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It’s a good thing Big Ed is next to me because my legs almost give out. My vision blurs and then goes black. I hear the screaming of tires, the sickening crunch of metal against metal, my sister’s blue eyes flashing and then going dull. No. This is not happening. I’m not losing Fischl. I grip Ed’s collar and drag myself upright. “Prognosis?”
“I’m no doc.”
“What’d they tell you, Ed?” I snarl, tightening my grip on the fabric.
“They told me—”
“You! Where’s Sadie?” a sharp voice interrupts. We spin toward the newcomer to see Sadie’s dad storming at us, red faced, suit coat half on, shoes untied.
I find myself holding up a hand. “Seb, the car hit the driver’s side.”
“God! Was Fischl hurt?” He grabs the other side of Ed’s collar and gets up in the officer’s face. “Tell me!”
He gives us both a shove backward. “Look here. I’m not the doc, okay? Sadie’s got an arm injury, but it’s not so bad that they think they’ll have to do surgery. She’s in a recovery room. Fischl, like I said, she’s in the OR, and I don’t know a damned more thing than that.”
Both of us take a step forward. Ed shakes his head. “One more shirt grab out of either one of you and I’ll be hauling you down to lockup, and instead of getting hospital updates on your girls, you’ll be listening to Marty, the town drunk, tell you how he thinks his toe jamb is delicious.”
Seb gags, and I let out a stream of frustrated air. “Fine, Ed. Come on, Seb. The recovery rooms are on the second floor. I’ll wait down here in OR and text you when the results for Fischl come out.”
“What about the boys? I don’t think either of them should drive over here.”
“I’ll get my foreman to pick them up.”
Seb agrees to this and quickly heads off to find his daughter. I key in some text messages to my foreman and then son, telling him to call me now.
Above me on the wall, I see Vanni, F listed in OR 5. It’s only been a half hour. Since I’ve never had surgery and only watched a few medical shows on TV, I don’t really know if that’s a good sign or a bad one. Like is thirty minutes a lot or is it nothing?
The last time I was in the hospital like this, I was a teenager, and the person in the OR wasn’t Fischl, it was my sister. She died on the table. Doc said that the chance of her surviving was less than low. My mom begged for a chance, but it was no good. To be honest, I think the grief killed my mom as much as the sickness, and I understand it more today than I did back then. If Fischl goes, well, it’s going to be hard to fight to stay here on Earth. Van’s at an age that maybe he doesn’t need a broken man like I would be.
Dunc’s voice comes over the line. “Dad?”
He sounds young and afraid. I stiffen my spine and slap myself across the face. I’ve got two boys now. I can’t be selfish and abandon them. Someone’s got to be strong. “Dunc, I’m sending Alec to pick you up. Fischl and Sadie were in a car accident and—”
I hear a clatter and then shouting. “Fuck,” I curse. Hurriedly I call his cell phone, but he doesn’t pick up. Fortunately, I have Van’s phone number. I call him, and he picks up on the first ring.
“How are they?” are his first words.
“Sadie’s got an arm injury and she’s in recovery. Your—” I almost said dad, but I’m his dad. “Sebastian’s with her.”
“And Mom?” There’s fear in his voice too.
“She’s in the operating room. Got her rib cage banged up a bit, but she’s going to be okay.” I figure that’s not much of a lie. I’m not letting Fischl go, and if I have to bring every doctor in the world here to save her, that’s what’s going to happen. “I’m sending you two a car. I don’t think either of you should be driving, and definitely not Dunc.” That boy already lost his parents in a car wreck. He’s in no shape to get behind a wheel.
“I hear you.”
“I’m trusting you, son, to take care of your brother. You both get here safe, you hear? Your mom will be spitting fire when she wakes up and hears you were all irresponsible.”
There’s a choked laugh. “Yeah, you’re right. She would be mad.”
“What’s he saying?” I hear Dunc ask.
“You’d know if you stayed on the phone,” shoots back Van.
“Fuck you. I’m trying to get to the hospital.”
“Not in that state, you’re not. Look, here’s our ride.” To me, he says, “Bye.”
And those are the last words I hear until the thud of boots on the hallway fifteen minutes later. I look up to see only Dunc.
