Authors: Suzan Battah
Julia stared back at Doctor Werona, her mouth pursed primly. She decided to cut her off before she continued to flirt with Chris.
“I want to go home, Doctor.”
Doctor Werona cleared her throat, getting down to business. “Right, Julia, you may be able to leave us sooner than expected. Your knee will likely not need another reconstructive surgery, you’re doing well. And your hip, how’s it feeling, is there much pain?”
“No, not really.” She glanced at Chris who was encouraging her to eat one of the muffins with his eyes.
Doctor Werona continued. “You will have to wear a knee brace for the next few months depending on how well it heals. I think since your mobility has increased, you’ll do well with crutches. If that is too much of a strain, we can arrange a wheelchair, but I’m certain with the support of your family, you’ll do well. We’ll need to see you for physical therapy, also. I’ll get administration to organize the papers for therapy.”
“I can go?” She waited for the answer with great anticipation, the excitement so much she turned to Chris, grabbing his leg in her excitement.
Doctor Werona checked her pulse, and without missing a beat, scratched a few more notes on the folder she had in her hand. All this time, she didn’t even look up. “As soon as you start eating properly, you can go. You’ve dropped a lot of weight and it’s only been a couple of weeks since the accident. You don’t seem interested in eating. I believe a
counselor
may be the next to step.”
Julia felt her balloon of elation deflate and she glowered as Doctor Werona.
“El
médico
loco,
qué
sabe
ella
?” Julia snapped.
Doctor Werona stared hard at her for a moment. “I understood what you said.”
Julia ignored the doctor’s reference to her insult. “I do eat! When I feel like it.”
“That’s not enough. So we’ll be able to discharge you once we get the all clear in that area. It’s not uncommon for trauma patients to lose their appetite. So I’ll see you tomorrow.” Doctor Werona finished jotting down her notes, looked up at Chris and flashed him a smile, departing.
Julia muttered a few
unsavory
comments about Doctor Werona under her breath. From the corner of her eye, she could see Chris pressing his lips together to stop himself from laughing.
“It’s not funny.” Finally, Julia focused her attention back on Chris, relaxed comfortably on the pristine crisp new sheets of the hospital bed. “I think she likes you.”
“Maybe I should have given her my number.”
She changed the subject. “I’ll be back on the Augustine as soon as I get home. Randy and I will work together on this. I’ll--”
“No you won’t,” he cut her off. “We’ve already got some challenges. Randy can deal with it.”
Her eyes widened, she hadn’t even remembered how much work had to be done. “I just spoke to Randy this morning, why didn’t he mention it? Pass me that phone. I have to call Randy. You’d think he’d tell me what’s going on.”
In her agitation she tried to stand, but couldn’t manage to even lift herself out of the seat, a little exhausted by the effort. Frustrated, she blurted out a string of Spanish swear words.
Chris sat forward. “Relax, calm down. Randy has got everything under control. You have to concentrate on getting better.”
She pointed at the phone. “Please pass me the phone.”
“Get up and get it.” He challenged, knowing full well she was already exhausted. “If you can, you can call Randy. And by the way, I’m not letting you work on the Augustine until you’re out of this hospital. Randy is under instructions not to discuss it with you. I’m your client and don’t think I won’t fire you.”
“What!” She slammed her hands against the armchair. “That’s my business, I need to know what’s going on.”
Chris sat back a little surprised at her outburst, a smile slowly forming on his lips. “When you’re out of the hospital, you can consult all you like. So if you start eating, you’ll be out in no time.”
His eyes flickered in the direction of the muffins, and his smile brightened when she went to reach for a chocolate muffin, taking the smallest bite, she tried to eat, but ended up putting the muffin back. Her mouth twisted and she swallowed with difficulty.
“You’re such a pain,” she grumbled, dusting off her hands.
“Right,” he said blandly, leaning back on his elbows. “Why aren’t you eating, Jules?”
“Leave me alone, you sound like every doctor, my mother and every other person who thinks they know.” She peeked at him. “Can’t you just let it go?”
Chris nodded his agreement, a small smile playing on his lips. “Alright, I’ll let it go.”
She turned to him suspiciously. “Why are you smiling?”
“No reason.” His lips quirked even more and he put up his hands in a defensive manner.
Julia lifted a brow at his half-innocent expression. She didn’t believe that for a second. But she didn’t press further, not wanting to spoil their pleasant camaraderie.
