Raquel's Abel (11 page)

“But?” I wanted to kiss him badly.

“I am hopeful, though. I am able to hold my shape longer and longer.”

“Longer and longer?” I felt hope well up inside me.

His eyebrows rose and his cheeks reddened.

I felt giddy inside. Could he one day be part of my world?

“You know, I deserve to live.”

I looked at him inquisitively.

“I was cut down in my prime, before I could live or love.”

I held my hand out and his palms engulfed mine.

“I am sorry, but I feel my form fading…”

I reached out with my other hand to keep him from going, but he disintegrated right before me. First a mist; then nothing.

It’s all right, I consoled myself. He said he’d be there when I woke up from surgery. That is, if he weren’t just a memory brought on by my psyche.

“You’re fine. Everything went very well.”

I opened my eyes to see a woman in a blue hat with ties dangling from it looking at me. She must be a surgical nurse.

She said I was all right, but was I? I wiggled my toes just to make sure they were there. The room began to move. A few seconds later I realized my bed was being rolled across the floor.

Soon I was delivered to the room where I had originated. I turned my head and saw that no one had been deposited in that bed while I was gone. IVs were stuck in my left arm. The faint odor of rubbing alcohol wafted by me.

I felt a shiver in my shoulders that caused me to buckle. “Ooow,” I moaned.

The same nurse pulled the sheets and blankets up snugly around my neck. “The anesthesia makes you feel cold.” She pulled a syringe out of a pocket in her smock. “I have something for the pain that I’ll give you now.” She injected something into the tubes that were strung up on a pole beside my bed.

I tried to reply but my mouth felt like it was glued together. I moved my head, but instantly I felt a sting in my abdomen.

“This painkiller will start to work right away.” Her tennis shoes squeaked as she marched past my bed. “I’ll be back later to check your incisions.” She disappeared out into the hallway.

“I thought she’d never leave.”

I didn’t see him yet, but his voice was soothing, like a mother singing a lullaby to a newborn. Immediately, I knew everything would be all right. He stepped up to the bed. He wore a tight-fitting gray jacket, longer than the styles of today. Around his neck was a thin black bow tie.

“You
are
here,” I grunted.

“Of course I’m here, just as I promised.” His deep brown eyes looked at me protectively.

My hair must have looked like red seaweed. “I must be a sight.”

“Not a sight, a vision, as if from heaven above.” He leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek.

“You’re really here.” I felt my eyes well up with tears.

“Naturally. Abel Rollins always lives up to his word.”

“But I thought I had imagined you and that, after the surgery, I wouldn’t see you any more.”

“Ye of little faith. I have never left you and I will never leave you. I have been in that house ever since you were born.”

“You saw me grow up?” My throat was scratchy and dry.

“I remember the day your mother brought you home from the hospital.” His lips stretched out into a wide toothy smile.

“My mother…you knew my mother.” Even I hadn’t known my mother very well.

“Your mother was a lovely lady. She was radiant when she carried you in the door. Even when you were that small, it was obvious you’d have a beautiful head of strawberry blonde hair.”

I thought about my hair again. It probably looked like it had been combed with an eggbeater. I reached up hoping I could at least smooth it out.

“Not to worry. You are beautiful.”

The nurse came back into the room carrying something in her hand. “I just got off the phone with the doctor and he’s instructed me to give you something to help you sleep.” She walked toward my IV.

Abel clasped my hand in his. “I feel myself…” I saw his form turn to haze. “I’ll be right here beside you. I won’t leave you.”

“Don’t go,” I said out loud.

“I’d like to stay with you, honey, but I’ve got other patients.” She injected the liquid into my tubes. “You’ll be asleep in a few minutes any way.”

The next morning I awoke feeling content. I was on my way to skinniesville and I knew that Abel was close by, even if I couldn’t see him.

“Where is that Tango dancer?” Owen ran to the foot of my bed and held up a bouquet of yellow carnations. “You look radiant.” He set the flowers down on my nightstand and kissed my cheek.

“Thank you so much.” I was awake, but still groggy from the drugs.

“Just you wait. That fat is going to melt off you like wax from a candle.”

I tried to laugh but I could feel the stitches pulling. “I hope so.”

He gave a few big nods of his head. “Yes, girl, you are, because I have entered us in the next big competition.” He angled his head back and opened his eyes wide.

“When?” I certainly didn’t feel like dancing now.

“Six months from today. By that time you’ll be all healed up and you’ll have lost a lot of those pounds.”

“You have so much confidence in me,” I said weakly.

He put his hands on his hips. “You’ll do it. The Raquel I know doesn’t run away from anything.” He raised his hands and began to imitate holding me in a Tango position. “I can just see how gorgeous you are going to look dancing the Tango. We’ll get you a bright red dress and every judge will be ready to give you an outstanding score.”

“Owen, you are so patient with me. Why don’t you get a partner that’s more on your level? I’ve done nothing but drag you down. You’d have won dozens of competitions with a partner that danced as well as you.”

He shot me a frown. “You are my partner. What fun would it be without you, Raquel?” His forehead wrinkled. “Of course, if I do meet Mr. Right and he doesn’t like me dancing, then maybe you’ll lose me as your partner.”

I tried to stifle my giggle so it wouldn’t hurt. “If you meet Mr. Right, I’ll try to talk him into letting you be my dance partner.”

A different nurse entered the room. “Sir, I’m afraid that visiting hours are over. We need to change the dressings on her incisions.”

Owen bent over and kissed me on the forehead. “See ya later, pumpkin. I’ll be back to pick you up tomorrow and take you home.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, Regina can…”

“Nonsense.” His back straightened and his Adam’s apple stuck out. “I’m your official ride home from the hospital.”

I watched Owen leave and knew that my life was finally on a positive path.

Chapter Seven

Even though my insides had been cut, sewn, stapled, and rerouted, I had no pain to speak of. The all-encompassing hunger was gone, as if it had been amputated. In between long naps, Maria Elena brought me liquids my system could tolerate. I felt more hopeful about life than I could ever remember. No longer did I have a cloud hanging over my head that ruined every adventure that I decided to undertake. No longer would I be a victim of obesity. I’d just go on and live my life.

During those first few weeks I spent most of my time in bed. Abel’s visits were always pleasant. He read me poetry from my grandfather’s library until I fell asleep. And he really seemed to enjoy the fact I was happy and hopeful.

A few weeks later, my strength began to return, and I actually ate a little bit of solid food. Unlike before, now I really looked forward to eating small portions and lean meat. The thought of gobbling down sweets or fatty foods like barbecue or French fries made me nauseous. I felt like a new person.

Finally, as I began to be able to feel my hips and thighs becoming slimmer, I pulled out a dress I’d purchased a few years ago. I held it up and looked in the mirror. A thrill ran through me, giving me goose bumps. It looked like it would fit. I chuckled to myself, thinking that given a little time, even this would be way too big.

The garment was a dark burgundy with a scarlet neckline. I slid it over my shoulders and it lusciously glided over my derriere. As I lifted my arms to zip it, my stitches smarted.

I looked in the mirror. I had a long way to go, but already my jaw line had more definition and my figure actually tapered into a waistline the dress hugged. I couldn’t wait for someone to see me. The fabric bounced against my one ankle and the cast as I made my way downstairs.

Grandmother kept her eyes glued to the television while Maria Elena explained to her what was happening on the Spanish soap opera. Her favorite character, Marcio, still had his wife in the dark about his extra-curricular activities. As Maria Elena translated, Grandmother seemed to really enjoy it, her eyes trained on the screen. She nodded whenever Maria Elena remarked how
guapo
the actor was.