After cleaning up, she decided to clean herself up and get a grip. She went to the bathroom and ran the water, splashing it on her face to cool it and wash away the tears. After drying, she used some eye drops to clear the redness and in no time, looked like her old self. She didn’t feel like her old self though. She felt older.
‘Old.’ She thought. “Now there’s a word you don’t use very often.” She said to the image in the mirror. She looked her sixty-going-on-forty body over and with the exception of touching up her mascara, she wasn’t going to do anything more. She was comfortable with her natural looks and with her health and vitality, she could, no, would find a man closer to her age to satisfy her both in and out of bed. Just then, she heard the radio blip. She went to the kitchen and listened.
Jean. This is Alexandra. Are you there?
Jean grabbed the radio in a huff. She pressed the transmit button. “I’m here Alexandra.” She said pleasantly.
Ben is injured. I’m taking him to the hospital now. Jean nearly dropped the radio from the shock of the news that assaulted her ears. She could hear the wind coming over the radio when Alexandra keyed up.
‘Dear God! Let him be okay!’ she thought. “What happened?!” Jean said with a waver in her voice.
He stepped in a hole and twisted his knee very badly. He has passed out since we got in the car.
Jean’s breathing was quickening as panic rose in her gut. “I’ll run to the house and get my other car and meet you there. It’s about a mile away so I will be a little bit.”
“I will see you there.”
“Alexandra.”
“Yes Jean.”
“Please be careful.” Jean said.
“Do not worry Jean. I will take care of him.”
Alexandra’s last words cut through her like a sword. She raced about the house grabbing this and that. She grabbed the shotgun from the rack and took off at a fast jog to her house straight up the old hiking trail. It would be a nearly straight line to her house but would be the longest mile she would ever remember.
Alexandra was quite impressed with the old Baja racer’s agility and quickness. It seemed odd not to hear the roar of an engine. It really was that fast. After turning up onto the road from the gravel ramp she’d spotted, she gunned it and the rear tires broke loose. It was in two-wheel drive mode and the tires squalled in the low hollow tone that many high-flotation type tires made.
Backing off the throttle, she expertly turned into the skid and straightened out the vehicle and applied power. The tires gripped well enough and took off in a straight line this time. Stable now, Alexandra pressed the throttle pedal further down and the vehicle increased speed astonishingly quick. The wind whipping by and the whine of the electric motor was exhilarating. She hazarded a glance at Benjamin, whom was still out cold. Alexandra raced toward the hospital reaching speeds of nearly 80 miles per hour in places on the curving road. In less than 10 minutes, she pulled into the emergency lane at the hospital and was inside in a flash to get Benjamin the help he needed.
In less than a minute, two big orderlies were at the side of the old racer working to get Benjamin out of the racer without injuring him further. Once extricated and on a gurney they rushed him into triage for an initial evaluation while Alexandra went to the check-in desk. She was trembling now and couldn’t hold the pen steady enough to fill in the forms. In anger, she scolded herself in vain that she wouldn’t let him down. Then the tears came and she started sobbing. Susan, the check-in receptionist saw Alexandra break down and called Renee to come help her.
A couple of minutes later, Renee was sitting at Alexandra’s right holding her trembling hand. “Hello.” Renee said softly. Alexandra didn’t respond. “My name is Renee. I’m a counselor here. What’s your name sweetheart?” Renee asked. Alexandra gave her name through gasping sobs. Renee patted the hand she held.
Take your time honey. She said. Her southern voice was soothing and calm. Another minute passed before Alexandra could get control enough to speak coherently and gave her name again.
My name is Alexandra Ivonivan Petrovicha. She finally managed. “I do not know what is wrong with me. I spent two years in an infirmary during the Kosovo war and I never felt like this. What is wrong with me?” Alexandra looked into Renee’s eyes pleading for understanding.
“Well Alexandra. It seems you’ve had rough day and may have stirred up memories for you. It is sometimes called Delayed Traumatic Stress Disorder. Can you tell me about it or do you need another minute sweetheart?’ Renee asked still stroking the back of Alexandra’s hand. This seemed to calm her. Another minute later Alexandra was able to tell Renee what happened to Benjamin with less difficulty as Renee held her hand. Renee was a little puzzled at Alexandra’s reactions between Kosovo and Ben.
As Alexandra finished telling her story, Jean came rushing in and headed straight for the check-in desk. The woman looked up in surprise.
“Jean!” she exclaimed then felt embarrassed for calling out so loud and covered her mouth in embarrassment and looked around the room to see if anyone was watching her. Alexandra looked up and saw Jean converse with Susan at the desk. Renee saw her look over to Jean.
