Author's Note: Although the tone in this chapter is a large departure from the story thus far, I feel it is necessary to move the plot forward.
*
A woman with blonde hair, beautifully styled and long, down to her chest got out of a car and pulled out her phone.
"Thanks for the ride," she said as she tapped into her phone. She put the slender device back into her purse.
"No problem, please leave a good review."
She nodded and stepped into the hospital building. She was wearing large black sunglasses, a black knee length coat with fur lining and trim, a long white skirt, a gray sweater, and black boots. She followed signs to the ICU until she got to a line of people waiting to be checked in. She stood at the end, pulling her phone out again.
{Just got here. In a line to get inside} she texted her mother.
{It's room 461} was the response.
It was a few minutes before she got to the front.
"Hello, how can I help you?" asked a man behind the desk. He had light brown skin, dark brown eyes, a blue jacket, a gray mustache and a clean shaven head.
"I'm here to see my grandmother," she said.
"What is her name?"
"Addison Wyss."
"Alright." He typed into his computer. "And what is your name?"
"Courtney Savage," she said, removing her sunglasses.
"Oh I recognize you now. My wife loves your show."
"Thank you," she replied with a wan smile.
"I need to take your photo for your sticker ID badge," he said.
"Alright."
"Three, two, one."
Courtney gave a small smile without showing her teeth.
"Ok just a second..." He reached for the printer. He ripped off the printed black and white ID sticker and handed it to her. "Put this on your clothing so it can be easily seen."
"Alright."
"Go down the hall to the elevator. Take it to the fourth floor and follow the blue signs to the ICU double doors. Use the intercom to tell them who you're visiting."
"Alright," she nodded. She left, pressing the ID sticker to her jacket and walking slowly as she followed his instructions. When she arrived at the ICU doors she pulled out her phone.
{I'm outside the ICU now} she texted her mother.
{I'll go out and meet you} was the response.
A few minutes later the double-doors opened and Cara stepped through. Her champagne blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her eyes looked a bit red and puffy. She was wearing a long green dress and a white coat. Cara walked to her daughter, the footfalls of her heels echoing on the hospital floor loudly until they met in an embrace. Courtney's nostrils were filled with the scent of her mother's hair as she fought back tears.
"How is she?" Courtney asked as they stepped back.
"She doesn't look very well. I think you'll be surprised how much she's changed since the last time you saw her. She's in septic shock and on dialysis because her kidneys aren't functioning."
"Is.. is she going to die?" Courtney said bravely.
"I think she'll be ok," Cara said. "They said 70% percent. If they can get rid of the infection, her organs might start working again."
"I still don't get how UTI can do this."
"I know... but... I'm glad you came. She's really been looking forward to seeing you. I think... I think it kept her going. Are you ready to go in?"
"Uh, yeah," she said, breathing deeply.
"I'll stay outside, they only allow three in at a time."
"Who else is in there?"
"Marlon and Caitlyn. We've come every day since she was admitted."
"Marlon too?"
"Yes. I think it's hard for him because of how he lost his grandmother not too long ago."
Courtney nodded.
"Go ahead honey," Cara said, patting her daughter's shoulder. "Room 461."
"Ok."
She pressed the intercom button. There was a beep and a few seconds later a voice through the speaker.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I'm here to see Addison Wyss."
"Ok, come on in."
The double doors opened with a click and she walked through, her own heels tapping on the floor.
She walked past open hospital rooms looking for room 461. She went past the nurses' station, and then turned a corner where she saw the room numbers on the wall. She looked inside the room, the harsh lights shining over the bed. Standing on either side of her grandmother were Caitlyn and Marlon. Courtney walked in and put her arm around her little sister.
"Hey Caity."
"Hi Courtney."
Courtney took her grandmother's withered hand. Her skin was yellow and wrinkled and her grip was very weak. Courtney grimaced slightly. She caught a faint odor of feces and urine mixed with something else she didn't recognize.
"Hello gran. It's Courtney." She looked into her grandmother's milky blue eyes. Her white hair was wispy and thin over her head. She had a nasal cannula feeding oxygen into her nose.
"Oh Courtney," Addison smiled slowly. "My first grandchild. Your mother said you were coming."
"I'm sorry it took me so long to get here."
"Don't worry... I know you're busy working."
"I'm going to leave so Cara can come in," Marlon said.
"That's alright you can stay," Addison said.
"I'll be back to see you later."
"Ok honey, thank you."
Marlon was holding her hand gently. He looked at Courtney and nodded silently before he left.
"How have you been feeling Grandma Addy?" Courtney asked.
