Look to the Rainbow (21 page)

      “Wouldn’t be the first time,” he said.

      She smiled. It wouldn’t. “Tara called me late this afternoon and said that she and Kel were done, not sure what that means, and that she had quit her job and didn’t have a clue where she was going next. So I invited her to stay with us.”

     “When is she coming?”

      “She’ll be here tomorrow . But I got the impression that she didn’t want anyone to know she was here, at least not Kel. And I know you’ll be talking to him.”

      “I won’t volunteer the information, but if he asks me outright if I’ve heard from her, I won’t lie,” Evan said.

      “Fair enough.”

      “I wonder why they broke up. I was really hoping it would turn into something permanent. She seemed perfect for him.”

      “I hoped so too. I looked at some of the photos I took of them after she called and even in those you can see how attracted they are to each other.”

      “There was that,” Evan admitted, “but she seemed so willing to take on the other stuff too.”

      “Maybe she’ll tell us.”

      “Or maybe Kel will.”

     Kel stood on the balcony again and stared at the moonlight streaming over the water. The last time he had stood here at the end of a relationship he had felt defeated and crushed, but he had managed to crawl back up and go on. Tonight he didn’t feel betrayed but he was overcome with an acute sense of sadness and loneliness.  Several times he’d picked up the phone to call her, but changed his mind. He had, he had to admit, become as the song said, accustomed to her face. To the sound of her voice and her laugh. He would miss the playfulness that their relationship had brought to his life. He would miss the anticipation of seeing her again and of what the future might bring. He had allowed himself to think that they might have a future together and in the span of three minutes it had all ended. Rash actions on both their parts, fueled by stress of circumstances that had gotten out of control. The right song at the wrong time, he thought, and then wondered why phrases of songs always came to him in times like this. I said something I shouldn’t have, he thought, and then I didn’t take it back. He had at least been able to assure everyone that the campaign was still on and then worked out a plan to have each of his children spend a week on the campaign with for some much needed one on one time. He knew he had really blown it with Tara and wondered if there was any hope of salvaging what they had. He resolved to give it a little time and then see if could figure out some way to win her forgiveness. He really had to, because he had, in the last few hours realized one thing. He was very much in love with her.

Chapter Seventeen

     Tara was in the kitchen when Casey let herself in Evan and Mary Katherine’s house. She stepped out to greet her and Casey followed her back into the kitchen. Casey gave her a hug. “So what happened?

     “A lot of things, I guess. Kel said he couldn’t handle the relationship and threatened to quit his campaign, I panicked, resigned from my job and ran away.”

     “Have you talked to Kel since?”

     Tara sighed. “No. And he hasn’t called me either.”

     “I hate that. I thought we were going to get to keep you in the family.”

      Tara hugged her again. “Thanks. It’s nice that you wanted me.”

      Casey saw that Tara had fixed a glass of ice water and one of iced tea. “How is she today?”

     Tara shook her head. “Not very good. The doctor told them it would be a stronger dose since it’s the last one and she’s been really sick. But then I don’t have anything to compare it to. Maybe you can be a better judge of that. Evan is so patient and gentle with her, isn’t he?”

     “That’s why his patients love him, that extraordinary bedside manner. That’s the main reason he became so close to the family. When Kel was in his coma, Dad says he sat with them almost non- stop and prayed for Kel. He and Dad and Ross all became very close in that week. But I think he’s even more caring with Mary Katherine.”

     “Evan seems very sure of himself and his own abilities, but he never comes across as arrogant.” Tara picked up both glasses.

     “No. He’s a lot like Kel in that way.”

     Tara smiled sadly. “Yes. He is. Come see how she’s doing and tell me if it’s worse or about the same.”

     They went upstairs and quietly entered the bedroom. Mary Katherine lay on her side on the bed, while Evan sat next to her and gently stroked her hair. It was an image Casey had gotten all to use to and would be glad to be done with. She went to the side of the bed and placed a kiss on the top of Mary Katherine’s head and leaned across her to kiss Evan’s cheek. Then she pulled the ottoman up close and sat down and took Mary Katherine’s hand. Tara sat down the glasses on the bedside table and left the three of them alone.

     Casey asked Evan, “How are we doing today?”

      Evan answered, “It’s been pretty intense so far. This is the worst it’s been, but at least after this we’re done.”

      Casey wondered if he was certain of that or just being positive for Mary Katherine’s sake, but didn’t dare ask.

      Mary Katherine was so pale that her skin looked almost transparent.. She seemed too tired to talk. Evan told her that she needed to try and drink some water and lifted her while Casey held the glass for her. Then, as even sipping water was too much of an effort, she sank back down on the bed and closed her eyes.

