Tell Me What Is Priceless (Siren Publishing Classic) (17 page)

To sleep beside her was a torture in denial, and he longed to wrap her in his arms and kiss her. He would dream of making love to her and wake up feeling restless.

Kale got up to get a glass of water. Zar was talking in his sleep, and Kale stood watching him through the decorative cutout between the living room and kitchen. When Zar thrashed out, Kale hobbled into the living room and poked him with the cane. Zar threw a punch at him, connecting with air before sitting up. “What the fuck, Kale?”

“I don’t know. You tell me. You were dreaming, talking about Angelica. I was afraid that you were going to hit Blaze. You know how delicate her skin has become.”

Zar swung his feet off the bed, putting his head down into his hands. “I don’t remember. I’m soaked with sweat. Probably not a good dream, huh?”

“No, probably not. Come on, let’s go sit outside and get some air. I was just thinking that a cold beer would taste better than this water.”

“Sounds like a capital idea,” Zar replied as he stiffly got out of bed. They took a six-pack and headed out onto the porch. The sun was barely touching the horizon as they sprawled out in the two reclining chairs.

Kale flipped the chair back and popped his beer, raising it in salute. Zar returned the gesture as Kale asked, “So how long are we going to do this for? It’s grating on all our nerves to watch her day after day. She has been home almost six weeks with not so much as a twitch. I think maybe we should put a time limit on how long we are going to do this. All of us…you, Nan, Jenny, and Blaze’s mother are growing weary. It’s a constant job to keep her fed, changed, and to keep her muscles from atrophying. I spend hours every day sitting out here on the porch with her. I watch television as I flex each finger and toe a million times. I could get a job in therapy. I’ve gotten so good at it. You come home every night and stare at her as if you are willing her to open her eyes. You look like shit from not sleeping. Mason says that you’re distracted on the job site, and I say that your games are boring. When, Zar? When do we admit defeat and give up?”

“I don’t know, Kale. I committed to this with the idea that she was going to wake up. I’m not ready to give up. I’m not ready to let her go. I’ve done some checking, and there are some really good places where we could put her. They are very different than the one Mother was in. The patients are well cared for, and they are not neglected. They have a well-staffed facility that is bright and clean. I spoke with some of the families of people who were there, and they are thankful for the help. I’m just not ready yet. Give me a little more time. Give her a little more time.”

“Okay, just promise me that you are not going to keep this up forever. We can’t. I need to get a real job, and Jenny wants to move out and get a house. We both feel drawn to stay and help you for as long as you need. It can’t go on indefinitely for any of us, though.”

“I know, Kale. I’m the one who comes home at night to feed and bathe her. I also sit for hours working her muscles. I spend every free moment with her. It’s wearing me down. I keep wondering what happens when the weather turns colder. I only have a few injections left, and so far I can’t get the pharmaceutical company to agree to make me more. The FDA has not approved that specific combination of drugs. In turn, the company is afraid to sell them to me directly. I’ve funded a research grant to get the process going, but it’s still in the testing stages. I won’t be able to take care of Blaze if I need help myself. That gives her a month to wake up. If she doesn’t, I will put her in a home. All right?”

Kale nodded and popped another beer. “Are you still going to Danbury this morning? That is a long drive on no sleep.”

“Yeah, I have to go. I have a meeting with the mall committee. I have to show them what we are proposing. The mall is dying, and they need to get something going fast. I suppose I could call a limo and sleep on the way. I need to go take a shower and get Blaze dressed. I don’t feel like moving.”

Kale got up, offering Zar his hand. “Come on, bro. One of us has to work around here.”

Zar laughed, getting to his feet. “I suppose you’re right. At least Blaze’s money is supporting her. Us slobs have to work for a living.”

* * * *

Zar sat in a chair at the head of the table. He had a flow chart and a display of possible changes behind him. “What my company is proposing is a combination of relatively minor and inexpensive changes. They are tiny things that make a mall seem more homey and welcoming. Many people think of a mall as a large, uncaring place meant to sell you things in excess. That’s an image that you need to change. You have to be able to present this place as a caring shopping environment geared toward the family and their needs.” The phone screeched on his hip. Zar tapped the speaker button, and Kale yelled, “Zar! Pick up. Come on.”

