Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
B laise dressed comfortably in light blue knit pants and matching jacket with a white T-shirt underneath. And because she knew hospitals were often cold, she went with all-white Adidas tennis shoes. This was not the time for sandals. Cold toes would make her miserable.
She carried her Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote, packed carefully with a stainless-steel water bottle, her iPad with the book Althea had said Lester would enjoy, Louis L’Amour’s Hondo , a few protein bars, and her usual essentials.
She took the elevator up. She didn’t love hospitals. Who did? Unless you were there for the birth of a baby, they weren’t generally great places to be.
But she was pleased to be there all the same. Pleased to be spending her time helping someone else out. Doing a good deed. It was a nice feeling, despite the less than desirable circumstances.
She found his room. The door was open. Cautiously, she pushed it open. “Lester?”
A man much frailer-looking than she’d imagined lay in the bed, tubes coming out of him, a machine softly whirring. Why did everyone look so small in a hospital bed? He glanced at her without acknowledgment.
“Hi. My name is Blaise. I’m in your wife’s book club.” Maybe not the exact truth but close enough without overcomplicating things. “Althea’s getting some rest but I’m here to keep you company and to read to you. I hear you like Louis L’Amour.”
A weak smile bent his mouth. “Nice to meet you,” he wheezed. “I do like him. Thank you.”
He didn’t need to speak, but she wasn’t about to tell him what to do. It was a nice room, private, with furnishings that could have easily been at home in a hotel room. She took a seat in the chair beside the bed, imagining that’s where Althea had been.
“Before I start reading, do you need anything?”
He shook his head. He already looked happier than when she’d first come in. “Althea’s a good woman.”
Blaise smiled. “I have no doubt about that, but I’ll tell you a secret. I haven’t met her yet.”
His smile widened. “You will.”
A nurse knocked on the door, pushing it open and wheeling a cart in. “Hi, there. I’m Debbie. Just here to do a quick blood pressure and check vitals.”
“Do you want me to step outside?” Blaise asked Lester.
He shook his head.
Blaise took out her iPad while the nurse did her thing. She took her phone out, too, and sent the group a text. Here with Lester now. Seems in good spirits.
She knew she’d probably get some responses but she put the phone away so she could start the book when the nurse left.
The nurse finished up, marking things down on Lester’s chart. Or at least that’s what Blaise assumed she was doing on the tablet that was attached to the cart. “All right, Mr. Anderson, we’ll leave you alone for a bit. Next interruption will probably be lunch.”
She gave Blaise a short smile, then pushed the cart out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar as it had been.
“Ready for me to read?” Blaise asked.
Lester nodded.
“Hondo Lane got to his feet…”
She read for a solid twenty minutes before taking a break and then it was only to take out her water bottle and have a sip. She continued on in the same manner, reading a while, stopping for some water, then carrying on.
About an hour in, Lester’s lids dropped and his breathing became very even. She stopped reading, expecting he was asleep. She sat very still, waiting to see if he’d sense she’d gone quiet and wake up.
He didn’t.
She closed her iPad cover and took out her phone to see if she’d had any responses. She had.
Paige was first. Thank you so much for doing this. Althea is very grateful.
Then Cece. How’s he doing?
Maude came after her. I’ll be there to relieve you at noon.
I’ll be in after Maude , Essie had texted. I’m making a small casserole for Althea, which I’ll drop off on my way to the hospital.
Blaise answered Paige. Happy to do it. Feels good to be useful. Then Cece. He seems to be doing well. Nurse was in to take vitals. He just fell asleep and I’m letting him be. She sent a thanks to Maude and to Essie, That’s so good of you. If she needs anything I can always stop on my way home.
The texts went on for a few more replies, finally petering out. Blaise opened her iPad and made a note of the page it was on so that Maude could find where to start reading, then put her tablet away and sat quietly.
The soft hum of the machines was enough to lull anyone to sleep, although being comfortable enough in a hospital to get rest was something entirely different. She was happy to sit and keep Lester company.
