New York winter cold. Crosstown wind made me pull my trench coat
tighter around me. Raney stepped off the curb and flagged down a
taxi. The skies had dropped since we entered the gallery, and the
smell of snow was in the air.
I gave the girls a thumbnail account of Bette’s call.
“Could she be overreacting?” Eleanor knew of Bette but not how
she might behave in a crisis.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her in an emergency.”
Before I could press the recall button, a text came through.
“Mom’s hurt bad. I’m scared. Please come home.”
Emilie.
I sent my granddaughter a text and called Bette. “What
happened?”
“The police called this morning. Her car ran off the road last
night. She’s hurt real bad.” There was fear in Bette’s voice. “The
Colonel is at the hospital, but he doesn’t know much more than I do.
All the police could tell us was that they found her car this morning.”
“I don’t understand.”
"I’ll tell you more later. She’s in surgery. A herd of specialists are
working on her.”
“But—”
“Just hurry, please.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I clamped down on my emotions
and tried not to panic. “Where’s Whip?”
“He’s been in the Middle East for several weeks. He’s due home
today. We’ve tried reaching him, but no luck. He’s probably in the
air. We had the kids overnight and got the call this morning when
the Colonel and I were driving them home.”
“How did they find you?”
“I don’t know. Anyway, the Colonel dropped the children and
me at their house and went straight to the hospital. Call me here. Oh,
here’s the Colonel’s cell number.”
Bette rattled off a series of numbers. Before I could fumble for
a piece of paper, Eleanor held up a small notebook and a silver pen.
I repeated the number to be certain I heard it right. Eleanor jotted
it down.
“One more thing. The EMTs airlifted Merry to Virginia
Commonwealth Medical Center, not County.”
“Why?”
“VCU has a better trauma center.”
“I see. I’ll be in touch. Thanks.” I shut the phone.
Available on Amazon for $1.99
No comments:
Post a Comment