“Duckie, we better take him to the hospital or somethin’. I’m pretty sure his wrist is broken…”
Serena, hearing this, goes to Cody, who takes her in his arms. For this brief moment, their own shit is forgotten in fear for their boy. Duckie takes charge once again.
“Okay, look. We gotta get Pony to the ER. Babe, can you drive okay? Serena and Cody need to go with, and somebody’s gotta stay with Panda. That’d be me, okay, Serena?”
Serena nods, and even Cody says, “Yeah, okay. Thanks.”
Duckie hands their room key to Savannah. “Go get your purse and your phone. Ask the desk clerk where the hospital is. Tyler’s not that big—it’s gotta be pretty close. Call me when you know anything. Okay?”
In answer, Savannah hands the injured toddler to his daddy and heads out and down the hall. Serena thanks Duckie again and they head to the lobby to get directions. Pony is still crying weakly, in occasional bursts of tiny shrieks.
Chapter 11: How it All Shakes Down
The tension and fear is thick as molasses in the car where the two Bainbridge sisters, Cody Simpkins, and his bleeding, injured son search for the hospital. The desk clerk gave them directions, but Serena is using GPS help on her phone as well. They are within sight of the University of Texas Health Center Tyler, when Serena gives a shriek and stares at Pony in horror.
“Oh my God,” she says in a horrified whisper, “I don’t think he’s breathing…”
Before Cody can react, Savannah takes charge.
“Okay, I’m pulling over. I know CPR. Don’t do anything in a panic, Serena. Or you either, Cody!”
Savannah pulls over to the side of the road—luckily there isn’t much traffic. As she takes Pony from Serena and lays him on his back on the front passenger seat, she shouts at Serena, “Call 911—tell’m we need an ambulance to meet us. We’re less than a mile away, on Hospital Drive.
At that she goes to work on the silent body of her little nephew. Savannah is pretty confident in her ability, but she has never had to do CPR on a baby. She’s so afraid to hurt him further with her efforts.
At the same time they all hear the ambulance siren, Pony gives a little gasp and starts crying again.
‘What a blessed sound,” breathes Serena, and Cody steps out in the road to flag down the ambulance.
Before they know it, Serena and Cody have climbed in the back of the ambulance with their small son, and Savannah gets back in her own car to follow behind.
* * * *
Duckie waits in the hotel room with little Panda, who does manage to drift off to sleep in the tiny hotel crib. Duckie longs for a cigarette to calm her nerves, but doesn’t want to stir the sleeping baby.
For what seems like the millionth time, she checks her texts. To her relief, there’s a line from Savannah:
Made it to ER—Pony in good hands.
She doesn’t expect more, knowing the ER is hectic and they won’t know anything really until Pony gets seen by a doc.
With nothing else to do, Duckie flicks on the TV on low volume, glad they at least got there safely.
* * * *
Once they get the little boy in the ER, he’s taken straight back to stabilize his vital signs. Soon the doctor, a young woman who doesn’t look much older than Serena, comes in to evaluate Pony’s injury.
“Broken wrist, for sure. And he’s lost a lot of blood. You’ll need to sign permission for a transfusion. Okay?”
“Of course,” says Cody. “Anything the boy needs.”
Serena adds, “We’re trusting you, doctor.”
“Good,” says Dr. Rai. “The nurse will bring the papers. We’ll get going with setting his wrist as soon as he’s stabilized. You’re probably looking at an overnight stay, just to be safe.”
Pony’s parents look at each other. Serena can see the fear and guilt on Cody’s face. Impulsively, she takes his hand. He squeezes it tightly.
Just then Savannah comes in. Serena fills her in, and the two sisters go out to the waiting room to talk, leaving Cody sitting by his son’s cot, watching the monitors.
Before they can even get seated in the hard plastic chairs, Savannah’s phone rings. It’s Bruce. She debates on answering it, but her guilt about the accident back in Abilene compels her.
“Hey”
“Sugar? You okay?”
