Home at Last

by Judith Keim

  Satisfied that her friendship with Miguel was growing, when Ross Coughlin called and asked her out, she accepted.

  Sitting in the Green Grape, having a drink and an early dinner one Thursday evening, Lulu and Ross talked easily with one another. She found him to be interested in many things, which stimulated their conversation. Before they knew it, the band arrived and the evening turned into a party.

  After they’d danced a time or two, Ross gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry. But I have to get up early tomorrow. It’s a school day.”

  “No problem, we have our first wedding weekend of the spring. Guests will start arriving tomorrow. I promised Cami I’d be on board to take pictures of the group. I’ll be busy doing that most of the weekend.”

  “Maybe we can catch up sometime next week,” said Ross, as he led her to his car. “I’d like to see you again.”

  He pulled his car into her driveway and turned to her. “Thanks for a great evening. I meant what I said. I’d like to see you again.” His smile softened his features and brought a light to his blue eyes. “And again.”

  “Thanks, but I have to be honest. I’m not ready for anything serious. All I can offer is friendship.”

  “I’ll take it.” He studied her for a moment and then said, “I’ll call sometime. May I walk you to the door?”

  “No, thanks anyway. It was a fun evening. See you soon.”

  He waited until she reached the front door, then beeped his horn to signal goodbye.

  Lulu entered the house and plopped down on the couch. She’d tried her best to put magic into their evening. But the whole time she’d been thinking about Miguel.

  When she went inside, she checked her computer for a message from him.

  He’d sent a whole bunch of photographs with the message:

  “Thought you’d like a look at the vineyard here in Chile. Maybe you will see it someday. It’s fall here, and the thought of spring in Oregon is making me homesick. Hope you’re enjoying it.”

  She studied the photographs. In one he was standing next to vines holding up a beautiful cluster of grapes. Gazing at it, Lulu clasped her hands to her chest. He looked so healthy, so wonderful.

  She quickly wrote back:

  “Thanks for the photos. It looks like beautiful country. And you look as if you’re enjoying it. We all miss you here in Oregon. Drew, Adam, and Dan are busy with the vines. By the time you are home, the growing season will be underway. My first spring in the Valley. So exciting!”

  There was so much more she wanted to say, but couldn’t. Miguel was opening up to her as a friend. It was a very nice beginning, but she needed a lot more than that before she was comfortable about building a stronger relationship with him. It was, she knew, a trust issue. One she was trying to work on. And though they emailed back and forth, they stayed away from the subject that was still painful to them.

  Flowers began to bloom in the back of the house she was renting, opening to spring days at first shyly and then with bursts of yellows and purples and pinks. Sitting outside in the late afternoon sun, Lulu decided to call Abby and Lisa hoping to convince them to sell the house to her. It had become a peaceful, pleasant home.

  When Lulu finally reached Abby and Lisa, Abby explained that they had been out of the country on a European trip and apologized for not getting back to her.

  “Sounds lovely. Where did you go?”

  “As boring as it may sound to some, we toured museums and cathedrals in a number of cities from London to Paris to Rome. It was glorious!” Abby gushed. “What can we help you with, Lulu?”

  “I want to buy the house. I’m connected to the area now and love being here in your home. It’s become mine, and I’m willing to pay you fair market value with no bickering back and forth.”

  “I thought you would have heard from the new owner.” Abby’s voice was high with surprise. “We sold the house last month.”

  Disappointment speared Lulu’s body. “Oh, no! Am I going to have to move out?”

  “I wouldn’t think so. Your lease doesn’t expire for several more months.”

  “May I ask who the new owner is?”

  “Hold on a minute. I need to talk to Lisa.”

  Lulu could hear whispering in the background and then Abby said, “We think there must be a reason you haven’t been notified. We’ll follow up at this end, but we don’t feel we have the liberty to give you the name. We hope you understand.”

  “I’m not sure I do. If I don’t hear shortly, I’ll call you back. I have to know where to send the rent check.”

