by Rebecca York
“Alicia called him. She wanted to write a will for you.”
“Spare me your crazy stories. Alicia couldn’t write a will when she’s on welfare and I paid her medical expenses. She doesn’t have a penny to her name.”
Melody didn’t believe him, but at least they were talking now. Much better than her previous screams, and the stony silence that had followed.
“Apparently, she gave you something to keep in your safe at the bank, right?”
Surprised, she lifted her eyebrows. “Yes. How would you know that?”
“I’ll tell you in a sec.” He couldn’t continue to drive at turtle speed without annoying other drivers. Noticing a park on his right, he veered into the driveway, stopped the car, and shifted in his seat to face Melody. “Alicia told us that the boxes she gave you contain jewelry of high value that her great-grandmother smuggled out of Russia when she escaped from the Bolsheviks. Her mother gave them to Alicia after her father left all his inheritance to her brother, claiming that Alicia’s husband would gamble it away.”
“You sure know more than I do.” Bitterness oozed from her voice.
“I’ll share every bit I learned that day with you.” Relieved that Melody was eager to listen, he would relate all he knew to clarify the situation and then do his best to alleviate her pain.
“Not that I care now.” She wrinkled the bridge of her nose and raised her chin in disgust.
He ignored her barb. “The will was to claim you as her biological daughter and legitimate heir and should protect your inheritance from her nephew if he tries to appropriate them. He’d already asked her for the valuables that are supposed to stay in the family. She wrote two letters, one for the attorney and witnesses, and one for you and Stella to read after her death, where she explained all that. She didn’t want you to know the truth now.”
“Ah...no wonder she panicked when we wheeled her out of the room. The scratch papers she forgot in the drawer—”
“Were the drafts of the letter she wrote to you.”
“You read those letters?”
“The lawyer insisted that Dr. Turner and I read them before signing as witnesses on the will.”
“She can keep her jewelry. I don’t want it.”
“Melody, I’ll support you with whatever you want to do.” At any rate, he wanted to be at her side during this difficult situation. “I understand your—”
“No, you don’t. You can’t.” Her voice broke on the words. She heaved a deep breath before continuing. “You grew up with a loving father and mother, and siblings. You can’t know what it is for a little girl to be continuously rejected by her supposed mother, ignored by her father, tormented by a nasty brother and sisters. You can’t...” Tears filled her eyes at the reminder of the past.
His heart twitched in pain for the suffering she’d coped with. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“She’s the woman I begged so often through tears to come back, to love me...and I cursed her even more for abandoning me. I don’t want to see her anymore.”
“She came back, Melody.”
“Only when it suited her.” Her voice hardened. “When she needed a daughter’s love...not when her daughter needed her. I don’t want to see her again. I don’t want her living in my duplex, and I don’t want to be her nurse. Not now, not ever.”
He wouldn’t argue with Melody now when she was so raw, so deeply affected by a painful wound. “All right, but she doesn’t know that you heard her, that you discovered the truth. I can’t tell her anything now. It would compromise her recovery. Remember her fever and restlessness of last night when she blabbered about her past? We can’t risk another crisis. I’m her doctor and I must insist on avoiding anything that could impede her recovery.”
Her eyes hardened. “Do what you want. But I’m not setting foot in her room.”
“She’ll ask for you.”
She shrugged. “Not my problem anymore. Assign someone else.”
“All right.” He sighed, realizing he couldn’t force the issue now. The hysterical anger had disappeared, replaced by cold resentment. He couldn’t blame her. Maybe time would heal her wound. “It’s time to go back to the hospital, unless you want me to drop you at home. You were on call yesterday.”
“Let’s go to the hospital. I have patients to take care of.”
Working would take her mind off her own problems. And she’d be close enough to him. He didn’t dare hold her in his arms yet, but maybe soon...
Suddenly he remembered something she’d blurted in her anger. The two adults I loved and trusted the most in this world. He was one of the two. His heart swelled with hope. But with the problem of Alicia looming over their heads like a sword ready to fall, how could he indulge in a romantic date with Melody?
