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“Me too.” She paused. “I’m happy I didn’t wake you.”
“I’m glad you called,” Wyatt reassured her. “Do you want me to come to the hospital later with you?”
“Oh no, that’s fine,” she said. “I don’t want to take up your day, more than I already have.”
His laugh was gentle. “Anita, you can take up my day. There are more important things than meetings and accounts.”
She exhaled and closed her eyes. “Thanks for listening.”
“Anytime,” Wyatt said, “and I mean it.”
“I know you do.” And she did. She could hear the sincerity in his tone. She could feel it.
“So...if I’m not going with you to the hospital, can you keep me updated? I’ll give you my office phone number.”
Anita agreed, and a few minutes later when she hung up with Wyatt, she felt much better. Just sharing what had happened with him made everything feel more manageable. Phyllis was getting the care she needed, and she had aided in that. She had to let herself be relieved and happy about that.
When the phone rang, cutting through the silence, Anita startled. She picked it up, wondering if Wyatt was calling back. Or even Bobby.
“Ms. Gifford?” the man on the other end said. “It’s Cameron. I’m at the hospital with my mom, and she told me to call you.”
“She’s talking?” Relief rushed through her.
“She’s talking a little,” Cameron said. “She’s had a stroke, and the doctors are still running tests to figure out the severity of the damage. She can’t move much of her left side right now. Her speech is slow, but understandable.”
Anita gripped the receiver tighter. “That’s good she can communicate at least.”
“Yes,” Cameron said, relief in his own tone. “She keeps telling me to tell Anita thank you.”
She closed her eyes, the tears starting. “Does she understand what happened?”
“I’m not sure how fully she understands, but she remembers you finding her and calling the ambulance.”
Anita nodded to herself. The more time passed, the more of a miracle it seemed that she saw the lights on at Phyllis’s house. If Bobby hadn’t called...not that she wanted to give him any credit, but there it was.
“What do the doctors say about her recovery?” she asked.
“It’s too early for answers right now,” Cameron said. “There will definitely be some big changes, though. Probably physical therapy for a while. Maybe a home health nurse. Or we’ll bring her to live with us.”
Those would all be big changes, indeed.
“Is it okay for me and my daughter to come visit today?”
“I think she’d love that,” Cameron said. “I can’t thank you enough for finding her and getting her help.”
Anita’s throat tightened. “I’m grateful it all worked out. She’s been a dear neighbor.” And it was true, she realized as she thought of Phyllis in a hospital bed, trapped by her body’s frailties. The tears were coming back. “Thanks for the update.”
After hanging up, Anita rose from the table. The sun had peeked over the horizon finally. With the golden light casting its web over the garden, she headed outside. She’d begin a new canvas this morning. One that she wouldn’t ever be paid for, but one that would represent Phyllis. She picked up a basket to collect petals and leaves and began to walk through her garden.
ANITA GRASPED CARLY’S HAND AS they approached Phyllis’s hospital room. She could hear the murmur of voices coming from inside. Tapping on the partially closed door, she pushed it open to find a blond man with glasses talking to a nurse. They both turned as Anita and Carly hovered in the doorway.
“Cameron?” she said. “I’m Anita.”
His expression brightened, and he crossed the room to shake her hand. “Thank you for coming. It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“You too. This is my daughter, Carly.”
Cameron nodded to Carly. “Come on in. She’s been asking for you.”
