Page 122 of Bling

Garrett on the other hand seemed to struggle to get it down, but he toughed it out for her and she was grateful.

Picking up their drinks, Garrett led them back to their table where she picked up her phone. There was a missed call she didn’t recognize.

“I’ll be right back,” she shouted in Garrett’s general direction. She picked up her drink and headed for the quieter lobby of the country club and pressed play on her voicemail. She tipped the margarita back and chugged while she waited for the message to begin.

“This is Naomi Hines, a nurse at Methodist calling for an Isabelle Alvarado. You’re listed as next of kin for a Carmen Alvarado. If you could please call us back right away.”

Isabelle felt her head begin to spin and her heart pounded harder as she tried to dial the number the nurse had left.

“Hi. Yes. Hi. Sorry, I’m scared. I got a phone call about my sister. I’m confused because she’s supposed to be in jail.”

“What’s your sister’s name honey?”

“Shit, sorry. Yeah, Um. It’s Carmen. Carmen Alvarado.”

“OK honey. I need to transfer you to a doctor.”

The hold music played, and Isabelle felt like her stomach might dispel all the alcohol and food she’d consumed over the evening. What the fuck was going on?

“Miss Alvarado? I’m Dr. Levi. Are you with anyone right now?”

“Can you please just tell me what’s going on?” she pleaded.

“Your sister was brought in with symptoms consistent with a heroin overdose. She’s currently in a coma. If you can, it would be wise for you to get here as soon as possible.”

“Fuck,” she blurted. “I’m in California at a family reunion. I have her daughters with me.”

“I’m afraid it’s urgent, Miss Alvarado.”

“Can you tell me how this happened? She was supposed to be serving a four-year sentence in prison.”

“Let me see what her chart says.” She heard rustling around as he looked for the information she needed.

“According to the notes the intake nurse took, her parole officer found her at a halfway house where she’d recently been released.”

Isabelle was so confused. “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand. I was supposed to be notified of her release. I have temporary custody of her children. Why wasn’t I notified?” Her voice cracked as she spoke, and she couldn’t keep the panic from clawing at her throat.

“I’m afraid that’s not my area of expertise ma’am. I’m doing everything I can to save your sister’s life, but I really think you should get here right away.”

She choked back a sob. “OK. I’ll be on a plane as soon as I can arrange it.”

“Isabelle?” Garrett’s voice startled her, and she turned to face him as she lowered the phone. His face was swimming in front of her and there seemed to be two of him. She shouldn’t have drunk that last margarita so fast.

“Did you do this?” she asked, suddenly feeling suspicious.

“Did I do what? Why do you need to be on a plane?”

“My sister. She got released from prison early and nobody fucking told me, and now she’s in the hospital dying from a heroin overdose, and I need to know if you had anything to do with her release.”

Garrett just stared at her bewildered. “No. I gave you my word, Isabelle. I wouldn’t do that.”

She wanted to believe him, but her gut twisted with doubt. “I need to get the girls and get on a plane. I guess I should tell dad and Uncle Henry too. Can you help me wrangle them and then arrange tickets to get us back to Colorado?”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Isabelle. I’ll call up my jet and we’ll be on our way back in a few hours.”

“I don’t want your God damn plane. I just want help arranging plane tickets because I’m too drunk to do it myself.”

Garrett pulled out his phone.

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