by Kathryn Shay
Also, there was chemistry among all three of them.
Ronan said, “We’ll replay the scene with Mike Mason as Linc. Joe as Tommy. Eric Lawson, go in for Jeb.”
Ronan wasn’t often surprised when he directed, but he was nearly shocked when Mike transformed into strait-laced Linc, and Joe did well with his rebellious Tommy.
Next, they worked with the women, alternating girls with parts, and the evening ended at eight. He and Eliza headed back to the office, the strain between them palpable. He absently turned on his phone, while she took a seat in front of the desk. “Huh,” he said glancing at the screen. “I have several voice mails.”
“From whom?”
“Finn. Can I listen to them now?” He didn’t want to do anything more that might upset her.
“Yes, of course.” Her tone had softened.
He clicked speaker and pressed play voicemail. “Hi, Ronan. Sorry to bother you during your auditions, but Bridget was rushed to the hospital at six p.m. I was listed as her family contact. Hayley and I are both headed to St. Helen’s now.” He took a deep breath. “You don’t have to come down here, though. We’ll take care of everything and call when we have news. I just thought you should be aware of what’s going on.”
Ronan went totally still. He stared over at Eliza.
“Play the rest of them.”
More updates. The last at eight.
She got up, circled the desk and took his hands in hers. “You don’t owe her anything. You don’t have to run to the hospital.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to?”
“Hell no. I want to discuss the performances tonight.”
“We’ll do whatever you want.”
Just then, his phone rang again.
“Finn?”
“Hey, Ronan. Sorry to tell you this, but Bridget had a major heart attack.”
He refrained from saying the first thing that popped into his mind: that Bridget didn’t have a heart.
* * *
“We’ve determined the extent of the damage.” Dr. Crane, the cardiologist on duty at Mount Helen’s Hospital, spoke in a deep commanding voice. “Ms. Sullivan had a major heart attack. One of her arteries is completely clogged, the second ninety percent blocked. Because two vessels are corroded and to such an extent, angioplasty won’t fix her issues.”
Ronan stood behind the others, gripping Eliza’s hand, his gaze hooded. They’d jumped into his car and spun down here without talking much. Eliza now regretted her remoteness during the day. But she was here with him and would make up for that by helping him deal with whatever came next.
“So she needs surgery.” Hayley’s voice was strong.
“Yes, she does. We’re assembling the team now on the assumption you want us to go ahead.”
Finn scanned the others. They nodded. “Of course, we want that.”
“Then I’ll send the assistant out with papers to sign.”
“Will you be doing the surgery?” Paul asked. He’d kept his hand on Hayley’s shoulder. Briefly, Eliza wondered where the baby was.
“Actually, no. We’re lucky to have the top thoracic surgeon in the area working here today. He did the assessment on your mother at six when she was admitted, and said he’d stay until she was treated. Or do surgery if needed.”
“Who is it?” Millie asked.
“Dr. John Battaglia. He moved out of the city and only comes in to operate two days a week, one of them here at Mount Helen’s.”
Ronan raked his hand through his hair. He’d thrown on a black and red long-sleeved shirt over his jeans, and his face had become taut since they arrived. “I met him once. At a fundraiser for a shelter for gang kids that we both supported. Other people there said he was the best in the country.”
“So, we’re in agreement. We’ll prep your mother now with sedatives, muscle relaxants and the necessary IV’s for surgery. She’ll be on a respirator the entire time.”
One of their cast members, Art Healy, had a heart attack, and Eliza and Ronan had gone to the hospital with him. He’d had a double bypass too, so she was aware of the procedure, including how the chest would be opened, the sternum cut with a saw, and the veins removed from his leg to use in the heart.
“I’m going to assist, which will be a thrill for me,” Crane continued. “Dr. Battaglia will come out to meet you in the cardiac waiting room before we start.”
A nurse ushered them from emergency up to the designated area on the cardiac floor. When they reached it, Finn thanked her and gestured to a round table off to the side which seated six. “Let’s take that one.”
“We’ll be with you in a few minutes,” Ronan told them and pulled Eliza aside while the others headed over. This close, she could see the lines of worry around his eyes. “Are you okay to be here? We didn’t talk on the way in. I was processing this whole thing.”
“Yes, of course.” She grasped both his hands. “Honestly.”
“We’re still awkward with each other. From the fight.”
“You know what? Let’s forget about all that for now. I’m right where I want to be. I’ve always been here for you and always will be.”
“Thanks honey.” He kissed her nose. “I need you now.”
* * *
They joined the others at the table. Hayley had left two seats empty, so Ronan sat next to her. Her eyes were full of exhaustion. And concern. She put her hand on his arm. The contact felt good. “I’m glad you came, Ronan, but you don’t have to stay.”
“I’m here until the surgery is over. I’ll come back in the morning again. But I do have to be back in Hidden Cove at six tomorrow night.”
“Want to stay over at our condo?” Millie asked. She sat close to Finn so their shoulders touched.
Ronan hesitated. “We didn’t bring anything with us.”
“We’ve got plenty of toothbrushes, pajamas, clothes to borrow.”
