Green Stone Ring

by Staible, Karleen

  “Listen, honey, do you think you could come to DC tomorrow? Just for the day. I have a meeting with Senator Jones, and you know how he has an eye for you. You can persuade him much easier than I.”

  Gini took in a deep breath. “Sure, I can probably come for the day or perhaps overnight. Maybe Ric can come, too. He seems pretty busy, but it would be nice for just the two of us to get away one more time together. I’ll talk to him and let you know when we’ll be there.”

  “Good, I want to see that big belly of yours.”

  “I can honestly say, I won’t miss being pregnant.”

  “I thought every woman felt so special when they were with child.”

  “Maybe at first, but I’m getting really uncomfortable now.”

  “Can’t wait until tomorrow to see you.”

  Gini walked to the elevator and went down.

  “Ms. Anderson,” Howard said. “What a lovely day it is. Are you walking alone this morning?”

  “Yes, Ric had to work.”

  “I saw him earlier. I see your family is growing inside you.”

  “Bigger and bigger every day.” She walked past the counter. “I want to get out and back in before it gets too warm.”

  “You have water?”

  “Yes, have water and juice.”

  “Don’t go too far, and rest if you get tired. You have my phone number?”

  Gini laughed. “I have your number, and I promise I’ll rest along the way. I love looking at the flowers and the butterflies. I’ll be fine, Howard, thank you for your concern.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Always looking out for my people.”

  Gini went out the doors and turned toward Long Wharf. She texted Ric:

  I’m just leaving.

  When she got to Central Street, instead of going straight to Waterfront Park, she turned left to go to the Parkway. The gardens between the two lanes of traffic were always planted beautifully. She hadn’t been to those gardens this year. Once she was on the grounds, she strolled along. The flowers were outstanding. She cupped one into her hand, leaned over and took in its wonderful fragrance. There were a few other people around her. The traffic was much lighter now that the freeway was underground. The city was completely opened up without the raised lanes and bridges. Gini lost all track of time. She sat down on a bench and watched two young children running in and out of the spurting water from the fountains; their giggles were music to her ears. Soon I will be hearing my own kids laugh. The sound of the water and surrounding foliage drowned out the noise of the city. She closed her eyes and breathed in deep breaths of air.

  When she opened her eyes, a couple was sitting next to her. The woman was also pregnant, but not as far along as Gini.

  “Beautiful day,” the man said.

  “Yes, I could stay here all day and watch the birds.”

  Gini looked at her watch. She had been gone almost an hour. “Enjoy yourselves.” She got up and started back to the condo.

  She had walked a couple of blocks when her phone rang.

  It was Ric. “Just checking up on you.”

  “It’s so nice in the gardens; I’ve let the time get away from me. I’m about a block from the condo.”

  “I had a few minutes’ break, so I thought I would talk to my beautiful girl.”

  Gini smiled. “When you get home, I need to talk to you about tomorrow.”

  “Okay, sweet Gins. I shouldn’t be late. Things are moving right along. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  Gini stepped up to the corner of India Street and Atlantic Avenue and waited for the walk light to change. She could see the Harbor Towers across the way.

  Suddenly, there was a screech of tires. An SUV ran straight into a motorcycle, broadsiding the bike. The SUV careened off to the right and ran into the light post, breaking it. The pole bent down and crashed on top of the SUV. The motorcycle flew into the air; the rider went up and then down hard to the pavement. He lay lifeless on the road. The bike came down and went end over end toward the sidewalk, knocking Gini back into the cast-iron bench at the garden’s edge. Then it continued further, mowing down an elderly man walking with his daughters. It next went sideways, hitting a couple of more people, and rolled over the couple who had been sitting next to Gini on the bench earlier. It finally came to a stop on top of the other pregnant woman. All of this happened in a split second. No one had time to get out of the way of the motorbike.

  Chapter 17 – Life Changer

  Two businessmen ran to Gini. She was bleeding from the back of her head.

