Park Avenue Player(93)

He squeezed Bree’s hand. “I think I stopped going because I was so pissed at you. Last night, meeting Sean brought back a lot of memories. Memories of both of us sitting in that pediatric unit playing with those kids. Memories of you being by my side every damn day when my mom was sick.”

He shook his head, and I felt tears sliding over my cheeks. “I don’t know what happened between us. But I remember how much you were there for me. And I’m going to be here, Anna. Right by your side, like you were always there for me.”

A nurse walked up behind me and touched my shoulder. Startled, I jumped.

“I’m sorry. I thought you saw me. Would you like me to bring over another chair? So you can both sit with Brianna?”

Hollis turned around, and our eyes locked. “Elodie.”

“I…I need a moment.”

I practically ran out of the ICU. Once I was in the hall, I saw an illuminated Exit sign to the left, so I rushed in that direction. A door led to a stairwell, and all I wanted to do was hide and be alone. I managed to make it down one flight before I had to stop and sit on a step because I was crying so hard I could barely see.

I wasn’t even sure what had upset me.

Was it the story Hollis told Bree, and the realization of how deeply he’d loved her, or the fact that my best friend was lying on her deathbed?

Both, I guessed. It was just too much to handle at once.

Luckily, very few people took the stairs at seven in the morning. So I sat on that step for a long time all by myself and let it all out. Eventually, when I had no more tears left, I walked down to the first floor and re-entered the hospital. I wandered around, not quite sure where I was going, until I noticed a sign for the chapel.

The tiny sanctuary had only a half dozen pews on each side and an aisle that led to a simple altar. The room was dark and empty, and I didn’t bother to turn the lights on. Instead I took a seat in the back row and said a few prayers quietly with my eyes closed. It was the most peace I’d had in the last twenty-four hours, and I felt my shoulders drop and some of the tension in my neck unfurl.

I decided to stay and try to relax a bit. I was in no rush to go face Hollis at the moment. But after a little while, the lack of sleep and exhaustion must’ve caught up with me, because the next thing I knew, a man was waking me up—a man wearing a collar.

“What time is it?” I rubbed my eyes.

The priest smiled. “It’s about ten o’clock. I saw you in here a few hours ago and figured you needed some sleep. But there’s a daily mass that’s going to start in about twenty minutes. So I wanted to wake you now so you didn’t wake up in the middle of it.”

“Oh. Sorry. Okay. Thank you. I’ll get out of here. I hadn’t meant to fall asleep.”

“There’s no rush. Can I ask what you’re at the hospital for? Are you visiting someone?”

I nodded. “My best friend. She’s very sick.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Thank you.”

“Would it be alright if I sat down with you for a few minutes?”

“Of course.”

I’d been sitting at the end of the pew, so I scooted over to make room, and the priest took a seat.

“Will your friend be in the hospital long?”

I frowned. “I think so. Unless....”

The priest nodded even though I couldn’t complete my sentence. “You know, no one cares for the caretaker. Everyone is naturally focused on the patient, but the caretaker has an important role. You need to rest and tend to your own needs in order to be able to do the job of being by the side of your loved one.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I know. Last night was just so shocking.”

“What’s your friend’s name?”

“Bree…Anna. Her name is Brianna.”

“And your name?”

“Elodie.”

The priest held out a hand to me. “I’m Father Joe. Shall we say a prayer for Brianna together?”

“Oh. Yes. That would be great.” I put my hand in his and closed my eyes.

The priest recited a few prayers and then added, “Dear Heavenly Father, today I ask that you look down with compassion on our friend Brianna, who has been confined to a bed of sickness. Please send comfort and healing. We pray for Your gracious kindness to strengthen and heal, whatever the problem is that has caused this illness in her body. And we pray for strength for her family and friends, especially Elodie, that they may hold her hand with courage and love in her time of need. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

I made the sign of the cross and opened my eyes. “Amen.”

Father Joe smiled warmly at me. “Would you like to say confession? Many people find it helps take some of the weight off their shoulders. You’re carrying enough when you’re taking care of a sick loved one.”

I smiled. “You said you have a mass to give soon. Not sure there’s enough time for me to tell you all the things I’ve done wrong since the last time I’ve been to church.”

Father Joe laughed. “Why don’t you give it a shot, if you feel up to it. I’m sure it can’t be that bad.”

“Well, I’ve definitely lied on a few occasions.”

“Okay.”

“And I might be lying again right now, actually. Because I’m pretty sure it was on more than a few occasions. In my last job, I used to manipulate men into compromising positions in order to enhance their wives’ divorce settlements.”