Reining in Riley

by Claire Britain

  “It looks great, Riley; it will look even better on the wall of the restaurant!” Tracy said with a big smile.

  “You know Joanna knows you painted the one you gave her, don’t you?” Rae stated, admiring the beginning of Riley’s new creation.

  “Good!” Riley shrugged with a grin as she headed for the bedroom, stripping off her painting shirt as she walked.

  “Wait, something happened with you and Joanna in New York, didn’t it?” Tracy asked. “Give it, Riley, what happened?”

  “Well, you look good, Riley, they must have fed you well. You were looking far too skinny before you left!” Rae said, admiring Riley’s physique from the back in her black sports bra.

  “Well, we ate out every day apart from Thanksgiving, I think, and I’ve drunk enough champagne for twenty weddings!” Riley replied, emerging from the bedroom in a blue long-sleeved t-shirt.

  “Hey, don’t ignore me! What happened with you and Joanna?” Tracy said impatiently.

  “Oh, nothing!” Riley replied, grinning, “I was just wined and dined and danced!” she teased, spinning Tracy around her living room in a dance move.

  “Dancing, huh?” Tracy said, grinning and raising her eyebrows.

  “Come on, let’s go, I’m hungry, it’s one o’clock my time!” Riley exclaimed, ushering her friends out the door.

  Riley told Rae and Tracy all about her trip on the way to Oscar’s and as they were waiting for their food, she showed them pictures from her phone for each adventure she talked about.

  “Sounds like you had a wonderful time, Riley, but the big question is did your butt manage to stay out of trouble?” Rae grinned.

  “Yes, of course. Well, no, well, yes, well, no, I mean, sort of. I guess I called our new client’s marketing director a douche in front of the CEO, but that was by accident. Then I made a bet with Helen and Joanna and hustled them at tennis. Then I tried to take this bitch’s head off with a tennis ball at Helen’s club; she ducked just in time. That all earned me only a few swats, nothing serious! Oh, and I guess I was kind of flirting with Joanna in the plane on the way home. What did she say? Oh yes, she would whip my impudent behind if we weren’t at forty thousand feet! Which was just as well, because that’s definitely not the mile-high club I envisioned joining!” Riley winced, making the women laugh.

  “Oh, Riley, you just can’t help yourself, can you?” Rae said, bemused, to Riley, who was now looking over at the counter with a voracious look on her face.

  Rae glanced over at the counter and saw the reason why. Joanna was there placing an order to go. She had on a crisp white shirt with sleeves perfectly folded to her forearms, tucked into a pair of cream-colored riding breeches and long black riding boots with a riding crop stuffed into the inside of one of them. Her tight breeches showed off her thin waist and long legs and her light brown hair was tied back in a ponytail, accentuating her high cheekbones.

  “Tell me that’s not fucking hot!” Riley said under her breath.

  Tracy just nodded her head in agreement while Rae gave Riley a stern look, no doubt for her language.

  Joanna saw the women and smiled, walking over to the table.

  “Morning, ladies, good to see you, is Riley telling you all about her trip?” Joanna said warmly.

  “She certainly is, are you getting an order to go? Why don’t you join us, then we can get the whole story!” Rae said, winking at Riley.

  “No, I don’t want to intrude, I’m sure you’re catching up,” Joanna replied.

  “C’mon, please?” Riley asked with a twinkle in her eye.

  “Yes, please, Joanna,” Tracy joined in.

  “Well, I’d love to if you’re sure I’m not intruding?”

  “Not in the least. Oscar, can you bring Joanna’s food with ours; she’s going to eat with us.”

  “No problem, Rae, it will be up in minute!” Oscar replied.

  “Thanks, Rae. Riley, how’s your ankle this morning, did you ice it?” Joanna asked, sitting down next to Riley.

  “It’s fine, no, how was your ride? Was Adonis please to see you?” Riley asked.

  “Yes, he was, and it was very nice, and ice when you get home!” Joanna said sternly. “So which day was Riley on; we certainly packed in a full week!”

  The four women chatted about the trip and Joanna bragged about Riley and what she had done for Bencom.

  “See, she didn’t tell us any of that!” Rae stated, making Riley blush.

