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“Great,” I said and stifled a hiccup of worry about D2. I unpacked his clothes into the cupboard beside his bed and left him the coffee and the get-well card that Wayne had bought, and I had signed. Next, I went to see Mom at the opposite end of the floor. The hospital was massive, and it took almost five minutes at a brisk walk to get there. Laughter rang out from Mom’s room. When I turned the corner, I gulped. Sitting on the side of her bed, one of my mother’s hands in hers as she applied a layer of pale pink nail polish, was Ronnie Flynn.
Mom had hot rollers in her hair and was gasping. “It hurts when I laugh. You’re terrible, Ronnie.”
Relief, gratitude, and finally anger flushed through me. Mom’s laughter made me smile and I was glad someone was with her. On the other hand, I was furious that Ronnie was insinuating herself into my family. I stood in the doorway and waited to be noticed. Mom looked up at me triumphantly, as if I’d just confirmed something she’d predicted.
“The prodigal daughter finally appears.”
She winked at Ronnie and Ronnie nodded, as if they were agreeing that I was a hopeless case. I wondered if they had been laughing about me.
“You don’t want this coffee then?” I asked.
“Of course, I do,” she said and held her hands up in front of her to admire Ronnie’s handiwork. “No need to get jealous. I always wanted a second child. Wasn’t it nice that Ronnie dropped in to visit when I was here all alone?”
“Mom, you have about a million friends. Why aren’t any of them here?”
“I didn’t want them to see me in this old hospital gown. Did you bring my pajamas and make up?”
“Yes. And your double shot espresso.” I set it down in front of her.
“My daughter is the best,” she said to Ronnie. “Too good for that Simon Jacobson.”
Ronnie twisted the lid back on the bottle of nail polish and looked at Mom, a small furrow between her eyebrows as if she didn’t quite understand. A lump of ice ran down my spine.
“That’s a matter of opinion,” I said. “I think he’ll do very nicely, thank you very much.”
“Cynthia was just telling me that she thinks he’s too boring for you. All business, no pleasure. You’ll be tired of him within a year.” Ronnie packed her nail polish away and started removing the hot rollers from Mom’s hair, watching me the whole time.
“Thank you both for your unqualified support. That subject is now closed,” I said. They could try to gang up on me, but I didn’t have to listen.
“No need to get all defensive about Simon,” Ronnie said. “I guess you don’t fall in love with a man just because he’s rich, but it doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“I knew that Simon was well off when we first went out, but I had no idea. By the time I figured out how wealthy he was, it didn’t matter. I was hooked on him, rich or poor.”
“He’s a fast mover,” Ronnie said and exchanged a look with Mom.
“Changing the subject then. Mom, what’s up with D2?”
Mom’s face clouded over. “In a way, we were lucky. They identified the stroke, administered the drugs, and got him straight into surgery last night where they cleared plaque from the arteries in his neck. They are continuing to monitor him for any further blockages or other damage. If everything is okay, he’ll be here for some therapy and then be strong enough to come home.”
“Therapy for what?”
“He may have lost some use of his right side temporarily and his speech may be slightly impaired.”
“But he’ll get better?”
“The prognosis is good.” Mom’s mouth turned down in a frown, as if she wasn’t convinced.
Ronnie popped the last of the hot rollers onto its post and patted Mom’s shoulder.
Mom placed her hand over Ronnie’s, and jealousy jabbed at me.
“What about you?” I asked, trying to ignore Ronnie’s triumphant look.
“I’ve got whiplash, a concussion, a couple of cracked ribs and a sprained wrist.” She waved at me with her taped hand.
“How bad is your concussion?”
“Yesterday, I wasn’t sure what day it was or what city I was in. I’ve still got double vision and a constant headache.”