     When it was obvious that she had fallen asleep, Evan slipped off the bed and walked to look out the window. A thunderstorm was rolling in and he stood there watching it. When he didn’t turn around for several minutes, Casey went and stood beside him and saw that he was crying, as she had suspected . She put her arms around him and he held her close and wept, without making any sound that would awaken or alarm Mary Katherine.  He let her comfort him until he stopped crying.

     He raised his head and said, “I’m sorry Case.”

     “For what?”

     “Falling apart on you again.”

     “I don’t mind letting you cry on my shoulder.”

     He kissed her lightly on the forehead and let her go and sat on the ottoman she had abandoned and watched over Mary Katherine while she slept. Casey sat down in the chair by the window and drew her knees up to her chest and admired Evan from across the room. She really, really hoped that somewhere out there was another man that kind, that understanding, that handsome, that spiritual. She kept trying to compare the guys she dated to him and they always came up short. It would be hard, she thought, to find anyone with whom she had such a connection with. Ever since she had been a little girl Evan had been her favorite person. If there was such as things as soul mates, Evan was hers. He could read her expressions, anticipate her actions, understood her like no one else. She could do the same with him. She wasn’t sure when the shift in how she felt about him came about, but it was probably around sixteen or seventeen when, in addition to her deep friendship with him, she had started to feel a romantic kind of love for him too. She had let that information slip to Sara, who confided in her that she too found Evan crush worthy and kept her secret. They had both admitted a physical attraction between them the night he had come to her house after his fight with Mary Katherine, but it hadn’t happened again since, and as she watched him sit by Mary Katherine, she knew it never would. He wouldn’t change being flirtatious and affectionate with her, he’d always been that way. But Evan had values and a strong commitment to his marriage vows and Casey wouldn’t want him to be any other way, because then he would not be the Evan she loved. And her own values didn’t allow her to be any other way either.

     Mary Katherine stirred and called her name. She crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed.

     “How was your exam?”

      “It was hard, but I passed. And that is
so
not important right now.”

     Evan helped her sit up and offered her some water, but as soon as she was upright another wave of nausea hit her. Evan had learned to recognize when she was about to be sick and scooped her up for yet another round of vomiting and laying on the bathroom floor.

     It was well past the point where she usually stopped being sick, several hours in fact. It was late afternoon the next day when Mary Katherine had started weeping and asking Evan why she couldn’t stop being sick. She was totally exhausted and Evan made the call to take her into the hospital. She was dehydrated to the point where it was dangerous. He spoke to Ted Hunter and then turned to Tara who waited anxiously in the doorway.

     Evan looked as tired, Tara thought, as Mary Katherine. “I’m taking her to hospital. She needs fluids. Where’s Casey?”

     “She ran home for a few minutes to shower and pack a bag.”

    “Can you make some calls for me?” He leaned over Mary Katherine. “Darlin’ we are going to the hospital. Hang on, okay?”

     “Who do you want me to call, Evan?”

      He sighed and closed his eyes and rubbed his head. “George. Ask him to have everybody pray. And maybe John or Skip.  When Casey gets here, come to the hospital, she knows the way. I’ll tell them to expect both of you so they’ll let you come to her room.” He stood and picked Mary Katherine up. Tara picked up a blanket and followed them to the car and tucked the blanket over Mary Katherine.

     “I’ll call them right now and we’ll come as soon as Casey gets here. And I’ll pray too.”

     His eyes teared up. “Thanks,” he said, giving her a hug.

     He looked over at Mary Katherine as he drove. She didn’t appear to have any symptoms other than dehydration and exhaustion and he willed himself to stay calm. Think like a doctor, he told himself, not her husband. His cell rang and he picked it up. Ross. He answered it.

     “What’s going on?”

     “We’re on our way to the hospital. I should have gone before now. She needs fluids.”

     “Any other symptoms?”

     “No.”

     “If you want me to I will find a flight and leave now.” Ross could tell by Evan’s voice that he was worried and very tired himself.

     “Don’t, at least not yet. I’m hoping we won’t be there very long.”

    “The offer stands. Just call.”

      He got Mary Katherine settled and Ted Hunter came and assessed her condition and they finally both agreed that she was severely dehydrated and needed to sleep, but there was nothing to indicate anything else. Ted started an i.v. and gave her a sedative to help her sleep and by then Casey and Tara had joined him.

    At last Mary Katherine slept soundly. Evan had pulled a chair close and was sitting by the bed, holding her hand, still not able to be at ease with the fact that at least for now she was okay. His phone rang again. He looked at the screen.

    “Hey John,” he said.