“No, Drea,” Rosa gasped, pushing the mask away from her face.“I’m… sorry.I—”
“Please, Mom.Save your energy.”Tears started to fall.
This was different.Her mom usually fought the breathlessness, but it was almost like she wanted to die.Her mom looked gray and was sweating as her chest moved the slightest amount.The icy-cold fingers of panic tightened their grip on Drea.
“I love you… I’m… I’m sorry I blamed you… all these years,” her mom sobbed.The cry caused her to cough violently.Drea tried to lift her slightly, to elevate her head, but the best she could do was rest her mom’s head on her knees.
“Oh, Mom, no.Stop.This isn’t good-bye,” Drea cried, wiping her eyes.She fixed the mask back in place, but her mom struggled for breath for several minutes.
“I blamed… you.For being… stuck.Not your fault.”A single tear leaked from her mom’s eyes.Rosa’s fingers were cool against her cheek.Drea clasped her hands over them.
Sirens sounded, their wail louder as they approached the house.“The ambulance is nearly here.Please.Stay with me, Mom.I love you.”
“I’m sorry.Love is… precious, Drea.”Her mom gave a gasp as the paramedics burst into the house.
Drea moved aside but remained on her knees.The paramedics placed a mask over her mom’s face, rattling off questions Drea answered on autopilot.
Her heart kept pace with the frantic careening of the ambulance through Miami’s core, pounding, jerky, and frequently screeching to a halt.She pulled her jacket tight round her shoulders.
The doors swung open and Drea gave her mom’s hand a final squeeze.“We made it, Mom.”
Doctors met them at the ambulance bay.The gurney was hurried into a curtained cubicle.
“You can’t go in there, Miss.”A hand barred her access; a nurse prevented her from following.
“Please.”
“I know this is frightening, but it’s best if you give the doctors room to do what they have to do.I’ll send someone to talk to you soon.”
Drea sat down on the white plastic bench and prayed.She prayed when the doctor asked if she knew whether her mom had a DNR.She prayed as she filled out the hospital admission forms, knowing she couldn’t afford the bills they’d create but willing to pay anything for a few more moments with her mom.She prayed when the crash cart went flying by.She prayed as the hours dragged on.
She prayed until a tall doctor walked toward her slowly.“I’m sorry, Ms.Caron.We did everything we could.But with your mom’s pre-existing condition, her heart just wasn’t strong enough to get her through it.She’s gone.”
Then she cried, so hard it hurt.She was alone.
Only one person had ever promised to be there for her.She pulled out her phone and texted.
I really need you.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Cujo started the truck, turned down Asking Alexandria who were blasting through his speakers, and turned his phone back on.Drea was likely up and on her way to José’s for the opening shift.
Please call me.
I really need you.
The message was sent nearly two hours ago.He should have replied sooner.
He pulled up her name on his phone to call her, ask if he could see her tonight, between her shifts if she was working later.Whenever she could see him, he’d make it work.He’d missed her.It was that simple.
Life was too fucking short.Seeing his mom in the hospital had been a wakeup call.Shit.He put both hands on the edge of the steering wheel and pressed down hard.
There was no reason to remain angry.That chapter in his life was over.Would hearing his mom’s reasons for leaving make him feel better?Tomorrow, he’d go to the hospital and talk to her again.Maybe it was time to let all of this go.
Tonight he’d make things right with Drea.Panic swirled in his gut at the thought of putting it all on the line.Words weren’t necessarily his strong point.Inappropriate humor he could do in spades, but serious shit he sucked at.
He needed a big piece of work this afternoon to clear his mind, give him time to think through what he was going to say to her.
