The Price (28 page)

“I kind of figured,” he said. “She gave me a list a mile long of do’s and don’ts as far as Marnie is concerned.”

That brought a smile to Kate’s face. Jack inwardly sighed with relief. Kate placed more chips in her mouth and listened to Jack talk about nothing.

“I spoke to Mark, too,” he continued. “He said to tell you he wishes you a speedy recovery and can’t wait for us to be back at the ranch. I think he’s feeling a little overwhelmed since they had a huge storm last night. Heard they closed the pass for almost eight hours. Most of the guys have been out on the roads plowing since last night.”

“I guess that’s good for business,” said Kate.

“Who are you kidding? It’s great for business,” he said, trying his smile on her once more. “I can hear the sound of hard-cold cash “cha-chinging” all the way to the bank.”

This time Kate returned the smile and her eyes perked to a light-hearted blue. Once more, Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Before he had a chance to continue his rambling, the nurse returned with another cup along with a straw in her hand.

“How’s the ice holding up?” Colleen asked. “Any nausea?”

“No.”

“You’ve been upgraded to ginger ale.” She gave a friendly smile, handing the cup to Jack. “I’ll check back in a few minutes.”

Kate watched her disappear again as Jack scooted his chair closer to the bed.

“Here baby, try this,” he said, handing her the cup.

He placed the straw into it and Kate went to lift her head. As hard as she tried, she couldn’t lift it from the pillow.

“Jack, I can’t lift my head,” she panicked.

“What do you mean you can’t lift your head?” he asked, panicking as well.

“I don’t know,” she cried. “I can move it from side to side, but I can’t lift it off the pillow.”

“Hold tight,” he told her, jumping from the chair and clinging to the outer curtain looking for a familiar face. “Nurse! Nurse!”

He was yelling at the top of his lungs. Hearing his screams, Colleen came running. She barely noticed him as she barreled past and came to a halt by Kate’s beside.

“I can’t pick up my head!” Kate cried in terror, streams of petrified tears rolling down her cheeks.

“It’s okay, Kate,” she replied, trying to soothe the woman paralyzed with fear. “It’s normal after having reconstructive surgery.”

“How can it be normal!?” yelled Jack, rushing to the other side of the bed to hold Kate’s hand. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Mr. McBride you’re not helping things,” Colleen remained calm. “Kate, they removed fat and tissue from your upper back. In a few days your body will adjust and the muscles will re-gain strength. Trust me, it is only temporary.”

“Are you sure?” Kate wanted to believe her.

“Yes, I’m sure.” She gave her a friendly smile. “You might want to talk to your doctor and see if he wants you to go for some physical therapy to strengthen the other muscles around your back.”

“Maybe you should call Dr. Bloom right now,” growled Jack, being his usual authoritative self and looking like he was not too pleased with the good doc at this moment.

“Unfortunately Dr. Bloom is in surgery,” she stated. “If you want you can call his office and leave a message.”

“You want me to leave a message!?” He voiced his outrage.

Kate saw the look in Jack’s eyes and knew at any moment he was going to come unglued. She squeezed his hand several times until he stopped staring down the tall blond nurse and turned his attention back to her.

“Jack, I’m thirsty. Can you help me lift my head so I can take a drink?” asked Kate in an effort to divert him.

“Sure, baby.”

He sat on the edge of the bed and lifted her into his arm. With his free hand, he drew the straw close to her lips so Kate could drink. Kate took a long sip then released the straw. Jack gently placed her back against her pillow and set the cup on the table.

“Thank you, baby,” said Kate, and she directed her attention to the nurse. “We’ll call Dr. Bloom later.”

The nurse nodded and went to leave but not before giving Jack an annoyed glance. It wasn’t that she didn’t love her job or the patients, it was the family members that drove her nuts. They were either too passive or too aggressive, never in-between; and this one was arrogant enough to make her question why she became a nurse in the first place, in spite of his good looks.

She was overjoyed when they moved the McBride’s out of post-op and to the main hospital floor. She waved and gave her last friendly smile as one of her colleagues stood beside her.

“That man is sure easy on the eyes,” she exclaimed, watching his stride and the way he moved in his jeans.

“He’s an ass,” Colleen stated with her hands crossed over her chest.

