Daughters (31 page)

“She’s a shrewd one, she is,” Jonathan said. “You need to be on your toes with her.”

The Brooks family members arrived throughout the morning, greeting Marie as though she had always been one of them. At the end of the day, as Marie and Jonathan were heading toward their respective bedrooms, Marie teared up.

“What’s wrong?” Jonathan asked.

“Nothing. I’m just glad to be here, that’s all.”

“So am I, sweetheart. So am I.” He put his arm around her. “And you want to know something else? Claire feels the same way.”

She wiped the tears from her face. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Marie spent the next week mostly with Jonathan—accompanying him on business calls, going on long morning rides with him, and sitting with him in his den, just talking. On one of those morning rides, he shared more memories of her mother.

“I had a book of love poems in my Chicago apartment, and we would read them to each other.

“She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.”

“Lord Byron,” Marie said.

“You’ve read his poetry?”

“Yes, in college.”

“For someone so confused when it came to his own romantic interests, he sure could write about it.”

“My college professor thought he was misunderstood.”

“I suppose that’s one way to put it. Are you still feeling misunderstood, sweetheart?”

“What do you mean?”

“We haven’t talked about your…shall I call it your identity issue, for some time. Now that you’re divorced, do you have any plans for bringing someone new into your life?”

“Oh, I’ve thought about it, alright. But to answer the question I think you’re really asking, I still don’t know how to handle it.” She laughed. “I’m laughing at it like it wasn’t something very important, but you and I both know it is. I’m still at a loss, I guess. I keep going back to the fact that I don’t think I could bring a child into this world knowing he or she would have to face the same impossible issues I’m facing.”

“So you have it figured out then.”

“Not really. It’s just not fair. It shouldn’t be that way.”

“Some things you have no control over.”

“Now you’re sounding like Karen.”

“Hmmm.”

“Karen thinks you need to live your life based on what others think in order to survive. But I’m more of an idealist than that.”

“Maybe the answer is a compromise.”

They finished their ride and were headed toward the main barn when it happened. At first Marie thought Jonathan was merely having trouble dismounting his horse, but when he slumped down over the horse’s neck and head, she realized he was in trouble.

“Zach! Come here. Come quick!”

Marie jumped off her horse and ran to her father’s side with Zach several steps behind her.

“Call for an ambulance, I’ll get him off the horse,” he instructed.

Marie ran to the house and called for Claire. “Dad needs an ambulance!”

Claire ran to the phone. Marie waited while she made the call. “Is he breathing?” Claire asked while still on the phone.

“I don’t know! Tell them to hurry!” she cried.

Claire hung up the phone and followed Marie to the barn. Zach had Jonathan off the horse and lying on the ground. “Is he breathing?” she asked Zach.

“He’s unconscious but breathing. It’s shallow.” Despite the thirty-five-degree temperature, Jonathan’s face glistened with sweat.

“It may take awhile—all we have out here are volunteer doctors who have to be picked up by the ambulance,” Claire said. She stared at Marie. “What happened?”

Marie’s stomach churned. Her voice was weak. “We were close to the barn door when it looked like he was going to dismount. Then he slumped down, and that’s when I knew he was in trouble.” She swiped the tears off her cheeks. “Is he going to be alright?”

Claire shook her head. “I hope so. God, I hope so.”

It had been six hours since the ambulance transported Jonathan to Delnor Hospital. He was still unconscious but in stable condition. The doctors thought it was a heart attack, but wouldn’t be sure until more tests were run.

Claire and Marie sat in a small waiting area near to his room, mostly in silence.

“Has he had anything like this before, Claire?”

Claire shook her head. Her face was sallow, and Marie saw the worry in her expression.

Thoughts flew through Marie’s mind. She worried about Claire. On the way to the hospital she had told Marie she didn’t know what she would do without Jonathan. He had always been the strong one in the family, the one who always kept a level head no matter what the circumstances. She had called him her champion.

Jonathan had turned out to be Marie’s champion as well, and the thought of losing him now, after not having had him in her life for her first twenty-four years, devastated her. The last two years of knowing him had been the most fulfilling ones of her life.

The doctor approached them with a serious expression.

“Is he alright, doctor?” Claire asked.

The doctor nodded. “He’s just gained consciousness.”

“Will he be okay?” Marie asked.

“We think so. The ECG is confirming a mild heart attack. He was pretty lucky.”

“Can we see him?” Claire asked.

“For just a minute. He needs to rest.”

Jonathan opened his eyes when they entered the room, his face ashy. Claire went over and kissed him on the forehead. “How are you feeling, Jon?”

He tilted his head and smiled. “I’ve had better days.”

“Well, you had us scared, that’s for sure.” Claire stepped aside to allow Marie to get near to him.

“I’ll second that,” Marie said, taking his hand. “I feel like I can actually breathe now.”

“Have they told you how long you’ll be here, dear?”

“I asked the doctor, and he said it was too early to talk about that.” He made a face. “If they think this is going to slow me down, they’ve got another think coming.”

“Jonathan, you are going to listen to doctor’s orders if I have anything to say about…”

“It was mild. The doctor said so himself. I’ll be fine.”

Both Claire and Marie gave him stern looks.

“Okay, we’ll see.”

A nurse entered the room and advised Marie and Claire they would have to leave so Jonathan could rest.

“I’ll be out in no time,” he said to them as they were leaving.

“We’ll see about that,” the nurse echoed back.

Claire spent the next several days driving to the hospital in the mornings. Marie took the afternoon shift. In between, Jonathan had a regular flow of other visitors, including all the family members. After ten days, he came home. Claire made sure she had a written list of instructions from the doctor before he was released.

“Things are going to change around here,” she told Jonathan when they were home and Jonathan was settled in. He rolled his eyes. “For one thing, I’m going to start cooking differently. The doctor said you could stand to lose a few pounds.”

“Yes, dear.”

“And I’ve already talked to Zach. He’s going to take over running things for…”

“Hold on a minute. I’m not an invalid, Claire.”

“You didn’t let me finish. I know you’re not an invalid, but the doctor said you need to rest for a good month. So what I was about to say before you interrupted me was that Zach can take over things for the next month.”

“And just what am I supposed to do?”

Claire took out a piece of paper from her purse. “Take your medication. I’ll handle that. Light exercise twice a day. We’ll go on walks together. Diet low in fat and high in fiber. No sweets. That’s my department too. And weekly doctor visits until he says you’re okay to return to your normal lifestyle.” She glared at him. “C’mon. Get that look off your face. We’ll get through this.”

“Maybe…but it won’t be easy with you as my drill sergeant.” He managed a smile.

“She’s only doing this because she loves you,” Marie added.

“I know. I know.”

Marie had been in St. Charles two weeks and hadn’t spent any time to speak of with Rachael, and while Rachael hadn’t said anything to anyone, Marie knew she was probably disappointed. Now that Jonathan was home and out of danger, she felt secure in making plans with her.

Rachael had been taking horseback riding lessons since living in St. Charles but hadn’t seen any type of equestrian competition, so Marie arranged for them to go to the Kane County Fairgrounds where the American Quarter Horse Association was sponsoring a two-day meet.

“This is so crazy,” she said to Marie in the car on their way to the fairgrounds.

They arrived early to insure good seats. The stadium-style benches in the large indoor arena accommodated close to five hundred people. They found an opening in row three near the center.

The Western Pleasure competition was up first. Marie and Rachael watched each rider show off their horse’s soft smooth gait, flawless conformation, and even temperament. The last rider was a female.

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Rachael remarked. “Girls compete?”

“It looks that way.” She glanced at Rachael. “Is that something you’d like to do someday?”