by Iona Rose
“Can I go home?” I asked. I needed to go back to the lodge, get my phone and call Eva. She would be worried sick if I wasn’t home in the evening. Not that I even knew what time it was.
She laughed. “The doctor will let you know. There’s some water on the table next to your bed. Have a few sips.” She glided out of the room.
Frustration welled up inside me. I pushed myself to sit up. The door opened and to my relief Connor strolled in closely followed by his parents, Aunt Catherine, Sarah and Brian.
My jaw dropped. “What are you doing here?” I asked Sarah and Brian. “Shouldn’t you be on your way to your honeymoon?”
“We will be as soon as we’re sure you’ll be okay,” Sarah said briskly.
I could have punched myself. I couldn’t believe that I had caused everyone to change their plans. I needed them to understand that I was okay now. I wished I could go back in time. I’d been an utter fool to think I could ski down the most difficult trail of all.
I wanted to cover myself with a blanket from embarrassment as Connor’s family fussed over me.
They stayed for half an hour, during which time the doctor joined us and declared me all right and ready for discharge the following day. I grumbled a little about that but Judy glared me into silence. I was glad when Sarah and Brian left for their honeymoon.
“Mom says you can continue staying at the lodge until your leg is better,” Connor said.
I stared at him in horror then looked down at my leg. “No, I couldn’t.” I sounded so ungrateful and yet the offer had been so generous.
That was the problem. They already knew that I wasn’t Connor’s real fiancée and yet they had been gracious enough to let me stay on. I was embarrassed enough by everything and I just wanted to go home and lick my wounds in private.
“I appreciate the offer and it’s very kind of your mom but I really do need to get back to work.” I felt a renewed gratitude for the work I did.
I would be limited in leaving the house but most of my supplies arrived by mail. I could go back to work thank God even with a leg encased in a cast.
“I expected that. We can fly back home tomorrow evening. I got someone to call the airline. I also called Eva and told her what had happened. As you can imagine, she threw a fit but she calmed down when she understood you were fine.”
For some reason, that sent me into a fit of giggles. Connor looked puzzled at first but his face soon relaxed and he chuckled. I could just imagine how much Eva had torn into him.
“Did she tell you ‘I told you so’?” I said.
“Only a hundred times,” Connor said and then stopped smiling. “Seriously though, I blame myself. I should have gone with you to the slopes.”
I stared at him. “How would you have done that when you were asleep? Don’t even blame yourself for something that was squarely my fault. I don’t know what made me think I could ski that slope.” I remembered the speed at which the obstacles had come at me and shuddered.
Connor took my hand. “I was thinking. My apartment is big and seeing as you need help, why don’t you come and stay with me.”
“What? No! I can’t stay with you. I have a home and it’s large enough for me. Besides, Eva comes in everyday and she can help with whatever I’ll need.”
Connor
“Crutches are evil,” Bianca said after she had finally settled into her aisle seat and had her crutches stored away by one of the two flight attendants helping her.
I laughed at the sourness in her tone and then grew serious when I saw exhaustion etched on the lines of her face. We had stayed an extra two days from what we had planned as the airline had insisted, we had to wait forty-eight hours after the cast had been put on before travelling.
It was a precaution in case Bianca’s leg swelled on the flight. Other than that they had been very helpful when Bianca and I got to the airport. She had been brought to the entrance of the plane and from there, she had hobbled to her seat on her crutches.
“You’ll be home soon,” I told her as I buckled my seatbelt.
“Yeah,” she said. “It was really kind of your parents to offer me a room at the lodge until my leg heals.”
“It’s easy to be kind to you. You’re great.” The compliment fell easily from my lips.
It was easy to compliment Bianca. She was one of those human beings who was a delight to be with all the time. She was like a light that drew people to her, myself included.
“Thank you,” she said, a puzzled look on her features.
Everyone knew how great she was except herself. We had spent a week together and, in the time, I felt as if I knew her. Better than Angie whom I’d spent over two years with.
“Did you talk to your bosses?” Bianca said. “Weren’t you supposed to go back to work yesterday?”
“I was yeah. I spoke to her and she was cool.” My boss is a woman who took life seriously. She hadn’t been too amused when I told her that I would be late returning to work by a day.
But there was no point in telling Bianca that and piling on the guilt that she was already feeling.
A flight attendant moved to the front of the plane and took us through the safety measures after which, the plane cruised down the runway, slowly picking up speed.
Later, the safety lights went off and Bianca turned to me. “It was still a great mini vacation and I’m glad you asked me. The best part was meeting your family. They’re great.”
I smiled. “They think you’re great too.” Sarah had pestered me into promising that I would try and make things work with Bianca.
I’d reluctantly said yes even while knowing how slim my prospects were.
“I wish my family was more like yours,” she continued, a wistful note in her voice.
“What is your mom like?” When I imagined Bianca mom, I visualized a gentle lady with a great sense of humor and fun. The kind of woman who appeared ageless.
“Crazy. Being in her company for more than ten minutes is exhausting. She’s like a teenager. She likes being out and about doing things.” She turned to me abruptly. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s fine. She has excess energy. Kind of like Aunt Catherine,” I said.
