The Champagne Sisterhood

by Chris Keniston

  Fit as a fiddle. Anna blew out a short breath. She hadn’t had time to really think things through. Despite trying to prepare herself for the worst on the flight over, she couldn’t in her wildest dreams have prepared herself for how she found Babs. And as thankful as she was to find Marcia fit as a fiddle, the blatant truth was she didn’t know squat about babies. Babs was the mother hen. Anna was good at fighting with smarmy Italians and pinheaded freight forwarders. She spotted a chair in the corner and flopped down. Lord, what was she supposed to do now?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “Liz just sent me a text message.” Mark announced from the doorway to Babs’ cubicle. “Kat’s plane is landing about a half hour ahead of Erin. I told her to let them know they should catch a cab to the house, bring Tom’s car here.”

  “I should pick them up, but I don’t want to leave.” Anna didn’t look up from Babs’ bedside. “I don’t want to miss the doctor, or...” her words trailed off.

  “Don’t go there.” He moved further into the room, stopping close enough to feel the warmth of her back against him. She looked so delicate. Nothing like the general prepared for battle of a few hours ago. “We have to help her fight.”

  She nodded. “Is Marcia okay without you?”

  “She’s napping. Thought I’d come give you a break.” He stepped aside, looking down at Babs’ battered body. It didn’t seem possible the vibrant woman who had married his best friend was hidden somewhere inside.

  “Do you think she’s in much pain?” Anna held Babs’ unbandaged fingers in one hand and the bedside railing with the other.

  “No. The body’s pretty smart. If she were to wake up too soon I would think the pain would be unbearable. As long as she’s unconscious like this, I’d like to think she’s trouble free.”

  “She’s going to be miserable without Tom.”

  “I know.” He dropped his hand on Anna’s, surprised by how soft it felt, not sure why he had expected to discover anything different. “You should at least sit down.”

  “I’m all right.”

  “Want a snack, something to drink? All I’ve seen you munch on are those pills you’re popping like candy.”

  “I wouldn’t be Italian if I didn’t have a little agida here and there.”

  “Agida?”

  “Technically, heartburn, mostly it’s an Italianism for mental aggravation. But every good Italian mother uses agida like a good Jewish mother uses guilt. ‘Will you stop already, you’re giving me agida,’ and as though heartburn were a matter of life or death, we’d cease and desist.”

  “Until the next time.”

  “Until the next time.” A hint of a smile teased the corner of her mouth.

  “Maybe I can find you some soup to soothe that agida.”

  “It’ll take more than soup to soothe what ails me.”

  “If they’re both in ICU they won’t have their phones on.”

  “Good point.” Erin turned the map clockwise and cursed not having a phone with GPS. “I think we’re here. So that would mean...” She looked up. “Turn left at the next light.”

  “I wish Liz could have told us more.”

  “At least we know for sure that Marcia’s okay. If Babs lost Tom and her daughter, she’d never recover.”

  “It seems such a waste. So many couples in this world are happy to divorce and never see each other again as long as they live.” Kat eased around the corner. “Are you sure this is right?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  Kat let out a short sigh. “Babs and Tom not only loved each other, they actually liked each other.”

  “It’s not fair. You’ve got two people who can’t seem to breathe unless the other’s in the room and they’re the ones ripped apart like this.” Erin studied the map one more time. After four years of living and learning in San Francisco, you’d think she could remember how to find her way to the hospital without having to look at the stupid map. Truth was, there was a lot about San Francisco she’d forgotten in twelve years.

  The few times they’d come to visit, they hardly ever made it into the city. The last trip had been for little Marcia’s christening and one very long party. Everyone who ever knew Babs and Tom traveled from what seemed like the four corners of the earth for the event. The pre-christening celebration started when the three college friends arrived on Friday night and didn’t end until Monday morning, long after the christening was over.

