CHAPTER 4 – HEART RHAPSODY
Ian started to do the house chores after Toula got back from the hospital. He knew wife was too weak to do everything, the slightest effort left her dizzy and with shortness of breath, which was very bad to someone in her condition, so, do the chores, was everything he could do to help her.. Sure, Dr. Turner suggested her to use a wheelchair, this way, she could be out of bed for a longer time, but Toula refused, saying it wasn´t necessary.
On the other hand, despite of not mention it to Paris, the tall man was really appreciating the support the family was giving them. Every day, almost everyone goes to their house, to cook, wash to them and make sure Toula was okay. Sure, all her family coming into her house and giving opinion about everything, left Paris very annoyed.
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''Ma, Athena, you two don´t need to do that.'' Toula said. It had been a week since she had gotten away from the hospital and she was feeling horrible, as she watched her mother and sister walk around her house, doing chores. Paris had gone to Zorba´s to help around there and Ian was gone to the school, for a teachers meeting.
''of course we need'' the sister replies ''your house is a mess''
'' And your husband cooks very badly. '' Maria added, '' I know he's a vegetarian, but you and Paris are not. And you need to eat meat, you need to feed well, how do you want to be healthy, without eating meat?''
''well…'' Toula opened her mouth to say something but give up, it was useless trying to talk to a Greek, when meat was involved, so she just leaned back on the couch and let out a small groan, making her mother and sister ran toward her.
''are you feeling alright?''
''just a bit nauseous, I think it´s those medicines, I'm going to be fine, don´t worry'' Toula smiled to them.
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On his way back home, Ian decided to pass by the restaurant, in order to have a cup of coffee and as he should expect, a few members of the family, were there, eating and chatting like nothing bad was happening.
Suddenly, someone approached him, it was Bennett and for some reason, he was shaking from head to toe.
''hey, Bennett..?'' Ian smiled back to him ''what is it?''
''Principal Miller… er… Sir? May I date your daughter?'' the boy asked once and for all.
Ian blinked in confusion. He looked to Gus who was watching the scene, then to Paris who embarrassed, wanted to disappear under the counter and back to Bennett, who was white as a ghost.
''aren´t you two already dating?'' it was all he could ask after a few seconds.
''yeah?!'' Bennett answered
''so, don´t need to ask for my permission. If you love her and if she love you as well, then, go for it'' Ian finished ''now, I would like to finish my coffee''
''sure, Sir'' the boy answered and hushed back to his girlfriend, who was still very embarrassed by the awkward situation.
''Ian, don´t be angry with that boy'' Gus told him, as he sat down ''he did what you should have done, he asked your permission to date Paris, like a nice Greek boy''
The tall man sighted, trying not be annoyed ''I did asked for your permission to date Toula and you don´t allowed'' he said. Of course, Gus tried to argued, but give up, after all, Ian was totally right.
''Dad!'' Paris approached her father and kissed his forehead ''I finished the garlic bread shift, I will be back home to see how mom is doing and then, I will go to the movies with Bennett''
''sure, have fun you two and tell your mom I will be home in a short. And Bennett, excuse me any inconvenience'' Ian said and with a nod, the two teens gone away.
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It was late one night, two weeks later, when things had turn to the worst. The night in question, Paris was sleeping, when suddenly she felt someone shaking her shoulders. It was her dad.
''Dad!'' she froze upon seeing his face wet with tears ''what is happening?''
''honey, go call your uncle…or grandparents, I´m taking your mom to the hospital'' he gasped
''what?'' the girl jump out of the bed and rushed to her parents room, ignoring her dad´s orders. ''mom?'' Paris kneeled beside her mom´s side of the bed and took her hand, in return, Toula, who was having trouble breathing, tried to put a brave face to her daughter, in vain.
Freighted, Paris rushed to seek help, hoping not be the last time she seen her mother´s eyes.
