CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I was still lazing in bed the next morning when Rhonda called. “Ann, I’m at the hospital with Will. Can you come?”
“Absolutely. What’s wrong?”
“They’re still testing him. We’re at the NCH Heart Institute.” Rhonda sounded as if she were about to cry.
“I’m on my way,” I said, jumping out of bed.
Minutes later, I was dressed and explained to Vaughn what was going on.
“Keep me informed,” said Vaughn, looking worried. He and Will had always gotten along well. Though Will wasn’t a sailor, he and Vaughn played golf together whenever they could.
“Tell Robbie I’m sorry I won’t be able to make his swim meet. Remember, Stephanie and Randolph will be there. If you want to invite them to dinner, I’m all for it. But it’s your time at home, so do what you want.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll let you know how things go,” he said, kissing me.
I used to like to have things properly planned, but with the uncertainty of our job requirements, I’d learned long ago to roll with whatever happened.
###
I found Rhonda in the emergency waiting room, pacing the floor. I hurried over to her and gave her a hug. “Any news?”
She nodded. “They’re scheduling him for stent surgery.”
“Were you able to see him?” I asked her.
“Yes, but he was already on his way into surgery, so I could only say how much I loved him.” Rhonda’s voice shook. “They said the blockage was pretty severe.”
“What brought this on?” I asked her.
Rhonda sighed. “The first night we were there, we had dinner and relaxed in our cabin. We agreed not to talk about business until we both had a chance to unwind. The next day, we read and relaxed on the beach, took naps, and ...” Rhonda’s cheeks turned red.
“And dinner?” I asked before Rhonda could say anything more.
“We ate an early dinner and kept it fairly light.”
“When did you get him here?”
I woke up around six this morning, and Will was out of bed, just sitting in a chair. I knew something was wrong. After speaking to him, I called the front desk for help. We made the water crossing and got here to the hospital in record time. They said the surgery usually takes from thirty minutes to two hours.”
Rhonda continued, “The hotel keeps a doctor on call, and when he heard the symptoms, he said to get him here as fast as we could. A staff member from the hotel accompanied us.”
“That was important, something we’ve done at our hotel. But it’s probably time for another training session for our staff.”
“Yes, I thought of that too,” said Rhonda.
“What can I do to help? Would it relieve your mind if I checked you out of the hotel and packed up your things?” I asked.
“Yes, maybe you can go there with me after the procedure,” said Rhonda. “For now, I need you here.”
I hugged her. “Not a problem. How about breakfast? Can I get you some coffee and something to eat?”
Rhonda rubbed her stomach. “Actually, yes. I’ve been too upset to think about food, but it sounds good now that you’re here. We can go to the surgical waiting room. That’s supposed to be more comfortable than here.”
“Okay, let’s go.” I took her arm, and we followed directions to the elevator and up to the surgical floor.
When we went into the ladies’ room, Rhonda looked in the mirror at herself. “I didn’t realize I was such a mess. I just threw on the same caftan I wore yesterday and didn’t realize I’d spilled something on it. I’ve got a comb in my purse.”
“You’re fine. No one cares. I’ll leave you to this and get us some coffee and something to eat.” I left Rhonda and went to the café, where I bought coffee and two sweet rolls.
“You’re an angel,” said Rhonda when I handed her a cup of coffee and a cinnamon treat and then sat down beside her.
“The sweet rolls can’t compare to Consuela’s, but it’s something to eat,” I said.
“Nothing can compare to hers,” said Rhonda before taking a sip of coffee.
After we finished eating, I sat quietly with Rhonda. I knew her well enough to know when she was ready to talk, she would.
“I’m not sure what’s going on with Will. He said he’d discuss a concern with me and then backed off, telling me it was nothing for me to worry about, that he’d taken care of it.”
“Will’s so competent; I’m certain that if he told you not to worry, he meant it,” I said.
Rhonda gave me a thoughtful look. “But I don’t think it’s something that just happened. He’s been unusually quiet about work. Not that he can share any confidential information. Angela said Reggie’s been preoccupied lately. Maybe it has something to do with that.”
“Both Will and Reggie are straightforward men. If there were anything either you or Angela should know, they would tell you.”
“You’re right,” admitted Rhonda. “Having Arthur in town with all his big New York clients has been unsettling. I get the male ego thing, but it’s something more than that.”
“Getting back to Will’s health, have you been given information about what happens after this procedure?” I asked her.
She handed me a bunch of pamphlets. “They wanted me to be prepared for the time we go home. They told me they’d probably keep Will overnight to make sure everything went well, but that I should be prepared for lifestyle changes he should make and possible emotions and feelings that he might be dealing with.”
“I can understand that. Will must slow down now or face worse consequences,” I said.
“I think this wake-up call is going to be difficult for him,” said Rhonda, frowning. “He already feels threatened by Arthur. And Reggie’s eagerness to take over and run the office is another issue. Will’s not ready for retirement, but he’ll have to make some changes.”
I got up from my chair and moved around. I remembered when Vaughn’s plane went down over Alaska and the awful emptiness that I’d felt at the thought of his not being found. I glanced back at the worried look on Rhonda’s face, how her shoulders had hunched up, and vowed to be with her every step of the way. The months ahead wouldn’t be easy.
“This couldn’t come at a worse time,” said Rhonda. “The holidays are coming up and then high season. I want to be able to support you as much as possible with the hotel, but I have to make sure Will is all right and able to take care of himself.”
I sat down beside her. “I agree. The hotel staff does a wonderful job for us. We’ll handle it.”
“On the other hand, I can’t babysit Will every day. He’d kill me, or I’d kill myself,” said Rhonda.
