The Big Surprise

Both Herb and Izabela watched over the next few months as they detected Elizabeth’s strength slowly ebbing. In the last month of the term Elizabeth could hardly drag herself to the university, but once there by some miracle her resolve overcame her condition and she appeared to faculty staff and students just as she’d always done. On top of her game and a professor of quality.

When Elizabeth’s term at the university ended with her resignation she was honored at a banquet and presented with a citation award and gifts from university and those she’d worked with her whole teaching life. Andrei and Ilinca Popescu took time off from their assignments in Bucharest to be there for that recognition and Herb stayed in a motel while they were there so they could occupy his room at night. But during the day he spent most of his time at home and the Popescu’s studied this young man closely. Elizabeth’s world had revolved around her husband and son, but Herb had never been there for them to meet before this.

They were impressed by his intellect and obvious love of his mother but had questions about the appropriateness of their daughter and Herb being together in the home after Elizabeth had passed on. Izabela assured them she’d be working on her plans for upgrading in nursing as soon as her commitment to Elizabeth was no longer needed and that would mean a move to wherever she was accepted for further studies. They returned to Romania still feeling uncomfortable with the two of them continuing to live in the same house together even for a time after the death of their friend. When Elizabeth was eventually moved to high level care in her final weeks Izabela began her search for a place to complete these studies.

It was after a visit to Elizabeth just before her final moments Herb’s resolve finally broke. His mother no longer was able to stay awake to interact with them and a flood of happy memories of his growing up days with his parents overcame him. It had been a knife in his heart to watch his father pass on, but this was the last connection with those days passing before his eyes.

He wept loudly not caring that he was being observed by others. It was out of character for him to show his emotions. When he’d recovered sufficiently, he noted Izabela sitting by the bed holding his mother’s hand and weeping silently too. The nurse gently came and separated Izabela from that position and performed the final tests turning to the two of them. Izabela had felt those final moments by the bed with her nursing experience and softly conversed with the assigned nurse.

She then indicated there were procedures to be followed and they accompanied the nurse to the nursing station to commence these formalities. The last thing they saw was of a doctor heading for the room to confirm Elizabeth had gone to her rest. Izabela turned to Herb and indicated they were to leave though there’d be more formalities to attend to commencing tomorrow. She smiled at Herb through her own tears.

“You are now the one to be strong as you face the next couple of weeks Herb so dry your tears and drive us home.”

She reached over and put her arm around him in sympathy. If she was in grief over the death of her adopted aunt, then Elizabeth’s son must have felt it intensely and her womanly and nursing instincts sought to help him through that grief. Herb responded by putting his arms around her and holding her tight. This came as a surprise as he’d not come across to her during the period of time she’d known him as a demonstrative person outside his obvious adoration of his parents. She stood still in the corridor of the hospital trying to process what was happening. She was not averse to what he was doing but was this a brotherly thing as she’d viewed him since their meeting or could he be communicating something quite different. They stood frozen in time and not moving but eventually Izabela whispered they needed to go home as there was much to do the next day and they needed to be well rested for the weeks ahead.

Herb nodded his head in resignation.

“You’re right Izabela and I’m sorry if I offended you now. You are the only person I have left now my parents have passed on. I’ve watched you care for my mother these past few months and seen your skills and empathy at work. I know your parents don’t want to have us together in that empty house as it doesn’t seem right to them, but I was hoping against hope you’d continue your studies in Manchester as I’ve decided to enter PhD studies here. The university has urged me to do this over the years, but I decided to go for a different career and moved to London.

But since you’ve come into my life it’s like being with family and I wish you’d stay and be my rock while I enter an academic career. I’d like to support you as you go into your intensive next level in nursing too. Mother has made sufficient provision for your studies, and I’ll add anything further you need starting with one of the cars of your choice.”

Izabela exhaled in surprise.

“Herb what are you saying. I can’t live in that house with you and my parents are right. Even though we may view ourselves as brother and sister that’s not the case. My parents and relatives would be horrified as we are not married, and I’d feel uncomfortable about that too.”

They’d been walking toward the car park, but Herb stopped in his tracks. That was the solution then. He realized he needed this woman in his life, and it was not a rebound situation because he’d lost his mother tonight. He genuinely loved this woman, but did she love him in return? He had to at least try before she decided to move out.

“Izabela I’d be lost without you and realized this evening I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you marry me?”

Izabela gasped at this unexpected proposal. So that cling in the hallway was not a brotherly thing. She stammered as she replied to his proposal.

“Herb this totally unexpected. I think we need to get home and have a good sleep as there is much to do in the coming weeks to attend to your mother’s funeral arrangements and all the issues arising from her death. I’ll help you through that time. I need to think about this carefully as we are from different countries and backgrounds, and I’d like my parents to be comfortable with my decision when I do marry. Let’s see if you have different thoughts about this tomorrow and then if you don’t, we’ll explore if this would be in both our interests logically. I’m shocked but complimented you’d say what you just said.”

Next morning Herb was up early. He’d hardly slept during that night both from the loss of his mother and then from the possibility of having Izabela as his wife. He needed to know immediately if he had a chance with her and if not, he’d have to respect her wishes and treat her appropriately while she was still with him. Probably he’d have to move out from the home temporarily if she said no. He plucked up courage to go knock on the guestroom door.

“Is that you Herb? What do you need?”

“You, Izabela.”

A sleepy Izabela opened the door, but she was smiling.

“So, you thought it over and still feel that way.”

She emerged from the bedroom hair unbrushed and in her dressing gown.

“Still feel the same way?”

“Very definitely Izabela. Will you marry me?”

“Well, I did happen to phone my father to see what he had to say about your foolish outburst last evening and he said if you ask him nicely and I’m willing my parents would have no objections to keeping the relationship with the Forman family going. Do you want to ask him nicely?”

“Yes, I do, but more importantly are you willing?”

“Izabela Forman sounds good so yes, I say yes! Now phone my father and get his permission and let’s have some breakfast. I’m hungry.”

Conclusion

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