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Mika’s heart raced with fear. She came to a screeching stop near the main house. Leaving the car running, she bolted to the front door, hammering on it.
“I can’t run today,” she said, when Cain appeared. She didn’t wait for a reply and ran back to her car.
“What’s happened?” Cain shouted, stepping out in his bare feet.
“My mom,” she yelled back. “Her neighbor called. She thinks she’s had a stroke.”
She threw the car into drive and stomped on the gas, headed for the Royal Jubilee, where they’d taken her.
Running into the emergency department, she checked with the reception desk. Her mom was still being assessed. The clerk said she’d notify the doctor that Mika had arrived.
Over the years, she, like most people, had visited the hospital for a cut or a sprain. The last time was the worst, when her dad had a heart attack. Dinky, Jen, Kate, Cyn, and Sarah had waited with her and Mom. Her younger sister, Stephanie, was back east attending school.
Five years had gone by since that day. She and her mom had cried in each other’s arms, her friends clutching them, when the doctor came to tell them he was gone. It was like they’d all lost a father, since they’d known each other all their lives.
She sat in the hard, plastic chair and watched the people come and go. The hands of the clock on the wall seemed to take forever to move. After an hour, she checked with the reception desk again.
The young woman said she’d notify the doctor.
Her cell rang.
“Are you okay? How’s your mom?” Cain asked.
“I don’t know. Nobody has come out to talk to me.”
“Are the girls coming?”
She didn’t answer for a moment. “No, I haven’t called them.”
“Where are you?” he asked.
“Royal Jubilee. ER.”
“Mika, I’m sure everything is going to be okay.”
She nearly burst into tears when Cain rounded the corner ten minutes later. His strong features coated with concern as he caught sight of her. He sat down and hugged her. “Anything?”
She shook her head. “They keep saying they’ve told the doctor I’m here, but I haven’t seen him, and they won’t let me see her.”
Cain gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Give me a second.”
She watched, her heart still beating in high gear as Cain spoke to the clerk at the desk. She saw the woman lift the phone and dart looks at Cain’s broad physique while she spoke. He nodded at the woman and returned to sit with her.
Before long, a doctor came through the emergency room doors. “Ms. Makris.” They began to rise, but the doctor shook his head and pulled a waiting room chair in front of them to sit down. “Ms. Makris, I’m Dr. Sinclair. We’re moving your mother into surgical pre-op.” He gave her a compassionate look. “Unfortunately, she’s had a severe stroke. The MRI revealed a rupture. That means there’s blood leaking into her brain. We’re going to operate within the hour, but I have to tell you, I believe there is already permanent damage due to the size of the tear.”
Mika gulped down air. “But she’s only forty-eight.” Cain’s arm wrapped around her shoulders tightly.
“What kind of damage?” he asked.
“She’s paralyzed on her left side and she’s lost the ability to speak. Thirty minutes ago, she slipped into a coma.” The doctor cleared his throat. “We may be able to save her life. With long-term therapy, she may even improve. It depends on many factors. I have to be honest with you, from the scans I would say there is little hope for a full recovery.”
“O-okay,” her voiced stuttered, and tears rained down her cheeks. Cain wrapped both arms around her and pressed his mouth to her ear.
“Don’t give up hope, Mika. Don’t give up.”
“Are you Mrs. Makris’ son-in-law?”
“No, a friend.”
“I assure you, we’ll have the best surgeons on this. They’re on their way now.”
“Thank you,” Cain said. “Should we wait?”
The doctor shook his head. “It would be better if you went home. The surgery is going to take several hours. I’ll call and let you know how it went and what the prognosis is.”
“Can I see her?” Mika asked.
She saw Cain nod and after a long pause, the doctor said, “Yes, please follow me.”
Cain helped her stand and held on to her as they walked into the emergency room, past beds filled with patients, young and old. Completely numb, this all felt like a horrible dream.
