Page 6 of Deception and New Direction

This confirmed my earlier assessment of her wound, thoughIhadn’t known it was the bone that connected her foot to her leg.

“X-rays do show a moderate fracture, but the bone was not displaced, which would cause it to be unstable,” the doctor continued. “Despitethe bone not being displaced, we decided to fit her with a cast due to the severity of the fracture, and because it is a part of the body that can often have too much weight on it.Shewill have to wear it for six to eight weeks until it heals.”

“When can we see her?”Iasked.

“She’ll be moved to her recovery room and you can join her there.I’llhave the nurse come get you when we have her situated.”

The doctor left as we all returned to our seats.Ifelt relief, knowing that this wasn’t as serious as it could have been.

I thought about calling her grandfather, butIknew his mobility was an issue and he wouldn’t likely be able to get here on his own.IdecidedI’dwait and askRuthiewhat she wanted to do.

As we waited for the nurse to come get us,Ithought aboutRuthieand how she would navigate her apartment and her dog now that she had a cast on.Shecouldn’t climb stairs, and her place was on the third floor with no elevator.Plus, she couldn’t walkDashon a leash with crutches.IdecidedIwould stay at her place with her tonight—on her couch—so thatIcould help withDashand anything else she might need.Tomorrow, however,Iwould be moving her into my place—a placeIhad just moved into not that long ago myself.Ihad a fenced-in backyard and a single-level home with a guest room all ready to go.Itjust made more sense.Fortonight, though,Iwould take her back to her place.

Shortly before the nurse informed usRuthiewas ready for visitors,Archercalled to tell us they foundCat.Shewas safe and on her way to the hospital—the same one we were at, thankfully—to be checked out.VinceorArchermust have twisted some arms to get them to come to this hospital too, rather than any of the others in the city.Diegowent withSusan,Jenny, andValdown to the ambulance bay entrance to wait forCatonce she arrived.EllieandIstayed back to check onRuthie.

We walked into her room to see a nurse explaining how to take care of the bright-pink cast that adorned her foot and ankle.Ofcourse it was pink.

She was lying there on the standard hospital bed looking miserable as the nurse listed off instructions.

Ruthie was at least a foot shorter than my six-foot-six-inch frame, but her personality was far from dainty.Shehad attitude, was full of confidence, and was very resourceful, but she also had an extreme love of everything pink.Itwas an interesting contrast to the rest of her personality.Hersilver-blonde hair was a hot mess now compared to the usual perfect shoulder-length waves but still looked incredibly soft.

“How’sCat?”RuthieaskedEllieand me, bringing me back from my thoughts.Ilooked up to find her leaning around the nurse to see us. “Didthey find her?Isshe okay?Whereis she?”

The rapid-fire questions made me smile.Herethis woman was, in a hospital bed after having just been shot, and she was worried about someone else.

“Yes, they found her,”Ellieresponded as she walked up to her bed. “She’sokay from what little we know, but they’re bringing her here to have her checked out.”

“Okay, thankGod.”Shesighed and leaned back against the pillows.

“All done here.Ishould have her discharge paperwork finished up within the hour,” the nurse said. “Becauseit’s her right foot, she won’t be permitted to drive during that time either, soItrust that one of you two can see that she gets home,” she said, pointing to my sister and mebefore quietly exiting the room.

“How are you feeling?”Ellieasked. “Ilike the bright-pink cast.”

“I like that it’s pink,”Ruthieresponded. “OnceIget my paperwork from the nurse,I’dlike to go seeCat.”

“We can take you,”Itold her then decidedImight as well let her in on the rest of the plans for tonight. “Then,I’lldrive you home, andI’mstaying on your couch.”

I saw her eyes begin to light up as though she was about to fight me, soIkept talking before she had a chance to interrupt.

“You can’t be alone right now.Youalso can’t drive.Youcan’t do two full flights of stairs with crutches, especially with a dog.I’llsleep on your couch, but someone needs to be there to help you out.”

Ruthie sighed and begrudgingly gave in. “Fine.Ido need help withDash.Hecan get feisty when he sees squirrels and chipmunks, andIknow he would pull me flat on my face.”

It fascinated me that it was the point about the dog that had her conceding, not because she needed help for herself, butIwould take it.Iwould also push one step further while she was in an agreeable mood.

“Also, tomorrow morning we’ll pack up whatever you need for a few weeks and bring it over to my place.Ihave a guest room on the main floor with a private bathroom right next to it for easy access.”

I could see her eyes grow wide as the idea settled in and knew she was about to push back, soIwent in for the kill.

“I have a fenced-in backyard, soDashcan roam around, and all you have to do is let him out the back door.Hecan get all the exercise he needs without you being limited by your crutches.Itwould be good for him.”

Her mouth, which had been silent but open, clamped shut.Shemay not have been worried about herself, but she treated her dog like her child and, therefore, would default to what was best for him.

“I’ll move in with my granddad.Hehas a fenced-in yard too,”Ruthieblurted out as though the idea just came to her.

“No disrespect to him, but he’s not going to drive you to and from work every day for six to eight weeks,”Icountered. “Wework in the same building, so we’re going to be going to the same place every day anyway.Itmakes more sense for you to stay with me.”

“Ruthie, it’s not a bad idea,”Elliechimed in. “Iwould invite you to stay withWadeand me, but we don’t have an extra room.Archerlives in the same building as you, across the hall, so that’s no better.Vincehas space in his loft, butI’mguessing after tonight, he andCatwill just want some time alone between the two of them for a while.”

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