Part 34 (1/2)
”I'm done here, your vitals are good.” The EMT put the thermometer and cuff back in its basket, then stowed the dressing kit and flashed Jill a thumbs-up.
”Thanks,” Jill said, as the EMT climbed up to the pa.s.senger's seat, and her phone call connected.
”Pembey Family, may I help you?” It was Donna, and Jill warmed to the friendly voice.
”Hi, it's Jill, and I'm calling because I was just in a car accident, in New Jersey. Is Padma still there with Rahul?”
”Oh no! Are you okay, honey? We tried to reach you.”
”I'm fine, but I'm going to the Shood Memorial ER, in Parkertowne. Is Padma still there, with Rahul? Can I talk to her?”
Donna hesitated. ”She left, but don't think about work now. Take care of yourself.”
”No.” Jill felt awful. ”What time did she go?”
”You missed them by five minutes, but, well, Padma asked for Rahul's file, and I had to release it. She's leaving us. She said her family wasn't very happy after we lost the baby's bloodwork. But, Jill, but don't think about that now. Just get better.”
”Oh no.” Jill felt like kicking herself. She hated losing Padma and the boys, and she wouldn't rest until she checked Rahul's results. ”Did Rahul's bloodwork come in? I need to see it.”
”Yes, the hospital emailed it to us. I printed it out and put it in the file.”
”Would you forward me the email?”
”Sure, right away.”
”Thanks. I'll call Padma when I get the results. Can you email me her cell number, too?”
”No problem.”
”See you tomorrow.”
”Jill, you can't come in after a car accident. I'll start calling your patients.”
”No, don't, please. It's nothing. I'll be in.”
Donna lowered her voice. ”Okay, but just a heads-up, Sheryl wants to talk to you when you get in. I think it's about Padma leaving.”
Jill figured as much. ”I'm so looking forward to that conversation.”
Donna laughed. ”Take care, Jill.”
”You, too. Bye.” Jill hung up, navigated to email on her BlackBerry, and scanned the senders, who were all patients. Donna's forwarded email about Rahul's bloodwork wasn't there yet. She felt a pang, thinking she wouldn't see Padma or the boys again.
But she wasn't worried about Padma.
She was worried about Rahul.
Chapter Fifty-six.
Jill waited for the police in the examining room and eyed her reflection in a wall mirror. There was a new gauze bandage taped to her forehead, and tiny red cuts on her cheeks glistened under Neosporin. Another bandage covered her left palm, wrapped around the back of her hand. She smoothed her hair back into its ponytail and felt almost normal, except for the dried blood spattering her sweater.
Jill checked her BlackBerry for the third time, and the email with Rahul's results had finally come in, so she pressed OPEN ATTACHMENT. The attachment downloaded, but when she opened it, the numbers were too small to read. She pressed the b.u.t.ton to magnify them, but it was still impossible to see.
”Dr. Farrow, here we go.” The nurse slipped past the privacy curtain, returning with an Advil packet and a paper cup of water in hand. She looked young, with an easy smile and a long brown braid. ”Your discharge papers will take a bit, though. We just got super busy. You slipped in right in time.”
”Thanks.” Jill took the Advil and cup, swallowed the pill, and tossed the cup. ”Can I ask you a big favor? I need to get some bloodwork results printed out. May I email them to you and you print them out for me? It's important.”
”Sure thing. Want my email?”
”Thanks. Go ahead, tell me.” Jill typed in the email address while the nurse told it to her, then she forwarded Donna's email. ”Thanks again, so much. Also, how's the other driver, with the head injury?”
”I probably shouldn't say. You know, it's confidential under HIPA.”
”Please, just give me the headline. I want to prepare his friend, and she'll be here any minute. She's my stepdaughter.”
”Oh.” The nurse blinked. ”Well, I can tell you that he's in the OR, and they called in the best docs.”
”When will the police come for me, do you know? The cop at the scene said to expect them.”
”I heard they're on the way, and I'll bring them in when they get here. I guess I can open this now.” The nurse swept the privacy curtain to the side, revealing a modern ER unit ringed with examining rooms around an octagonal station. Doctors, physician's a.s.sistants, nurses, and orderlies scurried this way and that, bearing meds and paperwork. Jill used to dream about working in a place like this but dedicated to children's emergencies.
”Don't mind me, I'm having ER envy.”
The nurse smiled. ”I'll be back with the printout and your discharge papers.”
”Can I make a call?” Jill gestured at the NO CELL PHONES sign. ”I have to arrange for my daughter to be picked up.”
”Okay, but you didn't hear it from me.” The nurse winked, then left the room.
Jill sat down, and the movement made her realize how much her neck and back ached. Megan would be in school, then practice, so she texted Katie. Can u pick up Megan at the pool at 5:45 and take her to your house? Fill u in later. It only took a second for Katie to answer: OK. Love you. Making funfetti cupcakes. Shoot me now.
Jill smiled, then thought of Sam, feeling a sudden urge to talk to him, whether it was mutual or not. She pressed S and waited for the call to connect, eyeing the bustling ER. ”Honey?” she said, when she heard a clicking sound.
”Hi, how are you?” Sam asked coolly, and Jill felt her throat thicken. She hadn't realized how upset she was until she heard his voice. She almost felt like crying, the stress and the fear hitting her all at once, but she kept it together.
”I'm okay, but something bad just happened. I was run off the road by two cars. One got away, but the other was driven by Brian, Victoria's friend.”
”What? Where are you?”
”An ER in New Jersey. The cops are on the way.”
”How are you?” Sam sounded like himself again, full of concern. ”My G.o.d, honey!”