I couldn't believe that Lissa had convinced me to come with her. It didn't surprise me. I would do anything for Lissa, which is why l found myself entering the fourth store today in search of the perfect outfits for our return to Leigh for alumni weekend. I could think of a million other things that I would rather do. Lissa was radiating excitement. Liss and I had graduated from Leigh University a year ago and this was the first chance that Liss has been able to do anything as an alumna (Liss had corrected me multiple times over the proper word usage).
"Rose! This is the perfect dress for you!" Lissa exclaimed. I looked up at Liss and saw her holding out a little black dress and I do mean little. The dress had a lace bodice that had cutouts on the sides of the waistline. The dress would probably reach to my mid-thigh if I was lucky.
I laughed. "Are you sure it's not too much? I'm not really sure what you're supposed to wear to one of these things." Something told me that this might be considered scandalous to those who were not as confident about their body or sexuality as I was. I would admit, the dress was perfect. I would most likely endanger the entire male population around me. I wouldn't consider myself vain, but I knew that I looked damn good. My long, dark brown hair fell in waves to my waist. My chocolate eyes could captivate the hearts of men (and women). My skin was the perfect mixture of my parents' heritage, resulting in my complexion resembling the inside of an almond. I had a nice figure. Large, rounded breasts...lean muscular physique.
Lissa's laughter brought me out of my thoughts. "It's perfect for you."
"Well, if you can figure out a way to make it look less like a Vegas showgirl or stripper, then I'm in."
Lissa smiled. "It's all about the accessories!"
Lissa and I had been looking at blazer jackets to go with the dress when my phone rang again. I removed it from my pocket. "Ugh. Damn telemarketers again."
"That's like the fifth time that number has called you. You need to answer it."
I shrugged and hit the accept button to satisfy Lissa's curiosity. "Hello?"
"Hello, is this Rosemarie Hathaway-Mazur?"
l immediately became suspicious. "Yes. Who is this?"
"This is Cassidy. l am a patient advocate with Missoula General Hospital. Your father, Ibrahim, is currently a patient here and, seeing as you are his next-of-kin, we would need for you to come to make medical decisions on his behalf."
I breathed in a sharp breath. I could sense that Lissa had picked up on the seriousness of the conversation.
"What- What happened? Is he okay? How long has he been there?"
"I am not at liberty to answer those questions. The only thing I can say is his condition is serious. He is stable now, but decisions will have to be made. You must come."
I was becoming angry at that point. "You are going to have to answer me! I am in Pennsylvania! If medical decisions must be made, I must make them now. Screw your bullshit forms and answer me!"
"Per policy I cannot. His medical team will be waiting for your arrival." With that, the line went silent leaving me feeling numb.
Lissa grabbed my arm and pulled me towards her. Concern was written all over her face. "Rose, what's going on?"
I took a deep breath. "It's Abe. It sounds bad. He's at Missoula Gen and they won't tell me anything over the phone. They said medical decisions must be made."
"Where is Janine? Isn't she in Montana? Why can't she tell them what to do until you can get there?"
"They're not married. She's not his official next-of-kin. It has to be me."
Lissa's vibrant green eyes met mine. "Everything is going to be okay. Abe is the toughest man we know. We'll just go to the airport and get there as soon as we can." It was like she was trying to convince me of this. Lissa has always had a charismatic air to her, which helped her be there for those in need.
After three flights and two layovers, we were finally pulling up to Missoula Gen. I tipped the driver after I grabbed mine and Lissa's bags. I made my way into the front lobby and walked up to the registration desk. A middle-aged woman sat there typing away on her computer. "Excuse me, could you tell me what floor Ibrahim Mazur is on?"
She glanced up at me. "What relation are you to the patient?"
"I'm Rose...Rosemarie Hathaway-Mazur. His daughter."
Before the woman could answer, I heard my name being called from across the room. "Rose." I looked up and saw Eddie. Eddie Castile was my age. I grew up with him. His dad and my dad were business partners before his dad died. Once Eddie graduated high school, he began working with my father. Eddie briefly smiled at me as I closed the distance and pulled him in for a hug.