  “Of course. We’ll make that clear.” After chatting about non-consequential things, Lulu ended the conversation with a sigh, annoyed with herself for waiting too long to ask.

  That night, when her mother called, Lulu told her about it. “I just don’t understand. It seems strange. Who could it be?”

  “How about me?” her mother said, and became quiet.

  It took Lulu a few seconds to register what her mother had said. “You? Why would you buy the house I’m renting?”

  “Because I love it, and I need to know you have a nice, safe place to live. I intend to come visit, and should you decide to rent or buy something else, I’m happy to have it for myself.”

  Lulu started to giggle and found she couldn’t stop. Her mother had gone from a cold, secluded stranger in the shadow of her husband to a warm, wonderful woman—a person she was proud to call her mother.

  “Good thing you bought all the furniture you loved. I promise to take care of it. And, Mom, I’m going to pay you the monthly rent just as I would otherwise. Deal?”

  “Yes,” her mother said. “My accountant insisted it remain a business arrangement until you make a decision one way or another.”

  “Would you mind if I get a dog? Sophie’s breeders have a new litter of dachshunds, and I’d love to have one. Cami is thinking of getting a second one to keep Sophie company, and they could all play together.”

  “It would be fine with me. Sophie’s a darling dog and quite the charmer.”

  “And a good hunter and watch dog,” said Lulu, thrilled with the idea of having one like her. “I’ll pay for any damage that might happen,” said Lulu.

  “Of course,” her mother said. “I would expect that of you.”

  If Lulu wasn’t mistaken, her mother sounded a lot like her father at that moment. She hung up the call wondering what other changes were coming her way.

  That night she wrote to Miguel about what her mother had done.

  “Are you happy about it?” he asked.

  Lulu smiled as she typed her answer:

  “Yes, I’m thrilled. And she’s given me permission to get a puppy. A new litter of dachshunds is available at the breeders where Cami got Sophie.”

  Miguel wrote back:

  “Sophie is a good dog. It’ll be nice for you to have some company. I’m happy for you.”

  “Me too,” Lulu typed, realizing it was more than the thought of a puppy that pleased her. Miguel was becoming a real friend.

  ###

  A week later Lulu experienced the unexpected challenges of being a mother to a dachshund puppy. Barely ten weeks old, Dolly was a blur of black-and-tan activity. Bright-eyed, the dog moved from one spot of trouble to the next, wagging her tail, making it almost impossible for Lulu to keep up. But warm, pink-tongued licks and snuggles melted away Lulu’s frustration in a hurry. She couldn’t resist sending a picture of Dolly to Miguel. “Isn’t she the cutest?”

  He quickly wrote back. “Like her owner.”

  Reading his brief but meaningful message, her vision blurred with tears. It was such a sweet thing for him to say.

  As she went about preparing three puppy meals a day, cleaning up messes, and encouraging Dolly to sleep, Lulu wondered if this is what it would be like raising a human baby alone. Understandably, it was easier for two people to handle it. Still, if she hadn’t lost the baby, she would have gone ahead on her own. Or tried to. Now, she knew she’d b
een wrong to think that way

  ###

  The month of April ended in a blur of activity, and then the May weddings began, making life even busier for Lulu. Though they now had a local professional photographer on hand for Chandler Hill weddings, every once in a while, Lulu’s services were requested. Photographing happy wedding couples was both a pleasure for her and painful. On the surface, her life was busy, fulfilling, and focused on the moment. But observing couples vowing to have a future together made her aware of an emptiness that wouldn’t go away. Evenings spent exchanging emails with Miguel became very precious to her.

  On this day, she, as Cami and Rafe often did, found her way to the stone bench among the grove of trees to try and get a better sense of herself and her future.

  The bud break had come and gone, and as they did most days in May, workers were managing the canopy to make sure when bloom time came, grapes could ripen evenly and sunburn could be avoided. This was also the time when extra shoots were thinned out. The bloom would happen at the end of the month or early in June.