Bianca laughed but the laughter lacked humor. “My mom makes Aunt Catherine look mild. My dad is the opposite. He’s calm but his mind is always on his work. He’s a lawyer. And then there is my stepdad and my stepmom and their children.”
I couldn’t visualize the size of her family. “That’s a lot of people.”
“Yes, and a lot of disagreements. Eva and I decided to steer clear of it all and over the years, we kind of lost touch with them. We’ve made our own little family with Eva’s husband, where we spend holidays together.”
“Sometimes you have to think about your own sanity,” I said.
“Exactly,” Bianca said and let out a yawn and then apologized with a tired smile.
“You look beat, try and get some sleep,” I suggested.
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.” She settled back into her chair and closed her eyes.
I resisted the urge to reach out and cup her cheek. I wished I’d met her years earlier, before I’d met Angie. Before my heart felt like it had been dragged through a graveled road. I felt bruise after Angie and I knew that I needed time to get back to myself.
I dozed off as well and when I woke up, the pilot was announcing our descent. Bianca did not wake up at all and I ended up nudging her awake to put on her safety belt.
“I feel a whole lot better,” she said.
“You look it too,” I said, snapping on my own seatbelt.
We were the last to disembark from the plane. I carried Bianca’s crutches and followed her as she was wheeled out of the plane and into the terminal. She was escorted by wheelchair all the way outside and luckily Mathew was already waiting for us.
We settled Bianca in the car with her crutches and then I jumped into the front passenger seat next to Mathew.
; “Remind me to never trust you with my sister. Bianca was perfectly healthy when you left together,” Mathew said as he drove out of the airport.
I’d texted and told him what happened but I guess seeing Bianca with a cast was still a bit of a shocker.
“It was an accident,” I said mildly.
“It wasn’t Connor’s fault,” Bianca said from the back, laughter in her voice. “This one is all on me.”
She went on to regale Mathew with the tale of the accident and how she had thought she was ready for the most difficult trail of all. Mathew entertained us with a story of when he broke his leg.
“He was a pain in the butt,” I interjected.
“True. My girlfriend at the time dumped me,” Mathew said. “She said she couldn’t imagine growing old with me. Apparently, how you behave when you’re ill is how you’ll be when you’re old. According to her.”
Bianca laughed. “That’s a scary thought. I’ve been pretty moody in the last couple of says. My poor future husband.”
“You were fine,” I said to her. “Except when you thought you would be stuck in Colorado for months.”
She chuckled. “It’s beautiful and all but I see what you meant when you said you needed the city. I guess I’m like that too.”
Traffic was heavy at that time of evening and it took us a full hour to get to Bianca’s place. I grabbed out stuff from the trunk and helped Bianca get out and hold her crutches.
“Sorry to leave like that,” Mathew said. There was no parking space and he’d been forced to stop on a loading zone to let us out.
“No worries, thanks buddy,” I said to him and Bianca echoed my gratitude.
I pulled our suitcases and Bianca hobbled behind me. She handed me the key to the front door.
“How are you doing?” I asked Bianca in the lift.
She grinned. “I’m getting the hang of it. I think I’ll even manage a walk to the grocery store down the street.”
“No you won’t. That’s what I’m here for. From now on, I’m your designated errand boy.”
“You work Connor,” she said.
“I don’t work all day. We’ll find a system that works. I feel responsible for this and I want to help you until you’re back on your feet.”
“Thanks but it’s not necessary. I’ve told you so many times. It’s not in any way your fault. I’m an adult and responsible for my own actions.”
It wasn’t just that. It was also an excuse to spend more time with her and figure out what I felt for her. “I insist.”
The elevator came to a grinding halt and I followed Bianca out. I inserted the wrong key into the door and as I was trying another one, the door swung open. I groaned inwardly at the sight of Eva’s tight expression.
I stood to the side to let Bianca enter. Eva glanced down at the cast and then glared at me.
“I knew this was a mistake,” she said. “I shouldn’t have trusted you with my sister.”
“Stop it Eva!” Bianca said sharply emitting a surprised look from her sister. “Connor has been wonderful and what he deserves is gratitude.”
Eva glared at me and then mumbled some words which sounded like thank you. She stood to the side and let us in. In the living room, she grabbed Bianca’s suitcase and wheeled it to the bedroom.
Bianca collapsed on the couch. “I can’t tell you how good it feels to be home.”
I grinned. “I can imagine.”
Eva returned to the living room just as Bianca’s stomach rumbled loudly. She tried to disguise it with a yawn.
“I made some rice and beef stew,” Eva said. “I’ll go get you some.” She swung her gaze to me. “If you’re hungry you can follow me to the kitchen and serve yourself.”
“I’m fine thanks.” I was starving but there was no way I was going to admit that to Eva.
“Don’t let her scare you,” Bianca said, concern in her eyes. “She can be a mother bear sometimes but she’s all right deep down.”
I smiled in response but my mind had shifted to how Bianca would be able to move around the house.
