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Love Uncharted

Page 65

by Berinn Rae


  Jess stepped to her and placed her hand on Olivia’s shoulder. “Go to your sister. You’ll be only a phone call away.”

  “Thank you.” The angel had said Tadem was severely ill. A foreboding squeezed Olivia’s chest and refused to loosen no matter how deeply she breathed. “I’ll leave on the first flight.”

  Deep in thoughts she couldn’t snap out of, Olivia packed for the trip. Memories of her childhood spent with her fragile sister followed Olivia on her flight, and all the way to the hospital. When she first met Tom, he had believed she returned home from attending Tadem during her surgery. Could this be the beginning of the life she had shared with him and their children? Everything would be fine. Tadem would live to see her nephew and niece. But the self-assurance did nothing to ease her nerves.

  The short doctor met her in the surgical ward. “Tadem’s quite upset today. We need to get the tumors out or she’ll face the harder procedure the longer we wait.”

  “I’ll talk to her, doctor.” Olivia set her small suitcase against the green wall of Tadem’s room and approached the bed. Her sister looked every bit the same as when she’d seen her in her fantasy world. Grown and heavy. “Tadem, it’s me, Olivia. Don’t be afraid, the doctor knows what he’s doing.”

  “My angel,” Tadem slurred, drool rolling down the corner of her mouth. But it was the indifference in her stare that made Olivia shudder. Her sister looked at her as if she were another stranger.

  Olivia regarded the nurse with a hard stare. “Is she drugged?”

  “She needs to calm down before the surgery.” The nurse tucked the blankets around Tadem’s feet.

  “My angel is gone. She left me. I need her back.” Tadem grabbed her hand. “Please, good lady, can you find her? I don’t want to go anywhere without her.”

  “She’s been like this since last night.” The nurse shook her head. “Yammering away about some angel.”

  “It’s okay, Tadem.” Olivia smoothed her sister’s scraggly hair. How dare the nurse? Had she seen Tadem’s angel, she’d shiver in her shoes. “Your angel will come back. I’m sure.”

  “Here are the forms Dr. Wade needs you to sign.” The nurse shoved the clipboard toward Olivia. She stepped behind Tadem’s bed and unlocked the brakes. “It’s time we roll her into the OR.”

  Olivia held onto Tadem’s hand until they reached the blue pivoting door displaying “Staff and patients only.”

  “A moment with my sister, please?”

  The nurse stepped away.

  “Tadem, honey, look at me.” Olivia swallowed, tears burning her eyes. She had to be brave for her sister. “It’ll be all right. You’ll be out faster than you think. Okay?”

  She kissed the top of her head. Tadem presented her with a grin. She appeared calmer — could be due to the drugs or her angel had returned.

  The nurse grabbed onto the railing of the bed. “We have to go now.”

  Olivia couldn’t let go of her sister’s hand. The bed passed through the door, Tadem’s fingers slipped out of her hold.

  “Olivia,” Tadem shouted, but the gurney rolled through and the pivoting panes flapped, shutting in front of Olivia’s face.

  Olivia clamped her lips between her teeth and stifled a cry. A distinct feeling this was the last time she would see her sister alive burned deep in her mind. Where in the world was their mother to give her consent for her daughter’s surgery? They waited too long.

  Hours ticked away. Olivia flipped through an old magazine in the waiting area. Her presentiment increased. At the throat clearing, she snapped her glance toward Dr. Wade standing a few feet in front of her.

  Sadness in his eyes and his thinned lips told her the unimaginable had happened. Grief poured over her and a long wail escaped. She wrapped her arms around her abdomen and rocked back and forth.

  Dr. Wade sat in the chair facing her. “She was worse off than what showed on her x-rays. Every growth we cut caused massive bleeding. Had she survived today, it would have meant more surgeries, treatments, chemotherapies. Not the kind of life anyone would like to live.”

  Olivia pressed her hand to her mouth, tears dripping over her fingers. She understood what the doctor was trying to convey, yet she found little solace in his words. Another night of hard crying alone in the hotel room was all that remained for her.