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Toula spend quite a few days in the hospital and when she got back home, things doesn´t look good at her, she wasn´t breathing properly, needing to be hooked into an oxygen tank. To make the matters worse, Dr. Turner told Ian, Maria and Gus, that if they didn´t find a new heart in six weeks, they should be prepared for the inevitable.
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For the first time since she could ever remember, Paris had a fit of rage the very next morning when her mother had been taken to the hospital. Once receiving the news, Ian suggested that the girl come home and Aunt Voula, had gone with her, to make sure everything was going to be okay.
As they crossed the front door, Paris stomped her way towards the bookshelf and kicked the edge causing pictures to clatter to the floor and a flower vase topple to the ground.
"Shit" Paris cursed running over to grab a broom. Voula however wrapped her arms around her great niece.
"Sweetheart," she said rubbing Paris's back. But the rubbing only caused Paris to cry harder. Voula started to hum a soft Greek lullaby Paris had heard her mother hum several times while she grew up. "Everything will be fine." Voula said pushing Paris at arm's length to look into her eyes. "Greek woman are strong. We do not die that easily." Voula said calmly. " Listen, when I was your age, back in Greece, one day my appendix exploded like rotten tomatoes, it was blood everywhere, not to mention that I got an infection and ended up in a coma for three weeks'' the old woman said and Paris let the tears fall from her eyes as she hugged Voula once again. "Thank you Thia Voula. I just don´t want to lose my mom" She said before burring her face to cry into Voula's arm.
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The night after she got home, Toula woke up with a strange noise coming from somewhere in the room. Confused, she reached for the bedside lamp, lighting the room and reveling Ian seating on his side of the bed, his face hidden on his hand as he cried.
''Ian?'' she whispered startling the man, who immediately turn around and hold her hand.
''hey love!'' he smiled ''sorry for having wake you up''
''don´t worry about this. Here, could you hold me? I miss our cuddle'' she said, making him laugh
''I don´t know what I will do without you my Greek statue''
''don´t think about it Ian. Everything will be ok'' she said and both sleep peacefully.
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On a raining morning, Maria was in her kitchen, folding the laundry, when she heard someone knocking the door. It was Toula, who somehow, had walked her way toward her parents' house, for a visit.
"Toula, what on earth are you doing here? You should be in bed not here!" the older woman opened the door quickly and helped her daughter inside.
Toula was like she was about to faint when her mother make her sit down on the nearest chair. She gripped the handle of the oxygen cart and concentrate on her breathing.
''I was going crazy…'' she gasped and took a painful deep breath through the nubbins of the cannula ''…staying inside the house, so i…'' another deep breath ''…walk over here…. Paris and Ian headed to Zorba´s''
'' Well, since you're here, help fold this shirts'' the mother said, placing a handful of clothes on the woman´s hand ''Toula, Don´t ignore me, look at me''
Upon hearing this Toula let go of what she was doing and looked at her mother ''yes, Ma!''
''Okay, what are you hiding for me?'' Toula looked confused at her mother, still, deep down she knew what Maria was talking about.
''I'm not hiding anything'' Toula lowered her head, avoiding look at her mom
''Toula, I'm your mother, you came from inside me, I know when you are hiding something, so tell me, what are you hiding?''
Taking a breath and trying to hide the dizziness that hadn´t passed yet, Toula's told her mother everything, every detail at that day on the doctor, when she passed forward her chance of a heart transplant. At the end of the story, Maria just sat beside her daughter and pointed a finger to her
''My daughter, you made a very brave decision'' she said ''but also a very selfish one'' she said and Toula's started to cry ''you don´t thought about us, your family, about your daughter and your husband'' Maria tried to sound harsh ''he… that poor man did everything to stay with you, created a life with you and this is the way you pay him? By leaving him alone with your daughter? And what about Paris? Who will give her advices for her wedding day?''
''Ma, please, I made a huge mistake, so just let me die thinking I was thinking about my daughter, please'' Toula begged to her mom.
''Nah, nah, come here, my baby'' Maria embraced her daughter, letting her cry ''no one is going to die, huh? Don´t lose hope… what they say? Hope is the last to go, right?'' she asked and Toula just nodded.
