AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Fifteen
Moira
I'm sitting on the edge of the hospital bed holding my mother's thin hand.
I hadn't realized it last night, but it looks like she's lost weight, and I can't help but be worried about her. I study her as she rests on the pillow, looking pale and frail with dark circles under her eyes and bruises in all stages of healing on her skin. I’d gasped when I first saw her in the hospital gown.
Her clothing had neatly hidden every bruise on her body. The tubes and cords that lead to the IV somehow make her appear smaller in bed, and the soft beeping of the monitor drones on in my head. The room is small with that sharp scent of sterility, white walls that don’t hide scuffs that look like people kicked them, and a small window that I already know isn’t the right size to escape through.
Not because I worry that my mom might try to escape, but because I might. The window overlooks the parking lot and buildings close in around us, so close I feel unable to breathe. There's a TV on the wall but it's muted, and a chair in the corner that folds out into a bed where I’d slept last night.
My gaze continues to wander the room, because anything else is easier to look at than my mom.
There’s a cabinet table beside her with a couple of magazines and a vase with the flowers that Michael had sent over. My attention comes back to her again and I wonder where my father is, even though I’m glad he’s not here. I’d texted him last night, several times.
He still hasn’t responded to those texts and it’s... - I glance at the clock - nearly noon. What the heck is he up to? And why isn’t he here for his wife?
My phone rings and I look at the screen before answering. It's Valerie, so I answer it with a soft whisper. “Hi, Val.” I hate leaving my mom's side, but I don't want to wake her up either, so I slip off the bed and head for the door.
“Hi, Moira.” My friend sounds distressed and upset. “I miss you, and I just want things to go back to normal.” The words burst out of her as if she's been thinking about them and holding them back for far too long already.
“I'd like the chance to sit down and try to make things right, but right now my mom's in the hospital.” I try to keep my words as matter of fact as possible in hopes that I won't cry.
“Oh my gosh, what's wrong with your mom?” Valerie sounds surprised. Probably equally so by the fact that I'm here with my mom, and by the fact that something is wrong with my mom.
“She fell yesterday and they wanted to keep her for observation, but they haven't let us leave yet. Apparently they need to run some tests because of my mom's bruising?” I hadn't really understood what they were trying to say, but I was also too in shock to ask any questions. I mean, my mom fell. Of course, she'd have bruises. Why do they need to run tests for that? What they had said still didn't make sense, and I can't figure out what the issue is, so I’m trying to be patient.
“That sounds serious. Do you want me to come over? I can bring coffee or food or something.” Valerie sounds like she wants to be helpful, and I can't hold back a smile. I'm grateful for my friends. Even though things aren't going well between us, she still wants to be here for me when I need her.
“No, thank you. I know you already have enough to deal with, and given how things went down between us last time we hung out, I don't really want to risk making things worse.” Though I honestly wonder if things could be worse.
“You’re not going to make things worse, but I'm here if you need me.” She sounds worried. “That's what friends do, Moira. And speaking of friends, I have some news for you.”
I let out a sigh. “Let me guess, Raina is still mad at me.”
“Exactly. She's really upset at you for not being supportive of her choice to marry Tanner. Why are you so against it? They are good together.” She sounds mystified, and I wonder if I'm losing her too.
“It's not about who she's marrying, it's about the fact that she's getting married. We all swore that we wouldn't give men a chance to run or ruin our lives, and here she is, willingly giving away power and control.” As I think about the words, I realize I need to amend them. “Okay, maybe it is a little bit about who she's marrying. Isn't it weird that she's marrying her dead husband's brother? Am I the only one that thinks that's uncomfortable?”
“That's just it, Moira. It doesn't matter if it makes us uncomfortable. It's not our place to judge, and she's not doing anything wrong. We need to be there for her.” I feel like Valerie's trying to plead with me. “She's allowed to be happy, and if getting married makes her happy, then we need to accept that and just be there for her.”
“It's not that I don't want her to be happy, it's that I know what happens.” Maybe her husband will die again. Or maybe they'll be on bad terms and get divorced, or worse yet, they'll stay married and miserable together. These things never end well.
“Like I said, I do want a chance to sit down and try to make things right, but my mom is sick right now, so she's kind of my top priority.” I lean back against the door of my mother’s room, speaking in a low voice as the hospital staff ebb and flow around me.
“Of course, no pressure. And like I said, I'm here if you need me.”
I stay quiet for a moment as two doctors walk by, talking in low voices and urgent tones, followed by a nurse jogging to catch up. “Besides, I highly doubt that Raina is interested in me trying to make things better.”
“You should see the sadness in her eyes while she's trying to plan her wedding without you.” The way Valerie says the words, tells me that she means them. “It’s breaking her heart that you're not going to be there.”
I don't say anything because I don't think I can speak around the lump in my throat. Biting down on my lip, I try to process what she’s saying. I still think that Raina is making a mistake, but I don't want to lose her as a friend because of it. Especially now that I realize how precious life is and how quickly things might be taken away because my mother's fall could have been a lot worse.
“Thank you for calling me.” I appreciate that Valerie's trying to help me save this friendship, plus it’s good to hear her voice right now. I need all the friends I can get.
“That's what friends are for. I love you! I’ll talk Raina into going out for lunch or something when your mom feels better. Keep me updated!”
“Love you too,” I say.
