I Promise You This (Love in Provence Book 3) (13 page)

“All about
le plaisir et la séduction
,” as Joy had explained so well when Kat had first arrived in Provence.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

As Kat and Philippe neared the city, the sun was beginning to set. Arriving at the hospital, Katherine admitted she was feeling a little anxious about not having been with Molly since Friday.

“I’m so thankful Nick was around. What a support he’s been.”

Philippe added, “And don’t forget Tony.”

“I can’t quite get used to everyone calling him Tony. He’s been Father DeCarlo to me for so many years that I have a lot of trouble calling him anything else.”

Philippe said nothing for a few moments. “There’s a special relationship between him and Molly,
n’est-ce pas?
I’m not sure what it is, though. Has she ever said anything to you?”

Kat shook her head. “No, but I’m feeling the same way you are.”

Philippe looked thoughtful. “At first, I thought I was imagining it. After all, he’s a priest.”

Silent for a while, Kat then told him that she knew Molly had a secret lover for quite a few years. “I say ‘secret’ because she wouldn’t divulge any information about him. The most she ever told me was that they were friends with benefits.”

“Friends with what?” Philippe asked.

Laughing, Kat explained what it meant, and then said, “Oh my gosh, she did once let slip his name was Antonio. Hmm, Father Anthony DeCarlo—could he be the mysterious Antonio?”

“I think you just figured something out.”

Kat’s eyes were as big as saucers. “Can it be? I mean, I know I’ve sort of wondered before, but it’s beginning to make sense.”

Nick was with Molly when they walked in her hospital room. Her eyes lit up as Katherine presented the container of Andrea’s chicken soup and some carrot muffins.

“You knew there was no way I would come back empty-handed from Andrea’s kitchen, right?”

Molly nodded vigorously and then looked at Nick with a strange grin.

“Ready, Molly Dolly?” he asked and then surprised them by singing, “Thank you for the chicken soup” very slowly, going up the musical scale. Molly joined in with just a bit of hesitation, her articulation somewhat unclear.

“What’s going on?” Katherine and Philippe asked in unison.

“We’ve had quite the weekend,” Nick said as Molly nodded. “Dr. Primeau was here yesterday with a speech therapist. He explained that the medical team was stumped by their findings because there was no clinical explanation for Molly not speaking. Her brain functions all test normal. The speech therapist suggested that melodic-intonation therapy might work, given Molly’s musical talent.”

He went on to say that Molly had responded quickly to the therapy over the weekend. “Because Molly doesn’t have any brain damage, they think she’ll regain her normal speech abilities with a continuation of this therapy.”

Crossing her eyes, Molly spread her arms apart in a questioning gesture.

Katherine hugged Molly gently, ever aware of her shoulder injury. “I see your attitude is on its way back as well. This is good news, Moll!”

Molly nodded, her lips skeptically pursed. Nick sang, “I’m feeling very happy,” to the same notes and then Molly repeated it with him, tapping her good hand to mark the syllables.

“This has been bloody fascinating,” Nick said. “The therapist helped us get used to fitting syllables to the musical scale. We just have to come up with simple words to fit the rhythm. Right now she has to hear it and mimic it, but she should advance before long.”

Molly waved her left hand around in a “whoopee” gesture that made them all laugh.

That evening felt like a turning point. Katherine declared it as the best time she’d had since the first shock of the news of Molly’s accident. There was an air of optimism and progress. Molly seemed strong and focused.

Thrilled by Molly’s progress, Kat momentarily forgot her own happy news. Nick was the first to notice. “Ahem,” he said, with an exaggerated clearing of his throat. “It appears that the two of you have something to share with us.”

Philippe proudly held up Kat’s hand to show the ring as her face split into a grin. In spite of her joy, somewhere deep inside she felt a small spasm of sadness for Nick.

Nick offered warm and sincere congratulations. Katherine was touched by his emotion. Clapping her hands somewhat awkwardly, Molly beamed.

Then she beckoned for Kat to sit on the bed and held her hand as she carefully examined the ring. Looking at Philippe with her eyes sparkling, Molly nodded repeatedly and then reached to plant a kiss on both of his cheeks.

Katherine, Philippe, and Nick went to dinner together at Casa Mia and discussed a few different scenarios for Molly’s ongoing care. Nick explained that Dr. Primeau’s office would call Katherine in the morning to arrange a time to meet and make some decisions.