“Look, Julia, I’m going to be gone for a few weeks. My father… my father’s…” Chris stopped abruptly, swallowing. “My father’s health isn’t the best. He’s taken a turn for the worse. Now that I know you’re all right, I have to fly out tonight to be next to him. If, and I mean no matter what it is, you need me, call.”
“Oh, Chris… I had no idea.” Julia pressed her hand in his. She had never known a father in her life and felt for him deeply.
The nurse came waltzing in, bright and cheery, interrupting them. “Okay, Julia, the doctor has asked me to do some stimuli tests,” she said, crossing over to place a folder down on the table next to the bed.
Chris hopped off the bed. “I’ve got to go.”
“Wait!” Julia called out.
He stopped, waiting for her to say something.
“Thank you for coming by.”
He re-entered the room, the nurse stepping back out of the way. Julia took his outstretched hand, sighing when he leaned closer and kissed her cheek. “Remember, anything you need, just call me.”
Chapter Nine
It was hard to move her body the same way she used to. Her brain was telling her to go this way, but her legs were cramping, stuck. Her difficulty in eating gave the doctors a reason to keep her in the hospital. She despised them for that. No matter what, no one could pull her out of her depression. Physically, she progressed in stages, mentally she suffered. She missed Chris’ company. He called every now and then but it wasn’t the same as when he was by her side even if only for a moment. He had to be with his father.
Then one morning, Irene appeared at her hospital door. Julia was glaring at the food in front of her when she arrived. The doctor had threatened to tube her, if she didn’t make more of an effort to eat.
“Julia,” Irene spoke, voice clipped. She walked into the room.
“Go away, Irene.” The tears automatically started to spill down her cheeks.
“Is that what you told your mother to do? She’s sitting outside wondering how she can help her daughter. Look at you! You’re wasting away.”
Julia took in slow breaths, closing her eyes to Irene, but it didn’t stop her from hearing what she obviously came here to say.
“Take it from a mother who has watched her child suffer,” Irene spoke softly. “You don’t want to put your mother through the same thing I went through. Why aren’t you eating honey?”
“I do eat!” Julia knocked the tray away from her as hard as she could.
Irene stepped back, waving away the nurses, who had rushed in. After the hiccup of sobs subsided, Julia wiped away the tears on her cheek. “Carlos was next to me when that car hit, why didn’t he take me with him?”
“It’s not your time to go.”
“When the car hit, I wasn’t thinking of Carlos. I was thinking of someone else.”
Irene shifted the food tray on the stand and pushed it back toward Julia. “There is no shame, certainly no guilt in thinking of someone other than Carlos.” She settled herself in the armchair next to Julia’s hospital bed. “Carlos used to tell me how much you loved to eat rice and yogurt if you felt unwell. I brought some for you.”
Irene pulled the small tub from out of her expensive bag. Julia gaped while Irene took the bright blue lid off the freshly made rice. Then she pulled out a mini-tub of Greek yogurt. Her stomach grumbled. Irene took a spoon and scooped a small amount of yogurt onto the rice. It was something Julia had always eaten when she had an upset stomach. Several moments passed. Julia scooped a small amount of rice and yoghurt onto the spoon, bringing it to her mouth and chewing slowly. Irene sat back, satisfied.
Three weeks later and with two and a half kilos gained, Julia was sent home.
***
Without the support of crutches and the brace tight around her mangled knee, she found it difficult to get anywhere. Back in the real world without nurses to assist at a moment’s notice
caused upheaval for Julia’s already fragile emotions. Sweat, tears, and a few Spanish tantrums were popping out of her, making her most vulnerable.
Physiotherapy was making her cranky. She wasn’t able to move around, which was slowing her mental progress in being able to get back to work. Even her mother was getting a dose of her bad mood. It was the weekend and Julia had decided to order some walking bars for the apartment. She paid a hefty price from Carlos’ money, but it didn’t matter anymore. Irene had always said she could use the money any way she wanted.
Randy and Boric were quick to assist in setting up the bars. When finished, they encouraged her to hop on. She glared at the bright blue bars for several moments.
“You know, giving ‘walking bob’ that look isn’t going to do much to help you move any better,” Boric muttered, rolling his eyes and heading for the kitchen.
Randy came to stand beside her. “Go for it, Jules. I’ll help you along. Here, give me the crutches.”
When he tried to take the crutches away by gripping her elbow, she pulled back. “Give me a second.”
Boric was gulping down coke from a large bottle. “Get on the walking bob! We didn’t just put the thing together for you to stare at it.”