  “I don’t know about you, Riley, but I have a heck of time getting acclimated coming back this way. I was up at the crack of dawn,” Joanna exclaimed with a small yawn.

  “Yeah, me too. I ended up walking down to Perks Place for coffee at six,” Riley replied in agreement.

  “Riley, Perks has to be over a mile from your apartment. What part of rest and ice for your ankle don’t you understand?” Joanna asked curtly.

  Rae grinned and shook her head. “You should see the new painting she’s started. Part of the New York series, right, Riley?” Rae said proudly.

  “Oh, probably one of her hidden talents she was telling me about on the plane yesterday,” Joanna stated with a smile, making Riley blush profusely.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Riley lifted her leather coat over her head in attempt to fend off the pouring rain as she headed to her car. Running was a challenge with her sore ankle but she managed to hobble-run before diving into the driver’s seat. She left early, knowing the traffic would be a mess with the storm in full force and she wanted to be ready for Joanna’s meeting. She turned the key in the ignition and got clicks. She tried a couple more times with the same result.

  “Fuck!” she said angrily, banging her fist on the steering wheel. “Dead battery, damn, I should have known!”

  Riley made her way back into her apartment through the rain and called the office.

  “Yes, hi, Pam, this is Riley Carrington. Can you please let Joanna know I may be a little late for the eight-thirty meeting? I’m having car trouble but I will be there as soon as I can.” Riley said, flustered.

  “Riley, don’t worry, everyone is late today because of the rain. Joanna put the meeting off until later, so don’t hurry, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks, Pam, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Riley replied, a little relieved she wasn’t the only one running late.

  Riley changed into some jeans and a sweatshirt and carefully folded her work clothes into a backpack. She had no wet weather gear to speak of as she never rode her bike in the rain, but this morning she didn’t have much of a choice. She pulled on her leather jacket and a waterproof windbreaker, grabbed her helmet, and headed back outside. Riley uncovered her bike and stuffed the cover in the trunk of her car.

  “Shit!” she said, wiping the rain off her visor as she pulled out of her apartment parking lot on her motorcycle. Riley was soaking wet and cold in a couple of minutes as she tried to navigate through the LA traffic in the pouring rain. Riley kept her speed low, wiping the rain off her visor every few seconds. Then she saw the car pulling out right in front of her in the intersection. She had the green light and she couldn’t react fast enough. Riley heard a loud bang and felt her body leaving her bike, and then she felt nothing.

  * * *

  “Oh, God, Joanna, LAPD is on the phone, it’s Riley, she’s been in an accident!” Pam said in panicked tone. “They need her emergency contact information.”

  Joanna’s heart sank as she picked up the phone. “This is Joanna Armstrong, is Riley okay? Where is she?”

  “Ms. Armstrong, this is Officer Jenkins, LAPD. We found her name badge at the site of the crash and called you. Do you have an emergency contact for Ms. Carrington? She’s in bad shape, I’m afraid. Looks like a car ran a red light and she hit it head on with her motorcycle; they transported her to UCLA. I’m here now.”

  Pam came back into Joanna’s office with Riley’s file and opened it to her contact information.

  “Yes, I have it here, it’s her two friends Rae and Tr
acy. I know them, I can call them, and I’m on my way there,” Joanna said urgently.

  “Pam, let Miles and Ken know what’s going on, I’m heading to the hospital,” Joanna said, dialing Rae and Tracy’s number.

  “Rae, it’s Joanna Armstrong, it’s Riley, she’s been in an accident. I’m heading to the hospital now but the police said it pretty bad. Okay, yes, UCLA, I’ll see you there.”

  Joanna called Helen from the car, breaking down when she heard her friend’s voice. “Helen, it’s Riley, she’s been in an accident, they said it’s not good, I’m on my way to UCLA.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Jo, let me know as soon as you find anything out. If I’m on the plane, e-mail me, I’ll check it on the flight, okay?”

  “Okay, thanks, Helen,” Joanna said, wiping a tear from her cheek as she drove through the rain.

  Joanna entered the busy emergency room where the rain apparently had taken its toll that morning. She spotted two officers, one holding what looked like Riley’s helmet.

