by Terri DuLong
“You can’t have to go back out,” I said, trying to figure out what she wanted.
A minute later, she backed up, took a running leap and jumped up on the sofa, where she wasted no time curling up in my lap.
“You little stinker,” I said, and felt a smile cross my face.
Again, she looked up at me with those soulful eyes. It suddenly hit me that this beautiful and sweet little puppy might not even be here if she hadn’t been rescued. I felt tears stinging my eyes. I knew all too well what it felt like to be rejected. Forgotten about. And to not understand why.
I stroked the fur between her ears and then picked her up and held her close to my face.
Her tail was wagging away and her happiness was obvious.
“Okay, Ginger,” I said. “I think we’ve bonded.”
* * *
The flurry of activity continued all day at Koi House. Workmen arrived to set up a canopy in the garden area. Another crew came to arrange chairs around the pond where guests would witness the ceremony, and then the workmen put together a beautiful white trellis entwined with fresh flowers, where Chloe and Henry would stand to take their vows.
The ceremony was scheduled for five, and by late morning a catering van pulled up and the kitchen was turned over to the chef.
I walked in to hear Chloe giving them instructions.
“Everything going okay?” I asked.
“Yes, perfect. I think everything is under control. The only thing left to do is shower and dress.”
“And it’s too early for that. Mavis Anne just called and suggested that Haley, you, and I come over for lunch and let the workers do their thing. She said David and Clive insist.”
Chloe laughed. “That might be a good idea. I’m feeling I’ll only be in the way here.”
We walked next door and found that lunch had been set up on the patio.
“This is so nice of you,” Chloe said. “I hadn’t given a thought to eating.”
“Exactly,” David said. “That’s why Clive and I wanted to make sure all of you had lunch.”
Clive came outside carrying a pitcher and began filling glasses.
“Ah, mimosas,” Mavis Anne said. “The perfect late-morning beverage to toast Chloe.”
When we had our glasses, she lifted hers and said, “To Chloe and Henry. I’m so very happy you found Yarrow’s tea shop that afternoon. You’ve brought joy and happiness to all of us . . . but especially to Koi House.”
Chloe nodded. “Sometimes it still seems like a dream. To think I almost didn’t come to Ormond Beach at all after Gabe died. I have to feel that things really do work out exactly the way they’re supposed to.”
“Yeah,” Haley said. “And if you hadn’t come here, Mom and I wouldn’t be here either.”
They were both right and I was grateful that Chloe had taken that step to book Henry’s condo the previous year.
“Right,” Mavis Anne said. “And even though Chloe is now leaving, Koi House has the two of you to keep it filled with love.”
Chloe and Henry had decided to stay at his condo for the time being. They weren’t sure if they wanted to purchase a home, and the condo suited them well for space and location. As for Haley and me, I still wasn’t sure where we would live permanently. And for now—Koi House was home.
* * *
Grace arrived with Solange shortly after noon to help her sister get ready.
“Okay,” she said. “After you get out of the shower, I’ll do your makeup and hair,” she told Chloe. “It was easier for Solange and me to get ready at the hotel.”
Grace looked very chic in a celery green sheath. But Solange looked like a child model out of the pages of a top fashion magazine. She wore a knee-length dress with cap sleeves. It was a shimmery gold polyester with some type of metal fiber. A slim black ribbon circled the waist and depending on how the light caught the dress, it changed from gold to black. With her chin-length dark curls, the child was absolutely stunning, and the dress made her more so.
“Oh, Solange,” I said. “You look beautiful. Are you excited?”
She nodded and smiled. “Yes. Mama said I get to carry a basket of rose petals.”
I laughed. I guess at five years old, one is oblivious to the allure of fashion.
Haley and I headed to my room to get ready, and an hour later we were helping each other to fasten bracelets and zip zippers.
“You look gorgeous, Mom.”
“So do you,” I told her.
Just thinking about the fact that it seemed like yesterday that my daughter was the age of Solange brought moisture to my eyes. The years were tumbling by much too fast.
My cell phone rang, preventing me from getting too sentimental, and I smiled to see Chadwick’s name.
“Hey,” I said. “Are you here?”
“Just pulled up in the driveway. How’s it going?”
“Great. Haley and I are ready. I’ll meet you outside.”
I walked through the kitchen to see the caterers engrossed in their work.
Chadwick was on the patio waiting for me.
“You look stunning, Isabelle.”
He leaned over to place a kiss on my lips.
“You look pretty handsome yourself.”
And he did, wearing a light gray suit, white shirt, and charcoal gray tie.
He took my hand and led me to the pond area.
“Shall we go get seated?”
I nodded and smiled.
David and Clive had offered to seat guests and they directed us to two seats up front. A moment later I saw Chloe’s son, Eli, and his wife, Treva, seated across from us and waved. From the size of her abdomen I hoped she would hold off on having the baby until Chloe returned from Hawaii.
A tall, good looking fellow was seated beside Eli. I knew this must be Chloe’s other son, Mathis. Within a short time the chairs were filled with the remaining guests.