  “She’s pregnant,” one man said. He took off his jacket and rolled it up, then carefully lifted her head and put it underneath.

  “Can you help us,” one of the daughters cried out.

  The other businessman ran to help them with their father.

  The first man called 9-1-1. “There are several hurt, seriously hurt.” He could hear cries for help from others in the park.

  Gini didn’t move; blood slowly trickled down the sidewalk. The man picked up Gini’s small bag. Inside he found her cell phone smashed and her ID, Virginia Legotti. Stuck to her driver’s license was an appointment card for Dr. Nelson.

  A fire EMS truck pulled up next to her. They were at the stoplight going the other direction.

  “She’s hurt real bad,” the man said. “Here’s her ID and doctor.”

  “You know her?” the first responder asked.

  “No.”

  The EMS tech thought Gini looked near full term, and she was bleeding from between her legs.

  “Permission to take a pregnant patient with head trauma to New Haven Med Center to her doctor,” the EMT said into his radio.

  There were sirens everywhere. Several other ambulances came from all directions.

  “Permission granted,” the radio dispatcher said.

  The two EMTs quickly got Gini on the gurney and into the back of the EMS truck and sped off with sirens blazing.

  The scene became a mass of activity. Ambulances, fire trucks, policemen, and media started pouring into the location. People were lining the streets to see what was happening.

  “Wow, something big is going on down there,” one of the architects said.

  Ric slowly walked over to the window. “Looks like a car accident.”

  “I can’t believe all the emergency vehicles.”

  They both walked back to the table and continued working on the plans.

  “Dr. Linda Nelson,” she said into her phone.

  “We have a patient of yours onboard,” the EMT said. “Virginia Legotti. We are heading your way, five minutes out.”

  “Is she in labor?”

  “No, ma’am, she has been involved in a vehicle accident.”

  “I’ll meet you in emergency.”

  “Roger.”

  “Karen,” Dr. Nelson said. “Come with me down to emergency.”

  The two women left Dr. Nelson’s office. Just as they entered the hall to the ER, Dr. Robert Young walked up beside them.

  “Robert,” Dr. Nelson said.

  “Dr. Nelson, you heading to emergency?”

  “Yes, one of my patients was in a car accident. They’re bringing her in.”

  “My patient, too.”

  Linda turned and looked at him. “The patient has a head injury?”

  “Severe brain trauma and bleeding.”

  The three turned the corner and walked into the emergency area. The two doors to the ambulance bay were being held open by two medical personnel; the sound of a siren was getting closer and closer. It was good they were taking her to New Haven. It was renowned for its neurology department.

  The truck backed into the bay, and the bed was lifted out of the back.

  “She’s bleeding from the back of the head,” the EMT reported. “There’s brain matter on the jacket put under her. We’ve bagged her. The babies are still alive, but I believe they are severely hurt. We were first to the scene and got away from there quickly. Hopefully, i
n time to save her life.”

  Dr. Nelson, Dr. Young, and Karen were all running alongside the gurney as the EMT described Gini’s condition.

  “Get her into a surgery bay,” Robert instructed.

  It was determined Gini needed immediate brain surgery to stop the bleeding. As soon as they could stabilize her brain, the babies would be delivered by C-section.

  “Karen, contact Ric and Franco. Tell them Gini is in critical condition, and they need to get here as soon as possible, especially Franco. He’ll need to sign forms.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Mr. Legotti, you have a call from a Dr. Nelson’s office,” his assistant announced. “It’s parked on line three.”

  He reached over and picked up the line. “Linda?”

  “No, sir, this is Karen, her assistant. Dr. Nelson has asked me to tell you Gini has been involved in a serious accident. She’s in surgery, brain surgery, and quite frankly it doesn’t look good. You need to come as soon as you can so you can fill out some paperwork.”

