Page 2 of Letting Go
Trent
Viv, looks like it’s going to be a long night for me. There’s a patient being flown in from a lower tier trauma center for urgent surgery. Doubt I’ll be done before 8 AM depending on complexity. I’ll be home as soon as I’m done for the princess’ birthday brunch, hopefully 10 at the latest. Love you, T.
I click over to text my sister after letting Abby know I may be gone a bit longer than I planned but not explaining more.
Reaching out to my sister next is just instinct; Savannah is not only my sister, but she is my best friend. I wish we lived closer to each other. Even having one of our brothers closer would be helpful. But in this moment, four hundred miles feels like an ocean away.
Me
Sav, I can’t talk right now, but something happened. Not clear on details. Cops came to our building saying Trent’s been shot??? He was operating this morning. This must be a mistake. I’m riding in a police car to Fairview to clear this up. I’ll call you when I can.
Savannah responds moments later, and we are already halfway to Fairview. It’s impressive how much faster traffic moves when your vehicle has lights and sirens blaring.
Savannah
Viv! What?! Are you ok? Is Eloise ok? Where is she? Who’s with you right now?
Me
I’m alone. Eloise is home with the sitter and probably still sleeping. I was just leaving to run last-minute birthday errands before brunch and the police were in the lobby waiting for me. She’s ok and Abby will stay with her.
Savannah
Ok, keep me in the loop. I’ll let Daddy and the Cavalry know. Loveyou, Vivi!
The Cavalry includes our four loving—yet overprotective—brothers, and they will blow up my phone as soon as they hear about the situation. They always mean well, but none of this feels real. I can’t even process my own questions right now, let alone answer anyone else’s. This all has to be a mistake.
I put my cell phone back in my purse as the officer whips into the emergency lot and quickly opens my door. Inside the emergency entrance I see Dan, Trent’s colleague and friend, waiting for me at the registration desk.
Dan gives me a hug and I accidentally smear eye makeup on the embroidered Dr. Sampson on his coat. I didn’t even realize I was crying. “Thank you, officers, I’ll take her from here. Come on, Vivian. Let’s go back to a private room.”
He uses his badge to open the secure doors. With a hand on my lower back guiding me, we weave through the hallways silently before entering the secluded waiting room.
A woman I don’t recognize follows us in with a few bottles of water and a box of tissues. There are a few other people sitting in chairs along the wall, but I sit on the opposite side, away from the sympathetic stares the strangers are giving me. I cling to my phone, but despite the almost-constant vibrating notifications, none of the incoming messages are from Trent.
Setting my bag down, I turn to Dan for answers. “Dan, what the hell is going on? Is it safe to even be here if there was a shooting? Shouldn’t this all be locked down? How many people were hurt? Where is Trent right now?” I try to keep my voice down, but suddenly everyone in the room is now watching the two of us.
Dan sits next to me and leans in as he quietly explains, “They are saying he coded twice in the ambulance en route. He was rushed directly into surgery as soon as they arrived. I know they’re doing everything they can for him, and we know Trent is a fighter. He is strong Vivian; you need to be strong for him too.”
“What?” I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. “I mean, yes, he’s strong, but what are you talking about, Dan? Why was he transported anywhere at all when he was shot here?”
Dan tilts his head, looking at me confused like I’m the one not making sense. “No, Vivian. The shooting wasn’t here. He was brought here to Fairview by ambulance.”
“What do you mean, he wasn’t here? He told me he was operating early this morning. Where was he?” None of this is making any sense, let alone trying to wrap my head around Dan informing me that my husband coded multiple times.
“Honestly, I don’t know where he was, but Trent isn’t on the schedule until tomorrow, so there must be some kind of miscommunication, or maybe his on-call shifts changed.”
I need to straighten this confusion out so I’m home before the cake arrives. “Can someone please get ahold of Trent’s head nurse? Lisa will confirm he was here, operating, and this is all some terrible mix-up.”
Dan pauses before taking a deep breath while he looks away, as though unable to look me in the eye. After a moment, he softly replies, “I’ve been here for over forty-eight hours. He wasn’t on call and Trent wasn’t here at the hospital last night or early this morning before being brought in, let alone operating on anyone. Vivian, I’m sorry, but I don’t know what to tell you.”
My phone buzzes again, but it’s my sister, not my husband.
Savannah
Vivi, I don’t want you to be alone right now. I know you didn’t ask, but I’m pulling the sister card and coming. You know it’s what Mama would’ve done. Shane has the girls covered. I called Jack and his pilot will get us in the air within the hour coming to you. Jack talked to Liam and he’ll join us in Chicago this afternoon. Whatever is going on, Jack and I will be there with you in 2 hours or less.
Savannah