  “Officer Jenkins? I’m Joanna Armstrong. I spoke to you on the phone. How is she?” Joanna asked fearfully.

  “I don’t know yet, ma’am, they’re still working on her. When they took her, she was unconscious and barely breathing. She hit a car that had run a red and was thrown from her bike into an oncoming car. This is what’s left of her helmet,” Jenkins said, showing Joanna the helmet, which had cracked nearly in half.

  “Oh, my God!” Joanna whispered, putting her hand up to her mouth in disbelief. “Oh, Jim, thank God, are you treating Riley Carrington?” she said as a middle-aged doctor in scrubs appeared in the waiting room.

  “Joanna? Yes, she’s my patient, you know her?” he replied, giving Joanna a hug.

  “Yes, she’s my friend and employee, Jim. What’s going on, how is she?” Joanna asked nervously.

  “It’s not good; she’s critical, Jo. Bilateral lung collapse, head trauma, and we’re not sure of the extent of the brain injury at the moment. Broken ribs, some internal bleeding, and lacerations from going through the windshield. She’s in pretty bad shape. She’s unconscious and we have her intubated. The next twelve hours will be critical. We’re moving her to ICU but if the swelling in the brain continues, we will need to do surgery. She’s just not strong enough right now so we’re going to watch her closely,” Jim Nassar replied, turning his attention toward Officer Jenkins. “Officer, at this point I can’t give you much more for your report. I will let you know when we know more.”

  “Thanks, can I give you her belongings, ma’am? This is the information on the tow yard where her bike was taken but I can tell you it’s wrecked. My card for whoever needs the police report. I know it’s not the best time, but I can tell you the other driver is insured. I hope your friend pulls through, ma’am. Please call me if you have any questions.”

  “Thank you, officer,” Joanna replied solemnly, directing her attention back to Jim Nassar.

  “She’s strong, Joanna, but her injuries are bad. Has anyone contacted her family? They need to be here,” he asked, concerned.

  “Yes, her best friends are on their way and they are contacting her mother,” Joanna replied sadly.

  “Then best you meet them, Jo, and prepare them. I’m not sure she’s going to pull out of this,” he replied sympathetically.

  “Please, just do whatever you can, Jim! She just spent the week in New York with me and dad at Thanksgiving… I… she’s very dear to me, Jim… please,” Joanna sobbed.

  “Everything we can, Jo; what are her friends’ names? I’ll make sure they don’t have any issues getting into ICU.”

  Joanna texted Rae and Tracy to meet her in ICU and headed in that direction. She approached the women at the front desk of the ICU.

  “Joanna Armstrong, I’m here for Riley Carrington, who is being moved here. I’m also expecting Rae Chandler and Tracy Holmquist, and her mother Virginia Carrington. I want to make sure they are all added to the family list.”

  “And are you all family members, ma’am, we have a policy…” the lady who was obviously a volunteer began.

  “Yes, I’m aware of the policy, it’s actually Dr. Armstrong and I’ve already spoken with Jim Nassar. Can you also tell me which ICU doctor is on?” Joanna asked the older woman, who had begun to update the visitor list in the computer.

  “Yes, of course, Dr. Armstrong, I think it’s Dr. Mansfield. Can I tell him you’re here?” the woman replied in a friendly tone.

  “Oh, good, yes, please,” Joanna replied, seeing Rae and Tracy rush into the reception area.

  “What happened, how is she?” Rae asked in a panicked tone.

  Tracy had tears streaming down her face. “She’s going to be okay, right? Riley is going to be okay?” she asked in desperation.

  “Riley called the office and said she was having car trouble, it wouldn’t start. She was on her motorcycle. A car ran a red light at an intersection and Riley hit it. She was thrown from her bike into an oncoming car,” Joanna began, trying to hold it together. “She was transported here barely breathing and unconscious. Both her lungs collapsed. She sustained significant head trauma, which they are not sure of the extent of yet. She has broken ribs, some internal bleeding, a few fractures from what I could tell, and lacerations from the car’s windshield. She is still unconscious and they have her on a tube to help her breathe. They are moving her to ICU, she’s critical right now. A friend of mine is the doctor on duty so he should be able to give us an update soon,” she finished as tears welled in her eyes.