Chapter Eleven
Melody went straight to the nurses’ call room to drop off her overnight bag. She’d preferred to stay away from Aidan today and avoid using his office. After listening to his explanation, she’d stopped blaming him and realized that Alicia had involved him and Dr. Turner in something that didn’t concern them at all. In retrospect, Melody was grateful Aidan hadn’t let her drive Stella in her frenzied emotional state. Somehow, he’d always been around to help and protect her. When she managed to calm down, she should thank him.
At the nurses’ station, she checked the board and noticed he’d already changed her assignment. No more watch in the ICU, but a series of rounds and availability for emergencies. That suited her well. Browsing the rest of the board, she found out that Heather was in charge of Alicia until 3:00 p.m. and Betty would take over for the night shift.
Determined to control her feelings, Melody concentrated on her tasks, showing her usual consideration to her patients. The day flew by without problems, and by five o’clock, she strolled to her car to pick up Stella.
Her daughter hugged her with her usual warmth and settled in her car seat. Deep in her thoughts, Melody hardly paid attention to the unusual silence. After parking her car in the garage and getting Stella out of her seat, Melody said, “You’re very quiet. Are you okay, pumpkin?”
“I’m okay. And you, Mommy? You still mad at Aidan?”
“Ah.” So, Stella hadn’t forgotten this morning’s crisis. “I’m not mad at Aidan. I was upset at...at someone at the hospital. Aidan was very nice to drive you.”
“Aidan always nice, Mommy,” Stella affirmed, her head bobbing as they climbed the stairs. “Right, Mommy?”
“Right.”
“I love Aidan. And you, Mommy. You love him too?” Stella threw her a suspicious look under her scrunched eyebrows.
“Of course.” Melody unlocked the door, hoping her daughter would drop the awkward subject.
Luckily, when Bernie barked with joy and ran toward Stella, she forgot her worries to hug him and roll on the floor with him. “Miss you, miss you so much, Bernie.”
During their dinner, Stella returned to her questions. “Where’s Aidan?”
“At the hospital, taking care of his patients.”
“Ah yes, taking care of Nana Licia.”
“Yes.” How she wished Stella would finish her dinner and play with Bernie.
“When she coming home?”
“I don’t know.”
“Ask her, Mommy,” Stella ordered. “I miss her. Poor Nana Licia, she’s always sick. Can I visit her?”
Melody sighed in exasperation. “Would you like some ice cream? We can go out with Bernie.”
“Yeah. Come, Bernie.”
Melody snapped a leash to the dog’s collar and grabbed her purse. She’d distracted Stella with a trip to the ice cream parlor, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid her nagging questions for long.
In fact, during the bedtime prayer, Stella didn’t forget to mention her two favorite people. “Lord, please heal Nana Licia and send her home quickly with Aidan.”
“Amen,” Melody hastened to add to prevent further comments.
Stella slept peacefully with h
er hand on Bernie’s head, but Melody tossed and turned for two hours. It was ten o’clock. Would Aidan be asleep at home or still working at the hospital? She wished she could talk to him. Why wouldn’t she?
True, she’d yelled at him as soon as she’d heard the awful news, but later she’d been nice, as Stella said, or at least relatively nice. Maybe she could thank him for doing his best to comfort her. She texted Busy? and waited. He didn’t text back.
Her phone chimed and she released a big sigh of relief. He didn’t resent her.
“Hi. Are you home?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
“Are you spending the night there?”
“Probably. Leo was in surgery for hours and can’t cope with longer hours, and Anwar can’t handle two ICU patients on his own.”
“Why two?”
“Alicia and the young patient I operated on when you were with her. How is Stella?”
“She was so happy to see Bernie. I took them to eat ice cream.”
“And you?”
“I’m good. The day went by quickly, without problems.”
“And now you’re having trouble falling asleep.”
