Flight of Fancie

by Linda Rettstatt

Fancie let the liquor warm her and shook her head. “Just my toothbrush. My mom has everything else there that I’ll need.”

  Kinley snapped the suitcase shut. “We’ll swing by your office and I’ll grab your laptop if you need it.”

  “Please. I will need it.” She set the glass on the nightstand. “I should leave a note for Maura and Justin.” She ripped a sheet of paper from a notepad on her desk and wrote Out of town. Family emergency. Call Luke at 603-555-6683 if needed. “Okay. We can take my car. It’ll save time.”

  The main roads were clear, just a little wet. Kinley made good time getting her to the airport. They didn’t talk much on the way. Kinley got out of the car and pulled Fancie into a hug. “You have my phone number?”

  Fancie nodded.

  “Call me when you can. I’ll park your car at the house, but hold onto the keys until you’re back.”

  “Thank you, for everything.”

  “You’re welcome. You need me to do anything on this end, just call.”

  “I will.” Fancie checked her larger bag, tugging the carry-on with her. She paced the waiting area until her flight was called. On the plane, she sat stiffly in the narrow seat, drumming her fingers on the arm rest, avoiding all eye contact. The last thing she wanted was to encourage anyone into conversation. In the silence, her thoughts stampeded, bringing images of what she imagined the accident was like, how her parents and brother looked. And Ashley? She didn’t know how to feel about Ashley. They were all constantly telling Ashley to slow down and pay attention when she was driving. She drove as if she was untouchable, as if she had a privilege not afforded others on the road. Anger began a slow boil. It was Ashley’s fault that Fancie’s family was nearly killed. She loved her friend like a sister, but how could she even look her in the eyes now?

  When the plane landed and came to a stop, Fancie was out of her seat like a shot and jerking her carry-on bag from the overhead bin. She pushed past two people who, by rights, should have deplaned first. “Sorry. It’s an emergency.”

  She scanned the baggage area for Chastity, but couldn’t find her. Panic grabbed at her and she fumbled in her purse for her cell phone. Then she saw Luke wave and walk toward her.

  “Hi. Do you have another bag?”

  “It should be coming. I thought Chastity would be here.”

  “I offered. Everyone’s at the hospital. Don’t worry, no change for the worse for anyone. I’ll get you there as soon as possible.”

  A buzzer sounded and the luggage belt began to move. When she pointed out her suitcase, Luke pulled the bag off the belt. “This it?”

  She nodded, looking around. “I need the ladies room before we head out.”

  He pointed her in the direction of the restrooms. When she returned, he handed her a Styrofoam cup. “I thought you might need coffee. Have you eaten?”

  “I can’t. Let’s just go. Thank you for the coffee, though.”

  They exited the airport to Luke’s Jeep parked at the curb. He waved to a police officer who stood nearby. “Found her. Thank you.”

  “They let you park here?”

  “I asked. Explained the situation. It was only for ten minutes.” He tossed her bag into the back of the Jeep and held the door for her.

  It wasn’t until they exited the airport and were on the road that emotions overwhelmed her. She began to cry and then to shake. Gulping sobs. She folded her arms across her middle and bent forward.

  Luke didn’t tell her not to cry or that everything would be fine. He did what she most needed him to do. He reached over and held her hand.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Fancie jumped out of the Jeep before Luke could open the door for her. “Where do I go?”

  “There’s probably a reception desk right inside. They should be able to tell you. I’ll park and find you.”

  She hurried through the open sliding doors and raced to the desk. “My family was involved in an accident earlier. Hollensby. Where are they?”

  The woman punched computer keys. “We have three Hollensbys.”

  “Yes, my parents and brother. James and Alicia and Tripp—uh, James, also.”

  “James senior is in Room 214. Alicia is in the Trauma Unit. It looks like your brother was treated and released.” The woman stood and pointed. “You can take the elevators over there to the second floor.”

  “Thank you.”

  Luke caught up with her as she waited impatiently for an elevator to open. Once inside the car, she reached for his hand. He squeezed hers, sending a wave of calm over her.

