Veronica's words didn't register right away, but when they did Bob felt as if he had been punched in the gut. His children, his babies, far too many days the only reason he bothered to carry on. Had been in an accident. From a physical standpoint Tina only had a fractured wrist. Unfortunately, she had also suffered a panic attack at the scene. She had been given a mild sedative and would be released once she came too. Gene had taken a harder hit and had been transferred to Bog Harbor due to possible internal bleeding. Veronica assured that concern was minimal. The doctors just felt more comfortable sending him to the larger, more equipped hospital. Where he would receive prompt treatment, if that were the case. Just when Bob was about to feel relieved, he remembered Louise. His sweet baby. The one he had been so horrible to.
"What about, Louise?" Bob asked.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Belcher. Louise's injuries were catastrophic." Veronica apologized.
"Are you saying?" Bob questioned.
"She is alive, but in extremely critical condition. The paramedics opted send her directly to Bog Harbor. I am sorry I do not know anymore." Veronica apologized.
The phone fell from Bob's hands, and he collapsed to the floor. This couldn't be real. Tina having a panic attack so bad she was hospitalized, Gene with possible internal bleeding, and Louise. Louise in critical condition. Possibly dying or worse already dead. He dug his nails into his scalp and began to scream.
Teddy was alone in the empty restaurant. They had closed after Bob's outburst, Teddy hoped he had done a good job smoothing things over. Generalized anxiety mixed with mild to moderate PTSD. Meant that Teddy spent a good deal of time apologizing for public outbursts. He had become something of an expert on it, but this was his first time doing it on behalf of another person. Teddy heard Bob's screams coming from the bathroom. Fearing another episode, the middle-aged handyman raced to his friend's aid. He found Bob curled up on the floor shaking and screaming.
"Bobby? What's wrong?" Teddy gasped.
"My babies. My babies were in an accident. Tina is OK, Gene most likely is, but Louise. Teddy' she's hurt bad!" Bob cried.
"Bobby, I. I am so sorry." Teddy apologized.
"She might be dying. She could already be dead and the last thing I said to her. I said I wished she never existed. She could leave this world thinking I hate her." Bob sobbed.
"Bobby, Louise would never think that. She knows you love her and Louise. She is the strongest person I know. She will pull through." Teddy assured.
"God, Teddy. I have to call Linda. This is going to kill her." Bob sniffed.
"I'll be right here." Teddy assured.
Bob's hands shook as he dialed Linda's number. He had no idea how he was going to break the news to his wife. How do you tell somebody their child might be dying? Never mind that their other two children were severely injured. Teddy sat beside him in one of the booths, his hand gently placed on his arm. It only took three rings for Linda to answer. Her cheerful hello was enough to cause Bob to cry again.
"Bobby? What's wrong?" Linda asked.
"Lin, the kids. There was an accident. A hit and run. Tina is at Seymour's Bay Hospital. She just hurt her wrist and had a panic attack. They sedated her but she is going to be OK. They will release her when she wakes up. Gene may have internal bleeding. They sent him to Bog Harbor, but they expect him to be OK, but Louise. Louise is hurt bad. They took her right to Bog Harbor. I am still waiting for news on her. Teddy and I were just heading to Bog Harbor." Bob explained.
"My babies! Oh, my poor babies! I want to be with Gene and Louise in Bog Harbor but what about Tina?" Linda sobbed.
"Hang on, I am getting another call. It may be news on Louise or Gene. I'll call you right back." Bob replied.
"Hello?" Bob greeted.
"Mr. Belcher, this is Daniel Miller from Bog Harbor Children's Hospital. Your children Gene and Louise were admitted here after a hit and run. Gene is in X-Ray. We will know more about his condition soon. Louise is in extremely critical condition. We are not equipped to handle such severe trauma. We have arranged to have her life flighted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia." Daniel explained.
The sick feeling in Bob's stomach grew even worse. His three children were about to be in three different hospitals, in two different states. Louise was going to be life flighted to a major children's hospital. He swallowed the bile in his throat and gripped the table with all his strength. He wanted to scram again, but no sound came out. His body was shaking, and tears were falling from his eyes.
"Bobby" Teddy whispered, pulling him into a hug.
"I need to get to the kids but. I have to call Linda. Somebody needs to be with Tina, but I need to see Louise." Bob cried.
"Let's go. I will call Linda." Teddy offered.
