The resounding gong of no more visits won out.After every choice she’d made, every dream she’d squashed, every secret she’d kept to preserve her family, it had all been for naught.The hope of a reunited family had always been more fantasy than reality, but now there was finality to it.A death without hope of resurrection.There would never be talks with Mum of everyday things, laughter over the oddities of life, shared mourning for the hurts incurred by others, lessons on managing a household or doing her hair, and no advice for what made a man a worthy suitor and husband.She still had Father, but a mum understood things a father never could.
Mr.Beaumont must have been waiting for her, because as soon as she walked through the door, he was at her side.After one sweeping glance, he enfolded her in his strong arms and held her securely against his chest.His strength was the only reason she remained on her feet.One quietshushthat all would be well, and she burst into racking sobs.
He was wrong.Death would be easier than this parting, this knowing Mum was alive but forever out of reach.And what about the questions surrounding Mum’s identity?Who was Katherine Yates?Was Mum the real-life heroine of the tragic opera she’d penned, or was Katherine a figment of her imagination?Was Winston a former criminal partner, or had the kidnapper been a jealous colleague as Father claimed?How would she find the answers when she would never again see or speak to Mum?
“Calm yourself, child, or I cannot allow you to see your mother.Dr.Chalfant is already against this meeting.If you’re not calm, neither will she be.”Nurse Abbott’s words did little to achieve the desired effect.
“Could you give us a few minutes alone?”Mr.Beaumont’s deep rumbling against her cheek carried a wealth of concern and care.
“That is highly improper.”
“She’s my fiancée, which provides us a little leniency in the rules of propriety.”
It was a bold lie, but Nora didn’t care.As wrong as it was, she couldn’t face this alone.She needed him to be Ezekiel, the friend who shared her burdens, not merely Mr.Beaumont.
He continued talking, oblivious to his successful destruction of the last wall guarding her heart from him.“If you want her calm, then please allow us a few minutes alone.I think it is quite obvious by her state that nothing untoward will happen.”
Nurse Abbott muttered but gave her consent and left the room.
Ezekiel guided Nora to the couch and rocked her side to side as she finished crying.Even Tristan joined the comforting, butting against her side and worming his way underneath the arm pressed against Ezekiel.By the time she’d regained control of herself, Ezekiel’s coat front was wet and—to her mortification—snotty.Tristan had curled into the spot where her and Ezekiel’s legs brushed together, the cat’s purrs a soothing rhythmic rumble.Nora blew her nose with her own handkerchief, then accepted Ezekiel’s to dry her tears.After such an intense cry, her eyes must be puffy and bloodshot and her nose red.If this monstrous face didn’t scare Ezekiel off, then maybe he was a worthy suitor.
When she’d sufficiently settled, he brushed loose strands of hair behind her ears.“I’m sorry for the lie, but I thought you might do better without her useless words.”
“Thank you.”Her voice was thick and hoarse all at the same time.
“I’ll have her bring some water when she returns.Let me know when you’re ready.”
“You’re not going to ask why I so completely lost control?”
“There is no need to explain.Whatever news you received, I’m right here with you.I can even be silent if you need me to be.”
She chuckled and sniffed.“For what?Two minutes?”
“For you, I can stretch it to three.”
The laugh helped to shake loose some of the shock.She did need a few minutes to gather herself and to think.If this was to be her last visit with Mum, and a shortened one at that, she needed to think through what she would say, what she needed to ask.“Do you think you can push it to four, maybe five minutes?”
“With God’s help, absolutely.”He pulled her against his side again.Tristan’s silky fur slid between her fingers as she absently strokedhis back.What did one say to their mum knowing it was likely the last conversation they would ever have?There would never be enough words to adequately communicate her love or desire for Mum to heal and come home.
And what about this man holding Nora and showing her a depth of care and friendship she’d never felt before?Her friendship with the Guardians was no less precious, but this was different.He made it different.Madeherdifferent.Should her last conversation be asking Mum how she knew Father was the man for her?Because right now, Nora wouldn’t mind becoming the Donna Anna to Ezekiel’s Don Ottavio.But then there was the trouble of Katherine Yates.Who was she?Was her story fact instead of fiction?
What would she most regret not saying?
“Ezekiel?”
He looked down at her with one corner of his mouth tipped upward.“Yes, Nora?”
An underlying purr at the use of his given name undergirded his words, but she couldn’t muster the same pleasure.“If this is to be my last conversation with Mum, what do I say?”Silent tears escaped down her face once more.
His eyes widened, then darkened with understanding.“They’re forbidding your visits.”
She nodded, unable to voice all that meant.
A grief that nearly matched her own carried his words on the back of a heavy sigh.“I’m so sorry.”He didn’t rush into an answer but brushed away her tears as he thought it through with a troubled expression.
Of all the people she knew, only he understood the weight of her question, and it showed in the shared tender brokenness glistening in his eyes.
When he spoke, it was in low, aching tones.“When I thought I’d lost Ma, there were so many things I wished I’d told her.Hold on a little longer.Keep fighting.Don’t ever doubt I love you, want you, and need you in my life.I wished that I had prayed with her, huggedher longer, and kissed her cheek.But the hard truth is, it will never be enough.I will always wish for more time.More conversations.”He was quiet for a moment.“Tell her you love her and say whatever comes to mind.There’s nothing else you can do.Don’t waste precious time rehearsing what you’ll say.”