“Yeah…why are you calling, Bruce?”
“I just—wanted you to know I’m not mad. I want you to be okay.”
Savannah shakes her head in confusion. Serena signals a question with her eyes.
“Bruce, I’m fine. But…are you…okay?”
“I guess you’re askin’ cause of what happened in the Mickey D’s parking lot. I’m fine. Hip dislocated, but put to rights with one doc’s visit. I’m fine.”
“I’m glad. I don’t wish you anythin’ but good, hon. I just need…somethin’ else.”
“I know, sugar. It’s okay. Hey…Frank is here. He wants to talk to Serena.”
Savannah puts her hand over the phone and whispers in Serena’s direction.
“Serena. Frank McElhenny wants to talk to you.”
Serena says nothing, but Savannah can see the question in her eyes. She shrugs a reply and hands over her phone.
“Mr. McElhenny? Hey.”
“Serena. I know this comes as a surprise, but I have an offer for you. Bruce told me about your husband splittin’ and you takin’ off with them babies.”
Serena looks even more confused. What does Frank McElhenny have to do with her and her kids?
“Yeah, it’s scary. And now Pony’s hurt…it’s all terrible.”
A long pause. Savannah wonders what’s happening.
“Really? You would do that for me?”
Savannah sees her sister’s face relax for the first time in a long time.
“Mr. McElhenny—I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much. We’ll be there in a couple days, as soon as Pony is okay to travel.” Then Serena signs off and sits down in a daze.
“What? What’s Frank got to do with anything?”
Serena starts crying softly. “Van, I think I have a chance. I’m gonna go back to Abilene and live in Mr. McElhenny’s garage apartment. He set it up for Molly. It’s empty now, and he offered it to me…and the kids.”
“You’re going back?” Savannah doesn’t know whether to be upset or relieved. The whole thing seems rather complicated.
At that moment, Dr. Rai emerges from the ER swinging doors, a smile on her face. Both Serena and her sister stand expectantly.
“Mrs. Simpkins? Good news. Your son is fine. We’ve set his wrist, and his vitals are looking favorable. He’s asleep now, and we’re just waiting for a room in Peds.”
Serena is speechless, but smiling. Savannah goes to the young doctor and shakes her hand.
“Thank you, doctor. Is he awake now?”
“Yes, but pretty dopey. His dad is with him.”
* * * *
The next morning, the Simpkins family all leave together in the car owned by Cody’s bandmate Rufus—the other voice in the hallway. Serena knows there’s still a lot to work out, but Cody seems willing to at least talk reasonably and try to do the right thing.
Serena climbs in the back seat between Pony and Panda, Pony with his wrist in what seems like a massive plaster cast. He’s smiling though, with his daddy there and everyone calm. Panda’s hiccups are momentarily subdued. Rufus, in the front passenger seat, makes funny faces that distract Pony and make him giggle.
Savannah and Duckie stand in the hotel parking lot hand in hand.
“Okay, Sissy. Let us know what’s happenin’. You know I’m never too far away if you need me.”
Serena reaches out the back window and grabs her sister’s hand.
“Bye, Kiddo. Take care, and stay positive.” This from Duckie, who grins at Serena.
As the car pulls away, Savannah says a little prayer that Serena will get what she wants—whatever that might be. For herself, she feels pretty good. Ha
ppy even.
“Okay, babe. It’s just us now. Still good to head east?”
Savannah doesn’t say a word, but answers Duckie with a kiss and a big smile.
THE END
ABOUT GINNA WILKERSON
Ginna Wilkerson has been writing almost since she could read, and often teaches writing as an adjunct professor. She has a Ph.D. in English from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and discovered a love of travel later in life. She has long been fascinated by the supernatural as it appears in ordinary life. Ginna has two adult children and one grandson, and lives with her partner and their cats.
Find out more online at ginnawilkerson.weebly.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
JMS Books LLC is a small queer press with competitive royalty rates publishing LGBT romance, erotic romance, and young adult fiction. Visit jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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