A little while later I heard strains of classical music fill the air and Solange walked toward the trellis dropping rose petals behind her. She was followed by Haley.
When they reached the end of the pond area, we turned to see Chloe enter on the arm of Henry. I don’t think I’d ever seen her look as beautiful or as radiant. For a brief second I thought of my father and how odd it was to be here witnessing her marry another man. But I also knew it was right. I had no doubt that Chloe was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Chadwick reached for my hand as we sat and listened to the exchange of marriage vows.
Following the ceremony, everyone filtered out to the garden area to celebrate their union with champagne, dinner, dancing, and music.
At the end of the evening I walked Chadwick to his car.
He put his arms around me and pulled me into an embrace.
“It was a beautiful wedding,” he said.
“It was. I’m so happy for Chloe.”
He remained silent for a moment before whispering, “I don’t want to leave you.”
I nodded. “I know. I don’t want you to.”
He let out a deep sigh before kissing me and then saying, “I love you, Isabelle.”
“I love you too,” I told him.
As he pulled out of the driveway, I waved good-bye—and felt that a part of me had gone with him.
Chapter 37
By Wednesday morning things were pretty much back to normal at Koi House. No signs of the wedding remained. Chloe and Henry had flown to Hawaii on Monday and called to let me know they had arrived safely. Grace, Lucas, and Solange had flown back to France. Eli and Treva had returned to Jacksonville, and Mathis had gone back to Atlanta.
I had finished my morning deliveries and returned to the tea shop. My mother had been due to arrive about a half hour before.
I walked in to find Yarrow helping somebody in the yarn shop and another customer waiting in the tea shop to place an order.
“Where’s my mother?” I called to her.
“I have no idea,” she said. “But could you take
that order for me?”
“Sure.”
I filled the order for coffee and a muffin to go, wondering where the hell my mother was. It brought back unpleasant memories of those first few days after she left home. At first, I thought my father was joking and maybe she’d just gone away for a couple of days with a girlfriend. There had been no indication at all that my mother was planning to move out of my life.
When both customers left, I said, “Did she call you?”
Yarrow shook her head. “No. I thought maybe she’d called you.”
“Not a word.”
Just like thirty years before. Was this her pattern? To make a commitment and then not follow through?
“I don’t know what to say.” And I didn’t. “I thought she wanted to help out here. That she was even looking forward to it.”
Just then my cell phone rang, and I saw Florida Hospital on my caller ID. I felt my hand tremble as I touched the phone to answer.
“Yes?” I said in a voice that didn’t sound like me.
“Is this Isabelle Wainwright?”
I nodded and then realized the person on the other end couldn’t see me.
“Yes,” I said again.
“This is the nurse in the ER at Florida Hospital. We have Iris Brunell here. Is she your mother?”
“Yes, she is. What happened?”
“I’m afraid she’s been involved in a motor vehicle accident. We need you to come here as soon as possible.”
When I remained silent, she said, “Do you understand?”
I answered with another question, “Is she okay?”
“You just need to get here. You were listed as next of kin. We’re located on Williamson Boulevard. Do you know where that is?”
“Yes. I’m on my way.”
I hung up, feeling like I was in a trance.
“My mother’s been in a car accident. I have to go,” I said as I headed to the door.
“Isabelle, wait,” Yarrow said, grabbing my arm. “I’ll take you. You shouldn’t be driving.”
“No. I’m fine. I’ll call you.”
I flew out the door to my car and headed up Granada Boulevard.
Why wouldn’t the nurse tell me how my mother was? Was she dead? Years of guilt, anger, sadness, and regret washed over me. Was it too late? Was it too late to tell her that I did love her? That although I didn’t agree with what she had done, I understood? A million thoughts raced through my mind as I speeded to the hospital, half expecting to get pulled over by a cop.
In what felt like hours, I managed to get to the hospital, found a parking spot outside of the emergency room and raced inside. I ran to the information desk.
“Iris Brunell,” I said. “I’m her daughter. Where is she?”
The woman behind the window nodded. “One minute,” she said, holding up a finger and picking up the phone. “A nurse will be right out,” she told me when she hung up. “You can have a seat over there.”
I wanted to scream. I could barely breathe, never mind sitting down and acting calm.
A few minutes later, a nurse called out, “Isabelle Wainwright?”
“Right here,” I said, running over to her. “My mother. Is she . . .”
She took my arm and led me down a corridor. “She’s having a CAT scan done right now. She was unconscious on arrival. Let’s go in here,” she said, leading me into a small office.
Relief washed over me. She was alive. “Is she going to be okay?”
“It’s too soon to tell the extent of her injuries. Have a seat,” she said, and looked down at the clipboard in her hand. “She has a fractured right arm and various lacerations. The doctor is most concerned with possible head injuries. But we’ll know more after the scan is finished. Do you have any questions?”
Before I could even stop myself, I blurted out, “Had she been drinking?”
She glanced down at the papers in her hand. “Had she been drinking? No. We did a tox screen. However, the fellow that hit her was intoxicated.”
I almost burst out laughing. How ironic! She had given up alcohol thirty years before, only to be hit now by a drunk driver.