  Through her tears, she studied her face looking back at her from the dark glass of cab’s window. Time seemed merciless and deepened the lines around her lips and eyes, despite her best efforts to buy youth in a jar.

  Once alone, she sat on the bed in the chain hotel, reminiscing of her visit to this city at Christmas. How happy they’d all been. Now her son would never have a loving aunt with whom he shared his little secrets. She’d just have to tell him everything about Tadem one day and not let her pure spirit die.

  “Angel? Are you here? If you can hear me, you staked your soul, so return Tom to me.” Olivia waited for any sign from the entity.

  After a few moments a soft melody sounded from the distance and lulled her into a trance. “Tadem’s soul arrived in Heaven. She’s happy now and whole. Tom’s life is slipping away — only your love, if strong enough, will save him.”

  Olivia clutched the pillow to her chest. “My love is strong. Please, oh, please don’t let his life fade.”

  “Sleep now.” An invisible hand brushed her face and closed her eyes. The music grew fainter and so did Olivia’s will to stay awake.

  She woke to a hot summer day, yet she barely paid much attention to the heat. She was dressed in her black suit she’d never thought to wear for her sister’s hastily arranged burial. A few flower arrangements decorated Tadem’s plain grave. Olivia placed a single red rose on the casket and stepped back, nodding to the priest. She laced her fingers to stop them from clutching to the fabric of her skirt. Mother’s assistant had sent the wreath of white chrysanthemum and a store bought card. No personal touch, no sorrow, only a few words of Mother’s important business in Paris and an insincere regret for not being able to attend personally.

  After the funeral, Olivia headed to Tadem’s room in the residence where she’d spent most of her short life. Her few meager possessions packed in cardboard boxes waited by the door, ready to be dropped off at the Goodwill. The place was now ready for the next resident, just the way the world moved.

  Olivia reached for a colorful notebook on top and flipped through the pages. The words Tom and Olivia inside hearts stood out. She lowered herself to the lumpy mattress and read Tadem’s big, round letters. In a few simple words, Tadem had detailed Olivia’s life with Tom and the children. Olivia devoured the story and burst into tears at the happy ending. Tadem must’ve written the events the way her angel told her. And knowing her sister, she would have pestered her angel to tell the story over and over.

  CHAPTER 21

  Seated in the Vancouver hotel’s lobby, Olivia read Tadem’s story again while waiting on the airport taxi. The pain of loss sliced through her chest as she made peace with the fact her sister was in a better place. Poor Tadem, her death could have been avoided. In her misery, Olivia had forgotten her sister — how could she be so selfish?

  The woman sweeping the lobby came into Olivia’s focus over the top of the pages and she lowered Tadem’s notes to her lap. The cleaning lady stopped the mop and stared back at her. Prickles ran down Olivia’s back when she recognized the maid’s face. It was the Intelcorp employee she’d discharged from duties on her last firing tirade. Olivia stood and slowly approached her.

  “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to stare.” The cleaning woman’s stringy hair hanging from the flowery scarf shook when she snapped her head and returned to mopping the spilled drink.

  “Nela, right?” Olivia extended her hand, but the woman shoved the cleaning utensil in her cart and hustled to polish the wood trim.

  Olivia followed her. “I can’t blame you if you don’t want to talk me, but please hear me out. I don’t work for the same company anymore.”

  Nela halte
d and spun on her heel, facing her. In the light of the sun beaming through the high window, her facial lines stood out. “What do you want?” she snapped with her usual hard accent. “Last time I saw you, you caused me nothing but grief.”

  Olivia took a step back. She couldn’t right all the wrongs she’d caused, but if she could help one unfortunate soul, the guilt on her conscience would lessen. “I want to offer you a job.”

  Nela opened her mouth as if to bark at her again. She wobbled her head, her expression changed from sour to curious. “It’s my last day here and I have no other job offers. I’m interested.”

  Nela’s bitter tone and accusative eyes disappeared, and Olivia continued, “I need a receptionist. Would you consider relocating to Toronto? I could help a little with your moving expenses.”

  Nela shrugged, wriggled her nose and finally smiled. “Tempting. I’ll consider.”