Nick explained he had to head back to Australia. “Here’s what I’d like to put on the table for you to consider. Although nothing concrete was disclosed to me, it sounds like Molly could be discharged for rehab. I want to take care of whatever isn’t covered by your wonderful health-care system, if anything.”

Katherine nodded. “Definitely one of the great benefits of life in this country. I’m pretty sure Molly is covered for everything. I looked over her insurance plan.”

“So how long do you think you’ll stay here, Kat?”

“Well, Molly seems to be improving daily. If the plan is to discharge her to rehab, Andrea said she’ll come and stay at the house for as long as necessary. She can see Molly each day and make sure everything is being handled properly. Lucy and her cousin Li Mai will also be at the house, and they’ve offered to visit with Molly too and give Andrea a break.”

Nick nodded. “Tony told me he’ll check on her every day too.” He gave Katherine a strange look. “Do you think Molly and the priest have more than a pastoral relationship?” Without waiting for a response from her, he added, “I definitely do.”

“Well, now that you say it out loud, I have to confess—pardon the pun—we were just talking about that very topic on our way back to the city.”

They all looked at one another and nodded, eyebrows raised.

“Who are we to judge?” Nick remarked. Nothing more was said as the waiter arrived to clear dishes and offer coffee and dessert.

Kat changed the subject. “If they do discharge her to rehab, and Molly is well looked after, I may be going home with Philippe.” She realized she kind of liked the sound of that.

“It seems there’s no urgency to be here now, and I’ve managed to get other matters organized with the house. I will come back in a couple of weeks when Molly is ready to go home. I can probably be of more help then.”

Though Nick had been listening intently, he now seemed lost in thought for a moment before he spoke. “Well, it sounds like you’ve got that case of cold feet under control, Kat! I’m glad to hear it!”

Her face flushing, Kat nodded. “I’m sorry I subjected you to my anxieties! I’m coming to terms with my feelings, and Philippe has been incredibly understanding.”

Nick gazed at them both. “Somehow I believe you two will make it all work. Now, about our Molly Dolly—I’ve got an idea simmering. What do you think of this?”

Katherine and Philippe listened, astounded at what he was proposing.

As they were parting, he said, “I’ll pop in to say good-bye to Molly tomorrow and we’ll see what Dr. Primeau has to say about our little plan.”

“Nick, I think it just might work. You met with him before and you’ve been involved in Molly’s care, so he knows you’re part of the family, as it were.”

Nick gave both Kat and Philippe a grateful look. “Thanks. It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping. You certainly know I care about her. About all of you.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

A phone call to Simone to share their good news was the first item on the list before they left for the hospital the next morning.

“It’s three-thirty in the afternoon in Antibes, so she might be in the kitchen having a cup of tea,” Kat confirmed, checking her watch. “Or covered in paint in her studio. You just never know.” She chuckled affectionately as she thought about Simone’s lust for life.

They put the call on speaker phone and Simone picked up immediately.

Not one for long conversations, she was delighted to hear from them and thrilled to learn of the ring Katherine now wore. “
Magnifique, mes chérs!
I’ve been waiting for this kind of good news from you!”

Simone inquired about their
“amie”
and was pleased to hear things were going well.

“I miss your company,
chérie
,” she said to Kat. “But you are doing one of life’s most important tasks: being the best friend possible.”

She teased Philippe about being the best friend possible too, since he had gone to Katherine’s side in spite of the frigid temperatures.

They laughed as he described the layers of clothing required before setting one foot outside. “No exaggeration!”

“You forget I am from the north, Philippe.
T’sais?
I know cold too! That’s why we all choose to be on the Côte d’Azur!
Oui?
”

“D’accord,”
said Simone. “I’m going to prepare a light dinner and get back to my painting. I have something new in the works that I’m very excited about! Let me know when you return.
Bisous
to you both.”

Kat and Philippe barely had time to say good-bye before the line went dead. They laughed as they hung up. “No small talk with Simone!”

When they arrived at Molly’s room, Dr. Primeau was making his rounds. He explained how satisfied the medical team was with Molly’s progress. The consensus was that she could be transferred to a rehabilitation center by the end of the week. Her leg injury was healing well, but her shoulder and collarbone issues were more complicated and would require extensive physiotherapy.

“Now that the swelling in your brain has subsided and your functions—for the most part—are back to normal, we would like to operate to reposition bone fragments in your collarbone.”

Molly looked taken aback; the doctor patted her hand. “Don’t worry. The surgery is standard and does not take long, but it is essential for an effective recovery.”

Picking up her whiteboard, she wrote, “When?”

