by Kate Young
I prayed the entire way to the hospital, with only the monotone digital voice guiding in the background. When I pulled into a parking space, I forgot to put the car in park and the curb reminded me of that fact. Once I had, I snatched my purse off the seat and rushed into the hospital. My entire body felt numb as I clipped the tag onto my shirt and rode the elevator up to the third floor. There were two elderly women crying next to me, and I had to force myself to not break down. My heart hurt for all three of us. I’d hated hospitals before little Olivia was born. The sterile smells, the whirling machines, and the stench of illness was all I could focus on before the glorious night she emerged into the world with a red face and balled-up fists. When my sister first asked me to be in the room with her during the delivery, I hadn’t wanted to. I knew nothing about babies or the pain the mother endured to give them life, before experiencing it with my sister. Now I was so glad I’d been there to witness the miracle. The joy and the love that knew no bounds I’d instantly had for the little stranger astounded me. The memory almost made me smile. Almost.
When the doors opened, I had to face the other reasons people were admitted. The smell of Lysol and bleach greeted me as I moved down the hallway toward the waiting room. Standing in the open doorway, I took it all in. In the corner in the back sat Sam, slumped over with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands in his hair. Next to him sat Doc Tatum on the phone. She rubbed his back in a motherly sort of way.
Sam lifted his head and looked directly at me. Almost as if he sensed my presence. The lost-puppy-dog look in his blue eyes broke my heart. He rose and we crossed the room and embraced. “I was worried about you. You took forever getting here.”
We went to sit in the chairs.
“I’m sorry. It took me a minute to pull myself together.” I dabbed at my eyes.
Sam nodded. To my utter surprise, Sam wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my neck and sobbed.
We cried together while I murmured soothingly into his ear and rubbed his back. “He’s strong. He’ll make it. I have no doubts.”
“That’s what Lindy said too,” Sam said.
“Lindy is right.” I smiled in her direction. Her face, stricken with worry, creased in a small smile.
He lifted his head and wiped his face with his large palms. His face reddened with embarrassment. Stupid macho guy stuff.
“Of course she is. Besides, the old man is too stubborn to die,” Sam said.
We laughed.
He rose. “I’m going to go get us all some coffee.” He didn’t look back as he left the waiting room. He needed a minute alone. I understood that.
Doc Tatum—no, Lindy—moved to his abandoned seat and wrapped an arm across my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “Your father is in capable hands. I have the utmost confidence in Dr. Zeke’s abilities. It could be a long operation, though. He’s undergoing a triple bypass. He’s lucky. I know the warning signs, and he showed nothing except for his fatigue levels.”
“Where did it happen?”
“He collapsed beside his truck outside the sheriff’s department. Tonya was just coming back from lunch and saw him fall. She dialed nine-one-one and then me. I made it a minute before the ambulance and rode with him here. I was terrified I’d lose him right there on the pavement.” Her voice wobbled, and I squeezed her hand. It was evident how much she loved him.
“I’m so glad you were with him. I would hate to think he dealt with such a terrifying ordeal alone.”
We settled into silence. I stared at the striped pattern on the commercial carpeted flooring. Several other people strolled into the waiting room, taking seats around the perimeter of the room. One family in particular kept glancing our way. I didn’t recognize them. The young man, with what I assumed were his parents, showed them something on his phone. They weren’t far from us. It was easy to pick up Larry’s voice asking Eddie if he was protecting his daughter.
I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole.
Lindy took my hand. “This girl’s father is on the operating table. Doesn’t she have enough turmoil to deal with? I’d appreciate it if you’d show some respect.”
The older woman had the decency to appear embarrassed. “We apologize to you both.”
Her husband stood and came over to where we sat, while the woman instructed her son to put his device away. He didn’t appear the slightest abashed, shrugging and shoving the phone into the cargo pocket of his pants.
The man, wearing jeans and a gray T-shirt, held out his weathered hand to me. “I know Sheriff Carter. We fish in the Peach Cove tournament together every spring.”
