Life Unexpected

by J A Stone

  Corey nodded her head. “Is she in any pain?”

  “No. As a matter of fact, she doesn’t need to be in intensive care anymore. We’ll move her to a regular room tomorrow and then start thinking about a long-term facility if you want to go that route.”

  “What other route is there?”

  “We could disconnect the life-support system and see if she can survive on her own.”

  Corey looked down at Nancy, praying that she couldn’t, in fact, hear what the doctor had just so callously said in front of her. “Don’t you think it’s a bit premature to be talking about such things now?”

  “Just being realistic,” Dr. Randall said. “Also, there is no reason for you to be here around the clock. She doesn’t know that you’re here, and the nurses will call you if there’s any change.”

  “May I say that, in my opinion, your bedside manner could use a little polishing.”

  “Well!” Dr. Randall said with a huff. “I guess I’ll be on my way, then.”

  When the door closed, Corey felt angry tears forming in her eyes. How dare that supercilious jerk just write Nancy off as though she were so much trash that needed to be gotten rid of. She sat down next to Nancy and touched her hand. It felt cold and lifeless. She picked it up and enclosed it in her hands in an effort to transfer some of her body’s warmth into the hand. Corey sat there and thought about the uncomfortable decisions they were trying to get her to make. How could she be responsible for another human being’s life, or rather, death?

  “I’m sorry you had to hear that. He is not my favorite doctor.” Corey sighed, still holding on to Nancy’s hand. “I just wanted to tell you that I love you. I remember the first time I met you. You were so welcoming and warm that all of the awkwardness I’d been feeling just melted away. And you were a great mother who raised a great son. Also, I couldn’t have made it through Luke’s illness without you. You were always there when I needed you.”

  Corey felt tears falling unchecked from her eyes. “If you could just do one more thing for me, please don’t make me make this final decision for you. Either open your eyes and come back to me, or go be with Luke. I’m sure you can’t wait to be with him again anyway, and I’m sure Luke is anxious for you to be with him too.”

  Corey sat up and wiped her eyes. She felt empty and spent. She decided that perhaps the doctor had been right about one thing: she might as well go home. She found a piece of paper in her briefcase and wrote out her home and cell-phone numbers. She stopped by the nurse’s desk and gave the information to the nurse on duty. “Please pass this along to the nurse who relieves you. And please call me if there’s any change.”

  On the way home, she called Tripp to tell him she was on her way. But he didn’t answer his cell phone. When she opened the door, she could hear happy noises coming from Stella’s bathroom. “Hello!” Corey called out loudly, not wanting to startle them by coming in unexpectedly. She peeked into the bathroom and saw Stella splashing water at Tripp. “Stella,” Corey said disapprovingly.

  Tripp jerked back in surprise. “Oh no, we’re busted, Stella. I was planning on having the evidence cleaned up before the authorities got here.”

  “Tripp, that’s not a good habit to be forming.”

  “I know, I know, it’s just that she was having so much fun. Hey, what are you doing home?”

  “Nothing seemed to be changing with Nancy, so I decided I might as well come home and get some sleep.”

  “Despite evidence to the contrary, I’ve got everything under control here. You go take a bath and relax.”

  Corey looked at Stella smiling happily and decided she would take him up on his offer. “Okay, thanks. I’m going to call Diane first.”

  Corey went into her bedroom and called Diane, who answered on one of the first rings. Corey decided not to beat around the bush. “Nancy has had a stroke, and it’s not looking too good.”

  “Oh no. What are they saying?” Diane was instantly concerned.

  Corey rubbed the side of her head where it was throbbing. “Basically that Nancy could remain in this totally unresponsive vegetative state for a while and then die. Or they can unplug the machines and speed the process along.”

  “I’m so sorry. Do you want me to come tomorrow?”

  “Why don’t you wait and let me call you tomorrow.”

  “And Stella? What are you doing with her?”

