by Ann Marie
“Sir, I am afraid you are forcing me too...”
“To what?” he responded. He waited a moment for Sister Katherine to deflate and then he said calmly, “I will find her and when I do you had better pray, she is all right.”
“Sir,” Sister Katherine tried in vain to slow the group as they exited the main building. “Sir, I simply cannot allow...sir; you don’t know the child...please! Sister Ursula come back here, come back here at once.” She was about to lose sight of them, as the group turned the corner, and headed for the infirmary.
The four of them walked as fast as their legs would allow. Josephine’s father was several paces ahead of Josephine and her mother, who were within arm’s reach of each other.
Sister Ursula brought up the rear and seemed as if she were running. Sister Katherine thought she could head them off and decided to cut through the dorm hall allowing her to enter through the rear of the infirmary. If she could get there first, she could remove the child before anyone noticed. But the anger that was building within Josephine’s father, made him quicken his already fast pace. He ran the last quarter mile to the infirmary and jumped the stairs without meeting one. He burst through the doors with power. He stopped but a moment once inside. There was a nurse on duty, seated at the front desk. Off to her side he saw a hall flanked by white curtains and single beds, six or seven deep, on either side.
The nurse was about to question the interruption, when Sister Ursula came breathlessly into the room. The nurse took her eyes off Josephine’s father, briefly, when she glanced at Sister Ursula with concern. That moment was all it took for the father to regain his step. Before Sister Katherine had made it to within three feet of the infirmary, Josephine’s father found what he was looking for. He stopped dead in his tracks. Everyone came to an abrupt stop behind him. There at the farthest end of the room, sitting crossed legged on the very last bed, reading a book, without the faintest notion of what had happened, sat Antonia. He only saw her once before and that was just in passing. Yet now, seated silently, several yards away from him, with her back turned and her hair chopped to the scalp, he knew it was her.
The whole room was dressed in white; the walls, the beds, the windows. Antonia stood out like a sore thumb. She was the infirmaries only occupant. That was up until now. Josephine’s father took a step in Antonia’s direction. Sister Ursula placed a knowing and loving hand on Josephine’s shoulder as she passed both her and her mother to follow her father. Josephine and her mother stayed in the front of the room; neither wanted to go back and witness what was about to happen. Again Josephine’s father started forward. Slowly and nervously he crept closer to the child. Still she did not seem to notice there was anyone else in the room.
Sister Katherine entered from the rear. Antonia’s back stiffened as she was the first to realize Sister had arrived. Antonia looked up into the face of Sister Katherine and noticed the woman was looking past her. Antonia followed Sister’s gaze. If she was shocked to see someone standing behind her, she made no indication of it. Everyone in the room seemed to be waiting for someone else to make a move.
Finally, Josephine’s father spoke, “Antonia, I am Josephine’s father. Josephine has...” he did not want to interject his daughter here, so he rethought himself. “Antonia, has anyone hurt you?”
“Mr. Ferrero, I must insist...” Sister Katherine was cut off with a sharp look of intolerance. Her attempt at a statement was enough to have caused Antonia to take precaution.
“Antonia...I need to see your back. Can I see your back, sweetie?” Antonia looked at him. She seemed to be shrinking as she sat. “Please, it’s important. I won’t touch it I just need to see it.” He looked over to Sister Ursula for help. She in turn, looked over to Sister Katherine, who seemed to be holding out hope of surviving the whole ordeal.
Sister Katherine looked over to Antonia, who looked over to Sister Ursula. Sister Ursula then nodded her OK to Antonia, who again looked back at Josephine’s father and back to Sister Katherine. Antonia slowly lifted her T-shirt, and exposed her back. Josephine’s mother fell faintly to the floor, as Josephine tried to catch her. The nurse, from the desk rushed to help Josephine get her mother up and to a bed. Josephine’s father, mentally digested what had unraveled before him and then simply thanked Antonia, who pulled her shirt back down, as she looked blankly at the floor. Sister Katherine had left the building. Sister Ursula went to Antonia and gave her a reassuring hug which was not returned.
