Dora looked at Mamaw and Winifred. Mamaw’s eyes had taken on a new gleam, while Winifred appeared haunted, as though she’d just heard herself diagnosed.
“Other than that, you’re free to go home as soon as the tests are done.”
Dora managed a smile, relieved.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Winifred said magnanimously. “We’re so grateful for the good news. Dora, you can come home with me to Charlotte. Henry would love to have you for as long as you wish. And Nate, of course,” she added. “Doctor, how long should she be on bed rest?”
“Bed rest? That’s what Dora does not need. I want her up and moving, doing nonstrenuous exercise to start.” He turned again to Dora. “Take long walks along an even surface. A half hour minimum and work up in ten-minute increments. Once you’re comfortable with that, you can and should ramp it up with a regular exercise routine. Nurse Langelan will give you suggestions. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to call.” He smiled at Dora with encouragement. “Do take this seriously, Dora. You’re young and you still have time to make changes. Good luck.”
Dora smiled weakly, wondering about all those forthcoming changes.
After Dr. Newell left, Nurse Langelan assured Dora she’d be right back and followed him out. For a moment all in the room were silent.
Mamaw was the first to speak. “It doesn’t make sense for Dora to go to Charlotte. She is already comfortably settled at Sea Breeze. There’s nothing but fresh air and beaches to walk, and Lucille will prepare a healthy diet. And best of all, Nate is already settled there. He doesn’t like change,” she reminded them.
“But she needs her mother now,” Winifred said.
“Oh, Winnie, do be sensible,” Mamaw snapped, her patience running out.
For a moment the two women eyed each other.
“Mamaw—” Cal began.
“Excuse me,” Mamaw interrupted him, looking at him with disdain. “I only allow my family to use that term of endearment. You can call me Mrs. Muir.”
The color drained from Cal’s tight face. “Mrs. Muir,” he conceded. “I’d like to speak to Dora alone for a moment.”
“Don’t you upset her!” Mamaw warned.
“I won’t.”
“I wish I could believe you.”
Cal drew himself up. “I own that I’ve made mistakes.” His eyes flashed. “But I don’t have to explain them to you. Only to Dora.”
There was a momentary pause. Then Mamaw said to Dora, “It’s quite late. Time I left for Sea Breeze. And you need your rest. Call me in the morning, won’t you, dear? I do hope you’ll return to Sullivan’s Island. We all do.”
“Good night, Mamaw,” Dora said with a smile. She wanted to go home with Mamaw right this minute. To leave this sterile hospital with its uncomfortable bed and more tests on the way. To get away from Cal and her mother. To see Nate. She longed for her son. “Give Nate a kiss from me, will you?”
Mamaw bent to deliver a kiss to Dora’s cheek. “I surely will.” When she straightened, she turned to Winifred. “Winnie, do you have a place to spend the night? You’re welcome to stay at Sea Breeze.”
The invitation clearly took Winifred by surprise. Her face softened for the briefest moment but quickly returned a mask of indifference toward Mamaw. “Thank you, but no. I’ll stay at my usual hotel. I want to be close to my daughter,” she added with self-importance.
“Of course,” Mamaw said. “Well then, I’m off.”
Winifred also said her good-byes, laced with assurances of her love and promises to take good care of Dora in Charlotte, where she belonged. Before she left she offered Cal a kiss on the cheek, then said, “You children have a good talk. Patch things up.”
When the door closed again, Dora closed her eyes as well, drawing her strength to deal with whatever Cal had on his mind. She was bone tired and heart weary. Barely able to open her eyes again, but she managed. Cal was standing beside the bed, his hands in his pockets, looking down at her, waiting.
Dora said, “I think we’ve said all there is to say for one day.”
“Dora,” Cal said, his eyes imploring. “I meant what I said earlier. About us reconsidering the divorce.”
“Cal . . .”
“All this”—he waved his hand, indicating the hospital—“made me think again about how serious a step this is. About how short our lives are. We shouldn’t be so quick to throw away all that we’ve built together.”
He had her attention. Dora listened.
“Perhaps . . .” he began, taking her hand.
She stared at their joined hands.
“. . . you should stay with me at my condo.”
Dora gave him a quick glance but didn’t respond.
“It’s a nice building in our neighborhood with an elevator, close to shops. You could walk through the park to the house.” He smiled with encouragement. “It will give you exercise and you can keep an eye on the repairs. Kill two birds with one stone.”
“I find it hard to believe you.”
Cal opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again. He paused, putting his hands back in his pockets. “I know,” he said. “I don’t blame you. Dora, I’m sorry I hurt you. Believe me now.”
Dora looked long and hard at her husband. His face was drawn and pale. It struck her that Cal didn’t look happy. She struggled to remember the last time she had seen him happy. She couldn’t. She tried to recall when she’d last felt happy. The answer came quickly. It was at Sea Breeze on the dock with Nate, Mamaw, and her sisters. That crazy dolphin in the water making them all laugh. She still could see the breathtaking, ear-to-ear grin on Nate’s face, his usually taciturn expression filled with joy.
“What about Nate? Your condo is small. Won’t it be tight?”
Cal’s face clouded and he rubbed his chin with consternation. “Right. Nate . . . That’s a tough one.”
She gave a tiny shiver at the obvious implication that, for Cal once again, Nate was an afterthought. Dora watched him walk to the window, look out a moment, then return to her side.
“You’re right,” he said in a normal voice. “It is small. There really isn’t room. But here’s the thing,” he added quickly. “We aren’t talking about a long time. Just long enough for you to recuperate. And in the meantime, we can look for a bigger place. Can’t Nate stay at Sea Breeze?”