Chapter 4
Monday evening,
emergency room
The silence in the waiting room smothered the tense group like a wet woolen blanket.
The receptionist shifted back in his chair, the shock of the request plastered on his face. He stuttered, “The . . . the . . . last I heard, she was . . . was alive. I’m not a doctor, you know.” He pointed to the clipboard in Elizabeth’s hands and regained his composure. “The quicker you manage to fill those out those forms, the quicker you can see the patient—your wife.”
Savannah took Elizabeth’s arm and led her over to one of the horrible plastic chairs. “Sit right here and get those forms filled out. In the end, this will save time. The receptionist doesn’t know and won’t tell you anything. You must be brave, but hurry.”
With a trembling hand, Elizabeth poised the pen over the first blank, but that’s as far as she got. Savannah took the clipboard and pen from her and quickly filled out the information she knew. She asked Elizabeth a few questions about the remaining blanks. Then Savannah pointed to the signature line and held the clipboard steady while Elizabeth scrawled a wavering signature.
Savannah pulled Elizabeth up. She led her by the elbow over to the receptionist’s desk, then handed in the clipboard. “That’s all the forms done. When can Elizabeth see the doctor?”
The receptionist pursed his lips and reached for the telephone. He spoke to someone in a syrupy voice and replaced the handset. “Doctor Smith will be right out.” He stood, leaned over the counter, and pointed to a plain door along the same wall as his cubicle. “He’ll be coming out that door. You can wait right over there in those seats.” He pointed to the chairs nearest the door.
They sat. Elizabeth turned even more pale and rubbed her tummy.
“Are you going to be sick?” asked Savannah.
“Oh, I hope not.”
After what seemed like an hour but was probably only two minutes, the door opened. A very young man no taller than five feet two looked from Savannah to Elizabeth and back to Savannah. “One of you is Elizabeth?”
“That’s me,” Elizabeth said as she stood. Savannah stood as well.
“Your wife is critical and unstable. Are there any other family members here?”
“Not yet. One of her brothers is on his way, but he hasn’t arrived. I left him a message and he texted that he’ll be here as soon as he can. I don’t have a number for the other brother.”
“I’ll tell the receptionist to send him right in. There isn’t very much time. I’ll take you back to be with your wife. We’re minutes from taking her to surgery. It looks like there’s internal bleeding.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth with one trembling hand, covered her tummy with the other. She looked at Savannah, her eyes pleading. “Come with me, please. I can’t do this alone.”
Savannah looked back at the receptionist and then to the doctor. “Will it be all right?”
The doctor heaved a great sigh. “Trouble getting your status verified?”
They both nodded.
The doctor raised his voice. “Jared, I’m taking them both back. I’ll be putting in another written complaint.”
The receptionist shrugged his shoulders. “That’s your prerogative. I know what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Elizabeth straightened her shoulders and narrowed her eyes into a blazing glare.
“Obviously you don’t,” the doctor said, “or you wouldn’t be adding pain to an already unbearable situation. I’ll be suggesting a course in diversity training when I report this to your supervisor. I’ll be checking back until I’m sure you’ve changed.”
Savannah’s brows arched upwards. That should strike fear into his stone-cold heart. She shook the doctor’s hand. “Thanks.”
Dr. Smith led them through the plain door down a short hallway. “That idiot is an eyelash away from getting fired. My written complaint should provide that last bit of overwhelming evidence.” He paused for a second outside of a large room and looked at Elizabeth. “On behalf of the entire hospital, I apologize for his behavior.” He gently touched her shoulder. Elizabeth flinched, her eyes tearing up, but didn’t pull away. “This is hard enough.” Without another word, he led them into the room.
Four beds were spaced along the walls, each bed surrounded by gray curtains on sliding rings. Three empty beds had smooth white sheets with two pillows, a cotton blanket, and a thick thermal throw. He stopped in front of the bed with the curtains closed.
“I must warn you that she sustained grievous injuries to her head and body. Her prognosis is grave.” He opened the curtain to let them inside.
Elizabeth cried, “Oh, Nicole!” and rushed over to the side of the bed.
Nicole lay completely still with her eyes closed. Her complexion was slate gray. The same shade of the hospital gown she wore. A respirator covered most of her face. A large brace was fastened around her neck and multiple fluid bags were attached to a pole feeding an IV in her left hand. Nicole’s bright red fingernail polish provided the only color.
“Nicole, can you hear me?” Elizabeth grabbed Nicole’s right hand and kissed it. She tucked it against her chest. “Can she hear me?”
Dr. Smith lowered his voice to a whisper. “You should assume that she can. We don’t know for sure, but it appears to help.”
Elizabeth leaned over to gaze at Nicole’s closed eyes. “Darling, this is going to be fine. You’re going to get better, believe me.” She lifted Nicole’s hand to the side of her face. “I love you so much, you can’t leave. Not now. Do you hear me? You can’t leave me alone.”
An orderly parted the curtain and poked his head in. “Dr. Smith. They’re ready for her in surgery.”
“Quick,” Dr. Smith said. “Say your goodbyes, we have very little time to save her.” He pulled the ringed curtain around a bit to give Elizabeth at least the notion of privacy.
Elizabeth’s cheeks flushed up an ugly mauve as huge tears steaked down her cheeks. She bent down to whisper. “Nicole, I know you can hear me. You’ve been my life. I know things have been difficult lately. Please don’t leave me.” She dropped her head onto Nicole’s shoulder and sobbed uncontrollably.
Savannah placed her hands on Elizabeth’s shoulders and pulled gently. “You must let them work on her. We all want to see her recovered and healthy.”
Elizabeth shrugged off Savannah’s hands. “No. I can’t let you go. I need you.”
“Ma’am!” the orderly broke in sharply. “Step back, please. I’m sorry. We have to take her now.”
This time when Savannah took hold of Elizabeth, she complied and stumbled backward without taking her eyes from Nicole.
The muscular orderly zipped the curtain open as wide as the tracks allowed. He lifted the portable oxygen tank he pulled behind him and placed it between Nicole’s feet. Another orderly made sure the IV stand would roll smoothly and nodded to his buddy. The first orderly transferred Nicole’s oxygen source from the wall to the portable tank. He unlocked all four wheels, then moved Nicole down the hallway to a set of double doors, twisting around to speak to Elizabeth. “You need to go to the surgery waiting room on the fourth floor.” He flashed a winning smile. “The nurses will keep you apprised of her status. They’re a great bunch up there. Very sympathetic to all kinds of patients.” He cast a disapproving look toward the receptionist’s desk, then gave Elizabeth a sympathetic smile. “Everyone is treated with respect up there.” He trotted through the double doors.