The Pride of Howard County
Page 20
Chapter 19
Gus was in the intensive care unit in critical condition; he was on life support, had a concussion, a fractured tibia, a broken collar bone and had developed pneumonia in both lungs. Had it not been for John performing CPR he would have surely died. His heart had literally stopped and the doctors were very concerned about his prognosis. They may be able to save his life but whether he would have the brain function he once had was their main concern due to the lack of blood flow to his brain. It was quite possible he may have suffered permanent and irreversible brain damage.
Gus’s accident shocked the local community and his hospital room was filling up with bouquets of flowers, potted plants and get well cards. Gus, through it all clung to life moment by moment.
John couldn’t help but to feel somehow this was his fault due to the developments of the last few days. Gus would never have tried to cross the Piney had his thoughts not been distracted. George and he had talked daily and even though he knew on an intellectual level it wasn’t his fault, the guilt persisted.
He worked on the farm as if he could work hard enough to forget at least for a moment that Gus could die. Every night he sat in the chair in the hospital room listening to the sounds of the life support system, the soft beeps and blips, the steady sound of the machine pumping air into the old mans lungs. Day after day he walked down those long hallways of the hospital after a long day of farming always fearing the worse. John figured that negotiating with God was probably a waste of time and yet found himself praying just in case there was some remote possibility that it might make the difference.
Four days into this ordeal, John walked into Gus’s room to find a woman standing next to his bed. She was an attractive redhead, well dressed, classy looking yet she looked distraught. He said hello and introduced himself.
John could hardly believe it when she offered her hand and said, “Hello, I’m Abby.”
John had seen pictures of Abby when she was a child. He had seen pictured of Grace as well and the resemblance was incredible. He was at first stunned and didn’t quite know what to say.
The beautiful woman broke the silence by asking the question; “You’ve been looking for me haven’t you?”
John was now confused and found himself getting a little angry but he composed himself and asked, “How’s he doing?” They both looked at Gus lying on the bed with all the tubes running in and out of him. John was trying to gather his thoughts when Abby said as if she were trying to convinced herself, “He’s going to be fine.”
John couldn’t help to wonder why if she knew he had been looking for her why she hadn’t called or written or something. There was just an awkward silence.
When a nurse came into the room to take Gus’s vitals Abby seized the opportunity and asked John if he would like to take a walk.
They strolled aimlessly down the hallway of the hospital with only the sound of their shoes hitting the tile.
She was truly a beautiful woman; her makeup and hair were perfect and John’s resentments toward this woman were growing. She carried herself with poised and confidence; John found himself a little intimidated being in her presence. Neither the man nor woman knew how to begin such a conversation as this, it was John who broke the silence, “I was beginning to think you were dead.”
Abby looked at him and looked away then replied, “I read in the newspaper about dad’s accident.”
John finally asked the question he’d wanted to know since first laying eyes on her, “Where have you been?”
The beautiful woman looked as if she were thinking about something really complicated and then responded, “I live in Denver.”
John’s intimidation turned into confusion, “So, you live in Denver and read about your father’s accident in our paper?” Abby told him how she read the Fayette Gazette online. There was more silence, only the echo of them walking in the hallway. Finally John just flat out stated, “I’m sorry I don’t get this.”
Abby took a deep breath and professionally suggested they go somewhere where they could sit down and talk. John suggested they go to the hospital cafeteria. It was there that Gus’s daughter told him her story.