Page 70 of Summer Light on Nantucket
Blythe’s own heart thumped hard. She shouldn’t let Celeste get upset.
“Nonsense. You’ve been so active, and so concerned about all of us. Now it’s time for you to let others take care of you.”
“Dr. Margrave said I have to spend the night. Maybe two.”
“I think that’s smart. Plus, I’ve heard the food here is delicious.”
Celeste relaxed back into her pillows. “You’ve always been optimistic.”
“So do you want some food? Red or green grapes?”
“A flask of gin would be good.”
Blythe saw in Celeste’s smile that she was cheering up. “Would you like to see Holly, for just a moment?”
Celeste hesitated. Then, to Blythe’s amazement, Celeste burst into tears.
“I hate looking like this, Blythe. In thehospital! What must my hair look like? Ihatehaving my grandchildren see me as this wrinkled, sagging, helpless bag of flesh.”
“Oh, Celeste, you’re not—” Blythe held her tongue, realizing her mother-in-law needed this outburst.
Celeste continued, “Youare young. You have no idea how the body changes. My breasts are sagging.Everythingis sagging! My skin isgrayand I’ve got freckles and moles popping up all over. I had thought, seriously, of moving away, possibly to Florida where my friends go. Or, maybe to some nice, pleasant place in Indiana where no one knows what I used to look like.”
“Celeste, you’re beautiful. But that’s not why we all love you. You’re kind and smart and funny and generous. You know so much, and we need you to help us through our lives.”
Blythe awkwardly moved forward and hugged Celeste as she wept.
Voices exploded in the hall and suddenly Kate burst into the room, yelling, “She ismymother!”
Blythe quickly moved away from Celeste so that Kate could throw herself down on the hospital bed next to her mother.
“Mom. Are you okay?” Kate leaned over her mother, effectively blocking Blythe from Celeste’s vision.
A nurse entered. “We need to keep it down to one visitor at a time.”
Angrily, Kate said, “ThenBlythecan leave!I’mCeleste’s daughter.”
“I’ll go.” Blythe peered around Kate’s body. “Take care, Celeste.”
Blythe left the hospital room and walked down the long hall. She foundherdaughter standing outside the glass doors, talking on her phone.
“She’s here now.” Holly handed her phone to Blythe. “I called Daddy.”
As soon as Blythe said hello, Bob barked, “What’s going on?”
“Celeste is in the hospital, but she’ll be okay.”
“What happened?”
“She had a minor heart attack.”
“Good God! She could die!”
“She won’t die, Bob. Calm down. I’ve just been with her. Your sister is with her now. Celeste’s lucid. She’ll be carefully watched.”
Bob only shouted louder. “Holly said my mother fell on the floor. How could you let Holly see her like that? It will damage her for life.”
“Holly is fine. She was calm enough to call you. She’s a brave girl.”
