The Turning Tides (Marina's Tales) by Derrolyn Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

seemed like I’d been camped at his bedside forever , fidgeting nervously, or holding his hand and feeling utterly helpless.
    “You might be surprised,” he shrugged, “The brain is a mysterious organ.”
    So is the heart, I thought.
    The head wound had been deemed minor, but the whole right side of his body had suffered enormous damage. Both of his legs, even the one recently healed from the helicopter accident, were in plaster casts. His right arm had been pretty much shredded, and was surrounded by all kinds of wrappings and braces, tubes going in and out. I could barely bring myself to look, and sat on his left side.
    I started talking, telling Dad about Abby’s new baby, how much I liked surfing, and my experiences at school. I talked about Ethan, explaining all of the things I loved about him . I told him how much they were alike , and how I knew they w ere going to get along. I described Aptos, my paintings, and all the happy events I could think about from the past year.
    There was a whole lot to avoid.
    When I ran out of things to say, I started reading aloud to him. I read the daily newspapers, poetry, and anything else I could get my hands on. Evie had Dad moved to a private room, working her own brand of magic to make it as comfortable as possible. She filled the room with beautiful flowers, light and music , attend ing to even the smallest of details.
    Evie was on a mission, going over Dad’s charts, contacting outside specialists, and making sure that every medical protocol was followed to the letter. Always at her best when she was on task, I watched her perform with ruthless efficiency , and it gave me hope that everything would turn out alright. With Evie in your corner, how could you lose?
    I called Ethan every day, pouring out my hopes and fears across the vast ocean. He was encouraging, and hearing his voice always made me feel better.
    “I miss you,” I told him, “I can’t wait to come home… to bring my dad home.”
    “I’ll be waiting,” he reassured me . “I wish you were here right now.”
    “Evie says they might be able to move him in another week.”
    “Hurry home,” he said urgently , “Stumpy misses you.”
    I laughed, “What is he up to today?” Apparently Stumpy the cat had made a great deal of progress in the past few days, and was now able to hop around the house.
    “He can officially get up on the bed now… A nd he insists on sleeping in it. There’s only one problem.”
    “What’s that?”
    “I’d rather have you there.”
    “Tell him I’ll be there soon,” I sighed . “I love you.”
    ~
    Evie watched over me as well as she did my father, pulling me out of the hospital to go out and eat some “decent food” at least once a day. Paul would come to sit at Dad’s bedside when I left, promising to call us the moment anything changed. Evie tried to take me shopping, but I wouldn’t have any of it, always hurrying back as soon as possible.
    That didn’t stop Evie. She thrived on retail therapy, and ended up buying me so many clothes that it was soon clear I’d be going home with a whole new wardrobe. She would burst into the hospital room with armloads of shopping bags, and I halfway expected my father to sit up and protest her excesses like he always did.
    On the fifth day Dad’s eyelids started to flutter, and I leaned over him to see them open. He struggled to focus, finally seeing my face.
    “Adria?” he croaked out.
    “No dad… it’s me, Marina,” I told him, but the recognition slipped out of his eyes and they slowly shut again. Evie came in to find me crying.
    “You need a break,” she said firmly.
    “I can’t leave him now,” I wailed.
    She regarded me with frustration, and left the room. A few minutes later she returned with Paul, and the two of them insisted I get out for some fresh air.
    “I’ll be right here with him,” Evie promised.
    “You need a workout,” Paul said, handing me a bag packed full of new gear, “You’re behind