20 Escape
I found a seat in the lobby outside his room. I didn’t want to leave him. Certainly not like this. I probably should have told him but not now. Not with everything up in the air. Maybe Junior would show up at the hearing and get custody. We’d say goodbye, and that would be the end. His kids certainly wouldn’t want me hanging around. But we’ve been sleeping together. That deserves more than just goodbye and good luck.
I tried to find a book that would cheer me up and get me over the hump. They don’t write books about heroines who sit in a hospital lobby waiting for something to happen. I called Sam Reinhart. “Sam, I’m sorry to bother you but I need to talk to somebody.”
“What is it, bubelah?”
“Mac got mad, and kicked me out of his room.”
“His room?”
“He had a stroke. He’s in the hospital recovering.”
“And what was the unforgivable sin?”
“I called his children to let them know he was in the hospital.”
We talked for an hour while Sam caught up on my adventures and pieced together the current situation. He managed to lighten my mood in the process. “You shouldn’t be with an old man. They’re such kvetches. My back hurts. Why does your back hurt? It’s Monday. My knees ache. Why? It’s Wednesday.”
I had to smile. “You’re an old man. You know.”
“Do I sleep in your bed?” That got a chuckle. He said, “It is too soon to quit. Waiting is not glamorous but sometimes …”
“How long am I supposed to just sit here?”
“Until it is time to do something.”
“That’s not a lot of help.”
“You are a smart woman. You will figure it out.”
“If I believed that I wouldn’t be talking to you.”
“Then we are both lucky your faith is weak.” Sam paused as if letting that sink in. “Bubelah, if I told you there will be a sign, you would demand what sign? I don’t know that. Don’t ask me. Just wait for it.”
“Okay, Sam. Thanks. And I love you.”
##
I dragged myself back to the camper when visiting hours ended. When I returned to my vigil in the morning, I had Jodi Picoult’s The Storyteller. The court-appointed social worker showed up around ten. Dr. Sutherland escorted her to Mac’s room. I was too far away to hear any of the conversation. It must have been frustrating. They stopped to talk to me when it was over. “He certainly is stubborn.”
“Did you get what you needed?” I asked.
The social worker extended her hand. “Jeanne Wilson.”
“Katherine Graham.”
“I think I got enough, but I have some questions for you.” I nodded. She asked, “How long have you known Mr. MacGregor?”
“Six weeks.”
“Would you say you know him well?”
“Yes.”
“You mentioned some options to Judge Connors, but you didn’t say anything about him staying with his cousin here in Fairbanks.”
“Kirsten and her husband are being very generous. I don’t believe they are ready to take care of Mr. MacGregor over the long haul.”
“What about his son?”
“He’s committed. I think it’s a bigger job than he imagines, but we are talking about his father. Besides, he has a sister to share the burden.”
“Has anyone talked to the sister?”
“According to Don Junior, she’s in a coma in a hospital because of an accident.”
“You also mentioned St. Louis.”
“I’m not a relative, but I care for the elderly. I’ve checked with St. Elizabeth’s Senior Living Facility. I could get him in.”
“That’s where you work?”
“Yes.”
Wilson made some notes. She looked up. “Thank you.”
“Dr. Sutherland,” I interjected.
“Yes?”
“When will Mr. MacGregor be able to leave the hospital?”
“He could leave now if he had someplace to go.”
“We’ll decide where to put him at the hearing,” Wilson said.
I let them get out of sight before going back into Mac’s room. The head of his bed had been raised half-way. A pile of pillows supported him in a sitting position while he watched TV. He didn’t seem to notice me. I lowered the railing on the side of his bed and pushed the tubes out of my way as I sidled next to him. He let me take his hand, but he didn’t squeeze back. “Mac, please listen to me.” He wouldn’t look at me. I ran a hand across the bandage on his head. It probably bothered me more than him. It was a done deal. They had operated and it was my fault. “Do you remember how we – you and I together – were able to get Dr. Yang to go along with our approach?”