  Sitting quietly, thinking of the time when Miguel would be home for good, Lulu wondered if he would bring Valentina with him. The last time she’d seen them, they’d acted like a couple. In all their conversations about his life in Chile, he hadn’t mentioned her and she hadn’t dared to ask.

  She turned at the sound of someone walking toward her and waved at Rafe.

  He waved back, hobbled over to her, and sat down beside her with an uncharacteristic groan.

  “What’s wrong?” Lulu asked, immediately concerned.

  “These ... old bones ... are tired,” he mumbled. He tried to smile, but only one side of his lips curved. “Left arm, leg numb,” he managed to say brokenly.

  Lulu watched in horror as his whole body sagged, and he slid to the ground.

  “Rafe! Rafe! Can you hear me?” Lulu cried, kneeling on the ground beside him, fighting tears. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  He opened one eye. His words were a jumble of confusion.

  Lulu whipped the phone out of her back pocket and called 911. Cold seeped through her body making her shiver. A stroke she thought. Maybe more.

  As calmly as she could while her pulse raced, Lulu gave the person on the other end of the phone as much information as possible. “His granddaughter is at the inn. She will know how to find us. Hurry. Dear God, please hurry!”

  “Stay right there with him, and stay on the line until I’m sure help has reached you. Speak calmly to the patient and reassure him help is on the way.”

  “I will.” Lulu looked for Rafe’s phone where he usually kept it in his jacket and pulled it out. She searched and found Cami’s number and pressed it.

  “Hello, Rafe. How are you?” Cami’s cheerful voice brought tears to Lulu’s eyes.

  “Cami, it’s me, Lulu. I’m with Rafe at Lettie’s bench. I think he’s had a stroke. I’ve called 911. You need to lead them to this spot. They’re on their way! Hurry!”

  “Oh my God! Oh my God! Is he going to be all right?”

  “I hear the sirens now. Go outside, Cami, and show them how to get to us.”

  Lulu clicked off the call and turned to Rafe. “Hang on, Rafe. Help is here.”

  The moments ticked away, one crawling second after another.

  Lulu clung to Rafe’s hand, and realized how frail his frame had become. She’d never thought of him as old because of the energy that usually surrounded him and the smile that made him seem so young and alive.

  Silently she prayed. “Please, God, don’t let him die. We need him here too much to let him go.”

  Cami came running into the clearing followed by two men hauling a gurney and medical equipment. Cami threw herself down on the ground next to Rafe. Hugging him carefully, she said, “Rafe, please don’t die. I couldn’t bear it!”

  “Excuse me, Miss, but you’ll have to move. Both of you,” said one of the EMTs gently.

  Cami moved away, and arms around each other, Cami and Lulu watched as the men began the job of evaluating the medical issues. In moments, they had oxygen hooked up to Rafe, an IV inserted in his arm, and were carrying him on the gurney across the ground.

  Cami and Lulu kept pace, guiding them to a path and then a driveway that would allow them to roll the gurney to the waiting ambulance.

  “I’ll go with him,” Cami said. “I’m his granddaughter, his closest living relative.”

  “Why don’t the two of you follow in a car,” said the smaller of the two men, giving them both a sympathetic look. “We’ll meet you at the Medical Center in town to make sure he’s stable, and then we’ll talk about what steps we’ll take from there. There are two well-known stroke centers in Portland.”

  Cami grabbed Lulu’s hand, and they ran to get her car.

  Standing outside her car, Cami fumbled with the fob. “I’m so nervous,” she muttered, then opened the door and slid behind the wheel. As Cami started the engine, Lulu settled in the passenger seat and buckled her seat belt.

  Tears streamed down Cami’s cheeks. “I don’t know if I can drive. I’m too upset.”

  Lulu drummed up every bit of calm she could muster. “We’ll do it together. You drive and I’ll talk.”

  As Cami headed away from the inn, Lulu talked quietly to her. “I was just sitting there when Rafe approached. He waved and managed to sit for a few seconds before it happened. I knew what it was right away.”