Linda just happened to be just over a mile from Bog Harbor Children's when she got the news. Immediately she changed directions and sped towards the hospital. She broke at least three traffic laws in the brief time she was on the road. It was pure luck that she did not get a ticket. Upon arriving at the hospital, she texted Gayle there was an emergency, and she would be unable to pick her up. Ginger was working and no doubt Teddy was with Bob. Lucky for Linda, Ginger's cousin Amanda lived near the airport in Bog Harbor. Linda called Amanda, unable to speak those words just yet. She merely told Amanda it was a family emergency and ever more luck, Amanda was willing to get Gayle. Linda again texted Gayle that Amanda would be getting her instead. She was getting out of the car when Bob called her back. Now Louise was being flown to Philadelphia? Linda leaned against the car and began to sob.
Bob rode in the passenger seat of Teddy's truck, eyes fixed on the horizon. He had just broken the news to Linda, now the pair was rushing to Bog Harbor. All Bob could do was pray they made it before the helicopter. He couldn't stand the thought of Louise going to another state alone. Of course, Linda could go, but Gene was going to need his mommy. Gene always needed Linda. Tina crossed Bob's mind again. His oldest was alone and had no idea where her siblings were. Linda was already in Bog Harbor and Bob needed Teddy to get him to Bog Harbor. He wanted to be with Tina but, Louise needed him.
Bob Belcher Senior knew sad news was coming as soon as he saw who was calling. His son never called him in the middle of the workday. Sunday was her birthday and Big Bob planned to visit the family, but today both Bob and him were busy with their restaurants. He knew the news was going to be bad, but he could not imagine just how dreadful it would be. His grandchildren all hospitalized, the youngest barely hanging on.
"So, I am hopefully going to go to Philadelphia with Louise and Linda is in Bog Harbor with Gene, but Tina is alone in the local hospital. She should be released as soon as she wakes up." Bob explained.
"Of course. I will go to her. I will bring her to you or Linda or keep her with me. Whatever you need." Big Bob assured.
"Thank you, dad." Bob replied.
Bob and Teddy made it to Bog Harbor by the skin of their teeth. Bob had barely stepped into Louise's ICU room when the helicopter touched down. Gene was still not back, so Linda had been waiting with Louise. Fully prepared to ride in the helicopter, with their youngest if Bob did not make it in time. Seeing Louise was far worse than any nightmare Bob could imagine. Her head was wrapped in bandages, her neck secured by a brace, more bandages covered her arms and leg. Leg. The car hit her so hard, it pulled her leg clear of her body. Her leg had been amputated in two places, by the force of the hit. Her leg had come off when she fell, her foot was missing they had searched the scene but found nothing. Not that it mattered much, the damage was far too severe for any hope of reattachment.
"Oh Louise" Bob whispered.
Rudy watched as the sun began to set. He had promised his mom that he would be home before the sun went down, but he could not bring himself to leave. Louise had promised that she would come. She should have been here an hour ago at least. It was not like Louise to break her promises. He had invited Chloe too, but Chloe had told him she had plans. Only for her to happily rush past him to join her friends. He called to her, but she ignored him. He was sure Louise would at least come and he would choose her to be his partner. Now it was almost dark, and Louise had not come. Was he really that undesirable? He knew they were too young for real romance, but he thought Louise was at least his friend.
"Rudy!" His mom called.
"Rudy!" Sylvester called.
Oh boy, he was in trouble now. Both of his parents looking for him. At least if he were grounded until he was thirty, it would take the sting out of having no friends. His parents continued to call. He jumped off the swing, hung his head, and slowly made his way towards them.
"I know I should have been home. I am sorry." Rudy apologized.
"Yes, it is later than I wanted you to be out, but that is not why we are here." His mom replied.
"Rudy your friend Louise was in an accident with her brother and sister. Tina and Gene are going to be OK, but Louise is hurt really bad. She is in intensive care." Sylvester explained.
"Can I see her?" Rudy asked.
"No Rudy. You have to be sixteen to go into the intensive care unit. Unless you are a patient and besides, they had to fly Louise to Philadelphia." Sylvester clarified.
"Lou…Lou… No" Rudy wheezed, grabbing his inhaler. His world had just come crashing down.
By the grace of God, Gene did not have any internal bleeding. His only injuries were a broken left arm, he had bit through his lower lip and split his chin. His arm was placed in a temporary splint and his doctor arranged for it to be casted by an orthopedist in Philadelphia. His lip and chin were stitched, and he was released.
