The Way We Were (9 page)

“She’s interested in foreign languages, too.”

“And creative writing.”

Ana liked this part, where the best, most well-rounded applicants would be chosen for admittance. Scholarships, which would be determined if they accepted, were another matter. Tomorrow at four, they’d hold the first meeting.

The afternoon wore on, and by four-thirty, they had a solid list of prospective
students. “Great. I’ll take this to the scholarship committee.”

“Ana,” Rob said. “I’d like to highlight my department’s choices for who we think should get the scholarships.”

“Great. Go ahead, all of you.” When that task was completed, she said, “Anything else?”

“What’s going on with the new graduate study degree?” a Spanish teacher asked.

“I haven’t been involved in that. For
its first year, the education department is working with President Atkins. I do know they’ve chosen candidates.”

A math prof shook her head. “We’ll be teaching them. Why weren’t we consulted?”

“I’m not sure, Mary. Do you want me to ask John?”

“No, I will.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes.” A quiet history professor smiled at her. She reminded Ana of Sofia. “How’s Opal?”

“Good, thank
God. And thank you all for giving me space to take care of her.”

Murmurs of support warmed Ana. So much so, she didn’t even mind driving home in the dark. When she reached the house, she swerved into the driveway and waited while the garage door opened. No lights on in Opal’s room. Was she napping? Jared’s den was also unlit. Were they in the family room? The kitchen? What was he doing to
entertain her today?

She thought back on their daughter’s illness and how Jared had stepped up to the plate: transporting Opal to school and back, rescuing her when she got sick there, the endless games he played and stories he read to her. Laying her head against the rest, Ana breathed in deeply. How much, exactly, was that worth?

Priceless
came to mind.

And yes, he’d betrayed her.
For a month, when their life was so miserable no one could think straight.

The door to the house opened. Jared stood there, dressed in jeans, a Columbia sweatshirt and thick socks. The expression on his face was puzzlement. She drove the car into the garage, turned off the engine and exited.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yes. I was just thinking.”

He pulled the door closed. “What about?”

“This.” She moved close to him, went up on tiptoes and kissed him. A full, luscious meeting of mouths and tongues and spirits.

When she drew back, he said, “Wow!”

“You’ve been wonderful through this whole thing with Opal, Jared. I could never have done it without you.”

He grazed her cheek with his knuckles. “You would have found a way. Your family would have been here every day.”

“Maybe. But thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The door flew open. “What’s going on out here?” Opal asked.

“Just talking to Mom.” He stepped aside and let Ana into the house. Opal took her coat and she kicked off her boots. Jared handed her a pair of sweats and slippers. “We’re spoiling you tonight. It was Opal’s idea. Go change in the bathroom, and when you come out, I’ve got a great
Chardonnay, very chilled the way you like it.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“Nothing, Mom. We just love you.”

The evening followed the same course. Opal recounted her first day back at school and how glad she was to see all her friends and teachers. She’d wanted to try a gluten-free, vegetarian lasagna dinner. She and Jared had bought the ingredients on the way home from school and they
made it together.

Ana bit into al dente noodles filled with cheese and veggies, tasting the spicy marinara. “This sauce is great. Where did you get it?”

“Daddy made it from scratch.”

“Easy as pie. Just fresh tomatoes and some spices. A little bit of paste. We had all the ingredients.”

By eight, Opal’s shoulders had slumped, and her face showed signs of fatigue. “You’re about worn
out, aren’t you honey?” Ana asked.

“I guess.”

“The first day back to school must have been exhausting,” Jared said easily. “Want us to come up with you?”

“No, I’m gonna do some face time on my tablet with Stephanie.”

“Something happen today?”

“Just gossip.” She stood. “Come up later and say good night.”

After Opal left, Ana sipped the last of her drink. Jared finished his.
“That was nice. And the food was great.”

“Yeah. I like spending time as a family.” He nodded to the dishes. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a bath? I’ll clean up.”

“No, you cooked and did everything else.” She studied his face. “You seem tired, and I don’t know, worried or something.”

“Weeks of exaggerated concern are catching up with all of us. Now, scoot.”

