The Hardest Things - Chapter 5
Half an hour turns into an hour, and Kate rests her head on Martha's shoulder as they wait.
"How was your rehearsal?" she asks, lifting her eyes to study her mother-in-law's profile. Outwardly, Martha is calm, but her jaw is tight, her eyes looking dully at the waiting area.
"Hmm? Oh, rehearsal. It was awful, honestly. Some of the cast still hasn't learned the final act, which is appalling at this point, and it makes running through the show last forever."
"I can imagine. When do you open?"
Martha tells her. "We have plenty of time to get it right and it will all come together eventually, I know. I was just hoping for a bit more professionalism from a cast like this."
"Understandable. Rick told me you were really excited to be working with them."
Martha chuckles. "I didn't even think he was listening to me the day I told him that."
"One thing I've learned about Rick is that he pays far more attention to things than he lets on. Sometimes he doesn't even realize he was listening, and then he'll wake me up in the middle of the night wanting to talk about it."
They laugh a little bit at that, leaning into one another.
"I love him so much, Martha," she murmurs, dragging her teeth over her lip. "I don't know what I'd do it…" she trails off, pressing a hand to her face to hide her sniffle.
"Oh, Katherine, I know you do. And you love your mother, too. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now, and yet you're still trying to keep me from losing my mind." Martha reaches for her hand.
Kate squeezes Martha's hand. "I just-"
Her mother-in-law drops a kiss on her forehead. "I know. It's just what we do because we're family."
Darah calls her name before Kate can respond, holding out a hand to them. "Rick is settled now. I can take you both back to see him if you'd like?"
Martha's on her feet before Kate can even think about standing, and the older woman gives her a little tug to get her moving, new life sparkling in her eyes. "Come on, Darling," she says, holding Kate's hand tighter. "I've got you."
Her knees shake and she finds herself holding onto Martha's hand with both of hers, but Kate puts one foot in front of the other, keeping up with Martha and Darah down the long hall to Rick's recovery room.
"Now," Darah murmurs as they reach the door, "he's going to look rough, but he's stable and doing well. I want you to keep that in mind, because it can be a lot to take in at first."
Kate nods, swallowing. "Is he awake?"
"Yes and no; he's not under anesthesia anymore, so he'll probably come around while you're sitting with him, but he was asleep when I looked into the room before coming to get you."
"Oh, that's good. That's really good," she murmurs, looking toward the door. Her fingers itch to push it open even as her stomach churns at the thought of seeing her husband in a hospital bed.
When neither Kate nor Martha moves, Darah opens the door on their behalf, gesturing for them to make their way inside. "Take as long as you want. Family is allowed to stay twenty-four seven unless they need to run tests or clean him up."
"Thank you," Kate says, moving on autopilot to the edge of Rick's bed, her eyes never leaving him.
She watches the gentle swell and dip of his chest with every breath he takes, catalogues the bruises that dot his jawline and line his cheek. Those bruises make the shadows on his face more pronounced, make the rest of his skin look pale and waxy in the dim light. Darah was right: he does look bad.
But he also looks beautiful. He's alive. He's breathing. He's still with her.
"Rick," she croaks, moving to the head of his bed and brushing her fingers through his hair. "I'm here, babe. I'm here."
Her lips land on his forehead and her eyes slip shut. He's cool to the touch, and she longs to fiddle with his covers to warm him up.
"I love you," she whispers into his skin. "I love you so much."
He sleeps on, but she's almost positive that his body relaxes into the mattress.
"He knows you're here," Martha says, curling her fingers around Rick's knuckles. "We're here, Kiddo. We're both here."
"Martha, you should sit," Kate says, moving to get her mother-in-law one of the chairs that's near her elbow.
Martha waves her off, moving to the opposite side of the bed. "Not just yet but thank you."
Kate nods, brushing her fingertips over Rick's forehead in slow, soothing strokes. She knows that feeling; she's been sitting most of the evening. Now that she's seen Rick, she just wants to keep moving. Keep touching him, keep talking to him. Whatever she needs to do.
