"It's not exactly gourmet cuisine, I know… but you have to eat something, Kendall," Zach said sternly.
In response, Kendall picked up the spoon with her left hand and threw it across the room before turning over and presenting him with her back. Zach merely chuckled and picked up another spoon from the bedside table as he walked around to face her. He placed the spoon in her right hand before wrapping her fingers around it and his fingers around hers. He waited only a moment before guiding her hand to pick up a bite of the tapioca pudding on her tray and helping her to guide it towards her mouth. Kendall's response was to clamp her lips firmly together like a recalcitrant child. Zach merely shook his head and patiently waited for her to open her mouth. He really couldn't blame her for being frustrated and out of sorts, he knew that he would have been a most difficult patient himself if he had lost so much control over his own body. However, he couldn't understand why she fought everyone's help in regaining the motor skills that would lead to her independence.
Kendall had been ensconced in a private VIP room for more than a week and was slowly regaining mobility. The doctors had explained that in addition to the impairment of her motor functions on her right side she was suffering from a condition called Broca's Aphasia that affected her ability to communicate verbally. She had complete understanding of what others said to her, but was experiencing a disconnect when she tried to speak. Her language was what her speech therapist referred to as "word soup" – random words spoken irrespective of what she was actually trying to say. She could recognize that her words were not the ones she had chosen to say, but had no control over what came out of her mouth.
She had been quite obviously angry at her inability to communicate and lashed out at everyone who tried to care for her and help her. The nurses and therapists worked with her patiently, and they taught Zach, Bianca and Erica simple maneuvers that could help Kendall to regain functionality on her right side while her speech therapist worked with her extensively in attempting to rebuild the connections that would enable to her express herself. Bianca and Zach spent countless hours each day working with Kendall, but Erica undermined all of their efforts in the time she spent with her. She refused to adhere to the advice of the professionals and babied Kendall when they were together – feeding her meals to her, refusing to allow her to try speaking for herself, and generally encouraging her to behave like a small child.
Although she did have full mobility on her left side, Kendall was right handed and found it difficult to even write down what she wanted to say despite the fact that the aphasia was limited to her verbal communication. She appeared angry at her condition and frustrated with the slowness of her recovery, and Zach believed that it was very easy for her to expect and enjoy the total attention she received from her mother. The more that Erica did for her, the less cooperative she was with Zach and Bianca… which led to many a battle of wills, especially during mealtimes.
Zach and Bianca had both been caught unawares as they found their goals for Kendall's recovery to be in accord. They continued to alternate the time they spent with Kendall, but were treating her very similarly. After a couple of days watching her mother undo all of her efforts, Bianca had paid a visit to Zach in the physician's lounge that he continued to utilize when not with Kendall. Although he could have moved back to his condo and visited the hospital daily, he preferred to remain close by and rationalized the choice by making a sizeable donation to the hospital in Kendall's name. Bianca had expressed her frustration with Erica's behavior to Zach and the two had strengthened their truce by working out a plan to encourage Kendall to fight for her own recovery. Zach had been very pleased in seeing Bianca's attitude soften towards him as she realized that he only had Kendall's health and well-being at heart and she continued to provide him with pictures and anecdotes about Miranda that he shared with Kendall during the time he spent with her each day.
"Just one more bite, Kendall," Zach said coaxingly. "Then I'll leave you alone."
In response she fixed him with an obstinate stare and clamped her lips even tighter against the spoon he held in her hand. Zach narrowed his eyes and met her stubbornness with equal measure until he saw a flare of anger and knew that he had won. The moment her eyes registered her anger she opened her mouth and said, "Thun-der!" That was the opening he had been watching for and he neatly slid the spoon into her mouth and deposited the pudding on her tongue. She had not yet gained enough control to spit food out once it was in her mouth and she gave him a glare as she swallowed.
As far as Zach was concerned, if she was going to behave like a child then he was going to treat her like one. He guided her hand back to the tray table and allowed her to release the spoon before commenting, "Good girl, Kendall." He chuckled again at her continued glare, hoping that his own condescending attitude might spark something in her that would make her start fighting for her life and acting like the fiery Kendall of old.
Zach kept his word to Kendall and seated himself in a chair by the window after clearing the tray table of her meal. He picked up a book and began to read, glancing often at her to see what she was doing. He observed her looking around the room while he read and wondered if he should just leave her alone. Perhaps their battles were not what she needed, and maybe it was her way of telling him to leave her alone. He had just convinced himself to leave the room when he glanced up and met her pointed stare. Instead of seeing the challenge he expected, he saw tears and wondered what had made her so sad. He closed the book and laid it on a table as she reached her left hand to her hair and ran her fingers through the curls.
"Would you like me to brush your hair?" he asked quietly. Immediately her expression brightened as she gave him a lopsided smile and nodded her head. It had become the one thing that she allowed him to do without argument and was the most intimate contact that he was able to have with her. Zach walked over to the bed and reached into the drawer of the bedside table to pull out her brush before seating himself beside her. He gently pulled her back against him and began to stroke the brush through her hair followed by his fingers as he gently untangled her curls. Kendall closed her eyes and sighed as she relaxed against him. Zach's face bore an expression of contentment as he lingered over her hair, enjoying the feel of her body close to his and the fragrance of her hair. Zach took his time brushing her hair and then massaging her scalp gently, being very careful to avoid the healing surgical wound. His hands wandered down to her neck and he gently massaged her shoulders before she laid her head against the broad expanse of his chest. Without thought he laid his lips against her forehead and his cheek against her hair while they sat together in comfortable silence.
Zach was still seated with Kendall quietly sleeping against him when Erica entered the room a while later. She paused in the doorway and absorbed the sight of her daughter relaxed in her husband's arms, but was anything but reassured by the sight. Zach had been a thorn in her side throughout Kendall's recovery and she had been very irritated at Myrtle's and then Bianca's defense of his behavior. She knew what was best for her child… and now that she finally had the opportunity to show Kendall how much she loved her, she resented Zach's interference. As she cleared her throat to gain his attention she also strengthened her determination to have this interloper removed from all of their lives permanently.
"Zach," Erica said sharply. "I believe you had some phone call you needed to make to one of your casinos?"
He roused himself from the very pleasant interlude and answered, "Thanks." He gently lay Kendall against her pillow and rose. Zach put Kendall's brush away in the drawer and placed some pictures of Miranda on the table where she would see them when she awoke. He turned and started to exit the room before Erica's voice stopped him in mid-stride.
"Zach… I would appreciate it if you could find a way to keep your hands to yourself. My daughter Kendall is in a vulnerable condition and you shouldn't be leading her on in this way. I'm sure I don't have to remind you that your marriage is a business arrangement and if you can't control your impulses then stop spending so much time with her," she said venomously. "I'll be here for the rest of the day, so you needn't hurry your business."
She was annoyed that he left the room without response, but instead of dwelling on his lack of manners she closed the door behind him and seated herself next to the telephone. She would never be able to understand what Myrtle saw in him or why Kendall seemed to depend on him so heavily. While Kendall was still sleeping she placed a phone call, "It's me… Did you get it?… Good… You'll take care of it when you get here?… That's wonderful news. Thank you darling. I'll see you then…" She hung up the telephone with a broad smile on her face. It was going to be a very good day after all.