She scoffed. He knew her so well. Why try to deny it? “Yes.” “It doesn’t surprise me. You were hit with such a big shock. It’ll take time to recover.”
“Thank you, Aidan.”
“For what?”
“For not trying to lecture.”
“Who am I to lecture? I haven’t dealt with the suffering you coped with. Besides, I care too much about you. Just want to see you smiling again, if possible. Oh, sorry, I have a call. ‘Night, Melody.”
The easy, short conversation with Aidan had restored her calm. Or rather, the sound of his voice, his soothing words, and his compassion. Although she’d always preferred to be independent, she treasured Aidan’s support. With him at her side, she would never feel lonely and would sleep the whole night peacefully. Or half of the night, she whispered to herself with an eager smile. Remembering the evening she’d spent in his arms, she smiled and drifted off.
The sun filtering through the shades brightened the room and filled Melody’s heart with hope.
“Mommy,” Stella called from her room.
“Coming, baby.”
Her daughter examined her with precocious wisdom. “You better today, Mommy.”
“Much better. Let’s get dressed.” She tried to help Stella with the sleeves of her shirt.
“I do it,” Stella insisted.
“Okay. When you’re ready, I’ll comb your hair. I’ll shower and get dressed.”
Fifteen minutes later, they met in the kitchen, and Stella let Bernie out while they ate their scrambled eggs and toast.
“Ready?” Melody asked after she cleared the table and Bernie returned.
Stella collected her pink jacket and matching backpack, where she stored her smallest teddy and crayons, and ran down to the garage.
So far, so good. Stella hadn’t asked any probing questions. Buckled in her seat, the little girl sang to herself, and Melody found herself singing with her.
When Melody dropped her at daycare and hugged her, Stella said with a firm tone, “After school, you take me to visit Nana Licia, Mommy. I miss her.”
Melody didn’t answer and left.
After three days of hectic work assisting Aidan and the two other neurosurgeons in the OR and rounds, Melody had managed to block her emotions. No one mentioned her former neighbor in front of her, and she wondered if Aidan had given specific orders to his staff.
The pain and anger resurfaced at home, with Stella insisting on visiting her Nana Licia after every hug she gave her mother.
“Mommy, why doesn’t Aidan come anymore?”
“He’s very busy at the hospital.” Too busy. He’d been staying in his on-call room continuously.
“Mommy, did you see Nana Licia today?”
Melody suppressed a hiss. “No.”
“Did you see her yesterday?”
“No. Enough—”
“Is Nana Licia dead?”
“What?”
“Mommy, Ava’s grandma dead. No one can see her.”
“Nana Licia is not dead. She’s at the hospital.”
“You see her?”
“No.”
“How d’you know she’s not dead?”
“I know.”
“I want to ask Aidan.”
Fed up with Stella’s childish assumptions, Melody wanted to end the conversation but realized Stella would not give up. “I’ll call Aidan. You’ll ask him yourself.”
“Not you. I call Aidan.” Stella ran to her room and brought the pink phone Aidan had given her for emergencies. She tapped the A icon.
Though her daughter’s questions had managed to upset and worry Melody, she didn’t interfere when Stella called her big friend.
“Aidan, it’s very, very important. Is Nana Licia dead?”
Melody stepped closer to try to hear.
“Okay, very sick. When she comes home?... How long is long time?... Can I see her?”
Melody shook her finger under Stella’s nose.
Stella shrugged, glanced at her, and pinched her lips. “Mommy says yes... You take me, please... Thank you. Bye.” She crossed her arms and faced her mommy. “Nana Licia is very, very sick. Aidan takes me to see her. He said it was a good idea.”
“Now go play with Bernie,” Melody snapped, and went to her own room to call Aidan. “What’s going on?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“No, but apparently you’re taking my daughter to see her.”
“Melody, I can’t hide it from you anymore. Alicia is still in the ICU. Her condition is worsening. She asked about you and Stella so many times. We told her you were busy with other patients. She kept repeating, ‘She knows. She’ll never forgive me.’ Yesterday she started hallucinating. Maybe Stella’s visit can help.”
