GOODNIGHT, SWEET PARTRIDGE
CHAPTER 16
It wasn't surprising to Laurie and Reuben that Shirley was asleep. What with the confusion and horror of the past two days, she'd neglected herself beyond reason; a mother to the end. So now, in the waiting room, they let her sleep. A nurse had been kind enough to provide a blanket and a pillow for her and they set up a makeshift bed in the farthest corner of the room by putting two chairs together. It didn't look very comfortable, but obviously she hadn't noticed, because she was asleep within the half hour.
Laurie stretched, glancing at her watch. Keith had been in surgery for four hours. The doctor had told them that, barring complications, he would be out in two and a half; three at the most. She was beginning to fear the worst, but didn't express it out loud to Reuben, who was nodding off in a nearby chair himself.
She stood up, stretching even bigger and walked off the stiffness she'd acquired. Spotting a drinking fountain down the hall, she went to it, pulling her long hair aside and bending to get some water. Behind her, she heard the automatic doors of the emergency room open and she didn't pay much attention until she heard her name.
Startled, she straightened, wiping her mouth. Carly was hurrying toward her and Laurie met her halfway. They embraced, both girls crying openly.
"Mr. Kincaid left a message at the hotel…oh, Laurie, is Keith all right?"
"We haven't heard; he's been in the operating room for four hours, now. How are you? Did your parents…?" Laurie flinched when she saw the bandages on Carly's arm; another remembrance of yesterday's mayhem.
Carly indicated the man and woman just now entering the room. She grabbed Laurie's hand, pulling her toward them. "Mom, Daddy, this is Laurie, Keith's sister. Laurie, my parents, Jim and Lydia Stratton."
"Nice to meet you." Laurie and the Stratton's exchanged handshakes.
"You, too. You're even prettier than the pictures I've seen up on Carly's wall," Mrs. Stratton said.
Laurie smiled wearily. "Thank you. My mom and Mr. Kincaid are in the waiting room, but they're both pretty out of it right now. We could find another waiting area to talk in, but the doctor might come with some news on Keith."
"We understand. We just dropped by to see how he was doing, but I think we'd best go back to the hotel and get some sleep." Mr. Stratton looked tired, too.
Carly swallowed. "Oh, can't I stay until he at least comes out of surgery?" She looked pleadingly up at her father.
"Carly Sue, you know what that judge said. You are supposed to be with us at all times. They left you in our custody, remember?"
Laurie came to Carly's rescue. "I'll take full responsibility for her, Mr. Stratton. It won't be long, now, and we can drop her off at the hotel. I really think she needs to see Keith, and vice versa."
The Stratton's both hesitated, and Carly looked from one to the other in hopes they would agree with Laurie.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt any. But not all night. If it's longer than an hour, I want you back at that hotel, you hear me?" Mr. Stratton said firmly.
Carly smiled, wrapping her arms around his gangly neck. "Thank you, Daddy."
Carly and Laurie sat in a corner of the waiting room farthest away from Reuben and Shirley so that they could talk without disturbing either of them.
"So, how did it go with the police? Weren't you simply terrified to be all alone like that?" Laurie asked.
"It wasn't the being alone…it was the worry. About Keith, about what your family was thinking of me for what I did…I was scared to sleep because I knew I would have nightmares about it. I'd convinced myself that Keith had died, and being responsible for it, I just knew I would go to prison. Oh, Laurie, it was horrible! That was the longest night I'd ever spent!" Carly was weeping, and rightly so.
Laurie reached over, clasping Carly's hand. "But now things are looking up…they let you go with your parents."
Carly nodded. "Yes, I'm supposed to talk to a state appointed psychiatrist, and then they will decide what to do. They said your mom refused to press charges on me, and for that I'm so grateful. It was an accident, Laurie, it really was! I didn't mean to hurt him; I love him!"
Now Laurie pulled her close, rocking her as if she were her little girl. "We know, Carly…that's why we decided not to press charges. Besides, Keith would have been FURIOUS had we even thought about it!"
Carly pulled back, wiping at her eyes. "Really?"