  “Luke, thank you. This is the second time you were here when I needed help.”

  “Glad to help. I can’t imagine what you’ve been through the last few hours, expecting the worst.”

  She nodded and swallowed hard. The doors whooshed open and Fancie spied her cousins standing in the hall. She sprinted toward them.

  Charity got to her first, arms open. “Oh, Fancie. This is just so awful.”

  Fancie clung to her. “I have to see them.”

  “Uncle James’s room is right down the hall. The nurses are having trouble keeping him in bed. He’s insistent about going to see Aunt Alicia.”

  Chastity took her hand. “Come on. I told him you were on your way. Maybe he’ll relax now that you’re here.”

  Her father lay in the hospital bed, an IV line running into one hand, his right leg slightly elevated with wrapping around his ankle. A nurse checked his blood pressure.

  “Daddy?”

  “Hey, baby. Don’t cry. I’m okay. Everyone’s going to be okay.” He waved the nurse away.

  Fancie placed her hand in his and he squeezed tightly. “I was so scared. What happened?”

  “It wasn’t your brother’s fault. He was driving just fine. Ashley took the curve on two wheels and t-boned us.” He tried to sit up. “Would you get a wheelchair and take me to check on your mother?”

  She pressed fingertips to his shoulder. “You have to stay right here, Daddy. I’ll go and check on Mama. You have a concussion. You’re not going anywhere.”

  His eyes filled. “She got the worst of it. She hasn’t wakened up. Maybe hearing your voice will bring her around.”

  She nodded. “I’ll be back soon. Listen to the nurse.”

  Her uncle came into the room then. He hugged Fancie and kissed her forehead. “He’ll be okay. I’m staying and I’ll make sure he behaves.”

  In the hall, she spotted Luke leaning against the wall and talking with Chastity. “Luke, thanks, but you don’t have to hang around here. I might be here all night and, if not, I can get a ride home.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes. I appreciate all you’ve done.”

  “Okay. If you need anything at all, you have my cell number.” He turned toward the elevators.

  “I’ll ride down with you. I’m going to the Trauma Unit on the first floor.”

  She watched Luke pass through the automatic doors before turning in the opposite direction. Her brother sat in a chair in the hall, bent over, his face in his hands. She touched his shoulder. “Tripp?”

  He looked up at her with reddened eyes and tear-streaked cheeks. A huge red and blue knot rose on the side of his forehead. He looked the way he had when he was a little boy and frightened by night noises. “Fancie, it wasn’t my fault. I swear it wasn’t.”

  “I know.” She pulled him up and wrapped her arms around him. “It’s okay. How’s Mama?”

  “I don’t know. They won’t let me go in there.”

  “I’ll see about that.” She strode to the nurse’s station. “I’m Francine Hollensby. I want to see my mother, Alicia Hollensby.”

  “I’m sorry, but she can’t have visitors right now.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “It’s too soon for visitors. You’ll have to wait at least an hour.”

  “You misunderstood. I’m her daughter and I just flew from New Hampshire to see her. I’m not asking permission. I’m going to see her.” She turned and heade
d toward her mother’s cubicle.

  “Wait. Miss Hollensby.” The nurse came around the counter. “Wait.”

  Fancie stopped.

  “She’s still unconscious. She has multiple cuts and bruises, a concussion, a fractured arm and a dislocated hip. If she wakes up, please try to not upset her. We don’t want her moving around.”

  “I have no intention of upsetting her.” Fancie pulled back the curtain and gasped. Her mother lay in a hospital bed, one arm swathed in white bandages and stabilized. Her head was also wrapped and angry red scrapes covered one side of her face and down her arm. Her left leg was in traction. Tears spilled down Fancie’s cheeks. She moved hesitantly toward the bed. Avoiding the IV in the back of her mother’s hand, she laid her fingers on her undamaged arm.

  “Mama? I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m here. Daddy and Tripp are okay. Well, Daddy will be fine if they can keep him in bed. Tripp’s outside.”

