Page 81 of Road Trip
My heart kicked me in the chest at that and I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry for my sweet Wesley to come and rescue me. I wished I were only held captive by Humperdinck and not having to deal with this bullshit. I plopped into a chair next to Mom, who was totally engrossed in the film. She even recited the dialogue quietly to herself. When the nurse called my name, I sighed. I couldn’t take mom with me because she’d freak out when she saw all the medical equipment, and then we’d have a whole other trauma to deal with. I made sure mom was thoroughly engrossed in her movie and then I went back to be with Gran.
“Can you please keep an eye on her?” I asked the nurse as we passed the front desk. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but if she starts to wander—”
“We’ll do what we can,” the nurse said, looking at my mother with a frown. “If it gets busier, though, I can’t make you any guarantees.” She spoke to the front desk staff and relayed my information. They looked at me sadly and nodded. There were only two other people in the waiting room, so I figured I’d be safe for a bit, but damn it all to hell! I prayed Mom would not be a problem just once. Shitty way to think of your own mother, I know. I dealt with that guilt daily.
I waited with Gran until the doctor came to speak to her. They’d given her something for the pain and she was resting in the bed.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Medeiros,” he said, shaking my hand.
Gran woke up to speak with the doctor and tell him what had happened. He ordered X-rays and said he’d check back when they were ready for viewing. I went out to check on Mom while Gran was in X-ray. Her movie had ended and she restarted it. I was grateful I’d spent the money on this gadget for her. It was vital to my being able to keep her occupied.
It turned out that Gran had sprained her knee, broken her wrist and one of the bones of the forearm in two places. As the doctor spoke, I felt my heart start to race. She was going to need surgery, plates, bed rest, the cast was going to be bulky and heavy for her to get around with, needed to be kept for observation due to a possible concussion…I held it together until the doctor left and I told Gran I was going to check on Mom. Instead, I ran down the hall and into the first bathroom I found, which was luckily a single toilet room with a lock. I let the tears flow and sobbed silently, letting my fear and frustration out in one huge release. I knew I was going to have to get it together before I faced Gran again. I washed my face and stepped out into the hall to call Jilly.
“Hey, roomie,” she answered, sounding like she had just woken up.
“Jilly, I’m going to need a favor. I left my laundry going. Can you please finish the one load that’s in there when you get back home and hang up my dresses? I’m going to be staying with Gran for, um, well, a while, I guess.”
Jilly didn’t take my bullshit very well and got me to spill the details. “Jesus Christ, babe. This is a clusterfuck of epic proportions. Let me take care of the laundry when I get back and I’ll pack you a bag. I’ve got stuff to make a casserole, so I’ll cook that up and bring it over to the house later. Anything else I can do? Oh! What about your cop?”
My heart ached just hearing his name and the tears threatened to come again. “I don’t know. I don’t…”
“Yes, you do. Call him. What can it hurt? If he’s as great as you said he is...”
“He’s more than great. But, Jilly, things were weird when I left. I don’t want him to see me like this. See Mom like this. What will he think?”
“You don’t know. Call him, Abey. If he’s as wonderful as you said he was, he’s going to be there.”
I hoped she was right.
Kelly
After filling in Grandma and Grandpa about my trip and all the bad stuff that had happened, I spent the afternoon in the barn. The horses always made me feel better. I groomed three of my favorites and was just bringing a fourth out when I felt my phone buzzing in my back pocket. My heart fluttered when I saw Abra’s number.
“Hey,” I said, feeling awful about the way we’d separated this morning, but unwilling to hide my relief that she’d called.
“Hi,” she said quietly, her little voice sounding thoroughly defeated.
“What’s wrong?” I led the mare I’d just pulled out over to a turnout and let her in while I waited for Abra to speak. I’d tell Katie to put her away after she’d had a stretch.
“How do you know something’s wrong?” she asked, then sniffled.
“Doll, what happened? Are you safe?” It took a few minutes before she could speak. Every sob ratcheted up the tension in my body. I wanted to act, I needed to swoop in and do something.
“My gran fell and she’s really hurt. I’m at the hospital. I just needed to hear your voice.” Her words spurred me into action.
“Which hospital? I’ll be right there.”
She cried some more before she told me where she was. I kept her on the phone as I ran up to the house.
“Katie,” I called out as I hurried into the back of the house where the kitchen and dining room table were. Grandma met me in the hallway and looked concerned. I covered the phone. “I need Katie,” I whispered.
She pointed to the front of the house. “Is everything all right?” Grandma asked, and I shook my head, kissing her cheek as I went by.
I made sure Abra was still with me and worked my way toward the front of the house.
“Katie! I left Ginger in the turnout. Can you put her back in about forty-five minutes? I’ve got to run. I’m not sure when I’ll be back.”
“Is it Abra?” Katie asked, knowing how much of a mess I was after we’d talked earlier. I nodded, and she shooed me out the door.