Laurie smiled, grabbing a tissue from the box and handing it to her. "You can bet on it. The first thing he said when he woke up yesterday was, 'How's Carly?'"
That cheered her. "He did?"
"He also told us to tell you that he forgives you." Laurie said, tears in her own eyes, now.
Carly looked ceilingward. "I don't deserve his forgiveness…"
"Of course you do! You said yourself it was an accident. But, honey, why would you want to kill yourself? Over Keith, especially…he was so confused. He couldn't figure out why you would do it."
"I know…but I couldn't tell him…I'm not sure I know myself. Maybe the doctors can help me deal with this, Laurie…I'm so lost…" She began to weep into her hands as Laurie did her best to comfort her.
In the recovery room, Keith awoke, alone, frightened and in pain. The room was small and the glaring white walls weren't much comfort. He was lying on his left side on the gurney, unable to so much as move without severe discomfort. He saw someone in white stop in front of him and felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, good, you're awake…still groggy, though, I'll bet. Do you feel nauseous? The anesthesia will sometimes make you sick." It was a soft, female voice.
Keith nodded, and soon a metal bowl was near his face. It was as if she knew. He filled it rather quickly, moaning because of the burning in his middle.
She bent down, wiping his face with a moist cloth. She was pretty, maybe two, three years older than he…how embarrassing, he thought. Tossing your cookies in front of a total stranger…
She put some ice chips in his mouth and he sucked on them almost hungrily as she put a cool hand on his forehead. He tried to remain focused on her face, but he saw her frown and move off.
Soon there was a thermometer in his mouth. He tried to ignore the pain in his belly, but it was ferocious. He didn't want to cry out, but he did, his face contorted, and in the process, he nearly lost the small glass tube.
"Hang in there, sweetie. I'll have the head nurse get hold of Dr. Lowrey." She said.
He couldn't move, couldn't talk, but her leaving terrified him. 'Don't leave me…I need you!' He choked, nearly vomiting again.
Closing his eyes, he could feel the pain searing his right side and he put his hand up onto it. Feeling a bandage there, he swallowed. Something was definitely not right here…the surgery was supposed to stop the pain, wasn't it?
Behind him, where he was unable to see, he heard anxious voices; those of two women and a man. He could only hear snippets of their conversation, but he knew it was about him.
"High fever…nausea…" a woman was saying.
The man interrupted. "Is he having pain?"
"Yes."
"Let me check him."
Soon, a man was standing near him. "Keith, it's Dr. Lowrey. Does your side hurt?"
"Yeah…" Keith whispered, his hand shaking as he wiped at his eyes.
"We're going to put you on your back. It might be painful, but we'll try not to hurt you. Hang on to my forearm. Ready? Here we go."
Keith clenched his teeth as they carefully rolled him over and he gripped the doctor's arm for all it was worth. The pain worsened and he cried out, lifting his head.
The doctor was looking beneath the bandage, then he glanced up at the nurse. "Get a blood culture." He looked down at his patient. "I think you've got some infection. I'm going to treat it with some antibiotics before it gets any worse."
Keith pushed his head back into the pillow under his head. "Is that why it's hurting so bad?" he puffed.
Dr. Lowrey nodded. "We may have to go back in, Keith, I'm sorry."
Keith closed his eyes, feeling the doctor's hand on his arm.
"Chances are it will clear up with the drugs, but if not, you're looking at more surgery. We'll do everything we can to avoid that, though, so rest easy, and concentrate on getting well. And we'll take care of the pain for you, too."
Nodding, Keith stared blearily up at the ceiling. The nurse's face came into his line of sight, and she smiled.
"You ready to go back into your room? Your family's anxious to see you."
"Sure," he smiled through the pain. It was wasn't easy to flirt in this condition, but, hey, he had to try…
"Okay, put him on 10 milligrams of morphine and 100 milligrams of ampicillin. Keith, I'll go tell your family you're out of surgery," Dr. Lowrey smiled down at him.
"Thanks," Keith breathed. Dear God, the pain was almost unbearable! He tried to concentrate on the nurse's pretty features as she set up the I.V.
continued...
