Caroline in Richard's Mother's Womb

Chapter 4

Richard sat in the ER waiting room, anxiously going around and around with the facts of his dilemma in his head. "I have to help Caroline. The only way to really help her is to get her into a treatment program. Treatment programs are expensive. Her family could probably pay for it. But Caroline won't talk to them. I could call them, but Caroline would never forgive me, I promised her I wouldn't. I could try to convince her, but I don't have any time, I have to work. If I leave her alone at my place, she'll go out drinking again. Oh!!" After going over this several times in his head, Richard recognized that he was becoming more and more anxious. "Calm down, calm down" he told himself. "There has to be a logical solution to this." Richard thought for awhile, and came to this conclusion. "Caroline needs help. Sooner or later, someone has to call her family. Even though I promised Caroline, I have to do what's best for her. I can only hope she forgives me" he sighed. "The doctor said there may be a wait to get into a good program, and it will probably take some time for Caroline's family to raise the money. Caroline needs help as quickly as possible. I could call and ask them to get the ball rolling, while I'm convincing Caroline to ask for their help. Caroline would get help quicker, and she never needs to know that I betrayed her."

Still hesitant about going back on his word, Richard steeled himself as he walked to the pay phone on the wall. "Hello operator? I'd like to make a collect call to a Fred or Margaret Duffy in Peshtigo, Wisconsin… No, I don't have the number… My name is Richard Karinsky… Yes, I'll wait…" While waiting for the phone connection to be completed, Richard thought "They must be worried sick… My god, I wonder if Annie even told them that Caroline's been lost out on the streets for two weeks?" The connection was made "Mrs. Duffy? This is Richard Karinsky, Caroline's friend. The reason I'm calling is that I'm here with Caroline in a hospital… No, no. Calm down, Mrs. Duffy. Everything will be okay, she's in no danger. But she needs help, Mrs. Duffy. She needs to be in an alcohol rehabilitation program. And one of the better ones, one that also provides psychiatric treatment and counseling. They can be quite expensive. Would you and Mr. Duffy be willing… Yes, I know you love your daughter, and you'd be willing to do anything for her… Mrs. Duffy, I wonder if you'd be willing to do me a favor? The better programs take a little time to get into. Could you enroll Caroline, while giving me some time to convince her to ask for your assistance? It'd be so much better if she thought this was her own idea. And please, please, please don't mention to her that I called… Thanks, Mrs. Duffy. I hope to have Caroline calling you soon. Goodbye."

"Well, that's done" Richard thought, as he went back to his seat. "I just hope that Caroline never finds out." As he sat, Richard continued thinking "Now I just have to figure out a way I can afford to be away from work while I convince Caroline to talk to her family. Hmm… Annie! That's it, Annie! She works nights, I work days, between the two of us, we can watch over Caroline until she's convinced. But she'll probably skin me alive for not calling her as soon as I saw Caroline. I'd better call now." Richard got up and went over to the pay phone on the wall, inserted some coins, and dialed Annie. As soon as he heard a click, he practically yelled "Annie! Listen…"

"Hi, this is Annie. I'm not here right now, please leave a message beep".

"Damn!" Richard muttered under his breath. "Listen Annie, this is Richard. I'm at Saint Vincent's hospital with Caroline. Call me back as soon as you can. I'm at…" he paused to check the number on the pay phone "…212-555-2716. Bye."

Richard worried about what would happen if Annie never called back, and what his alternatives were, but he could think of no good ones. Already depressed due to Caroline's condition, and his recently failed marriage, it only served to make him further depressed. "This is doing me no good" he thought. "I've got to get my mind off of things." Richard went to the hospital gift shop to buy a book, but it was already closed. He returned to the hospital waiting room, and took a seat. "Great. I guess I'll have to watch this crap" he complained internally as his eyes turned towards the television in the corner, mounted high on the wall so that everybody could see. The typical sitcoms and police dramas were airing that night. Around ten o'clock, Richard began to nod off into a fitful rest, sitting up in his plastic chair. But he found it impossible to get any real sleep under these circumstances - sitting up, surrounded by strangers, new people coming and going every few minutes. But he tried, since had gotten into the habit of going to bed early for his job painting apartments. Like other construction jobs, it started early in the morning, at six o'clock.

……

Around two, Richard's semi-rest was shattered by the ringing of a phone. "What…?' He mumbled, starting to rouse himself. "The phone. THE PHONE! Annie!" Richard rushed to the pay phone. "Annie?" he answered.

"Yeah, it's me, Richie."

"Where have you been?!" Richard asked in a tone mixed with anger and panic. "It's your fault Caroline was out on the streets for the past two weeks. Couldn't wait to kick her out of your apartment, so you could start trolling the bars again for sailors?"

"Hold on, Vlad! For your information, I just got finished singing in a club. Anyway, you should be the last one to talk! For the past six months, while I was putting up with Caroline's boozing, her trips to the ER, her going in and out of rehab, you didn't even come by or call her! You're lucky I let you know how Caroline was doing when you called me!" Annie shot back.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry" he apologized. "It's just that Julia…"

Annie calmed down "That's okay, Richie, I know, I know… Anyway, thank god you found her, and she's off the streets."

"Annie, I know it's late, but are you coming over?"

"Oh, Richie, I'd love nothing more than to be there for Care, but I'm in Boston, working a club this week. I can't be choosy about what jobs I take nowadays. I just checked my machine from here after the show."

"Annie, I never thought I'd say this, but I wish you were here. I have a real problem" Richard said, and proceeded to explain his dilemma. "…So, can you think of anything to help out?"

"Hmm… Caroline may be hard to convince to talk to her parents, it may take awhile. I really wish I were there, so we could do this together. And nobody I know can afford to take off work while we try to change her mind. Hmm… but you know what? Del can. He's pretty busy, and he can't afford to take off from his job, but he can afford to pay you to take off from work to take care of Caroline."

"That's a great idea! Thanks Annie! I love you!"

"Eww!!" Annie answered in mock disgust.

"Sorry, Annie. I forgot who I was talking to."

"That's okay, Richie. You know, we kid each other a lot, but it was good hearing from you. You're a great friend to Care."

"Thanks, Annie. So are you. Goodbye, and thanks again" Richard finished.

"Bye. And good luck with Del" she concluded as she hung up.

Richard hung up, excited for any idea that would help Caroline, and was just about to call Del when he hesitated. "I have to ask Del for help. Oh that's just perfect" Richard thought, sarcastically. "My whole life is falling apart in just one night. My wife leaves me, Caroline's in the hospital, I betray her confidence, and now I'm asking Del for help."

Richard reluctantly inserted some coins into the pay phone and called Del. "Hello Del. It's Richard Karinsky. I know we haven't spoken for awhile, and I know it's late, but it's important that I speak to you about something."

"Richard? Why are you calling?" Del impatiently answered.

"Del, I know it's a lot to ask of you from somebody whom you haven't seen or heard from in months, but I need some money. It's not for me, it's for Caroline. I need to be able to stay home and convince her to ask her parents to help her get treatment." Richard heard a female voice in the background from Del's apartment.

"Yeah, yeah. Anything for Care. I'll call you in the morning for details" Del responded, then quickly hung up.

"Well, that was easy" thought Richard. "I'd better try to get some sleep. Caroline will need me in the morning."