Mom and I hit the road early yesterday morning. I had stopped to get gas when Stu called.
“Maya asked me to call you,” he said. “She’s okay.”
I think I said something like, “That’s great news! Thank you for letting me know, Stu. Are you okay?”
It was hard to hear him and I thought he said, “No.”
I wasn’t sure if he could hear me. “What? What did you say? Stu, what did you say?”
This small voice. “Maya’s not actually okay.”
“What? What? What!”
“She’s at Mass General. We don’t know what’s going on yet. She may have had a stroke. Or it’s possible she may have a brain tumor, or it could have just been a reaction to stress. They’re running tests on her and haven’t ruled anything in or out yet. She seems a lot better though.”
“What are you saying, Stu? I don’t understand.”
“Maya wanted me to let you know. They’re running tests. We’ll let you know when we learn anything.”
“I’m on my way to New York. I’ll drop my mother off and turn back around. I can be at the hospital by tonight or stay at your place with the kids.”
Stu kept talking. “Had you noticed she’s been different lately? Moody. I don’t know, something’s been off. I figured it was hormones. I know I’m probably not supposed to say that.”
“It’s okay. I noticed too.”
It was little things, like being late, or messing up a seating arrangement at a dinner party. I told him that she came over recently and fell asleep on my couch. Stu said he felt awful about ditching his party, like an inconsiderate selfish ass. He told me I shouldn’t come to the hospital and that the kids are fine. Maya admitted that she was having what she called little episodes but plowed through them. Figured they were nothing. I said I wanted to be with her. He said it was too soon. That I should stay with my mother as long as I needed to. That he’d keep me updated.
“Send her my love.”
“I will.”
“Happy birthday, Stu.”
“Thank you, Elise.”
“She’ll be okay.”
“I know.”
Mom slept for most of the drive. Even with the radio on and the phone ringing.
Aunt Rosemary called while we were driving past Worcester.
“Elise, what time will you be getting back to the city? I miss my sister.”
“We’re on our way.”
Elliot called right after I got on Route 84.
“I heard something happened last night with Maya.”
“I don’t have details. She may have had a stroke.” I couldn’t repeat the rest.
I didn’t mention I was on my way to New York. I didn’t tell him I told Marsden he could stay in Dedham by himself while I was gone. I owed Marsden one for hanging out with Mom, and he promised to work on his applications.
Sammy Ronstein called on the Merritt Parkway right after Larchmont.
“Elise, I need to see something. What can you send me? Nancilla Aronie wants to know how it’s going.”
Mom slept until the George Washington Bridge flittered in the rearview mirror.
“This has been a wonderful trip, Elise. Thank you.”
When I walked into the building, Alan said, “Welcome back, Elise. Welcome home, Mrs. Hellman.”
I brought Mom upstairs. I needed to get some air, so I told her I was heading out for a short walk.
I should have expected that he’d be there. He seems to always be there. But he looked different. I suspect I looked different too.
“Small world,” I said.
“Small world indeed.”
“I spoke to Stu and he said Maya’s at Mass General.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“So, you went to college with Stu?”
“We had a band. But I guess you know that. We were pretty good.”
“Small world.”
“Small world.”
He reached his hand out. I put mine in his and he pulled me into him. And held me. That happened.