  “I’m very glad you were with him. He’s been going there alone more and more often. It’s such a peaceful place for him.” Cami hiccupped and began to cry softly.

  “Hang on, sis,” Lulu said, trying to keep Cami focused. “We’re almost there.”

  “I’m so relieved you’re with me, Lulu. You’re such a good sister.”

  Lulu didn’t answer. She couldn’t. The lump in her throat blocked any words.

  ###

  When they rushed inside the hospital, they were reassured Rafe was being well taken care of. A nurse explained his vitals and other information had already been provided to the Oregon Health & Science University Telemedicine Network.

  “It makes a huge difference in handling emergencies like this. Doctors will confer on the case and work on the outcome together,” the nurse continued. “As soon as the doctor working on your family member is able, he’ll fill you in on the details.”

  Lulu settled in a chair next to Cami and tried to think healing thoughts.

  A doctor soon appeared. “Are you the next of kin for Rafael Lopez.?”

  Cami stood. “I am. How is he?”

  “We are preparing to send him by helicopter to the OHSU Hospital in Portland. A vascular neurologist is waiting for him there. Mr. Lopez has been given what we call ‘clot-busting’ medication to help prevent any further damage, but we need to have him evaluated there to make sure we’ve done all we can do to save brain tissue and function.”

  “Can we see him?” Lulu asked her voice wobbling.

  “For only a few minutes. In cases like this, the faster we move, the better.”

  Cami and Lulu followed the doctor to a room where Rafe was being monitored. His eyes showed recognition at the sight of them.

  They each gave him a kiss on the cheek.

  “I love you, Rafe. Get well soon. We’ll see you in Portland,” Lulu said, trying to hold herself together. She left the room so that Cami could have some time alone with him.

  When Cami joined Lulu, her face displayed silvery tracks of tears. “I have directions on how to get to the hospital. He’s going to the Brain Institute first.”

  “Okay, good. While I was waiting for you, I called Becca and told her what was happening. She told us not to worry. She and Imani will handle things at the inn.”

  “Oh, thanks,” said Cami. “I can’t even think of that now. The doctor told me he’s encouraged by how quickly things have been done for Rafe, but I have to know he’ll be all right.” Cami turned to her. “How did you even know about strokes and what to do?”r />
  “I just saw something on television about it. Thank God!”

  ###

  As they were driving to Portland, a helicopter flew over them. Aware of the special passenger it carried, silence filled the car.

  “You know, strokes are a part of my family history,” Cami said. “In the 1970s, Rex Chandler, the original owner of the land, died of a stroke right after my grandmother married Kenton Chandler, leaving them the land and the inn.”

  “I didn’t know that,” said Lulu.

  “Yes, and then Kenton was killed in a car accident, leaving my grandmother to raise my mother alone. I hope this isn’t going to be one of life’s circles,” said Cami. “You know, where the beginning and end meet.”

  “I don’t think that’s going to happen, Cami. Medicine has come such a long way since then. And as you said earlier, the doctor is encouraged by the way Rafe is responding to quick treatment.”

  “What if something more happens to him, and Rafe becomes totally paralyzed?”

  Lulu put a hand on Cami’s arm. “Don’t even go there. Rafe has a lot to live for, and he’s always been a strong man.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  The news, when they finally got it, was much better than Lulu and Cami had hoped. The doctor explained that the drugs seemed to have cleared the problem, and no new clots or blockages were found.

  “He’s a very lucky man,” the doctor said. “A quick response not only saved his life, but made for a much better recovery. He’ll be on blood-thinning meds, will have to watch his diet, and will need physical therapy to strengthen his left leg and arm.”

  “Thank you! Thank you!” Cami cried, clasping her hands in front of her in a prayerful pose.

  The doctor beamed at the two of them. “We like outcomes like this. You can thank the young lady who acted so quickly.”

  Cami threw herself at Lulu, and crying softly, they hugged.

  ###

  When Lulu saw Rafe sitting up in bed, her eyes filled. Everyone was thinking of her as some kind of hero, but she’d been scared silly by Rafe’s collapse.