He retreated. “Yes?”
“I want you to know I regard you as the boss. I would never infringe upon your authority or position here.”
He leaned close to her, kissed her on top of her head, and whispered, “Not to worry, Amanda, all is good.”
By early evening, the flow of customers had waned.
“It’s a slow night, Mandy,” Pete said. “Charles and I will close up. Why don’t you go home early and order-in one of those super-deluxe-everything-on-it-pizzas you like and relax.”
“Great idea! I can take that long overdue a bubble bath, open a bottle of wine, and watch a good romantic suspense flick.”
“That sounds like a perfect plan,” he said.
“Yes, it does, and yes, I will take advantage of the opportunity.”
She gave him a hug then strolled through the restaurant, stopping at a table or two to make small talk with a few regular customers, before joining Sarah at the hostess podium.
The sound of crashing dishes and frantic screams echoed out into the dining room from the kitchen. Both women rushed toward the commotion. They reached the swinging doors just to see Pete collapse against the dessert table and slide down onto the floor.
“Poppy!” Amanda screamed and raced to him. She dropped to her knees. “Someone call 9-1-1. Hurry!”
One of the line cooks vaulted over the sandwich bar. “I’ve had CPR training, been studying to become an EMT,” he shouted.
Pete dismissed his comment with a wave of his hand. “Not necessary, son, I’m fine. Just help me up,” he commanded. “I’ve got work to do.”
Charles appeared on the scene. “Stay put, Pete. You’re as white as a cook’s apron, struggling to breathe, and obviously having a problem with balance. We’ve called for help. The ambulance is on its way.”
With an air of authority, Pete protested. “No need. I’m okay.”
The young cook took off his hat and apron, rolled them into a ball, and passed it to Charles. “Pillow.”
Charles placed his hand on Pete’s shoulder and gently, yet firmly, coaxed him down onto the make-shift headrest. “My call on this, dear friend. I don’t want you to attempt to get up or move about. This may be nothing, but we’re going to make sure.”
Sirens grew louder and louder. Within a few minutes, the paramedics arrived. They stabilized the older man and prepared him for transport to Crestview Hospital. Amanda decided to ride along.
Charles reached for her hand. “He’s going to be all right, Mandy. He’s a tough old bird.”
She forced a smile. “I’m going in the ambulance. I want to be there. I need to be there with him, in case something goes wrong.”
Once they’d exited through the back door of the restaurant, Charles jumped into action. He waved his hand over the broken dishes and food scattered about.
“Let’s get this mess cleaned up.” He checked his watch and added, “Close down the kitchen. One early night isn’t going to hurt business.” He turned and addressed Sarah. “If anyone asks any questions, assure them all is well. Just say Pete slipped on a wet spot, went down hard, and is being taken to the hospital for an X-ray to make sure he didn’t break anything.”
Amanda knew the drive to Crestview Hospital would only take a few minutes, but tonight, it seemed like an eternity. She held her grandfather’s hand and offered words of comfort. He looked pale and fragile, and for the first time, she could say sickly. She studied the ailing expression on Poppy’s face and glanced away to hide the tears. He seemed to getting worse—opening and closing his eyes, totally unaware of where he was or who she was or where he was going.
The EMT sitting in the back with her alerted the two-crew members up front to call ahead. “Step on it!” he shouted.
At the hospital, the admitting nurse confronted Amanda. “Even though we’re expecting him, Miss Conifer, we need you to complete the necessary forms for treatment.”
She nodded. “I’ll fill them out as completely as I can. When will I be able to join my grandfather?”
“Give us some time to treat him. Once we’ve done our job and he’s settled, we’ll let you go in.” His smile held a hint of comfort.
“Of course,” she agreed. “It’s just that he’s been—”
One of the nurses stepped in. “Miss Conifer, we’ll do everything we can to find out what caused his collapse and give him the best care.” She then pointed to the waiting area. “Please take a seat, and we’ll keep you posted as we go along.”