I took his calloused hand as recognition struck. “Oh, that’s right.”
“Our grandson didn’t mean anything. He’s young and anything exciting is fair game as far as entertainment goes. His mother is fighting for her life too.”
I shook my head. “No, of course not. Emotions are running high. I’ll be praying her surgery is a success.”
He dropped my hand; his eyes were kind and warm. “Thank you. And we’ll be praying for Eddie.” He took Lindy’s hand next, and she stood and hugged the man. Then she followed the man back to his seat and hugged his wife. She would’ve hugged their grandson, but he slinked back into his seat. I could hear her offering kind words and apologizing for her outburst.
I sat there fiddling with my hands in my lap until she returned. She’d spoken up for me, and I wouldn’t forget it. Lindy and I would be closer from now on. She was family.
A few minutes later, Lindy said, “I better go check on Sam. You want anything from the cafeteria?”
I shook my head and she walked away. It appeared Sam and Lindy were a lot closer too.
My phone chirped several times in succession. I dug through my bag, hoping I had enough battery life to get me through the night. It would be tight with only forty percent remaining. Betsy had texted with her prayers and asked if I needed anything. I texted back with my thanks and that I was good. I had a few texts from my sister, but before I could reply, my phone rang with her ring tone. Heads whipped in my direction.
“Sorry.” I fumbled with the buttons on the side of the phone before answering. “Hey,” I whispered and moved to the chair in the corner.
“Hey, hon, how are you?” Jena Lynn’s voice held that motherly concern. It didn’t matter how old we were, she’d always act like my big sister.
“I’m okay. Eddie’s still in surgery. I don’t know anything yet.” I placed my elbow on the back of the chair and glanced out the window to see the sun falling behind the tree line below the parking lot.
“We’re praying for him. He’ll pull through.” I heard mumbling in the background.
“Thanks, Sis. Someone there with you?”
“Zach’s mom. She’s been a lifesaver. When Olivia is inconsolable, she has the patience of Job. She walks her up and down the driveway for hours. I don’t know how I’d get along without her help.”
Jena Lynn won the mother-in-law jackpot. Zach’s mom had the capacity to love like no other. She treated Jena Lynn just like one of her own.
“I’m so glad. How is Olivia?”
“She’s okay. The pediatrician said she has a little cold and that, compounded with teething, has her fever up and her ears bothering her. It’s nothing serious.”
“That’s good.”
“It is. But we don’t have to talk about this.”
“No, I want to. Distraction is good. Vent away.” I tapped on the window lightly with my fingernail.
“Don’t be silly. You don’t want to hear about my debate to wean Olivia to formula so I can have my body back, or how I’m worried I’m spoiling her by picking her up the second she begins crying.”
I attempted to laugh but failed. “Sure, I do.”
“Listen, you don’t have to be tough with me. It’s okay to be afraid. It’s okay to worry, and it’s more than okay to express those emotions. I don’t want you to have to go through this on your own. You’ve don
e your fair share of suffering in silence. The limit, I’d say. I’ll be free in an hour if you want me to come and sit with you and Sam.” She meant it, and I appreciated it. But she sounded exhausted and she’d need to pump or feed the baby every few hours. She had enough on her plate. Despite all of that, she’d sit with me all night if I allowed her to.
“Thank you, but you should be with Olivia. I’ll call the second I know anything.”
“You’re sure?” Her voice betrayed her hurt feelings.
“Oh, Jena Lynn, you know I love you and always want you with me. I just thought you could use the rest, and Lindy is here too. She said it could be hours before we receive an update. Please don’t be upset.”
“I’m not. Of course, I’m not. Forgive me. It’s my hormones. Don’t mind me. I love you, Sam, and Eddie is all. If you change your mind, call me day or night. Promise?”
“Yes. I promise. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
I heard Olivia crying in the background before she disconnected the call.
I sat staring at the phone for a few minutes. I could go on social media and catch up on the happenings with all my Facebook friends. That would pass a little time. I slid my phone back into my bag and decided against it. I couldn’t handle negative energy in my current headspace, and social media could be blowing up with the interview and conspiracy theories regarding the murder or politics.