''Ma?!'' Toula whispered to her mom
''what sweetheart?''
''after…'' she stopped ''after, you and dad will take care of Ian and Paris? Promise me you guys will never neglect them''
''yes sweetheart, I promise'' Maria took a deep breath, trying not to cry in front of her daughter.
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They took a while to reach the restaurant, since the traffic was a bit difficult due the rain, however, when they parked in front at Zorba´s, Ian could noticed Paris somber expression she has since they left the house.
''Paris? Can you tell me what´s going on?'' Ian looked at his daughter with a serious frown and in response, the girl just shrugged.
''nothing… I found mom a bit strange this morning, the way she hugged me, like she didn't see me in a long time and she told me she love me more than anything'' she said. It was true, that morning, when the teen go give her mother good morning, Toula wrapped her in her week arms, like when Paris was a little girl and when she was about to walk away, the mother told her to remember how much she is loved, which somehow, shocked Paris.
''well… It is not because you have become a teenager, that your mother and I quitted loving you, we do love you very much'' he say.
''no Dad!'' Paris couldn´t help but laugh at her father´s point ''I don´t know… I just had a bad feeling, that´s all''
''I understand, it´s a hard time to everyone.'' Ian put a hand on Paris shoulder ''but you don´t need to worry, your mom is going to be fine, let´s have faith'' he said'' now let's go, I will have to pass by the school to solve something and want a nice cup of coffee first'' with that, they left the car and walk toward the restaurant.
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Zorba´s was crowded today, not only all the men of the family were there, but also, it seemed that all neighborhood decided to have Greek food today and there was even a few people on the waiting line to get a table. Even Ian's parents were there, trying to help with the costumers
As usual, Bennett was there to wait for his girlfriend for another date and of course, Gus was giving him a lecture about how the Greeks invented the medicine.
''Hi Benny!'' Paris approached him and give him a kiss ''so, what my Pappou are trying to convince you this time?''
'' Paris, you should have found a Greek boyfriend with more schooling, this guy does not know anything about his ancestors and still insists that the Chinese invented acupuncture.''
''they did!'' Bennett tried to convince him
''so let me tell you that the word acupuncture came from the Greek word velonismós which means therapy with needles'' he said angry
Upon hearing this, Bennett tried to argue, but Ian signed him to stay quiet
''anyway…'' the boy said, now turning to his girlfriend ''let's go watch a movie?''
''cool! I liked the idea'' Paris answered
''then I will take you to the best pizza in Chicago, ok to you?''
''sure. Huh! Dad, you mind if i…''
''have fun you two and be careful'' Ian nodded and after giving her dad a hug, Paris and Bennett left the restaurant.
Just after they left, Ian grab a cup of coffee and seat with his parents, who were whispering something to each other, near where Gus was sitting.
''hey Mom and Dad, how you guys are doing?'' the tall man asked a bit uncomfortable
''we´re fine son, we want to know about you, how are you holding up?'' Mrs. Miller asked
''anxious'' he said ''every minute that passes, I got more and more anxious, waiting for a call from Dr. Turner about some donor he found for Toula.''
''Ian…'' Mr. Miller started ''I know it´s a hard thing to say, but you already thought of the possibility of this surgery does not work? What you will do if this heart they find for your wife, doesn´t work?''
''Doesn´t Work?'' behind them, Gus had listened the conversation and upon hearing Mr. Miller´s assumption, he and Taki got up from their seats and walked toward the other table, looking angry ''listen here, my daughter it´s decedent from Alexander, The Great, this transplant will work for her and she will be fine!'' Gus snapped. Ian on the other hand, was more embarrassed then shocked and for a moment, his only desire was to disappear under the table.