The doctor stopped in front of a curtained bay. “She’s in a coma, but talk to her.” He slid the curtain aside.
A mask covered her mother’s face, feeding her air. An IV dripped into her arm, and several cables connected her to machines beside the bed. Cain gripped her hand, or maybe she gripped his to leash herself to something real. She slid between the curtain and the bed to stand beside her mother.
Her mom’s dark hair surrounded her heart-shaped face, her chest rising and falling in time with the sound of the machine. “Mom?” she said in a weak voice. Pain like she’d never known struck her, and she let out a small cry. “Mom?” Cain led her hand to rest on her mother’s, which was cool to the touch. “Mom, I want you to get better, okay? I’m not ready for you to go.”
Tears fell on her mother’s blue hospital gown. “The doctors are going to operate. Try not to worry.” She leaned her forehead against her mom’s and clutched her hand. Her mother had been healthy as a horse. Why was this happening? Through her rampaging heart, she heard Cain speaking with the doctor behind the curtain.
Cain’s concerned voice asked, “The chance of any kind of recovery is not very good, is it?”
“I’m afraid not, but we’re flying in Dr. Sun from Vancouver General. He’s an excellent neurosurgeon. The best in hemorrhagic strokes.”
“Why did this happen to her? She’s too young.”
“I understand your concern. In this case, I’d say it’s hereditary. Sometimes we’re born with thinner veins, and they burst with unattended high blood pressure. She probably didn’t even know she had it. I’ll be assisting Dr. Sun, and I can tell you more once the surgery is complete. Take Mika home. We’ll call as soon as we can.”
“I will. You said hereditary. Does that mean Mika could have the same condition?”
“It’s quite possible.”
“I want her to have an MRI, too.”
“Her GP can make arrangements for that.” The doctor walked into the stall and stood across from her. “We have to take your mother up to surgery, Mika. Make sure reception has your number so I can call you.”
She nodded, kissed her mom’s forehead, and backed away. Cain’s large hands gripped the top of her shoulders. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
In the parking lot, Cain guided her to his car. “I want you to eat, then I’m taking you home to bed.”
“I should wait here,” she said, turning around to head back inside.
Cain gently gripped her arm. “Sweetheart, you—you can’t do anything here. Let’s go home.”
“My car....”
“Is fine. We’re coming back. Now, please get in.”
The next twelve hours crawled until the phone rang. She answered before the first ring ended.
“Miss Makris?”
“Yes, what happened?” she asked, recognizing Dr. Sinclair’s voice.
“Your mother survived the surgery. We’ve put a coil around the bleed. I don’t want to dash your hopes, but she will not be the same woman you remember. She may not even wake from the surgery. As the inflammation recedes, we could see some improvement, but I have a number for you to call. This is an agency that can help you find a placement for your mom. They have an advocate here at the hospital.”
“I can’t bring her home?”
“I’m afraid not. She’ll need medical attention round the clock that only healthcare facilities and professional nurses can provide.”
She wrote the number down. “When can I see her?”
“Come tomorrow morning, visiting hours begin at eight. Check in at the nursing station, and you can stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I wish I had better news.”
She hung up and Cain, who’d been watching her, crossed the room and sat next to her on the couch. He hadn’t left her side for a second. He’d made her a light dinner, which she’d barely touched. He’d made her tea and forced her to drink it. He turned on the television, which she didn’t hear or see.
She folded her hands and brought them to her forehead, closing her eyes. “I have to find a home for her. They saved her life, but her life is over.” She looked up at him, tears welling. “She’ll be bedridden until she passes away.”
Cain exhaled heavily and wrapped his arms around her. “Do you want me to call Dinky?”
She shook her head. “I’ll do it tomorrow after I visit Mom. They said I could stay as long as I want.”
