by Bonnie Tharp
Joe’s black SUV pulled into the drive. Tillie helped Annabelle up the walk as Joe retrieved her bag from the back. Peggy began to shake when Annabelle looked at her.
Seeing the alarm in Peggy and Tad’s faces, Tillie clutched Annabelle’s arm. “What’s happened?”
“We couldn’t find your cell number,” Peggy said. “I’m sorry.”
“Where’s Megan?” Joe asked.
Annabelle’s cheeks turned beet red, but Peggy didn’t know if it was from anger or fear.
“I’m . . . I mean, she’s . . .” Tears choked Peggy’s throat so the words wouldn’t come.
“They took her to Wesley,” Tad said. “Peggy’s a-hole of a boyfriend hit her with his car when she got off the bus.”
Catching her as Annabelle swayed on her feet, Tillie and Joe leaned her against the car.
“How badly is she hurt?” Joe asked, concern etched on his brow.
Clutching the front of her dress, Annabelle swallowed hard. “Joseph, take me back.”
“Wait, take us, too,” Tad said.
“Don’t leave us!” Peggy cried.
Turning away from the teens, Annabelle stepping toward the car door. She reached out to steady herself, leaving a sweaty palm print on the shiny black hood.
“Annabelle.” Tillie held onto her arm. “I’m so sorry.”
“Wait.” Joe gave Annabelle’s shoulder a squeeze. “Let’s call Regina and find out what’s going on, okay? You just got home and need your rest.”
“Bullshit.” Pulling her arm away from Tillie, Annabelle staggered. Her friends each grabbed an arm and helped her into the house. She sagged onto the couch, closing her eyes. Peggy slid in beside her grandmother, burying her face in her shoulder. Instead of rose scented lotion, Annabelle smelled like the soap in the nurse’s office at school. Not normal.
Everything is totally weird. Nothing feels right or smells right or anything. My stomach hurts. Things are spinning totally out of control.
Dialing the hospital, Joe asked for the status of Megan Malone who had been brought in by ambulance an hour or so ago. They all hung on his words as he peppered them with questions.
“We’d like to come up and see her, but her grandmother just arrived home from the hospital,” he said, then listened for a few moments. “A heart attack. Megan’s adult cousin is there with her now. I see. Are you a nurse? Of course, my apologies.”
He pulled a pen from his pocket and wrote a number on the palm of his hand. “Very well, thank you.” Hanging up the phone, Joe turned to the anxious group.
“Megan’s awake, but they’ve given her something for the pain that will knock her out for the night. They’ve set her leg and it’s in a cast. They want to keep her for observation, and they’ll allow only one family member to be with her, but she thinks Megan will be okay.”
“Fine, then I’m going.” Annabelle pushed herself up from the couch, but lost her balance, landing back down on the cushion.
“They don’t recommend it, Belle. The nurse said we should all get some rest tonight, especially you. She’ll have Regina call as soon as Megan gets to a room. Maybe we should let Regina and the nurses take care of her tonight.”
“It’s after five,” Tillie said. “Peg, why don’t you come help me rustle up dinner?”
Removing her arm from around her grandmother’s shoulders, Peggy followed Tillie.
“I don’t think anyone is hungry,” Peggy said. She watched as Tillie wrote something on a piece of paper and put it on the refrigerator.
“Here are our cell numbers, in case you need them.”
“Thanks, Tillie.” Peggy turned in the kitchen doorway to look at her grandmother.
“We have to do something normal, honey. Fixing food helps me think.”
“Okay.” But Peggy didn’t move.
Gram’s not going to disappear, you dork. Tillie’s right. We have to act normal for things to get back to normal. Megan is going to be okay. We need to take care of Gram.
Joe filled Peggy’s vacated spot on the couch. Tad flanked their grandmother.
“Want me to get you something?” She heard Joe ask.
“No, just give me a minute.” Annabelle took a deep breath. “She knew I was coming home today and probably wasn’t paying attention when she got off the bus. Lord, help me, I feel like it’s my fault.”
