Part 29 (1/2)
”No one you know. Now do you want that hundred bucks or not?”
”Sure, sure. I got it. But I gotta say, it don't look like marriage is agreeing with you.”
”Yeah, tell me something I don't know.” Gina pulled her phone out of her pocket and called Kate.
”h.e.l.lo?”
”Kate, it's Gina. Grandpa Joe had a heart attack. They're taking him to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. I don't know where Ben is, he forgot his phone, but I'm on my way there now. Could you text me a list of whatever meds Gramps is on in case he's not conscious? I'll need to tell the doctors in the ER.”
There was silence on the phone. ”Kate? Are you there?”
”Yes. I'm here.” Kate's voice shook. ”Oh my G.o.d. Okay, I'll text you a list, and get a flight out.”
”Good, send me his meds, his doctor's numbers, whatever you think I'll need. I should be there in about twenty minutes. I'll keep trying Ben.”
Gina heard a sob, and then Kate cleared her throat. ”Gina, tell him... tell him I'll kill him if he goes off and dies on me.”
”He's not going to die. This is Joe we're talking about, remember? Just hurry up and send me that information, and get out here so you can threaten him in person. Call me when you land and I'll send my buddy Carlos over to bring you to the hospital. He'll take your things back to my house.”
Silence again. ”Kate, take a deep breath.”
”Okay, I'm fine. Gina, you take care of my boys until I get there.”
Gina brushed the tears from her eyes. ”I will. I promise. Just get me a list of Gramps' drugs and I'll see you later.”
Gina hung up and held onto the seat in front of her, thanking G.o.d that traffic wasn't too bad. She tried Ben again, only to get his voice mail. ”Ben, it's Gina. I'm on my way to the hospital. I'll see you there. Hurry.” She turned her attention back to Carlos. ”Carlos, if I call you later, would you pick up my Aunt Kate when she arrives?”
”Sure, Gina, you got my number, right?”
”Yeah, I have it. I'll let you know what airport she's flying into and what time to pick her up. Just bring her to the hospital and then take her luggage back to my house. Do you know where I live?”
”Yeah, I take Tina home from work most days.”
”Good, Tina and Sam will be there.”
”Sure, whatever you need.”
Her mind spun as the miles flew by. When Carlos pulled up in front of the emergency entrance, she tossed money at him, ran for the doors, and stopped at the desk. ”I'm Gina Walsh. My grandfather, Joe Walsh, was just brought in.”
The woman behind the desk gave her a clipboard with a stack of forms. ”You'll have to fill these out.”
”Sure, right after I see my grandfather.”
The woman stood. ”Miss, you'll see him just as soon as you fill out the paperwork.”
Gina picked up the clipboard and slammed it back on the counter. ”I don't think so. I need to see my grandfather now.”
Mike Flynn stepped through the ER doors and Gina ran for him. ”Where's Grandpa Joe? Is he okay? This woman won't let me see him.”
Mike put his arm around her. ”He's holding his own. I'll bring you back to see him. He's been asking for you.” Mike turned and smiled at the nurse. ”It's okay, Becky, Gina can come on back. I'll make sure the paperwork gets filled out.” He picked up the clipboard and walked Gina into the emergency room.
She held up her phone. ”Kate sent me a text of all his meds and doctor's numbers. Here.” She handed it to Mike and ran to Joe's side as soon as she saw him. Lying there in the hospital bed, he looked so much smaller, not to mention older. He had an IV in his arm, oxygen tubes in his nose, and wires connecting his chest to monitors. ”Oh my G.o.d, Joe.”
Joe waved his bony hand at her. ”Calm down, girly. I'm fine.”
Gina brushed away her tears. ”You call this fine?” She tried not to hurt him when she gave him a hug. ”Gramps, you scared the life out of me. Annabelle called, Ben is somewhere but he forgot his phone, she's still trying to find him.”
”He better be grocery shoppin' because I've been eatin' beans for a week.” Gramps looked past her to Mike. ”Look at what I had to do to get my granddaughter to visit me.”
Gina laughed through her tears. ”You could have just called. You didn't have to have a heart attack.”
Mike sat on the orange pleather chair and copied the information from her cell phone onto the hospital paperwork. ”Gina, Joe came in with chest pain. They're doing tests to see what it is. As far as we know right now, it's acute angina. I'm here as a family friend, not a doctor, but the ER docs are first-rate. Joe is being well taken care of.”
She held Joe's hand and turned to Mike. ”Is he going to be okay?”
”I called Dr. Gla.s.s in for a consult. He's the best cardiologist around.”
Joe raised his free hand. ”I don't need any tests.”
Gina shushed him. ”You're going to be good and listen to everything the doctors say, do you hear me? Kate is on her way and I'm sure Ben will be here soon.”
”You called Kate? What are you trying to do, kill me? The last thing I need is that woman hanging over my bedside telling me what I should and shouldn't do.”
Mike came around to her side. ”Gina, you need to finish filling out this paperwork before the nurses stage a revolt. Joe's wallet is in the bag with his clothes beneath the bed. I'm sure all his insurance information is in there. Let's take it out to the waiting room. I'll tell them to keep us informed. Right now, Joe just needs to lie back and rest.”
”I don't want to leave him.”
”You need to let the doctors and nurses do their job. He'll be fine.”
She looked up at Mike who looked way more calm than she felt. ”Okay.” She took a deep breath and tried to stop shaking. ”I'll go then. They'll let me know if anything changes, right?”
Gramps tried to sit up. ”Stop talking about me as if I'm not here.”
Gina pushed him back down. ”Don't give me any trouble, Gramps. I'll be right outside. I'll come back in just as soon as they let me. Okay?”
”Do I have any choice?”
Gina smiled. ”No. Now be good and I'll see you in a little while.” She kissed his cheek. ”I love you, Gramps. Just concentrate on getting better, okay?”
Joe patted her back and Gina realized she meant it. She loved the old fart. Gramps put his free hand around her shoulders and held her close for a moment. ”I love you too.”
She pretended not to notice that he teared up. ”I'll be right outside.” She turned her back to him and brushed the tears off her face with her shaking hands before she gathered the paperwork, her phone, and Gramps' wallet. She shot Gramps a quick smile and returned to the waiting room with Mike.
He led her to a chair. ”I'll get you a cup of coffee while you finish up the paperwork. How do you take it?”
”Strong and black.”