“You did better than I thought,” he said. “You didn’t collapse.”
I rolled my eyes. “Gee, thanks.”
“You going to collapse now?” he asked.
“No,” I spat, offended.
When the entrance to the hospital was close, I cleared my throat. “I’ll have to visit my mom by myself. They’re only letting immediate family into her room.”
“Okay.”
“I didn’t think about how boring it would be for you to sit around the hospital and wait for me,” I said, suddenly sorry I’d invited him. It had been for selfish reasons, because I wanted to be sure he didn’t just take off, but here I was leaving him alone.
“I’ll manage.”
“Usually, after I visit, I get a ride from the hospital security guard, Colin, back to my car.”
He nodded. I bit my lip, looking down at Gran’s car keys in my hand. “I guess it would be okay for you to go grab the car and meet me back here—in the parking lot—in like an hour?”
Riley smirked and snatched the keys from my hand. I scowled, already regretting my decision. “Listen, I’ve already trashed one of Gran’s cars. If you trash this one, you’ll be sorry.”
“What are you gonna do, stab me with a fork?” he said with a smirk, looking at my pocket.
I looked down and saw the ends of my weapon sticking out of my pocket. The run must have jostled it upward. I narrowed my eyes. “It might not kill you, but I promise it would hurt.”
“Fine,” he said, exasperated, and held up his hands. “No funny business with Granny’s car.”
“It’s Gran.” I growled, irritated that he knew how to push all my buttons.
He nodded and shoved the keys in his pocket. “Better hide your fork,” he said as we walked through the wide glass doors.
The information desk was empty and I didn’t see Colin, but I was sure he was around somewhere. I pointed at the hospital directory on the wall and told Riley, “The cafeteria is around here somewhere, if you want to check it out.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Riley said, ignoring the sign and looking at me. “I can take care of myself. Take your time. I’ll meet you in the parking lot later.”
“Don’t make me regret giving you those keys.” I warned.
He waved me away, already turning to size up a pretty, young candy striper. I sighed. Hopefully that girl was hiding a fork in her uniform.
At the nurse’s station outside my mother’s room, I learned there was still no change in her condition. The nurse looked at me with sympathy and I was beginning to see that no one thought she was going to wake up.
Even though there was no medical reason that she shouldn’t.
“Hi, Mom,” I said when I entered the room. I was relieved to see the curtain around her bed was completely open today. There was no chance a demon could be hiding on the other side of the room. For good measure, I went to the other bed and yanked back the sheets. I sighed in relief. There was no deflated demon in here today.
I dropped my bag in the chair and poured myself a cup of water from the pitcher next to the bed. It was fresh, cold water and I wondered why the nurses kept it filled when clearly they thought Mom wouldn’t need it. Maybe they hadn’t given up all hope like I’d thought.
After draining the cup, I went into the bathroom to splash cold water over my face, wash my hands and quickly clean myself up. It seemed superficial to care about what I was wearing when Sam was going hungry. I did take a minute to comb through my hair and pull it snugly back in a ponytail. I added a thin black headband to help keep back my side-swept bangs as I wondered why I bothered to cut it… At least when it was long I could pull it out of the way. What was the point of a cute haircut if I never styled it?
I left the bathroom and went back to Mom’s side to spend a few moments brushing through her long hair. I paused when I noticed a small faded scar on the back of her neck. I leaned in closer to get a better look. It was an odd shape—circular—and it was very close to her hairline. I had never noticed it before, but she barely ever wore a ponytail and I never had to brush her hair like this, either. I shrugged, figuring it was nothing, and traded the brush for some lotion to smooth onto her face and hands.
The whole time I worked, I made a conscious effort to talk to her, telling her about mundane things like clothes and music and the weather. I told her about how her church group was praying for her and about the beautiful flowers they had sent yesterday. Finally, I sat down, pulling the chair close and taking her hand. I stared at her lying there, helpless and clueless, and I felt a pang of sorrow that I couldn’t talk to her about what was really going on in my life.
My mother was a very religious woman and I wondered if she would agree with Airis about forgetting about Sam. I couldn’t think that my mother would tell me to turn my back on someone I loved. I would like to think she’d tell me to follow my heart, that a heart as good as mine wouldn’t lead me wrong.
Tired, I leaned back into the chair and curled my legs beneath me. I shut my eyes and thought of Sam. Of his golden locks and honey-colored eyes.
When you come home, what’s the first thing you want to do?
Touch you.
What’s the first thing you want to eat?
Your lips.
Where’s the first place you want to go?
Anywhere with you.
Sam’s responses rippled through my mind, the deep raspy quality of his voice sent goose bumps racing down my arms. It’s exactly what I was thinking, I told him.
We’re going to be just fine, Hev.
I know.
There was a light sound from beside me and my eyes sprung open. Mom’s eyes were open, staring up at the ceiling.
I jumped up out of the chair. “Mom!” I grabbed her hand and she turned her head toward my voice. “Mom! Oh my God. You’re awake.” I turned to yell for the nurse, but she gripped my hand and I turned back. “We’ve been so worried about you.”
She stared at me for a few long moments and I wondered if she understood anything. But then she said, “Where am I?”
“You’re at the hospital, Mom. You fell and hit your head. But you’re okay now. You’re doing great.”
“Heven.”
“Yes.” I reached out and filled a cup with water, grateful that the nurses never stopped filling it, and lifted it to her lips. She took a sip and her eyes seemed to clear a little more. “I’m going to get the doctor. He’ll be so happy you’re awake!”