CHAPTER TEN
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, the three of us took an Uber to the hospital, anxious to see Clint.
We loaded my car, still parked in a parking garage, with our luggage, and then headed inside to see Clint.
Catching sight of us, Clint’s face twisted with emotion.
Nell rushed to him and awkwardly threw her arms around him, careful not to hurt him.
After she pulled away, Vaughn and I took turns greeting him.
“We’re just relieved you’re going to be all right. You gave me a scare, buddy,” said Vaughn.
I kissed Clint on the cheek. “You’ve had a bad break. I’m sorry. It’s not a pun. As Vaughn said, we’re glad you’re going to be all right.”
Clint grimaced. “It hurts like hell. But I’ve got to get back to work.”
Dr. Taunton came into the room. “I heard that. And I’m afraid you’re going to have to take some time off to begin the healing process properly.
It will be several weeks before you can begin physical therapy in earnest, but someone from that department will meet with you this morning to review some routines with you.
We want to keep you healthy and on the road to recovery. ”
Clint shook his head. “I was supposed to go back to D. C. this morning.” He looked at Nell. “You’ll have to call Claudine and tell her what happened. I’ll talk to her after I get to Sabal.”
“No problem,” said Nell. “Where’s your phone?”
“I’ve got it,” said Vaughn. He handed it to her.
Nell went out into the hall to call Claudine.
Wanting to be sure she’d be fine, I followed her.
Nell punched in the number and waited.
I watched her face as her eyes widened and her cheeks flushed with color.
“No, this isn’t Clint. This is Nell, his wife.
I’m calling to say that Clint has been involved in an accident and is in the hospital in Tampa with two broken arms. He won’t be able to make the flight to D.
C. today. He’ll call you in a day or two to provide more details. ”
Nell listened and then said in a firm voice, “No, flying to Tampa to see him isn’t necessary. As I said, he’ll be in touch as soon as he’s able. Goodbye.”
After Nell ended the call, she stood a moment, clutching the phone. She looked at me and said, “Claudine is like a viper wrapped around him. She wanted to fly to Tampa to see him, ‘the poor baby’. I didn’t tell her we were leaving for Sabal as soon as possible.”
“I think you’re wise to be careful with her,” I said, unwilling to tell Nell how unhappy I was seeing Clint with Claudine. She’d attached herself to Clint, taking his arm and smiling up at him. It was clear she wanted more than a professional relationship with him.
A therapist from a team working with the Orthopedic Unit appeared, ending our conversation. Nell followed her inside the room to learn what she had to say.
Vaughn came into the hallway. “Let’s leave for the boat as soon as we can.”
I went to say goodbye to Nell and Clint and handed the keys to my car to Nell. “Dad and I are headed to the boat. We’re going to be sailing her back to Sabal. We’ll stay close to shore so we can receive phone calls.”
“Thanks. As soon as they allow Clint to leave, I’ll drive him home,” said Nell. “He’s anxious to be out of the hospital.”
I hugged Nell and waved to Clint, who was talking with the therapist.
Vaughn and I took an Uber back to the boat.
After attending to business with the harbor master and checking in with the Coast Guard contact, Vaughn and I boarded the boat and made sure we had everything we needed. Vaughn bought some ice and snacks. But with food left over from yesterday’s sail, we didn’t need much.
Vaughn got behind the wheel, started the engine, and I tossed the deck lines onto the boat and climbed aboard.
As we motored out to where we could set sail, I sighed with relief that no damage had been done to the boat. Zephyr was Vaughn’s pride and joy, and even though the idea that she’d always be part of the accident with Clint was chilling, we wanted to keep her for a long time.
When we were far enough away from the harbor to have clear sailing, Vaughn asked me to take the wheel while he hoisted the mainsail, then raised the jib.
The wind quickly caught the sails, and we moved forward.
Steering the boat, I couldn’t help smiling. There was something special about being under sail. Sea breezes brushed my cheeks, and I inhaled the salty tang of the air.
Vaughn came into the cockpit and stretched his legs out, staring back at me. “There’s something about watching you at the wheel that gives me pleasure. Maybe it’s the smile on your face. It reminds me that we haven’t had the chance to sail alone for some time.”
“Robbie loves being on the boat. It’s practice for him to be in charge, I’d hate to take that away from him.”
“I get it, but that doesn’t mean I want to give up on just the two of us being on the boat,” said Vaughn.