“We have a cancellation in two days, as a matter of fact. You could be out of here and at the rehab center sometime next week. What do you think?”

Katherine asked about Molly’s shoulder and how it would be affected by the operation.

“She has a type-three shoulder separation that does not appear to require surgery but will probably need at least twelve weeks of physiotherapy.”

“So Molly is not going back to work for a while.”

“I would say she is out for this school year . . .” He paused. “Of course, that is dependent on her speech returning. We are completely stymied by that aspect of her recovery. There is no discernible reason for her condition. In fact, we’re documenting it in detail.”

Molly hummed
The Twilight Zone
melody, and everyone laughed.

“That’s about it,” the doctor concluded as he closed his file folder. “You’re a model patient, Molly. I’m certain you will be back to a hundred percent in a few months.”

She smiled and nodded. Looking at Kat and waving, she sang, “Bye, bye, bye, bye, byeeee,” going up and down the scale. Her responses were becoming much more varied.

Dr. Primeau held out his hands and laughed as he shrugged.

Nick asked if he could make a suggestion about Molly’s ongoing rehabilitation. “How does this sound: if Molly’s collarbone surgery goes well and she’s moved to rehab next week, Andrea will stay in town with her. Am I correct about that?”

“Correct,” the others chorused.

“At the same time, Molly will continue with the melodic-intonation therapy.”

“Yes,” Dr. Primeau agreed.

Nick paused for a moment as a smile slowly spread across his face. “What if I fly Molly to Nice once everything is going well, and if we can put the same treatment into place there? Then she can continue her rehab with Kat and Philippe.”

Nick outlined what they’d talked about at dinner the night before. Now they watched Molly and Dr. Primeau closely to gauge their responses. They were pleased to see Molly’s face brighten with surprise and excitement.

Once Dr. Primeau agreed to approve the health care Nick arranged, the whole idea was a go. “We have connections with hospitals around the world. I will put in a call to my colleagues in Nice and see what I can find out about the best clinic,” the doctor informed them. “Let me know if you need any other information.”

Molly grabbed Katherine’s hand and squeezed it tightly. Her eyes were ablaze.

In addition to her whiteboard, which was handy for quick comments, Molly had requested a thick writing pad for more detailed conversations. Now she made a list of questions about her job, her apartment, her inability to speak. There was certainly nothing lacking in her desire to communicate.

Katherine reassured Molly that they would find answers to all of her questions. “It will all work out.”

Dr. Primeau addressed the speech problem again. “Molly, we are all mystified. The fact that you’re beginning to articulate words with the music therapy is encouraging. I wish I could tell you more. Every once in a while, we run into the most unusual conditions and simply have to keep investigating for answers. We will continue to search. Trust me.”

Molly’s feistiness was returning. She wrote, “I need to get out of this bed and get on with my life! I appreciate everything everyone is doing but I’m getting
ANTSY
!”

Dr. Primeau laughed. “That’s the best sign yet that you’re on the road to recovery.”

Nick continued. “I’ll get my people investigating the rehabilitation support we can arrange in Nice or Antibes and report back to you, Dr. Primeau. Sound like a plan?”

Everyone nodded, and Katherine threw her arms around Nick. “This is incredibly generous, Nick. Very exciting!”

“I told you, I do it for my pleasure. I’m really a very selfish guy.”

Philippe shook his hand and then they did the man hug kind of thing. “
Merci mille fois
, Nick. After you mentioned this to us last evening, I e-mailed Didier to check the doorways in our apartment and our ancient elevator to make certain Molly’s wheelchair would fit. He did it this morning.
Pas de problème.
”

Dr. Primeau stood up and shook hands all around. “This is definitely a first for me . . . but a very good first. Nick, let me know what you discover and we will see how we can make this work.”

He picked up his files. “Molly, this afternoon the nurse will confirm that surgery will be scheduled for the day after tomorrow. You won’t be able to have anything to eat or drink after eight p.m. the night before. I’ll see you in the operating room. And don’t worry—this is standard stuff. You will be in and out in no time.”

Nick also said his farewells. “The world’s a small place these days, and we can settle these arrangements no matter where we are. I’ll be in touch.”

Nick sat beside Molly and sang up the scale, “I’ll see you in my dreams.” Molly sang the words back.

Her face radiated gratitude and love as she handed him a note. He kissed her cheeks and gave her a gentle hug. After reading the first line of her note to him, Nick blinked rapidly and folded it into his pocket. “Thanks, Molly Dolly, I’ll read this where no one can see me sniffle. I’ll talk to you soon.”