My phone chirped again, and I hurried to dig it out of my bag quietly. When the Blue Bird Inn came up on my caller ID, I hit the answer icon. “Hello.”
“Marygene, I just heard about Eddie,” my cousin Nate said. “I’m so sorry to hear it.”
“Thanks. He’s in surgery now. He’ll pull through.” I wiped my nose.
“Of course he will. Um, you left a message for me to give you a call the other day. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. If this is a bad time—”
“No, it’s okay. With everything that’s happened, I completely forgot. I wondered if you had a guest registered there with the first name David. He might be the biker type.”
“Um—” I heard the clicking of computer keys. “Surprisingly, we do have a David Commons registered.”
I sat up straight in my chair.
“He and his wife checked in two days ago. They’ll be here until tomorrow. But I don’t think he’s the biker type. They’re here for bird-watching. They came with a small group. I think he’s about seventy.”
“Oh, okay. I know the sheriff’s department spoke to you about the man who stayed and paid cash.”
“Yeah, haven’t seen him in a while. We currently just have the McCall Bird Watchers as guests. Hey, I’ll be praying for Eddie. We all will.”
“Thanks. Bye.” I put my phone away and rubbed my aching head, so overwhelmed I could bawl my eyes out. When I glanced up, I spied Javy filling the doorway. His presence always seemed to take over a room. I waved. Javy took the chair next to me.
“Hey.” I smiled at Javier.
“Hey.” He smiled back. “No news yet?”
“No. How about with the investigation. Any new developments?” I stared into his face expectantly.
“Afraid not.”
I took in a deep, shuddering breath and shook my head. Javy reached out and took my hand. I allowed him to wrap his large fingers around mine.
CHAPTER 21
I woke with a start and my head on the seat of the chair next to me. “Marygene, the doctor is here,” Sam whispered, and shook my shoulder.
“Oh.” I wiped my mouth. The waiting room had cleared out with only Sam, Lindy, and me left in it.
Lindy was standing in front of the man in a white coat. I slid my feet off the chair. Sam took my hand, and we joined Lindy. We stared like two lost children waiting for the nice man with salt-and-pepper hair and a creased forehead to tell us our daddy was okay.
“He came through the surgery well.” Dr. Zeke looked from Lindy to me and Sam. “We had a small incident where his vitals dipped and we almost lost him.”
I sucked in a breath, and Sam swayed on his feet. I gripped his forearm with my free hand. He squeezed my hand so tightly it almost hurt.
Dr. Zeke rushed to add, “He’s stable now.”
“Can you explain exactly what was done?” Sam cleared his throat. “I’ve heard of folks getting bypasses done, but I’m not sure I understand the procedure. I mean, how long till he’s able to be back on his feet and all that?”
“Of course. We performed what is known as a coronary artery bypass graft surgery. It treats blocked heart arteries by creating new passages for blood to flow to your father’s heart muscle.”
Sam nodded and so did I as I attempted to absorb what the doctor was saying. Numbness spread throughout my limbs. It was almost an out-of-body experience. Listening to some stranger tell about how he’d held your father’s life in his two hands and saved him.
Dr. Zeke’s coffee-colored eyes softened. “Let’s see if I can break this down a little. Basically, we take the arteries or veins from other parts of your dad’s body and use them to reroute the blood around his clogged arteries.” The doctor’s lips flattened into a thin line. “Now I must inform you that during the procedure his heart experienced failure and we nearly lost him, but we managed to stabilize him and right now, he’s okay. We’ll be monitoring him closely.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Lindy shook his hand.
He covered hers with his. “You’re welcome. It’s a lot to process when it’s someone you love, I know.”
“When can we see him?” I asked.
“As soon as it’s possible, I’ll send the nurse out to inform you when he’s able to have visitors. It’ll be a little bit. Take this time to grab some coffee or a snack.”
“Thank you,” Sam and I said in unison.
“Take care.”