Ah, family. Ronan was continually shocked at how they could make you feel warm and fuzzy. He hadn’t had a lot of that in his life.
Eliza interrupted. “We could stay at my place, too. It’s up to you, Ronan.”
“Oh, I forgot you own an apartment here.” He put his hand on her neck. “Let’s go there, but thanks for the offer, Mil.”
A while later, another doctor came up to the table. “Hi, all. I’m John Battaglia.” He took a bead on Ronan. “We’ve met, right? At the Guardian fundraiser.”
“Yes, hello again.”
John scanned the others. “Your mother is ready to go for the surgery. I have to scrub, then we’ll get started. I’ll send out updates frequently.”
“How long will the procedure last?” Finn asked. His eyes were bleak.
“That depends. The average is four hours, without complications.”
“We’ll be here,” Finn continued.
The doctor smiled pleasantly. “I’m pretty good at this. Try not to worry too much.”
When he walked away, Millie and Hayley exchanged glances.
“What?” Finn asked.
Millie sniffed. “It’s highly inappropriate to say what I was thinking at a time like this.”
Hayley piped up with, “Not for me. We both noticed how gorgeous Dr. Battaglia is with that dark hair, those onyx eyes and a rogue’s smile.”
All the women laughed, including Eliza, and even Finn chuckled too. Their levity broke the tension.
After a bit, Millie stood. “Eliza and Paul, would you like to get coffee for everyone with me?”
Finn winked at her. “Yeah, fifteen minutes is enough.” The three of them were being left alone.
Millie kissed Finn’s cheek. “Be thoughtful about all this.”
When the three of them left, Ronan, Finn and Hayley looked at each other. Finn began. “We’ll have to decide what happens to her after the surgery.”
Ronan’s gut was churning. “She’ll need to go to a place for rehab.”
“How long does that usually last?” Hayley asked.
; “Depends on what shape she’s in.” This from Ronan.
“I never remember her exercising, when we were kids or in the recent past.” Finn scowled. “She did eat right.”
“If the heart muscle isn’t exercised…” Ronan again.
Finn cupped his hand on the side of his forehead, trying to control his emotions. He’d been the golden child, and no matter how much trouble she’d caused him over the years, he was attached to her.
“And it’s all right to be emotional.” Hayley waited a bit until Finn seemed in control, then stated, “Whenever rehab ends, somebody has to take care of her. A nurse?”
Ronan shrugged. “Maybe she’ll want to go to a fancy facility in the Hamptons that cares for cardiac patients and does physical therapy. They also have assisted living. The father of someone I worked with went there.”
“She could.” Finn sighed. “But I don’t feel I can abandon her if she wants in-home care. Ronan, you have to make your own decision about that and we won’t hold it against you if you want to bow out of her care. My guess is she’ll want to stay with us, anyway.”
“The three of us should decide that,” Hayley said forcefully. “Not her.”
“I can’t have her in my home,” Ronan blurted out. “And I personally think she’d thrive in a facility. But if she does go to one of your houses, I’ll help if you need night vigils, money, anything else.”
“We have a spare bedroom,” Hayley offered. “But it’s on the second floor.”
“No!” Finn again. “You have a baby to enjoy.”
Hayley shook her head. “Whatever happens, we’ll work it out.”
Ronan should feel bad about refusing to care for the mother who all but destroyed him. But he didn’t. He guessed the hurt was too deep.
* * *
Ronan and Eliza got back to her apartment about three a.m. The surgery had been a success and the group had gone home, to meet back at St. Helen’s at nine a.m. Ronan had been quiet on the short cab ride to her place and when they got inside, Eliza stopped in the entryway. She leaned against the door, and yanked Ronan to her.
“What? Oh, honey, I’m not in the right frame of mind for this.”
“Turn off your mind.” She went on tiptoes and kissed him gently at first, then deepened the pressure. When she felt him press hard against her, hard being the operative word, she eased him away and undid his jeans. He pushed them down with his briefs and toed off his shoes while Eliza pulled up her skirt. She went to wiggle out of her panties. Instead, Ronan gave them a yank and ripped them off. She circled his waist with her legs, and he thrust inside her. She felt his passion build and build and build until he exploded. Weak and still shaking, he leaned into her. After a bit, he drew back. “You didn’t enjoy that.”
“I enjoyed every single minute of your release. That’s all I wanted.” She eased him away and slid her feet to the floor. Not bothering with his clothing, she led him to her bedroom, and he dropped face down on the mattress. She put a pillow under his head and he fell into a deep sleep.
Eliza changed into pajamas and crawled into the other side, pulling up the throw to cover them. When she spooned him, she felt the heat come off his body in waves.
They slept.
Eliza awoke—alone in the bedroom. The light from the window blind slats on her face told her it was morning. The clock on the side of the bed read eight a.m. Rising, she went into the bathroom, showered and put on plain jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Then she found some of clothes in the spare room, where Ronan bunked a few times after a late session of planning at her house.
When she reached the living area, she saw him: wearing only his briefs, sitting in a chair, staring out the window. The scent of coffee filled her nostrils. She walked over, and he looked up at her. His face was relaxed. “Hi.”