That was the last Josephine ever saw of Sister Katherine. Antonia never left the school. Josephine’s father had offered to pay Antonia’s tuition, but it was not necessary. Fearing a law suit, the Diocese decided it was in Antonia’s best interest that she remain at St. Agnes until she had graduated.
Chapter 5
Josephine was awakened by the sound of the vacuum as the cleaners started their evening shift. She slowly sat herself upright and rubbed the sleep from her eyes with her fingers. She let her gaze drift from the vacuum to the cross on the wall in front of her, rubbing her eyes again she stood. Chilled, she pulled the suit coat tighter around her shoulders, as she headed for the waiting room.
Once inside she took notice of Bernie, passed out in the corner of the room. She walked to the receptionist desk, but found no one there so she headed over to the doors of the emergency room. They opened automatically towards her, almost knocking her over. Regaining her composure, she stepped through. Timidly she took a step or two inside the doors, which closed behind her once again. She looked around, cautiously. The nurse on duty saw her and asked her if there was something he could help her with. Josephine walked over to the nurse’s station, still searching the room with her eyes. Once she was at the station, the nurse again inquired if he could help her.
“Um, Anthony...” she started, “I need to know...Is she...has anyone...” She rubbed her head with her left hand before pulling back her hair which had fallen in front of her eyes. The nurse took notice of the injury Josephine was sporting.
“Does it hurt? Does your head hurt?”
“Yeah. Yes, it hurts.”
“Did they give you anything for it? For your head? For the pain?”
“He gave me a shot of something, I’m not sure, it was a while ago.”
The nurse looked over the logs from the evening. “You came in with the gunshot victim, right?” Josephine just nodded. The phrase ‘Gunshot victim’ left her with a hollow feeling. “You should really go home, get some rest. Are you waiting for a ride? Is there someone I can call for you?”
“Billy, would you mind calling Billy for me? He should be back at the house.”
The nurse passed Josephine a pad and pencil. She jotted down the number and stared at it before passing it back to him. The surgery room was off to her right. Above the doors, a sign lit up, warning surgery was in progress. Josephine stared at the sign as she held her head.
“Here, take this.” The nurse handed her a little paper cup, which held two small white pills. He placed a larger plastic cup filled with water on the counter in front of Josephine before turning to search through the cabinets behind him as he spoke. “No one has come out of that room for a while. From the way she looked when they brought her in, they may be a while yet. Everyone else has gone home except for the individual sitting in the waiting room.” Josephine returned her gaze, from the doors to the nurse. “You can leave a number. I’ll call you if anything changes. You look like you could really use some sleep.” He stated as he handed her a small brown bottle. “Here, for the pain. Only take one every four hours, if you need them.”
“Thanks.” Josephine responded as she twirled the bottle in her fingers thoughtlessly.
Josephine exited the emergency room and took a seat out in the waiting room. She picked the chair farthest away from Bernie, who seemed to be drooling. Jessie, a gopher from her latest set and his date walked through the doors. Josephine noticed Jessie’s date seemed to be all of about fifteen years of age.
“Hey, how are you
feeling?” he asked Josephine.
“I have been better.” she responded.
“Antonia? How is she holding up?”
“They haven’t said yet. They think it will be a while before they know anything.”
Jessie motioned over to Bernie, “What’s with him?”
“Who knows? I don’t think he has moved since he got here.”
“You should have seen him when the ambulance took you guys away. He freaked out. He was crying and screaming. He kept bouncing up and down. I thought he went mental.”
Billy entered the room and walked directly over to Josephine and knelt down on one knee. He planted a kiss on her forehead. “Thank God you’re OK. I got here as soon as I could.”
“For Christ’s sake Billy, I have been here for six hours. Where the hell have you been?” Josephine snapped at him.
