But it was hard to find much joy when your days were consumed with chores and work and concern about your daughter’s lackluster spirits.
And now he had another worry to fret about.
How much had Isabel discerned about the tension in her parents’ less-than-ideal marriage? Had it disturbed her peace of mind and sense of security? If so, was that also holding her back from moving on? And how could he subtly find out without creating an issue where there might not be one?
He opened the drawer in the kitchen where he kept unpaid bills and booted up his laptop.
Yet as he ticked the bills off his list, his mind was only half on the task, thanks to his discussion with Gramp.
The suggestion that he find a new wife was easy to dismiss. While having someone simpatico to share his life with held a certain appeal, what if he made another bad judgment call? Got involved once again with someone who ended up being a bad match?
A shiver rippled through him.
That risk wasn’t worth taking. It was far less stressful to live with loneliness than with rancor.
Gramp’s proposal that they find an enjoyable diversion to add joy to Isabel’s life, however, was spot-on.
It was also a challenge.
And as he toiled over the bills far later than he’d planned on this last-day-of-May evening, all he could do was pray that something would come along to brighten his daughter’s outlook.
“Ms. Lee? She’s starting to wake up.”
As the words penetrated Devyn’s sleep-fogged brain, she forced her sluggish eyelids open. Struggled upright from the bedside chair where she’d planted herself three days ago, once the swelling in Lauren’s brain had subsided.
“Her eyes opened briefly.” The nurse motioned toward Lauren.
“I can’t believe I missed it.” Devyn pushed herself to her feet. “Or that I dozed off.”
“Don’t beat yourself up. Hospital stays take a huge toll on families as well as patients. Did you get any sleep at all last night in that chair?”
“Not much.” Like maybe two fitful hours, if she was generous in her estimate. The remainder had been spent watching Lauren for signs of returning alertness.
“You’re entitled to doze off. I’ll let Dr. Sherman know about the change. I assume she spoke with you about what to expect as your sister wakes up?”
“Yes. Post-traumatic amnesia. She said Lauren could be agitated and confused and might not recognize me at first, and that she could behave out of character.”
“Any or all of those may happen. Go ahead and talk to her. It’s possible she’s beginning to become conscious of her surroundings. I expect Dr. Sherman will stop by over lunch to do an assessment.”
As the woman disappeared out the door, Devyn took Lauren’s hand. “Hey, sis. I’m still here, waiting for you to wake up. And the news is all positive. The swelling in your brain went down, and everything looked normal on the last CT scan. I gave the people at your dental office an update, and they said to let you know your job will be waiting whenever you’re ready to come back. So no worries on that score.”
She didn’t mention the other information her sister’s office hadrelayed, after she’d made a comment about not being able to reach Dennis.
It seems her sister had been separated from her husband for more than a year.
Another shock in a shock-filled trip. One that raised further questions.
Until Lauren was able to communicate, however, those would remain unanswered.
Devyn leaned over and picked up the stuffed bear attached to colorful helium-filled foil balloons and set it on the bed beside Lauren.
“Wait till you see the darling little bear and balloons your office sent.” She picked up her sister’s hand and stroked her limp fingers over the plush fur. “Isn’t that soft?”
If Lauren felt anything, she gave no indication.
“Anyway, they’ll be here for you when you wake up.” Devyn disengaged the weighted balloons from the bear and set them aside. Nestled the bear beside Lauren’s hand. Perched on the side of the bed.
And for the next hour, while she waited for Dr. Sherman and nurses bustled in and out, she kept up a running commentary, filling her sister in on the local weather, calling up every funny story she could remember that she hadn’t already shared over the past few days, and talking about her childhood memories of Hope Harbor—including the fish tacos from Charley’s iconic wharf-side stand.
