Chapter seventeen: Answers
The sun slowly filled the waiting room as morning crept in; no word on Ruthie's condition had surfaced since the last time they'd spoken to the doctor. But the news reports had gained information. Kevin sat there listening while Lucy had taken Savannah to stay with a friend earlier along with the twins, and now Lucy was sitting next to him. It was ten o'clock, and Simon had just arrived. He was busy talking with Eric and Annie. Eric told him about Ruthie's condition, and that Matt, and Mary were flying out and would arrive later.
Lucy looked around and remembered the last time she'd been here was when Kevin had been beat up, She remembered how scared she was and how her father had driven her. She remembered, waiting here when her father had his surgery. She had proposed to Kevin only to have him turn her down. She laughed remembering how Ben and Robby had gotten the two back together.
Lucy had been in this hospital so many times, good and bad. She was there when a car hit Mary after church. She was here when her father had been shot. She'd been rushed here after collapsing in the grocery store, and after she'd delivered Savannah in an elevator. She was here for Simon's birth, which she didn't remember very well, and Ruthie's birth, she and Mary had gotten lost they ended up with this old guy who had cancer, and he calmed them down by telling them funny stories until their father found them. She was here when the twins were born, she had broken up with big lips and everyone was trying to cheer her up, Ruthie had done the best job. Ruthie had told Lucy her opinion on all her previous boyfriends leading up to Jordan. Before saying that Lucy would end up with a great guy. Remembering all of that made Lucy cry; she couldn't believe that this time she was here because she might lose her little sister. Lucy looked up at the television and listened as the reporter started talking about the accident.
"As for the car crash last night, we have learned that the two teenagers involved were 16 year old Tristan Montgomery, and 15 year old Ruthie Camden, daughter of Reverend Eric Camden. The two were speeding down the road when they turned onto willow drive where they collided into an oncoming car sending them into a tree, where Tristan was killed upon impact. Ruthie is in the hospital and has been stabilized but is in critical condition. The two had been at a party. Kathleen Waterfeld is live with Erica Landes, one of Ruthie's closest friends. Kathleen,"
"Thank you,Erica you were at the party can you tell me what happened?" the reporter said shoving the microphone at her. They were standing outside Erica's house. Eric and Annie looked over at the television when they heard Erica.
"Tristan and Ruthie had been fighting and Tristan demanded they leave. Lindsey and I didn't want to leave with him because he was drunk and so we said we'd get our own ride. We tried to persuade Ruthie to stay and not go with him but she insisted so she got in, I remember he waited just long enough for her to get her seatbelt on before gunning it." Erica said sobbing. "They were screaming at each other as they got in the car, and were fighting when they left. They were both drunk and they should've stayed!"
"You arrived at the party with them then I assume?" she asked.
"Yes, it was Ruthie, Lindsey, and I. Because Tristan picked us all up, but we were going to get rides from somebody else back except Ruthie." Erica stopped.
"Thank you, back to you," They cut back to the studio and went on with a recap of information. Everyone was stunned by what Erica had said.
"She knew he was drunk and they didn't stop her!" Simon cried.
"Simon, what could they do? You heard her they tried!" Eric said.
"But they should have stopped her!" Simon cried.
"Simon," Eric said.
"I know I just, it's not fair!" He said slamming his fist against the wall. "I want to know if she's okay!"
"We all do," Annie said.
"Mr. And Mrs. Camden, it's Ruthie she's awake," The doctor said. Everyone got up and followed him down the hall, when they reached her room Eric and Annie went in first. Ruthie had bandages on her head and arm and just about everywhere else, one of her legs was wrapped from the knee down. She was connected to a thousand machines, and she didn't look like Ruthie.
"Ruthie?" Annie said.
"Mom," Ruthie whispered, her voice was hoarse. Ruthie turned her head slightly to look at her mom. Annie hugged her gently crying and whispering to her.
"I though I'd never see you again" Annie said.
"Hey Ruthie," Eric said.
"Hi dad, it's a family affair I see," She said laughing. She stopped and looked around everyone looked so quiet and sad. "Where's Tristan?"