The Art of Zen, page 36
Vivian placed her hand on his shoulder, her eyes were sincere. “Are you ok?”
“Right now? Yes. I’m in survival mode.”
She felt the need to do something, anything. It was obvious Spencer was exhausted. She wondered if he had eaten, or had any water. “What can I do?”
“I don’t know,” he answered. “I wish they’d give me some answers. I keep asking and they keep telling me they’ll come get me when they know something.”
“Let me get us some coffee,” she offered. Without waiting for an answer, she walked to a café cart she passed in the hallway and ordered two large coffees. She returned within minutes and handed a cup to Spencer. “Sit,” she insisted and waited until he occupied the seat next to her. “Tell me what happened.”
He filled her in on the evening and how it started with the phone call from Tia’s building manager that her loft was ready. He was surprised he remembered everything with such clarity, even during the ambulance ride. “She lost consciousness twice,” he said. “Once in my arms, and then again in the ambulance. They were asking her questions and she couldn’t get the answers straight. That’s not good. I know that’s not good. She should know her address and her birthday and she kept getting them jumbled.” He ran his hand down his face with weariness as he relived the moment. “God!” he gritted out in frustration. “I had the guy. I grabbed his arm and he got away. Then I grabbed his glove and I saw his hand. The only thing I have to identify him. A hand with a nasty scar on the thumb. I wanted to chase him and tackle him, but he came at me with the pipe.”
“What?” Vivian exclaimed. “Are you ok?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “He got my arm and my shoulder. They took a look at me when we got here. It’s just a bruise. I’ll be fine. But Tia...” He paused when he felt the emotion well up in his throat. “God, I just want to know what she’s facing. What we’re facing.”
He didn’t have to wait any longer when a nurse approached him. “Mr. Chadwick?”
“Yes,” he and Vivian said in unison as they stood up.
“The doctor said you can come on back now.” She looked between Spencer and Vivian.
“She’s with me,” Spencer stated. “Tia will want to see her.”
“How is she?” Vivian asked.
“The doctor is with her right now.” Her voice was kind and compassionate. “No sudden moves. When a person goes through a trauma like this, they startle easily. Try to remember that as she recovers.”
“She is going to recover, correct?” Spencer demanded.
“I’ll let the doctor fill you in.” She led them to a room and followed them inside to assist the doctor.
Tia sat on the exam table wearing a hospital gown with her leggings underneath. Her hair was pulled into a low ponytail. There was a white bandage on her temple. Dried blood was congealed at her hairline. A deep bruise was beginning to form on her forehead down to her cheek. The medics had done a decent job cleaning her up, but more dried blood could be seen on her neck and under her fingernails. She looked at Spencer and Vivian as they approached her with careful footsteps and her eyes welled up with tears.
“Hi,” Vivian greeted her with a smile and blinked back tears at the sight of her friend.
Spencer held it together. He wasn’t sure how he resisted pulling her into his arms and holding on as tightly as he could. The nurse said no sudden movements and he would respect that she knew what she was talking about. He walked to Tia, tilted her chin up with his fingers, and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “How are you?”
“I think I look as awful as I feel,” she answered.
Spencer turned to the doctor and shook his hand and introduced himself and Vivian. “How is she?”
“I’m Doctor Brown.” He examined Tia’s chart. “I stitched up the laceration on her temple.” He handed Spencer a print-out from the nurse. “These are cleaning instructions.”
“Can I wash my hair?” Tia asked. She needed to remove all traces of blood from herself immediately.
“I put a waterproof bandage on for your first dressing,” the doctor answered. “With a wound like this, that’s usually the first question. You can wash your hair, but it’d be best if someone assisted you.”
“We can help her,” Vivian offered. She propped her hip on the exam table next to Tia and slid her arm carefully around her shoulders.
“Her scan is clean, so no foreseen long-term damage,” Dr. Brown continued.
“Thank God,” Spencer and Vivian breathed simultaneously.
“She does have a severe concussion though. That contributed to her losing consciousness and her disorientation.” He referred to Tia’s chart once more. “If you can guarantee someone will be with her around the clock for the next few days, I’ll sign the release form and not make her stay overnight for observation.”
