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THE MARSTON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL was not university size, but it was large enough to serve the 45,000 people last counted in the census. It had a reputation of quality care for the patient, as well as their families. Many of the doctors have earned the Top Doc designation in the Marston Magazine.
Jonas rolled up noisily onto the Emergency Department lot and claimed a vacant spot. He shut down the engine and headed for the door. The gray, brick building lined with a multitude of windows was picturesque against the evening sky. The sun was slipping away, painting a canvas of celestial, colorful hues portraying an intense fire burning behind and above the building. Above the double, glass doors, a neon red sign proclaimed Jonas had arrived at the Emergency Entrance. He approached the doors which slid open automatically. Accepting the invitation, he ambled in, scanning the unrest inside. The place was busy.
Flimsy, pleather, orange cushioned chairs lined the walls of the space. They were all filled with people. Some hunched over. Others limp. Some surfing their phones. There were moans of discomfort in the air. Endless announcements of code this, code that, and trauma of some kind or another vibrated through the ceiling.
A couple stood at a desk, advertising their unhappiness with their wait. Their voices traveled throughout the department. Jonas waited behind them, wishing they would move, go and sit down. The young woman behind the desk was unmoved by their anger. Her pleasant smile did not falter. She understood their frustration. She let them know she would get an update to them as soon as possible.
Jonas was moving foot to foot, hands pulling down his face, rubbing across his forehead, being stuffed in his pockets. He was so impatient that in another minute he was going to tell these people where they could go and what they could do with their complaints. Luckily, they retreated to their seats.
“May I help you, sir,” asked the pleasant woman.
“Yes.” His words were rapid and nervous. “I’m here to see Rose Canter. She came in earlier by ambulance.”
Miss Pleasant consulted her computer. “Are you family?”
“Yes. I’m her brother.” He did not hesitate. He knew the score. If he said no, he’d get stonewalled.
Miss Pleasant still wore her smile, but her eyes were another story. They raked him with pity. “She’s been moved to surgery, sir. Your family is on the second floor in the private waiting room.”
Jonas knew not to ask another question other than directions. She gave them. “Press the plate on the wall for the door, walk straight down the hall. Make a right at the end. The bank of elevators will be ahead. Take them to the second floor. The private waiting area is on the right. You can’t miss it. It’s clearly marked.”
He thanked her and proceeded to follow the verbal map. Stepping through the elevator doors on floor two, he glanced to the right and saw the door marked Private Waiting. It was closed. He lifted his knuckles to tap when the door opened. A man dressed in green scrubs had hold of the knob on the other side and was pulling the door inward, toward himself.
“Sorry,” Jonas said mildly, stepping back. “I’m looking for the Canter family.”
“You’ve found them, son.”
The doctor fully extended the door and stepped through, leaving the family behind and Jonas to enter. Inside the private waiting room, Jonas was front and center. Three pairs of red rimmed, wet eyes peered up at him. Agnes and Joe were huddled together, and Faith was curled into a knot beside Agnes. The room was sucked free of all sound. Jonas stood center stage, feeling as if he had intruded on a sanctuary. His eyes leveled at the floor. Sweat trickled down his armpits. He grappled to get the question out.
“How’s Rose?” he finally asked.
His stomach churned, afraid to hear the answer. Joe broke the silence.
“We don’t have any real answers yet. She’s in surgery, after which she’ll go to the ICU. Then we can see her.” His voice was monotone, just reporting the facts.
“May I see her with you when the time comes?” Jonas could feel the dampness on his shirt. He was not sure how her parents felt about him. Maybe they blamed him for the rape, for her depression. Maybe they blamed him for all the changes that had occurred in her life since the incident. He didn’t know since he and Rose had invested in a cooling off period. He braced himself for the answer. No matter what it was, he would accept it graciously.
Agnes spoke this time, kind and motherly, “Sure, Jonas. You can see Rose with us. I think she would like that.”
The room consisted of an overstuffed, beige couch holding the Canter family. Behind the couch was a round mahogany table with just enough room for the green plant jutting from the pot sitting on top. Two chairs sat at opposite sides. Jonas made use of the chair on the left. He turned the chair to give himself an advantageous view. He could watch the door, the muted television, and the backs of Rose’s family.
“Son,” Joe said without turning to look at Jonas.
Since he was the only other male in the room Jonas answered. “Sir.”
“Did you know Rose was pregnant?”
Jonas was stunned by the question. His body ceased movement, failed to work. His eyes didn’t blink. His lips seemed glued closed. Joe turned to hear the answer. What he saw was an overlay of anguish and hurt on the young man’s face.
Joe turned back and laid his cheek on Agnes’ head. Behind him, he heard a weak voice say, “Rose and I have never...” Jonas’ words trailed off into shudders of emotion. Faith uncoiled herself. She went to Jonas and cradled his head against her. She stroked his hair trying to calm him.
“She’s pregnant?” The question choked from Jonas.
“No. Not anymore,” Faith answered. “That’s why she’s in surgery.”
“What happened?” Jonas felt he needed to know.
Faith was still holding him and stroking his hair. He seemed to calm. “We don’t know. She went to the track for a run. When I came out on the porch, she had collapsed... stopped breathing. Then her heart stopped. There was blood everywhere.”
There was a light tap at the door as it opened. It was the doctor instead of a nurse.
“Rose has been moved to the ICU. She’s stable.”
“Can we see her?” Faith asked.
“Yes. I’ll take you to her.”