Chapter Ten
Amanda sipped the vending machine coffee thinking it tasted like dishwater—nothing like the fresh brew they served at the restaurant, or the caramel macchiato she enjoyed at Java Joe’s in downtown Crestview. She’d muddle through it to stay awake, to be ready for the diagnosis, and to be here for Poppy.
At that very moment, Charles burst through the emergency room doors and headed straight for the nurse at the admissions desk. Taken by surprise, all she could do was stare at him in total disbelief as he demanded, “Are you in charge?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. “I must have an immediate report on Pete Russo’s condition. Can you help me?”
The nurse was not impressed by the imposing figure of the man who challenged her authority. With remarkable calmness, she glanced up and asked, “Are you family?”
Leaning over the desk, he looked deep into her eyes and declared, “Of course I am.”
The nurse shuffled the papers spread out in front of her then stood. “And you are Mister…?” She waited.
He lowered the intensity of his tone. “I’m Charles.”
“Mr. Charles,” she repeated. “I see your name is different from the patient. Exactly how are you related to him?”
Charles being Charles took the challenge in stride, never skipped a beat. “It’s not Mr. Charles,” he corrected. “Just Charles. And the patient, as you so casually refer to him, is my step-father.” He sensed she still doubted his response, but continued his mission. “After you ascertain the status of his condition, you can find me over there with my sister, Amanda.” He pointed toward the waiting room. “We’d both appreciate any information you can give us as quickly as possible.”
The nurse glanced over at the waiting room. “Actually, it’s still early to know much. He’s still undergoing tests. However, I’ll see what I can find out.”
She made her way toward the double doors next to the nurse’s station.
“Thank you so much, you’re truly an angel of mercy,” Charles called after her. Then with another swooping motion, he approached Amanda and gently scooped her into his arms. “How are you holding up, sweetheart?”
After a moment or two, she eased out of his embrace. “I’m fine, Charlie. What are you doing here so soon? I thought you were going to wait until I called.”
He gave her a sheepish grin.
“I know what I said, but you know me. I couldn’t stand the idea of not knowing about your grandfather, and of course, you, especially being here all by yourself.” Then with a grand encompassing wave of his hand, he added, “And having to deal with all the medical bureaucracy and emotional stress. I had to be here. Besides, I’m concerned about Pete. He’s been a surrogate father to me.”
He paused and gazed into Amanda’s eyes. “Please don’t be angry with me.”
Talk about a guilt trip…. He was a take-charge kind of person, to say the least, and had to be on top of Poppy’s condition for several reasons. One, being he genuinely cared for Poppy. Two, so he could best assess the business plan for the next few days or so. Three, so he could give a full account to everyone at the restaurant. Four, he needed to help.
Amanda leaned forward and rested her head against his chest. “I’m not angry, Charlie. All is good. Actually, I’m relieved you’re here. Right now, I feel like I’m having an out of body experience.”
He gently smoothed her hair. “Not to worry. We’ll get through this together, I promise.”
She straightened and dabbed her e
yes with a crumbled tissue she’d found stuffed in the pocket of her jacket. Behind her came another voice.
“Here, Amanda, take this.” Sarah handed her a small packet.
Amanda took the tissues. “I didn’t see you come in, Sarah. Did you come with Charles?”
She nodded.
“Emergency designated-driver at your service.” She pointed to Charles. “He’s a real basket case. I hope you don’t mind.” She touched Amanda’s arm. “I’m not intruding, am I?”
“No. No. Of course not.” She forced a smile. “I wasn’t expecting anyone. It’s nice to know people care.”
The trio sat in silence for what seemed to be an eternity while waiting for information. Finally, the swinging doors opened. The desk nurse and a doctor exited and approached them.
“This is the Conifer family.” She pointed to them then left and returned to her duties.
“Miss Conifer, I’m Dr. Jansen. I’m sorry you’ve had to wait so long, but our procedures sometimes take hours to complete. Your grandfather is stable and resting.”
A worried Amanda quickly asked. “Do you know why he collapsed?”