“I’ll take you back in the morning.” He rose and urged her to lie on the couch, draping a quilt over her, then knelt on his haunches beside her. His hand brushed a calming sweep across her hair. Breeze jumped onto the couch and settled behind her legs, resting her chin on Mika’s hip.
“Close your eyes.” He gently caressed her temples. “You’ve got friends who love you, and you’ll find a safe place for your mom to live out her life in peace. But you can worry about all that tomorrow. For now, I want you to sleep.”
“I have to call my sister. She’s in Alberta.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough.”
Cain continued to gently caress her head with soothing sweeps. She gave up trying to fight the need to be brave. Why did this happen? Why her family? No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn’t change a thing, and that brought a wave of heartbreak.
Cain’s warm lips kissed her forehead.
“I’m right here.” He squeezed in beside her and coiled her in his arms. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.” He cocooned her in his strength, and she cried all over him. As his large hand rubbed comforting circles on her back, eventually her mind drifted toward the darkness.
****
The next morning she called her sister, Stephanie. They had a tear-filled conversation and her sister was going to fly out the day after tomorrow, once her husband, Kevin, booked off work.
Two days later, the reunion at the airport was a somber one, and she clutched her younger sister and held on tight. Kevin held Cash, their six month old son, and she pulled them both to her for a hug and a kiss.
“Maybe knowing Cash is here will help, Mom,” she said.
Stevie brushed the tears from her cheeks. Her name was Stephanie, but when they were kids, she was more tomboy than girl.
“I don’t know if I can face this, sis,” Stevie said.
She rubbed her shoulder. “It’s going to be a shock. I won’t lie about that. I don’t know if she knows we’re there, but I pretend she does.”
Cain had lent her his SUV, and Kevin secured the baby carrier in the back seat.
“You finally get a new car?” he asked.
“No,” she said, helping him. “This belongs to my landlord.”
“I was wondering,” Kevin said, strapping Cash into the seat. The little one shook his toy and grinned. “Thought maybe you got a huge pay increase to afford a Mercedes.”
They drove straight to the hospital. She held Cash, while Stevie and Kevin visited their mom in ICU. While waiting, her cell rang.
“Everything okay?” Cain asked. “Did you get your sister and brother-in-law?”
Cash cooed and tried to grab the phone from her. “No, no, Cash.” She leaned her head back.
“You don’t have cash?”
“My nephew.” Cash decided to show off his powerful lungs and shouted his dislike for not being able to play with the phone.
“How old is he?”
“Six months. Stevie and Kevin are with Mom. We’ll be home later. While I’m here, I’m going to talk with the advisor about assisted living options.”
“Are you okay?”
“No, but thank you for lending me the SUV.”
“Come home soon.”
“I will.”
She told the ICU nurse where she was going in case Stevie was looking for her.
The advocate for assisted living loaded her up with paperwork and told her to visit the facilities, but the truth was, it would be hard to find a place on the island. She might be forced to put her mother in a home on the mainland. Mika’s questions fell on sympathetic ears.
Forty-five minutes later, she returned to ICU to see Stevie’s face buried in Kevin’s shoulder as she sobbed. Mika understood. It was a shock to see their mother like this, and the worst part was, there would likely be no improvement. Her mom’s eyes had opened, but she didn’t acknowledge them. The doctor said to keep talking to her. Mom could breathe on her own, but she would have to be fed by tube.
“Think we need a little time to digest this,” Kevin said and took Cash from her.
When they got home, she showed them to the guest room, and they sequestered themselves there for a couple hours, coming to terms with the future. At least Stevie had Kevin and Cash.
Her phone rang. “Hey,” Dinky said.
“Hi.”
“Did you get Stevie?”
“Yeah, they’re here.”
“Listen, we’re all coming over. I don’t care if you want us there or not. We’re coming. We’re bringing dinner, so you’re just gonna have to deal with it.”
She gulped down her tears. “‘Kay.”
Emotionally bereft, but anxious at the same time, she piled dishes and cutlery on the kitchen counter.
