the windshield wipers before taking off.
“I don’t drive in snow very much,” she confessed to Janice.
“Where do you live?”
“Tennessee.”
Janice frowned. “You’re a long way from home. How did you and Rico meet?”
They’d not had time to perfect a story. But she was fairly confident of how he’d answer the question. “I rented his cabin,” Laura said.
“I didn’t know he was renting it out,” Janice said.
“Guess I just got lucky. Wasn’t expecting the snow, however.”
“I love the snow.” This from Hannah in the back.
Janice laughed. “Of course you do. Adults fret about it and children simply enjoy the wonder of it. When Rico and Charro were young, they would play outside all day in it.” She pointed at the street running in front of the hospital. “Go left here. Six blocks down, take a right and we’re almost there.”
“We were there earlier. Rico left his dog. Someone must have shoveled your driveway. It was in good shape.”
“My grandson. He’s a gift,” Janice said. “So is my granddaughter. We are blessed. We didn’t think we were ever going to have children and now we have grandchildren even.”
&n
bsp; Laura felt a pang near her heart. Her mother would have loved Hannah so much. Would have loved having a granddaughter.
When they got close, the garage door went up and she realized that Janice had the opener in her hand. “Pull in,” the woman said. “Then we won’t have to scrape snow in the morning.”
Laura did, noting that the garage was spotless. Tools were hung from hooks on a wall, the floor was swept, and the white paint on the walls looked fresh. She got out and then helped Hannah out of her car seat. By that time, Janice was holding open the door leading to the house.
They entered through a laundry room, then into a small kitchen, which led to a living room. The house was also spotless, with well-used furniture. The newest item appeared to be the flat-screen television, which she suspected had been a present from Rico or his sister. “Down that hall,” Janice said, “is a bedroom with twin beds. You and Hannah can stay there.”
“Perfect,” Laura said.
“Where’s the toys?” Hannah asked.
Janice laughed. “Didn’t forget about that, did you? Right there, in that chest. Help yourself.”
Once she got Hannah settled on the floor with some puzzles, Laura walked back into the kitchen. Janice was taking food from the freezer. “I’ve got a nice chicken and white bean chili,” she said. “Maybe that with some ham and cheese sandwiches.”
“That would be great. What can I do to help?”
“Just have a seat and chat with me. It’s good to have something to think about besides the surgery. It’s hard when a person has to be strong for someone else. I think it’s more wearing than being strong for yourself.”
“I’m sure he’s going to be fine,” Laura said. They were empty words because she had no real knowledge of Placido’s health but in her career, she’d seen hope work some pretty terrific miracles. Hadn’t for her parents but that hadn’t soured her on knowing that positive thinking was powerful medicine.
“I’m grateful that Rico was able to be here. We didn’t know he was in Colorado. That’s unusual. Generally, he tells us.”
Was there a question there? She wasn’t sure. She said nothing.