Page 68 of The Groupie

* * *

Mamma’s quiet on the way to the hospital and refuses to be fussed over. Suzie squeezes my arm and my hand alternatively the whole time until they roll Mamma away to surgery. We’re sent to a windowless waiting room with lots of empty chairs and a coffee vending machine. No other people are waiting.

“Looks like we’re first in line for surgery today.” I walk into the middle of the room and don’t bother sitting on the couch with the table littered with magazines.

“You’re not going to pace, are you?” Suzie flops down. “That’s good we’re first. The surgeon will be fresh.”

I pace and give Suzie the finger when she tries to stop me on my fourth lap. She laughs, but it’s a strangled version of her usual bright and bubbly laugh. My fifth lap is interrupted by the vibrating phone in my pocket. I contemplate not checking it, but the monotony of pacing is already getting to me, so I do.

It’s a text from Zak. Shit. I feel my emotions rush to the surface as I read his words, unable to stop myself.

Give Mamma a hug from me and tell her to break a leg. At least she’ll know I’m joking.

My smile forms reflexively before I know it. I dart a glance at Suzie to see if she’s watching, but she’s thumbing through a magazine. I slip my phone back into my pocket and resume pacing, even though it’s probably not the best thing for my ankle. Maybe. I know it’s not a hundred percent, but if I keep wearing the compression brace until the games, it should be fine. That gives me another ten days, maybe.

Suzie tosses the magazine onto the table with some violence as if it offended her, and she stands. “I’m going to call Nowicki. They’re in Chicago for a game tonight. He should be up, right? I don’t care.” She doesn’t wait for a response and walks down the hallway for a private conversation.

I give up my pacing, and when Suzie returns, she sits next to me, handing me a cup of vending machine coffee.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me until you taste it.”

I take a sip and screw up my nose as if it’s awful. She laughs.

“It’s actually not that bad. How’s Nowicki doing?”

“They’re at the hotel in Chicago. Getting ready to leave for the rink. Guess they test the ice out early. He said Zak needs to redeem himself tonight after his fight and major penalty in Detroit. You should call him. I bet he’ll make you feel better. I saw the smile on your face when you read his text. You could cheer each other up.”

A blush of embarrassment that she saw my smile rushes to my face and I turn away. The little devil is getting sneaky.

“Let sleeping dogs lie, Suzie. I’m not going to call him. We don’t have much to talk about besides business and I’m not in the mood.” It’s true that I’m not in the mood, but I know the look she’s giving me and it’s an uncomfortable combination of disapproval and knowing sympathy.

I want to shout at her not to feel sorry for me because I’m fine, but I’m not a good enough actor to pull it off.

Eventually a doctor emerges from surgery, still in scrubs, to put us out of our waiting room misery.

“The procedure went well. She’ll be in post-op for a little while and then you can visit her in her room. The nurse will show you there when she’s ready. I’ll be in later to check on her.”

When we finally get escorted to Mamma’s room, she’s still a little groggy, but it’s good to see her alive and well, her rhinestone glasses perched on her face and her big eyes magnified behind them.

“Is Mr. Argyle here?” she asks after we hug her.

“That’s what you have to say?” I’m surprised and maybe mildly offended, but I’m smiling.

“No, Mamma. It’s family only,” Suzie says in a gentle voice.

“I’m surprised they let you two in then.”

“Don’t say that. We’re family. Of course we’re family.”

“I know that. It’s not official is all. I should have made it official.” She takes a deep rattling breath and I listen for a hitch, but there is none. “Maybe it’s not too late—”

“Don’t worry about it,” I say. “We’re as official as we need to be.”

“I want to make sure you inherit my estate when I’m gone.” She has her tongue in her cheek, literally.

I smile and Suzie laughs.