  Anyone would have thought a new heir to the British throne had been born the way Babs and Tom fussed and fawned over the baby. Though, you couldn’t blame them. They’d tried getting pregnant for close to forever. The first few years after they were married they kept hoping, then they went through a few more years of fertility treatments, and a few more years after that of adoption interviews. When Babs finally turned up pregnant after ten years there probably weren’t two happier people anywhere on earth.

  “Ladies, I’m sorry but rules are rules.” Arms crossed, the ICU nurse softly tapped her foot. “If I let the three of you stay here, I’ll have to make exceptions for every room.”

  “Better make that the four of us.” Mark walked into the room and flashed a broad disarming smile at the nurse who had been so sympathetic earlier in the day. Shaking his head, he spoke over her shoulder to the mutinous friends. “Marcia’s down for the night. Thought I’d come see if there’s any change.”

  “Her doctor was called away during rounds for another emergency. We still don’t know anything more than we did before.” Erin pushed to her feet and edged past the older nurse to Mark’s side. “It’s nice to see you again. I’m so sorry about Tom.”

  “Ladies, please.” The nurse tightened her jaw and dropped her hands to her hips. “Only two visitors at a time.”

  Ignoring the woman’s pleas, Kat maneuvered her way between Erin and Nurse Simon Legree to give Mark a quick hug. “We really appreciate all you’re doing with Marcia. We were going to go down to see her right away but Anna told us she’s a little skittish. We all agreed it might be better to wait.”

  “Hey.” Erin called, waving a hand at Anna. “Did y’all hear that?”

  Four heads spun in her direction.

  “What?” Anna asked. Scanning Babs from head to toe, she waited a beat, then whirled around at Erin. “Hear what?”

  “I thought I heard Babs.” Erin moved away from the crowd and stood quietly at the foot of the bed. “Maybe she’s waking up.”

  The nurse eased her stance and gently patted Erin’s arm. “I’m sure it’s just wishful thinking, dear.”

  “No, look.” Kat pointed at Babs’ feet. “There, did you see that? She wiggled her toes. Erin’s right.” She rushed to the side of the bed.

  Anna scooted closer to the bed and took hold of Babs’ hand. Mark stood quietly behind her.

  “Ladies.” The nurse blew out a sympathetic breath. “She’s heavily sedated. It’s probably only a reflex reaction. Nothing to get excited over.”

  “Ahhh.” The sound of Babs’ low moan carried across the room.

  “See! I told you,” Erin looked to the nurse.

  “That’s not possible,” the woman muttered, stepping up to the foot of the bed.

  “Babs, honey. We’re here. Can you hear me?” Anna gently squeezed her friend’s fragile hand silently waiting for another sound, and then she felt it. “She moved her finger!”

  “We’re all here, Babs. Even Mark.” Erin leaned against the bed, a small smile teasing the edge of her lips. “Do y’all think she can hear us?”

  “She moved again.” Hope burst inside Anna like a fourth of July fireworks display. “Only one finger, but it moved.”

  “I think she’s trying to move her mouth.” Kat pointed to Babs’ swollen face.

  “I’d better page the doctor.” The nurse eased her way around Kat and Erin and pushed a button on the wall behind the bed. When a small voice finally responded, she hurriedly requested, “Page Dr. Thompson to ICU. Stat.”

  “Aah,” Babs moaned, her l
ips not moving, the sound barely audible.

  “Honey, don’t try and talk now.” Kat leaned against the railing. “You need your rest.”

  “Nnno,” Babs mumbled a little louder.

  “No?” Anna waved one hand in the air. “What does she mean no?”

  “Maybe she’s just tellin’ us she can’t rest cause she’s hurting,” Erin offered.

  “Can you give her something more for the pain?” Anna asked the nurse.

  “She’s heavily medicated now. I don’t understand.” The bewildered woman efficiently checked every tube, monitor, and read out.

  “Honey, what is it? Are you hurting?” Anna looked down at Babs’ still fingers. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you want.”

  “If she’s not in pain... Crap.” Kat turned and mouthed T-O-M to Anna, then pressed her lips into a thin line.

  Within seconds, Babs confirmed what Kat was thinking. “Taaah.”