“It’s special,” I agreed. “Why don’t you take the wheel? I need to call Rhonda to let her know what’s happening today. We have a small engagement dinner at the hotel, which I won’t be able to make.”
I rose, and Vaughn slid behind the wheel.
I went below out of the wind, picked up my cell phone, and punched in Rhonda’s number. She answered right away. “Hi, Ann. How’s Clint?”
“I think it’s going to be a tough day for him.
I don’t think he or any of us realizes how these fractures might affect him.
Nell thinks he is unaware of the extent of his injuries.
A woman from the physical therapy unit visited him this morning to discuss home care.
Nell was hoping to leave the hospital for Sabal as soon as possible.
I’ve left my car so she can drive Clint home.
Vaughn and I are sailing the boat back to Sabal now, so I won’t be able to supervise the engagement luncheon. ”
“No problem. We’ll handle it. It looks like a stormy day,” Rhonda said, sounding very worried.
“We checked the weather carefully. It’s gray and a bit windy, but nothing we can’t handle.”
“Call me as soon as you arrive in Sabal. I need to know you’re safe,” said Rhonda.
“Yes, mother,” I teased and then felt my eyes filling. Rhonda was mother, daughter, and sister to me.
I ended the call and climbed the stairs to the cockpit. The boat was heeling quite a bit in the wind.
“After the day I had yesterday, I think we both need to put on life jackets,” said Vaughn. “No need to zip them closed, but having your arms looped through one will make me feel better.”
I retrieved the life jackets, put mine on, and handed Vaughn his.
“Thanks,” said Vaughn. “Yesterday, I’m not sure what would’ve happened to Clint if we hadn’t had help. By the time I could’ve turned the boat around and returned to him, he might not have been able to stay afloat. Not with his broken arms.”
I gave him a sympathetic look. “It’s not your fault it happened. It was just a crazy accident. Who would’ve guessed to watch out for drug smugglers?”
“I know. My reaction was normal, and it may have even prevented the other boat from hitting us. There was nothing else I could do.”
“Then don’t blame yourself,” I said, sliding behind the wheel next to him and patting his back.
He squeezed my hand. “I guess I needed to hear that.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder for a moment, and we continued to let the wind move us along.
###
Early the next day, we motored into our lagoon and tied the boat up at the dock. Robbie met us to help wash down the boat.
“What happened yesterday?” Robbie asked his dad.
I left them to carry leftover food items up to the house. Liana and the kids were inside the kitchen making tacos for a late lunch.
“Hi, Gammy,” said Bailey, running to me. I set the bag of food on the counter and gave her a big hug, and smiled at Liana. “What would we do without you? You’ve been great about giving us this much time.”
“Not a problem,” said Liana cheerfully. “Classes are closed for the weekend.”
“I want a hug,” said Ned, reaching his arms up to me.
I put down Bailey and lifted Ned into my arms, remembering it hadn’t been long ago that a boy I hugged this size was Robbie.
“When are Mommy and Daddy coming here?” asked Bailey.
I lowered Ned to the floor and gave each of them a steady look. “They should be here soon. Both of Daddy’s arms have been hurt, and he had to stay an extra day. You’ll have to be very careful not to bump into him.”
“Liana helped us make pictures for him,” said Bailey.
I mouthed “thank you” to Liana and said, “While you kids eat, I’ll put this food away.” It would be essential to keep the kids’ routines as simple and easy as possible to minimize meltdowns when Clint was trying to recover.
Robbie and Vaughn came inside, and after the kids had greeted them, Robbie and the little ones settled down to eat.
I went into my bedroom to take a shower and change out of my clothes.
Vaughn came into our bedroom and said, “I’m going to rest for a while.”
I kissed him. "You deserve it. It’s been a couple of hard days."
l went to shower.
When I came out of the bathroom, Vaughn was lying on the bed snoring softly.
I studied him. He was such a decent man. I knew how upset he was to think he was the person responsible for Clint’s injuries.
Not wanting to wake him, I tiptoed out of the room and went to talk to Liana.
We were still chatting on the lanai, sipping lemonade, when Nell called to say they were approaching the neighborhood.
Robbie, Bailey, and Ned joined me in the driveway, and we waited to greet them.
“Remember what I told you about not bumping into Daddy,” I said as Nell pulled the car into the driveway.
I hurried to open the door for Clint while Nell went to greet the children.
