Charming Memory

by E L Bossert

  “Boo, what were you thinking? You could have gotten lost, or hurt even worse? I thought I told you to stay put.” Chief shook her head, imagining she would have done the same thing in these circumstances.

  “It’s all Fred’s fault,” Boo replied somewhat truthfully, although both she and Chief knew good and well she would have been out looking for the lost children with or without Fred’s lead.

  Chapter Eleven

  WALKING AROUND THE side of the house, Boo could see Gee in the back of the ambulance with Sarah at her side. The other two girls were being driven to the hospital by their parents to be checked out although they had no apparent injuries. As paramedics removed the temporary splint on Gee’s ankle and started an IV line, the ambulance driver closed the doors for transport. When the ambulance left for the hospital, Bryan and Marco and a parade of cars followed close behind.

  “How about a ride?” Chief gently led Boo to her Sheriff’s car, making the order sound like a polite request. “Keep this up and we’ll hire you as our one person search-and-rescue squad.”

  “I need to take Fred home and lock the house. I let Jamie down,” Boo slurred the words. “I left the house open and need to check and make sure no one is in there.”

  “I’ll make sure Bryan and Sarah’s place is locked. We’ll drop Fred off and check Jamie’s house. Then I will drive you to the hospital.” Chief continued, more to herself than Boo, “If something happens to you, Jamie will never forgive me.”

  Exhausted and disoriented, Boo barely mumbled okay as she mostly fell into the front seat of Chief’s car. She laid her head against the cool dashboard to ease the throbbing pain.

  Chief, recognizing the distress in Boo’s demeanor, put Fred in the back seat and jumped in the driver’s side of the car. “We’ll just go straight to the hospital. I’ll call for backup.” Chief guided the car along the dark driveway toward the highway. She used her private phone to call for assistance to prevent the request from being broadcast on monitored frequencies. Officers were immediately dispatched to both houses.

  Keeping her eyes on the road, Chief called Shon to send them to Jamie’s house. Sirens on, Chief sped down the road toward the hospital, silently praying to the goddesses no deer jumped into the road tonight. It could be deadly for all of them.

  SOUND ASLEEP IN GABRIELA’S guest room, Jamie was startled awake by her phone ringing. When she saw her mother’s cell phone number on her screen, she panicked, fearing the worst.

  “Mom, what’s wrong? Is Max okay?”

  “Max is fine. It’s okay, honey, I just wanted to tell you that Gee hurt her ankle and they are headed to the hospital. I didn’t want you to hear it on the news in the morning.”

  “What happened?” Jamie’s breath was fast and shallow.

  “It’s a long story. I also need to tell you that Boo has a headache and Chief is bringing her to the hospital.”

  “What? Is she okay? What is going on there?”

  “We’ll tell you in the morning. Everyone will be fine. I’m headed to the hospital now and I’ll stay with Boo. Don’t worry, we’ll update you.”

  “Right...no. I’ll be home as soon as I can arrange a flight.”

  “Honey, we all know you’re working—”

  ”Mom, don’t even try, I’m already packing. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Jamie hit the button to end the call before her mother could protest further.

  Gabriela, awakened by the ringing phone and the sound of Jamie’s voice, popped her head into the room. “Is Max okay? What’s going on?”

  “Gee hurt her ankle and Boo is sick. Bad headache. There’s something they’re not telling me. I’ll charter a flight home. You can go back to bed.”

  “No way. I’m coming with you. Give me five minutes, tops.”

  “Gabriela, it’s okay, I’m sure everyone will be fine. I just need to check it out myself.”

  “Are you kidding? No way am I letting you go by yourself. Plus I am not missing a chance to meet this Boo Charming.”

  Gabriela grabbed her go bag and stuffed a few pieces of clothing inside. She put on the outfit she had worn to dinner mere hours earlier and called for car service.

  Jamie phoned the airport VIP concierge to arrange a private flight. It would be expensive, but Jamie wanted to fly directly into Crestwood’s small airstrip to save time.

  “Car will be here in a couple of minutes. Ready?” Gabriela asked, bag in hand.

  “Let’s go,” Jamie replied, relieved her best friend was coming with her.