  “Well, there’s nothing I can do at the hospital. I don’t think Nancy even knows I’m there, so there’s really no need for me to stay overnight. Everything’s okay for now. I’ll call you as soon as anything changes.”

  “I’m here if you need me.”

  “I know you are. I love you, Di.”

  “Love you too.”

  “Hey, listen, Kathryn’s calling on the other line, so let me go.”

  Corey realized that it had been two days since she’d left the message for Kathryn to call her. Although she hadn’t known about Nancy when she left the message, it seemed odd that it had taken Kathryn so long to get back to her.

  “Guess what?” Kathryn said excitedly when Corey switched over.

  “What?” Corey knew from the sound of Kathryn’s voice that it was something big.

  “Will and I flew to Las Vegas on Tuesday and got married. It has been such a whirlwind that I’m only now getting around to calling people and letting them know.”

  “Congratulations!” Corey tried to put some enthusiasm into her tired voice. “Why didn’t you let me know before you left?”

  “I didn’t know myself. I thought the surprise trip to Las Vegas he sprung on me Tuesday was my birthday present. But on the plane, Will proposed. He said that since we’d both been married before, he thought a nice, quiet wedding—just the two of us—would be perfect. So he threw me a surprise wedding for my birthday. My birthday was why you were calling, right?”

  What a terrible friend I am, thought Corey. After everything that Kathryn had done for her, Corey had forgotten that Tuesday was Kathryn’s birthday. In this situation, Corey decided a tiny white lie was appropriate. “Yeah, although later that same night, Nancy had a stroke. She’s at Northside Hospital now, and things aren’t looking very good.”

  “Oh no! What can I do to help you?” Kathryn sounded alarmed.

  “You can be happy and enjoy being a new wife. I’m fine right now. Call me when you get back to Atlanta.”

  “Keep me updated about Nancy.”

  “I will.”

  Corey realized after hanging up that her slightly throbbing headache had spread to her entire head. She decided two Advil and a good, long soak in her tub were just what she needed. She started to go and check on Stella and Tripp but decided against it. Everything sounded calm. She filled the tub with aromatic soaking beads and then took two Advil while she waited for the tub to fill with hot water. Moments later, Corey eased herself into the steaming tub. She leaned back on her bath pillow, placed a hot rag on her face, and closed her eyes, trying to sort through all the events that had occurred over the past couple of days. Monday had been just a regular day until Tripp had called that night. Since then, it had been one hellacious week. And she had a sneaking suspicion that it was going to get worse before it got better. She felt the Advil and the hot water having their desired effects. Maybe she could just close her eyes for a few minutes and take a short rest while relaxing in her tub.

  A persistent knock came from the other side of the bathroom door. “Are you okay?” Tripp asked.

  Corey woke with a start.

  “I’m fine,” Corey answered groggily through the closed door. “I just fell asleep in the tub. Is Stella okay?”

  “Yeah, but I’m not sure she’s going to go to sleep for me. I’ve been trying for a while, and she only seems to want to play.”

  Corey reached for a towel as she stepped out of the now-lukewarm water. “I’ll be right out.” She toweled off quickly and slipped into her blue bathrobe, not wanting to take the time necessary to find some clean clothes t
o wear. It was heavy, old, and fuzzy, but she didn’t care. She ran a comb through her hair to straighten the wet ends, then opened the door.

  A drowsy-looking Stella in Tripp’s arms reached out for her as soon as the door opened. “Mama,” Stella said impatiently.

  “Let’s go find your blanket,” Corey said as they walked back to Stella’s room, leaving Tripp standing there alone.

  “I’m going to go outside and make a call,” Corey heard him say from a distance.

  Stella went to sleep rather quickly, much to Corey’s surprise. She walked cautiously back into the great room. Tripp was kicked back on the sofa with his eyes closed. Corey chose the chair across from him. “How’s Lucy?”

  Tripp opened his eyes. “She’s fine. Stella asleep?”

  “Yeah. What time are you leaving tomorrow?” The conversation seemed like that of two polite strangers.

