On top of it all, I was also worried about my father, who fell the previous week and seemed to be having small strokes.
Concerned, I picked up my cell and called his number. After a half dozen rings, Elaine answered, her voice quiet.
“Hi, Katie, how are you, dear?”
“I’m fine,” I said softly, although it was a lie. “How’s my dad? Can I speak to him?”
“He’s sleeping in his chair,” Elaine replied. “He had a trip to the hospital today for a CT scan to see how things are and he’s tired. It’s always such an ordeal getting him there and back, now that he needs a wheelchair to get around.”
“He needs a wheelchair?” I said
with alarm, my body tensing. “When did this happen? He never said anything…”
“He didn’t want to upset you,” Elaine replied. “He doesn’t have enough strength in his left side anymore and was starting to lean too much to one side. His doctor said that your father should use a chair or stop going out. If he fell again, he could harm himself because he isn’t strong enough to protect himself from the fall.”
“Oh, God,” I said and rubbed my forehead. “I wish I’d known. I would have wanted to go with him to the hospital.”
“You can’t worry about him, Katie. You have enough on your plate with your own recovery and with Sophia. Not to mention the investigation.”
I closed my eyes, brought back once more to the ongoing investigation into the accident – or should I say, attempted murder. Both Drake and I had been interviewed at the hospital but not since Sophie came home. I told the detectives that Lisa was the culprit, but they said they had to investigate all angles. The husband is always a prime suspect when a wife is attacked. They had to rule Drake out.
That was the reality of things.
“Drake is going to meet with this editor at the Herald Magazine tonight to talk about a story they’re going to run in the weekend edition.”
“Oh, dear,” Elaine said. “They’re notorious about getting everything wrong.”
I sighed heavily. “I know. I remember a few of their stories on cheating husbands and huge divorce settlements of the rich and famous.”
“I'm sorry about all this. You have enough to think about, Kate. Don’t worry about your father. He’s fine. We knew he might have to start using a wheelchair to get around. He’s excited about getting the latest model with all the bells and whistles. I’ve had to clear out a path from the kitchen to his office and to our bedroom so he can zoom around with no obstacles. He’s fine, Kate. Really.”
“If you say so,” I said, unconvinced. “Maybe I’ll come by tomorrow for a visit.”
“Let me check his calendar and let you know when he’s free. He has a lot of meetings about the new Congressman. Plus, there’s some of his old golfing buddies in town…”
The way she let her voice trail off seemed that she was overwhelmed with my father’s busy schedule, which was impressive considering his health.
“Are you okay?” I asked, worried about her.
“I’m fine. I thought your father wanted to slow things down after the stroke, but he seems determined to make up for lost time or something. I’ll tell him you’d like to come by and he’ll call or text you. He has a new iPad and has been using it all the time.”
“Okay,” I said and sighed. “Hopefully, Sophie and I can come by soon and visit.”
“Bye, sweetie,” she said softly.
“Bye,” I replied. “Tell my dad I love him.”
“I will,” she replied and ended the call.
On my part, I sat staring at the cell in my hand while Sophie slept. Learning that my father had to use a motorized wheelchair to get around was not good news. Until I found out, I saw my father as still quite mobile, walking with a cane around the house and when he went places, only using a wheelchair when he went to the hospital for tests or treatments. The thought he needed a wheelchair permanently made my sense of gloom deepen.
I should have been ecstatic with my circumstances. I had a beautiful healthy baby and loving handsome husband who was devoted to me, but something prevented me from being able to enjoy anything. I felt as if at any time, the world would come crashing down and I’d be alone. Or dead.
I made sure Sophie was sleeping and was safe in the middle of the bed, with battlements made of pillows and receiving blankets rolled up surrounding her. She was still unable to do much of anything besides kick and punch and had yet to roll over so she wasn’t going anywhere, but I had terrible images of her falling off the bed that I couldn’t quite get out of my mind.
I walked to the living room and stared out at the dark sky. The streetlights had all blinked on and there was still foot traffic on the streets. Now and then came the blare of a horn.
I went to the drawer and pulled out the menu from Quance and sat thinking about what to order but my mind kept wandering to Drake and his visit to the Herald's office for his meeting with the editor.