Tad handed his grandmother a box of Kleenex.
I feel like it’s my fault, too, Gram, and I don’t know what to do.
“It’s no one’s fault,” Tillie said to the distressed young woman.
Twisting a tissue between her fingers, Annabelle sighed. “Why can’t I go back to the hospital to be with her? I’m her grandmother.”
Leaning forward, Joe clasped their friend’s cold hands. “Be sensible. You can’t do anything for her right now. You’ve got to get well so you can be here when she comes home.”
The shrill ring of the telephone startled them all. Tad reached it first. “Hello. Yes. How’s Megan?”
Annabelle’s chin shot up and her arms flailed, tearing her tissue. She reached out for the phone, letting the pieces drift to the floor.
Holding her breath, Peggy’s heart pounded in her ears. She strained to hear the conversation from the kitchen doorway.
“Hang on, here’s Gram.” Tad carried Annabelle the receiver.
Tillie and Peggy listened in on the kitchen extension.
“Is she alright?” Annabelle’s voice sounded constricted.
“Yes. She has a broken leg and a concussion,” Regina said. “They’re going to keep her overnight for observation. Her backpack cushioned her, preventing a more serious injury. She’s going to be okay, Annabelle. I’ll stay tonight to make sure.”
“Thank God. Regina, I want to be there.”
“Don’t worry! I’ll take care of her, I promise. Don’t you dare let that heart of yours even skip a beat, do you hear me?”
“I hear you. Thanks. Did you call Sam?”
“That’s next.”
“Ask him to find out about Miles, okay?”
“I will. And Annabelle, don’t worry. She’s in good hands.”
“I know.” Annabelle handed the receiver back to Tad and bowed her head.
Tillie hung up the extension and hugged Peggy. “She’s going to be A-Ok.”
Wiping a tear from Peggy’s cheek, Tillie went into the living room where she knelt in front of Annabelle.
“Honey, I told you Megan’s going to be fine. Let’s get you to bed. I’ll stay until they get back home tomorrow, okay?”
The knot in Peggy’s stomach began to ease as she heard those words.
Tad dropped down onto the sofa beside his grandmother. His stomach emitted an angry growl. “Uh, sorry, I guess I’m hungry.”
Totally normal.
Annabelle smiled, “Tillie, would you mind feeding this bottomless pit?”
“I wouldn’t mind a bit.”
“Megan’s a tough little girl,” Joe said, patting her knee. “How about I escort you up the stairs?”
“Thanks.” Annabelle leveraged off of the sofa. “I’m pooped.”
He held out his arm so she slid her hand into its crook.
“Gram,” Peggy said. “I know Miles would never hurt Megan on purpose.”
Annabelle sighed, “I know. And that’s a memory he’ll never forget.”
ANNABELLE STRETCHED out on the bed with a wet cloth over her eyes. Peggy sat on the floor holding her grandmother’s hand. Ms. Pickles curled up at the foot of the bed, one eye open.
“I’m sorry,” Peggy said, her head lowered so her hair covered her face.
“What about?”
“About Megan. Skipping school. Making you worry. Not helping around the house more.�
�� She pressed the pad of each finger into her grandmother’s palm.
Annabelle studied her granddaughter’s serious expression. She tucked Peggy’s straight blonde hair behind her ear.
“What happened to Megan was an accident, but I’m not comfortable with you riding alone with Miles anymore. As for the other, no more skipping school, okay?”
Peggy made a big “X” across her chest with her finger. “Promise.”
“Good. How was detention?”
The teenager sighed. “Boring.”
There was a knock on the bedroom door. Tillie peeked inside.
“Hi there,” she said. “Are you doing okay?”
“I’ll live.”
Tillie pulled up a chair. The clock chimed half-past eight. “You went to bed without eating. Are you hungry?”