Clint grimaced as he turned to get out of the car. “I need to take more medicine.”
I saw him struggle to smile as the kids stood by me, saying, “Hi, Daddy!”
With both arms in slings, I helped him steady himself on his feet. “Hi, Bailey, hi, Ned,” he managed to say, though I knew it cost him to hold back a groan.
Nell rushed to Clint’s side and put her arm around his shoulders. “Let’s get you inside.”
“Your room is ready for you,” I said. “The lounge chair there might be more comfortable for you than on the bed, even though the mattress is adjustable.”
“Thanks,” he murmured. “I need to lie down. Either place will do.”
Nell turned to me. “Ann, if you keep track of the kids now, I’ll let them speak to their father later.”
“Will do,” I said. “We can go for a swim, and then we can watch a television program.”
Vaughn appeared. “Need another steadying hand?”
“Yes,” said Nell. “I’ll run ahead and get the room ready.”
The kids and I followed behind as Vaughn led Clint into the house and to the guestroom he was sharing with Nell.
“Okay. Dad will see you later,” I told Bailey and Ned. “How about us having a swim in the pool?” The gray skies of the morning had given way to a sunny afternoon.
The worried looks on their faces were replaced with excitement, and I helped them get into their bathing suits.
Robbie went next door to be with his best friend, Brett. Liana left for the day but promised to be on standby if we needed her.
Later, Nell and Vaughn joined the kids and me at the pool.
The accident had taken a toll on us all.
###
After playing in the pool with the kids, Vaughn and I settled in front of the television on the lanai to watch a kids’ television show with them while Nell went to check on Clint and get some rest for herself.
“How much help do you think Clint will need for daily activities?” I asked Vaughn after the kids had decided to work with their new Lego sets.
“He was able to take his right arm out of the sling to use the bathroom,” Vaughn said. “That arm has a splint on it. That’s a big relief for him. But he’ll need help in many other ways. It’s smart for Nell to push the idea of the family staying here, where he and the kids can be looked after.”
“I think it would be selfish of him to ask Nell to go back to D.C., where neither she nor the kids would have the support they have here,” I said.
“Agreed,” said Vaughn. “But they have to work it out for themselves. He’s worried about the project he’s working on.”
“Nell was upset about the phone call with Claudine. Claudine is one pushy lady.”
They’ll work it out,” said Vaughn. “But I’m concerned that Clint has this idea he needs to make a lot more money in order to make Nell happy.
She’s told me she doesn’t know why he feels that way except that he knows I’m financially secure.
She’s tried to explain that she needs his presence, not his money. ”
“We’re both successful, and I believe he feels he has to measure up. He took this new job to prove himself.”
Vaughn shook his head. “Nell is a sensible person who was raised to believe that you don’t judge a person by how much money he or she has.”
Nell walked into the room and plopped down on a chair next to the couch. “Clint is sleeping peacefully.”
“How about you? Did you get any rest?” I asked her.
“No, my mind is spinning. You don’t object to having us here, do you? Clint will need lots of help. And I still want to work at the hotel like we planned.”
“You can stay for as long as you want,” I said.
“Yes,” said Vaughn. “There’s plenty of room and lots of help available. It’s what you planned all along.”
“But Clint is worried about completing the project he’s working on,” said Nell. “I told him that he’s not going back to D.C. until after his first post-op appointment, and that I needed him here with me and the kids. We didn’t resolve that issue, but at least we know where we stand on it.”
Nell’s cell phone rang. She looked at it and rose. “That’s Clint buzzing me for help.”
After she left, I said to Vaughn. “This is one time I’m going to defend Nell. It’s crazy to think she doesn’t need support, too.”
Vaughn patted my back. “We just need everything to settle down.”
###
A short while later, Nell walked onto the lanai, her face an ugly red.
I got to my feet. “Nell, what’s wrong?”
“It’s Claudine. She called Clint’s cell while I was with him.
She’s suggesting that Clint fly to D.C. tomorrow.
She said he could stay with her where she has help.
I told her that Clint was staying right here with my family.
Then she suggested she come stay at the hotel, allowing Clint and her to work in Sabal.
I told her that Clint wouldn’t be working for a few days, as per the doctor’s orders. Now, both she and Clint are mad at me.”
“Let me go talk to Clint,” I said, being careful not to show how angry I was.
Nell shrugged. “Fat good it will do. But, sure, go ahead and try to talk some sense into him.”