“The good-looking ones always are!”

“You can say that again,” said Colleen, before she walked away and readied the room for the next patient.

Kate got situated in her new room as a well-meaning Jack got in the way. He barked orders, at the nurses and the aides, making sure Kate was being cared for in the way he saw fit. It was unfortunate for the hospital staff, seeing their methods differed from their new patient’s spouse. To make matters worse, they discovered their patient was the daughter of one of the largest contributors to the breast cancer wing.

The head nurse cringed when she saw their benefactor, Marnie St. Claire step off the elevator. She was dressed in a crème colored suit with heels to match. She was a shrewd business woman by the looks of it, as she walked with authority and confidence through the hospital’s halls. She paused at the nurse’s station.

“Which room is Kathryn McBride’s?” She was to the point and reflected no interest other than an answer to her question.

“Room two-oh-one,” said the head nurse, and pointed. “Down the hall and last door on the left.”

No
thank you
was offered as Marnie St. Claire continued to her point of destination.

“Who was that?” asked one of the aides, watching the woman walk like she owned the place.

“That is Marnie St. Claire,” replied the head nurse with a frown.

“
The
Marnie St. Claire?” The young girl looked on with admiration. “What’s she doing here?”

“Apparently she is the mother of Kathryn McBride.”

“The one with the good-looking husband that’s a pain in the ass?” the girl asked.

“The one in the same,” she said, and shook her head. “He’s a cream puff compared to her.”

Marnie didn’t bother knocking on the door. She walked right in and up to the bed.

“Kathryn, you look tired,” she said, bending over and placing a light kiss on her daughter’s cheek.

“Surgery has a way of doing that to you,” said Kate, not really up for her mother’s visit.

The afternoon had been quite exhausting with Jack acting like a crazy person. The last thing she needed was for her mother to go all provincial on her.

“Where’s Jack?” asked Marnie, looking around the room, then frowning.

“I sent him to the cafeteria.”

She wasn’t really hungry but she needed a moment to herself.

“Why? Isn’t the food adequate enough?” Marnie took a seat in the chair beside the bed.

“It’s fine,” said Kate. “Jack just needed a break.”

“You have been out of surgery for less than twenty-four hours and he already needs a break?” Her mother’s brow arched.

“All right, so I needed a break,” Kate sighed.

Damn, she was stuck in this blasted hospital bed with no way of escape. She could barely lift her head off the pillow, though she had figured out how to maneuver by holding on to the side rails to lift slightly. Now she was destined to listen to her mother whether she liked it or not.

“What has that loathsome man done now?” It was Marnie’s turn to sigh.

“He hasn’t done anything.” She was grateful she still had the strength to roll her eyes. “Jack has been by my side constantly.”

“I didn’t come here to talk about Jack,” said Marnie. “How are you feeling?”

“Sore, tired.”

“Are you in pain?” her mother asked.

“Nope.” She opened the palm of her hand to show her mother the pain management button. “It’s a magic red button. I just press it and all my pain goes away.”

“You’re on morphine,” she exclaimed, now understanding her daughter’s odd behavior.

“Morphine, Demerol, same thing.”

“I spoke to Dr. Bloom,” said Marnie. “He said the surgery went well and he and Dr. Sorenson were quite pleased with the reconstruction. Apparently, those hearty Nevada breakfasts you were eating paid off. There was more fat on your back than they originally thought.”

“Let’s hear it for body fat! Yippee!” said Kate, but she was not laughing.

“You’re husband’s bad habits are rubbing off on you, Kathryn,” Marnie frowned.

“Sorry,” said Kate, and she hit the red button several times hoping to be dowsed with enough narcotics to fall asleep so she wouldn’t have to converse with her mother anymore.

“How’s Jesse?” asked Kate.

“I suppose he is fine.” Marnie shrugged.

“What do you mean you
suppose
?” Kate gave her mother her own disapproving look.

“Did you forget yesterday was the reading of the Will?” exclaimed Marnie, swiftly changing the subject.

“Oh, yeah that’s right,” she said, feeling a little groggy. “How did it go?”

“As expected,” said Marnie with a satisfied smile. “The little snit has thirty days to vacate the beach house.”

“I’m sure that went over well.”