“Excuse me,” he said, shutting off the speaker and putting the phone to his ear. “What, Kale? I’m in the middle of a meeting.”

A hoarse, almost unperceivable voice replied, “Rock…my…world.”

Zar turned the phone to look into the receiver as he started to laugh. “Blaze?”

Kale replied, “She woke up a little while ago. She is really weak, but she is awake. The doctor is on his way over to check her out. I just wanted you to know.”

“Oh, Kale, tell her I love her. Tell her I’ll be home as soon as I can. Kiss her for me, just not too mushy. That is my job.”

He heard cracked laughter in the background and started to cry. Kale said, “She heard you, and she is crying. She is going to get all stuffy, and I’m going to be holding a tissue to her nose for the rest of the day. You had better get your ass home and soon.”

“I will. I don’t want to hang up, but I have to call the limo. When the doctor gets there, put it on speaker. I want to hear what he has to say. All right? The phone will be on. Beep me.”

“I will, and Blaze sends you a kiss. It’s too hard for her to talk, but in between her tears she is smiling sloppily. Go finish your meeting.”

Kale clicked off the phone, and Zar turned to the table of people who were staring at him in question. “Look, I know that my presentation is not completed. I want this job, and my company could do wonders to help rebuild this mall. It has a lot of potential with the right sales pitch. I hope you won’t write me off on the bids, but the woman I love has been in a coma for a month and a half. That was my brother. She just woke up, and I have to go home. I’m sorry for wasting your time. I will leave the sketches if you are interested in our ideas. Go home and kiss your partner. You don’t know how much you love somebody until you can’t tell them. Good day,” he said, getting up and walking from the room.

Zar called for the limo on the way out to the parking lot and stood pacing as he waited for it to arrive.

He was halfway back to Blaze’s when the phone beeped. Zar snatched it off the seat. “Yeah?”

“Zar, the doctor is here with Blaze, and he just finished his preliminary exam. I’m putting you on speakerphone, so shut up and listen. Dr. Gillette is going to give us an overview of Blaze’s condition.”

“Thank you for the introduction, Kale,” commented Dr. Gillette. “First of all, I have to say that I was really against the idea of Zar not putting you in a private care facility. I have to think now that my opinion was wrong. From what I can see, you are in incredibly good shape for someone who has been in a coma for seven weeks. Granted, you have a long way to go for recovery, but your body is incredibly flexible and strong. You are going to need some therapy, but I have a colleague who specializes in cases like yours. I will give him a call and see if he can work with you. We need to get you back into the hospital for some more extensive tests and to remove the feeding tube. I’ll schedule you to be admitted tomorrow, and I’m sure that we will have Zar as a guest also. He hasn’t left your side since the accident.”

Blaze grinned at Kale, who said, “I already told her that. When will she be able to speak comfortably for herself?”

“It’s hard to tell. Blaze, are you having trouble talking because you can’t speak or because your throat hurts?”

“Both,” she said, wincing.

“I think it would be safe for you to suck on some crushed ice. Not too much, and don’t try to drink anything. You are going to need to get your stomach used to food again. It’s one of many things you are going to need to learn to do again. You may experience muscle tremors and short circuits between your brain and muscles. It’s perfectly normal, and you should be fine with time. I know that your right arm is really weak, but we only took the cast off a few days ago, so give it a chance to finish healing. Are you in any pain?”

“Little.”

“Kale has a supply of painkillers for you if you need them. I promise they are ones that you can take. Can you see out of your right eye?”

Blaze closed her left and then blinked, the motion feeling as if she had sand under her lids. “Blurry.”

“It may improve on its own. If not, we may have to consider doing surgery on it at some time in the future. I have one last question. Do you remember who put the painkillers in your intravenous line?”

Kale squeezed her hand, throwing her a look she assumed was a warning. Blaze hesitated and then said, “No.”