“Not really. A cup of hot chocolate sounds pretty good though. Maybe it would help me sleep.” Annabelle reached for her friend’s small hand. “Did the kids eat?”
“I wasn’t very hungry.” Peggy shifted her position on the floor.
“Tad ate some, but not nearly as much as he usually packs away. I phoned your doctor to let him know about Megan. He said to take the muscle relaxant he prescribed when you were discharged. Joe picked it up at the pharmacy.” Tillie held out a glass of water and a tablet.
Taking it in silence, Annabelle swallowed the pill.
“I know I need sleep, but I’d rather go up to see Megan.”
“You can’t do her any good if you’re ill. Regina is with Megan. She’s going to be fine. She’ll be running around making us all nuts in a few short weeks. You need to take care of yourself and let others help you for a little while,” Tillie said.
Climbing onto the edge of the bed, Peggy snuggled up to the cat. “I’ll help.”
“Where’s Tad?”
“He’s in his room. Possibly eavesdropping.” Tillie grinned and tipped her head toward the wall.
“There’s not much to hear,” Annabelle said.
Tillie winked at Annabelle and whispered. “Maybe not, but I’ve used the glass to the wall trick myself over the years. It works.”
“Good to know.” Pushing up on her elbow, Peggy gave Tillie an exaggerated wink. “Tad can do the laundry and the dishes and vacuum while I sit in here with Gram.”
A muffled laugh came from the next room.
Closing her eyes, Annabelle heard the door click and knew she was alone except for Ms. Pickles who snuggled against her feet.
“Be brave, Megan girl.” Annabelle whispered before she succumbed to sleep.
Chapter 11
UNABLE TO REST, Regina sat vigil in the ugly vinyl recliner watching Megan’s chest move up and down. The room was stark and gray with only blinds to cover the windows. The lone print on the wall had faded to gray as well. When the sun had risen above the downtown skyline, the phone in her lap rang. She jumped, grabbing it before it hit the tile floor. “Hello?”
“Regina? How’s our girl doing?”
“Oh, Sam.” Regina lowered her voice. She took the phone into the bathroom and started to cry. “She looks so tiny on that big bed.” Regina took a deep breath. “But she’s going to be okay.”
“Good to hear. What about you?”
“Me? I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.” His soft voice soothed her sleep-deprived nerves.
“She has a purple cast.”
“Colorful.”
She heard the humor in his voice.
“The night nurses have already signed it. They’ll probably discharge her about noon. Will you pick us up?” Leaning her warm forehead against the cool tile, Regina felt her worries subside.
“I’ll be happy to. Have I told you lately that I love you?”
She produced a watery smile. “Thank you, sweetheart. I love you, too.”
Wiping her eyes, Regina took the phone back to its cradle next to the hospital bed.
Megan opened her eyes. “Was that Sam? Why are you crying?”
“I never cry. I’m just allergic to questions.”
“I’m hungry.”
Giving the little girl a gentle hug, Regina pressed the nurse’s call button.
“Can I watch cartoons?”
“Sure, honey.” Regina grabbed the remote and searched until she found Spy Girls, leaving the volume down low.
A tall, voluptuous woman whose nametag read “Maris,” came in and checked Megan’s vitals, making notes in her chart. When the nurse smiled, her teeth shone against her chocolate colored skin.
“You’re looking pretty good today, young lady,” Maris said. “Doctor says you can go home at lunch time.”
It felt good to have that confirmed. Regina quietly exhaled.
“Cool. My Gram just got out of the hospital yesterday. She had a stick put in her heart. I can’t wait to see her. Will you sign my cast?”
“I’d be honored.” Maris took out a black marker and wrote “Nurse Maris” putting a heart over the “I”.
Regina slipped into the restroom and washed her face with cool water. It had been a long night, but Megan seemed to be fine. Glaring in the mirror, she sighed. Blue smudges swathed each eye and the whites were mostly red.
Worry and lack of sleep will no doubt show my age fairly soon. How could this happen and to such a sweet child?
