Like Lovers Do by Lori L. Lake

Author:Lori L. Lake [Lake, Lori L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Launch Point Press
Published: 2011-05-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

THE CALL CAME in the middle of the night, as such calls often do. Aunt Clara probably had no idea that 7:30 a.m. in New York equaled 4:30 a.m. in Oregon. Kennie awakened completely once she heard her aunt’s voice.

“It’s the end for me, dear,” Kennie’s aunt said in a tone that sounded like she was reporting that dinner was ready.

“What?”

“I just wanted to...say goodbye...and wish you well.” After the first strong sentence, her voice had gone faint and wispy, as though she’d run a distance and couldn’t catch her breath.

“Wait a minute, Auntie. What are you talking about?”

“Heart attack. No hope.”

“What happened?” Kennie was already out of bed, pulling clothes out of her dresser, ripping shirts off the hangers.

“Doesn’t matter. But I didn’t...want to go...without saying...goodbye.”

“Where are you?”

“Watertown...General.”

“I’ll be there. I’m getting on a plane.”

“No, dear. It’s all right—”

“Just let me do it. I’ll see you as soon as I can get there.”

She heard some fumbling, and then a male voice with an Asian-sounding accent came on the line. “This is Kim, nurse of your aunt. She ask me to tell you she fine.”

“I beg to differ,” Kennie shouted. “She just told me she’s near death!”

“Hold on, please.” There was a long pause during which Kennie pulled on clothes and shoes. She gathered up her bathroom essentials and dumped them into a travel bag. When Kim came back on the line, he must have left the hospital room because now he spoke candidly. “I hear her tell you she dying. Is probably accurate. We taking good care of her. I lend her my phone because she say only you are left for family. She want to say goodbye.”

“Tell her to hang tight. I’ll be there later today.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Kennie ended the call. She dialed Max’s cell number and asked her to come through the connecting doors immediately.

She gathered her clothes in record time and was stuffing them in a suitcase when Max called out from the living room. Dragging the bag behind her, Kennie met Max and Renae, both hair-mussed and sleepy-eyed.

“I need you guys to look after this place. I don’t know for how long. And I need a ride to the airport.”

Max said, “Okay. What’s wrong?”

Kennie filled her in as she gathered her wallet, cell phone, and keys.

Renae asked, “Do you want me to get you a flight to New York?”

“I’ll do it at the airport.”

“Not a good idea,” Renae said. “Really. You’ll end up running all over the place there. Let’s go online, get you a good deal, and book that way.”

“I don’t have time,” Kennie said, embarrassed to find herself tearing up. “I don’t care how much it costs.”

“Take me to your computer. Give me a credit card number and where you want to go, and Max can drop you at the airport. When you get there, call me. I’ll tell you where and when.”

Kennie led her into her office and turned on the computer. She opened her wallet and removed a card. “Take this. I’ve got another one if I need it while I’m gone.

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