“Sorry, I had to go down to police headquarters and fill out a bunch of papers. Shit, Josephine, there was no one else to do it. What did you want me to do?”
“Your job would have been nice. Your fuckin’ job Billy.” Billy looked down at the ground. He knew he should have been there when the shooting took place. He was guilt ridden over Antonia. But how was he to know it would happen. He went after a potential threat on the water.
“Antonia? How is she? Is she gonna make it you think?” Billy asked in a childish way. Josephine looked back at him blankly. Jessie’s girl was ready for bed, and was trying to seduce him into leaving.
“Were going to head outta here.” he said to Josephine, as he placed a kiss on her cheek. Josephine never took her eyes off of Billy. “I’ll stop back and check on you guys tomorrow sometime. Later Billy.” And off the two lovebirds went, so entangled with each other it was a wonder they didn’t walk into the door.
Finally, Josephine stood and pulling the suit coat closer she said, “Let’s go.” As she stood the doors to the emergency room opened. Dr. Luke was coming out to see her. In his hand he held a small manila envelope. He extended his hand to Josephine and then to Billy. “You came in with the shooting victim, correct?”
“Anthony, yes, is she...?”
“Please, if you could sit down a moment.” They all seated themselves. The doctor glanced over at Bernie. “Your friend, Antonia...” he started, “she has had a pretty rough ride. We managed to get all but one bullet out...”
“All but one? How many were there?” Josephine is stunned. She still can’t remember the shooting at all.
“She took four shots in all. You were there, yes?”
Josephine nodded her head, “I still can’t remember everything.” She added.
The Dr. looked at her head wound. “Is there someone we can call? Does she have any family, relatives nearby?”
“I am all the family she has; since we were seven. She has no one else.” The Doctor handed Josephine the envelope.
“These were on her person when she arrived.” Billy inquired as to Antonia’s condition, while the Dr. looked at Josephine to assure himself that she was stable. “As I started to say, we managed to remove three of the four. The last one is in a difficult spot. There is some swelling in the area where the bullet rests and this is causing more delay in its removal. We are awaiting a surgeon from Long Island. He should have been here over an hour ago, but seems to have been delayed.”
“How is she?” Josephine asked.
“She seems to be in good physical condition, seems to have been healthy and strong prior to the shooting. Under normal circumstances I would believe a full recovery possible.”
“Under normal circumstances? What would be considered normal circumstances?” Billy questioned. Not knowing how to answer that exactly the Doctor continued, “As I stated, our problem is still lodged inside Antonia. Until it can be removed, I can’t say what the outcome will be. And if the swelling should increase, internal bleeding and rupturing could very well be an issue. It is really too soon to tell.” Dr. Luke looked to Josephine. “Your friend was very lucky. Not one of the bullets hit any major organs. Two entered neatly and caused little or no damage and the third, I have just explained.”
“The other one? You did say four didn’t you?”
“The other I am afraid, entered her abdomen on the right side. It tore through her right ovary and continued straight through her uterus exiting out into her left ovary. The baby died on impact. We had to perform a total hysterectomy. Your friend...”
“Baby? What baby...Anthony wasn’t pregnant.”
“Excuse me?” the Doctor questioned.
“She couldn’t have been pregnant.” Josephine said.
“I am sorry Ms. Ferrero, but she most certainty was. However, the important thing here at the moment...” He looked skeptically at Josephine. “She is going to need your support. Do you understand what I am saying?” Josephine nodded. “She lost a lot of blood and still has more surgery required. As soon as the surgeon has arrived and has familiarized himself with the situation, we can get finished. Six hours of surgery is a lot for any one person. Antonia has it in her favor, that she kept such good care of herself.” He stood to excuse himself.