  She leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek. The skin felt clammy and cold.

  A nurse came in to check on Alicia. She nodded to Fancie.

  “Can you tell me anything about my mother’s condition? I just got here from New Hampshire.”

  “She’s stable. You’ll have to speak to her doctor for more details.”

  “Please. I just need to know if she’s…if she’s going to come out of this.”

  The nurse regarded her with a sympathetic look. “I can tell you it’s good that she’s breathing on her own. She has a concussion and the coma can be a good thing until the swelling in her brain goes down. You just talk to her, let her know you’re here. I’ll ask the doctor to come and speak with you as soon as he’s available.”

  “Thank you.” Fancie sat and held her mother’s limp hand in her own. She leaned close and whispered, “Mama. It’s Fancie. I’m here. You stay with us, you hear. We need you.” Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.

  The curtain swept open and from her lowered gaze, Fancie saw a pair of men’s black wingtips. She turned and looked up.

  “Francine.”

  “Graham? You’re my mother’s doctor?”

  “I’m filling in here for a few weeks for a colleague.”

  She stood and shook her head. “No. I want another doctor.”

  “There isn’t another doctor available tonight. Look, this has nothing to do with us. You can’t possibly question if I’d give your mother less than professional care because of our breakup.”

  “Our breakup? I don’t recall having a voice in that breakup. I understand congratulations are in order on your engagement.”

  He studied the screen of the iPad he held. “The nurse said you had questions. I can tell you that your mother is lucky to be alive. Her fractures will heal in time. Our bigger concern is the head injury. We’ll monitor her closely. I expect your father to be released tomorrow.” He met her gaze, his blue eyes like ice. “Any other questions?”

  “No.”

  Graham nodded and turned on his heel, tugging the curtain closed behind him.

  Fancie let out a breath. It wasn’t cruel enough that her parents were both hospitalized after a crash involving one of her best friends. Graham Wellington had to be the doctor on call? It occurred to Fancie that she had not asked anyone about Ashley. When she thought about the accident, anger outweighed concern. Ashley was an irresponsible, spoiled rich girl whose daddy gave her anything she wanted and bailed her out of trouble time and time again. This thought startled Fancie. She had no idea she could think of her friend in this light. They’d always joked about Ashley’s lack of responsibility and her doting father. But Fancie never imagined Ashley’s frivolous attitude and behavior would come to this. “What the hell was she thinking?”

  “She wasn’t.”

  Fancie turned to see her brother. “Tripp, are you okay?”

  He slumped into a chair beside his mother’s bed and buried his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Fancie. But this was not my fault.”

  “You weren’t drinking?”

  “Of course not. It was eleven in the morning. She came around that curve like someone was chasing her. There was no time to get out of the way.”

  Fancie rounded the bed and put a hand on his shoulder. “I know.”

  “They’re gonna say it was my fault. Her father will pay people to protect his precious little girl. You know that.”

  “We don’t know that.”

  “Are you going to see her?”

  Fancie shook her head. “I can’t. Not right now.”

  He reached out with trembling fingers to touch their mother’s arm. “Mama has to be okay, Fancie. I won’t be able to live with myself if she isn’t.”

  “She’ll be fine. Graham…Dr. Wellington was in earlier and said….”

  “That asshole.”

  “It’s okay, Tripp. Whatever Graham is, I know he’s also a fine doctor. It’s about his only redeeming quality. How about you? Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Just sore. And I have a headache.” He stood. “I’m going to stay with Dad tonight.”

  “Good. I’m staying here with Mama. I’ll go back up with you to Daddy’s room to tell him goodnight and send the others home.”

  The cubicle was small and afforded little space for a cot. The nurse insisted Fancie could not sit all night with her mother.

  “I’ll stand if I have to. I am not leaving her tonight,” Fancie insisted.

  “But it’s against the rules in ICU.”

  “Then I suggest you call security. I’m not leaving my mother.”

