After Ivy put her hair in rollers, she and Zoey spent the morning chatting, playing cribbage and drinking tea, a lot like they did at home. The nurse noticed Ivy was more relaxed with her niece there, so she permitted Zoey to stay as long as she wanted.
While Ivy slept, Zoey sat beside her, texting Lauren and Kathleen. They both felt terrible that they’d missed her calls. After she updated Lauren on Ivy’s condition, her friend texted back, asking if Zoey wanted her to come to Dune Island for the weekend for moral support. Although Zoey didn’t take her up on it, she was touched by the offer.
Kathleen tried to be supportive, too, asking if it would be helpful for Zoey to send Gabi home now.NO WAY!Zoey texted back, appalled at the thought of saying goodbye to her niece earlier than they had planned. She also expressed it was important for Gabi to finish her school year, especially since she was performing in the upcoming concert. Kathleen agreed, adding that Scott was completing his residential program that Monday and they were both looking forward to reuniting as a family once Gabi returned.
Just as her aunt was rousing, she received a text from Nick, inquiring about whether Ivy felt well enough for company. Zoey replied that the doctor recommended limiting visits to family only for the next few days. While she was conveying everyone’s well-wishes to Ivy, Mark walked in bearing a big bouquet of roses.
Zoey offered to go get something to put them in and after filling the pitcher a nurse gave her, she dawdled by the sink. Partly because she wanted to give Ivy and Mark a few minutes alone and partly because she felt uncomfortable, knowing she owed him an apology for what she’d said before hanging up on him the night before. Regardless of what she thought about his attitude and behavior, she had been wrong to imply he wasn’t legitimately a Winslow.
When she returned to the room, an aide was preparing to take her aunt for another scan. “You kids should go to the cafeteria while I’m gone,” Ivy said as she was being wheeled out the door.
Zoey hadn’t eaten since lunchtime the day before, so she was all for the idea. She expected Mark to make up an excuse not to go with her, but he didn’t.
“Ivy looks really pale, doesn’t she?” he asked as they headed toward the cafeteria.
Zoey agreed, although she’d noticed the same thing abouthim,which was odd, considering he usually spent a lot of time in the sun golfing.No wonder Aunt Ivy’s worried about him—he looks awful.
“She was pale when I took her to Waterside, too,” Mark said. “And she kept complaining she was hot. I wanted to bring her home the same day. But she said, ‘Stop fussing or you’ll give me a headache.’”
“She said the same thing to me when I told her I was concerned about her health.”
“I wish I hadn’t taken her off the island.”
He feels guilty,Zoey realized. As much as she wanted to blame Mark—as much as shehadblamed him—she knew this wasn’t his fault, just like it wasn’t her fault. “Aunt Ivy didn’t get a blood clot because she left Hope Haven, Mark. She already had it by the time we noticed her symptoms. And you’re right—she’s stubborn. I tried to convince her to go to the ER or to call her doctor and she refused. So don’t blame yourself and I won’t blame myself, either, okay?”
He hunched his shoulders toward his ears in a half-hearted shrug. They had reached the cafeteria and Zoey took a tray but Mark said he’d go find a table. After filling a plate at the salad bar, Zoey stood in line to pay for her meal. While she was waiting, she glanced across the lunchroom at her cousin. His arms were crossed against his chest, almost as if he were hugging himself and he was staring out the window, frantically jiggling his leg beneath the table. In that instant, he looked so lost. So alone.Like a little boy whose parents sent him away every summer because they didn’t want him around, Zoey thought, overwhelmed with compassion.
“Aren’t you hungry?” she asked when she joined him. “Their homemade mac ’n’ cheese looks decent. That’s one of your favorites, right?”
“I only like it when Ivy makes it. It reminds me of being a kid.”
Oh—so that’s why he always asks Ivy to make him his favorite meals and desserts.Zoey had thought he was just lazy and spoiled. “Yeah, I feel that way about her potato salad. One taste and it’s as if I’m on the top of the widow’s walk again, watching the Fourth of July fireworks over Beach Plum Cove with you, Jess and my parents, while Aunt Ivy and your grandmother were downstairs drinking tea in the living room.”
“Yeah, because Sylvia hated the noise and Ivy was afraid of heights… I remember one time your dad put me on his shoulders while we were up there and your mom was so afraid he’d drop me over the edge that she started crying. I’ve never forgotten how that felt, sitting on your dad’s shoulders, having your mom worried to tears about me, and you and Jessica begging for a turn. It felt like…” He blinked and scratched along his jawline, not looking at her.
It felt like he was part of our family, Zoey realized and her apology tumbled from her lips. “I shouldn’t have said what I said last night, Mark. I’m really sorry.”
He hunched his shoulders again. “No big deal.”
“No, I—” Zoey stopped talking because Mark abruptly stood up.
“I’m expecting an important call in a minute and it’s too noisy in here. Tell Ivy I’ll be up in a while.” He strode toward the exit.
As usual, their moment of closeness hadn’t lasted long, but in a way, that made it feel more authentic.
* * *
Gabi wanted to see Ivy as soon as possible, so Zoey went straight from the hospital to pick her up from school, then brought her directly back.
“Auntie!” the teenager exclaimed, diving into her arms after they entered her room. She nuzzled against her chest for so long Ivy finally patted her back and said if she didn’t stop squeezing her, the nurse was going to have to come in and increase her oxygen. Gabi giggled and let her aunt go and then gave Mark a cheerful greeting.
“We won’t stay too much longer,” Zoey said. “You look tired, Aunt Ivy.”
“How can I be tired? I haven’t done anything but lie around all day. Didn’t you bring my cards?”
“They’re in your bag. I brought your coin jar, too.”
“Good. Roll that tray table over here and pull up your chairs, everyone,” Ivy instructed them. “It’s time for a game.”