As she headed upstairs,
she hoped he was telling her the truth. He’d promised he’d be honest about everything. She vowed, as she ran the very hot water, added the jasmine oil, that she wouldn’t buy trouble. Enough of it had come their way on its own.

Jared had spent the day in a state of dread. Valerie Ashford’s email had thrown his entire psyche into chaos. What would Ana do when she found out that
the woman would be attending their college, starting this fall? Though he tried not to, he’d gotten his hopes up for a reconciliation with his wife. He wanted nothing more out of life now than to be with her and Opal. In truth, he’d never wanted much more than that, though he loved and appreciated his job and research, but it had always come in second. Then he’d lost Ana after Pete and Donnie
died. And he wasn’t a masochist—he knew why he’d strayed. He’d been weak and succumbed to the circumstances. But there
were
circumstances.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

He’d been staring out the window. A crystalline pattern had etched out on the panes, but he could see the trees in the backyard laden with the light March snow.

When he heard Ana’s voice, he turned and saw her standing
in the family room archway. Fresh from her bath, she’d piled her hair high on her head, a few tendrils escaping to frame her face. Her cheeks were rosy from the heat, and dewy. Desire slammed into him. He tried to take a deep breath but couldn’t.

“Jared, are you all right?”

He shook his head. “You…you’re so lovely like this.” He glanced down at his groin and said dryly, “It affects me.”

A smile. A real, honest, sexy one. “I remember.” She tugged at the pretty peach one-piece pajama thing she’d put on. “And the sight of you…affected…affects me.”

Oh, thank God. He crossed to her. “I want to kiss you.”

“Opal fell asleep with her tablet on her lap. I covered her up, turned off the lights and shut the door.”

“Is that a yes?”

“It’s a yes.”

Taking her hand, he
led her into the family room. Once he sat on the couch, he tugged her onto his lap. Lifted her chin. And lowered his mouth to hers. Again, she opened willingly, easily and moved into him as close she could get. He angled his head for better access and banded his arms around her so she was fast against him.

It wasn’t enough. He closed his hand over her breast. Oh. God. Jesus. Heaven. It had
been so long. So very long. He massaged her, worked his way between the buttons, undid them, and cupped her bare, silky skin. Again she moaned. Easing back, he whispered, “Ana, love, I missed this.”

“Me, too.” She covered his hand with hers to keep it there. “I love this.” She stared deeply into his eyes. “I love you.”

Though she’d admitted she loved him, she hadn’t said the words out
loud to him since they split up. Not since she found him and Valerie together. Ana. Valerie. Ana. Valerie. Shit. He’d yet to tell her what happened today.

“I love you, too.” Fear filled him. “And we need to talk.”

“Now?” she asked, her brows raised in a question.

“Yes. Now. Before this goes further.”

“All right.” She sat up. Buttoned her top. Her eyes were wary again.

“I got
an…”

“Mommy! Daddy!” The scream came from upstairs, so loud it resounded to the back of the house. Both of them leaped to their feet and ran to the steps. Up them. They flew into Opal’s room. She was sitting in bed, her face flushed. Jared got to her first. “What is it, honey?”

“I, um, I wet the bed.”

Ana grasped on to his shoulder—to hold herself up, he guessed. “You haven’t wet the
bed in years, sweetheart. Did you dream it?”

“No! It’s all over me.”

Jared pulled back the covers and found the lower half of her body and the sheets covered in fluid.

“It’s okay, honey. You’re body’s been through a lot.” Jared’s voice was still hoarse with worry. “It’s out of sorts, not working properly.”

Ana straightened. “Let me closer, Jared.” He moved aside. She picked up
the top sheet. Sniffed. “This isn’t pee.”

“What?”

“Smell it.”

“What is it, Mommy?” Now their daughter sounded even more scared.

“Something to do with the surgery. I’ll be right back.” In only seconds she returned with a phone in her hand. “The patient’s name is Opal Creswell. She had surgery almost two weeks ago…Dr. Janson…No, I don’t want to talk to the PA on call. Contact Dr.
Janson.”

She gave Opal a reassuring look when she clicked off. “He’ll call to us. He’ll know what this is. Meanwhile, let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Am I sick again?”

Jared felt her forehead. “No fever. Does your tummy feel bad?”

“No, but this is so gross.”

