May I: Gratitude

By the time that Emily had finished explaining everything, it took a moment to process before Gillian gave her response. “It sounds like you’ve done everything that you can, without interfering with how your friend is feeling. The more serious issues that you’re telling me about—I couldn’t actually address unless I had talked to her and assessed the situation.”

“So what do I do?”

“Your friend is probably experiencing confusion, or could be angry at the situation. Most likely she’s going to need some space while she sorts everything out. It’s quite possible that she won’t feel like talking until she does.”

“And if she doesn't?”

“You know better than anyone what she’s going through. Just letting her know you’re there, will help her know that she’s not alone. It could hold more meaning than any words could.”

“I guess.”

Gillian shifted in her seat, a sudden recognition in her eyes. “Em, you’re not telling me all this because you’re worried about her, but because you feel like you’re losing her as a friend?”

Emily looked up after a long pause. “Is that how it is between you and dad? Like you’re losing a friend?”

Gillian’s lip twitched; not from delight, but that it was true. They had so much between them, and so much to talk about that it made her head spin and her stomach queasy. The look on Emily’s face showed that she was truly hopeful, and also something that she wanted to know for awhile now.  “You haven’t talked at all, have you?”

The door opened and she Zoe appeared. “I think you’re going to want to talk to him before you leave.” Zoe was looking at Emily, but her usage of the word “him” and not your father, was a clue that he wanted to talk to Gillian as well.

Emily glanced over at Gillian, then standing and following her into the room. Cal was sitting up more in bed, another pillow behind his back. 

“You wanted to see us?” Gillian had a curious, but thoughtful look on her expression.

“I did.” He parted his lips to speak. “I want Emily to stay with you for the night— well Monday to Tuesday.” He shifted his hand from one direction to the other.

“What happened to me staying with a friend?” Emily inquired, looking slightly confused. “I’m perfectly fine staying in the house by myself—for one day.”

“I changed my mind.” He offered simply, looking towards Gillian. The last thing he wanted to do was put more stress on his partner, but the way she was just barely holding herself together right now—with his boggled up mind, was the best that he could do.

“Will you do that for me? Will you watch over my daughter?” He asked, his words suddenly slurring over in tiredness.

“Mom didn’t really agree to me staying with Gillian, did she?” Emily beat her to the punch line, folding her arms across her chest. He almost missed a cross of annoyance and relief that flickered over Gillian’s expression.

“As far as I see it, she doesn’t have much of a choice—seeing that I’m in the hospital and all.” A pause of recognition. “You never really asked Danni if you could stay with her, did you?”

“Cal—” Gillian raised her eyebrow in warning, as she silently told him to stop digging for information: that it could wait until later, and that they had far greater things to worry about at the moment.

“Go on now. Aren’t you going to be late for school?”

Emily stared at him momentarily, and then stalked out the door. “Fine. But this conversation isn’t over.”

“Bye, Emily.” Gillian softly announced, pressing one hand to her shoulder as the teenager walked by. As soon as the door had closed behind her, Gillian gave him a look.

“What? Do I have something on my chin?” He rubbed at his chin, as if there were a spot of mustard, grease or hospital food there.

Gillian tried hard not to roll her eyes at him. “She’s worried, Cal.”

“I know that. Why do you think I’m having her stay with you, love?” Snuggling down in the covers, his eyes were glazed over with sleep; eyelids drooping slowly. It had to be the medicine working its magic—or the fact that he had just been through some major surgery. In her mind, everything was working up to become an involuntary explosion.

As she rode the elevator down to the first level, she was so into her thoughts that she almost missed them, until a little voice uttered. “Gillian!”

Turning around, Elena was dressed in a pretty dress, cuts and bruises had formed around her head—some that she hadn’t noticed before when they had been together. She was holding hands with an older man, who had peppered gray hair and bright blue eyes.

They all met in the middle of the corridor. “It’s nice to finally put a face to a name.” He held out his wrinkled hand. “I’m Albert, Elena’s grandfather.”

“Gillian Foster.”

“I don’t think I can ever repay you for what you’ve done for my family.” His eyes were filled with sadness at the tragedy of his daughter, but his body language showed gratitude. “My daughter, Josie has been sick for awhile—” He spoke through his accent.

“Papi?” Elena called softly, suddenly tugging on his blue shirt. ”Can I get the picture I drew?” He nodded and Elena ran back to the room down the hall.

Gillian gave him a sympathetic nod. “How’s Elena doing?”

“Elena has always been the quiet type, like her mother was.”  He peered down the hall, and towards the room that his granddaughter had disappeared into. “She’s always had the ability to smile—but right now, she is so very heartbroken.” His gaze fell upon her arm that was still bandaged. We all are. His look seemed to say, as she shifted her arm with a grimace, I’m sorry if she hurt you.

Footsteps trailed down the hall as Elena came running back with a paper in her hand. She stopped next to her grandfather, looked at him and bravely stepped forward. “I made this for you.” Gillian took the paper into her hands, tearing up when she looked over the picture that had been drawn. Two people holding hands in a car; a fire, an angel looking down upon them.  “I didn’t want you to forget me.”

Even though it hurt, Gillian crouched down beside her as Elena wrapped her arms around her neck. It seemed like hours instead of minutes that Gillian held her tightly, before she let go.

“I will never forget you, Elena.” Gillian gave a teary-eyed smile; brushing her thumb over her cheek. The little girl perked up a little at the remark, and sniffled.

“Gillian?” Elena paused, almost hesitating on what she wanted to say next. Suddenly she had a sudden fascination with one of the tiles in front of her. “Can I come visit you some time?”

Reaching into her purse, Gillian pulled out some of the Lightman cards that she kept in her purse, and handed one to Albert. “Tell you what. . . I will give this card to your grandpa, and if you ever want to come visit, you can.”

“Really?”

“Really. But I want you to get better first.”

Elena scrunched her nose up. “What do you mean?”

“You just lost someone very important to you, Elena.”

“Oh.” It was slight, but Elena’s bottom lip trembled as she looked up her grandpa. Her grandfather gave her a reassuring smile and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“Elena. Why don’t you go see if your father is ready to leave?” Shrugging, she waved and then disappeared back into the room.  “Thank you again, Gillian.”Flipping the card between his fingers he pocketed it in his shirt and left. He looked like he wanted to say so much more, but that his words would suffice for now.

Gillian sighed several times before the bathroom. As soon as she had closed and locked the stall, was when she looked at the picture and really cried it all out. What she really wanted to do was go up and see Sophie and hug her tightly, but there was something she had to take care of first. A place she had avoided, for pretty much the entire week.