Cars And Sons
Chapter 1
Amanda, Dotty, and Jamie were in the University Hospital waiting room in Charlottesville, VA, at midnight one Sunday, waiting for word about Phillip and Suzanne, who had both been in a car accident!
Amanda had filled out the necessary forms for Phillip's admittance, and also had tried to reach Joe, but the EAO told her they would get a message to him as soon as possible, as he was currently in Uganda, but the phone lines were down, due to unrest there at the moment.
She then called Suzanne's parents, but when there was no answer, left a message to come to the hospital as soon as they could.
Hanging up, she came back to the waiting room to sit down, asking her mother and Jamie, "Do you two want to get something to eat in the cafeteria, while I stay up here?"
But both Dotty and Jamie shook their heads, and Jamie asked, "Where's Lee, Mom?"
Amanda answered, "He's talking to the police right now, Sweetheart. They had to send the car for repairs, because apparently there was extensive damage-"
Dotty tersely remarked, "Oh, and we know that car of his is so much more important than your son is-"
Amanda put up a hand replying firmly, "Mother, please! You know that isn't true-"
Dotty angrily countered back with, "Oh, isn't it? A car can be replaced, but your son-"
Just then, there was a page for Amanda to the nurse's station telephone. She went to the desk and the nurse there stated, "It's a Mrs. Morrison for you."
Amanda nodded thanking her, and answering the caller commented, "Mrs. Morrison? I'm so glad you got our message...Listen, Phillip and Suzanne...Yes, at the University Hospital...Alright, I'll let the doctor know you're on your way. Thank you. Goodbye."
Coming back to the waiting area, Amanda stated to Dotty, "It was Suzanne's mother. They had been at her sister's for the weekend, and just got home, so they heard my message, and they're on their way. Where's Jamie?"
Dotty sighed responding, "The men's room. Amanda... About Lee-"
Amanda sighed shaking her head answering, "No! Not another word! We will discuss this later, alright? I'm gonna go see-"
Then a nurse named Cara came by and asked, "Mrs. Stetson?"
Amanda nodded replying to her, "Yes. How is Phillip?"
Cara gestured commenting, "Follow me, please..."
Amanda told Dotty, "If Lee comes back shortly, please tell him where I'll be, okay?"
When Amanda left, Dotty muttered crisply, "Jamie will return sooner than that son in-law of mine will...What is it with men and cars?!"
-SMK-
Amanda came to Phillip's room, and was taken aback by the head bandage, all the tubes attached to her son's body, and the pale look of his face!
Swallowing hard, she came over, and pulling a chair close to the bed, carefully took his right hand with her own, and stroking it, asked him sadly, "Oh, Phillip! What happened? I-I wish you could tell me, Honey-"
A doctor walked in then and queried softly, "Mrs. Stetson?"
Amanda, noticing the man, released Phillip's hand, and carefully got up, stating, "Yes, and you are?"
The doctor answered, shaking her hand in greeting, "Dr. Randall, Mrs. Stetson...First off, I'd like to say how sorry I am about your son...He and his friend are both lucky to be alive. I know seeing your child like this is hard-"
Amanda gulped and nodding said, "Y-Yes...What happened? I don't understand. My husband and I were out of town working, when the police contacted us. Is Phillip going to be alright?"
Dr. Randall sighed answering, "Your son has a very bad concussion, and a few broken ribs at the moment, Mrs. Stetson. He has some swelling at the top of his skull, that we're monitoring very closely for the next 48 hours. That will tell us if we need to do surgery on him to relieve pressure that may build."
Amanda sighed and nodded commenting, "I-I see. Oh, um, Suzanne Morrison's parents are on their way. I just spoke to her mother."
Dr. Randall nodded, stating, "Fine," as he went to check Phillip's chart, and then checking Phillip, added notations to the chart, and laying a comforting hand on Amanda's shoulder commented, "I don't often say this to parents to get their hopes up, but I believe your son is fighting to come back to you. Stay as long as you wish. I'll be going off-duty now, but Dr. Carver will be in shortly, and I've already brought him up to date on your son's and his friend's condition. Take care..."