“Do you have a bathtub or a shower?” I asked her.
“A shower. Hey, you worry too much,” she said. “I just needed to be home. The rest I can handle.”
Eva returned with a plate of food which she placed on a stool in front of Bianca.
“Thanks sis, you’re awesome,” Bianca said.
“Do you want me to spend the night. I can tell Jeremy I won’t be coming home,” Eva said.
“God no. It’s just a cast on my lower leg guys. You’re all acting like I’ve just come home from a serious surgery. I’m good, I promise. Go on home and say a big hello to Jeremy.”
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Eva said and then turned to me with an unsure expression on her face. “I’m sorry for tearing into you and thanks for taking care of my sister. I know it was entirely her fault. She can be a bit of a daredevil.”
“Eva!” Bianca said.
“It’s true. Remember the last vacation we went on and you jumped off a rock into a waterfall,” Eva said.
“Everyone was doing it. You make it sound like I was the one who started it,” Bianca said.
“Did you see any of the family try it?” Eva said.
It was amusing to sit back and listen to them banter back and forth. I could just imagine how they had been as kids. Close one minute and arguing in the next.
“That’s because you’re all scaredy-cats,” Bianca said. “You guys have no sense of adventure.”
“Is that why you have a broken leg and Connor doesn’t?”
The mention of my name reminded them that I was in the room.
“I’ll see you tomorrow then but please call if you need me,” Eva said.
Bianca waved her away and seconds later, the front door shut and we were left alone.
“I should go and leave you to relax,” I said.
“Have some dinner before you go. It’s yummy,” she said.
“If you insist,” I said, my stomach growling loudly.
I went into the kitchen.
“The plates are on the bottom drawer, the one next to the stove,” Bianca shouted.
“Found them,” I said.
Eva was a good cook, judging from the scent of the food as I served it onto the plate. I slipped the plate into the microwave to warm it and as I waited, it dawned on me that I hadn’t thought about Angie even once, since I returned to the city. It was a good feeling.
Bianca
It had been two weeks of hard adjustment learning to live with my new limitations. My apartment had started to feel like a prison until Connor insisted on taking me for evening walks. Bless that man. I’d tried to get him to get on with his life and forget about me but he showed up every evening after Eva had left for the day.
As if reading my mind, Eva looked up from her computer. For the second time that week, I noticed how pale she looked.
“Connor has been coming around a lot. Is something going on between you two?” she said in her usual blunt manner.
“Nope,” I said. “We’re just friends and he’s determined to help me through this period, no matter how many times I tell him that I’m okay.”
I turned my attention to the neck piece I was working on. Work had been my savior. My productivity had shot through the roof. It took so much effort to get up that I did it less than I usually did. Which meant I got a lot more work done.
“I’m here though. Have you told him that?” Eva said. “He shouldn’t come from a misplaced sense of responsibility.”
I looked up sharply. “What do have against Connor? He’s a great guy and it wasn’t his fault that I broke my leg.”
“I don’t like guys who sleep with my sister on the rebound,” Eva said.
I inhaled sharply trying to maintain my patience. I’d told Eva about our week in Colorado and how we had scratched each other’s itch, as I’d started to think of it. But, that part of our lives was over and we were just friends.
; At least that’s what I was sure Connor had in mind. I wished I could say the same. Sometimes it took me as much as two hours to fall asleep after I went to bed. I tossed and turned and remembered how gorgeous Connor had looked that day, and how I’d have loved to have his strong arms around me.
“Your sister is also an adult who can make her own decisions,” I pointed out irritably.
“Maybe but she needs her sister to look out for her.” Eva had to have the last word in an argument.
I needed a change of topic pronto. “Enough about me. What’s happening with you? You don’t look too good. Is everything alright with Jeremy?”
She smiled and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. I loved Jeremy like a brother and I really wanted their marriage to work. It gave me hope that Eva and I had normal people genes when it came to relationships and marriage.
“Everything’s fine on that end. He hasn’t brought up the conversation of a baby and it feels like we’ve become honeymooners again,” Eva said, a soft look on her face.
I wondered if that soft look that came over women when they talked about a man they loved, would ever happen to me. “That’s great.” I peered at her face. “Then why do you look so pale? Like you don’t have enough blood or something.”
She nodded. “I’ve been feeling a bit weak to be honest.”
“And you haven’t gotten it checked out?” I shook my head in frustration when she nodded in the affirmative. “You’re leaving work early today. Go and see a doctor please.”
“Okay Miss Bossy,” she said.
I worried for the rest of the day. It wasn’t like Eva to admit so readily that she wasn’t feeling well and to actually agree to go and see her doctor. That meant that she was feeling even worse than she was admitting to.
I was in the kitchen sipping water and sketching on my pad when the sound of a key turning came from the front door. I smiled and waited with abated breath for Connor to find me in the kitchen.
Against Eva’s advice, I’d given him my spare key seeing as he spent most evenings and weekends at my place. It saved me the hustle of hobbling to open the door for him. Besides, I trusted Connor and I knew him more than I’d known any of my past boyfriends. I even knew his family for goodness’ sake.