''hey, it wasn´t my intention, don´t put that way ''Mr. Miller tried to defend himself ''I don´t want nothing to happen to my daughter-in-law, she is an amazing woman, she give us a granddaughter and on top of it she made my son very happy. But I also want to be realist''
''yeah, but you were also a lot harsh'' said Angelo
''nothing is going to happens to my sister, Mr. Miller'' Nick tried to calm both old men down
''You should apologize ''Taki agreed
''listen, you aren´t Greek'' Gus looked at the other man ''I know it´s hard for you understand what family means, but…''
''Okay, that´s enough!'' Ian raised his voice. The last thing he wanted now, was a fight with his parents and In-Laws ''Dad, Mom, remember? Silence is Golden'' he said, grabbing his things
''Ian, you will go home?'' Mrs. Miller asked
''yes, but I will pass by the school'' he said ''call you guys later'' he said and rushed away.
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Toula was sitting on the couch watching the news when Ian arrived home a few hours later. After the conversation with her her mother, the sick woman felt a bit better, so, once back home, instead of going to bed, she decided to stay on the TV room, waiting for her husband to came.
''Hi!'' he greeted her with a kiss ''what are you doing down here?''
''long story, short version? I was tired to stay in bed all day.'' She replies, as he sat down ''how was your day?''
'' It was tiring, extremely tiring.'' He said ''but… I have good news''
''really?'' Toula´s eyes widened in surprise ''what is it?''
''well, I would wait till Paris got home after her date with Bennett, to tell everything, but… even I can´t hold it much longer'' he said, wrapping his wife on his arms ''Dr. Turner called me on my way back here, they had find a heart that matches with your blood type. He ask if we could go to the hospital tomorrow morning to do some tests and if everything goes smooth, which will go, they can perform the surgery by Friday'' he smiled and in response, Toula gives him a passionately kiss
''well… this is… huge'' Toula smiled, a new hope rising inside her ''I can´t wait to tell Paris this!'' she exclaimed
''me too'' Ian said, suddenly, noticing something different at Toula´s frame ''what?''
''nothing… suddenly I felt strange, like afraid of undergo this surgery. ''she said ''I mean, not afraid of the operation, but what will happens next, i mean, if the new heart make me love someone else?''
''well…'' Ian thought of a good answer '' you will have at least 59 other organs to persuade the heart to love me'' he said, making her smile
''Righ, very funny of you. And if the heart belongs to a man?''
''I can turn myself gay, no problem'' he said, kissing her ''the thing is babe, I love you very, very much, you´re my life Toula, my whole life now, you and Paris. As I told you once, I gain life when I met you and I can´t lose you… I don´t want to lose you… we can´t lose you''
''Ian, this is the most romantic thing I heard in the last two weeks'' they laugh ''okay, let's talk about something else. When this is over, let's go travel somewhere? Just the two of us?''
''nice thing. Where? Grece?''
''nah, well, my parents want to go to Greece again, but I prefer England. London, is so beautiful''
''okay'' Ian agree'' London it is, God Save The Queen'' he laughed again ''hey, we have to celebrate''
''I agree'' Toula said ''let me go grab some refreshment'' she said, trying to stand up, but Ian prevent her to do so.
''oh no, no, no, you had done a lot coming down the stairs with this oxygen tank, you need to save your energy for when Paris came so we can tell her the great news'' Ian said ''I will grab us some juice''
''ok then'' she agreed, they kissed and after Ian help her lying down at the couch, he hushed to the kitchen, to grab something to drink.
Once he got back to the kitchen, he felt something strange, Toula had her head up against the couch´s armrest, her eyes were closed and her hand curled into her lap. "Toula?" Ian asked setting the cups on the coffee table and siting down next to her. Her breath was very quiet and soft. "Toula?!" He said louder. When she didn't move or her breathing didn't quicken, he knew instantly that his wife wasn't better. Fear gripped into his mind as he reached for the cellphone dialing 911. "Yes," he said when the operator answered. "I need an ambulance...it's my wife, hurry!" he shouted, fighting to keep the tears from running down his cheeks. He grabbed her whist, finding a very faint pulse.
''don´t leave me babe, don´t leave me'' he whispered over and over again, praying to the ambulance come quickly and to his wife to make trough the hospital.