His eyes flitted in my direction. “When I brought you in here, you were almost dead. Your doctor blamed me. She said I couldn’t have any more contact with you.” Now his head turned and his eyes locked on mine. “I was broken. I didn’t know what to do. I went back to the RV. It was a mess so I started cleaning up. When I saw your phone, I decided to call Junior and Ann to let them know. I had to leave messages. I was desperate. I called Bob.” Mac was now was fully engaged. “He called me back later and said he and Kirsten were planning to take care of you after you were discharged.”
“They volunteered?”
“Yes, and they were looking into home health care services so you would get the care you need.”
He pressed his lips into a grim line and shook his head. I continued, “Bob told me your doctor insisted that I could not be involved.” Mac shifted around to face me directly. “I was in a dark place.” He squeezed my hand. “Then I spotted a business card in your stuff.” He arched his eyebrows. “I called Tereza.”
He looked mystified. Then a light went on. “Oh. Her. What did she have to say?”
“Help would come, and doors would open.”
“Sounds about right.”
“Junior called back the next day. I told him everything. He said you should come to Melbourne so he and Ann could take care of you.”
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
“On his own?”
“Yes. He offered to fly up here and make arrangements.”
“What about Ann?”
“She was in a car accident a few days ago. She’s still in a coma as far as I know.”
Mac tried to say something. No words came out. I handed over his phone. “Call Junior and ask him.”
I walked to the window while they talked. Mac seemed to be warming to the idea of moving to Melbourne. After he hung up, he said, “Kate.” His voice was husky.
I turned back to face him. “What are you going to do if I move down there with my son?”
“Are you asking about us?”
He closed his eyes and stroked his chin. He nodded. “Yes.” He still sounded choked. “What happens to us?”
“I can move to Melbourne if that’s what you want.”
“That looks like the best solution. Junior says his sister has regained consciousness. She’s in serious condition but should recover. I want to go see her.”
“If that’s what you want, we can get started today. I’ll tell Junior he doesn’t have to come up here. We’ll go down there. You can sign yourself out, and we’ll hit the road.”
“Hit the road? In the camper?”
“Sure. Why not?”
“That’s a long drive. Isn’t it?”
“I’ll put you on a plane if you want. I’m not leaving without that RV.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Why?”
“That’s our home. That’s where I plan to live the rest of my life.”
Mac rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. When he turned back to me, he said, “I suppose driving down will be easier than flying what with all the TSA shit.”
He waved me over. He held my cheek next to his while he squeezed me to his chest. I kissed him on the neck as I pushed away. “I have a lot to do and not much time. Please don’t say anything until I get back. This has to be our secret.”
He smiled and nodded. I called Charlie Stevenson with an urgent request for immediate help. He was with a client, but he took the call. “What do you need?”
“Mac has agreed to move to Melbourne. I want to get him out of the hospital as soon as possible.”
“Is he well enough to leave?”
“Dr. Sutherland told me he was.”
“The hearing is still two days away.”
“We don’t need the hearing. Mac has expressed his desire to move to Melbourne with his son.”
“Why the sudden change?”
“His daughter is in critical condition. He’s anxious to see her.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Mac is going to have to check himself out. We could use your support.”
“Okay. I can meet you at the hospital in about twenty minutes.”
“I have to drop off my rental and pick up our RV.”
“I’ll meet you at the rental office.”
Charlie’s offer was a godsend. Getting Mac on board the camper was going to be a challenge without some help. I had bought him a pair of walking forearm crutches, but I didn’t have time to train him. He wasn’t going to be much help in his condition.
##
Dr. Weizman was in surgery. Sutherland helped us with the checkout. She talked to Don Junior to make sure he had made arrangements on his end. Then she called Melbourne General to confirm that Ann was a patient. She wrote prescriptions for meds and pain killers. Then she walked them through the pharmacy.
Charlie drove us back to the RV and helped get Mac settled. He waited while I dealt with the manager. We said goodbye just before I stepped into the cab. “You aren’t going to put him on a plane. Are You?”
“Nope.”
He shook his head. “Good Luck. It’s a long drive. Crossing Canada is going to be a challenge.”
“At least traffic won’t be a problem.”
I hugged him and gave him a sisterly peck on the cheek. He left for his office. We were on our way.