“Does your mother have a drinking problem?” she asked.
I shook my head emphatically and felt a huge sense of remorse. “No. She’s a recovering alcoholic and has been in AA for thirty years.”
“Good for her. Okay. Well, you can come down to the ER waiting area. As soon as we hear anything, we’ll let you know.”
All of it suddenly came crashing down on me—the guilt, the anger, but most of all, the fear of losing my mother yet again. I began sobbing and felt the nurse’s arm go around me. She reached for a tissue from the box on the table and passed it to me. Years of sadness poured out of my eyes and I wasn’t sure I’d ever stop crying.
The door opened and I heard Chadwick’s voice. “Isabelle?”
I jumped up and went into his arms.
“My mother . . . she . . .”
I felt him patting my head. “Shh, I know. I know. Yarrow called me.”
The comfort and safety of his arms allowed my sobs to subside.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
“I don’t know. They’re doing a scan right now. She was unconscious when they brought her in.”
“Okay,” he said. “So we’ll wait. Together.”
I sat beside Chadwick in the waiting area, my hand clutched in his. Neither one of us spoke. We didn’t have to.
About an hour later a doctor called, “Isabelle Wainwright?”
I jumped up. “Here,” I said.
He walked toward me, extending his hand. “Dr. Brewster. I’m the neurologist looking after your mother.”
“How is she?”
“Well, the scan results show she has a mild concussion. She hasn’t woken up yet so it’s a matter of waiting.”
I felt Chadwick come up behind me. “Is that normal? Not waking up?”
The doctor nodded. “Yes. Actually, she is beginning to stir a bit. So it probably won’t be too much longer.”
“Can I see her?”
“Yes. She’s in a room down here. Now don’t be alarmed. We have her hooked up to IVs and various monitors and it can be a bit overwhelming.”
I nodded and grasped Chadwick’s hand as we followed the doctor into a small room.
I felt my heart drop when I saw my mother in the bed. She looked so small and frail. And vulnerable. Gone was her perky smile and upbeat energy. They had been replaced with pale white skin, smeared makeup, a bandage on her forehead, and various cuts on her face. This woman did not resemble my mother.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered as my hands flew to my face. I felt Chadwick’s arm go around me.
A nurse had been hovering near the bedside. “Are you her daughter?”
I nodded.
“It oftentimes looks worse than it is. Actually, her vital signs are very good and she’s beginning to stir a little bit. You can come closer,” she assured me.
I walked to the bed and reached for my mother’s hand. It was then that I noticed her right arm was in a sling. I gave her left hand a little squeeze.
“Can she hear me?” I asked the nurse.
“We’re never certain, but yes, we always think so. I’ll be right outside at the desk. If you need anything, just come to get me. My name is Rachel and I’m your mother’s nurse.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I said and turned back to my mother as I felt the tears coursing down my face once again.
Chadwick came to stand behind me and just feeling his closeness gave me some reassurance.
“Mom?” I whispered. “It’s me. Isabelle.”
No response.
After a few minutes, Chadwick said, “I’m going to get us some coffee, okay? That’ll give you some time alone with your mom.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I stood there with my mother’s hand in mine and stared at her. I was shocked at how much she seemed to have aged in the blink of an eye. And I recalled so many g
ood moments I’d spent with my mother. Like a kaleidoscope, they went flashing through my brain. Until I’d met Petra, she had been my best friend. We had been so close. Maybe that’s why it hurt so much when she left. But for the first time, I was able to put that aside. This time—she had not left me. This time—she was right here. With me. With her hand in mine.
“Mom,” I whispered again. “It’s Isabelle. You were in a car accident and you’re in the hospital, but you’re going to be okay. I’m right here with you. And I’m not leaving. And . . . I love you, Mom.” Tears blurred my vision as I continued to stare at my mother. “I’ve always loved you. And I always will. I need you to know this. I’m glad you didn’t give up and that you came here to find me.”
I saw her eyelids flutter, and a sound came from her lips.
“Isabelle?” she whispered.
“Yes. It’s me. I’m right here.”
She slowly nodded her head. “I know you are. I knew you would be . . . because a mother knows those things.”
She opened her eyes and gave me a weak smile.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Sore. And tired.”
“Mrs. Brunell, you’re awake,” Rachel said, walking into the room with a smile covering her face. “We’ll let Dr. Brewster know right away. Do you need anything?”
“Just my daughter right here by my side.”
Chapter 38
Chadwick had insisted that he be at Koi House when Haley returned home from school so he could explain about her grandmother and bring her to the hospital. My mother was getting her fractured arm set and I was waiting for an update from the doctor.
My cell rang, and I smiled when I saw Petra’s name.
“Oh, God, Isabelle. Yarrow called me. How’s your mother?”
“Considering what she’s been through, she’s doing surprisingly well. Fractured arm, a mild concussion, and cuts and bruises. She’s getting her arm set now.”
“You must be a wreck. Do you want me to come down there? Because I will.”
I smiled. “I know you would, but no. I’m doing much better now and Chadwick has been here with me.”