  IN THE ER, GEE WAS being examined and prepped for an x-ray. Sarah stayed with her daughter as Bryan explained the night’s events to the other parents. The other girls were checked out and released into their parents’ care. Both apologized and sounded remorseful for sneaking out of the house. It was not clear if the girls realized this was a bad idea from the start or if they were simply sorry Gee was hurt and they were caught.

  As soon as Chief pulled up to the ER entrance, Boo was lifted out of the car onto a stretcher. Lessa rushed to Boo’s side.

  “Thanks, Lessa,” Chief called as she returned to her car. “I need to park and pass Fred off to one of my deputies, then I’ll be right in.”

  Boo’s brain pounded in her skull. Sitting up made her dizzy. Even when lying on her back, the world did a slow twirl. She was vaguely aware of Lessa taking a hold of her hand as they rolled into an examination room.

  “It’s good to see you, Boo Charming, but I think we need to stop meeting like this.” The attending nurse was the same as Boo’s first hospital trip. “This is not a buy three get one free deal.”

  Ordinarily Boo would have joined in the light banter, but the feelings of nausea kept her silent.

  “Do you know what day it is?” the nurse asked.

  “Sunday? Maybe Monday now,” Boo answered.

  “Do you know where you are?”

  “Crestwood hospital. Again.”

  “Do you know who the president is?”

  “Obama. Don’t wreck my bliss.” Boo wanted to laugh but couldn’t.

  “Okay.” The nurse seemed satisfied.

  “How are Gee and the girls?” Boo expressed concern even though every word pained her.

  “The girls are fine and Gee will be okay,” Lessa answered from the end of the bed as the nurse continued her examination of Boo. “They are taking an x-ray of her ankle. Hopefully it’s just sprained really badly. I’m sure she’ll be on crutches for a while. Crutches will be the least of her worries once Sarah decides on her punishment. I think both kids will be grounded for life now.”

  “Where’s Marco?”

  “He’s at our house with his Grandpa Philip. Max and Marco are both sleeping through this.”

  Chief walked in and stood next to Lessa.

  “Has anyone called Jamie?” Chief asked.

  It was now after three o’clock in the morning.

  “Yes, I called when I found out both Gee and Boo were hurt,” Lessa replied. “She’s on her way home.”

  “No,” Boo protested weakly. “She doesn’t have to—”

  ”Really? Do you know my daughter? Gee being hurt would probably be enough to bring her home, but Gee will be okay. My dear, she will be here for you. In a few short hours.”

  Boo tried to the nod her relief but the pain in her head stopped her. The sedative in IV drip kicked in and she drifted quietly off to sleep.

  DANI’S PHONE RANG IN the middle of the night. Still half asleep, she picked up the cellphone and saw the number of the police beat reporter flash on her screen. A call in the middle of the night was never good. Hopefully it was not something gruesome.

  “Dani? Been listening to the police scanner. Heard a call out to the Jordan family farm. Several officers. An ambulance. Not sure what’s going on. Sounds like a missing persons. I’ll let you take this one if you want it.”

  “Thanks, Rob, I’m on it. I appreciate the call. I’ll put you in the byline if there’s a story.” Dani was grateful to her co
lleague for calling. He might be giving up a big story. On the other hand, he might simply want to stay in bed and not chase a story in the middle of the night that could turn out to be nothing newsworthy. Either way, Dani jumped out of bed and dressed. Dani’s wife, accustomed to middle-of-the-night calls, rolled over to resume sleep.

  Dani switched on her scanner in time to hear the ambulance call to the hospital. One on board and three or four additional incoming. She thought it unusual for an ambulance crew to not have a firm count of patients. This was enough to justify a quick trip over to the hospital. Dani poured cold coffee in a travel mug and grabbed her car keys.

  Fifteen minutes later, Dani stepped inside the ER waiting room. She saw Bryan huddled with two other families. He looked a lot worse for wear, with scratches on his arms and a bandage on one side of his forehead. His clothes were dirty and sweaty.

  Dani stepped off to the side of the waiting room and sat down to begin typing a short story on her phone.