The doctor glanced from her to Charles to Sarah. “He’s had a TIA, short for Transient Ischemic Attack, a mini stroke. We’ve also detected an irregular heartbeat and discovered he has pneumonia.”
She gasped. “Is that bad?”
“It doesn’t seem to be, at this time. He is having a little trouble breathing so he’s on oxygen. We’re monitoring his heart, and the medications are also helping him.”
“Is he incapacitated in any way?” Charles asked.
“I haven’t seen any debilitating effects yet, but it’s still early on. I’m going to monitor his behavior carefully for the next a few days and run some additional tests.”
Amanda reached for Charles’ hand. “Is he going to be all right?”
“I believe he’ll be fine. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
“Can we see him?” Charles asked.
“Yes, briefly. He’s not fully awake. He’s drifting off from the medication I gave to help him sleep through the night.”
Amanda and Charles followed the doctor down the sterile hallway to her grandfather’s dimly lit ICU room. The faint smell of medicine mixed with disinfectants and the wires of the different monitors attached to his body sent her senses into total overload. She clung to the doorjamb trying to recover from the frightening and discouraging sight.
“This looks worse than it is, Miss Conifer.” Dr. Jansen spoke as if he’d read her mind and understood her vulnerability. Amanda’s weak smile alerted the doctor to her helplessness. “He’s doing well.”
Charles linked arms with her. “Take a deep breath, Mandy. He’s a fighter, right?”
Choking back tears, she gave a quick nod.
The doctor continued his report.
“Barring any unforeseen complications, most of this equipment will be gone by tomorrow.” He turned to leave. “Please don’t stay too long, he needs his rest.”
Without hesitation, Amanda said, “I’d like to stay overnight.”
Dr. Jansen cleared his throat.
“If I may take a small liberty, Miss Conifer,” he paused to gather his thoughts. “I understand you’re concerned. But please believe me when I say there’s no eminent danger. His medication will allow him to sleep through the night.” Then the doctor glanced at Charles. “It would be better if you all went home and returned in the morning.”
“I imagine what you say is accurate, Dr. Jansen. It’s just that I’m so afraid of losing him. I want to be with him.”
“There’s nothing you can do for him. And he’s going to need you to be at your best. A few hours’ sleep will do you good, too.” He made his way to the doorway. “Besides, you live so close, you can be here in a few minutes if need be.”
“The doctor’s right, Amanda,” Charles said. “Let Sarah and I take you home to shower and take a nap. One of us will bring you back when you awake.”
Amanda shook her head. “I don’t know about that, Charlie. What if he takes a turn for the worse and I’m not here?”
“Like the doctor said, you can be here in minutes, Mandy. Think about it. You’ll be more of a help to him if you look fresh and encouraging, not tired and worried like now.”
“I know you’re right, but I’m so afraid he’s going to die.”
Before the doctor left Pete’s room, he added, “That shouldn’t be a concern you have, Miss Conifer. We’ve found nothing to indicate his condition should warrant that level of worry.”
Despite her misgivings about leaving, deep inside, Amanda felt Dr. Jansen’s expertise and empathy for his patient’s families wouldn’t allow him to mislead her. Reluctantly, she admitted his assessment of Poppy’s situation was best. She eased closer to the bed. At her grandfather’s side, she stroked his cheek and kissed his forehead.
“It’s Mandy, Poppy.” He stirred at the sound of her voice. “Shh,” she whispered. “Get your rest. I’ll be back at the crack of dawn.”
Charles stepped next to her and patted Pete’s hand. “Sleep, dear friend, I’ve got this. Everything is under control.”
“Do you think he heard us, Charlie?”
“Of course he did. He responded to both of us.” He took her hand to lead her away.
Before leaving, Amanda kissed her grandfather’s forehead again.
“I love you.” She turned to Charlie and grabbed his arm. “Let’s go.”
When Sarah spotted them coming down the corridor toward the waiting room, she walked to meet them. “How is he?”
