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“Let’s just say I made a sizable donation to the hospital.”
I closed my eyes and kept calm. “Luke, where is my mother now?”
“She’s at the Institute of Medicine and Health. It’s a private hospital but it has the best technology and doctors on staff. I would trust them with my own life, I swear.”
He turned to look at me, but I still didn’t know how to process this information.
When he pulled into a private parking space at the hospital, I didn’t even question it. I opened the passenger door and jumped out. I followed Luke through the automated doors and was stunned for a moment. For a hospital, this place was gorgeous. Soaring glass ceilings, clean white floors, and there were even green leafy plants scattered throughout. A few of the doctors lined up at the Starbucks in the lobby and nodded at Luke.
“Good morning, Mr. Crawford,” the receptionist called as Luke and I walked past her. I think she may have sighed when Luke greeted her back. I lengthened my stride to keep up with Luke’s pace.
We took the elevators up to the fifth floor. When the doors opened, the first thing I noticed was the smell. Not the usual stale, laundered scent but a fresh eucalyptus, as though we were inside a spa rather than a hospital.
“Your mother’s in this room,” he said and hung back as he let me walk through first.
It was a private room with a gorgeous view of the city below, but when I turned my head toward the bed, my eyes fixed on my mother. She had regained some color to her face and her eyes stared back at me.
“Grace?” she whispered. A tiny smile crept through her lips.
“Mom?” I fled to her bedside. “You’re awake.”
She nodded but closed her eyes again. I turned to Luke. “What happened?”
He tilted his head toward the hallway, as though he didn’t want to wake my mother, and stepped out.
When I joined Luke outside the room, he explained. “The other hospital didn’t have the medication needed to sustain your mother until surgery. They said she wouldn’t make it through the night without them. So, I decided to transfer her here. They’ve already started her on a full round of the meds intravenously as well as dialysis. I’m still waiting to confirm the surgery date. I’ll follow up this morning.”
New meds, dialysis, surgery. I couldn’t keep up with all the words Luke had thrown at me and I tried to make sense of it all. “Luke,” I stammered. “I don’t think my insurance will cover any of this.” Then I balled my fists. “I’ll go to the bank this morning and take out a loan. I know I’m good for it.”
Luke grabbed my hand, then let my fingers slide against his skin, as though he regretted his action. “I’ll take care of it, Grace. I told you I would.”
“Luke, I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You didn’t.”
I shook my head and he placed his hand on my shoulder. “If it makes you feel better, you can pay me back.”
I nodded. “Okay. I promise. I’ll pay you back, every cent.”
He frowned and swallowed, the working of his throat capturing my attention. He looked into my eyes and seemed to decide on something that he wasn’t going to share with me. “All right.” He checked his watch. “I have to be somewhere in a few minutes.” He handed me a card. “Call Eric whenever you’re ready to go home and he’ll drive you.”
I stared at the card in my hand and by the time I looked up, Luke was already halfway down the hallway. His steps were quick, as though he were late. When he stepped into the elevator, I turned around and returned to my mother’s room.
Pulled a chair to her bed, I sat down and covered her hand with mine. “I’m right here, Mom,” I said and she smiled.
Her eyes fluttered until her gaze held mine. “You’ve always been, Grace. Thank you.”
I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer so I let go, and wiped my eyes with the sleeve of my red sweatshirt. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Mom. I couldn’t even function thinking that I’d lose you. This is a very toxic relationship.” I laughed and my mother tried to chuckle but ended up coughing. “Sorry. Don’t laugh, okay? I’m not sure how to put these wires back if any of them get loose.”
She patted my hand and closed her eyes. I watched her as she slept, content to have another day with her. Some days, I knew she felt like a burden on me. But I never saw it that way. She was everything good and I was lucky to be her daughter.
My phone buzzed and I pulled it from my pocket. It was a text from Omar.
Omar: I haven’t heard from you in a while. Are you okay?
Me: I’m sorry, I’ve been MIA. So much to catch you up on. Are you free to chat?
Omar: Always free for you. Call whenever.