A knock on her screen door made her turn.
“Hi,” Cain said, entering, but stopped just inside the room.
“Hi,” she said, watching him.
“I didn’t want to intrude, just wanted to know what the advisors told you.”
She sighed and shook her head. “Not good. They don’t think there’s a bed for her here on the island. They gave me a list of facilities to check. I’ll take Stevie with me tomorrow, but they said I might have to put Mom on the mainland.”
Cain rounded the counter to stand before her. He grasped her hands. “You’ll find a place here. I’m sure of it.”
She toyed with his strong fingers, brushing his thumb, dazed and existing on autopilot. “Maybe, but I’ve heard about some of these places. Some are better than others, and the good ones are difficult, if not impossible, to get into.”
She heard the sound of cars outside on the driveway. Dinky must have called when they were already on their way.
“Company’s coming,” he said, seeing the headlights.
“It’s the gang. They’re bringing dinner.”
He nodded. “Good, call me if you need anything.”
“You’re leaving?” It shot out of her mouth as if he were abandoning her. “Sorry, I’m muddle-headed. Thanks for coming.” She sounded like an idiot, her thoughts scattered.
He turned his broad shoulders and gave her a look she couldn’t read. “I don’t want to intrude.” He cut off his sentence as her brother-in-law walked in the room.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt,” Kevin said.
Cain shook his head. “Cain Sallas. I’m sorry for your misfortune.”
“Thanks. I’m Kevin, Mika’s brother-in-law.”
Stevie rounded the corner with Cash in her arms. She’d showered, but her face was still a little puffy from her tears. It looked like she’d gotten a good cry out, and now she was ready to face the world again.
The screen door opened, and the chatter of voices filled the cottage. They all called out and greeted Cain, but his eyes never left hers until Jennifer cut him off from her view.
The girls all hugged Stevie. The guys gave Kevin a high five and pats on the back. They’d been part of the gang before Kevin was forced to move to Edmonton to keep his job.
Jen slipped her arm through Cain’s and gave him a little pull. “Hey, good to see you. You’re staying for dinner, right?” she asked with an enormous smile.
Mika watched Jen paw at Cain.
Something clicked in her brain.
She was tired of the few things she deemed special in her life being snatched away. Tired of dealing with her disease and the knowledge she’d never have a husband like all her friends. Tired of a God that took her father early, and now left her mother in a state where she would never recognize her own grandson.
Mika pushed her way through the group, clasped Cain’s hand and shot a look at Jen that should have left her dead on the ground.
Cain’s eyes ate her up, and his fingers swept into her hair, gently clasping her neck. Her heart pounded, scared of losing him. A ridiculous thought. Cain was her friend. So was Jen. But for now, she needed his support. For a heart-stopping moment they stared at one another.
“As if he could read her mind, he said, “I’m not going anywhere.” He smiled sadly.
A little embarrassed that he recognized her selfish actions, she said, “I want you to meet my sister.”
He kept a hand on her shoulder. “Stevie, this is Cain Sallas. He’s my...” Cain gently squeezed her shoulder. “My friend and landlord.”
Stevie looked up at him with her big brown eyes and gave him a sweet smile. “Hi, Cain.”
“And this,” she said, hauling her nephew into her arms, “is Cash.”
“Hey, buddy,” Cain said, gently gripping his little hand. The baby’s drooling lips and big blue eyes darted up to Cain, then he smiled and shot his other hand in the air, gripping his favorite toy.
The ladies started uncovering the dishes they’d brought, and the guys piled food on their plates.
Cash was back in his mother’s arms. His hands flexed on her boob. “Somebody is hungry,” she said, looking down at her son. “Kevin, make me a plate. I’m just going to feed your son in the other room. Cain, thanks for being there for my sister the last couple days.”
Cain returned her smile.