  “What did you say?” He sat up straight. “Gini’s having brain surgery?”

  “Yes, sir, at New Haven Medical Center. That’s New Haven, Massachusetts, about five miles west of the Boston Commons.”

  “I know where New Haven is. You’re sure?”

  “Mr. Legotti, I’m very sure. She’s in critical condition.”

  “And the babies? Has she had the babies?”

  “No, sir, they were alive last I heard. It was more important to take care of Gini first.”

  He paced the floor talking to himself. “I’ll get a helo; yes, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll fly to New Haven in a helicopter. You have a landing pad there?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll be there soon.”

  Ric was surprised when his phone rang and the caller ID showed Dr. Nelson’s office. He quickly checked his watch for the date.

  “Hello, we didn’t miss an appointment, did we?”

  “No… Mr. Santini, Dr. Nelson wanted you to know Gini has been involved in an accident.”

  “What! No, you’re mistaken. I just talked to her a little while ago, and she was fine.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but she was in a car accident and is in critical condition here at the Medical Center. Dr. Nelson wanted me to inform you.”

  “How in the world could Gini be in a car accident? And how would she be in New Haven? She wasn’t driving today. She went out for a walk, that’s all.”

  “An ambulance brought her here. She’s in very bad condition. Dr. Nelson just wanted you to know.”

  “Okay, I’ll, umm, I’ll come to the hospital.”

  “What’s going on, Ric?” the lady architect asked.

  Ric looked curiously at his PET. “I don’t know. I need to take a few minutes and find out.”

  “Take all the time you need. I think we’re done for now.”

  He called Gini’s cell phone. It immediately went to her voicemail.

  “Gini, call me.”

  He quickly went to the elevator and dialed the house phone. After six rings, it went to the message. Then he called Howard.

  “Harbor Tower one, Howard speaking.”

  “Ric Santini. Have you seen Gini?” He was breathless.

  “Yes,” Howard said smiling. “She went out for her walk. She’s blossoming out, in a good way.”

  “Did you see her come back?”

  “Let me think. I’ve been busy with paperwork this morning; there’s always correspondence of some kind to work on. I can’t say that I saw her, but she could’ve come in when I wasn’t looking.”

  “Thank you, I’m heading home.”

  “Very well, sir.”

  There was a horrible feeling in Ric’s stomach as he ran out of the building. The street was still blocked by all the emergency vehicles. He ran across where he could and then back behind the buildings to the walking path along the water. How could Gini be in a car accident? It just didn’t make any sense.

  When he got to the condos, he ran through the lobby. Howard wasn’t at the counter.

  “Gini,” he called out when he opened the front door. There was no answer. “Sweets, please be here.”

  He ran back to the bedroom. The bed was made, but there was no Gini. He put his hand on his forehead. “NO!” he cried out. “Please, no.”

  Ric ran out of the condo and down to the garage. He raced out onto the street, driving farther on down so he could get on the freeway and out of town. The Parkway was still bottled up.

  He went through the emergency room doors.

  “Can I help you?” the nurse behind the counter asked.

  “I’m here for Gini, Virginia Anderson. Dr. Nelson said she was brought in by ambulance.”

  The woman looked on the computer. “You said her name is Virginia Anderson?”

  “Yes.”

  “We don’t have anyone here by that name.”

  Ric took in a deep breath. They were wrong; she wasn’t there. He relaxed.

  “You said Dr. Nelson contacted you.”

  “Yes, but she must have been mistaken.”

  “Well, a patient named Virginia Legotti was admitted over an hour ago for Dr. Nelson and Dr. Young.”

  “Yes, yes, that’s her. Virginia Anderson is her professional name. Please, I have to see her.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, how are you related to Mrs. Legotti?”

  “I’m—” He wasn’t sure what to say—related? “She’s my girlfriend and the babies…” He stopped and looked down. They didn’t know if he was the father or not. Calling Gini his girlfriend seemed awkward; she was so much more.