“Boric, be quiet!” Randy pointed for his boyfriend to leave.
Julia leaned into Randy. “It’s okay, I think I’m ready.”
“Okay let’s go for it.” Boric started clapping his hands together and stamping his feet for encouragement while hooting a cheer.
Julia giggled, glad for the support. She took the step to jump on the walking bob. With Randy’s help, she began slow and watched the clock as she began to move her legs. A minute passed, the sweat began to build while a lump in her throat threatened to bring on tears. She had only taken five steps. Her balance was way off, her hip and knee strained with the pain. She stopped, her eyes burning.
Randy tapped the bar. “Come on, Julia, you can keep going. Another step.”
“I was walking better in the hospital, damn it!”
Randy and Boric exchanged worried glances. Julia sniffed, taking another step. Her foot twisted beneath her and she crumbled. Randy scooped her beneath the armpits, lifting her back up.
“I think we’ve had enough for today, we’ll try again tomorrow. Don’t get on this thing without someone here with you.”
She nodded, wiping at her eyes. When she had settled onto the couch, she glared at the walking bob, preparing herself mentally to get back on the contraption. If she was having difficulty with her recovery, she didn’t want the Augustine contract compromised.
The moment Chris came to visit her at home back from his trip, she was ready to discuss breaking their contract. Finally, she felt stronger and understood it was time to broach the subject. But when she told him, it turned into something more than she expected.
The silence in the apartment was annoying to say the least. Chris was standing at the window, leaning against the walking bob, a deep glower of anger in his eyes. He gripped the rail as he flexed his arms.
“I’ve been in an accident, Chris. I can’t oversee the Augustine. It’s taking longer than expected. It’s better you seek out another contractor.”
But the conversation was cut short when Hilda, holding her grandson Antonio, came bustling in. She was followed by her sister-in-law, Amy. Oblivious to the tension in the room, they each gave Julia a quick kiss. Unfortunately, Chris coughed loudly to gain their attention, and they couldn’t help but notice him standing at the window with his stony expression.
“Is everything all right?” Amy asked into the silence, looking from one to the other.
“Julia is terminating our contract.” When he continued, his tone was clipped. “She thinks I’m insensitive that I won’t wait for her recovery to continue her work.”
Hilda gasped, eyes widening as she looked over at Julia. “Whatever are you doing that for?”
Julia gritted her teeth, but explained anyway. “It could take months for me to recover, Mama. I just don’t want anything to go wrong at the Augustine.”
“I will wait for however long it takes for you to recover.” Chris’ voice hit right to her heart. “I don’t want anyone else on this project.”
“Mama, do you mind?”
“We’ll come back later this afternoon.” Hilda rounded everyone up and disappeared out the door.
Julia waited for her family to depart before she continued. “You’re better off finding another designer. Randy is one in a million, but I can’t ask him to do what I do.”
His head bowed down. “You’re not breaking this contract. Randy’s doing a great job. By Design will continue as normal. Don’t be afraid of it. You’ve completed all the designs, Randy is capable of seeing it through. If absolutely necessary, we’ll consult.”
“Randy is great, I know that, but he hasn’t got the experience I have. What if something is delayed, contractors are not always the most reliable.”
“It doesn’t matter. Randy has assistance from your office. I don’t want you to stress about this. Just get better. The Augustine is being looked after.”
“I haven’t even looked at the Penthouse. I know you sai
d you wanted to leave that one for
last but I didn’t get close to organizing sketches.”
Chris had an answer for every issue she had. “I don’t want the Penthouse changed, not yet anyway.”
Julia was scrambling to find reasons to release him from the contract. “What about the two levels I was working on, I didn’t have them completed. What’s been done?”
“He’s already working on where you left off so no I’m not accepting this. But you’re right about one thing. You’re not allowed at the Augustine for work. Randy is more than capable of overseeing the contractors. If he needs your advice, he can call you.”
“You can’t be so stubborn. If I need to be there, I’ll be there. This is still my work.”
He headed for the door. “Well then, I guess our contract still stands. I’ll talk to you later. Oh and another thing, all this tension between us is making me crazy. I’m picking you up for dinner and the movies Friday night. That’s okay, isn’t it?”
Her mouth dropped open at his confidence that she would accept. What else could she do? After all, he was definitely right about the uncomfortable tension every time they touched or were in a room together. Some people were starting to notice they had feelings for each other.
“I’ll be ready at seven.”
The hundred-watt smile he flashed melted her heart before he shut the door.