"What happened?"
Eddie glanced down at me. "Let me take you to his room."
My eyes pinched. "Why are you evading my question?"
Eddie released me and encouraged me to follow him. "It was business." With Abe, business meant a lot of things. Depending on who asked, it could mean cybersecurity, private investigator, agent, or simply "businessman" if he thought you were suspicious. Eddie and l entered the elevator with Lissa trailing behind. We ended up going to the ICU. I felt my pulse quicken at this. I was trying to mentally prepare myself when we entered the room.
"What the fuck?!" I screamed.
Abe turned and looked at the doorway. "Kizim. Glad you are here."
I stared at him. "This really is a shitty way for you to get me to come out. This really is fucked up pretending to be seriously harmed-". The only thing that I could see that was wrong was that he had his right arm in a sling. Abe cut me off before I could finish my rant.
"Rosemarie. There is a life-or-death situation here." Abe walked over to the curtain and pushed it back, revealing a man lying in the bed. He was bruised from head to toe. Had a bandage wrapping around his forehead. There was so many wires attaching him to all the machine surrounding him. His vitals didn't look good.
I glanced between the mysterious man and Abe. "What does this," I gestured at the man, "have anything to do with me?"
Abe walked up to me and touched my shoulder. "I'm afraid, my kizim, everything. Remember your trip to Russia with me with you were 18 after graduation?"
"Yes." I answered hesitantly.
Abe held my gaze. "Rose, you are married to him. You are legally his next-of kin."
"I'm what?" "You're married?!" Lissa and I screamed at the same time.
"Kizim, Dimitri was working with me. He was shot. Now, he is stable, but they are going to have to go in and remove the bullet. You are the only one that can sign off on this."
I stared at Abe and then looked over to Dimitri...my husband. I started hyperventilating. "Does... does he have...family I... could talk to?" I gasped.
"Yes, in Baia. But Dimitri cannot survive until then." The seriousness of his facial expression added to the situation. Normally Abe had a very sarcastic nature about himself. Now, this was the most serious I had ever seen him.
"Rose. Please talk to the doctor." Almost if on cue the door opened and a tall, petite blond haired female doctor entered the room. "Are you Mrs. Belikov?"
I cringed at the name. "I'm Rose."
She smiled before her expression turned neutral. "I'm Dr. Olendski. Rose. Dimitri's condition is serious. He was shot and the bullet entered his chest. There was no exit point. Through examination, the bullet is close to his spinal cord. I must operate. If not, the risk for paralysis or death are greatly increased."
I sighed. "What are the risks of it with the surgery?"
"About 50/50 with the chance of paralysis below the waist."
I glanced over to Abe. "Do it. Looks like this is the only option. Give me the papers to sign."
After signing all of the consents, I left the hospital room and numbly walked to the window seat in the hallway. I often forgot how beautiful Montana could be.
"Rose." Lissa called to me bringing me back to reality. She sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around me. "You're married."
"I don't know how." I put my face in my hands. "I went on a trip with Abe after our high school graduation. We explored all over Russia. We went to this small town there, Baia, because he had business to take care of with this old lady. She really reminded me of a witch. While he met with her, I ended up going to a club. I danced for what seemed like hours. I had been drinking Russian vodka. The drinking age there was 18 much to my pleasure. I think I remember meeting him and his friend. His friend said that he normally didn't drink. We were all trashed. I thought the "wedding" was a joke. I didn't think it was real!"
Lissa took my hand in hers. "Seems like it was." She turned toward me with a smile on her face. "I always thought I would be the one who got married."
"Yes, always the responsible one."
Lissa and I sat in silence until we heard a large commotion at the end of the hall. An average height woman with dark brown hair, a tanned complexion, and a familiar face was searching for an employee. She spoke Russian at first until realizing that she needed to switch to English. "Dimitri. Dimitri Belikov. Where is he?"
An employee met her at the registration desk. " Ma'am. What is your relation?"
"I'm his mother."