  Olivia handed her the business card. “Contact me when you make your decision, but don’t wait too long.”

  Nela took the card in her dry and chapped hand. “Who am I kidding? I accept. There are a few things I need to do before I make the move.”

  “Take your time. My airport ride is here, I have to go.” Olivia returned to her suitcase and waved to Nela from the door. Nela waved back.

  Olivia spent most of her flight staring out the window. Easiness settled over her. Maybe being so high up put her closer to Tadem. The fluffy clouds reminded her of stories she told to her in those few rare moments they’d spent together. Her poor sister had lived a humble and short life. She deserved to be happy in Heaven.

  Jess waited for her at the Toronto airport. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. Why you wouldn’t let me come to Tadem’s funeral? I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you to do it all with no help.”

  “Your help was tremendous, Jess. You did what you could from here.” Olivia scrolled through her emails and smiled at Nela’s message. She opened the memo and then said, “Our receptionist will start on Monday.”

  • • •

  With every good deed, Olivia pictured Tom’s proud face. She could almost touch him. She would not let the angel take him away. Not until she took her last breath. Why then did she stare at the computer screen unable to focus on her task at hand? Her thumb slid back and forth over Tom’s smooth tie clip. Jess had caught her crying in the bathroom several times. Olivia had brushed her away, blaming a stubbed toe or headache. But for how long could she carry on this farce?

  The door to her office opened and Susan stepped in, in her hands a cardboard tray filled with large coffee cups.

  Nela locked the door and flipped the door sign to Closed. Her eagerness to please was overwhelming at times, but she settled into her routine fast.

  The three women surrounded her desk. Olivia eyed them with suspicion. “What are you doing?”

  “Olivia,” Susan set the tray down. “Enough with this denial. We don’t buy your ‘I’m fine’ excuse anymore.”

  “What are you talking about?” she scoffed, but her friends only regarded her with harder stares. No way could she slip out of their clutches now. They had planned this.

  “We’re worried. You talk to yourself.” Jess took the seat across from her desk. “Cry when you think no one’s watching, stare into the blank space.”

  “I do?” Olivia arched her eyebrow. Mocking the three ladies wouldn’t work.

  “It’s for your own good, so speak up.” Susan plopped on the chair next to Jess and pulled coffee cups out. “Think of this as a brainstorming session.”

  Olivia drew in a deep breath. Brainstorming, right. Perhaps she could tell them a thing or two, but not the whole story. Okay, how to start? She stared at the plain ceiling then lowered her gaze at the three pairs of wide eyes. “Could you see me as a wife and a mother?”

  “Anything’s possible.” Susan tapped Olivia’s hand, but Jess and Nela frowned and shrugged.

  Olivia studied her friends’ narrowing gazes. “What I’m about to tell you will sound crazy.”

  All three leaned over her desk as she pushed her story out of her mouth. She had planned not to disclose it all, but as she kept talking, the details just poured out. Except the part about the gun. Her friends didn’t need to know how close she’d come to breaking the law.

  Susan clamped her hanging mouth shut. “Are you sure you didn’t dream this?”

  “I’m positive. Don’t you remember holding Rosie?” Olivia swung her glace at Jess. “You too bounced her on your knees.”

  Jess plucked the stir stick out of her mouth. “You must’ve dreamt that part. Last time I held the baby, I ended wearing my nephew’s lunch.” Her lips stretched in a mocking smile. “My sister forgot to tell me babies have to be burped first. Do you have any idea how much baby barf reeks?”

  “I do.” Olivia masked the pain slicing her chest with a short chortle. “And I’d give anything to smell it again.”

  Jess twirled the chewed up stir stick between her fingers. “I don’t think things through, that’s what you often say, so this may be nothing or it could be something.”

  “Spill it out,” Susan demanded. “Because I draw a blank.”

  Jess angled her chair, facing the two women. “Well, this angel took Olivia to the future, right?”

  “Right.” Nela and Susan answered in unison.

  “So now Olivia has to find Tom here to live her future.”

