Eileen Slovak

Chapter Forty-eight: A Family Scare

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and locales are products of the author’s imagination. They are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is coincidental. Copyright © 2024 by Eileen Slovak.

Catherine

Monday afternoon, I’m frantically trying to reach Scarlet but her assistant keeps telling me she’s in meetings. I let her know it’s urgent. We’re waiting for the doctors to give us an update on the surgery, when she finally calls back.  

      “What’s going on?”

      “We’re at the hospital.”

      “Oh, my God! Is it Dad?”

      “No, it’s Christopher. He was riding his bike.”

      My voice breaks.

      “Jesus, Catherine, is he okay?”

      “He darted out. He wasn’t even looking. Thankfully, he was wearing his helmet. The kid who hit him was only seventeen.”

      “What did the doctors say?”

      “He has a broken arm…he’s pretty banged up…but it could have been a lot worse. They said there are no signs of internal bleeding or head injury.”

      “Oh, thank God he’s okay. How are you?”

      “In pieces.”

      “I’m on my way. Are Michael and Charlotte with you?”

      “Yes, but they’re antsy. Gary took them to the cafeteria.”

      Waiting is the worst part of hospitals. Minutes feel like hours. The nurses have all been wonderful. They’re excellent about giving updates in the Pediatric wing. Even if there’s nothing to report, they at least come to let us know that much. I’m a bundle of nerves. Gary can never sit still, so I sent him off with the kids. I can’t think about eating right now. The waiting area is designed to be cheerful. It’s more colorful than other sections of the hospital, with cartoon characters and animals painted on the walls. Still the medicine smell that permeates the halls is making me queasy. I hug Scarlet when she arrives.

      “I’m so glad you’re here. Christopher is still in surgery. Gary and the kids should be back soon.”

      “What can I do?”

      “Wait with me.”

      Scarlet sits in the chair next to me placing her hand on my back. I’ve been holding everything in, but now there’s a flood of tears with the release of emotions.

      “My baby could have been killed. I wasn’t there. I went inside to get some juice boxes. I feel like such a bad Mother.”

      “Catherine, it’s not your fault. It was an accident. I’m so thankful he was wearing his helmet.”

      “Right? Me too! He hates that helmet.”

      Scarlet hands me a tissue.

      “He always complains about it. Sometimes I catch him taking it off, hanging it from the handlebars, you know? But I told him, if I see that, no more bike, period. If he hadn’t been wearing it….”

      I start to cry again.

      “But he was. He’s a good boy, you’ve raised him well. He’s going to be fine. You’re a great mom.”

      I nod because I can’t speak.

      “Does Dad know?”

      “I want to wait until Christopher’s settled in a room. Same with Gary’s parents. No point in worrying them.”

      Gary comes back with the kids in tow. He’s holding a tray with a plethora of food options. He tries to get me to eat something but I’m still not able.

      “Hey, kiddo’s,” Scarlet says, hugging them both.

      “Are you okay?” Scarlet asks Gary.

      “I’m hanging in there. There’s never a dull moment with kids.”

      I set Charlotte and Michael up at a small table in the waiting lounge. They’re coloring and eating their hot dogs and snacks.

      “Did you see Christopher, Auntie Scarlet? He’s all black and blue. When the car banged into him, he flew up in the air. Just like a bird.” Michael says, flapping his arms. “It was scary.”

      “I’ll bet it was,” she says. “But Christopher’s going to be fine. So don’t worry, alright?”

      Gary’s eyes well with tears at Michael’s retelling of the accident. Out of earshot of the kids, he’s telling Scarlet that Christopher had landed on the grass on road side. The boy who was driving the car said he slammed on the breaks right before he struck Christopher’s bike. Luckily, he wasn’t going that fast. The bicycle absorbed the bulk of the impact.

      “Does Chris have to live here now?” Charlotte asks.

      “No sweetie, only for a little while,” I say.

      “Can we go home now, daddy? I’m sleepy,” Charlotte says.

      “Soon, sweetheart,” Gary answers.

      Scarlet calls Maggie to see what she can find out. She says Joe is the anesthesiologist on Christopher’s surgery but she hasn’t heard anything yet.

      Later, the doctor comes by to tell us the surgery has gone well. Once the anesthesia wears off, they’ll bring Christopher to a private room. After he leaves, Scarlet hands me a sandwich. I pick at the turkey, nibbling on a corner of the bread before putting it back on the plate. The children are restless and tired from being at the hospital for hours. Scarlet is at the table coloring with Michael while Charlotte dozes off in her lap.

      “Listen, once Christopher is settled, if you give me the keys to the van, you can take my car. I’ll get Michael off to school in the morning then drop Charlotte at daycare before I go to work. We can swap cars again at lunchtime,” Scarlet says.

      “You’re a lifesaver, Scarlet O’Brien,” Gary says.

      “Um…ignore the new paint job, Catherine.”

      “What?” She asks.

      “Never mind, I’ll explain later,” Gary says.

      Maggie stops by with an update: “I just talked to Joe. He says Christopher is awake and doing well. I can take you up to his room. There’s a sleeper chair in there, plus I’ll have another one brought in.”

      I give her hug.

      “Thanks Maggie. Scared the heck out of us,” Gary says.

      “I know, but the worst is over,” she says.

      Christopher is still groggy.

      “Hi Mommy. Is my bike broken now?”

      I sit in the chair next to him holding his small hand. He looks tiny, even smaller than normal in the large hospital bed. His slim right arm fat with a cast, and his diminutive face peppered with cuts and bruises. Gary stands next to me with his hand on my shoulder.

      “Don’t worry sweetie,” I say. “We can get a new bike.”

      “You were so brave buddy,” Gary says.

      Scarlet, still holding a sleeping Charlotte, and Michael comes in to say goodnight to Christopher. Then they all go out to wait in the hallway. Gary takes my place for a minute so I can give instructions to Scarlet and swap keys. She and Maggie are talking out in the hallway with the kids.

      “Oh, I meant to tell you, Helena gave me a message for you.” Maggie says.

      “The crazy gypsy lady had a message for me? What was it?” Scarlet asks.

      “Okay, don’t laugh. She said, tell your friend Scarlet to beware of pie.”

      “Pie? Are you sure she meant me?”

      “I know, sometimes it doesn’t make sense until something clicks. Maybe she’s worried about your behind? Then again, she probably got her wires crossed. Maybe she meant that message for me.”

      “Pie? Any particular kind?”

      “Your guess is as good as mine.”

      “On that note, I’m leaving. Should I tempt fate? Go get some pie to go?”

      “I’ll call you tomorrow, smart ass.”

      “Thanks for everything tonight, Mags.”

      “Goes without saying.”

      Charlotte lay cherub-like with her mouth open, her eyelids fluttering with childish dreams. Scarlet heads to our house for the night. I feel a pang of relief and can finally breathe without feeling panicked. Looking in at Gary and Christopher, I only feel blessed.