Page 7 of The Facilitator: Part 3
She nodded her head and I pulled my hand up my sleeve. I wiped her face with my cotton shirt.
She chuckled. “I love you,” she said.
I kissed her lips gently. “And I love you more,” I responded. “Go back, call me with any news, if you want clothes or dinner brought to you. You have enough cash, yes?” I asked.
She nodded and sighed. “The machines are all cards anyway,” she said. “Thank you for being with us.”
“Hey,” I replied, lifting her chin with my fingers. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m leaving now to give you some private time, but if you want me to stay, I gladly will,” I said, kissing her forehead.
“I know you would and I appreciate that. I think I’d like some time just with him and Mum.”
“I’m on the end of the phone, okay?”
She gave me a brief kiss before she walked back intothe hospital. She waved from the door and only when she was out of sight did I climb in the car and leave.
I checked the kitchen cupboards and noted that Elaine hadn’t done much shopping, or so I thought. She was low on milk and tea. I gathered my keys and headed to the local store. I didn’t usually shop in a supermarket myself, preferring local delis, it was an eye opener, for sure. First, it was a battle to get down some aisles; it seemed to be a meeting point for mums or the elderly to have a chat. I was asked a couple of times if I needed help, which I declined. I actually disliked women coming on to me and even though they didn’t know the circumstances, I found it so inappropriate.
I gathered what I thought they might need for both snacks and easy meals at the hospital, and what we’d need back at the house. I had to pay extra for some bags, being at a total loss when asked if I had mine. I stood with just a wallet, I thought it might be obvious I didn’t have any bags.
Once back in the bungalow, I opened the back door and took a coffee to sit on the terrace. Elaine’s garden was only separated from the beach by a small field. It was relaxing to sit and smell the salty air and hear the waves break on the shore.
The more I sat, the more relaxed I became. I had my laptop, I could have done some work, or chased up the specialist in the States yet again. I did neither. I checkedmy phone regularly, and I soaked up the calm the environment offered me.
Sebastian died that evening. It was quicker than anyone was prepared for, even the staff. They had been preparing to move him when he went into cardiac arrest, and Elaine, obviously, forbade any resuscitation. I took the call from Lauren and she couldn’t speak, she didn’t need to. Her sobs told me all I needed to know. I had jumped in the car and drove to the hospital, frustrated when the barriers for the parking lot were stuck and I had to wait.
“Hey,” I said, pulling Lauren into my arms. She and Elaine were in the family room.
“He just went, just like that,” she said, her voice was hoarse. “He didn’t wake, the machines just…what’s that word?”
“Flatlined?” I offered.
“Yes, they did that. He just went so quickly, they said it was a heart attack probably,” she continued, sniffing between words.
“What happens now?” I asked.
“He’s gone into theatre,” Lauren said, she didn’t need to tell me why. “We can see him tomorrow,” she added.
I led the two women back to the car and took them home. Elaine fussed in the kitchen; I guessed she wanted something to do. Lauren and I sat outside.
“Thank you for the shopping,” I heard, and Lauren frowned at me.
“I didn’t think your mom had done her food shopping so I did it for her,” I said.
Despite her tears, Lauren chuckled. “I bet that was fun for you,” she said.
“Not an experience I’d like to repeat too soon,” I said.
Lauren helped her mom make some calls. Years before Elaine had sorted a funeral plan for Sebastian so it was simply a matter of calling the funeral directors to act on his wishes. Elaine’s best friend offered to come and stay and Lauren welcomed that.
Three days later we headed home to collect clothes for a funeral and that call I was waiting for, the one that had me in knots, would have to be placed on the back burner for now.
Chapter Four
“I’m so sorry to hear the news, Mackenzie,” I heard. The line was crackling and I had to walk to the back of Elaine’s garden for a signal.
“Thanks, Alex. It’s been awful for the family. We’ve just arrived back in Cornwall, the funeral is tomorrow, then I think Lauren wants to bring Elaine back with us for a few days.”
“How is she holding up?”
