“How did you know?”
“How could he live with you for two years and not love you? I’d just met you when you swept me away. I figured there had to be something else going on.”
I nodded, mutely, trying to process this new information. It was one simple shift in thinking, but it changed so much. The check wasn’t a payment for services rendered —it was Ali loving me and trying to take care of me.
“So, you see, Eve, your fear of abandonment doesn’t have a leg to stand on. The people who love you will always do their very best to stick around because, honey, you’re worth sticking with.”
Chapter 26
I was so wiped out from the intense emotional roller coaster that I’d been on that as soon as I put on my sleep mask I crashed. I did not wake up until the plane was landing. I had to shake Jack awake. I hoped he’d gotten some good sleep.
By Paris time it was close to 11 a.m. when we landed. We stopped and bought coffees at a shop in the airport and then went out to flag down a taxi. I directed the driver to go to the hospital and then Jack and I settled in the back seat. He sat snuggly next to me with his arm around me. Again, the thought briefly slipped through my mind that this was not Friendlandia appropriate, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to overthink it. I just enjoyed the feeling of comfort and security that came from his presence.
At the hospital we hurried through the entrance to the front desk. There was a charming elderly volunteer on duty who helpfully gave us Lily’s floor and room number. It was lucky that it was not the person I’d spoken with on the phone. I would have throat punched her.
In the elevator Jack grasped my hand tightly. We didn’t know what we’d find in Grandmère’s room, but he was letting me know he was here for me. I soaked up strength from him and took deep breaths. Together we could do this.
The door to her room was shut and I tapped lightly then pushed it open. Grandmère was sitting up in bed, wearing an apricot, satin, quilted bed jacket. Bernard was sitting in the chair next to the bed, and apparently, we’d interrupted a game of cards.
Grandmère’s eyes widened with shock. “Cherie! What are you doing here?”
Tears threatened again as I dropped my bags and hurried to hug her. “Grandmère, a better question is what are you doing here? You missed our Sunday call, and I couldn’t reach you or Bernard. And then the hospital left me a message saying you’d been admitted. I’ve been so worried! What happened?”
Grandmère’s face crumpled. “Oh, Eve, I am so sorry! I am all right, truly. I just had a bit of a fall on the ice when Bernard and I were out walking. He insisted I come in to get checked out. And I’m so sorry, I forgot all about our call. I’ve been stuck in here. The doctor keeps thinking of new tests he needs to run, but I think he’s finally run out and I am supposed to go home this afternoon.”
“You fell? Did you break anything?”
“Non, cherie, it is just bruises that look spectacular. I am truly all right, though.”
She peered past me and a smile spread across her lovely face. “And is this your young man?”
Right. Jack. Who was my…friend? More than friend? Knight in shining armor?
And I realized we’d been speaking in French and Jack had no idea what was going on, other than my grandmother was OK.
Switching to English, I made introductions. “Grandmère, this is Jack Garcia. Jack, this is my grandmother, Lily Lambert. She slipped and fell on the ice, but she’s going to be fine. She’s getting discharged this afternoon.”
Jack had put his bag down next to mine and walked forward with a big smile on his face, holding out his hand.
Grandmère swatted away his hand and pulled him in for a hug. “I am so pleased to meet you, Jack. Eve has told me many wonderful things about you.”
“Well, I’m sure it’s nothing compared to how she speaks of you, ma’am. She’s been frantic with worry about you.”
Her face clouded with sadness. “I am so sorry, Eve. I would never want you to worry. At first, I did not call because it truly was nothing. And then, since we’ve been trapped here in this medical gulag, they do not allow us to use the cell phones. They say it interferes with their machines. I say it’s because they do not want us to be able to call for help.” She said this last with a little wink that made Jack laugh.
“And Jack, please, none of this ‘ma’am’ business. Call me Lily. And this is my good friend and neighbor, Bernard. Who is a total sweetheart, but do not ever play poker with him.”
Bernard took Jack’s proffered hand, and they shook. Then Bernard drew me in for a big hug. He smelled just the same. Coffee, cigars, and the butterscotch candies he loved to suck on. I clung tightly to him. I had missed him and Grandmère so much, and I hadn’t even known it.
“Oh, ma petite chou, it is so good to see you. It has been far too long. You are always so busy with work that we never have time for a nice, long visit,” Bernard said in his rumbly voice.
Work! Merde. I had totally forgotten about work.
I hastily dug into my bag for my phone, which was still on airplane mode. I was about to dial when Grandmère reminded me that cell phones were not to be used in the rooms.
“Bernard, could you please show Eve to the courtyard where cell phones are allowed? And Jack and I can get to know each other.” I shot Jack a questioning glance and he gave me a smile and a nod to let me know he’d be fine and made shooing motions with his hand.
Bernard walked me down a different corridor where we took a different elevator and walked out into a small, sheltered courtyard with benches and garden beds. It must have been lovely in the summer, but in the late fall it was chilly and barren. Bernard told me he’d go get us coffees, then left to give me some privacy. Or maybe he just wanted an excuse to get back inside where it was warmer.