  Catching sight of Dani, Bryan came over to sit in a chair next to her. He understood the media game—if he gave her enough information for a good story, Dani would not pry further.

  “Is everything okay, Bryan? That’s as a friend, not a reporter.” Dani put the personal concern up front to reinforce her intention to respect the family’s privacy.

  “Yes, everyone will be fine, thanks for asking. Here’s the short version for your story. Three young girls became lost during a night time walk on the Jordan family farm. They were quickly found by an unnamed person during a search. Gee Jordan-Dirk had fallen and was brought to the hospital with an ankle injury. She will be fine. I can’t speak for the other girls’ families. You’ll have to ask them if they want to comment. Is that enough?”

  “Thanks, Bryan. Who is the unnamed person? Is that the fourth person brought to the hospital?”

  “I cannot give you any information about that person since I am not authorized to speak on their behalf.”

  Dani put her phone down, indicating she was no longer taking notes and they were off the record now. “Is it the famous Boo Charming?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t say it and please don’t report it. I really can’t speak for her. She and Fred did find them and she saved Gee.”

  “Can I use the part about Fred?” Dani could picture the big fluffy Newfoundland coming to the rescue.

  Bryan nodded his consent. Fred would divert attention from Boo.

  “Alright, I’ll finesse this. Maybe Chief will fill in a bit more.”

  Bryan nodded his appreciation and left to join Sarah and Gee. Dani continued writing her story until Chief appeared through the ER doors several minutes later. Dani stopped her.

  “Bryan told me three young girls were lost on a night time walk at the farm. Gee fell, hurt her ankle, and was brought to the hospital. The person who found the girls is unnamed, but Fred led the way. That should hook everyone’s interest. Any comment?”

  Chief took a deep breath, composing her thoughts. It was clear that Dani was writing the story because the incident involved the Jordan family.

  “Dani, I appreciate you being here at this early hour. Yes, the police were called to the Jordan family farm. We initiated a search for three missing girls. They were found in less than an hour. Two of the girls were checked out and released. One is still in the hospital. I cannot give you names for privacy reasons.”

  “And the person who found them?”

  “That person was also brought to the hospital, although I cannot update you on their condition.”

  “Thanks, Chief. I’ll try to make it a routine story. But, someday, I want to write a feature on this Boo Charming. She’s turning into quite a character.”

  THE TRIP TO THE NEW York City airport was quick in the light, pre-dawn traffic. Jamie and Gabriela were dropped off at the entrance to a private executive jet service. The company had a non-disclosure agreement with Jamie’s talent agency, minimizing the chance there would be a leak to the press. Fortunately one of the flight crews had arrived early for a flight that was cancelled at the last minute. With the contract signed and new flight plan directly into Crestwood prepared and filed, Jamie and Gabriela boarded the small plane.

  “Unless we hit turbulence in this little thing, I am not complaining about flying private.” Gabriela appreciated the luxury even under the dire circumstances.

  “I need to make a few calls while we’re in the air. Would you mind booking your return trip online. Here’s my credit card. I really do appreciate you coming with me. I just...” Jamie’s voice trailed off. She couldn’t explain, even to her long-time friend, her intense need to see Boo and take care of her.

  Chapter Twelve

  BOO WAS MOVED FROM the ER to a private room for further observation. As promised, Lessa did not leave her side except for a few minutes to check on Gee and Sarah.

  Sitting at Boo’s bedside, Lessa sipped a cup of tea while absent mindedly picking at a blueberry muffin Bryan brought her. She contemplated the sleeping woman whose bedside she gladly kept watch over. This person had obviously captured the heart of one of her daughters. Her other, not-so-smitten daughter, now owed the two-time hero an apology.

  Lessa’s phone vibrated.

  “Hi, Mom. Where are you?”

  “I’m with Boo. She asked for you a couple of times. And about Max. She’s sleeping now. The doctors think it’s a post-concussion headache. They said it’s normal to have severe headaches and dizziness for several weeks after a concussion.”

  “Thanks for being there with her. How’s Gee?”

  “She’s fine. They will keep her in the hospital until her regular pediatrician can stop by. The x-ray showed a broken bone in her ankle. Nothing requiring surgery, thankfully. She’ll have a boot and be on crutches the rest of the summer. While she’s grounded.”