  Graham sat at a desk, making notes in a chart. He stood. “Nurse? I think perhaps we can make an exception this time. I’ll get a chair from the waiting area. Ms. Hollensby will promise to stay out of your way.”

  Fancie stared at Graham, stunned. “Yes, I’ll stay out of the way.”

  The nurse nodded. “Okay, but I’m noting that you gave the okay, Dr. Wellington.”

  “Understood.” He met Fancie’s gaze. “Don’t make me regret doing this. If they ask you to step out of the room, you don’t argue.”

  “Absolutely.”

  He nodded and strode down the hall. Moments later, he returned with an orderly dragging a somewhat more comfortable chair. At least it had arms and would ensure she didn’t topple out if she dozed. He placed the chair in the cubicle.

  “Thank you.” Fancie tugged the sleeves of her sweater over her hands to keep from touching his arm.

  “You’re welcome.”

  She settled into the chair, accepting the thin blanket the nurse brought to her. She sat in the dimly lit space, listening to the sounds around her—machines pinging and whooshing, people moaning, crying, the squeak of rubber-soled shoes on linoleum floors. Her mother remained motionless. Fancie tried to tell herself that was good, that her mother’s body needed to heal.

  Fancie woke with a start. A nurse was tucking the blankets back to her mother’s chin. “Is there any change?”

  “No. She’s stable. That’s a good thing. You should go home and get some decent rest. You could have some very long days ahead.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Six-fifteen.”

  Fancie sat up and winced, every muscle in her body complaining.

  “Leave your phone number at the desk. We’ll call you if there’s any change.”

  The nurse was right. She needed sleep. She also needed to see about readying a downstairs bedroom for her father before he was released. “I’ll do that. Thank you.”

  Fancie left her cell number with the nurse and stopped in the restroom. Her hair stood out wildly and her eyes looked sunken and dark. A crease on her left cheek showed she must have dozed on her arm at some point. That would explain why her left hand was numb.

  She splashed water on her face and fumbled for paper towels to dab it dry. Then she rummaged in her purse for a breath mint before heading to her father’s room upstairs. The bed was empty. She turned in a panic and ran smack into her brother.

  “Whoa. Slo
w down,” Tripp said.

  “Where’s Daddy?”

  “They’re putting a cast on his ankle. He’ll be released this afternoon.”

  “Can you stay with him? I’ll go home and get the den ready. I can have Luke help me set up a bed in there.”

  He dug into his pocket and produced a business card. “The nurse gave me this card. We can rent a hospital bed. She said it would be better for him considering his ribs. If he lays flat too much, he could get pneumonia. I should warn you, he’s already insisting he’s not leaving here until he sees Mama.”

  “Then take him to see her. I think he should. But don’t let him stay all day. He needs his rest.”

  “I’ll call you when he’s released. You’ll have to pick us up in Mama’s car.” He frowned. “How are you getting home?”

  “I’ll call the cousins. One of them will come for me.” She hugged him. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Tripp.”

  “Thanks. And I’m glad you’re here.”

  She went down to the lobby and called Charity. “Char, it’s Fancie.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. I’m sorry, I didn’t think a call this early would frighten you. I need a ride from the hospital. Can you come and get me?”

  “Be there in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thanks.” She slipped her phone back into her purse and glanced around. A coffee shop off the lobby was just opening for the day. She shuffled across the marble floor and up to the counter. “May I have a large coffee?”

  “Sure. Three-sixty-five. The cream and sugar are over there.” The clerk pointed to a small table.

  She added cream and two sugars, savoring the rich, hot brew. She made a mental to do list while she stood at the door waiting for her cousin. When Charity pulled up to the entrance, Fancie hurried to the car.

  “Thanks so much. I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “You didn’t. None of us got much sleep last night. You look awful.”

  “I slept in a chair all night, when I slept.” She finished the coffee and set the cup in the center console holder. “I need a shower. Then I need to make some calls and set up the den for Daddy.”

  “Want me to call off work and help you?”

  “No, I appreciate that, but I’ll see if Luke’s available. It’s early. He should still be around.”