Part 6 (1/2)
”Drake?” Dr. Malisoff said. ”There are two people waiting in the lobby to see you. One is your aunt f.a.n.n.y and the other, I think, is her son?” He looked to Mrs. Broadfield, who nodded quickly. ”I'll have them come in in a moment. First, let me tell you what we're planning to do with you, Annie.
”Apparently, when your father's car turned over, you hit something rather hard, and the blow to your spine just at the back of your head created what we call a trauma which is interfering with your motor control and causing paralysis of your lower body. We don't know exactly where the damage is or how much yet, because this hospital doesn't have what we need to make a precise diagnosis, so we are preparing to fly you to Boston, where you will be examined by a neurologist who is an a.s.sociate of mine. There they have sophisticated instruments such as a CAT scan to pinpoint your problems and help us arrive at a proper diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis.”
”I don't feel any pain in my legs right now,” I said. He smiled at that.
”No, you wouldn't if they were paralyzed. If you do feel pain, that will be the sign that your nerves and muscles are returning to functioning order. I know it sounds funny to hope for pain, but in a real way, that's what we've got to do. My guess is that once we treat the trauma, you will regain the use of your legs. However, it may take some time, and during that time, you'll need more than just tender loving care. You'll need professional therapy.”
I was impressed and encouraged by his confident tone, but I wanted Daddy to be beside me holding my hand; I needed Mommy to tell me I would be all right again, and not just doctors and nurses. I'd never felt so alone, so deserted and bereft in the strange, cold world.
”So,” the doctor continued, releasing my hand and standing straight again, ”just relax until all the preparations are completed. You'll go by ambulance to the airport and be flown by air ambulance to Boston.” He smiled again and patted my hand. ”In the meantime, Mrs. Broadfield will give you something liquid to eat, okay?”
”I'm not hungry.” Who could think of food at a time like this? I didn't care if I ever ate again.
”I know, but I'd like you to have something liquid, some nourishment besides what you're getting through the I.V. All right?” He paused and gave me another smile meant to rea.s.sure me, where never again could anything do that. ”I'll have your family come in to see you now.”
He turned, and he and the younger doctor left. Mrs. Broadfield prepared a small carton of cranberry juice for me by opening it and inserting a straw.
”Just suck gently,” she advised, adjusting my bed so I was in a sitting position. Her short, stubby fingers and large palms reeked of rubbing alcohol. This close to me, I could see the tiny black hairs peeking out the bottom of her round chin. I wanted my mother, my beautiful, loving, sweet-smelling mother to be the one taking care of me, not this ugly stranger.
She placed the juice in my free hand and rolled the table over the bed. The change in my posture made me dizzy again and I had to close my eyes.
”I'm getting nauseous,” I cried.
”Just try a little,” she insisted. I took in some juice quickly and swallowed. My throat ached and I moaned.
”Please, roll me down again,” I pleaded.
”You're going to have to try, Annie, just a little every day. Doctors can't do it all,” she said, a note of disapproval, even impatience, in her voice.
”I'm not ready,” I insisted. She shook her head and pulled the table away. I took one more suck on the straw and then handed her the juice. She pressed her lips together, her rubbery face filled with annoyance. When I looked more closely at her, I saw how pocked her skin was and wondered why a nurse would have such a poor complexion.
Just as she lowered me into a fully reclining position again, Aunt f.a.n.n.y burst into the room with Luke right behind her. I was never so glad to see them. Aunt f.a.n.n.y wrung her hands before me.
”Oh Gawd . Oh Gawd!” she screamed. Mrs. Broadfield nearly dropped her tray.
”Oh, Annie, darlin', poor chile. My poor niece.” Tears were streaming down her face and she was dabbing her cheeks with her silk handkerchief. ”Oh Gawd, Gawd . look at her in that bed. Sweet child,” she wailed, and leaned against Luke. Her shoulders shook. Then she took a deep breath and came to my side and kissed me on the forehead. I welcomed the scent of roses, her personal perfume she had sent in from New York once a month.
She held me and sobbed, her body shaking mine. I looked to Luke, who seemed embarra.s.sed by his mother's outward display of sorrow. I reached forward to indicate he should come closer. Aunt f.a.n.n.y was holding me as if for dear life. Her sobbing got louder.