“He’s resting comfortably, and they say that he’ll be okay. But I just don’t know, Sarah. He looks so weak, so old, and so sick. Seeing him just lying there in that narrow bed with the chrome side railings keeping him from falling out, I don’t know what to believe.” She again slumped against Charles.
He rubbed her shoulder. “Now, Amanda, if the doctor says he’ll be okay, then he’ll be okay. You have to have faith. I do.” He looked at Sarah. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost two.”
“We’d better take her home. Tomorrow will be a busy day for all of us.”
He motioned toward the exit, but no one had a chance to move. A kind of organized chaos erupted. A medical team dashed past them, making their way toward the sirens and flashing lights coming from the emergency room entrance.
“Got a beep. What’s coming in?” someone asked.
“Accident on County Road 123. Two victims.”
Amanda, Charles and Sarah moved to the side so the orderlies could wheel two gurneys from the ambulance into the emergency room area. One held a young girl who appeared lifeless; the other carried a man who also seemed to be unconscious. The hospital staff hurried them to the corridor of the hospital marked OR.
“Those poor people,” Amanda said.
“They’re in good hands,” assured Charles. “Just like your grandfather.” He linked arms with her. “Come on, Mandy, let’s get you home.”
Amanda sat in the back seat of Sarah’s car, staring out into the night, thinking about Poppy. “Maybe I should stay, Charlie. If something went wrong, I’d never forgive myself.”
Charles repeated Dr. Jansen’s message. “They’re not anticipating any changes, Mandy. Besides, if there’s even the smallest concern, Dr. Jansen will call.”
“It’s just...I…I….” Amanda never finished her thought. Her tears and sobs took over.
Sarah suggested Charles sit with her. He shook his head. “She needs to cry it out.”
* * *
News of Pete Russo’s collapse quickly reached those empowered to carry out The Crestview Project. Their concerns for his welfare took on a sudden urgency. Panic produced a series of telephone conference calls across Colorado that lasted late into early morning hours. One conversation repeated itself several times over.
“This twist of events puts a kink into the property acquisition plan. It was all properties or no
deal.”
“No need to remind me of that.”
All knew that without him, they’d have a hard time convincing the others to go along with their plan.
“The prospect of his death and having to deal directly with Amanda is a factor we hadn’t taken into consideration. Do you think she’d sell?”
“Let’s not even go there yet. Nothing can be done. We have to wait. Peter Russo’s fate will determine how we proceed, how we deal with Amanda, and how successful we’ll be in the end.”
“We can use the alternate plan. It’s always an option.”
“Yes. Yes. I know. I’d just like to see this deal close without having to use it.”
“Of course, but remember, we can call up our ‘friendly enforcer.’ He’s ready and willing to do anything we ask of him.”
“Caution is the name of the game now.”
“That, my friend, is true. And we all better heed the implications of the consequences we’d all face if any action were to ensue at this time.”
“Let’s monitor the situation, think twice, and take extra precautions. We’ve come too far to have it blow up in our faces.”
“Don’t worry. No one is going to disclose any information, no matter what’s involved. We’re talking big bucks here.”
“Definitely. Too much to let slip through our hands.”
Chapter Eleven
Yawning, Nick Dalton checked his watch—almost midnight. It had been a long day, and now, it was time to go home. He stretched, closed the folder he had been working on, put it in his desk, and rose to leave.
As usual, he took a quick stroll through the office, checked doors, windows and bathrooms, and then made a sweep of the warehouse. With everything in order, he grabbed his briefcase, shut off the lights, locked the door, and headed for his truck parked in the back of the building. He always parked there because it gave him the chance to do a quick check of the outside premises before he left for the night. This last minute safeguard procedure was one he had gotten into the habit of doing. He had a routine and never forgot.
He looked forward to the solitude of his pickup and the ride home. It always brought him a moment of comfort. He buckled up, pulled out of the driveway of Star Restaurant Supplies, and headed for the highway. These late nights, working on the books, have to stop.
Matters of the Heart Page 5