Spencer looked at Vivian and returned her nod. “We’ll be with her.”
Dr. Brown began to write on a small square prescription pad. “Normally I don’t prescribe painkillers with a concussion but with the bruise on her back and with the fall she took, she’s going to hurt. Expect more bruises to appear from her fall in the next few days. The pills will help her sleep.” He wrote on an additional prescription paper. “I’m also prescribing Xanax. Victims of an attack tend to have flashbacks that cause anxiety. They’ll calm her down. I’m sending you home with enough medication to get you through the weekend, then you’ll have to fill your prescription.” He handed Spencer a pamphlet about concussion care and spoke to Tia. “Bed rest for the next three to five days. After day three, if you feel any dizziness, I want you back in bed for two more days. Since Thanksgiving is the day after tomorrow, I’ll let you sit at the table for dinner, but then it’s right back to bed for you.” He rolled his stool over to Tia and placed a gentle hand on her knee. His voice was calm and kind. “No television. No loud music. No alcohol. No caffeine.”
“No fun,” Tia whispered.
“No.” Dr. Brown shook his head and agreed with her. “No fun. But you won’t be up for much. Rest is the most important thing. And patience.” He looked between Vivian and Spencer. “She’s been through quite an ordeal, the healing could take some time.” He stood up and signed off on a few papers and handed them to the nurse. “I want you to follow up with your primary physician in two weeks. You’re very lucky, Tia. I’ve seen injuries like this that have had worse outcomes. Get some rest.”
“Thank you.” Tia gave him a tired smile when he squeezed her hand and said goodbye.
The nurse placed a plastic bag on the table next to Tia’s purse, then handed her a hospital scrub shirt. “I didn’t think you’d want to wear your soiled shirt home. We have extra scrubs all over here, so go ahead and wear this one.” She handed Spencer another sheet of paper. “These are questions you’ll need to ask her every few hours. Basic questions like her name, age, birthday. If there’s any confusion, document those moments. If there’s consistent confusion we’ll need to see her again.” She turned back to Tia. “Go ahead and get dressed. I’ll process your paperwork and be back in a few minutes with a wheelchair.”
“I don’t want a wheelchair,” Tia protested.
“I understand, but you won’t be able to walk from here to outside or into your home. Take it with you and return it in a few days.”
When the nurse left and it was just the three of them in the room, Spencer took the shirt out of Tia’s hands. “Let’s get you dressed and then home and in bed.”
“The tub first,” Tia said.
“We’ll help you get washed up,” Vivian offered. She moved Tia’s ponytail over her shoulder and untied the hospital gown. When the material parted and Tia’s back was exposed, Vivian let out a small gasp.
Spencer’s brow furrowed at the distress on Vivian’s face. He stepped to Tia’s other side and looked at the bruise with Vivian. In only a few short hours, the bruise had formed into a dark blue, nearly black mark from shoulder to shoulder with red blotches spattering the surrounding area. The skin was upraised and looked tender. His blood boiled to think about Tia so needlessly attacked. The fact that someone would lay a hand on her, so violently, made him thirst for revenge. He was afraid to touch her, but he needed to. His hand rested on her shoulder as he kissed the back of her head. He nodded to Vivian to help him finish, then stood in front of Tia when she slipped her arms out of the gown and sat before him topless. His eyes raked over her form from her neck to her waist. Right now he couldn’t see any additional bruising but braced himself for the ones that might appear in the next few days. His voice was soothing as he spoke to Tia. “Can you lift your arms?”
“I think so.” Tia lifted her arms and winced as they reached shoulder level. Tears of frustration stung her eyes as she made eye contact with Spencer. There was nothing but love and understanding in his gaze.
“Easy,” he advised and waited patiently for her to lift her arms all the way up. His moves were quick as he slipped the shirt over her head and tugged the hem down to her waist.
Within ten minutes they had packed up Tia’s belongings and the nurse assisted her into the wheelchair. When they reached Spencer’s car, Marcelo rushed around to open the door. He looked at Tia with shock and concern on his face. “What happened, boss?”
