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“You’re calling Drake’s mom? Why? And how do you have her number?”
I’d talked about Drake’s mom after my visit to Seattle but I’d hardly introduced them.
My mom found her cell on a nearby table and texted someone, then turned her cell over on the sofa. “I’m getting her number as we speak.”
Of course my mom could get any and all personal details associated with Drake. Anyone at RI would release them to her like she was the Queen of England, and I guessed she’d just texted ‘anyone.’
“I don’t get what you have to say to her. I might be wrong about her but I don’t think she’s worried about having a sympathy call from you right now. Not to be rude. I know you’re trying to help…”
My mom’s phone pinged. She glanced at it, then back at me. “Maeve, since when do I do sympathy in the middle of a crisis? There isn’t time for sympathy when you need to get your precious things out of a burning building. I’m inviting her and Drake to stay here. The best doctors are right here at Cedars-Sinai. He’s staying here in this house while getting his treatments. And so is she.”
I was a flight kind of person, but right now, I was frozen to the spot. And speechless. And all the other kind of paralyzing things that came along with shock. “Are you sure? I mean… plus, Mom, I don’t want Nora or Drake to feel, you know, patronized?”
As soon as I’d said it, I instantly changed my mind. I didn’t actually care that much about ego right now. My mom was right. No time for sympathy. One of the best hospitals in the world was right here in LA. “Do you think she’ll say yes? I could get Drake to stay, but will Nora…”
My mom lifted her cell and waved it as she spoke. “Let me tell you something. Drake isn’t going anywhere. That boy needs treatment, and we’re going to sort that no matter the cost. As for Nora…” My mom shook her head, her gaze at the floor. She inhaled deeply and let it out, as if she needed to gain composure.
She looked straight into my eyes again, but there was a pain there. One Dixie could usually mask, but this time, was on full display. “Maeve, you don’t know yet, but when you become a mom, an animalistic need to protect your children takes over the human mind. I promise you, Nora will stop at nothing to save her child. If I throw her a lifeline, she’ll take it. There’s no space for pride at a time like this.”
I nodded, a nervous quick nod, then pointed to her phone. “Was that ping her number?”
“Yes.” She placed her hand on mine. “Do you want to be here when I call her or is it going to be hard for you? She might cry. I know you don’t like that much.”
I blew an unamused laugh out of my nose. “I’m getting used to it.”
My mom was right. Nora agreed and thanked my mom profusely through stifled tears. She’d be here tomorrow. The three of us women decided I should tell Drake he was about to have a harem looking after him.
I walked down the hall to his hospital room with a bag of goodies, many of which were from Dixie and I wasn’t sure he’d like. She insisted he should eat pâté because it was rich in iron which was “good for his blood.”
It was such an old wives’ kind of thing to do, to think that some pâté would have any effect at all at a time like this, but I took it to him anyway because I’d promised myself I’d never stop hoping.
When I turned around the doorframe, I immediately left, having seen a nurse in there with Drake.
“Maeve! Come back. It’s all good.”
I returned, peeking in. “Sorry, I thought you’d be done by now.”
The nurse stood. “We are. I have one more check I’ll be back for, so no hanky-panky, you two.” He waggled his finger at me and Drake.
Drake chuckled and lifted an eyebrow at the nurse. “I make no promises, Jim.” He glanced at me. “Come in, babe. Sorry for this guy’s jokes. Can’t get good entertainment these days.” Drake rolled his eyes, joking.
Jim defended himself. “Maybe you just don’t have a good sense of humor.”
Drake still spoke to me. “Here’s one of Jim’s jokes. If you’re an American when you go in the bathroom, and an American when you come out, what are you when you’re in the bathroom?”
I looked at Jim. He waited for me to answer with wide eyes. I didn’t.
“European!” Jim delivered the punchline. “Hey, my kids laugh at my jokes.”
I glanced at Drake. “Actually, that’s pretty funny.”
“Thank you, Maeve.” Jim patted my arm, and he prepared to leave. “At least someone appreciates me around here.”
Jim gave one last sassy smile to Drake and rubbed me on the shoulder on the way out.
I put my mom’s food hamper on Drake’s bedside table and sat on the edge of his bed. “You seem all perked up?”
And I meant it. His skin was less sallow, and even his eyes were bright and clear. It was like a miracle had taken place. I had my boyfriend back after that transfusion. “How was the biopsy?” I’d read bone marrow aspiration was painful.