  “We already know that.” Susan took a sip of her coffee and scowled. By now their untouched beverages had turned cold.

  Jess raised her index finger. “We have to make sure Tom is real.”

  “He is. I’m sure.” Olivia nodded. How else would she have his tie pin she’d given him in the future? Susan was right, this brainstorming proved helpful. “I don’t know where else to look.”

  Jess’s eyes lit up. “You said you remember this guy from the campus. What year did he graduate?”

  Olivia’s mind raced, counting years backward. “Nineteen ninety-five. Why?”

  Jess’s shoulders rose with her long inhale. “Do you think the university would keep yearbooks that far back?”

  Olivia dropped her chin. Why couldn’t she think of that? “You’re a genius.”

  “Let me try something.” Jess raced for her laptop. The keys on the keyboard clicked under her flying fingers. “Well hello, Mr. Tomislav Medar. He’s so handsome.”

  Olivia flew to the Jess’s desk. Tom’s black-and-white picture glowed on the screen. His graduation robe covered his athletic frame, but the mop of his hair hung loose under the cap. Those must’ve been the last of his rebel days, before he had it cut and took the lawyer job. She brushed her hand over the photo. The university record and his photo enforced her belief that he is real. Where are you, my love?

  “You said he is Croatian?” At Nela’s voice she peeled her gaze away from his image.

  “Yeah, his family moved back to some split town.”

  Nela sneered. “It’s the town of Split. Exact same spelling, different meaning. The name comes from the Latin word Spalato, the palace. Italians kept the original name. The city was founded by the Roman Emperor Diocletian who built his retirement residence there.”

  “And some residence it is.” Jess threw her remark over her shoulder, then faced the screen again. “Listen to this. The biggest Dalmatian seaport, and the pics are fabulous. Is the sea really this blue? Just look at the sun-bleached buildings rising straight from the water. I would love to see this place.”

  Susan sprung to her feet. “We should go. It’ll be a great getaway and who knows, we may just find Tom.”

  “I can’t go to Croatia,” Nela shrieked. “I’ll stay here and mind the business.”

  “Nela, we need a translator.” Jess typed away on the keyboard her eyes glued to the screen. “Hey, hey. Look what I found.” Jess licked her lips and grinned at the screen. “This guest house is up for rent. It’s in the middle of downtown inside the palace. It accommodates four people and they have two weeks available as of now
. What do you say? Shall I book this?”

  “Yes.” Susan jumped, clapping her hands. “Great find, Jess. We’re going.”

  Nela lowered herself to the seat. Color drained from her bleak face. “You’ll find many people who speak English. There are too many painful memories. I can’t go.”

  “All right, Nela. We won’t force you.” Olivia rubbed her dry hand. Nela’s face lit with a slight smile. “I hope you find him.”

  Olivia propped her head on her folded arms. Just by opening up, in the past hour she accomplished more than all her efforts in the past. This was all moving way too fast, but if travelling to Tom’s country meant finding him, she’d cross the distance. He would do the same for her.

  CHAPTER 22

  The downpour washed the ancient city of Split, leaving the stone-paved, narrow roads glisten in the light of street lamps. Olivia leaned her head to the wood trim of window frame. Rain settled to steady rhythm, the drumming of the drops against the window seemed to mock her, confirming her fear. The trip to Croatia had not turned up Tom and she couldn’t relax and enjoy this exotic country the way it was supposed to be relished. The love she harbored for Tom could be just a fantasy and she should let go of the illusion. But he made her a better person, added zest to her life she didn’t know was missing, and the amazing love they shared, the way he’d kissed her, he’d given her the best days of her life … she closed her eyes at the thought. Could she keep waiting for him?

  “Olivia.” A soft hand squeezed her shoulder. She whirled and faced Jess’s sorrowful expression. Wow, her friend had managed to get away from Nikola. Their gracious host stood no chance when Jess quickly wrapped him around her little finger.

  Jess tapped her hand and gained her attention. “Sometimes you have to stop worrying, doubting and wondering. Things will work out, you’ll see. Maybe not exactly how you want them to be, but how they supposed to be.”

 

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