Ellen stared out the window of her home office trying to give her brain a break from the illustration she had been working on all morning. The scorching summer heat of Savannah ensured that she spent most of her time in air conditioning. She had pulled her hair up into a bun to help her stay cool. Her blond hair was thick with lots of body. The updo was the only way for her to feel comfortable in the heat.
Her cell phone rang bringing her back to the present. "Ellen, it's Mary." Mary was Ellen's older sister who acted as a second mother. "Mom is in the hospital. She was fine in the morning when I spoke with her and apparently had a stroke when she was at the post office later."
"Oh my God. Is she going to be okay?"
"We don't know a lot yet. She was talking and making sense when I got to the emergency room. But within a half hour, she was having trouble putting a sentence together. They gave her something to help her relax and she went to sleep."
Panicked, Ellen rushed to the bedroom and pulled her suitcase out from under the bed. "Depending on traffic, I can probably be there by 9:00. I'll have Laddy with me, so I'll have to go to the house first." The drive north to Reston, Virginia wasn't a bad drive, but she could run into traffic.
Ellen hurriedly threw clothes in the bag and collected what Laddy would need. She thought to herself whether she needed to take a black dress. "Oh, God. Please don't take her." Her father had died a year ago and the threat of her mother's death was doubly sad since she had taken a scholarship to art school in Savannah instead of staying home and marrying Neal. Her relationship with her mother had suffered ever since.
Neal was something Ellen tried to put to the back of her mind during the drive. And she failed. The last time she saw him was at the dorm when he drove her to school. He had always been her rock and she clung to him at the car before he would drive back home.
Neal was her high school love. He was tall, handsome, kind and intelligent. She sometimes saw his handsome face in her dreams. He had sandy brown hair and blue eyes. He was athletic. They had met running cross country together. He was part of the cool crowd. But as soon as he met her, all of his free time was spent with her.
They had a sweet connection between their souls. They often knew what the other was about to say. And they felt the other's feelings without words. There had been no question in her mind that she would spend the rest of her life with him.
After high school graduation, Neal stayed in Reston. His family had a large farm that he had taken over the management of as his father aged. Over time, her correspondence with Neal became less and less frequent. It wasn't really a conscious decision by either of them. It just sort of happened. And after a few encounters during the holidays, Ellen realized that somehow their connection was no longer there. She had avoided going home because it was too painful to run into Neal and it was too hard to listen to her mother's condemnation of her choices.
As Ellen got closer to home, Laddy seemed to sense it. He became talkative and agitated. Laddy was a very large Collie that Ellen had rescued after she graduated from art school. As soon as she opened the car door for Laddy, he jumped out and ran toward a man by the garage. "Laddy, no!"
When she approached him, Ellen realized that the man was Neal. Confused as to why he would be at her mom's house, Ellen just stared at him. "Hi Ellen. I'm guessing by that look on your face that Connie didn't tell you I work around the place when she needs help. Unable to form an answer, Ellen continued to stare befuddled at Neal. Neal showed signs of becoming uncomfortable. "Your mom's condition is stable. I just talked to Mary. She had a stroke."
Ellen let out a big sigh. "She's going to be okay?"
"Ellen, you know doctors. They would never tell you that. I believe she will be alright. But she's going to have a long recovery period."
Ellen's eyes began to tear up and her lower lip started to quiver. Neal pulled her in to give her a hug. He held her as if he could protect her from what had happened. It was so lovely and familiar to Ellen. It wasn't until that moment that Ellen realized how much she had missed Neal's touch. The hug seemed to elicit more tears and Ellen buried her face into Neal's shirt.
Neal rubbed and patted her back. Her natural scent was so familiar to him
. Why was it that Ellen was the only girl that smelled good to him with no perfume. God knows he had tried to find another after it was clear that they needed to end their relationship. And now she was back and hiccupping into his chest.
"Poor baby," he crooned to her. "It's okay. Everything is going to be okay."
After a while, Laddy became anxious to go in the house. "Oh gosh, I have to feed him and get over to the hospital." Feeling a little embarrassed for crying in his arms, Ellen found it difficult to make eye contact.
"Well, go on in. I'll bring in your things from the car."
Wow, that is thoughtful of him. She missed being with someone who would do anything to make your day easier or better.
When Ellen emerged from the bathroom, she found Neal feeding Laddy. "Just a scoop and a half since he gets fed twice a day."
"Alright. Let me drive you over to the hospital."
"What? No, no. I drove myself all the way from Savannah. I can certainly drive myself across town," she argued.
"Exactly. You've been driving all day and you're tired. Not to mention a little emotional. That's settled then. Let's go."
She had forgotten how bossy he could be, especially about her welfare. It was actually just easier to let him have his way.
At the hospital, Mary was outside of their mother's room. She hugged Ellen and asked if she was alright. "Yes, no. I don't know," admitted Ellen.
Ellen's mom, Connie, was awake and alert. Ellen hugged her and told her how frightened she had been when she heard the news. When Connie tried to respond, it became apparent that her speech was impaired. Connie got more frustrated each time she tried to speak.
"Connie", Neal said. "It's okay Connie. Ellen knows how you feel. Just rest. You've had a big day." When Connie tried to smile at Neal, it also became apparent that the left side of her face was not fully responsive. Frustrated, Connie started to cry.
"Mom, it's okay. It's going to be okay. We're all here for you and we're going to take care of you." Ellen used the same words with her mother that Neal had used with her.
On the ride home, Ellen closed her eyes and tried to relax. She heard Neal make a phone call. "Hi, Ma. Hey, listen, I won't be home tonight. I've got some more things I need to do at the Hughes' house. Just didn't want you to worry. Okay, see you tomorrow." He told Ellen, "Ma sends her love."
How sweet. His mother must still care for me she thought. "Thanks. Pretty sure of yourself, are you? And what things will you be taking care of at our house?"
"You for one. I don't think you should be alone tonight. I'd like to be there for you in case you need something." She could tell that it was difficult for Neal to say that, so Ellen didn't argue.
"Suit yourself. I'm taking a shower and going to bed."
When Ellen emerged from the shower in a long t-shirt, she heard Neal's voice in the front room. There, she found Laddy sprawled over Neal on the couch. Neal was talking low in a soothing voice to Laddy.
"Neal, do you want some tea?"
"Sure. You want me to make it?"
"No. I think I can still find my way around Mom's kitchen."