“Do you feel weak?”

“Uh-uh.”

Jared and Ana exchanged glances. Their daughter did not seem ill.

“Come on, honey.”
Ana pulled off the soiled covers. “Get out of bed.”

“I’ll carry her.”

“Yuck, no. Let me walk to the bathroom.”

“All right, I’ll change the bed.”

As Jared stripped the sheets, all thoughts of Ana in his arms, of needing to tell her about Valerie, fled. He had to concentrate on his little girl and this latest development.

Ana’s heart began to thump in her chest
when the phone rang. She and Opal had just returned from the bathroom.

“Put it on speaker phone.” This from Opal, who sat next to her father on the mattress.

“Oh, honey, maybe dad or I should talk with him first.”

“No!”

She set the phone on speaker. “The Creswells. Dr. Janson?”

“Yes, Mrs. Creswell. What’s happening?”

While she explained the situation, Jared held Opal’s
hand, stone-faced. But a muscle pulsed in his jaw, telling her he was worried. When she finished the account of Opal’s incident, the doctor said, “Has the drain been working properly?”

“At first it did. The last two days, no liquid has been released. Since she’s getting it out this week, we thought the draining phase was over.”

“Then I know what this is. I’ve seen it before. More fluid
from the surgery needed to drain and didn’t, so it leaked out all at once.”

“Should I have known this? Reported it?”

“I would have told you what I’m saying now. It’s not common for this to happen, but it isn’t rare, either.”

“What should we do?”

“Come into the office tomorrow at seven. I’ll check this out, probably remove the drain then. We can also test the kidney function for
the first time.”

When he clicked off, Ana’s knees threatened to buckle with relief. She stepped back to sit in the chair by Opal’s bed. Covered her face with her hands, trying to get composure.

“Mommy?”

She took in a deep breath and faced her daughter. “I’m relieved, baby. That’s all.”

“Daddy?”

“Me, too.” His normally ruddy complexion had gone pale. “This has been hard for
you. And for us too, though not as much.”

“Sorry.”

“No, honey, don’t say that,” Jared told her. “None of this is your fault.” And why the
hell
hadn’t the doctor warned them of this possibility?

She yawned. “I’m tired.”

Jared patted the mattress. “We had the waterproof sheet on since you had the surgery, so the mattress was protected. You can get under the clean covers.”

“I
want to sleep with Mommy. And you.”

She exchanged looks with Jared. “Okay, baby, anything you want.”

Letter #8

Damn it, Annie, something has to give here. Our life’s become a Shakespearean tragedy. We’re all a mess. Opal is acting out, you’re either morosely silent, or a bundle of nerves, and I’m not myself. I’m not liking who I’ve become, what I think about. Truthfully,
being in this house is nearly intolerable. I want to spend all my time at school. Moreover, I can’t watch this happen to you. I’m guessing right now you hate even being together. I keep wondering how we got to this point.

Jared hardly slept last night, though Ana had managed to get some z’s. He was glad. She had to go into work later this afternoon for a scholarship meeting she couldn’t miss. The three of them occupied an exam room with bright yellow walls, decorated with pictures of children’s books. Toys took up a corner. Opal stiffened when Dr. Janson came in.

“So, Opal,”
he said, washing his hands in the corner sink. “You had a bad night?”

“It was icky.”

“I imagine it was.” He crossed to her. “Here’s what we’re going to do. First, I’m going to check the drain and possibly remove it.”

“Good. It’s icky, too.”

“Then, we’ll take some blood. We’ll also do an ultrasound. We should have an accurate picture of how much the affected kidney is functioning
at this point.”

Usually, they collected urine, but since her other kidney was working properly, they wouldn’t know which one produced it.

He turned to Jared and Ana. “You can stay with her.”

Jared had been ready to fight him on that if he’d said anything different. But he was glad he didn’t have to. Right now, he was weaker than a kitten.

Through the course of the morning, the
drain was removed, and blood was drawn. Opal underwent an ultrasound, and then they waited. By eleven, they had results.

Janson came back in. Jared almost wept at the expression on his face. “The ultrasound looks fine, and the levels of creatinine and nitrogen, as well as the filtration rate tell us that the kidney is at about an eight percent.”