Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 63626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63626 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 318(@200wpm)___ 255(@250wpm)___ 212(@300wpm)
When I began to protest, she shook her head. “Don’t worry. I promise, Mr. Barrett will be examined as well. But, let’s get you to the ambulance and find you a blanket. You must be cold.”
Cold? Why would she think I was cold? I pushed my hair back from my face, my fingers caught in the tangles. That was when I realized my arm was bare… my blouse. I’d used it for Jay. I’d never even thought about the fact I’d been running around in nothing but my skirt and a thin camisole. Now that I did, though, I began to tremble and then to shake.
“I need some help here,” the woman called, slipping an arm around my waist when my knees buckled.
“I-I’m fi… fine,” I said, my teeth chattering together.
“No, the adrenaline is wearing off and you’re going into shock.” This came not from the paramedic, but from Banks who swept me up.
I tried to hold it together, but being in his arms, pressed against his chest, I lost it. Turning my face into his chest, I let go. The convulsions shaking my entire body came not from the cold or from shock, but from the sobs I couldn’t seem to stop. I wasn’t aware of being put into the ambulance, only barely conscious of the slight sting of a needle. All I saw was Jay squatting beside me, brushing my hair back and telling me everything would be all right.
I couldn’t accept the lie, couldn’t bear the pain in his eyes, so I closed mine, grateful to slip away into the darkness.
23
Goldie
When I woke, the beep of the machines behind me hadn’t changed. That sound had been my constant companion for the past two days. I’d been poked and prodded, had blood drawn and x-rays taken. Though my left forearm had gauze wrapped around it, the burns beneath covered in ointment, it was no longer as annoying as the needle in my right. I followed the tubing up to the bag hanging above me, the fluid dripping drop by drop into my vein, keeping me hydrated as it was still a bit difficult to swallow, my throat raw. I felt as if I’d gone fifteen rounds in a boxing ring, but I wasn’t focused on a few aches and pains. Today, I’d finally be leaving the hospital, finally going home.
The door opened and I turned, ready to see my family, yet it was an older woman who entered, a nurse I had yet to meet.
“Good morning, dear,” she said, moving to the bed. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better,” I answered. “When can I go home?”
She smiled, moving around the bed to where the IV stand was. “As soon as the doctor makes his rounds. It will be a bit, but we can at least get rid of this for you,” she said. I only winced slightly as she pulled the IV needle free.
“How is Jay?” I asked, the act of pressing a cotton ball to the puncture site reminding me of the makeshift bandage I’d pressed to Jay’s bullet wound.
The nurse’s hesitation had my heart pounding. Had Jay’s condition worsened? The beep on the machine quickened as if it knew I was fearing the worst. The sound seemed to prod the woman to answer.
“We’re not allowed to discuss the conditions of our patients with anyone but family.”
“They are my family,” I snapped without hesitation.
“I’m afraid you’re not listed as being a relative of the Barretts. But perhaps you can discuss it with the doctor.”
The woman’s smile seemed forced to me, as if she were attempting to ensure her patient didn’t have some sort of setback. Well, to hell with that. I wanted answers and I wanted them now. I pulled the clip that monitored my oxygen intake off my fingertip and removed the blood pressure cuff around my upper arm, not particularly giving a shit that it was in the process of inflating to take a reading.
“Wait, I’ll get that,” the woman said.
“I’ve got it,” I said, allowing the leads to drop off the side of the bed and swinging my legs over the edge. “If you can’t get me some answers, then I’ll get them myself.” I stood then swayed a bit, grabbing onto the bed, closing my eyes as a wave of vertigo washed through me.
My arm was taken, and the nurse eased me to sit down on the edge of the mattress. “Just sit for a moment. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Please, I-I have to know,” I pleaded, my voice quivering.
“Now, don’t worry your little head, dearie. Mr. Barrett was in good hands. I’m positive he’s fine,” she said, giving my arm a pat that didn’t feel comforting, it felt patronizing.
“Fine? Define fine,” I said. “He was shot. He lost a lot of blood.” In case that wasn’t enough to sway her, I added, “I was there when it happened. Saw him shoot the man who was trying to kill us. I took off my shirt and pressed it to the bullet hole in his arm. So, excuse me if I don’t care about some stupid rule, I believe I have the right to know how a member of my family is!”