The Mother's Promise(76)

Her uncle Paul took her to appointments and reported back to Zoe. She didn’t really understand what he told her, and she could tell Paul didn’t either. He’d just recite whatever the doctor or nurse had said. No chemo today, blood test revealed low white-cell count. Antibiotics today for infection. Zoe didn’t know if this was normal for cancer patients, but she knew it wasn’t normal for her mother.

Still, her mom kept up her verging-on-crazy positivity.

“I’m fine,” she said constantly. “A few days of rest and I’ll be back at chemo. This time next year everything will be back to normal.”

She’d become weirdly obsessed with making plans, way in the future.

“You know where we should go next Christmas? Mexico! Or Hawaii? Or what about Australia! You can bring Harry!”

“Let’s just get through this, Mom,” Zoe would reply.

It wasn’t that Zoe didn’t like her being positive. She did. It was that it was so at odds with the way that she looked. Outwardly, she seemed to be getting worse. She’d lost weight and she always seemed sick. But maybe, if her mom said she was fine, she was. Wouldn’t she know her own body better than anyone else?

Today, her mom was dozing on the couch when Zoe touched her hand to her forehead. An hour earlier, she’d been telling Zoe how, when chemo was over, she planned to grow her hair long and get highlights.

“Mom!” she said. “You’re burning up.”

Her mom moaned softly but didn’t respond.

“Mom?” she tried again, shaking her.

Her eyes opened briefly then closed again. Zoe immediately thought to call Kate. Kate would know what all this meant, and she’d be able to explain it in a way that would make sense to Zoe. But Zoe hadn’t spoken to Kate in weeks. It was the weirdest thing, but Zoe missed her. How was that even possible? A few overnight visits, a few conversations in the sunroom … it wasn’t exactly a lifelong friendship. And yet now, when she was really worried, it was Kate that she wanted to talk to.

She dialed Kate’s number. Kate picked up after a couple of rings. “Kate speaking.”

Zoe’s throat became thick and full of words that wouldn’t come out. The relief that she felt, just hearing Kate’s voice, was staggering.

“It’s me.”

“Zoe?”

“Mom’s sick,” she said. “She’s burning up.”

Kate paused just a second. “She’s hot to the touch?”

“Yes.”

“How long has she felt hot?”

“I … I don’t know!”

“Okay, just listen to me. Do you have a thermometer there?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Good. Can you take your mom’s temperature for me? I’ll wait.”

Zoe put down the phone and ran to the bathroom. The thermometer was in the cabinet. She raced back to the sofa and popped it into her mom’s mouth, resting against her cheek. She waited thirty seconds, then plucked it out again.

“It’s … one oh four,” she said into the phone. “Oh God. That’s high, isn’t it?”

Kate was silent for a moment. Long enough to make Zoe worried. “Zoe, is your uncle there? Or anyone else?”

“No,” Zoe said. “It’s just me.”

Kate paused another beat. “Hang tight,” she said finally. “I’m coming over.”





57

Dr. Brookes was wearing remarkably casual clothes, Alice thought idly as he appeared at her hospital bed. A polo shirt, a pair of trousers. If she hadn’t been feeling so crappy, she’d have commented on it. She’d warmed to Dr. Brookes, these past months. Maybe he became more personable the better he knew his patients? Or maybe she’d become more personable.

Zoe had tried to reach Paul but he hadn’t answered his phone for days. He was probably off on a bender.

Sonja was here, as usual. And at some point, despite their rocky start, Alice realized she’d started to appreciate her presence. In fact, over the past few weeks, Sonja had become one of the few people Alice could depend on.

Kate had become another one. She had driven Alice to the hospital. Alice was thinking of calling her Saint Kate. Always coming to the rescue when they needed it—taking care of Zoe, taking care of her. It made Alice feel a little sheepish, after the way she’d shouted at her the last time they spoke. Today, Kate had also managed to bypass triage and put Alice straight into a bed, and half an hour later, Dr. Brookes was here, seemingly on his day off. For an unassuming woman, she sure could make things happen.

Alice watched Kate now through the glass. She stood in the corridor opposite Zoe. When Dr. Brookes came in, Alice thought she’d have to beg Zoe to leave. But all it took was a nod from Kate and she was gone. Now, the two of them chatted with an ease that Alice had never seen Zoe have before. Not even with Emily. Not with anyone except, well, Alice.

“How are you feeling?” Dr. Brookes said.

Alice made a face.

“Not great, huh? That was an impressive fever you came in here with. The antibiotics should start working soon. And I’ll get the nurse to give you something to make you more comfortable.”

“Make it a double,” Alice said.

Dr. Brookes smiled but it didn’t touch his eyes. There’d been a dip in his enthusiasm these last few weeks. Slight frowns when he looked at her chart. Words of encouragement were more strained; reassurances were vaguer.