Free Spanish Bay by Hans M Hirschi Page A

stroke, Sally woke up again. She had been lucky. The stroke had damaged the right half of her brain, leaving her partially paralyzed in the left side of her body, and it restricted the movements of her left arm and leg, but her right arm was fine. She was able to speak, although with the paralysis in the left side of her face, it was difficult to understand what she was saying. She drifted in and out of consciousness, slept an awful lot, and the doctor had to remind Samantha to be patient and not rush things.
    It was a further two weeks before Sally was coherent enough for Samantha to ask her about the future.
    “Hey, sis. You’ve given us quite a scare…”
    Sally gave her a half smile, making her face look all warped, with one corner of her mouth pointing up and the other hanging down.
    “Listen, I’ve done some research. We have this wonderful clinic back east. They specialize in stroke rehabilitation. I think it would be best if you came back with me, so you’re close to family. I can’t stay here forever, and you don’t have anyone out here…”
    Samantha was careful not to push her sister too hard. Sally had always been stubborn and rebellious. Ten years her junior, she had never really understood what it meant to be an Ashbury, and the responsibility to the family history and the fortune that went with it. Sally was a hippy, and had left the east coast to study on the west coast. Unbeknown to her parents, she’d used her trust money to buy a building in Carmel and opened a café. She never went to university, never graduated.
    When her parents found out, they cut all ties to her, and when they died, the family fortune was passed on to Samantha, who, of course, didn’t need it, as she had married rich herself. Secretly, Samantha had stayed in touch with her sister; they weren’t close and they rarely saw each other, but they still talked regularly, and Sally realized that Samantha was right. She was in no condition to live on her own, and while she had plenty of friends in Carmel, she didn’t want to be a burden on any of them. She also understood that Samantha wouldn’t be a frequent visitor in New York, but at least she’d see her more often than she would if she stayed out here in Carmel.
    Inside Sally’s head, there was something else worrying her though, and she tried to put in words.
    “Kh-ah-fé.”
    Every word was painful, but Samantha understood. “You mean the café? Well, it’s open, and Chris is doing a great job. But I guess if you’re coming to New York with me, we’ll have to sell it?”
    Sally shook her head, slowly.
    “No? So what do you want to do with it?”
    “Kh-rees…”
    “What about Chris?” Samantha wasn’t catching on.
    “Rh-uhn!”
    “You mean run? You want Chris to run it? As manager, or do you have something else in mind?”
    Sally was frustrated. It was so difficult for her to express her thoughts. She looked pleadingly at her sister, but Samantha was none the wiser. She tried again. “Gh-ehv!”
    “You want to give it to him? But, Sally, that makes no sense. Why would you want to give it to him? He’s only worked for you a couple of months.”
    Sally had fallen asleep again. It was clearly exhausting for her to think and talk.
    The next morning, Samantha called Chris at work. “Good morning, Chris. How are things down at the café?”
    “Good, we’re very busy. The whole town is rallying around Sally. We’re busier than ever.”
    “I’m glad to hear it. Listen, Chris, Sally would like to see you. We need to talk about the café. Can you come by the hospital this afternoon, say three o’clock?”
    “Sure, I’ll be there. Neil should be out of school by then. He’ll look after things.”

Chapter Eight: Graduation
    “HONEY, HURRY UP or we’re going to be late…”
    Sarah was a nervous wreck. Her oldest son was about to graduate from high school, and she didn’t know how to deal with the emotions. When Neil had been diagnosed with