Holding On (Hooking Up) (11 page)

“Deal.”

“Happy, Mrs. Ashford?”

“You have no idea.”

“Yes, I do. I feel the same way.” He pulled me close and held me tight. I cuddled into his warm bulk and sighed, sheer happiness bubbling up inside me, making me feel slightly giddy.

Until I heard the scream that came from the back yard.

Chapter 12

Ryan and I raced toward the rear of the house and flew out the sliding glass door that led to the back yard. Mom was in a heap on the ground, and Benjie stood over her with a terrified look on his face.

“Daddy, Catie, come quick!” he screamed.

We ran to them as fast as we could and crouched down next to Mom. Her eyes were closed, her breath shallow. She appeared to be unconscious.

I leaned in and listened to her heart. It was faint, but it was beating. What had happened to her? What the hell was going on? This couldn’t be lactose intolerance still, could it? A feeling of foreboding was building inside me, and I knelt down at Mom’s head and stroked her hair back from her face with one hand, and checked the pulse at her wrist with the other.

Ryan’s cell was already in his hand and he dialed 911 without looking away from my mom’s pale, still face. “We need an ambulance at—shit, what’s the address here?”

I glanced at the listing sheet crumpled on the ground. “818 Larchmont.”

“46-year-old unconscious woman. She just fainted here. Has had a recent history of vomiting, dizziness, fatigue. Stated she’s lactose-intolerant. Off-duty Lieutenant Ryan Ashford, Pittston Police Department, on scene.”

He listened for a minute. “No, I don’t know about any other preexisting medical conditions. Do you?” he asked me.

I shook my head. Mom’s eyelids fluttered and she moaned a bit, then opened her eyes and squinted at the bright sun. Ryan bent down and shaded her eyes with his hand and frowned down at her. She shifted and made as if to rise, so he helped her up into a sitting position and sat down behind her so she could lean into him.

She looked around at us with a sheepish smile. ”I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened.”

“Grammy, what’s the matter? You scared me,” Benjie said, his little face all scrunched up with childish worry.

“I’m sorry I scared you, Benjie. There’s nothing you need to worry about, my darling. I’m fine. Just a bit under the weather. Come here.” She opened her arms and gathered him close, petting his little back and brushing a gentle kiss on his head.

“Ok. I’m gonna go over there and look in that hole,” he said, scampering away, relieved now that his grandmother seemed to be ok. I, however, was not convinced. She looked awful.

“Mom, what is going on? Are you sick?” I asked, accusation ringing in my voice. Ryan shot me a warning glance, but I ignored him. Now that she was upright and conscious, I had to find out what the hell was going on. I had a feeling she was holding back on me. The trepidation inside me felt as though it was ready to burst through my skin and the hairs on the back of my neck were standing straight up.

“Catie, honey, I’m fine. I didn’t mean to worry you. Ryan, help me stand up, would you?”

“Nope. Not until the ambulance gets here,” he said in his firm cop voice.

As if on cue, sirens wailed in the distance, growing louder as they drew closer.

“An ambulance? Oh, dear. I don’t need an ambulance. I’m fine now, really,” Mom said reassuringly. “I’m actually a little embarrassed. You didn’t have to call an ambulance for me. It’s nothing.”

“Mom, you passed out. You’ve been sick and weak lately. Don’t tell me you haven’t, because I’ve seen it and so has Benjie. You’re going to go get checked out,” I insisted.

Two paramedics lugging a stretcher appeared in the back yard. Chad Barnes, one of the EMTs and Ryan’s friend, said, “Hey, Ashford, who’s our patient?”

“Right here, Chad. This is my mother-in-law, Maria DiCarlo. She fainted in the back yard.”

“History?”

“Nausea and dizziness. Fatigue. Lactose-intolerant,” Ryan said, glancing at me. I looked away, staring at my mother, whose cheeks were now flushed with what I presumed to be embarrassment. I preferred it to the wan pallor she had displayed so often lately. But embarrassed or not, she was going with Chad.

“I’m fine, really. I don’t need to be seen.”

“Yes, she does,” Ryan said evenly. “Maria, you’re going. Don’t make me force you. Do this for Catie, ok?”

She glanced at Ryan and nodded slightly.

