ROWTAG
When Monique and her mother came to the office to ask if she could see Kit before leaving, I couldn't say no. In the past weeks, they have spent so much time together and I've never seen him so happy. I agreed to give Monique a ride to the hospital. As it is my turn to spend the night, one of my brothers can bring her back. While she returned to their lodge to take medication, I had a chat with Mrs. Olson.
"Rowtag, I hope your brother recovers soon. I'm so thankful for all he's done. We came here to forget the awful events at the end of last year. Since then, my life has been centered on the wellbeing and protection of my daughter. Your brother has given her courage and has helped me to realize that she's still a capable woman. I'm here to assist her when he wants it and not to do everything for her. She's gained her confidence back and hopes her life will return to how it was or close to it."
"Kit and Monique developed a special bond in the past weeks. I must admit that I'm guilty at times of shielding him from the world. It has given me so much satisfaction to see him take that protective and guiding role."
"He's done more than just that. Rowtag, Monique has fallen in love with him. It's a surprise because Monique isn't the kind of woman who falls in love easily. Your brother must have special qualities."
Her words surprised me and warmed my heart at the same time. Kit has never had a girlfriend, and we all know his limitations make him feel insecure around women. Monique fell in love with the great guy he is and doesn't see him as a charity case.
I said goodbye to Mrs. Olson as I won't be there during her check out and then headed to the pool building. I haven't been feeling well and wanted to get some tips from Olivia about what I could do. I opened the door of the First Aid office and found her counting small boxes.
"Any news about Kitchi?" She asked without lifting her gaze.
Olivia aided Kitchi during the first seizures and stayed with us until the ambulance arrived. She helped Monique to fill in the words while she explained to us what my brother could be going through then. I would have freaked out without her. Seeing her calm and reassuring our brother help was on the way kept my head clear.
"How did you know it is me? Never mind. No news yet, but I will head in the afternoon to the hospital. What are you doing?" I said while grabbing a box of gauze from her desk.
"Refilling the first aid travel case. Since the campsite opened, we do more house calls by bike. That is where Brian is right now attending a cooking burn," she finally looked at me. "Row, are you okay?"
"No, I barely slept and when I did, nightmares plagued me," I said truthfully. "I'm hoping you have something to perk me up."
"Coffee perks you up and you drink more than enough. When's the last time you got a proper health check? Never mind, your face says it all. Sit on the examination table and take your shirt off."
"My- My shirt?"
"Yeah, don't be a prude. I've seen everything," she chuckled.
I did as she asked while she got out her examination tools and a notebook.
"Your heart is racing," she said while putting her hand on my bare chest. "Calm down. It's just me."
"That is the reason."
"What do you mean?"
What did I mean? That she has been in my mind since the moment I met her, and my miserable days turn better when she is around.
"I- Was just trying to be... Funny?"
Of course, Olivia didn't believe me and just smiled at me while listening to my heart. She then took my temperature and pinched my finger to check my blood.
"You are fine physically. Make sure you eat well, stop smoking and cut on coffee."
"But my evening cigar and my coffee are my only pleasures," I almost whined.
"Row, to deal with Kitchi's situation you need to be healthy yourself. I'm here if you need somebody to talk to. I know that you have your brothers and your grandmother, but sometimes it's good to have a neutral ear."
"Thanks, Olivia. I- Is that..."
"Go on," she motioned with her hand for me to continue.
It was then or never.
"Things are okay most of the time, but then when something happens with my brothers all the memories comes back."
"I'm afraid that I don't understand what you are talking about," Olivia handed me my shirt back.
"You have probably heard the reasons why Istu is partially blind, and Kit has a disability," I said, and she nodded. "That day, I was crying while holding my broken elbow, barely able to breathe from broken ribs and a collapsed lung, and freaking out at the sight of my brothers. I thought they were dead. I thought I killed them. My parents arrived at the place of the accident, and my mother yelled at me that it was my fault, that I killed her sons and how I should be the one dead."
"That is an awful thing to wish for your child!" Olivia said horrified.
"That is exactly why she said it. I'm not her son or even my father's son."
