Page 10 of When the Leaves Fall

LUCA

“ I t’s not fair!” I yell down the hall before slamming my bedroom door with as much force as I can muster.

The resentment I have toward my father is rearing its head today.

I asked Mom if I could join the wrestling team with Sean.

No surprise, her answer was no. No, because someone needs to be here to take care of Dad while she’s at work.

She already rearranged her work schedule so she was home during the day and works at night when I’m back from school.

I didn’t sign up to be a caregiver at twelve. I don’t ask for much. I just want to be able to hang out with kids my age sometimes. Play a sport or participate in any kind of school activity.

None of this is fair.

“ S andra, I’m Luca. Nice to officially meet you.” Even though I know she won’t remember this introduction within the next hour or so, as she has before, I show her a genuine smile. “I’m taking care of you tonight. Do you know where you are?”

Sandra shakes her head and then looks over to Frank for reassurance.

“You’re in the hospital, hon. Your heart stopped.” Frank repeats for at least the third time since my shift started. “But you’re doing great. One day at a time.”

Sandra blinks a few times and then nods slowly.

“Do you need anything? Water? A warm blanket?” I ask.

She opens her mouth, pointing to it. “Water,” she says coarsely.

“Sure, thing.”

I head out of the room and grab her some water with crushed ice. I can only imagine how sore and dry her throat feels from being hooked up to oxygen masks and tubes. I had my adenoids out as a kid and remember how dry my throat felt the moment I woke up.

The longer Sandra is in the CCU, the more she improves, and the less around-the-clock care she needs.

Right now, it’s mostly about monitoring her vitals and being nearby in case something does go wrong.

The best thing for her right now is to rest. Her body and mind have been through something very traumatic, and rest is the best way to recover.

As I enter the room with the cup of water, Frank jumps to Sandra’s side and takes it from me, holding it for her as she sips from the bendy straw.

“I’m going to let you two have some privacy,” I pat Frank on the shoulder. “If either of you needs anything, I’ll be right outside. There’s no getting rid of me.” I point to my station, which is directly out the door, and looks into her room.

“Thanks, Luca,” Frank says with a smile.

I sit down at my station, the blinds to Sandra’s room only partially closed so I can still keep a close eye on if anything changes, and catch a glimpse of Frank stroking Sandra’s hair and cheek.

Watching as he’s stood by her throughout this whole thing reminds me exactly of why I wanted to be in the medical field.

I pull out a piece of paper from my chest pocket, staring at a phone number I jotted down a couple of hours ago. Drew’s.

I want to text her so badly. But I shouldn’t even have her number. She didn’t give it to me, and the way I got it could get me fired, if not something worse.

Fuck it. I won’t know unless I try.

Hey, Drew? This is Luca. Your mom’s nurse for tonight.

Is everything okay?

Yes. I’m so sorry. I should have said that first thing .

Well, now I feel like a complete jackass for worrying her.

Everything is fine.

Oh, good.

I watch as the bubbles pop on and off the screen, eventually disappearing altogether.

just thought I’d check in on you.

I don’t remember giving you my number. But I’ve been really sleep deprived…

You, uh…didn’t…

I might have kinda gotten it from this paperwork sitting at my desk…

Which I know is wrong on so many levels, but I knew you were having a hard time leaving tonight, and I didn’t want to call and bug you if there were no real updates to share, but I wanted to let you know everything is going well.

It’s fine, Luca. I appreciate you checking in. It’s very thoughtful…even if it’s a bit creepy.

I’ve never had a stalker before.

That I’ve known about, at least.

You’re not very good at it, come to think of it. This must be your first time.

Damn. I was hoping it wouldn’t be so obvious.

In all seriousness, though, your mom is doing really well. I think she’ll be ready to get out of here before you know it.

Thanks for that. Even though right now, that’s pretty much impossible to imagine.

I know it is. I’ve worked in the CCU for a while now and can tell you Sandra is strong and determined.

Like mother, like daughter. Maybe?

I have no idea what you’re talking about, sir.

My bad.

I hope I didn’t wake you.

You didn’t.

I struggled with insomnia before any of this happened.

That seriously sucks.

I sleep like a baby.

Fuck off, Luca.

Actually, it took me quite some time to get on a sleeping schedule when I started working the night shift.

Oof, I can only imagine. I don’t know if I could do it.

Work nights?

Yeah, I feel like I’d be missing out on so much.

I smile at my phone. I don’t know what it is about Drew, but I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since we met. She’s funny, and so damn beautiful. I love her spunk and get a kick out of our bantering.

I peer back through the window and see Sandra sleeping, and Frank’s trying to get comfortable on the couch. I put my phone upside down on the counter, grab a warm blanket from the linen closet, and take it to him.

“You’re one of the good ones, Luca,” Frank mumbles sleepily. “Thank you for everything.”

I smile at him. “Just doing my job, Frank.”

“That’s not true, and we both know it. Now go away so I can sleep.” He winks at me.

Drew and I text off and on throughout the night. When her texts stop, I force myself not to keep texting and wait until I hear back from her. She didn’t lie when she said she suffered from insomnia. She fell asleep off and on throughout the night, but would text me back each time she woke up.