Page 110 of Enough
A FEW DAYS later, the hospital calls and begs me to work a 7:00P.M.to 7:00A.M.shift. Nick volunteers to stay with the kids, and I’m even able to get a quick kiss from him before I rush out the door. I call Kay to tell her she’s off the hook, and she sounds almost relieved.
“Is everything okay?” I ask her. “You sound different.”
“Everything’s fine. I took a longer walk than usual this afternoon and I’m really tired. These old bones don’t like being pushed.”
“I worry about you, Gram. You do too much!”
“Don’t you worry about me, songbird! I’m just fine. Speaking of fine, how’s that handsome man of yours?”
“He’s good. He’s really good.”
“You deserve him, child. And more importantly, he deserves you! Don’t you ever forget just how special you are!”
I can’t help but smile. “I love him.”
“I know you do.” She laughs. “I could tell that the moment your eyes met.”
“I love you too, you know? Have I told you lately how grateful I am that I have you?”
“You don’t need to tell me. I already know.”
There’s something in her voice that worries me. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! I’m fine. I’m going to heat up some leftover pot roast and plop my butt in front of the TV. There’s aFriendsmarathon tonight!”
I laugh. “Okay! Well, I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you, Gram.”
“I love you too.”
The first few hours of work are extremely busy, but the idea of Nick in my house without me makes it hard to focus. I hear every department is busier than usual. It must be a full moon.
I’m glad to bump into Gwen in pediatrics when I deliver a preemie that will be staying in their neonatal unit for an extended time. I’m able to take a quick break at the end of her shift at eleven as things are calming down a bit. Just as we sit down to have a quick cup of coffee, one of the nurses pops her head in.
“Ev, Jalissa from the E.R. is on line two for you. She said it’s not your kids and I shouldn’t freak you out!”
I laugh appreciatively as Gwen sips her coffee and nods knowingly.
I press line two. “Hey, Jalissa, It’s Ev. What’s up?”
“I hope Mary told you it wasn’t your kids.”
“She did, thank you. What’s wrong?” I can sense the worry in her voice.
“That day when you were having dinner with your new man, there was a cop that you introduced me to in the cafeteria.”
“Yeah, his name’s Cooper Ford, why?” As soon as I say his name, Gwen stops mid-air with her cup and directs herattention to me.
“They just brought him, another cop, and some guy into the E.R. via ambulance. He was shot.”
I gasp, and Gwen leaps from her seat over to me.
“I thought you’d want to know.”
“Yes! Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
I hang up the phone and Gwen holds her breath. “What? What about Cooper?”
I reach for her arm. “He’s downstairs. He’s been shot.”