“Tia had an accident. I’ll fill you in tomorrow,” Spencer answered.
After the nurse assisted Tia into the backseat, Marcelo placed the wheelchair in the trunk of the car. Spencer and Vivian opted to both sit in the backseat with Tia between them. The ride home was filled with small talk about the weather or Vivian’s trip. Tia remained silent and withdrawn. When Marcelo pulled into the garage and parked the car, Tia remained in the car while Marcelo and Spencer unfolded the wheelchair and brought it to the passenger door. She looked at it with derision and frustration and remained stubbornly still on the backseat of the car.
“Tia?” Vivian sat next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I don’t want the damn wheelchair,” Tia answered through clenched teeth.
Spencer looked into the car and made eye contact with Vivian. She gave him a subtle shake of her head and slipped out the opposite door. He slid in next to Tia and reached for her hand. “It’s temporary.”
Her eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. The pain was starting to settle into her muscles. Each twinge made her anger rise. Her voice was soft, but deadly calm. “I want to kill whoever did this to me.”
Spencer searched her eyes and gave her a subtle nod. “I understand.”
“And then I want to kill whoever hired him.”
He believed her and felt the same. When they got to the bottom of this, and they would, he wanted those responsible to pay and to pay dearly. “Let’s get you upstairs and in the bath.”
Tia swiped at a tear that trickled down her cheek and took what he said to heart. Spencer was right. This was only temporary. With his assistance, she slid forward and let him help her into the chair. She was vaguely aware of Marcelo telling her to feel better. All she wanted to do was take the medication Dr. Brown sent her home with, wash the dried blood out of her hair, and let the drugs knock her out.
Once in Spencer’s home, Vivian took a quick look around in appreciation of the splendor of the penthouse. “Spencer, your home is beautiful.” She started to follow Spencer as he wheeled Tia to the left, only to stop when Spencer stopped. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“No,” Tia protested and pulled up the brakes on the wheels. “The wheelchair stays out here. I don’t want to see it.”
“Honey,” Vivian said with patience. “The nurse said you’re in a lot of pain.”
“I am, but I don’t want you to wheel me to the bedroom. I can walk.”
“Are you sure?” Spencer asked.
“Yes.” She nodded stubbornly. She eased forward in the seat and stood up with Spencer’s assistance. The first step was excruciating, but she was determined to make it there without a wheelchair.
Spencer could see the pain on her face. He reached for her hand and guided her forward. He addressed Vivian as he spoke. “The kitchen is to your right. Will you go get a bottle of water for Tia and bring her medication? The bedroom is this way.” He gestured toward the master bedroom with a jut of his chin.
Happy to help, Vivian walked to the kitchen to get the water. A quick peek into the cabinets, and she found a large cup perfect for assisting Tia with washing her hair. She returned to the living room to see Tia taking tiny steps with Spencer.
Spencer remained patient, but he knew at the rate Tia was walking, it would take forever to get to the bathroom to clean her up. He stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Tia, let me carry you.”
She didn’t protest. Spencer carrying her was a totally different story than her being pushed in a wheelchair. She held her breath as he scooped her up in his arms. The pain of being picked up was mild compared to the monumental task of putting one foot in front of the other. When Spencer placed her on the edge of the tub and began to fill it with water, she focused on the windows. Her first impression of his bathroom had been one of wonder and awe at the beauty of the city. As Tia looked out at the city lights sparkling in the night sky, all she could think was that her attacker walked free somewhere out there. It didn’t matter to her that they were on the twenty-fifth floor. She felt exposed and didn’t want there to be any possibility of anyone seeing her. “Close the blinds,” she requested.
“What?” Spencer was momentarily confused because he knew how much she loved the view. Understanding dawned on him that this was the emotional trauma the doctor had talked about. He didn’t question her further. Simply pressed a button next to the light switch and the windows were covered by the automatic blinds within seconds.