  “Okay, what’s your name?”

  “Ric; my name is Riccardo Santini.”

  “Thank you. You can wait in the waiting room, Mr. Santini.”

  “No, I need to know what’s going on.”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but my records show that her next of kin is her husband, Franco Legotti. He’s the only one I can talk to about her. You’re welcome to wait in the waiting room.”

  Ric went to a widened hall that was lined with chairs and sat down. Across from him was a small table with thermoses of coffee, cream containers, individual sugar packets, and a stack of paper cups. Above the table was a TV hanging on the wall.

  He put his elbows on his spread knees, and he ran his fingers back through his wavy black hair. This couldn’t be happening. How could Gini have been in a car accident? The Waterfront Park had no streets, and the walk from the condo was along a street that had very little automobile traffic. It was mostly filled with tourists visiting the aquarium or walking on Long Wharf. She wasn’t driving; she was walking. None of this awful nightmare was logical. He sat back in the chair, took a deep breath, put his head back, and closed his eyes.

  “It’s a mess down here on Atlantic Avenue.”

  Ric heard a man talking. He opened his eyes and realized it was the news reporter on the TV and recognized the scene. It was the accident he had seen from the office building.

  “We unofficially have been told that there are four dead. The motorcyclist who was broadsided by the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the SUV were also killed, as well as a pregnant lady who was walking in the park. We haven’t heard if the baby died or not.”

  Ric stood up. No, they couldn’t be talking about Gini. Oh, my gosh, could she have been walking in the gardens on the Parkway? No, no, they never walked to those gardens. He put his hands on his head and continued to listen to the reporter.

  “There are also several injured. All have been taken to local hospitals. The streets have been closed in this part of Boston for an investigation. Again, we have heard a man, the motorcycle driver; the woman driving the SUV and her female passenger; and another woman in the park, who was pregnant, have all been killed. We will continue to get updated information so stay tuned.”

  It is Gini, he thought. That’s the only way any of this madness made sense. Surely they would have tol
d him if she had died. But they would have to notify the next of kin first, Ric remembered from his law days. On record, that wasn’t him. He slowly sat back down in the chair.

  Two EMTs walked out of the double doors and stopped at the coffee table. “I see there’s still a mess there,” one EMT said to the other. “I just hope we got the mother here in time to save the babies.”

  Ric was alerted. The EMTs’ radio blurted out a sound. Both men dropped their cups into the trash and ran toward the door. Ric stood up and started after them, but they jumped into their truck and took off. He was certain they were the ones who had brought Gini to New Haven. They would have been able to tell him if she was still alive.

  He stopped and then went back to the chairs. He felt so hopeless, so worthless.

  It seemed like time had stopped, but also like he had been in that waiting room for hours. He was numb, completely numb. Then he heard a familiar voice behind him. It was Franco.

  Franco had called a friend of his who owned a jet-propelled helicopter. He flew up and down the East Coast for the police. Franco just grabbed his briefcase and had Jeff pick him up on the roof of the building where his office was. It only took them about fifty-five minutes to get to the hospital. Jeff knew the right contacts to get okayed to land on the hospital roof.

  “I’m here for Virginia Legotti.” Franco took his driver’s license out of his wallet and placed it on the counter.

  “Mr. Legotti, we have been waiting for you. I have some paperwork for you to fill out.”

  A million things had gone through Franco’s head on the trip. They said it was bad—how bad? Once he started reading and filling out the paperwork—guardianship—he knew it was serious. He took a deep breath.

  Ric walked up next to him. For a second he felt anger, then it just disappeared. Yesterday he would have killed Ric if he’d had the chance—not literally, but he was very hurt by his so-called friend’s actions. But now he needed someone close, someone he loved, to help him understand what was happening. Oh good, Franco thought. His best friend. He put his hand on Ric’s shoulder for a moment and then went back to the paperwork.