“Ma’am, fainting is not something ‘fine’ people do. Let’s get you checked out.” Chad held out a hand and pulled Mom up. He escorted her to the stretcher and started an IV drip. The other paramedic checked her vitals. They spoke together in clipped, professional medical jargon, and as I listened, I grew even more worried. The numbers they murmured weren’t encouraging.

“Where’s Grammy going?” Benjie asked, bounding over to the stretcher and looking up at Ryan worriedly.

“She’s gonna go to the doctor’s, pal. We just want to make sure she’s ok.”

“But she says she’s ok,” he said defensively, glancing at Mom.

She smiled at Benjie warmly. “That’s what I told them, too, Benjie. But your daddy wants to make sure, is all. It’s ok. You wanna ride with me?”

“Can I go in the ambulance, Daddy?”

Ryan cocked an eyebrow and looked at Chad. “You ok with that?”

“Sure. Hop in, Benjie. Maybe we’ll even let you turn on the siren.”

“Yay!”

The paramedics loaded Mom into the ambulance and helped Benjie clamber up into the back. They drove off, sirens screaming. I was sure Benjie was having a blast.

“You ok?” Ryan asked, gathering me into his arms.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Let’s just go.”

We left the back yard and told a confused Joshua Duggan we were leaving to head to the hospital.  He had been so busy with his cell phone he hadn’t even heard the wail of the ambulance. He assured us he’d take care of everything and would call us when he needed us for something.

Ryan and I drove to the hospital as quickly as we could, and even though he tried to draw me into conversation, all I could do was murmur yes or no to his questions. The hospital seemed so far away, and I was frustrated we weren’t already there.

We finally reached the hospital, and I hopped out of the car before it came to a full stop. I called over my shoulder for Ryan to see to any paperwork and headed for Emergency at a run. I skidded into the waiting area and flagged down the first official-looking person I saw.

“Maria DiCarlo?” I asked a man with sandy hair, glasses, a stethoscope and an absentminded demeanor.

He pointed to the double doors at the far end of the room. “Trauma 3.”

The doctor was in with her and Benjie when I arrived. Mom was clothed in a hospital gown and leaning back against the hospital bed, a smile on her face from something Benjie was saying. He was excitedly bouncing up and down on the stretcher and as I watched, he almost fell off. Mom’s arm shot out and caught him neatly before he tumbled off the bed. He smiled at her and said something that made everyone laugh. 

I knocked and everyone turned and looked at me. “Ah, you must be Ms. DiCarlo’s daughter. I’m Doctor Flynn. How are you?”

“I’m fine, but is she ok?”

He glanced at Mom and I swear I saw her frown at him and shake her head slightly. Was I imagining it, or was she warning him to be quiet?

“Your mother is doing fine. In fact, she’s asked to leave, and if she feels up to it, I can discharge her. Take care, Ms. DiCarlo. I’ll get the nurse to go over your orders.”

He turned to leave, but I wasn’t satisfied with being told nothing. “Doctor, wait! I’ll walk out with you.”

I strode out at his side and when we were out of earshot of the trauma room, I placed a firm hand on his arm. “Doctor, can I ask what’s wrong with her? Why did she pass out?”

“Mrs. Ashford, due to doctor/patient confidentiality, I’m afraid I can’t discuss anything with you. I’m sorry.”

“But why did she collapse? Is it a bug, or the heat or what?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ashford. All I can say is that you’ll need to discuss this with your mother.”

“But doctor, I’m pregnant. Is she contagious? Do we have to worry about any of us catching something?”

I saw something in his eyes that looked like compassion, and he graced me with a small smile. “I can say it’s not contagious. Now, I have to go see another patient. Have a good day, and congratulations on your pregnancy.”

I murmured my thanks and sent a quick text message to Ryan to get the car ready. I headed back to Mom’s treatment room where she was already standing up, fully-dressed and holding her pocketbook in one hand, Benjie’s hand in the other.

A woman carrying a clipboard bustled in. “I need your signature, ma’am, for your insurance to be billed. Sign here, here and here.”

“Thank you,” Mom murmured as she signed the forms. She looked up and smiled at me brightly. “I’m so sorry, Catie. I guess the heat just got to me.

“What did the doctor say? Did he say it was the heat?” I asked suspiciously.

“Catie, I’m fine. It’s nothing. Oh, here comes the nurse to discharge me.”