Tia let Vivian help her undress. She didn’t give it a second thought to stand before both of them naked and exposed. All she wanted was the heat from the water to ease her muscles and the lather from the shampoo to clean her hair and her scalp. After submerging herself in the blessed warmth of the water, she accepted a bottle of water and her medication from Vivian. The pill went down in one gulp. Tia didn’t protest when Spencer handed her a dry cloth to cover her eyes and helped her lean back while Vivian gently poured a cup of warm water over her head, taking extra care to keep it away from her bandage. When her hair was fully saturated, Tia sat up and let Vivian lather her hair with shampoo. Her touch was gentle and soothing. When it was time to rinse, she leaned back once more and waited patiently while Vivian got the suds out of her hair. Sitting up to let Vivian apply conditioner, she closed her eyes and let Spencer take her hands and scrub her fingernails with a small brush. She forced herself to relax and willed the medication to start working. As Vivian gently finger-combed the conditioner through Tia’s thick hair, she opened her eyes and focused on the suds on her fingers that the little nail brush Spencer used created. Rust. The suds were rust-colored. Because of her blood. Without warning, she snatched her hands out of his and dipped them in the water to remove the reminder. The reminder surrounded her. The water she sat in looked rusty from the blood in her hair. She pushed at it, which resulted in a loud splash. In the back of her mind, she knew that wouldn’t do anything but stir the water, but she had to try. With her teeth clenched from the pain in her muscles, she reached over her shoulder and grabbed her hair out of Vivian’s hands, and squeezed the excess water into the tub. It also looked like rust. Panic bubbled in her throat. The reminder of being helpless and treated like her life wasn’t worth anything saddened her and angered her at the same time. “Get rid of it!” she suddenly yelled. “Get it off of me! Drain it! Oh, my God, drain it!” Her chest heaved with sobs, her shoulders shuddered as the tears started and the hysterics came. “Get it off of me!”
Vivian and Spencer moved quickly when Tia stood up and held onto the wall for balance. Vivian reached for the drain. Spencer scooped Tia into his arms. He walked her quickly into the shower and placed her on the bench. Her cries echoed off the tile as she swiped at the rust-colored droplets of water that clung to her skin.
“Get it off of me!” she pleaded.
“Ok,” Spencer said calmly. He twisted the knob to start the shower and stepped in with her to take the first hit of cold water to shield her from the shock of the temperature. When it warmed up, he pulled her to stand and kept his arm around her waist. He placed her under the stream of water and made sure it rinsed her skin, then turned her around to help her with her hair. He murmured soothing words to her as he helped her bathe. Told her to hold onto him while the water rinsed her hair. His clothes were soaked, but he would deal with that later. He accepted a towel from Vivian and hurried to dry Tia’s skin as he spoke to Vivian. “Can you grab her something to wear? Her clothes are in the bedroom in the suitcase by the bed.” He pressed a kiss to Tia’s wet hair and picked her up to carry her into the bedroom, then placed her on the edge of the bed.
Vivian found clean leggings and a tank top and helped Spencer assist Tia into the clothes. Her eyes were full of sorrow and worry as she looked at Spencer’s appearance. His shirt was smeared with Tia’s blood, his clothing was drenched. “You should get yourself cleaned up, then meet me in the living room.”
“Don’t l-leave me until I s-sleep.” Tia’s voice chattered as she was suddenly chilled to the bone.
“I’ll stay with you until then,” Vivian promised. “We’ll be here.”
“I-I’m c-cold,” Tia stuttered.
Spencer opened his dresser drawer and handed Vivian a long-sleeved Henley shirt, then grabbed fresh clothes for himself and headed to the bathroom to remove his blood and water-soaked clothing.
Vivian sat behind Tia and quickly twisted her hair into a braid. She helped her put on Spencer’s shirt, then pulled back the covers and helped her get into bed. When she was settled, Vivian pulled the covers to Tia’s chin, then sat by her side and held her hand. She held it together and spoke softly to her friend. It didn’t take long for the medication to kick in. Tia was suddenly silent, her breathing became rhythmic as she slipped into the drug-induced sleep. Vivian took a few more minutes to stay with her to ensure she didn’t wake up. When she was sure she was out, she dimmed the light by the side of the bed and left the bedroom for the living room to give Spencer some privacy.