”Ma,” Luke said. ”You're making things worse. Please.”
Aunt f.a.n.n.y snapped back.
”What?” She dabbed her eyes again. ”Oh . . . Oh Gawd, Gawd.”
”Ma, please. Think of what Annie's been through,” Luke pleaded, lowering his voice for emphasis. Mother used to say that when it came right down to it, no one could handle f.a.n.n.y as well as Luke could.
”Oh dear, dear Annie,” she said and kissed me on the cheek, her tears dripping onto my face. She wiped them away and stood up.
”Poor Luke and me been sittin' out there fer hours waitin' for the doctors and the nurses ta let us in,” she added, flas.h.i.+ng a chastising look at Mrs. Broadfield. Suddenly her great sorrow turned into great anger.
”Try not to excite her,” Mrs. Broadfield commanded, and left the room.
”Don't ya jist hate doctors and nurses. They all have these faces that looked pinched. Remind me of muskrats. And I hate hospital smells. Why don't they spray some deodorants in the halls and bring in flowers? If I ever get sick, Luke, so I don't know what I'm doin', hire a private nurse like Annie has and keep me in ma house, y'hear?” Aunt f.a.n.n.y declared. It was as if her grief had been merely a cape she could pull off when she had a mind to.
Luke stepped up to my bed. He looked so handsome, so young, his eyes two pools of fear and pain. ”Hi, Annie.”
”Luke, oh Luke.”
He took my hand softly into his own. The tears glistening in his eyes filled my heart with even more sorrow. He was as deeply in mourning as I was, for despite the way we all had ignored who and what he really was all these years, the truth was he had lost his father, too. And my mother was often more kind and loving to him than his own.
”Now there's no sense in us all jist standin' around an' cryin' our hearts ta pieces,” Aunt f.a.n.n.y suddenly said. ”We can't bring 'em back, though I'd give all I have ta do it. I loved Heaven more'n I ever told her. I'm sorry I was so mean ta her all these years, but I jist couldn't help my jealous self. She understood that and forgave me time after time, which was more'n I done fer her.” She touched her eyes gently with her lace handkerchief and then took a deep breath and pulled her shoulders back.
”But,” she announced, ”I jist know she'da wanted me ta take control'a things now. I jist know it.” Aunt f.a.n.n.y nodded in agreement with herself as her pride marched out in full dress parade. ”I'm jist as capable as . . . as that dirty, old rich man who calls himself yer great-grandpa.” She shook her head and ran her palms over the sides of her hair as if she had walked into a cobweb.
”Ma.” Luke touched her left hand and nodded toward me. ”This isn't the time--”
”Nonsense. We gotta do what we gotta do. Now he says yer parents' wills put him in control, but I say--” Luke glared daggers at f.a.n.n.y.
”Ma, Annie is in no condition to discuss all this right now. She has other things on her mind at this moment.”
”Well, I think that's good, him gettin' ya the best medical treatment,” Aunt f.a.n.n.y went on, undeterred by Luke's admonishments and pleadings, ”but as far as Hasbrouck House and--”
”Ma, please.”
Frustration pulled her lips back, her pearly white teeth contrasting sharply with her dark Indian complexion.
”All right, then, wait until yer feelin' better, Annie. Est don't ya worry yerself none about what that old beantown millionaire's pin' ta do with yer fortune.”
”He's been very nice so far, Aunt f.a.n.n.y,” I said, unable to make my voice much more than a loud whisper.
”Yeah, well, he's got reasons.”
”Reasons?”
”Ma, please.” Luke turned on her, his eyes fiery. ”I said this isn't the time.”
”Okay, okay.”
Mrs. Broadfield returned to lily room and came up behind them, moving so quietly in her soft white nurse's shoes, none of us heard her enter. She was suddenly just there, like a milk-white ghost.
”I'm afraid you'll have to leave now. We are preparing Annie for her trip.”
”Leave? We jist walked in. This is ma niece, ya know.”
”I'm sorry. We have a schedule to follow,” the nurse insisted authoritatively.