“She left in a huff of smoke.” Marnie leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Overall, I was quite pleased.”

“I’m sure you were,” Kate mumbled, feeling the effect of the medication.

Her mother always deemed it a good day when she had the chance to run over some poor slob who got in her way.

Kate felt sleepy and her eyelids grew heavy. She stared at her mother and blinked several times, trying to stay focused. She was drifting. She could tell. Her eyes fluttered shut then open again.

“Are you getting sleepy, Kathryn?” Marnie asked.

“Yes,” said Kate, moving her head from side to side instead of up and down since her body wouldn’t let her. She closed her eyes and instantly she was asleep.

Marnie watched her daughter sleeping for a minute before standing from the chair and leaving the room. She walked down the hall just as Jack stepped from the elevator and they passed each other by the nurse’s station.

“Kathryn’s sleeping,” stated Marnie. “Perhaps it’s best if you let her rest.”

“She’s been sleeping off and on most of the day,” stated Jack. “Kate likes that little red button.”

“Tell her not to get used to it,” said Marnie. “The last thing I need is for my daughter to be hooked on pain medicine.”

“Oh, let her be,” said Jack, growing annoyed. “It only pumps out so much pain meds an hour. It’s not like she can overdose on it.”

“I am aware of how narcotics are administered.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” He went to leave.

“Jack, are you planning to stay the night?” Marnie questioned him.

“Yes, that is the plan.” He paused.

“What about your son?” She did not seem all-that overjoyed.

“Maria is taking care of him for the night. Tomorrow I’ll swing by the house to see him. Maybe take him to see his mother.”

“When should I expect you?” she inquired.

“I don’t know,” said Jack, seeing her eyes sharpen like she was up to something. “Probably after breakfast.”

“Very well then.” She nodded as if she got her answer and walked to the elevator.

Jack lingered for a moment, scratching his head then headed back to the room to see Kate.

TWENTY

GREAT RESTRAINT

“It’s time to get you out of that bed and start moving!”

All Kate saw was two bug eyes and short, spiked red hair come through the door, pulling the curtain aside, and disrupting her privacy. The bubbly nurse stood by her bedside, hands on her hips, refusing to budge until Kate did as she was told.

“I don’t know if I can,” said Kate.

“The sooner you get out of that bed, the sooner you can go home.”

She raised the bed until Kate was in an upright position then lowered the hand rail on one side.

“All right, but let’s take it slow,” said Kate apprehensively.

“You don’t have to run a marathon.” She gave Kate a friendly smile. “You just have to make it to the bathroom and back.”

“That’s a relief!” said Kate with a half-smile.

The bug-eyed nurse helped Kate swing her legs over the side then slid her arm behind and assisted her to a sitting position. To her surprise, it wasn’t as difficult as she thought. Her chest was sore and the muscles in her back and front took a little effort in maneuvering, but the fact that she was sitting in an upright position was a good sign.

Step two consisted of Kate standing on her own feet and shuffling toward the bathroom. She felt like she was a hundred years old as she leaned on the nurse for support with her IV pole following behind her. Slow and steady was her pace for entering the bathroom and she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror over the sink. God, she looked awful. Her hair was a tangled mess and matted in the back of her head. She looked away and concentrated on the toilet, willing herself to move and lower her bottom on-to the seat. She grabbed the handrails and held on for dear life as her fleshy bottom made contact with the porcelain. Kate breathed a sigh of relief and she felt her body relax.

“Good job,” the nurse praised. “I’ll give you a few minutes alone. When you’re ready hit the call button and I’ll help you back to bed.”

Kate nodded and watched the perky nurse leave. She sighed and closed her eyes, feeling her release. It felt so damn good to be able to go again without having that damn catheter. Taking for granted the most simplest task was quite an undertaking for Kate, wrapping the toilet paper around her hand was almost exhausting not to mention uncomfortable on her upper back, but she managed.

Kate lifted herself from the commode, not really wanting to call the nurse back. It was a slow process, but she managed to pull herself up and take several steps over to the sink to wash her hands. Once more, she saw her reflection in the mirror. She tried to straighten her hair, but the concerted effort of lifting her arm was an enormous feat. She did what she could as she stared at her gown covering her now foreign body. She wanted to look but was afraid of what she might see.