Kale smiled and began to massage her fingers. Dr. Gillette frowned and looked directly at Kale. “I’ll be contacting Zar with her admission time in the morning. The therapist’s name is Ralph Airdon. Expect his call in the next day or two. In the meanwhile, keep her comfortable and happy. Do any of you have any questions?”

Blaze whispered, “How long?”

“I presume you mean how long until you are healthy again? It’s hard to say. It depends on how well your rehab goes and how your body reacts. Even with all that has been done for you, your brain and body still have to learn how to do things again. If you want a guess, anywhere between two months and six. A lot of that is up to you, but I don’t want you pushing to do things until we have fully checked you out. I have to be going. I’ll see you and Zar in the morning.”

Kale showed the doctor out and then walked over and sat on the side of the bed. “Zar, are you still there?”

“Yeah,” he replied.

“How long until you get home?”

“Maybe fifteen minutes, we are at the split between I-95 and I-91. Blaze, I can’t wait to see you. It seems like an eternity since I saw your eyes.”

Kale chuckled. “You should see her smile. It’s weak, but still bright. We will see you when you get home. I’m going to go get her a cup of ice.”

The dogs announced his arrival, and Kale got up to open the door. Zar ran past him, but was interceded by Choey as she jumped up in greeting. Blaze chuckled as Zar tried to evade the dog to get to her. It was a worthless gesture, and Zar said, “Up in the chair where you belong and I will pet you. I really want to go kiss your mom, not you, Choey.”

She bounded up into the chair and began to lick his face. Moosey jumped up on the table and presented himself for a pet before returning to his place in the window. Choey squirmed and wiggled as Zar first scratched her head and then her stomach. He kept his eyes on Blaze, a smile plastered on his face. Kale walked behind him, patting him on the back. “If you two don’t mind, I’m going for my daily walk. I have got to get rid of this cane one of these days. Soon enough Blaze will be going with us, huh?”

“Hopefully she will,” replied Zar as he sent Choey off to harass Moosey. He sat down next to Blaze, running his hand down her face. She moaned softly and leaned into his touch. Zar asked, “Feel good?”

“Yeah,” she replied shakily. “Why, Zar?”

“Why what?”

“This.” Blaze let her eyes drift around the room.

“Do you want to get up? I don’t want to talk in here. Did Kale explain the lift to you?”

“No.”

He shifted her slightly forward, pulling a harness up around her arms and shoulders. He clipped a bar to the straps and said, “Up, left, down,” balancing her as the machine lifted her from the bed and gently set her in the wheelchair. “With Kale’s leg, and my hip, we needed technological help. Cool, huh?”

“Yeah,” she said as Zar unhooked the harness and slid it off her. He adjusted her legs.

“You have no idea how good it feels to have you moving on your own. It may not be much, but it’s something. I have a surprise for you,” he said, wheeling her out toward the back porch. Blaze looked up at the track that ran along the ceiling and took note of the perfectly cleaned kitchen. Zar pushed her down a ramp and then stopped as if he knew the dogs would run out the dog door and in front of her before it happened. “They do that whenever we bring you out here. Look around.”

She gasped at the totally glassed-in room with curved overhead panels and tried to turn her head to him. Zar stopped her by putting his hands to her cheeks and then walked around in front of her. “Nancy and I were talking as we were setting up the house. I saw that the roof was leaking, and when I mentioned it, she said that you intended to put in a full glass sun porch. It’s done now. We have been bringing you out here every day, and when the weather allowed, we took you outside. You asked for a fountain, and now you have it. Kale has a real talent for doing landscaping.” Zar opened the double doors and pushed her outside. Blaze stared in disbelief at the sight before her. Her yard had been a partially fenced-in, grassless mud pit. She and David had priced having a wall built to fill in the ten-foot drop into the back of the yard. They had gotten quotes from fifty thousand dollars and up for the wall and the fill. Before her was a perfectly level, landscaped yard with a six-foot fence around it. A large fountain had been created in the image of the tabletop model she had in her computer room. Water flowed down from between two huge towers of a castle, running down rocks into a moat. Two large, iridescent dragons stood as guards, their wings tucked into their bodies. The entire yard was done with decorative trees and bushes. Zar watched her expression and pulled up a chair to sit next to her. “Well?”