TIME TO CALL IT A DAY: SURPRISE PARTY (PART 3)
Within the hour Mel had picked Roxy up from her cabin, and poured enough gas in her stranded Mustang to get her to the hospital to see Mac. To make sure nothing else was wrong, he followed her. Pulling long side her in the parking lot he asked, "Do you want company?"
"Oh . . . that is so thoughtful of you." Giving his hand a squeeze she reminded him. "You still have that cake to bake for my dad's party, besides you must have a busy day ahead of you at the club . . ."
"Actually, I don't. My daughter is back and she's covering for me."
"Well, if you're sure . . . "
"Roxy, I can't think of a thing I'd rather do today."
* * * * * * *
Sitting in a chair besides her dad's bed, she held his hand for two hours and told him rambling stories. His eyes stayed closed and over his head, a bottle with a tube dripped into his arm.
The other tubes looked busy too, but she couldn't figure out what they were doing. The red lights flashing digital numbers added to her confusion. "I'm totally out of date," she mumbled to the technician.
She'd managed to stay out of hospitals for the past 15 years--as a visitor and a patient--last time she'd been in was for a broken arm, and that was as an outpatient. Nothing looked familiar.
"How do you think he's doing," she asked motioning towards all the connections, "and what's all this for?"
"Dr. Michilan's orders," he replied looking pleased to voice his opinion, "Nothing to worry about. All standard stuff."
Mel put his head in the door. "I'm going downstairs for lunch. Join me?"
"Might as well," she said giving up trying to figure out all the equipment.
On the way to the elevator she asked Mel, "Why doesn't he wake up? It shouldn't take this long. If he's going to make his surprise party, he's got to get with the program . . . open his eyes."
Chuckling and putting his hand on her shoulder, he tried to console her as they walked down the hall. "He's going to be all right. These things take time. If it looks like he'll be here longer, I will call my daughter and tell her you'll need to reschedule his surprise party. Let's give it another day. It's only Friday. Labor Day gives him until Monday to get back on his feet."
After lunch, Mel left and she met with Dr. Michilan, the admitting physician. "Is he any better?"
"He's the same, but we'll know more in a couple of hours. We need a few more tests. For now he's as good as can be expected. At least for a man his age with a hairline fracture of the skull and a concussion."
An hour later, the radiologist brushed by her. "Excuse me, but we must take your father down for more pictures. The doctor wants a brain scan."
"A brain scan?"
"It's perfectly normal in cases like this. Nothing to be alarmed about."
* * * * * * *
Waiting for Mac to be rolled back to his room, Roxy dozed in the patient waiting room. Dr. Michilan woke her with a gentle shake and sat down in the chair next to hers.
"Your father is back in his room. Everything is fine. There's no reason he shouldn't come around shortly. All his signs are good and his tests are negative. As I think you already know, he's in shock and a coma, but I expect him to come out of it any minute. Go and get some rest, we'll let you know as soon as we know anything."
Dr. Michilan left and her cell phone rang. Mel was calling. "How's it going Roxy?"
"No news is good news--I guess. Everything remains the same as far as I can tell."
"Wait right there. I'm taking you out for a nice dinner. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
* * * * * * *
On the way over to the hospital, Mel's excitement grew at the prospect of seeing Roxy again. "Damn, it's only been a few hours since I saw her, and here I sit, eager as a school boy."
He scolded himself, "Now's not the time to hit on her--try and interest her in romance--If that's even possible . . . " Still when he saw her and helped her off with her jacket, the heat from her body along with her scent washed over him and left him weak in the knees.
Sharing a bottle of wine over dinner they started out chatting about business. His and hers. Once they both opened up, they lost track of time. Which was good. Roxy got her mind off her dad for while, and Mel discovered what he'd suspected from the start--she was not only good to look at, but interesting--warm and exciting. He reminded himself to move slow. Be supportive. Be a friend. Not some fucking predator.
He tried to tell himself, that being the looker she was, maybe she'd had her fill of playboys and was getting her hat set for a nice guy like him. One who was nicer than he was good looking. Not that he was bad looking, but he was a long ways from stepping off the cover of GQ.
