Chapter 4

Lisa stayed in Sedona for another month. In that time, Emily learned everything there was to know about Gene, Lisa, and their life together. She could also see the deterioration in Lisa’s health.

“Lisa, you’ve got to get to the doctor. Maybe he can give you something for your breathing and your appetite, you’re losing too much weight.”

“No, I can’t do it here; I can’t risk it.” Lisa drew a breath. “Emily, I think it’s time for me to leave.”

They both sat at the kitchen table and just stared into their empty cups of coffee. They had both known this day was coming; but neither had expected it so soon.

The next morning Emily helped Lisa pack two suitcases full of clothes. It didn’t even make a dent in the amount of clothes that were in her huge walk-in closet.

“The rest are yours Lisa, Emily’s not going to need them where she’s going,” Lisa said with a sad smile on her face.

“You call me when you get there, Lisa; from the road if you can,” Emily said with tears running down her cheeks. In the relatively short time that they had been together they had bonded as only women who are truly sisters can.

“You have your charger for the car? You have the directions in your phone, right? Take 17 North to Flagstaff, 40 West to Kingman, 93 North to Boulder City, 11 North to Las Vegas -- don’t stop there to gamble -- then take...”

“Yes, mother. I have the directions. I’ll call you when I stop for the night, and it won’t be in Vegas.”

“I love you, Lisa. I’ll take good care of Gene, I promise.”

“I know you will; because I know you, and I trust you. I love you, too.”

Emily grabbed her suitcases and carried them out to the Civic. Before Lisa got into the car she turned and hugged Emily tightly, almost afraid to let her go. Then abruptly, ended their embrace, got into the car, started it and backed out of the garage and pulled away, with one final toot of the horn.

Emily stood in the garage until the car was out of sight, then turned, pushed the button to close the door, and went into the house. It was Lisa who entered the kitchen and walked through the house to check on her husband Gene.

It was very quiet in the house, and she missed her friend already. In order to occupy herself, she spent more time than normal in Gene’s room taking care of all of his needs. She would not, however, make love to another woman’s husband. Until she got word that everything was final, as far as she was concerned, Gene’s wife was on her way to Oregon, and that was that.

Lisa spent the night in her old bed. She wouldn’t move her stuff into Lisa’s room until she knew for sure that she had made it to Oregon and was settled in. She did get a call from her that evening; both she and her car were doing well. After a little over nine hours of driving she was about half way to Bandon. She was going to get a good night’s sleep and start out early the next morning. If her luck continued to hold, she was sure she’d make it to Bandon by 6:00 the next evening; she already had a room booked at the Best Western.

“Well, I made it. How’s everything going? How’s Gene: giving you any problems?”

“Lisa, everything is fine here; how are you?”

“First of all, my name is Emily. You’re Lisa and you better get used to it fast or you’re going to blow the whole thing. I’m feeling pretty good today. I’m checked in at the Best Western. Tomorrow I have an appointment with my new doctor. Hopefully it won’t take me too long to steer him towards what is really wrong with me. Once I get diagnosed properly, I’ll get myself checked into a long-term care facility here. I found one that overlooks the mouth of the river and the Pacific.”

Their conversation was suddenly interrupted by a coughing fit, and a prolonged period of wheezing.

“Emily, are you alright?”

“I’m okay, the symptoms are becoming more pronounced. I’m afraid the disease is progressing faster than I imagined. I’ll call you in a couple of days. I love you. Goodbye.”

Lisa stood there, staring at her phone, feeling totally helpless. She wished she could be there with her, to help her anyway she could. It wasn’t right that she should suffer alone.

She fell back into her daily routine. There was actually very little for her to do, other than make sure Gene was being fed, kept clean, and that his sexual needs were satisfied. She would do that for Emily.

Lisa started every day first checking that Gene was okay. Then she went for a long run along the Bell Rock Trail. Upon her return, she’d check on Gene, shower, and have breakfast. Then, maybe do a load of wash, spend a couple of hours in their fully equipped gym, working mostly with the free weights, alternating days on upper body, lower body, and core exercises. After checking on Gene, making sure he was bathed and taking care of his other needs, she’d use the outdoor shower to rinse off before heading for the pool or the hot tub. She loved the feel of the strong Arizona sun on her naked body. She could already see the changes to her physique and her overall tan. Her late afternoons were for heading out to the grocery store to buy whatever she needed for her meals and for the house. By nine o’clock, after checking on Gene one last time, she was ready for bed.

Although she lived in virtual isolation, she found she was not lonely. Lisa was very at peace with herself: “comfortable in her own skin”. She had a purpose: the care of a man who was totally helpless, and that suited her just fine.

She was amazed that her neighborhood felt so empty. Gardeners came and went, so did pool maintenance company vans, and the occasional handyman’s pickup truck. But, she never saw anyone moving about; except for runners of the nearby trail, no one seemed to ever be around. This was not how she grew up. Back then, everybody in the neighborhood knew practically everyone else, and many of the neighbors met socially. Now she knew why Emily felt that this scheme of hers would work.

It was two weeks later that Lisa received another call from Emily.

“Hi, Lisa. How’s everything going there in sunny Sedona?”

“Emily! Thank God you called, I’ve been worried sick about you. I tried your cell and left messages, but you never returned my calls.”

“I’m sorry Lisa, I tossed my phone into the Pacific. I realized that it was still in my old name; I couldn’t have anything to tie me back to Gene in my possession when the end came. If you haven’t yet, I suggest that you get rid of your old phone and get a new one in your name.

“The doctor finally made the right diagnosis last week and immediately put me in the hospital. But in less than three days, they told me that there was nothing that they could do for me. So they transferred me to my new home, the Pacific View Assisted Living Community. Normally they would only take in seniors, but since this is going to be a short-term stay ... money talks, and with the right amount of it they bent their rules and allowed me to lease an unoccupied unit until the end comes.”

“Emily, don’t talk like that. You keep fighting.”

There was a long period of silence, both were deep in thought.

“Lisa,” she said with a quiver in her voice, “I’m scared.”

“I know you are, Honey, I’ve seen death. I wish I could be there for you.”

“I wish I could be with the two of you, but that would sort of defeat the whole purpose of my plan. On a brighter note, they have assigned a male nurse to help me. He’s right out of nursing school; blond, blue eyes, and from his picture appears to be just yummy. He starts next week.”

“Emily, you be good to him; don’t you corrupt him.”

“I promise. Lisa I have to go; I’ll call you next week. Take good care of Gene, goodbye.”

She disconnected before Lisa could respond.

Six days later Emily called again. After the usual questions about her health and getting Emily’s usual response, Lisa could tell that things were far worse than before. There was a constant heaviness in her breathing and the fits of coughing were becoming more frequent. Lisa knew the end was near.

“Lisa, I don’t have much time. I sent Jason, my nurse, to the store to get me a couple of things that I’ll never use. Before he left I had him carry me to my desk. I’ve got to finish writing my final instructions for the director here. Lisa, I couldn’t help myself, I think I totally corrupted Jason. Each time he gives me my sponge bath, he tries to be professional, but by the time he’s finished the lump running down his inner thigh is impossible to hide. Yesterday, when he was done, I reached over and grabbed it. It didn’t take much to convince him that he would be fulfilling the final wishes of a dying woman if he would get naked and join me in bed.”