  Anna’s heart sank to the floor. Quickly scanning her friends’ fallen expressions she took a deep breath, and tightened her hold on Babs’ fingers. “I’m sorry.”

  A single tear slipped from the corner of Babs’ eye to match the tear trailing down her own face. With the back of her hand she swiped at her cheeks. Erin grabbed a tissue from the nearby nightstand and gently dabbed at Babs’ tears while blinking back her own.

  In some small way, each of them felt Babs’ pain. And they all knew recovering from her physical injuries was going to be a piece of cake compared to learning to live without Tom.

  “Mmmm.”

  “Marcia’s okay,” Kat volunteered, quickly. “She’s just fine.”

  “Nnooo.” Babs curled her finger under.

  “Yes, honey, she’s fine. Really. I promise,” Anna tried to reassure her friend.

  “Youuu,” Babs eeked out.

  “Me?” Anna looked to Erin and Kat for help, both friends shaking their heads with no more idea of what Babs was saying than she had. “Me...You want me to do something?”

  Mark moved closer to the bed, staring with the rest of them at Babs’ fingers, waiting for some acknowledgement.

  Babs held her finger up.

  “Something to do with Marcia?” Anna watched Babs’ finger rise again. “Do you want me to go check on her?”

  Babs’ finger remained still.

  “Do you want one of us to go stay with her?” Erin asked, her eyes alight with hope she’d solved the riddle, only to dim when Babs didn’t respond.

  Kat blew out a heavy sigh. “She has to know we’ll take care of Marcia so that can’t be it.”

  Babs finger lifted.

  “That’s it!” Erin smiled. “She wants you to take care of Marcia.”

  Anna stared intently at the woman trying so desperately to communicate. “Me?”

  All eyes moved to the finger up in the air again.

  Anna looked across the bed to Kat and Erin, her eyes wide with understanding, and terror. “Of course I will. We all will. I promise.” She squeezed Babs’ hand. “You rest now.”

  “All right. Party’s over. I need to see my patient.” A rather tired looking man in a white lab coat with a stethoscope draped around his neck waved his arms signaling for everyone to empty out of the room.

  “Nooooo,” Babs mumbled more forcefully, her heart rate escalating suddenly.

  Anna looked up at the fast and scratchy lines from the EKG. “I don’t think she wants us to leave.”

  The doctor frowned studying the situation. “It looks that way.”

  “Noot... theeem.” Babs stopped. For a moment it looked as though she’d fallen back to sleep.

  Anna glanced across at her friends who shrugged and shook their heads, then slid her gaze to Mark. He’d inched forward to stand beside her, gripping the railing. His expression cold, grim, he stared intently at Babs as though he didn’t remember anyone else was in the room. He’d already lost his best friend. She couldn’t imagine how he felt knowing he might lose another.

  “Are we, Kat and I, them?” Erin asked softly, her expression painted with relief when Babs didn’t move.

  “Someone else is them?” Anna concluded and watched the finger lift one more time. “Does this still have to do with Marcia?”

  Babs tapped her finger more weakly.

  “Okay we can’t let them do something to Marcia?” Anna said more to herself than to Babs. Once again she looked to Mark, his attention still focused on Babs, he seemed lost in thought, frozen in his own pain.

  “I got it,” Erin jumped. “I bet she doesn’t want you to let Social Services take Marcia.”

  Anna wasn’t so sure, but she didn’t have any better ideas. “Is that it?”

  “She’s already asleep,” the doctor answered. “I increased the drip rate on her medication.” His voice was laced with irritation. “Her body needs rest, not stress. She should sleep peacefully through the night. I think it would be a good idea if you all did the same. Somewhere else.”

  “I don’t want to leave her.” Anna squeezed the finger Babs kept raising.

  “You’ve been here almost all day,” the nurse started, “you won’t do her or her baby any good if you don’t take care of yourself too.”

  “She’s right,” Erin agreed. “We can do shifts. I can stay now.”