"Thanks so much Mel. For everything. You're wonderful and sure gave my mind a rest. I feel as though I could keep right on talking with you--never stop--but I need to get back to my dad and see how he's doing."
"I think so too. I will go with you. It's late and I think it's better for you not to be alone right now."
As they walked past the nurses station they ran into Mac's nurse. Out of breath he said, "I just tried to call you but your mail box is full. Dr. Michilan is in with your father right now and needs to talk to you."
Rushing to Mac's room they found the doctor. "We have to operate on your father. And right now. We can't figure out why he won't wake up. It's more than shock or concussion. My associates here concur that his condition is connected to his skull fracture even though nothing shows up on the x-rays or tests."
"Roxy!" Mel grabbed her by the shoulders and pointed to Mac. "Your dad. Look at your dad . . .
His eyes were open and stared straight ahead until they rested on Roxy.
"Thank God. Oh, Mac . . . Dad . . . it's me, Roxy . . ."
He looked straight at her but without any sign of recognition. But then his eyes lit up and his mouth opened. She was sure he was about to tell her he loved her. But instead, his face relaxed and his eyes closed and she watched Daddy Mac take his last breath.
As the monitors yelled for help, she stroked her sweet daddy's face and kissed him on both cheeks. Her shoulders trembled.
"He's gone Mel. He's gone . . . now there'll be no surprise party . . . The Party's Over. He'd sing that to me right after 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls.' Like Maurice Chevalier. When he'd sing them, I knew it was time to go to sleep. He'd draw out the words, kind of half singing and half talking: 'Roxy, my little Roxy . . . the party's over, it's time to call it a day, they've burst your pretty balloon and taken the moon away. Now you must wake up, all dreams must end, take off your make up, the party's over, it's all over, my love . . . ' Then he'd tuck me in and kiss me goodnight . . . turn out the lights."
Reciting the words crumbled any reserve she had left; collapsing on her dad's silent chest she held him tight as dry sobs overtook her body. When they stopped, he turned her and held her close while she wept. And wept.
* * * * * * *
Soon after, Dr. Michilan and Mel led her from the room into the doctor's lounge. Mel stayed quiet and held her hand while the doctor explained.
"Ms. Raycoff--Roxy--I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. We'll need to do an autopsy, but it's most likely, that which we'd come to fear this past hour, was the cause. A hidden occlusion. I wish I could stay, but I can't. Here is my personal number. Call me if I can help in any way."
Before he left the room, Dr. Michilan embraced Roxy saying, "I'm sorry, so sorry for your loss." Her head rested on the doctor's shoulder as her eyes looked down the hall to where the most important man of her life lay. Instead of her surprising him, he'd surprised her.
Her cell rang. Mel was holding it. Looking down at it, he recognized the number. It was his daughter Betsy. Probably calling Roxy about Mac's birthday party. Rather than let it continue to ring, he walked out of the room and answered it.
"Dad, WHAT are you doing answering THAT woman's phone? I think she's the same woman we did that party for two years ago. The one who stiffed us . . ."
"Sorry Betsy. I meant to call you. Afraid you might see the last name and get worried . . . she's not who you think. Roxy Raycoff is good. I checked her out. Same last name as the one you're mad at, but it's not her. Not even related."
"That's a relief. I can't afford deadbeat customers if I'm going make this new location prosper for us . . . only trying to protect you Dad."
"I understand your concern darling. But I have you covered. You worry to much, however, you do need to cancel the party. Her father died an hour ago."
"Oh, how awful . . . "
"Yes. She's taking it hard Betsy. Now listen to me. Get Sara to spruce up that beach side honeymoon suite for Ms. Raycoff. She's here at her cabin without family so I'm gonna bring her back to Harbor Cove with me. I trust you will show her compassion in my absence, as others did towards you when your mother died and I was in the hospital. I'll explain it all to you later."
*****************************
To Be Continued: Part 4
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Submitted by:
Madison
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