#75
Clora ran out the door following Benny. Suddenly it was silent. No grownup moved or spoke, Brett looked stunned.
"Wow," Brett finally said hesitantly. "I've never known anybody who died. What happened to Jane."
All eyes swiveled to Pete for an explaination. Suddenly Pete figured just maybe he hadn't delivered the news in the best way possible. Too late, he told himself. It was over and done with. These were his kids, but he felt disengaged from their life. They were like little strangers. Pete had loved their mother with every fiber of his being. But he couldn't figure out why she had gone off.
Lowering himself into a chair, he muttered, "her heart was too weak. She didn't have enough body resourses to recover."
"Oh goodness," Cheryl whispered, looking at Hap. The old man wasn't reacting well to the news.
"Inga, Inga?" Hap repeated brokenly. "Our Inga is dead?" he started to get up, and then sat back clutching at his chest.
"Ev," Cheryl said frantically, "we've got to get him to the hospital, this time it's not good." Ev went for the pickup, while Cheryl grabbed Hap and tried to keep him upright.
Pete sat in the chair watching his father possibly die. He felt no emotion. Wondering what was the matter with himself, he looked around the room for a clue why he was acting so disinterested.
He did understand the language Cheryl was using on him. Her furious anger blistered his hide up one side and down the other. He did nod his head when she sarcastically asked if he could be bothered to watch the children, and then changed her mind when they had Hap loaded.
Ordering the children in the pickup, she took them with, not depending on that fool Pete for anything.
Everett made it to the hospital in record time. The nurse on duty went out to shush the horn honking idiot, and then hit the panic button to call for help. Hap was wheeled through the ER doors, the haphazzard family left to stare at the closing door.
Evie and Sandra had settled in for the night, when an intern banged on the door, telling them to come to the ER immediately. Quick as a flash both Evie and Sandra were running down the stairs. Rounding the corner, Evie ran into Cheryl.
Instantly both women grabbed each other in a hug. "What's wrong," Evie stammered. "What's happening?"
"Evie it's Hap. He's having a heart spell over the news about Jane. He thinks it's Inga." she said brokenly. Cheryl grabbed Sandra and Clora, holding them as Evie turned to the nurses station. Donna was ready for her, Grabbing the older woman by the arm, the nurse guided Evie into the proper cubical.
Hap, her own dear Hap was full of tubes and hoses, as Dr. Phillips and another doctor she didn't know, worked in unison.
Phillips looked up and said "By God, another one of your family?" he asked humorlessly. "Is there a living will, health proxy, history of heart problems?"
Evie related that Hap had always been slow and steady; but that lately she was beginning to think perhaps he had the same problem as the children had. "I believe Pete is affected also, did he come in for an evaluation?"
"Nope," Dr. Phillips stopped to watch the heart moniter. The top and botton line settling down into a more regular rhythm. "We got this one in time," he high fived the young doctor on the other side of Hap.
Slowly the color started filling Hap's face, and when the young woman doctor pressed on Hap's thumb nail, the blood recovery time seemed to satisfy her. Evie was silently praying, feeling helpless in the sterile atmosphere as she watched her husband of 45 years lay still and silent.
Phillips happened to look up as the older woman slid down the wall onto the floor. "Wife down," he shouted, and the ER was re energised with running feet.
Once again Evie woke on a gurney. Her formerly injuried shoulder back in a sling. "Oh crap," she said out loud.
"Such language," the good doctor reproved as he came around the end and into her vision. "We've got to stop meeting this way," he tweeked her foot as he passed. Evie didn't ask what happened. She knew.
"You can get up in a minute. I want to get your blood pressure," he pushed her back down firmly. "I've never seen such a family," he muttered darkly. Deftly he wrapped the cuff around her arm, twirled the valve closed and started to pump the bulb.
Muttering again under his breath, he released the pressure and pumped it up again. "Is your pressure normally low," he questioned tersly.
"Yes," Evie said tiredly. "It used to be 90/60, I havn't had it tested in a long time, so I can't tell you what it is now.
"Not much different," Phillips offered. "You really should let me check you out, lady, your health needs help."
"Not anything money couldn't solve, right? I don't mean to be glib Dr. Phillips, but broke is broke and means no money for anything." she clarified with weary effort.
"All Zander's brother and sisters are in the waiting room. It's more important than you know for them to see him; especially since Jane died. They are kids feeling abandoned and lied too, and they are terrified he will die also." she finished slowly.
"He still may," Dr. Phillips held small hope for the child's recovery. The hospital simply didnt have the resources for the surgery they attempted. It had been risky at best. The last ditch effort to save a life, and they had failed with the little girl. "The boy is in slightly better shape," he spoke while gauging the danger to Zander. "I guess we could allow a brief glance."
"Tonight," Evie pressed, knowing the children wouldn't leave without seeing Zander.
"Yes," the doctor agreed. "Let me arrange it. They will have to have gowns and hair covers, you too," he mentioned as he left the room, headed for the nurses station.
Evie sat up slowly. Resting a bit before slipping her feet to the floor. She had work to do. Those poor babies must be frantic, thank God they had Cheryl and Ev.