Sam kept his eye on the time as he pulled into the driveway and parked. He pulled the E-brake, killed the engine, and went in through the front door. He had forty minutes before he had to leave for the meetup. Luckily, the park was only a ten-minute drive from his house. He needed to pack Kristen’s blood in double zipper bags first so they’d be ready to go when he was. Then he’d pull the transfusion bag from Bethany and get it set up for Adeline.
Sam fished the keys out of his front pants pocket, unlocked the door, and flipped the light switch on the wall. He entered the workroom and headed straight for the gurney. There was no time to waste. He removed the tubes from the jugs and placed them next to Kristen. Then he carried the jugs into the kitchen and set them on the countertop by the sink. Sam knelt at the bottom cabinet drawer and slid it open. He pulled out four gallon zipper bags from the dispenser and double bagged them. With each doubled bag in the sink, he carefully poured the blood in until the bags were half full. He zipped the inner bag, pressed the air out of the outer bag, and zipped that one too. He placed both bags in a large plastic trash bag so they’d be ready for transport.
Sam quickly glanced at the clock and returned to the workroom to retrieve the full transfusion bag from Bethany. He had just enough time to give Adeline one much-needed pint before he left the house.
Bethany sat quietly with her chin slumped against her chest. Sam flipped the lever on the valve and removed the tube from her arm. He followed the length of clear plastic to the bag on her lap. It was nearly empty. “What the hell? Did I miss her vein?” Sam jerked his head back and gave Bethany a suspicious look. “No, no, no, no.” He spun around and pressed his index and middle fingers against her inner wrist but felt nothing. He tried her neck. It felt the same. He screeched, “Son of a bitch, you can’t be dead!” Sam kicked the chair aside and leaned in. He lifted her head and pulled her right eyelid up. Her eyes were glazed over and glassy. “Shit! I can’t give Mom Kristen’s blood, and there isn’t enough in the house to hold her over!”