CHAPTER NINE
1201 Words
“Absolutely not.”
Alexander stood at the end of his mother’s hospital bed with his arms folded, wearing the exact same expression he used in board meetings whenever someone suggested something he already knew he wasn’t going to agree to.
Madam Hayes ignored him.
She reached for the crutches leaning against the wall and pulled them closer.
“I didn’t ask for your permission,” she said. “I asked the doctor. He said I could go home today, so I’m going home. That’s the end of it.”
“You had surgery four days ago.”
“And I’ve spent four days lying in this bed staring at the same ceiling.” She carefully swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “I’m tired of it. I want my own bed.”
She reached for the crutches.
Alexander was already moving.
“Let me help you.”
“I can manage.”
“I know.”
Yet he still caught her by the elbow as she stood.
She frowned at him.
“I said I can manage.”
“And I heard you.”
“Then stop looking at me like I’m about to collapse.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He didn't bother arguing.
The truth was, she did look smaller than he remembered. Maybe it was the hospital gown. Maybe it was the way she had to lean slightly on the crutches. Whatever it was, seeing his mother like this made him feel uncomfortable.
“Slowly,” he muttered.
“I am going slowly.”
“You almost tripped.”
“I did not almost trip.”
Alexander glanced at her.
She glared back.
“Fine,” she said. “Maybe a little.”
A nurse followed them toward the door with discharge papers in one hand and a wheelchair in the other.
Madam Hayes looked at the wheelchair.
“No.”
The nurse smiled politely. “Mrs. Hayes, it’s just for the corridor.”
“No, thank you.”
Alexander sighed.
His mother had always been stubborn, but lately she seemed determined to prove it.
By the time they reached the car, she looked exhausted despite pretending otherwise.
Once they were settled inside, Madam Hayes leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes for a moment.
“There’s someone I want to call,” she said.
Alexander glanced over. “Who?”
“Valeria.”
His hand paused over the folder resting on his lap.
“Why?”
His mother opened her eyes and looked at him.
“Because she saved my life.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you asking?”
Alexander looked away.
Madam Hayes smiled faintly.
“I want to invite her over for tea.”
“For tea?”
“Yes, Alexander. People still do that.”
“You barely know her.”
“Exactly. I’d like to know her.”
He said nothing.
His mother adjusted the shawl around her shoulders.
“She helped me when nobody else was there. I don’t want her to become one of those people we remember only when her name happens to come up.”
Alexander stared through the window.
Something about the idea bothered him.
He wasn’t sure though.
It wasn't that he didn’t think Valeria deserved thanks. She did,He simply didn’t like the thought of his mother bringing a stranger into their home so casually.
“She might not want to come,” he said.
“Then she can say no.”
“You could at least give her a choice.”
“I intend to.”
His mother turned her head slowly toward him.
“You’re surprisingly concerned about whether she’ll be comfortable.”
“I’m being practical.”
“Of course.”
The way she said it made him glance at her.
She was smiling.
He immediately looked away again.
The rest of the drive was quiet.
When they finally got home, the housekeeper nearly panicked the moment she saw Madam Hayes walking through the front door on crutches.
“Oh, madam…”
“I’m fine.”
“Please sit down.”
“I am going to sit down.”
“You should have called so we could bring the wheelchair outside.”
“I did not need a wheelchair.”
Alexander walked past them without saying anything.
His mother watched him disappear up the stairs.
“Stubborn boy,” she muttered.
By evening, the house had gone quiet again.
Madam Hayes sat in her favorite chair with her injured leg propped up on a cushion. A cup of tea sat on the table beside her, untouched and slowly getting cold.
Alexander had left about an hour ago.
Something urgent had come up at the office, and he'd been distracted enough to forget about the argument they'd had earlier.
Good.
She picked up her phone.
The number was still saved from the hospital.
For a few seconds, she stared at it.
Then she pressed call before she could change her mind.
It rang twice.
“Hello?”
Madam Hayes smiled.
“Valeria?”
“Yes?”
“It’s Madam Hayes.”
There was a tiny pause.
“Oh. Hello.”
“I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“No, not at all.” Valeria sounded surprised. “How are you feeling?”
“Much better. I’m home.”
“That’s good. I’m glad.”
“I was discharged this afternoon. My son complained about it for at least twenty minutes.”
There was a soft laugh on the other end.
Madam Hayes found herself smiling again.
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“I’d like you to come over for tea.”
A pause.
“Tea?”
“Yes Just tea.” Madam Hayes laughed lightly. “Properly this time No hospital,No rushing around, No ambulance involved.”
Valeria laughed again.
“I’d like that.”
“Good.”
She could hear the smile in Valeria’s voice now.
“When?”
“Thursday Four o’clock.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll send a car for you.”
“Oh, you really don’t have to.”
“I know... I want to.”
Another little pause.
“All right then Thursday.”
“Perfec and don’t bring anything.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
Madam Hayes chuckled.
“Good I already have enough things in this house to last several lifetimes.”
They spoke for another minute before ending the call.
Madam Hayes placed the phone back on the table and leaned into her chair, feeling oddly pleased with herself.
Thursday.
She looked forward to it more than she expected.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Alexander.
Meeting ran long,Tell me you're resting.
She glanced at it, then set the phone down without replying.
He could worry for another few minutes.
She picked up her tea, took one sip, and made a face.
Cold.
She set it back down.
Her thoughts returned to Valeria.
There was something about that girl.
Something she couldn't quite explain yet.
But she had a feeling she would understand it soon enough.
And maybe, just maybe, Alexander would too.
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