The nurse entered the room and went over the discharge instructions, which were annoyingly vague and collected Mom’s signature on the discharge papers along with a promise that she’d contact her primary care physician if she still felt ill.

“But she just moved here. She doesn’t have a doctor yet, do you, Mom? I can probably ask the doctor I work with if he knows of anyone taking new patients.”

“Honey, I’ll take care of it. Now, are you ready?” Mom asked me, the bright smile still plastered on her face. I eyed her suspiciously, but led her and Benjie out of the Emergency department and into the parking garage, where Ryan was waiting for us.

We drove home in silence. Well, most of us were silent. Benjie chattered the whole way about the cool ride in the ambulance and how Chad and Phil (the other paramedic) let him turn on the siren and lights. His enthusiastic little voice filled the void in the car. Mom rested her head against the door and closed her eyes on the ride home. She looked tired just from the effort of getting into the car. Ryan drove with a thoughtful look on his face, and I wondered what was on his mind. I knew what was on mine, however, and it took all my poise and concentration not to blast Mom with it when we got into the apartment.

We settled her on the couch with strict instructions not to move. Ryan got Benjie into his bath and headed to the kitchen to make dinner. I think he also did it to give us some privacy.

“So, let’s hear it,” Mom said with a wry smile when I brought her a pillow and a blanket.

“Why wouldn’t you let the doctor tell me what’s going on?” I accused. The anger I had been carefully suppressing bubbled up to the surface.

“Because there’s nothing to tell.”

“I saw you. You warned him not to tell me. What’s up with that?”

“Catie, I like my privacy. And besides, it’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Honey, don’t worry, ok? You have enough to worry about. How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.” And I was. With everything that had happened today, my body felt sluggish, leaden, and my mind was fuzzy. I was suddenly exhausted. I yawned and she smiled.

“I was tired when I was pregnant with you. I slept for fourteen hours a day during my first trimester. I couldn’t get enough. I wonder if the same thing will happen to you.”

“Huh. I don’t know. All I know is I’m beat. It’s been quite an exciting day.”

“I meant what I said about the house, by the way.”

“And you’re also changing the subject. Again. Please just promise me you’ll talk to me from now on? You like your privacy, fine, but remember, you’re not on your own here. You have a family now and we deserve to know if there’s something wrong. Ok?”

“You’re right. I’m sorry; really I am. But please don’t worry. It’s my job to worry about you, not the other way around.”

I was still dubious, but I had to admit it felt nice to have her worry about me. I felt very secure and cozy and honestly, very loved.

“Ok, Mom. But please promise me you’ll tell me if something’s wrong.”

“It’s a deal. Now, are you finished hollering at me?” she asked with a tolerant smile on her face.

“For now, I suppose. But don’t make me have to holler again.” I grinned at her even though I was still worried. But it was obvious she was done talking about it for now.

“So, about the house,” she said briskly. “Do you and Ryan have a bank you use?”

“Yeah, First Community Bank of Pittston.”

“I’ll go to my bank in the morning and get a cashier’s check for you to deposit. Do you think you and Ryan will have any trouble getting a mortgage?”

“I have no idea. We’ve never thought about it, honestly. I think we should be able to. We both make fairly good money.”

“Well, let me know if you run into any snags. I’ll help you in any way I can. I think that house is exactly what you all need. But Catie, you look like you’re ready to pass out. Why don’t you go to bed? I’ll tuck you in and show myself out. I’m feeling much better now, and I’ll sleep better in my own bed.”

I nodded, surprised at how sleepy I’d suddenly gotten. Mom rose and shepherded me into bed, drawing the covers up around my chin and kissing me gently on the cheek. “Good night, little mother.”

I was asleep before I could respond.

Chapter 13

Mom rallied over the next few days and soon she seemed perfectly fine. There was a flush in her cheeks again and she appeared very bright and full of vim and vigor. I was so relieved. I’d been very worried about her despite her reassurances, but I relaxed when I saw how full of pep she was. It appeared she’d been right; I’d worried over nothing. By the day of my doctor’s appointment, she looked as though she’d never felt better.

My pregnancy was confirmed by a smiling nurse practitioner who exclaimed over how fast the stick I had to pee on turned blue. “That’s a quick positive. Let’s examine you, just to check how far along you are. There’s no doubt in my mind you’re expecting.”