  “I think I’ll try to leave as soon as Millie gets here. Is Diane coming?”

  “No, I told her to wait.”

  “You going to be okay alone?”

  “I’ll be fine,” Corey said, again sounding much more confident than she felt. However, it struck her that she really was going to be alone now. Kathryn was in Las Vegas and wasn’t available to help her. Gary and Romeo wouldn’t be back from their trip until Saturday. And Nancy was dying. Corey felt tears in her eyes as the loneliness washed over her.

  “Don’t cry,” Tripp begged. “If you start crying, I’m going to have to come over there and comfort you. And if I do that, while you’re sitting there all clean and sexy in your big blue bathrobe, I may forget about all of those promises I made to myself and to you earlier today.”

  Corey had to smile, as she knew there was no chance her fuzzy bathrobe could in any way be considered sexy. “Thanks, Tripp, for everything you’ve done for me and for Stella.”

  “I’ve loved every minute of it. But I’m going to bed now.” Tripp stood up and stretched. “You know, a man can only maintain his control around a bathrobe like that for so long.” And leaving her with a halfhearted smile, he walked rather quickly to the guest room.

  CHAPTER 28

  The next day, Corey woke early and called the hospital to see if there had been any change in Nancy’s condition. With no reported change, she started her morning routine. She went to get Stella out of her bed but was surprised to see Tripp already dressed and up with Stella. It was no wonder Corey hadn’t heard Stella calling for her to get her out of her baby bed; she’d already been sprung. She watched the two silently for a few moments, marveling at how attached Stella seemed to be to Tripp already.

  When Millie came in, Corey watched her face brighten like a young girl’s in response to some flirtatious comment Tripp made. Tripp was like a thread of gold in the dull fabric of their lives, adding a bit of sparkle that wasn’t necessary but certainly appreciated by all involved. It is good that he’s leaving today for many, many reasons.

  Later, she was sitting at her desk sorting through e-mails when Larry stuck his head in. “Got a minute?”

  “Sure.”

  “How’s your mother-in-law?”

  “No change.”

  Larry looked down uncomfortably at the arm of the chair he was sitting in and then back up at Corey again. “I know this is terrible timing. But it can’t be put off.”

  Corey felt her heart start a rapid staccato beat; she wasn’t sure she could take any more bad news today. “Yes?”

  “We are announcing today that John is being promoted to partner.”

  Corey couldn’t believe that Larry had said the words she’d just heard. “John has less seniority than I do. I trained John.”

  “You’ve had too much on your plate for a long while now. We know some of it has been beyond your control. But some of it you’ve brought on yourself. You haven’t been producing as many billable hours as John for over a year now, and to be quite frank with you, we don’t see you being able to do any more than you are currently doing for a long while.”

  “This is bullshit and you know it.” Corey jumped to her feet. “I’m one of your best lawyers, and by passing me over for partner, you’re saying that my work isn’t good enough.”

  “The work that you do is very good. And if it were only up to me, you would have been a partner long ago. It’s just that the other partners don’t feel that the quantity is where it needs to be. Corey, I told you, remember? You can’t do it all.”

  “You mean I can’t be a mother and a partner?” Corey asked indignantly.

  “No, not right now. Maybe when Stella is older.”

  “I’d be a partner already if I were a man.”

  “That has nothing to do with it,” Larry objected. “Please sit down and let’s talk about this calmly.”

  Corey sat down but glared at Larry. “I’ve had to work harder than any of the male associates just to be in the running for partner. But just so we’re clear about the facts, for seven of the eight years I’ve worked here, you’ve had no complaint about my work. I was one of the top producers in the firm. Now, I’ll admit that for the past year or so my numbers have been down somewhat. Still, I can’t believe that you’re going to promote someone who has less seniority and, quite frankly, isn’t as good as I am, to partner instead of me.”

  “Of course we’ll reconsider your promotion if you post consistent numbers in the future.”