She was thankful it was a clean break. The cast would come off in six or eight weeks. They’d fitted Megan for crutches, saying it would heal better if she didn’t put weight on it. The physical therapist had shown her how to use the crutches and given instructions to take baths instead of showers, keeping her foot out of the water. Regina was sure Peggy would help Megan wash her hair. Hopefully, Annabelle would be up and around soon. Two months as caregiver to a child in a cast and a woman recovering from a heart attack seemed rather daunting, not to mention the amount of time away from Sam and Sugar.
Cooking has never been my strong suit. Thank God there’s take out, delivery and frozen food. I’ll manage.
Tucking an errant strand of gray hair behind her ear, Regina patted her messy braid and tugged on her wrinkled top. She might look like she’d been up all night sitting in a chair, but she didn’t have to act like it. Straightening her shoulders, she went back to sit beside Megan.
“Can I practice my crutches?”
“Sure, sweetie.”
The hospital gave Megan a pink sock with rubber nubs on the bottom so her good foot wouldn’t slip on the shiny linoleum. The bed had been lowered far enough that she could almost touch the floor, but not quite. Regina helped her slide off of the mattress, handing her first one crutch then the other.
“Can we go out into the hall?”
“If you feel up to it.”
Megan started off with two big steps but quickly modified it to a more natural stride matching Regina’s.
“Slow down. This isn’t a race.”
“This is kind of fun, but my pits are a little sore.”
“Your pits? That’s not very lady like. We need to find a better word. I’m afraid you’ll be sore for some time. Just take it easy and don’t go too far until your arms get used to the pressure.”
“Okay. It’s going to take me forever to go up and down stairs.”
“You may need to stay on one floor most of the time or go up and down the stairs on your fanny.”
“Can I get a new book to read?” Megan beamed at Regina.
“I don’t see why not, but we ought to double check with your teacher to see what you’ve missed. You don’t want to get behind in school.”
“I get A’s, Regina. I’ll catch up easy. Besides, school’s almost out.”
They stopped at the nurse’s station so Megan could rest. Her damp hair stuck to her forehead.
/> “Hi Maris.” Megan’s flushed cheeks were proof of her exertions.
“Howdy-do, young lady. You’re getting around just fine with those walking sticks.”
The little girl giggled.
“Take it easy for a day or so until your arms get used to them.”
“That’s what Regina said. Bye.” She turned and headed to her room.
After Regina tucked her into bed, Megan closed her eyes and went instantly to sleep. In some ways she didn’t act like a ten-year-old. Although book-smart, she seemed to hide behind her older siblings. They must’ve taken care of her and protected her from their mother’s drunken rages before she died.
What do I know? I’ve really never been around children her age. My Beth died so young. Do some constructive thinking! What is that girl going to wear since they’ve cut off most of her clothes?
When Regina couldn’t reach Sam by cell, she left him a message and called Tillie.
“Hello.”
“Hey, girlfriend. How’s it going?”
“Would you mind getting Megan a clean shirt, shorts and some flip-flops to wear home? I’ve left Sam a voice mail to pick them up.” Closing her eyes, Regina sighed.
“No problem. You sound beat.”
“I am a bit tired. It’s only seven, so I’ll rest my eyes for a few moments before the meal tray comes.”
“Good idea. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, too. I’ll also be around this evening if you need anything.”
“Thanks.” Regina hung up the phone and drifted off.
The sounds of clanging dishes woke her. She looked over to see Megan playing with a new brown teddy bear with a big pink bow around its neck.
“I had cinnamon toast and oatmeal. It was good. No rubbery eggs this time. Thanks, Regina.”
“I’m sorry. Thank you for what, sweetie?”
“My bear.” Megan held it up and wiggled one arm at Regina.
“I’m afraid I slept right through your breakfast and whoever brought your present. Where did you find it?” Regina’s shoulders began to tighten as she examined the room. The hairs stood up on the back of her neck.