Kate’s son had just turned three, keeping Tad and her fit, chasing him down whenever he made a fast getaway. Because the girls often came over with their kids, Mika had baby-proofed her house. Sarah held her two year old daughter on her hip, and Sam held her twin. Mac and Cyn’s four year old son was wedged on his dad’s hip.
The little cottage was overloaded, but she was ever grateful.
“I want you to eat. I’ll get you a plate,” Cain offered.
Those who couldn’t fit at the table sat on the couch or the floor around the coffee table.
****
Cain considered inviting everyone to his place. He had more room, but there was something healing about all of Mika’s friends and her family talking over top of each other. She needed the distraction.
Kevin and Stevie seemed like good people. Mika’s sister looked a little like her, their eyes sharing a resemblance. The rest of Stevie’s features must have been from their father. Cain had been shocked when he’d seen her mother. Mika looked just like her and his heart stilled, seeing her mirror image struck down and barely hanging on to life. He never wanted to see Mika like that. The thought sent his pulse pounding and his thoughts racing back to why she took the injections.
Jennifer sized up the spot to his left on the sofa, teasing. “Oh, is that for me?” She pointed at the plate he’d set down.
“No, it’s Mika’s.” He moved to the left so she couldn’t sit down.
Mika rounded the bodies cloistered around the coffee table and slipped in from the other side.
“Thank you, Cain,” she said, when he offered her the plate, once she’d seated herself on the couch beside him.
Mika looked over at Jennifer. “Spot just opened up at the table, Jen. Help yourself.” She filled her fork. “Oh, wow, this is good. Kate, this is your homemade mac-n-cheese, isn’t it?”
Kate tried to keep her son’s fingers from grabbing a handful. She rolled her eyes and gave up while her son smooshed macaroni all over his face. “Yep. Junior here loves it as much as his father.”
Tad chuckled. “My son’s a growin’ boy,” he said proudly.
Jen, who appeared gobsmacked Cain hadn’t tripped over himself to have her sit beside him, headed to the counter to get her own plate. Mika pressed her lips together to stop from smiling.
He leaned over and very quietly said in her ear, “That was catty, and I’m very proud of you.” He was determined to see her smile again.
She leaned into him and whispered, “Only gay guys use the word catty.”
He choked on the mouthful of food he’d just deposited on his tongue.
“Hey, I’ve got nothing against them,” she said.
He turned his head, and they were nose to nose. She leaned back when he offered up a soul sucking, sizzle-a-girl’s-panties glint in his eyes.
“You’ll pay dearly for that one,” he said under his breath.
“You’re not?” she asked, lifting her brow.
“You’re kidding!” Everyone else at the table was loud enough to drown out their quiet words to one another. “Why the hell would you think that?”
Her brows popped, and she gave him a cheesy smile. “Umm, mmm, errr, because no straight guy ever turns Jen down.”
He’d come to the realization that Mika had never been kissed by a guy in the heat of passion. She’d probably been to a few parties during university. Maybe she’d even lost her virginity, but had she known the touch of true desire? He doubted it.
From what he knew of Mika, he could probably write her life story. Her knowledge of lust and the intricacies of sex had probably come from her girlfriends, books, and a couple pornos they’d watched when one of the girls found their father’s stash. Real passion wasn’t anything like a young woman’s failed sexcapades with some college guy.
He gazed at her, riveting his eyes on her soft features. With a slow slide, he surveyed her entire face and ended on her mouth. She blushed all the way down to her neckline.
Oh, yes, she was woefully inexperienced, and he knew he’d just laid her in a bed of soft down and sought out every sensual spot on her body with just a look.
She’d teased him enough times. He leaned toward her. “I’m not gay, and I enjoy every irresistible curve of a woman’s body,” he breathed on the shell of her ear, making her shiver.
“Well, if you have crazy monkey sex with Jen, do me a favor and don’t share any details.”
“That will never happen,” he said. “Now eat, you look a little...flushed.”