“You should all go home and get some rest.” The Dr. looked over to Bernie, who had opened his eyes and was looking over at them but had not yet moved his head. “If anything happens, changes in anyway, you will be contacted. You gave your number to the nurse?” Josephine just nodded her head yes. “Fine then, go home and get some rest. You can’t do anything for her this evening and she has at least another two hours of surgery before her. Place another two to three hours more for the recovery room and at a minimum you’re looking at sun up before anyone will know anything.” With that, he returned to his patient.
“Pregnant. How the hell could she be pregnant?” Josephine asked of Billy. “Did you know she was pregnant?” Billy felt uncomfortable and shot a look over to Bernie, hoping for an escape. Bernie was looking at Josephine with an evil smile upon his face.
Noticing his smirk, she asked him “What, like you knew?”
Bernie laughed mockingly. “Of course I knew. Everyone knew she was with child.”
“Everyone? Everyone knew? I don’t think so. I don’t think everyone knew she was pregnant. I didn’t know she was pregnant! Why didn’t I know she was pregnant, dammit?” She looked back and forth between the two men. Billy was obviously trying to duck the question, Bernie was standing to leave.
“I don’t know Josephine...why didn’t you know she was with child...after all, you are her best friend...isn’t that right...best friend...” With that he turned on his toe, stuck his nose up in the air and exited the building.
Josephine once again pulled the suit coat in closer to her. “I am ready to leave now, Billy, take me home.”
“I got you a room in town for a couple days. At the police station it was mentioned that it might not be such a good idea, you’re returning to the house yet. They have to check it out and all.”
Josephine was totally drained. She wanted nothing more than to lie in her own bed and sleep forever. “I said take me home. Did I say take me to some damn hotel? No, I specifically said take me home. Billy, I am going to have to seriously rethink your position. Do you have a problem that I should be made aware of?”
“No Josephine, it’s just that the...”
“Billy, I want to go home...now.”
“Yes ma`am.” They left the hospital together. Behind them, in the emergency room, an alarm went off in surgery.
On the way back to the house, Billy called the police station and requested that there be cars posted on the property and perhaps an officer or two at both entries to the dwelling. Explaining his boss’s steadfast refusal to spend the night away from her home, he was assured there were already officers at the home and that they would remain until noon. While waiting for a light, Billy reached over and opened the cars glove box extracting a video tape from within it. Josephine had her head resting on the window to her right. She followed Billy’s movements with her eyes. He handed her the
video. She looked out the window. “It’s the tape from the party.” Billy offered. “You should look at it when you get the chance.” Josephine did not make any inquiries and Billy did not offer any more information as he pulled the car into the driveway.
As they entered the house, Josephine headed straight for the staircase, to her room. Billy held brief conversations with both officers holding positions at either entrance and then took a quick sweep of the interior, before he followed Josephine up the stairs. Josephine tossed both the video and the manila envelope, thoughtlessly onto an awaiting chair just inside her bedroom door. On top of the tape, she then discarded the suit coat. The bottle of painkillers the nurse had given her fell out of the coat pocket and onto the floor. Josephine bent to retrieve them and glanced at the video tape, peeking out from under the coat. She picked it up and looked questioningly at it as she walked over to her bed. Kicking off her shoes, she placed the bottle of pills down on the table next to the bed. She sat down on the edge of her bed and turned the tape over in her hand, thoughtfully. As she got up and started for the VCR she was startled by Billy who stood in the doorway.
“Shit, Billy, what are you trying to do, kill me?” She said.
“Sorry, just checking to see if everything is secure. May I?” He asked. She motioned with her head for him to enter the room while placing the tape into the machine. She turned to search out the remote control for the TV. Not finding it right away, she had to search the room for it. Billy checked the attached bathroom for any sign of an intruder. Then he checked the extra large walk in closet.
“You knew she was pregnant?” Josephine asked.
Billy could tell she was tired and not up for fighting. He finished his inspection with a final glance under the bed and replied, “Josephine, it’s like Bernie said, everyone knew.”
“Everyone but me, huh?” She simply stated as she sat back down on her bed, temporarily forgetting her quest for the remote control.”