Her phone vibrated. She picked it up and checked who’d texted her this time. Not the girls. Her son, Evan.
She’d missed his call.
As he’d self-appointed himself to the position of her minder since the passing of Jay and the scammer incident, she knew there was no point in ignoring his attempt to reach her.
He would keep trying. She loved her son, loved that he cared, but his relentlessness was approaching the point of a character flaw.
She texted him. Can’t talk, at the hospital. Quickly she added, with a friend. I’m fine .
What? Oh. All right. Everything okay?
He had a small heart attack. Seems all right. What’s up?
He?
She rolled her eyes. Of course that’s what Evan would get stuck on. He’s the husband of a friend. Were you calling for a reason or just saying hi?
Just wanted to see how you were doing. Need anything? How are you settling into the place?
She hesitated, giving herself time to think. Lester dozed on. Evan was basically asking if she needed money and wondering if she was going to make it at the Colony. She knew he expected her to cry uncle and ask to move in with him and his wife.
Blaise was not doing that. Again, she loved her son, but it would be like a prison. Not that bad, not remotely, of course, but in a way, it would create hard boundaries in her life.
She’d be expected to eat with them. Go places with them. Live her life on their schedule. She’d be under Evan’s roof and, according to the way he thought, she’d be under his rules.
Just like he had been while living with her and Jay, except he’d been a child.
She was a grown woman. She did not want to turn her life over to her son. He’d probably put her on a budget, which she was already on out of necessity, but his would be stricter.
None of that appealed to her. Visiting him was fine but after four days maximum, not being in her own place made her itchy.
She’d much rather this tiny house that was all hers, than a single bedroom in her son’s home.
Did that make her a terrible mother? She didn’t think so. Just an honest one. Jay would have understood. Of course, if Jay was here, she wouldn’t be dealing with this.
She’d be in their home. Probably planning their next trip somewhere.
She sniffed, unexpectedly weepy. She missed him so much. She made herself smile, unwilling to break down at Lester’s bedside, of all places.
Evan was still waiting for an answer. She decided to bombard him with truth.
It’s great here. I’ve made a lot of new friends, amazing women from all walks of life. I made brownies for my neighbor yesterday. He’s a widower and a veteran. Grumpy old man but he was sweet to Beau. Might take up pickleball, if I can fit it in my schedule. How are you?
She hit Send. Okay, the pickleball part wasn’t truth, but the rest ought to give him plenty to mull over.
Three dots appeared as he prepared to answer.
That’s great, Mom. I’m glad to hear it. You okay for money?
Again, she rolled her eyes. More than okay. How’s Casey?
Three dots again, a longer hesitation this time. Then, finally, She’s good. Need to get back to work. Talk soon.
Was that the key to ending conversations with Evan? Ask about his wife? Interesting. Blaise tucked that bit of info away for later.
She slipped her phone into her bag. Maude was due soon.
She showed up a few minutes late, but Blaise didn’t judge. Her own need to be punctual didn’t mean others had to be. So long as she wasn’t too greatly inconvenienced, which she wasn’t.
“Hi,” Maude said softly. She was in multi-color harem pants featuring elephants, a white tank top, and a slouchy beige sweatshirt with the neck cut out. It hung off one shoulder. She gestured at Lester. “He’s still sleeping?”
Blaise nodded and picked up her bag, then whispered back, “We can talk in the hall.”
Maude stepped back outside with her. “Did you read to him?”
“A bit, but then he fell asleep. I took note of where I was at in the book. I’ll text it to you so you can find it on your Kindle.”
“Cool, thanks.”
Blaise got her phone out and sent Maude the info. “There you go.”
Maude checked her screen. “Got it.” She smiled at Blaise. “This is nice, isn’t it? Not that he’s here. Helping, I mean.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’m going to head in. I’ll text later and let you all know how it went.”
“Sounds good.” Blaise floated toward the exit, feeling better than she had in a while.