  “We’re in the air now and should be there soon. Gabriela is with me. Chief will pick us up at the airport. Said she had a couple hours of comp time coming. Now, will you please tell me what the heck is going on? I want the whole story. Don’t spare me any details.”

  Lessa relayed to Jamie as much as she knew from talking to Bryan, Chief, Sarah, and Gee. Gee swore Boo jumped twenty feet down off the cliff, fought off a den of poisonous snakes, and saved her from certain death. Chief’s version was slightly less dramatic and a lot less exaggerated. However, the basic facts were the same—Fred and Boo found and rescued the girls while everyone else was off searching in the opposite direction.

  “Wow,” Jamie said, taking it all in. “Do you think Sarah might lay off Boo now?”

  “I would bet she will. Your big sister is very protective of you.” Lessa did not tell Jamie of her plan to have a mother-daughter heart-to-heart with Sarah the minute they were all safely home. Lessa did not like having her daughters at odds and was impatient with Sarah’s irrational concerns about Boo. As far as Lessa was concerned, Boo was part of the family.

  “What we need to do is add Boo to our health insurance plan as soon as possible. Throwing herself in front of trucks and off cliffs to save our family has turned into a full time job.” Jamie shook her head with frustration that her family seemed to be in need of saving on a regular basis and Boo was being harmed in the process. “We should be there by nine. Love you, Mom.”

  CHIEF MET JAMIE AND Gabriela at the small Crestwood airstrip. She was dressed in a deep navy sheriff’s department T-shirt and khaki cargo shorts that showed off her toned butt. In the rush home, Jamie had forgotten until now that Gabriela and Chief hooked up during Gabriela’s last visit to Crestwood.

  “Thanks. I really appreciate this.” Jamie hugged Chief, holding on for an extra second to steady her nerves.

  “Of course.” Chief looked to Gabriela, containing her smile, “It’s good to see you, Gabriela. I wish the circumstances were different, but I’m glad you’re here.” Looking back to Jamie, Chief added, “We have Fred at the police station right now. I didn’t have time to drop her back at your house. Shon said they would pi
ck her up later after they found out what you need. I’m pretty sure Fred is being treated quite well at the station, especially since Boo gave her all the credit for tracking down the girls. We may have to deputize them both.”

  “I’m sure Fred is enjoying the attention. Any updates for me? I talked with Mom before we landed.”

  “Let’s drive you two over to the hospital. I’ll fill you in on the way. Gabriela, if you need anything while you’re here, please do not hesitate to contact me,” Chief spoke in a matter of fact tone, almost covering up the sparks of attraction crackling in the air.

  On the short drive from the airstrip to the hospital, Chief recounted the story of the rescue, adding a couple of new details but leaving out the part about Sarah confronting and threatening Boo. That would have to come out later.

  At the hospital, Jamie walked directly to Boo’s room, finding her sleeping. Lessa pulled her child into a comforting embrace. Jamie sent her mother home to eat and sleep. Lessa stopped long enough in the hallway to warmly greet Gabriela and invite her to the house.

  Jamie laid her hand over Boo’s, leaning over the raised bed rail carefully to kiss Boo’s forehead.

  Gabriela watched from the doorway, recognizing the tenderness in this gesture for what it was—the beginning of a great love story. She was pleased by her friend’s good fortune but then checked herself, remembering Boo was most likely a married woman. Hopefully her friend would not suffer unrequited love at the end of this seemingly fairy tale romance, complete with a dashing hero and daring rescues.

  Jamie joined Gabriela in the doorway to the room. “Mom said that Boo was awake earlier but still had a headache. I want to be here when Boo wakes up again, so I’m going to find Gee and Sarah now while she’s sleeping. Would you mind hanging out here for a few minutes? Can I bring you anything?”

  “I’m good. Go.”

  The room was cool and dark. Gabriela could barely make out Boo’s facial features and the rest of Boo’s body was covered by a sheet, with her right ankle sticking out, elevated on a pillow. Gabriela stood beside the bed, studying the woman who had captured Jamie’s heart. She could see the appeal.