“Do you know Jean?” Renee asked. Alexandra nodded and sniffled. “That’s a good R.N. right there Alexandra.”
“I know. I brought her nephew here.” Alexandra said in a monotone. Renee looked at Jean then back at Alexandra a glimmer of understanding registered then.
“Jean.” Renee called. Jean turned and looked around. Renee raised her hand and Jean saw. She also saw Alexandra, red-eyed and tear-streaked and began to move toward them. Jean’s face paled. Alexandra held her arms out to her and stood.
“I’m sorry for him getting injured so badly.” Alexandra sobbed. Jean looked over to Renee as she hugged Alexandra.
“He’s been taken into the triage unit. He’ll most likely be in X-Ray by now. I’ll be right back.” Renee said and headed over to the front desk.
“Is Ben that badly hurt?” Jean asked worried. Alexandra nodded.
“He twisted his leg and his knee gave out. It looked really bad. It was bent at a very bad angle Jean. We were able to get it straightened out some and make it back to the car after I made a splint. He passed out while I strapped him in. He woke up and told me to take an old driveway and turn left at the road. He passed out again after that.” Alexandra had managed to sum up his current condition and Jean relaxed a little. He wasn’t bleeding to death as far as she knew based on Alexandra’s report.
“Don’t worry. Ben will be okay. I’m sure of it.” Jean said patting Alexandra’s back and wondering why she would be so distraught over this. “You said he stepped in hole in the creek?”
Alexandra nodded. “Yes. When he yelled out, I looked up and saw him fall back. I tried to get out of those restraints as fast as I could. His face was above water but not by much. It was very wide and shallow there.” She said referring to the creek’s width and depth. Jean understood where they had been now. She knew Ben wanted to follow the power line up the service road to see where it went. She silently cursed him for such foolery.
“You did the right thing Alexandra.” Jean reassured her. Renee stepped up to the two women.
“Susan says Benjamin in is X-Ray 2. Here’s your badge Jean.” Renee handed Jean her old ID badge. “Susan reactivated it.” She said the turned to Alexandra. “Alexandra, here’s your visitor badge.” Renee handed a badge to Alexandra and turned her attention back to Jean. “Keep her with you while you’re back there. If I’m any judge, she’ll need all the support she can get right now. Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. And thanks Renee.” Jean said and gave a small smile and helped Alexandra toward the doors. She also wondered why Renee would be so bold in making the statement she made. Alexandra was wiping the tears from her face with the tissues Renee gave her, trying to make herself presentable. Since she wore little or no makeup, there was only a little mascara on the tissues.
The two women made their way to X-Ray 2 and waited for the IN USE”” light to go out indicating the room was safe to enter. Just as Jean reached for the door, it opened and a big orderly was wheeling Ben out on a gurney. Ben was mumbling. The orderly recognized Jean.”
Hi Mizz Jean! James said with a huge grin on his face. “Nice to see you again.”
Hello James. Good to see you too. Jean replied. She saw Alexandra staring at Ben, holding his right hand. “Alexandra here will accompany Ben for now. Please make her as comfortable as you can.” She said to James.
I will. You can count on it. He said. “Come this way Mizz Alexandra. Watch your toes honey. Wouldn’t want them to get run over.” Alexandra nodded but didn’t look up.
Jean? a deep tone voice came from inside the room. The voice startled Jean. Her stomach went to all butterflies and she swallowed and turned to look at the man she had ended an affair with not six months earlier. ‘Or have I?’ she asked herself.
Hello Daniel. Jean said in a distracted tone as she watched Ben wheeled down the hall and Alexandra following.. She wasn’t ready to face Daniel. Not now. She wanted to run away and hide.
So what brings you back here today? Daniel inquired with a pleasant smile.
Jean looked up into his eyes with a resolve that she would resist him, again. It wasn’t any easier this time. “My nephew.” She said.
Benjamin? he looked surprised. “That’s little Ben from the pictures you showed me?” Jean nodded and a tear escaped. Then another. She started to turn and go after Alexandra and the orderly when Daniel gently took her in his arms and gave her a long, warm, gentle hug. Her resolve dissolved like a sandcastle with the incoming tide. She broke down and buried her face in his chest, put her arms around him and let loose.
There, there Jean. C’mon inside my office and we’ll talk about it. He didn’t make a move as she didn’t let go of him. They just stood there half in, half out of X-Ray 2’s doorway. Another nurse came up to Daniel.
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