CHAPTER 16
It wasn't surprising to Laurie and Reuben that Shirley was asleep. What with the confusion and horror of the past two days, she'd neglected herself beyond reason; a mother to the end. So now, in the waiting room, they let her sleep. A nurse had been kind enough to provide a blanket and a pillow for her and they set up a makeshift bed in the farthest corner of the room by putting two chairs together. It didn't look very comfortable, but obviously she hadn't noticed, because she was asleep within the half hour.
Laurie stretched, glancing at her watch. Keith had been in surgery for four hours. The doctor had told them that, barring complications, he would be out in two and a half; three at the most. She was beginning to fear the worst, but didn't express it out loud to Reuben, who was nodding off in a nearby chair himself.
She stood up, stretching even bigger and walked off the stiffness she'd acquired. Spotting a drinking fountain down the hall, she went to it, pulling her long hair aside and bending to get some water. Behind her, she heard the automatic doors of the emergency room open and she didn't pay much attention until she heard her name.
Startled, she straightened, wiping her mouth. Carly was hurrying toward her and Laurie met her halfway. They embraced, both girls crying openly.
"Mr. Kincaid left a message at the hotel…oh, Laurie, is Keith all right?"
"We haven't heard; he's been in the operating room for four hours, now. How are you? Did your parents…?" Laurie flinched when she saw the bandages on Carly's arm; another remembrance of yesterday's mayhem.
Carly indicated the man and woman just now entering the room. She grabbed Laurie's hand, pulling her toward them. "Mom, Daddy, this is Laurie, Keith's sister. Laurie, my parents, Jim and Lydia Stratton."
"Nice to meet you." Laurie and the Stratton's exchanged handshakes.
"You, too. You're even prettier than the pictures I've seen up on Carly's wall," Mrs. Stratton said.
Laurie smiled wearily. "Thank you. My mom and Mr. Kincaid are in the waiting room, but they're both pretty out of it right now. We could find another waiting area to talk in, but the doctor might come with some news on Keith."
"We understand. We just dropped by to see how he was doing, but I think we'd best go back to the hotel and get some sleep." Mr. Stratton looked tired, too.
Carly swallowed. "Oh, can't I stay until he at least comes out of surgery?" She looked pleadingly up at her father.
"Carly Sue, you know what that judge said. You are supposed to be with us at all times. They left you in our custody, remember?"
Laurie came to Carly's rescue. "I'll take full responsibility for her, Mr. Stratton. It won't be long, now, and we can drop her off at the hotel. I really think she needs to see Keith, and vice versa."
The Stratton's both hesitated, and Carly looked from one to the other in hopes they would agree with Laurie.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt any. But not all night. If it's longer than an hour, I want you back at that hotel, you hear me?" Mr. Stratton said firmly.
Carly smiled, wrapping her arms around his gangly neck. "Thank you, Daddy."
Carly and Laurie sat in a corner of the waiting room farthest away from Reuben and Shirley so that they could talk without disturbing either of them.
"So, how did it go with the police? Weren't you simply terrified to be all alone like that?" Laurie asked.
"It wasn't the being alone…it was the worry. About Keith, about what your family was thinking of me for what I did…I was scared to sleep because I knew I would have nightmares about it. I'd convinced myself that Keith had died, and being responsible for it, I just knew I would go to prison. Oh, Laurie, it was horrible! That was the longest night I'd ever spent!" Carly was weeping, and rightly so.
Laurie reached over, clasping Carly's hand. "But now things are looking up…they let you go with your parents."
Carly nodded. "Yes, I'm supposed to talk to a state appointed psychiatrist, and then they will decide what to do. They said your mom refused to press charges on me, and for that I'm so grateful. It was an accident, Laurie, it really was! I didn't mean to hurt him; I love him!"
Now Laurie pulled her close, rocking her as if she were her little girl. "We know, Carly…that's why we decided not to press charges. Besides, Keith would have been FURIOUS had we even thought about it!"
Carly pulled back, wiping at her eyes. "Really?"
