Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
ASLAN
A few hours later we begin the process of transferring Keaton’s mom.
Unfortunately, we’re having trouble settling her in.
According to the nurses in the other facility, she’s been having a bad day.
I don’t know much about dementia or strokes.
I wish I could do something to make her feel at home.
Maybe I should research and talk to Heath about her prognosis.
As Keaton talks with the medical personnel, Carey Reed scans her new room.
I have so many questions, like why doesn’t she share the same last name with Keaton?
What happened to her? According to her documents, she’s in her mid-fifties but she looks a lot older than my mother who is in her mid-sixties.
“Shoes,” she slurs her words.
I look at her slippers but don’t say a word. I fear I’ll say something wrong.
Keaton turns to her and with a low voice, says, “Mom, this is your new home.”
“No. I need home.” She tries to tap her wrist a couple of times but fails. “Kitty. Where’s Kitty.”
Keaton squats in front of her, holding her hands. “Mom, it’s me, Keaton. This will be your new home. You’ll have dinner at six, the way you like it. They’re preparing you asparagus soup—your favorite.” She rubs her stomach. “Yum.”
Her mom looks at her but doesn’t say anything.
“I’m Keat. Keaton, your oldest daughter. Savannah will be here later in the week.”
Carey smiles but then, she becomes agitated. Her hands shake, and her eyes scan the room in search of something. She tries to stand up, but she can’t. Earlier, Keaton explained to me that after a second stroke, she lost the mobility in one of her legs.
“This is your new place, Mom. I promise it’s going to be okay. Everyone here is friendly. If you need anything, I’m just an hour away from you.”
I detect fear and sadness in her voice. I wish I could make her mother better. If I call Heath, can he make this better?
“Hey, remember that Cory and Huxley live close by. They can be here sooner.”
Their bar is close to the vineyard, only twenty minutes from here. They each have an apartment above the bar. If I ask either one to swing by to check on Keaton’s mom, I’m sure they’ll be happy to do it.
Keaton shakes her head, still looking at her mother. “I wouldn’t want to inconvenience them.”
“You’re family. It’s no trouble at all. I promise.”
Ruth, the head nurse, places a hand on Keaton’s shoulder. “I understand your reluctance to leave her, but I think it’s best if you let her settle in for the night. You can come tomorrow, though I’d prefer if you don’t visit until Saturday. Of course, that’s up to you.”
Keaton nods. I help her stand up.
On our way out, Ruth says, “If I need anything, I’ll reach out to you or your sister.”
“Or me, Aslan Spearman,” I add. While we were filling out the application and all the documents, we made sure to add my name as a contact.
She glances at me, then at her tablet. “Yes, I see you as a contact. How are you related to the patient?”
I point at Keaton. “Well, I’m her boyfriend.”
She shakes her head. “You’re not related to the patient.”
“I’m her live-in boyfriend. We’re practically engaged.”
She gives me a disgusted look. “But you’re not.”
“As you can see, our family is going through a lot. I don’t think this is a good time to propose or get married, do you? Keaton still hopes to be able to have her mom in the ceremony. However, I’m very committed. If you read the paperwork, I’m financially responsible for Ms. Reed.”
She rolls her eyes. “Couples these days. If we need any more information, we’ll call you.”
I place a kiss on Keaton’s temple. “It’s time to go home, babe.”
“Make sure to give her a piece of peppermint candy before brushing her teeth.” Keaton’s voice nearly breaks.
She leaves the room, and I follow behind. Outside in the hallway, Ruth says, “You can always update the information on our database through the portal. Make sure that we have the most current phone number where your mom can connect with you.”
Curious, I ask, “You allow calls?”
She nods. “When our patients are lucid, they want to reach their loved ones. It’s easier to connect you through a videoconference than trying to get off work and drive to the center.
If you’re out of town, it’ll break your heart and hers not to be able to speak to each other.
According to her medical history, she still has plenty of good days.
So, we’ll make sure to call you immediately.
It’s about keeping our patients healthy, and their emotional health is important. ”
Keaton’s shoulders relax. When she lifts her gaze and looks at me, I almost trip over my own feet. It’s the combination of gratitude, admiration, and something else I can’t name. All those emotions make me lose my balance. I’m glad I don’t make a fool of myself and fall on the ground.
I hate to be vulnerable. It makes me feel dumb and uncomfortable. The frustration kicks off my rage. I don’t mean to sound so irritated when I say, “Let’s go. Tim is waiting for us. It’s getting late.”
Keaton smiles.
She fucking smiles at my frustration.
What the fuck?
My jaw clenches, but I don’t say a word as we walk through the facility’s hallways and approach the car.
Keaton kisses my cheek right as Tim opens the passenger door. “Thank you.”
Instinctively, I take her into my arms. It’s the only way I can safely say I’m here for her. We’ll get through it—together. It’s like she has me wrapped around her finger, but I hadn’t noticed it before now.
When did this happen and why?
Tim clears his throat. “Sir.”
“You heard the man, we’re on a tight schedule. Our next stop is my apartment.”
She cups my face, our gazes lock, and she smiles. “I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”
She kisses me again, this time I’m tempted to hold her against me and move my mouth on top of hers. I don’t. I let her climb into the car and follow right behind.
“You should thank Fern. She’s the one who knew who to contact and how to make the transfer painless.”
She gives me that head-shake-eye-roll combo that says, you-are-exasperating, Spearman . Maybe I’m wrong, and she’s masking her worry. Just a few hours ago I realized she’s been hiding a lot from me.
It shouldn’t matter. None of my employees come to my office to tell me what’s happening in their lives.
However, Keaton and I are close. She hears me complain about my family.
Not that I give her all the details about them, but other than my brothers and my cousins, she’s the closest thing I have to a friend.
How is it I didn’t know her life was a dumpster fire? I make it my mission to change our dynamic, and so I ask, “Is there something wrong? I can try to fix it.”
“Nothing.”
The word sounds simple but so many people, including myself, use it to simplify big problems.
“Keat, I want to help you but it’s impossible if you don’t trust me. If not for you, do it for your mom and your sister.”
She takes a deep breath, inflating her cheeks and then letting the air out gradually.
“Well, I feel like Mom’s too far. What if they have an emergency? The last place was close by, and they still made a lot of decisions without my authorization because I didn’t answer my phone or arrive on time.”
“My lawyers will be looking into it.”
“It’s not necessary. She’s no longer there.”
“Though I agree, I’m also thinking about the other patients in that center. That said, Tim is at your disposal. They have my number, too, in case they can’t get a hold of you. We’ll be on the lookout, okay.”
She looks out the window before her attention focuses back to me. “I don’t want to impose.”
“This is what friends do for one another. If my family was in trouble, you’d be the one helping.”
“You’re a good man, Spearman.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Ugh, stop growling and take the compliment.”
“I—”
She takes off her seat belt, moves to the middle seat, and puts her small hand on top of mine, resting her head on my shoulder. “Thank you for everything you’ve done today.”
I don’t want to move. I’m barely breathing.
This feels a lot more intimate than kissing some woman in the back of a car before heading to a hotel to have sex.
It feels like I’m at home, sitting on my favorite chair in front of the fire, drinking a good whisky, and being myself—the person I refuse to be when I’m in public.
Keaton feels like a warm summer day in the mountains. If only I could hold onto this feeling for longer than this moment.
But that’s the problem with life.
You can’t have it all.