It took a great deal of
maneuvering but, eventually, Chief Grady managed to get Sylvia Farmington into
the passenger seat with her seatbelt securely fastened. Barely conscious, her head lolled to the side
and the chief was forced to recline the seatback so that she wouldn’t slam her
head on the dashboard.
“Sylvia? I need you to stay awake, okay?”
Her unintelligible slur made
Grady nervous so he hit the lights and siren before speeding across town to the
hospital. Knowing her situation needed
to be handled delicately; he made a couple of phone calls. By the time he
reached the hospital there were two nurses waiting outside to meet him. The three of them unloaded the Mayor’s wife
and situated her on a gurney. To avoid busybodies, they covered their patient
from head to toe with a sheet and brought her in through a back door.
“We’ll meet you in room eight, Chief,” one of the nurses
whispered.
Grady parked his car and
casually strolled in through the Emergency Department until he found room
eight, smiling and waving to neighbors as he went. Not a soul suspected that he
had just smuggled in the Mayor’s wife after rescuing her from a suicide attempt
and if Grady had his way; they never would. The nurses had already dressed her
in a hospital gown and started an IV by the time he caught up with them but he held
Sylvia’s hand as they pumped her stomach.
Dr. Garrett was called in for a consultation and arrangements were made
to admit her to a private room on the ninth floor.
“How long until they get her in a room?” He whispered to
the nurse. “Last time we had to
get someone admitted to the ninth floor it was an all-night affair.”
The nurse smiled
sympathetically and shrugged. The admission process was always a gamble.
“Ma’am,” the nurse whispered to Sylvia while gently
tapping her shoulder. “Can you hear me? Is there anything I can get you? Would
you care for a drink or perhaps some ice chips? I’m sure your throat must feel
a little raw.”
Sylvia Farmington’s eyelids
fluttered drowsily for a moment before she squeaked out a hoarse, “yes”. She struggled but managed to sit up on her
own, cautiously eyeing her surroundings.
“Where am I?”
“Right now, you’re in the Emergency Department but you’re
going to be moved upstairs into a private room,” Grady answered.
“How did I get here?”
“Your husband called me and told me where you were. So, I
picked you up. Don’t worry, Sylvia, we brought you in through the back door.
With the exception of two nurses, Dr. Garrett and myself; no one else knows
you’re here.”
“Not even Dale?”
“Crap! I forget to call him and let him know you’re
okay,” the Chief groaned as he reached for his phone.
“No,” Sylvia insisted, catching his hand. “He didn’t even
care enough to come down and get me himself so to hell with him. He seriously called
you and made you come get me? What an ass.”
“Dale didn’t make me do anything. I wanted to come get you.
Sharon would never forgive me if I didn’t do everything in my power to protect
one of her dear friends.”
Sylvia snorted derisively
and instantly regretted it once she saw the chief’s face.
“I’m sorry.” Sylvia’s voice quavered and her eyes welled
with tears. “I…I forgot that there really are some genuine people in this
world. You and Sharon truly are the heart and soul of this community. I guess living
all these years with a man who only cares about his image has jaded me. If it
wouldn’t be too much of an embarrassment, would you ask Sharon to stop by
sometime and visit with me?”
“I can assure you, it won’t be an embarrassment. In fact, I can bet she’ll be here tomorrow,
Sylvia. In the meantime, do yourself a favor and talk to the doctors and
therapists here. They’re really good and they’ll help you, if you’ll let them.
Don’t give up and don’t rush out of here. When the time is right, you’ll know
and our door will always be open for you if you aren’t ready to face Dale,
okay?”
Sylvia Farmington wept
freely as she clung to Chief Grady’s frame. Confused and little uncomfortable, Grady tried
to comfort her. He was relieved when Dr. Garrett and his nurse entered.
“We’ve got your room all ready now, Sylvia. We just need
you to sign a few consent forms and we’ll get you settled in.”
Summoning all of her
courage, Sylvia let go of the chief. She smoothed her hair and nodded, hoping
against hope that this was going to be her second chance.
****Please return Monday, May 5th for the next installment of Ocean****
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