The doctor left and then the three of us embraced, and tears of gratefulness flowed all around before Lindy excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. My stomach audibly growled. I hadn’t eaten in hours.
“It’s going to be a while before we can see Dad. I could eat something too,” Sam said. “The cafeteria isn’t open yet, but we could pop down and get something from the vending machines. We’ll feel more awake when we see Dad if we get some sugar in our systems.”
I glanced at my watch. It was five in the morning. “Yeah, okay.”
We sat in the dark cafeteria with our tabletop full of crackers, granola bars, and a variety of chocolate bars. Sam braved the ham-and-cheese prepackaged sandwich while he talked to Poppy on the phone. The coffee tasted burned, but I drank it down with vigor while I texted Jena Lynn. She usually put her phone on do-not-disturb at night so it wouldn’t wake the baby if she received a call. She’d see that Eddie came through the surgery when she woke. I did the same for Bets.
“Javier stayed until he absolutely had to leave,” Sam threw out there after he hung up with Poppy. “He made me swear to call him if you needed anything.”
“He’s a good friend.” I got up and put some change into the machine and pressed the buttons for another cup of disgusting caffeine.
“Friend?”
“Don’t make mountains out of mole hills. We’re just friends.” I sat back down at the table.
“Well, he’s protective in a way that appears he’s more than just a friend, Marygene. He watched over you while you slept and made sure you weren’t disturbed. He stroked your hair like you were some prize.”
My fingers froze on the package of crackers I’d been about to open. “Really?”
Sam nodded. “Yeah. It’s not like you’re in a relationship or anything.”
I opened my mouth to refute his assumptions on my love life, but he cut me off.
“Don’t even say you’re seeing Paul. I can tell the guy’s just a placeholder.”
“That’s not true.” I tore open the package.
“Hey, it’s me you’re talking to. You started dating him on the rebound. He’s the complete o
pposite to every other guy you’ve ever shown interest in. That made him seem safe in your book.” He raised his hands. “I get it.”
“Maybe there’s a little truth to what you’re saying.” I shrugged. “I thought he was a great guy, or at least a different kind of guy.”
“Really? If that’s true, where is he? A great guy wouldn’t stay away without even checking in. Have you even thought about calling him?” Sam finished off his sandwich in two bites and, from his facial expression, it must not have been so tasty.
I froze mid-sip as I pondered Sam’s words. He had a point. Paul hadn’t entered my mind when I found out about Eddie. I’d never even thought about contacting him, especially after our dinner. Nor had I been devastated when I found out he might have had a relationship with Lucy, or by his reaction to my questioning. Was embarrassed by it, yes, but not hurt. I’d been more concerned about Lucy’s death than his deception. I felt awful that I could’ve been using Paul.
“The reasons don’t matter now anyway. We had a fight. It’s over.” I sipped from my cup. “It’s not a big deal. I forgot all about him when I got the news about Eddie.”
“See! I was right.”
“Yeah, okay.” I smirked. It felt good to be sitting here chatting with my brother, knowing our father would be okay. “Still, that doesn’t mean I don’t care about him. I’d like to be friends.” Even as the words fell from my lips, I wondered if being friends with Paul, after everything, would be possible.
Sam grinned. “I don’t see it happening, Sis. One thing I’ve learned through this nightmare with Dad is when catastrophe strikes, who you think about first is who you really care about. I called Poppy first thing. She’d have been here with me too, but she has a cold and Lindy said it wouldn’t be wise.”
“I don’t see the correlation.”
“Well, this also shows Paul’s true colors. A man with good character would’ve reached out, even if it’s over. Y’all had a thing. He should call and at least check in on you and your dad. Surely word has gotten around by now.”
Sam had a point. I checked my phone and confirmed I hadn’t received a call from him. I shrugged and slid my phone on the table. “We parted badly. I’ll tell you about it sometime, just not now. It isn’t like I loved him or anything. All that matters is Eddie’s alive and in the care of great physicians. He’s what’s important.” I concentrated on the black liquid in my paper cup.