Amanda nodded as tears pricked at her eyes, replying as she got a tissue, "Th-Thank you, Dr. Randall..."
The doctor left, and Amanda, wiping her eyes, once more took Phillip's hand in hers, and kissing it, answered, "I'm going to fill your grandmother in, Sweetheart, but I'll be right back, huh?"
When Amanda returned to the waiting room, she found Dotty and Jamie on the waiting room couch asleep, and going to them, tapped her mother to wake her, and said quietly, "Mother..."
Dotty stirred and seeing Amanda asked anxiously, getting up, "How is he? How's Phillip?"
Amanda swallowed and commented, "The next 48 hours are critical. He has a concussion, and some broken ribs, but the doctor's hoping the swelling in his head goes down soon, because if it doesn't, they'll have to do surgery."
Dotty hugged Amanda tightly answering, "Oh, Precious! I'm so sorry! What can Jamie and I do, hmm?"
Amanda kissed her mother remarking with a gesture, "You and my other baby here are going to a hotel to get some rest-"
Jamie stirred and hearing the word "baby", murmured, "I'm not a baby, Mom! Why are you calling me that?"
Amanda smiled and going to him, kissed his cheek replying, "Because as old as you and Phillip are now Sweetie, you'll always be my babies, and I, as your mom, have a right to think of you that way, alright? Now, give me a hug, and please do what I ask, hmm? I love you."
Dotty remarked, as Amanda was hugging Jamie, "Alright, Sweetheart, but what about Lee-"
Lee then appeared answering firmly, "I'm here! And I will stay here, despite what you think of me right now-"
Dotty answered briskly, "Well, for heaven's sake, what am I to think, when as soon as you bring Jamie and I here, you take off to find out about your car? What about your son?"
Lee said in raised tones with gestures, "I don't know, because he can't tell me anything yet about what happened! Meanwhile, I talked to the police, who tell me that the car is totaled, okay?! Unless you can explain why Phillip was driving my car without permission tonight?"
Just then, Cara came quickly over and stated quickly, "Sir! Please keep your voice down! This is a hospital, after all! Do I need to call security?!"
Amanda put up her hand as she went to Lee's side, and putting it on his chest answered, "N-No, that won't be necessary, Cara. He'll calm down."
Then looking at Lee sternly, Amanda asked, "You will, won't you?"
Lee sighed, and then clearing his throat, responded to Cara, "I'll be the soul of civility, okay?"
Cara answered firmly, "Okay, but one more outburst, and out you go..."
As she stalked away, Amanda turned on Lee asking in a hushed tone, "Just what is your problem?"
Lee scoffed at her commenting in kind, "Uh, I believe I just explained it! Now, is there anything I can do here?"
Amanda stated tiredly, "Yes, if you don't mind. Please take Mother and Jamie to the hotel nearby so they can get some rest, and get 2 rooms, please, and then you stay with them! I will stay here with Phillip, because I believe you and I need some space right now, don't you?"
Lee stared at her blankly, and then shook his head commenting, "Well, you've made your position perfectly clear that I'm not needed here after all!"
Giving her a mock salute, he gestured stating in a low voice, "Okay, Troops. Let's head out!"
As the three family members left, Amanda went back to Phillip's room, and grabbing a pillow and blanket from the closet, settled down in the chair near the bed, stating softly, "I'm here, Sweetheart, and I'm staying here tonight...You just rest and get stronger, huh? I love you..."
As Amanda closed her eyes to try and sleep, she wondered if her mother was right about Lee's initial reaction to the accident. Oh, she knew Lee loved the boys without question, but there was something off in his attitude tonight...Just what was wrong?
Oh, well, she thought, as she drifted off to sleep, she'd worry about it tomorrow, because nothing was more important than the boy lying in the bed beside her chair in serious condition...
TBC