"Not very well, but I'm happy you are here." She coughed a little and then groaned in pain.
"She's been doing a little better," Caitlyn said. "Mom fed her yesterday." A nurse walked into the room.
"Excuse me," he said, grabbing the machine displaying Addison's vitals. Courtney stepped to the side a bit, giving the nurse some room while he typed down some notes in a rolling laptop station.
Courtney took a moment to look around the room. There was an IV drip, a dialysis machine for her blood, and a pulse oximeter was hooked up to her big toe. On the wall were several get well cards and a vase of flowers.
"I'm sorry to take you away from work," Addison said.
"No it's fine," Courtney replied.
"I know how busy you are." Courtney gave a small smile in response.
"Ok all done," the nurse said, and then left. Courtney's mother, Cara walked into the room and to the other side of the bed.
"Hello again," she smiled to Addison.
"Hello," she replied, and her eyes drifted closed.
"Mom?"
Her eyes popped open.
"What?"
"Can you stay awake a little longer?"
"I'm awake."
"When she heard you'd be here today, she got her appetite back," Cara said to Courtney. "She was getting a bit tired of hospital food, but they've had to monitor her diet more closely because of the infection."
"I was excited to see my first grandchild," Addison said with a cough. "You look so beautiful. You always do dear."
"Thank you gran," Courtney said.
"You both take after your mother. I'm lucky to have such a beautiful family." They stood for a minute holding hands.
"Is Aiden coming too?"
"Remember I told you Aiden and Ashley are still visiting their father in Sweden? They're coming back this weekend. They'll see you then."
"In a few days?"
"Yes. The doctor said that some of your organs are starting to function again. They just need to keep the infection under control."
"She's still having trouble with her memory?" Courtney asked softly.
"Yes, it's only gotten worse," Caitlyn whispered.
"Ok, can I leave today?"
"Maybe on Sunday," Cara said. "The doctor said he'd check again on Sunday."
"Ok."
Addison smiled. They were quiet for a while.
"How long did you plan on staying?" Cara asked Courtney.
"Just today and tomorrow, I need to prepare for shooting on Monday."
Cara nodded.
"I'm so glad you're here," Courtney's grandmother smiled. She held her hand as tight as she could.
"Me too."
***
The dinner table in the Glass Palace was set with plates and silverware. A woman in her fifties with an olive complexion brought out a roast chicken and set it in the center of plates of vegetables, salad, and potatoes.
"I'll clean up in the kitchen ma'am before I leave. Just let me know if you need anything else."
"I think we'll be ok. You enjoy your days off," she said.
"Thank you ma'am."
"Thank you so much Sophia," Caitlyn said with a smile.
"Goodbye Sophia," Courtney said.
"It's good to see you again dear. I hope to see you again next time." Courtney hugged the housekeeper goodbye.
She walked back to the kitchen and they all sat down, Cara, Caitlyn, Courtney, and Marlon. They were all quiet at first, mostly just eating.
"Grandma looked so thin," Courtney said, taking a sip of water with her food.
"Yes, but she's doing so much better," Cara said. "If you saw her when she was first admitted you'd know."
"She looks so different than last time."
"It got bad really fast," Marlon said solemnly. Courtney looked over to her stepbrother, but he kept his eyes down to his food.
"Maybe we should change the subject," Cara said. "How are things going with the movie?"
"So busy," Cara said. "They were really understanding though. Giving me time to be with Grandma."
"How many days do you have left?" Cara asked.
"We're only a week in. We still have another two to three weeks."
"What's it about?" Marlon asked.
"It's a coming-of-age story. I play a college student that struggles with addiction."
"How is Pollari? She's one of my favorite directors," Caitlyn said with a smile. "She must be amazing right?"
"Oh she's great. She understands what it's like to be an actor. Sometimes I can hardly believe I get to make a movie with her. I feel like I've finally made it."
"I'm glad you're having so much fun Courtney," Cara smiled.
"I really am mom. It's been so much work, but I love it."
"You've really been focused lately, I haven't heard from you so much."
"I.. I'm sorry, it's just after... I really have been just working as much as I can after Jim and I broke up."
"You seemed so happy."
"I thought we were, but we... I don't think we were going anywhere. We were just complacent. I found us drifting apart. We both agreed to end it."
"Alright," Cara nodded.
"Umm, enough about me," Courtney said. "How about you Marlon? Mom told me you're modeling now?"
"Yeah."
"For who?"
"A fitness thing," he said.
"Philautia Fitness," Cara said. "It's a good break. It could lead to other jobs."
"That's cool." Courtney nodded. "And you Caitlyn? Are you ready for college?"