  “Visiting hours are almost over. It’s best if everyone goes home and gets some rest. You can come back tomorrow. Two at a time.” The doctor pointed to the door, then followed the single file line of visitors into the hall.

  “What does her waking up mean?” Mark asked, his voice scratchy and low as though it hurt to talk.

  “For one thing.” The doctor turned his attention to Mark. “It reminds us there are no absolutes in medicine. She obviously wanted to make sure you understood something. If I hadn’t seen her awake and communicating for myself I wouldn’t have believed it.”

  “Babs always was the most stubborn Scot I ever met.” Erin half chuckled under her breath.

  “No shit, Sherlock. Stubborn is her middle name.” Thinking of Babs’ limitless determination actually made Anna smile. She turned to the doctor. “So what can we expect now?”

  “Mrs. Preston’s injuries are extensive. She suffered massive internal trauma: punctured lung, irreparable damage to one kidney, twisted bowel, a liver tear. I could go on. She has more fractures and broken bones than I care to count. If she makes it through this we’re talking long term rehab just to learn to walk again, and even then she’ll probably always need some walking aids. We have no way of knowing how much additional neurological damage there may be. Though it appears she may not have lost speech function, what you heard tonight may be all there is.”

  Anna swayed slightly at the rush of information and stepped back, leaning against Mark. “Surely her waking up was a good sign?”

  “I’m cautiously optimistic. Now, unless you have any further questions, I’m behind on my rounds.”

  “Thank you,” several voices echoed at the man.

  “Get some rest.” He turned and walked out the double doors.

  Anna turned to Mark. “I don’t suppose you have any other ideas of who them might be?”

  His mouth opened as though ready to say something then snapped shut. Anna took the casual way he shrugged a shoulder to mean no.

  “Then I need to get a hold of Harrison.” Anna marched out the doors, behind the doctor. “If anyone can make sure Social Services stays out of this, he can.”

  “I thought you were going to call him earlier?” Mark fell into step beside her.

  “I did. He’s at a function and hasn’t returned my call yet.”

  Mark missed a step. “He hasn’t returned your call?”

  “It’s a big night for him.”

  “And this is your—”

  “Boyfriend,” Erin provided.

  “More like significant other,” Kat corrected.

  Erin stopped and turned to Kat. “What’s the difference?”

  “A multi-million dollar apartment on Park A
venue.” Kat kept walking.

  Erin hurried to keep up. “What does real estate have to do with anything?”

  “When you live with a guy in Brooklyn, that’s a boyfriend. When a man has you move into his Park Avenue apartment, that’s a very significant other.”

  Indifferent to the conversation around her, Anna strode directly to the window by the elevators and pulled out her cell phone. Pressing number seven, she waited, tapping a new beat with her shoe. “Harrison, it’s me. We’re leaving the hospital. I really need you to call me back tonight. No matter how late you come in.” She snapped the phone closed.

  As soon as they stepped out of the building, her phone buzzed. “Yes.”

  “I’m just getting out. You were missed,” Harrison’s voice came through loud and clear.

  “I’m sorry. It couldn’t be helped. Tom didn’t make it.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s too bad, really. When will you be coming home?”

  “Not anytime soon. Babs is in critical condition and Marcia is ready to go home. Which is why I called.”

  “You’re not thinking of bringing her here?”

  The horror in Harrison’s voice could be heard clear across the room.

  “No. I’m not leaving, but I need you to pull some strings to secure guardianship.”

  “I’m an entertainment attorney. I don’t do family practice.”

  “You’re licensed to practice law in California. How hard can filing guardianship papers be?” Anna walked up to Mark’s car.

  “I’m licensed in New York and California to handle media matters. I think it’s pretty obvious this has nothing to do with media.”

  Kat leaned in beside her and whispered, “We’ll meet you at the house.”

  Anna nodded at her friend and climbed into the car. “If it’s not something you can do, you must know someone who can.”

  Anna waited for him to say something she wanted to hear. “Okay,” he finally said on a sigh. “I’ll make some calls. Did Barbara or Tom leave anything specifying who was to be guardian?”