“I don’t want—”
“I’m sure you don’t want to have her death on your conscience.”
“How dare you. I’m the victim here.”
“I know, but she’s our patient. Tomorrow I may have to open her skull again to release the pressure. Will you be able to assist me? Think about it. Goodnight.”
Holding the phone in a death grip, Melody sprawled on the bed, sobbing. And kept crying, venting the sorrow she’d repressed for too long, remembering her youth with Rachel and her brats, the harsh words, the menial chores, the blows and kicks...and the cries for her mom to come and save her.
Her prayers had been answered too late. She was the one expected to do the same for her mother now.
To think Aidan and even Stella seemed to blame her, accuse her of neglecting her patient.
She could let her unworthy mother suffer, but she was too good a nurse to let a patient die. Pushing aside the damp pillow, she called Stella.
“Why you crying, Mommy?” Stella wrapped her arms around her mommy’s neck. “Nana Licia will be okay.”
“Yes, she’ll be okay. We’re going to the hospital.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now. You’ll see her and Aidan. And you’ll sleep in his room while I take care of your nana.”
“Yeah. Thank you, Mommy.”
***
Aidan had trouble trusting his eyes. Melody in scrubs and Stella in her pj’s with Pink Teddy in her arms, standing at the door of his office.
“Aidan, I missed you.” Stella ran to him, her arms raised. He lifted her and threw her in the air. She giggled and he laughed in response. For a second, he had the illusion that nothing had changed, that the last two weeks hadn’t existed. He put her down and faced her mother. And sobered as he noticed her somber attitude, the stiffness of her jaw, the shadows around her eyes.
That was Melody at her worst, suppressing her suffering and determined to forge ahead and ignore any offer of help. He wished he could wrap her in his arms and tell her how much he missed her. She’d probably run at his first step to
ward her.
“Take her to see her Nana Licia,” she said. “I’ll wait here. When you return, I’ll put her to bed in your on-call room and then stay overnight at Alicia’s side.”
“Thank you, Melody.”
His approving smile didn’t seem to soothe her. She raised a palm. “No need to thank me. Just doing my job as a nurse. We wouldn’t like Dr. Olson to lose a patient.” Her icy tone warned him not to expect an inkling of sympathy for the woman who had abandoned her. “Stella, go with Aidan. I’ll wait.”
Taking Stella’s hand, he rushed to the ICU. The nurse watching his two patients’ monitors gasped and lifted a finger, pointing at Stella.
“Dr. Olson, no children allowed here. Hospital regulations—”
“We’ll make an exception, Heather. Stella is with me and she’s a very quiet girl.”
Stella nodded. “Right. I have to see my nana.”
At the entrance of Alicia’s room, he lifted her in his arms and approached the bed. “Alicia, look who I brought.”
No response.
There had been times when he’d wondered if his patient had fallen into a coma between bouts of screaming and hallucinations.
“Nana Licia, you sleeping?” Stella called.
He thought he saw Alicia blink. “Again.” He squeezed Stella’s hand.
“Nana Licia,” the little girl shouted, jiggling with excitement. “It’s Stella.” She bent out of his arms and shook the patient’s shoulder. “I’m here.”
He drew her back, afraid she’d be too rough on his frail patient. “Don’t do that.”
“Stella?”
At least the child’s forcefulness had snapped Alicia out of her stupor.
“Nana Licia, I missed you, missed you, missed you.”
The patient opened her eyes. “Stella.” She stared as if she’d seen a vision, and smiled. “My little sunshine, give me a hug.”
“Gently,” Aidan warned. “Very gently. A kiss on the cheek.”
“Yes.” He lowered her and she placed a noisy kiss on her nana’s cheek. “Can I sit on the bed, next to Nana?”
“Very gently. No sudden moves. Nana’s head hurts.”