That was the first time I have ever told that to anyone besides my doctor and my grandparents.
"Oh Row, are you adopted?" Olivia stood up from her desk and cupped my face with one hand.
"Sort of. Dad got married to my biological mother. She already had me then, but I was a few months old and my biological father was out of the picture. She passed away only days after giving birth to Huritt. Dad and Karen worked together in a hotel and she was interested in him for a while. She saw her chance when he was mourning and lonely. He was grateful for her support and got in a relationship with her. Then Karen got accidentally pregnant with Istu, which I believe is something she schemed, so they arranged for a quick wedding before she showed."
"How do you know these things?"
"After the accident, they sent Huritt and me to live with my paternal grandparents. I begged my grandma to tell me the truth about our blood ties. I needed to understand why Karen felt so much hatred towards me. It was simple, I almost killed her real sons and left them marked. My brothers know nothing about our blood ties and I hope to keep it that way."
Olivia hugged me, and the move left me surprised. Soon enough, my arms were also around her body returning the affection. I felt safe with her.
"Your family situation is complicated and I understand that you want to protect your brothers from finding out your mother's true nature. In my eyes, that accident was not your fault; whoever left the keys in that golf cart is to blame. When Seth gets in trouble, it's because of my carelessness. If the employees of the golf course at that hotel left that faulty cart with the keys in the ignition in an unlocked place, it was just a matter of time for curious boys to find it."
I never saw the situation from that perspective. It's too late to find out who was responsible for something that happened so long ago, but I felt much better after sharing my biggest secret with Olivia.
Seeing Kit awake a moment ago and knowing somebody who loves him unconditionally is with him fills me also with relief.
"Did any of you speak with the doctor?" I look between my brothers as we walk outside.
"I did," Huritt begins. "He said that if Kit woke up today, which is what he expected, he will get a new scan tomorrow and surgery next Friday. They bumped him up on the waiting list due to the risks."
"Row, did you sleep at all?" Istu asks, worry in his face.
"Barely, but before you worry even more, I went to Olivia. She did a checkup, including a blood test and I'm fine, just tired."
"Just a checkup?" Huritt smirks.
"Just that. Stop trying to be funny. Should we go to the cafeteria? We need to make an emergency plan."
My brothers nod and follow me. After grabbing something to eat, we take a seat at one of the tables available.
"This morning, I gathered all the managers and put them up to date about Kit's situation. They will communicate it further with their teams. Chris will stay at the employee lodge to take care of the animals. I'm staying here tonight, and you two should decide when you can stay here."
"We already decided that. I will stay tomorrow and Huritt the next day," Istu says.
"Why you brought Monique?" Huritt asks.
"She wanted to see Kit again before leaving. Her mother told me she has feelings for him. Seeing how he reacted when she entered the room he does as well for her."
"He's in love, only he hasn't realized it yet," Istu says. "There wasn't a day when he didn't talk about Monique. When Mom and Dad visited, it pissed him because he couldn't spend time with her. Well, he was more like 'she will miss her riding lesson' but I could read between that."
"Monique and I had a chat in the car. She communicates quite well or maybe she felt comfortable because we are used to Kit. Her injury isn't as extensive as what he has so she still does things that Kit finds difficult, like typing. Her biggest frustration is that she can't work in the hospital again as a doctor. Curiously, doctor is one of the words that gives her trouble. We agreed that she will write emails to my account, and I will pass them to Kit. I will also keep her posted on everything about him."
"And then what? She lives far away. What will happen between them if she meets someone else?" Huritt asks and I understand his concern.
"I don't know. I will help them as much as I can to communicate and we'll see what happens. Have any of you called the Marshalls?" I ask.
"I did, and it was unpleasant," Istu says. "I woke her up in the middle of the night and got a whole speech about being inconsiderate. When I told her about what happened to Kitchi, I then got the second part of the speech about not calling her soon enough. I updated Dad afterwards while she made arrangements."
We catch up on several things while eating and make plans for the short term. I open the door softly when we return to my brother's room and find Kitchi and Monique deep asleep while hugging.