Laurie smiled, grabbing a tissue from the box and handing it to her. "You can bet on it. The first thing he said when he woke up yesterday was, 'How's Carly?'"
That cheered her. "He did?"
"He also told us to tell you that he forgives you." Laurie said, tears in her own eyes, now.
Carly looked ceilingward. "I don't deserve his forgiveness…"
"Of course you do! You said yourself it was an accident. But, honey, why would you want to kill yourself? Over Keith, especially…he was so confused. He couldn't figure out why you would do it."
"I know…but I couldn't tell him…I'm not sure I know myself. Maybe the doctors can help me deal with this, Laurie…I'm so lost…" She began to weep into her hands as Laurie did her best to comfort her.
In the recovery room, Keith awoke, alone, frightened and in pain. The room was small and the glaring white walls weren't much comfort. He was lying on his left side on the gurney, unable to so much as move without severe discomfort. He saw someone in white stop in front of him and felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh, good, you're awake…still groggy, though, I'll bet. Do you feel nauseous? The anesthesia will sometimes make you sick." It was a soft, female voice.
Keith nodded, and soon a metal bowl was near his face. It was as if she knew. He filled it rather quickly, moaning because of the burning in his middle.
She bent down, wiping his face with a moist cloth. She was pretty, maybe two, three years older than he…how embarrassing, he thought. Tossing your cookies in front of a total stranger…
She put some ice chips in his mouth and he sucked on them almost hungrily as she put a cool hand on his forehead. He tried to remain focused on her face, but he saw her frown and move off.
Soon there was a thermometer in his mouth. He tried to ignore the pain in his belly, but it was ferocious. He didn't want to cry out, but he did, his face contorted, and in the process, he nearly lost the small glass tube.
"Hang in there, sweetie. I'll have the head nurse get hold of Dr. Lowrey." She said.
He couldn't move, couldn't talk, but her leaving terrified him. 'Don't leave me…I need you!' He choked, nearly vomiting again.
Closing his eyes, he could feel the pain searing his right side and he put his hand up onto it. Feeling a bandage there, he swallowed. Something was definitely not right here…the surgery was supposed to stop the pain, wasn't it?
Behind him, where he was unable to see, he heard anxious voices; those of two women and a man. He could only hear snippets of their conversation, but he knew it was about him.
"High fever…nausea…" a woman was saying.
The man interrupted. "Is he having pain?"
"Yes."
"Let me check him."
Soon, a man was standing near him. "Keith, it's Dr. Lowrey. Does your side hurt?"
"Yeah…" Keith whispered, his hand shaking as he wiped at his eyes.
"We're going to put you on your back. It might be painful, but we'll try not to hurt you. Hang on to my forearm. Ready? Here we go."
Keith clenched his teeth as they carefully rolled him over and he gripped the doctor's arm for all it was worth. The pain worsened and he cried out, lifting his head.
The doctor was looking beneath the bandage, then he glanced up at the nurse. "Get a blood culture." He looked down at his patient. "I think you've got some infection. I'm going to treat it with some antibiotics before it gets any worse."
Keith pushed his head back into the pillow under his head. "Is that why it's hurting so bad?" he puffed.
Dr. Lowrey nodded. "We may have to go back in, Keith, I'm sorry."
Keith closed his eyes, feeling the doctor's hand on his arm.
"Chances are it will clear up with the drugs, but if not, you're looking at more surgery. We'll do everything we can to avoid that, though, so rest easy, and concentrate on getting well. And we'll take care of the pain for you, too."
Nodding, Keith stared blearily up at the ceiling. The nurse's face came into his line of sight, and she smiled.
"You ready to go back into your room? Your family's anxious to see you."
"Sure," he smiled through the pain. It was wasn't easy to flirt in this condition, but, hey, he had to try…
"Okay, put him on 10 milligrams of morphine and 100 milligrams of ampicillin. Keith, I'll go tell your family you're out of surgery," Dr. Lowrey smiled down at him.
"Thanks," Keith breathed. Dear God, the pain was almost unbearable! He tried to concentrate on the nurse's pretty features as she set up the I.V.
continued...