"That old girlfriend of Daddy's, Kimberly, is in the house with him now. They told Mrs. Clancy, the nurse, to leave, and Nancy is going to leave soon, too. I don't like Kimberly being there. You've got to get better, Mama. You've got to, and you've got to come home. Please, Mama. Please get better."
I couldn't stop the tears from flowing freely down my cheeks now. They dropped off my chin and some fell on my hand and hers. I lowered my head against her arm and I sobbed for a while.
Suddenly, I felt Mama's hand tighten slightly around mine. I was sure of it. I raised my head quickly and looked at her. She wasn't turning her head toward me and her eyes were still fixed on nothing, like the eyes of a blind person, but I was still positive she had squeezed my hand. She wasn't doing it now, but she had. She had.
"Mama? Mama, can you hear me? Will you get better? Mama?" I squeezed her hand gently and I rose and kissed her cheek. "Mama, say something. Mama!"
"Easy, dear," I heard. Mrs. Feinberg returned to the room and put her hand on my shoulder.
"She squeezed my hand," I said. "Mama squeezed my hand."
"Did she?"
She smiled and we looked at Mama's hand in mind. It wasn't squeezing anymore, but I knew it had. I was so sure.
I could see Mrs. Feinberg wasn't convinced.
"Why don't you believe me? You said she was getting better.'
"There were some small reactions to stimuli in her legs, honey. It's going to be a while yet before we can tell you anything, okay? You just be a good girl and do what you have to do."
"Her hand moved. It did," I said firmly.
"Okay. Don't cry." She wiped my cheeks with a tissue. "Sit and talk. Go ahead," she urged.
I sat again and stared at Mama and then, after I caught my breath. I did talk. I told her everything that had happened in as much detail as I could. I told her I had gone swimming. I told her about my work, and then I let slip the bad news about Ian. I just forgot.
"He didn't mean it," I said. He was just so angry and he didn't like what she had done to me. So you see," I said, "you have to get better and come home now so we can go get Ian and bring him home, too. They'll listen to you and know Ian wouldn't hurt anyone again."
I sat there, staring at her.
Felix came to the door, "We've got to start back. Jordan," he said.
I nodded and stood up. I still held her hand. "Mama. I have to go. Tomorrow. I'm going to Greataunt Francis, but I'll return to set you. Grandmother Emma promised I would. Don't worry about me. I take my medicine every day, and I'm okay, but I know Ian must be very unhappy. We need you, Mama."
I leaned over and kissed her cheek, and then I felt it again.
I felt her hand tighten on mine.
And I knew that she would come home someday.
Someday, we would be together again, her. Ian, and me, at least.
I've got to tell Grandmother Emma, I thought, as we left the hospital. If she knew this, she wouldn't have me sent away to live with Great-aunt Francis. She would know all would soon be well.
"I want to see my grandmother, Felix," I said when we got into the car. "Please take me to that hospital. Please, Felix."
"I'm supposed to bring you directly home again," he said.
"We can stop there on the way, can't we? Please, Felix," I begged. "I have to see her one more time. I have something very important to tell her. Please."
"Okay, okay, we'll just stop for a few minutes. You're right. It's on the way anyhow," he said.
I sat back, full of hope.
Hours later, Felix drove into the hospital parking lot and opened the door for me. I saw people getting in and out of their cars look our way, probably wondering. Who is this little girl who has a uniformed chauffeur taking her around in a limousine? Is she a princess?
Hardly. I thought. I'm as far from being a princess now as anyone could be. Even if a handsome young prince fell in love with me, he'd find out about my family and he would hurry away. Who could blame him?