shift. It didn’t occur to me until later that there was a protocol for these things and it didn’t involve phoning the chief of police on his cell, but Randy was lovely and told me not to worry.
Mom had been busy while I helped Rosemary through the admittance paperwork and we weren’t at the hospital for long before Mary Elizabeth and Dad arrived. Dad had Alex with him. There was much hugging and hand holding until the cardiologist came out an eternity later to tell us that Bob had indeed had a heart attack, but the damage was minimal and that he was stable and doing fine. Dr. Mills hoped that he would be released on Sunday— a day before the Sweethearts Ball. Looking at our horde which included Blue, the doctor added that no one was to disturb Bob at that moment but he could have short visits from immediate family that afternoon starting at three.
Rosemary and Alex were relieved at the news, but Rosemary kept saying in her helpless voice that she didn’t know what to do and Alex didn’t know how to comfort her. Finally I took her hands and said calmly: “We will do whatever needs doing. You are not alone. We are all here to see that everything gets done and gets done right. For starters, I think we could all use something warm to eat and drink. We’ve had a shock and it is cold today.”
Since Rosemary was feeling so flattened and Mom has always believed in the efficacy of warm drinks, my plan prevailed and we all trooped down to the cafeteria. I let a shaken Alex sit with his mother and Mary Elizabeth. I would comfort and assure him later if he needed it.
Mom and Dad and Mary Elizabeth left the hospital after Mary Elizabeth looked in on her brother. Blue went with Dad who would drop her at home. I tried not to thinik what the cats might be up to.
Aunt Dot, Althea, Mrs. Graves and Mr. Jackman came with contraband pie and coffee which we shared with the nurses. Randy Wallace arrived after work and he was very gentle with Rosemary and her dithering. The chief is good that way and I could see her relaxing a little more with each assurance that all would be well. The stream of visitors also assured her over and over that we would help look after Bob.
Finally it was just Alex, Rosemary and I. Alex excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Rosemary and I alone for the first time that day.
“Your family is wonderful,” Rosemary said suddenly. “They have adopted Alex, haven’t they?”
“Yes. And the thing about my family— well, it’s sort of like being in the mafia. When you’re in, you’re in all the way. Like it or not. Alex has taken it pretty well.”
This made her smile a little. Her gaze was far away though and I wasn’t surprised when she changed the subject.
“After Gwen married I was feeling very low and Bob thought I was suffering from empty nest syndrome. So, he got the cats for me. They were just babies then.”
I nodded encouragingly. The cats weren’t my favorite subject but it was better than listening to her worry about Bob dying and leaving her alone. Alex did not need to hear any more of that kind of talk.
“We hadn’t had them a week when we decided to go out to dinner. It was our anniversary. Usually we would have had a party at the house but Gwen was on her honeymoon and Alex was traveling.” She cleared her throat and I knew something bad was coming. “I made Bob come home early because I had a bad feeling. It turns out I was right. One of the kittens had gotten tangled in the cord of the blinds. Zu Ming had hung herself and she was choking to death.”
I took her hand, sharing her horror.
“It’s why I have tie-back drapes instead of blinds,” I said gently when she needed a moment to gather herself.
“I was afraid to come visit Alex without the cats. Bob didn’t want me to bring them, but I was too scared to leave them. Turns out I should have worried about Bob instead. He’s been so tired lately and…” She gulped.
“I understand,” I said, and
Mom had been busy while I helped Rosemary through the admittance paperwork and we weren’t at the hospital for long before Mary Elizabeth and Dad arrived. Dad had Alex with him. There was much hugging and hand holding until the cardiologist came out an eternity later to tell us that Bob had indeed had a heart attack, but the damage was minimal and that he was stable and doing fine. Dr. Mills hoped that he would be released on Sunday— a day before the Sweethearts Ball. Looking at our horde which included Blue, the doctor added that no one was to disturb Bob at that moment but he could have short visits from immediate family that afternoon starting at three.
Rosemary and Alex were relieved at the news, but Rosemary kept saying in her helpless voice that she didn’t know what to do and Alex didn’t know how to comfort her. Finally I took her hands and said calmly: “We will do whatever needs doing. You are not alone. We are all here to see that everything gets done and gets done right. For starters, I think we could all use something warm to eat and drink. We’ve had a shock and it is cold today.”
Since Rosemary was feeling so flattened and Mom has always believed in the efficacy of warm drinks, my plan prevailed and we all trooped down to the cafeteria. I let a shaken Alex sit with his mother and Mary Elizabeth. I would comfort and assure him later if he needed it.
Mom and Dad and Mary Elizabeth left the hospital after Mary Elizabeth looked in on her brother. Blue went with Dad who would drop her at home. I tried not to thinik what the cats might be up to.
Aunt Dot, Althea, Mrs. Graves and Mr. Jackman came with contraband pie and coffee which we shared with the nurses. Randy Wallace arrived after work and he was very gentle with Rosemary and her dithering. The chief is good that way and I could see her relaxing a little more with each assurance that all would be well. The stream of visitors also assured her over and over that we would help look after Bob.
Finally it was just Alex, Rosemary and I. Alex excused himself to go to the bathroom, leaving Rosemary and I alone for the first time that day.
“Your family is wonderful,” Rosemary said suddenly. “They have adopted Alex, haven’t they?”
“Yes. And the thing about my family— well, it’s sort of like being in the mafia. When you’re in, you’re in all the way. Like it or not. Alex has taken it pretty well.”
This made her smile a little. Her gaze was far away though and I wasn’t surprised when she changed the subject.
“After Gwen married I was feeling very low and Bob thought I was suffering from empty nest syndrome. So, he got the cats for me. They were just babies then.”
I nodded encouragingly. The cats weren’t my favorite subject but it was better than listening to her worry about Bob dying and leaving her alone. Alex did not need to hear any more of that kind of talk.
“We hadn’t had them a week when we decided to go out to dinner. It was our anniversary. Usually we would have had a party at the house but Gwen was on her honeymoon and Alex was traveling.” She cleared her throat and I knew something bad was coming. “I made Bob come home early because I had a bad feeling. It turns out I was right. One of the kittens had gotten tangled in the cord of the blinds. Zu Ming had hung herself and she was choking to death.”
I took her hand, sharing her horror.
“It’s why I have tie-back drapes instead of blinds,” I said gently when she needed a moment to gather herself.
“I was afraid to come visit Alex without the cats. Bob didn’t want me to bring them, but I was too scared to leave them. Turns out I should have worried about Bob instead. He’s been so tired lately and…” She gulped.
“I understand,” I said, and
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