Chapter 35
In the back of the ambulance the paramedics continued to monitor her vitals while Eddie rode up front. The ride took less than a minute. The hospital was quite literally across the street from Fenway. Eddie was glad to be next to her again but when they got to the desk that would change. While the paramedics where checking her in she whispered to Eddie, "They'll make you stay out here if you're only my boyfriend. The paramedic said to tell them you're my fiancé and they'll let you in. OK?" Eddie nodded and gave her a quick kiss.
"I'll be back as soon as they let me." He gave her another quick kiss and squeezed her hand as they began wheeling her into the treatment room. A receptionist then took Eddie to her cubical
Eddie was more and more lost with each question she asked. Finally he just handed her Janet's purse saying he was sure she could find something in there to answer her questions. She easily found Janet's wallet, insurance card and driver's license.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity she asked him, "and how are you related to Miss Meadows?"
"I'm her fiancé." He answered. Hearing himself say those words gave him an unexpected sense of calm. "When I can I see her?" he asked.
"Right now. Follow me." She said taking him into the back. She stopped at the desk and asked gave the nurse the paper work and introduced Eddie as Miss Meadow's fiancé.
The nurse answered coldly, "She's in 3." And the receptionist took him to a room that was divided by nothing more curtains. They found Janet alone with her eyes closed, hooked up to an EKG machine. She had an IV with something dripping into her arm and something clipped to her finger. She wasn't on oxygen but Eddie was positive that even saying hello would send something into a tail spin.
Janet heard the curtain move and opened her eyes. "Hey, hey handsome. You found me." Turning to the receptionist she asked "he didn't give you too hard of a time did he? Did you find everything you needed?"
"He did fine and yes I have everything I need thank you." And suddenly the curtain and it was just the two of them.
Eddie found a small stool and rolled over to her. He held and kissed her hand and then began rubbing it. "What did they say?" He asked in his bravest voice.
"My heart is fine and my lungs are clear. They took some blood and want to do some sorta echo something on my heart and an ultrasound of my abdomen. I'm just waiting for someone to take me to x-ray."
A tear rolled down Eddie's cheek. Janet wiped it with the back of her hand and then ran her fingers thru his hair looking at him she said. "I will be fine. I told you. I will be fine."
"Miss Meadows?" they heard as the curtain opened. "Ready to go for a ride?"
"Absolutely, can he come too?" She asked.
The nurse knew instantly there was no saying no. "Sure but he'll have to wait outside during the scans."
"Deal." Eddie was able to say.
They seemed to be in radiology forever. There was a TV there and both were able to watch the ball game. They couldn't find Hannah and Sam but they did see a run score before Janet went in for her scans. It took nearly a full inning for her to return. Together they went back to the ER and waited for the doctor.
"Miss Meadows?" asked a very handsome ER doctor. "I'm Dr. Reynolds." Shaking Janet's hand and then Eddie's. "You seemed to have had a gall bladder attack. The ultrasound shows what seems to be a stone about the size of a golf ball in your gallbladder. When you get home you should see a surgeon immediately and have it removed within the month. In the mean time we will give you a list of food to avoid and some antacids to take with you. Your sandwich at the ball field probably set it off. Basically you will need to stay away from greasy foods, spicy foods, seltzers, things like that."
"That's it?" Eddie asked. "It's not her heart?"
"No, we did find a thickening around a valve in your heart" the Dr. said to Janet. "But nothing that will cause you problems. You should probably see someone about that but it isn't urgent."
Color returned to Eddie's face for the first time since she had hit him at the park.
"The nurse will come in and unhook you. She will give you a discharge summery and a brief report to take home. It was a pleasure meeting you. I'm sorry you missed the game. From the noise in the reception area it must have been a good one."
"Thank you." Janet said. Eddie got up and shook his hand. If she hadn't known better she would have thought Eddie was going to hug him. Instead he hugged Janet, setting off the monitors. Both sat back and giggled.