  Tracy just turned and buried her head into Rae, sobbing as Rae wiped tears from her own cheeks. “I got a hold of her mother. She’s on her way,” she said sadly.

  “Dr. Armstrong, they are getting Riley situated now. Dr. Mansfield will be out to see you shortly and then you can go back and see Riley,” the older woman said sympathetically.

  “Thank you,” Joanna said, nodding her head with a weak smile.

  Rae reached out and grasped Joanna’s hand. “Joanna?”

  “I don’t know, Rae,” Joanna said softly, shaking her head. “But Riley’s strong; if anyone can pull through this, she can.”

  The door of the ICU opened and Dr. Jeff Mansfield walked into the waiting room.

  “Hello, I’m Dr. Mansfield,” he said, shaking Rae’s and Tracy’s hands. “Joanna, good to see you, sorry it’s under these circumstances. Let’s go back and I’ll update you on Riley’s status. I have to warn you, ladies, she’s in very bad shape, I’m sure Joanna explained to you.”

  “Yes, thank you, doctor,” Rae said as they followed him into the ICU.

  The sight that met them was unimaginable: Riley in a hospital bed with tubes everywhere. Her face was swollen and bruised with cuts on her face and arms and numerous IV drips being fed into her. A ventilator tube was strapped to her mouth, breathing for her.

  The doctor began. “Our biggest concerns with Riley are blood clotting and brain injury. We re-inflated her lungs, but her collapsed ribcage caused some major damage and bleeding and she sustained significant trauma to her head. The next twelve hours or so are critical. Best-case scenario, we get her stable enough to take her off the ventilator and then see if she wakes up. She is responding to the pain so there is brain activity, which is good. We have her sedated and on pain medication to keep her comfortable and blood thinners to stop the clotting. She has some swelling in the brain, which we are monitoring and she may need surgery if it continues, which is risky in itself with her current condition. I wish I could give you better news, but at his stage we have to see how she progresses in the next few hours. Do you have any questions for me? I know this is a lot to digest. Usually no more than two visitors back here but we’re making an exception. Joanna, if her BP elevates, the fentanyl pump is open.”

  Joanna nodded in acknowledgement as she stood by Riley’s bed and gently grasped her hand. “Oh, Riley, you have to make it through this, do you hear me?” she said softly.

  A few minutes later, Jo
anna looked up and saw Dr. Mansfield reenter Riley’s room with a middle-aged woman.

  “I’ve filled Mrs. Carrington in on her status,” he said as he turned his attention to Riley’s chart then exited the room.

  “Oh, my, Riley, what did you do? Hi, Rae, Tracy,” she said after taking in the sight of Riley.

  “Hi, Virginia,” Rae said, giving her an obligatory hug. “This is Joanna Armstrong, who Riley works for.”

  “Hello. Oh, my God, she was on that damn motorcycle!” she said, putting her purse down and rushing to Riley’s side.

  “We’ll let you have some time with your daughter, Mrs. Carrington.” Joanna said.

  “Yes, I need to make some calls too; we’ll be right outside, Virginia,” Rae told Riley’s mother.

  The three women exited the ICU into the lobby where Valerie Martin sat waiting on one of the chairs.

  “Joanna, how is she? We were on our way to breakfast when Virginia got the call,” she said.

  “Hello, Valerie, she’s in critical condition at the moment. They are hoping she will stabilize. These are her two best friends, Rae and Tracy,” Joanna said, introducing the women.

  Rae made a few phone calls to cover the bar and Joanna called Pam and e-mailed Helen on Riley’s condition. After an hour or so, Virginia Carrington emerged, distraught.

  “I can’t see her like this, it’s too upsetting. I told them to call me if anything changes,” she sobbed.

  “It’s okay, Virginia,” Valerie said, attempting to comfort Riley’s mother.

  “We’ll let you know right away, Virginia, we’ll be here,” Joanna assured her.

  “Thank you!” she replied as Valerie escorted her out.

  The three women sat in Riley’s room. Joanna would check her vitals and adjust the pain medication if she thought Riley needed it. Every now and then a nurse or a doctor would come in and tend to her in her comatose state. At six o’clock Dr. Mansfield came back in to check on Riley.