"You saved Mom's life tonight – last night – whatever time it is now, Rick. You know that? Did you know you would be when you pushed her out of the way?"
"He probably didn't even think about it," Martha says, her voice low. "He's… he just acts; he always has."
"Yeah," Kate agrees, touching her lips to Rick's temple. "The night we got married would attest to that."
Martha laughs, giving them both an affectionate smile.
"He told me the first year you were married that it was the best thing he'd ever done."
Her lips lift. "For me, too. He's been… he's my best friend, Martha. I don't even know what life would be like – what I would be like without him."
Her head swims a little at the admission, at the thought of being without this man, and she pulls a chair over to give herself somewhere to land. Her fingers slot through Rick's. She's careful not to jostle him too much as she lifts his hand to her mouth.
"I'm sure I've told him before, but I don't know if I've ever told you, Martha. I'm really glad I married him."
Rick's fingers tighten around hers. "Y'tol' me, but s'good to hear 'gain," he mumbles, his voice crackling and labored.
Kate's breath catches, her heart threatening to jump out of her chest.
He's awake. He's awake and he's talking.
A sob tumbles from her mouth before she can choke it back and present a brave face for him.
"Hey," Rick whispers. "Don' cry, Kate."
She sucks in a breath, trying to force words through the tightness of her throat. When nothing comes, she settles for the press of her mouth to the back of his hand, his wrist, touching her lips to the inside of his wrist.
"How's… Jo?" he asks slowly.
"She's okay," Kate manages, blinking past the burning in her eyes. "Downstairs – maybe upstairs now. Bruises and cuts, ribs are a little painful, but she's alive. So are you."
He nods slowly. "S'good. S'good. Sorry…"
"For what?" she asks, squeezing his hand.
"Missed dinner. Didn' mean to stand you up."
Kate shakes her head. "Dinner's just dinner. You saved her life, Rick," she breathes. "She'd probably be dead right now if you hadn't been there."
She brushes her thumb over his knuckles, raising her eyes to meet his. He blinks, a little bleary, but still with her. "I'm just glad that you're alive – that you're both alive for there to be another dinner together. Okay?"
Rick nods, his eyelids already drooping again. "Kay. Love you."
"I love you, too," she swears, scooting to the edge of her chair and palming his cheek. "I love you, too, Rick."
"Mmm, good." He nods. "Kiss?" The request is followed by an exaggerated pucker, drawing a chuckle from Martha.
"Well, I think he's going to be fine," Martha drawls as Kate presses her lips to Rick's.
She grins for what feels like the first time in days, stroking Rick's cheek with soft fingertips. "I think you're right, Martha, I think you're right."
Rick's lips lift and his head rocks to the side, toward Martha's voice. "Mom, hi."
"Hi, kiddo."
"You okay? S'Kate okay?"
Martha smiles, looking over Rick's chest to meet Kate's eyes. "We are going to be perfectly fine, Darling. Provided you are going to be okay."
Rick clears his throat, nodding. "Gon' be 'kay," he rasps, licking his lips. "Publisher… kill me if … die 'fore the next book's in."
Kate rolls her eyes. "Your publisher wouldn't have to be such a hardass if you would stop procrastinating so much," she teases.
Her husband smiles sleepily, nodding. "Mmm, could be right."
"I am right," she murmurs, turning his face to take another kiss from his lips. Her stomach flips with gratitude that he's still around for her to do so. "Now sleep, babe. You've got the next few nights off."
Rick huffs, clearing his throat. She doesn't miss the wince he tries to hide. "Mmm, yeah." His hand flexes in hers. "Night, honey. Night, Mom."
Kate repeats it back to him, hearing Martha do the same. She licks her lips, matching her breathing to his and letting his peace dictate her own.
In a few minutes, she'll duck out of the room and go check on her mother again, knowing Rick's in good hands under Martha's watchful eye, but for now she sits with her husband and his mom and watches him sleep.
I hope you liked this chapter. Thank you for reading! Just one more chapter to go, and it'll be posted tomorrow around this time because I won't be able to post on Thursday.