  Corey sat there looking at Larry without saying anything for a long time. She wanted to choose her words carefully, as she’d looked upon this man almost as a father figure for a long time. When the silence had become uncomfortably long, Corey finally said, “You won’t have to reconsider anything in the future. I’m going to submit my resignation today before I go back to the hospital to try to decide whether or not I should have the doctors unplug my mother-in-law from the machines that are keeping her alive.”

  Larry looked at Corey in shocked surprise. “You are obviously in no state of mind to make this type of decision today. Let’s just table this discussion until after things are settled with your mother-in-law.”

  Corey felt remarkably calm. “No, I don’t think so. You know, one thing you said to me today has really struck home. I can’t do it all. And if I have to give something up, it’s this job. Everything else in my life is much more important to me and is nonnegotiable.”

  “This isn’t what we want,” Larry said.

  “Well, we don’t always get what we want, right? I wanted to be a mother and a partner in this law firm. But I guess that’s not going to work out either. If you’ll excuse me now, I need to get busy on that resignation letter. I’ll have it on your desk within the hour.”

  Corey printed copies of her resignation letter for each partner in the law firm, put them in envelopes, and asked a stunned Erica to distribute them for her. As she rode the elevator down from her office, she recognized that it had been an incredible struggle for her to try to do the work she’d always done and also try to be a good mother. She knew now that she couldn’t have kept it up indefinitely. She felt as if she had been granted an unexpected reprieve from a prison sentence she hadn’t even known she was serving. Now she would look for a job that would allow her to enjoy being a mother as well as a lawyer.

  She called Millie on her way to the hospital and was relieved when Millie told her that she and Deborah could stay the night if needed.

  “Thanks, Millie. I’ll let you know as soon as I check on Nancy.”

  As Corey walked through the hospital, she ran into the emergency-room physician, Dr. Aziz, who said, “I hear there’s been no change in your mother-in-law.”

  “No,” Corey answered. “I’m just going up to see her now.”

  “Mind if I tag along and take a look?”

  “I wish you would.”

  When they walked into Nancy’s room, Corey thought that Nancy looked worse than she had the day before. Dr. Aziz picked up her arm and felt for her pulse while looking at the monitor. “Her heartbeat is very weak. I don’t think she’ll m
ake it through another twenty-four hours.”

  Corey burst into tears. Strangely, she felt a twinge of happiness, the first she’d felt in days. “I just want her to go on her own,” she said softly.

  “I know,” the doctor said comfortingly.

  After the doctor left, Corey sat with Nancy for another hour, holding her hand and talking with her about how she’d just quit her job. Suddenly the heart-monitor machine set off a beep, and a nurse came running into the room.

  “She’s leaving me, isn’t she?” asked Corey.

  The nurse nodded.

  “I’ll just stay with her, if that’s all right.”

  It was over soon. As the nurse unplugged the machines and moved them away, Corey thought that Nancy looked like herself again, only incredibly peaceful. Corey was thankful that she’d been there, and she felt an amazing sense of relief. She left the room and called Erica to tell her that she wouldn’t be coming back to the office that day because her mother-in-law had died. Although she’d resigned, she was going to work long enough to transition her clients to other associates.

  She called Nancy’s church, talked to the rector, and scheduled the funeral for Monday. She called Diane, who said she’d be there the next day. She called Kathryn and left her a message. And then, just because he’d been so instrumental in helping her get through the past few days, she called Tripp. When he answered, Corey could tell by his tone that he was unable to talk freely.

  Corey said quickly, “I just wanted you to know that Nancy died and that I appreciate your help more than you can possibly know.”

  “Thank you for that information. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”

  “You don’t have to,” Corey said quickly. “That’s all I wanted—just to let you know. Bye, Tripp.”

  At home, she broke the news to Millie, who became more upset than Corey would have expected. After calming her down, Corey realized that she needed to address one more delicate issue with Millie.

  “I, uh, want to ask you to do me a favor, Millie.”