Page 66 of More than a Memory
The receptionist looked at her computer and confirmed that he had arrived.
“Are you a family member?”
“No, but we are very good friends,” Annie said.
“I’m sorry, but it’s hospital policy that we can’t release any information to anyone other than family or spouses.”
Just then, Gabe appeared, and he went straight over to Darcy and hugged her. Then, noticing Annie, he felt like a jolt of electricity went through his entire body.
“Annie!” Gabe said in surprise.
“Hello, Gabe. I am so sorry about Sam,” Annie said, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Thank you for that. Wow, it never occurred to me that I might run into you here, at a time like this,” he said, his gaze hungry and raw.
Annie could see the pain etched in his chiseled features, and she fought the urge to wrap her arms around him for a hug. She felt a deep stirring in her womanhood, despite the circumstances, as if her body was functioning on a completely different plane.
For what felt like minutes but was in fact only seconds, they stared at each other in an unspoken communion. Gabe broke the spell first.
“We’re waiting to hear. They’re examining him now. They’re going to do an MRI, a CT scan, and some X-rays. We should hear something soon.”
“Did you get to see him before they took him back?” Darcy asked.
“No, I didn’t, but Casey did for a brief moment. Needless to say, she’s not faring well. This is how their parents were killed, in a car crash. They never regained consciousness. This is bringing it all up for her again. Something you know a little bit about,” he said quietly.
“Yes.” Darcy felt ashamed that she hadn’t thought about Casey and her past trauma. You wouldn’t get out of something that devastating and shocking, without some form of PTSD. She asked, “How is she holding up?”
“Not too good,” Gabe shared. “Charlie is with her, Clare is staying with Allie and Zane for now. The hardest part is the waiting,” he said.
“Oh, Gabe, thank you for calling me. I would have understood if you had decided to let me find out on my own. I am so grateful,” Darcy said.
“Sam would have wanted it,” he said in explanation.
“Well, I’m going to get back to Casey. I’ll let you know the minute we get any information on his condition. He’s on the fourth floor, where they’re doing the testing. There are several waiting rooms to the right when you get off the elevators,” he said.
“Annie,” he said, nodding his goodbye, as he walked away.
The four of them found a small corner niche in the first waiting room they came to after exiting the elevators. Darcy was crawling out of her skin with anxiety. Emma had found a deck of cards in her bag and pulled them out to play rummy until they heard from Gabe. About an hour into their wait, Gabe came and got Darcy.
“Darcy, come with me. The doctor is going to talk with us now,” he said.
“Are you sure?” she asked uncertainly.
“Yes, I’m sure. Sam would want you there,” he responded.
He glanced at Annie with an inscrutable expression before once again directing his attention back to Darcy.
She got up and followed him out, looking terrified as she left her sisters behind. Gabe slung his arm around Darcy’s shoulder in a brotherly way and hugged her briefly, saying, “Listen, pay no mind to Casey if she says anything unkind. Just understand that she’s in her own personal hell, too.”
“I understand. Anything she could say would not be as hurtful as what I am saying to myself. I deserve anything she can dish out,” she said, her raw pain apparent.
“No, you don’t Darcy, you’re suffering as well.”
They arrived at the room reserved for family, and Gabe urged the reluctant Darcy into the room. She took one look at Casey’s face and her heart broke all over again. She could have been looking at herself in the mirror of pain, seeing what shock and unbearable loss looked like.
“Casey, oh my God, Casey!” and they held each other and wept.
The doctor entered the room, sitting down before them like they were about to have a friendly chat.