“Hi. How long have you been up?”
“Just long enough for the coffee to brew.”
She took a sip from his mug and asked, “How are you this morning?”
He tugged her onto his lap and linked their fingers. “I’m better. Thank you for last night, well, early this morning.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I was dead to the world for five hours.”
“You needed that.”
He examined her face. “You’re something else, you know that, to do all this for me after I was such a jerk.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant as one.” He shook his head. “What a mess this is.”
“What do you mean?”
“The woman I least want to see again is going to need care.”
“Everybody understands you can’t provide that.”
“Yeah, I guess. But that only puts more pressure on Hayley and Finn.”
“Let’s see how it goes. Bridget will probably have something to say about all this.”
“I suppose so.”
“Will you go into ICU to see her when she wakes up?”
“I can do that. But I know when people are at their most vulnerable, they’re often ornery.”
“She’s always ornery. Let’s not buy trouble. I left clothes you left here on the bed. Shower and we can stop and get those donuts you love on Fourth Street for the whole clan.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She washed out the cups and coffee maker, then went into the bedroom as he came out of the shower. His hair was slicked back and wet, and his body glistened with the excess water he was toweling off. When he caught her staring, his mouth quirked up. “Like what you see?”
“Hmm. Yeah.”
“We could have a quickie. For you, this time.”
“Nah, I’ll wait. Dress and we’ll go.”
That didn’t keep her from gawking as he put on clean jeans and a black T-shirt, then a hoodie over it.
They’d just locked the front door, when the elevator down the hallway opened. Someone exited and approached them.
“Holy fuck,” Ronan said.
Eliza went still. “What are you doing here, Craig? And how did you get up to this floor?”
“I still have my key cards for the front entrance and elevator. I’ve been coming by our apartment frequently. I can’t get inside because you changed the locks.” His expression darkened. “Where the hell have you been?”
“None of your business.” Ronan again.
“It is my business. Look, Eliza, can we go somewhere and talk this out?”
“There’s nothing to talk out, Craig. You’ve got a lot of nerve asking for a reconciliation after what you did to me and Taylor. Go crawl back into your self-absorbed hole and leave me alone.” She grabbed Ronan’s hand. “Let’s go.”
“Wait…”
She turned back. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll tell Susan what you’re doing.”
They left a stunned Craig standing in the corridor.
Once inside the car, she said, “I’m sorry, Ronan.”
“He’s the one who should apologize. Let’s just get out of here.”
They arrived at the hospital shortly before nine and found Hayley, Paul, Finn and Millie in the main waiting area, at a table covered with white pastry bags. “Hi, guys.”
Kisses and bear hugs and weak smiles from all of them.
“Did you sleep?” Hayley asked.
He grabbed Eliza’s hand. “Uh-huh. With some help,” he added, embarrassing her.
“Hmm, me too.” Finn kissed Millie’s cheek.
Hayley giggled. “Us too.”
“Where’s Olivia?” Eliza was changing the subject.
“With Matka. She’s staying at our house. I nursed Livie, and there’s breast milk in the fridge, so we’re clear to be here a while.”
Paul came back from the reception desk. “She’s in CCU. We’re supposed to go to that waiting room, and if she’s up to it, we can see her two at a time. I have directions.”
Oh, goody, Eliza thought.
They headed upstairs and found CCU. Finn went to the desk. Spoke to the
nurse. Came back to the table. “She’s resting. Doped up but can have visitors.”
“Hayley and Finn should go in first.” This from Paul. Even his brother-in-law was protecting Ronan.
Hayley eyed him. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Eliza and Ronan sat in silence, until his siblings came back ten minutes later. “Well, she’s awake. In a lot of pain, even after the medication.”
“Did she talk to you?” Paul asked.
“Yes. She wanted to know what exactly happened and we told her as much as we knew.”
“She was at an early dinner with some friends,” Finn put in. “She had the attack there at the restaurant. They called an ambulance and one of those friends accompanied her in the ambulance.”
“The one that was here when we arrived,” Hayley added.
They shared the sweets everyone had brought, then at the appointed time for more people to visit, Ronan stood. “I’m going in.”
Eliza scowled. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Want me or Hayley or Finn to go with you?”
“No.”
He walked toward the CCU doors, like a man going to the gallows.
* * *
Machines beeped and whooshed as Ronan walked into the dimly lit room. Bridget lay in bed. There was no breathing tube in her mouth, but catheters for her urinary tract and stomach were still inserted. An IV hung from her arm.
Her eyes closed, she lay still and silent. Even in this state, his mother appeared stern. Tense. He guessed he shouldn’t be surprised that someone who’d spent her entire life in that state had had a heart attack.
He didn’t sit, just leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest, staring at the bed. He hoped she didn’t awaken while he…
“Finn?” A gravelly voice that was barely audible.
Feeling unaccountably sorry for her, he walked closer to the bed. He couldn’t take her hand but did say, “Hello, Bridget.”
She gazed at him with rheumy eyes. “Ronan?”
“Yes.”
