Chapter 2 - The Emergency Nobody Wanted
“She's breathing,” Nora said. “Stay with me, Mrs. Caldwell.”
Madison stood over them with her phone against her ear. “Dr. Bell can be here in twenty minutes.”
“An ambulance can be here sooner,” Nora replied. “Please tell your doctor the paramedics are coming.”
“Who made you a doctor?”
“Nobody. That's why I called people who are trained.”
Margaret gave dispatch the address. Nora noted the time and the symptoms, keeping Elaine still while they waited. She remembered Ruth teaching her not to pretend certainty when somebody needed real help.
Richard Caldwell arrived in shirtsleeves from the back office just as the paramedics rolled their equipment inside.
“Elaine?” He knelt. “Honey, look at me.”
“Sir,” one paramedic said, “we need room to work.”
Richard stepped aside immediately. Madison did not.
“She was fine at breakfast,” Madison insisted.
“Was she speaking normally?” the paramedic asked.
Madison opened her mouth, then closed it. Nora answered from the landing: “When I saw her, her speech was slurred. I can give you the exact time.”
Richard watched Nora as though he'd finally noticed she existed.
At the doors, Elaine briefly opened her eyes. She caught Richard's hand. “Blue,” she managed.
He leaned down. “What?”
But the stretcher was already moving.
By noon, Madison had told three people Nora had frightened her mother into a medical emergency. The staffing agency called to ask whether Nora had assaulted a member of the family.
“I prevented an assault,” Nora said. “And I called an ambulance.”
“That's not the complaint,” the recruiter answered. “Your employer says you're disruptive.”
Nora looked at the suitcases still unpacked beside her narrow staff-room bed.
That evening Richard returned from the hospital. Doctors believed Elaine had suffered a transient neurological episode; further tests were underway. Acting quickly had mattered.
“I owe you an apology,” he told Nora.
She waited.
“Madison should never have raised her hand.”
“Then please tell her that.”
“I will.” He paused. “Did Elaine say anything before they took her?”
Nora repeated the warning about Graham and the blue folder.
May you like
Richard's expression changed. He turned toward his study.
The study door stood open. Inside, the wall safe was empty.
