AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I… I guess I’m hoping I can bring Mamá home today.”
“Of course you are.” Idiot.
“Could I call you after we meet with the doctor?” Was her voice trembling? “Would that be okay? Unless something else comes up for you.”
“That’s perfect.” The words flew out of his mouth. He didn’t want her changing her mind.
“I’ll do that. The doctor’s supposed to be here in the next half hour.”
He sure hoped she wasn’t putting him off. “I’ll wait for your call.”
* * *
CAROLINA COULDN’T KEEP the smile off her face. Sage was the one good thing that had happened since she’d arrived home. She was about to the tuck the phone back in her purse, but noticed the voice-mail icon. Shoot, it had come in last night.
She poured hot water over her tea bag. As long as she was in the waiting room, she’d listen to the call.
“Hi. This is Abby Fitzgerald. I’d like to offer you the job. Give me a call when you get a chance. I was hoping you could work a short shift on Thursday for training.”
Carolina stared at her phone. She’d gotten the job.
No! She didn’t want to work for Abby.
With Mamá ill, it was too long a drive between Savannah and Tybee. Her mother needed her.
She started to hit the call button but Dr. Laster entered the lounge.
“Hi,” Carolina said.
“Hey.” The doctor poured a cup of coffee. “Looks like we had the same idea. Shall we head to your mother’s room?”
“Sure.” She tucked her phone away. She would call Abby and turn down the job after she took Mamá home.
“How are you, Rosa?” Dr. Laster asked as they walked into the hospital room.
“I’m so tired.” Mamá pushed the button on the bed and sat up. “What happened?”
“You had seizures last night and this morning.”
“Seizures?” Her mother frowned.
Carolina’s chest tightened. She and Mamá had already talked about this.
“It’s okay if you don’t remember.” Dr. Laster patted her mother’s leg. “The neurologist has prescribed medication, but we’ll need to monitor you. I’d like to keep you in the hospital while we do that. We can begin your first treatments here.”
“In the hospital?” Rosa grabbed Carolina’s hand. “Can’t I go home?”
“You’re safer here. I’d rather you didn’t have to come back via ambulance.”
Carolina wanted her mother to be safe. “What if you fall or have a seizure and I’m not around?”
“But…” Rosa closed her eyes and inhaled. “I hate hospitals.”
“Who doesn’t?” Dr. Laster smiled.
“I’ll bring your pretty robe and whatever you need from home.” Carolina forced a cheerful tone into her voice. “We can make the room nice.”
“Nice?” Her mother snorted.
Yikes. Her mother didn’t snort.
“We can. Flowers will brighten up the room.” Carolina should have brought her mother flowers.
“I want my bird.” Her mother pointed her finger at Carolina. “Don’t forget my bird.”
Carolina would like to purge the bird from Mamá’s memory. She didn’t want stolen property sitting in her mother’s hospital room for all to see. Why was the bird the one thing Mamá wouldn’t forget? “Sure.”
“Staying here is best for you, Rosa,” Dr. Laster insisted.
“It won’t be for long, will it?” Rosa asked.
“A couple of weeks. Maybe more. I’d want to make sure the medication stops the seizures before you start the radiation treatments. Then…we’ll see how it goes.” The doctor glanced at Carolina.
A chill ran through Carolina’s body. We’ll see how it goes? She tucked her trembling hands under her thighs. With her mother listening, she couldn’t ask Dr. Laster whether Mamá would ever go home.
Dr. Laster talked about lab work, medication and getting her mother’s weight up before treatment started. Carolina should be taking notes.
Her mother nodded off.
“Can I ask you some questions?” Carolina asked as she and the doctor headed out of the room.
Dr. Laster nodded. “I know this is a lot to take in.”
“You didn’t sound certain that my mother would leave in a week or two.” Carolina stared into Dr. Laster’s kind blue eyes.
“Honey, I don’t know that she will get out very soon. We have to stop the seizures. Then we can start treatments.”
“And she has to gain weight.”
Dr. Laster nodded. “She’ll need reserves.”
