Page 1 of Ma Belle Marguerite
Prologue
Isabella
Ibrush the snow from my jacket as I step inside the hospital where I work.What a horrible drive. I’ve always hated winter because it is so cold and there is too much snow! The only bright side about tonight is that this is my last shift before my vacation in two days.
My husband, Adrien, finally agreed to a family trip now that the twins are older, and we are leaving for Punta Cana as soon as the kids get out of school on Friday. I could not be more excited. Who doesn’t love the feel of sand between their toes?
I look through the glass doors and see the snow still falling heavily. I have a feeling it will be busy tonight with the winter storm we’re having. I had difficulty seeing through the blowing snow on my way in.
I glance at the empty waiting room. I’ve always loved my job in the emergency department at the hospital, but I’ve never done well with the sight of blood, so the receptionist position is better for me. I’ve been registering patients for eleven years, and I get to see a lot of interesting things while working in the front of the building.
The sound of sirens approaching rings in the distance, and I let out a huff. Of course I had to jinx myself, hoping for a quiet night.I should get to my desk and get ready before we get slammed.
I rush over to my station but pull my phone from my pocket before I sign into the computer. I should call Adrien quickly to make sure he made it home to the kids.
I dial his number, but it goes to voicemail after a few rings.That’s strange; he always answers at this time of night.Maybe the kids have him distracted.I’ll try one more time.I notice a phone ringing close by at the same time as Adrien’s rings in my ear.
That’s weird, I think, but ignore the sound.It must be a coincidence.Still, I’m oddly on edge and afraid to look. I glance up nervously as the paramedics pass me and swear I see what looks like my husband's jacket hanging from the stretcher. I gasp as bile rises in the back of my throat.It can’t be. Please, no!
I jump up from my chair and rush out of my cubicle after them, hoping to prove myself wrong. All I hear is my poundingheart in my ears. It’s as if the world has frozen around me. Slowly, I inch closer to the group surrounding the stretcher.
Suddenly, it’s like someone stole all the air from my lungs. My body refuses to move on its own as I stare in horror at my husband, lying there, receiving CPR. There are hands on his chest moving up and down with the sound of cracking ribs, while an intubation tube and bag mask helps him breathe. All I see is red.Where is all this blood coming from?
Why can’t I hear what they’re saying?Buzzing replaces all the sounds of the chaos around me.
The room begins to spin, as arms reach around and support me. Suddenly, hands on my shoulders give me a soft shake before I see the nurse standing before me, her face full of worry.
Sounds rush back to me, and I know they are talking about Adrien. But nothing they’re saying is making any sense.
The nurse leads me to the chairs nearby to sit.
“That can’t be my Adrien, right?” My voice shakes.
I see the look in her eyes and know this isn’t a dream. “I’m afraid it is, Isabella. Let’s just wait here and let them do their job. We don’t want to get in their way,” the nurse says to me quietly. I know her, but I can’t think of her name.
Names seem so trivial when your world feels like it is imploding.
A police officer approaches where I’m sitting and tries to get my attention. I can’t seem to take my eyes off what is happening before me.
“Miss, can you come with me?” the officer asks me.
The doctor turns around from the stretcher and makes eye contact with me. He has the same look I’ve seen so many times before. Compassion mixed with sorrow. He calls the nurse sitting beside me over to him. She rushes to him, and they quickly close the backroom doors.
I look up at the officer in front of me and see the same look of sad concern in his eyes. I can’t stand that look; I see it far too often.If I don’t follow him, then nothing is happening, right?
“Miss, can you hear me?” he asks me while placing his hand on my shoulder, which I think is his attempt to be reassuring.
“Yes, sorry, what did you say?” I look up at him, only to be greeted with that look of pity I cannot stand.
“Let’s go into the family room to talk more privately,” he tells me. “We’d like to explain what happened to your husband.”
“Okay, can I call someone to check on our children first? They’re at home with the babysitter.”They must be worried since Adrien is usually home by now.“My mother-in-law lives close by.”
“We already have an officer on her way to pick up your children,” he tells me. “Do you want water or something?”
“No, thank you. I don’t think I could stomach that right now.”Just the thought of water makes me feel nauseous.“So what happened, Officer?” His name escapes me. I have no idea if he even introduced himself.
“We received a call from someone who was driving by. They saw a truck upside down in the ditch.” The officer takes a deep breath before continuing. “When we arrived, we located the truck about fifty feet off the road in the trees.” He looks at me like he wishes he could stop there.