Tina's eyes fluttered; she could smell the antiseptic. Suddenly it all came back to her. The accident, Gene, Louise. Oh God, Louise! She had to get to Louise. She tried to jump out of her bed but was stopped by a pair of strong hands. She looked up and saw Pop, Pop looking down at her. Why was he here? Where were her parents? Where were Gene and Louise?
"Where's my family. I mean you are my family but where are mom, dad, Gene, and Louise?" Tina demanded.
"Your mom is with Gene. They just released him from the hospital in Bog Harbor. Your dad is with Louise. They had to fly Louise to another hospital. Your mom and Gene are on the way there now. Now that you are awake, we can head there too." Big Bob explained.
At Huxley High, Tina's friends had just noticed her absence. The game was about to start, and she had not taken her spot in the concession stand. With one lone tenth grader operating the cash register and the popcorn machine. The lines were backed halfway to the gate. Susmita was the first raise concerns. Tina had offered to throw popcorn into her saxophone as good luck, Susmita had pointed out just how terrible of an idea that was, and Tina had instead offered her a free popcorn. That was something she could get behind. Zeke noticed next. Normally Tina would be watching the players warm up. Football was a very butt friendly sport and Tina would always watch in amazement. Jimmy Junior noticed next. All the guys on the team and the towel boy always shared a good luck kiss with their girlfriends before the game. Tina had talked about the kiss for months. Now here she was not showing up. Tammy and Jocelyn did not notice that Tina was gone until the cheerleading coach approached them.
"Alright it looks like Tina Belcher is a no show. Mr. Franklin needs somebody else in the concession stand. Tammy! Since you were the last to make the cheer squad and you aren't really needed until half time. I was wondering if you could fill in. Then Jocelyn could take over." Coach Jones explained.
"What?! I have to touch gross popcorn!" Tammy cried.
"Yeah, and we can't cheer together?!" Jocelyn gasped.
The game ended. Huxley won twenty-five to twenty-one. Junior Varsity had played the final quarter and Zeke had scored the winning field goal. It should have been one of the highlights of Zeke's life. Instead, he was filled with dread. Tina never arrived. She had been excited for the game. Seeing Susmita play in the marching band, kissing Jimmy Junior before the game, the butt touching. Not the type of event Tina would willingly miss. The crowd was about to disperse when the principal came over the loudspeaker.
"If I could have your attention for just one more moment. It is with great sadness that I inform you one of our students was injured in a hit and run this afternoon, along with her siblings. From what I understand Tina has already been released. Her brother Gene is due to be released soon or has already been, however youngest daughter Louise is critical and has been transferred to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. We will be taking a collection for the Belcher family at the gate and again in home room on Monday. The FCA will be leading a special prayer shortly for anybody who wishes to participate. Everybody else is dismissed.' Principal Fletcher explained.
"So, Tina gets into a car accident and now I have to smell like popcorn!" Tammy cried.
"Yeah, and I didn't get to do the pyramid. I mean I wasn't in the pyramid because I don't really know what a pyramid is but still!" Jocelyn cried.
"Yeah, and I dropped the towels in the mud! Because I didn't get my good luck kiss! My dad was in a car accident today too! And he isn't using as an excuse!" Jimmy Junior snapped.
"Didn't you guys here! Tina was in an accident! Louise is hurt bad! Don't you care?!" Zeke snapped.
Immediately upon arriving in Philadelphia, Louise was rushed off to surgery. During the helicopter ride Bob was made aware of the horrific extent of his youngest daughter's injuries. Louise had broken, crushed actually her C1 and C2 vertebrae. She had a skull fracture and severe swelling in her brain. Her left kidney and spleen were ruptured. She had already lost her right leg and now doctors had no choice but to amputate her left one as well. She would most likely be losing both arms as well. Her right eye was destroyed, and the left was severely damaged. She was on her third blood transfusion. Bob lost count of everything he had allowed the surgeons to do to his baby girl. In a desperate and final attempt to save her life. Bob tried to give her one final kiss, but they had to get her to the OR. The last thing he saw as she was rushed through the double doors, was Louise go into a massive seizure. Bob collapsed to the floor screaming.
"God! No! Please just take me instead! Take me instead! Louise doesn't deserve this! Not my perfect, sweet girl! I can't lose her!" Bob cried. Linda and Gene, and Big Bob and Tina were en route. He was completely alone.