“We’ll do this together like we always do.”
As we were talking, a man wearing green surgical clothes approached. “Mrs. Grayson?”
Rhonda glanced at me and stood. “That’s me, and this is my friend, Ann Sanders. Is everything all right? How did my husband do?”
“Hi, I’m Dr. Hamblin. He did just fine. He’s had three stents put in, which was one more than we’d initially thought we’d need. We’ll keep him overnight to make sure everything’s fine, and then tomorrow, before he’s released, we’ll have him meet with one of the rehab nurses. I’d like you to be present for that, as he will need to change his diet and lifestyle.”
“I’d love to be there for that,” said Rhonda. “I’ve been a voice in the wilderness, so to speak, for a long time. I need someone else to tell him what he can and can’t do.”
“I agree it will be helpful for that meeting. You should be aware of the emotional impact something like this can have on a patient. Your husband might become very frustrated with the changes required.”
“I’m sure of that, so I think we need to be in this meeting together. May I see him now?”
“Yes, he’s in the recovery room. He’ll remain there for a short time, and then he’ll be moved to our cardiac unit. Ask the nurses on that floor, and they can tell you when he’s brought there. It should be any time now.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much,” said Rhonda, trying not to cry.
I put my arm around her.
The doctor gave a little bob of his head to both of us and moved away.
###
A fter Rhonda had seen Will and spent a few minutes with him, she and I headed to the Palm Island Club. This small resort was unique in that it was situated on a small island off the shore of Sabal and was approached by a short boat ride. It was a favorite relaxing spot for Vaughn and me.
The clubhouse was a light-stained log cabin-style building which, from the outside, didn’t reflect the elegance inside. In addition to guest rooms in the main building, ten cabins lined the sandy beach, offering upscale privacy to those inside. Vaughn loved lying on the beach in front of one and then using the small private pool behind to cool off. We’d spent many happy hours there.
While Rhonda checked out, I began packing up for her. It was easy to fold things up. Staying at the resort meant wearing nothing very dressy, just simple clothes for an easy getaway.
As I closed Will’s suitcase, Rhonda walked into the bedroom.
“Have you done my stuff yet? I don’t want to leave behind the sexy nightgown I bought for the occasion.”
Rhonda’s smile disappeared, and she plopped down onto the king-size bed. “Oh, Annie. What’s going to happen to Will and me? Will he be the same as before, or will he think he’s too old or fragile to make love like we used to?”
“Those are questions that the rehab center can answer. I’m sure other women have wondered the same thing. I remember a guest of ours talking about how great it was for her husband to recover from stent surgery and that it positively changed his life. He felt so much better, more alive.”
Rhonda sighed. “I won’t worry about it now. The important thing is that Will has been saved from a heart attack. With all the stress he’s been under, it’s a wonder he hasn’t dropped dead.”
“He’s always been a strong, active man. I don’t see that changing,” I said.
Rhonda got to her feet. “I don’t want to add to my worries by thinking of things that might never happen, right?”
“Right,” I said. “We’re going to get through this and enjoy the life we have.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. Now, where’s that sexy nightgown?”
###
W hen I finally got to the hotel to see what was happening there, Lorraine’s staff was changing out the Halloween decorations in the dining room to our usual fall ones. I looked in on the library. All was in order there. On the lanai, the only trace of Halloween was a black cat made of stone sitting among the landscaping by the bar.
Lorraine hurried over to me. “Bernie told me Will was in the hospital. Is everything okay?”
I filled her in and said, “Rhonda’s going to be busy at home for the next few weeks trying to make him slow down.”
“If it helps, we don’t have a wedding for a couple of weeks, not until the Saturday following Thanksgiving.” Lorraine shook her head. “These men and their work. I swear Arthur is a workaholic. But that works for us, with me and my job here.”
“I know things have been a little tense for Will for some time,” I said. “Hopefully, this episode with his heart will help him understand that he must change his work pattern.”
“I hope so, too.” Lorraine placed a hand on my arm. “I’m so glad Arthur and Vaughn could spend time together at the party last night.”
“It’s important because we’re all part of what I call ‘my hotel family.’ Speaking of family, I will ask the front desk about departures and arrivals, and then I’m going home. See you at the staff meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Okay. I won’t be far behind,” said Lorraine. “Arthur is going to take me out on the golf course. I’m getting better.”
“Have fun,” I said , leaving her thinking how lucky Rhonda and I were to have found her to handle weddings and social activities for the hotel.
###
“H ow’s Will?” Vaughn asked as I approached him, sitting on the lanai reading.
I sat down on the couch next to him and let out a sigh. “I hope this will be a wake-up call for him. He had three stents put in, demonstrating how serious his situation was. He will have to participate in a rehab program to help him change his diet and lifestyle habits.”
“Why was he so driven with his business?” Vaughn said. “I understand the stock market is always changing, and he must keep up with it, but I can’t imagine he has to work all the time. Especially with Reggie there to help him.”
“Reggie is his partner and a very capable financial advisor,” I said. “I think Will feels a little threatened by him, and he’s definitely threatened by Arthur, who deals with much bigger accounts.”
“Funny you should mention that,” said Vaughn. “Arthur spoke to me about a special offering he has available. Supposedly a big money maker. I agreed to look at some of the material he wants to send me.”
“I’m not surprised he was pushing work on you. Lorraine and I were talking this morning, and she said Arthur is a workaholic, but it works out well for the two of them.”
“Well, I’m glad you and I can work out times to be together with our crazy schedules,” said Vaughn. He drew me to him and kissed me on the forehead. “Let’s keep it that way.”
I snuggled up against him. “I think we should.”