Page 32 of Left Behind

“Yes, I’ll be here,” Cameron said, and disconnected, then began making calls, beginning with Rusty, his wife, so she’d know why he was delayed coming home, and then he started with Aunt Annie.

After that, word spread across the mountain like wildfire, and by the time the ambulance arrived, the front yard of Ella’s house was filled with cars, and family members were sitting quietly on the porch and around the yard.

Ella had died just as she’d lived.

Alone.

But family was with her now, all the way to the grave.

***

Shirley’s sons and wives were in the ER waiting room when Aaron received Cameron’s text. He sighed, then looked up at his brothers.

“Amalie was right. Aunt Ella is gone, probably sometime early this morning.”

Amalie started to cry. Dani reached for Aaron.

The brothers lowered their heads. This was a hard blow for the family, and Shirley’s injury just made it worse. They’d all just learned she had a hairline crack in her tibia and a severe sprain. The doctor was putting her ankle in a cast, while her sons were making plans as to how to help Sean care for her, when Linette came running into the waiting room.

“Hospital grapevine! I just heard they brought your mother in,” she said, and sat down beside Wiley. “What happened?”

Seeing her at this moment was an emotional boost as he reached for her hand.

“She was out in the woods behind the house, hung her toe on a tree root, and fell. She has a severe sprain and a hairline crack in her tibia. They’re putting on a cast. Scary part was not being able to find her. She’d passed out,” Wiley said.

“Oh, no! That was likely from the pain. I can’t stay and talk because I’m on duty, but after I heard the news, I had to come check on you.” Then she stood and looked around the waiting room where all the family was seated. “I didn’t mean to interrupt,” she said, then gave Wiley one last glance before leaving the area.

“Is this one a keeper?” B.J. asked.

“If she’ll have me,” Wiley muttered. “The votes are still out on that.”

A short while later, a nurse came to tell them the cast was on and Shirley’s doctor wanted to talk to them, so they followed her back to the exam room and were relieved to see their mom sitting up in bed and talking.

The doctor turned as the sons filed into the room.

“Dr. Kline, these are my sons and daughters-in-law. I’m afraid I gave them quite a scare.”

“That’s the understatement of the week,” Sean said.

The doctor’s eyes widened at the sight. “My goodness, Shirley. You have passed on some remarkable genetics to your boys. And I know it comes from the Pope side, because I’ve treated several of them since I’ve been here.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I’m proud of all my family,” she said.

“As you should be. Shirley tells me one of her sons lives with her. Which one would that be?”

“That would be me, and my wife, Amalie,” Sean said.

Kline nodded. “Okay, then you need to know she’s not to put weight on that foot for at least four weeks and then check in with her regular doctor. Get her one of those knee-leg scooters so she can put her knee on the pad and then propel it with her good leg. It will save everybody trying to move her and be safer than crutches. I don’t know where the nearest medical supply is, but it’s likely Bowling Green. And Shirley, I’m saying this in front of your family so you can’t tell them different later. Do not try to cook on one foot. Figure something else out, or let your family feed you for a while. I don’t want you back in here with grease burns or the like, understood?”

Shirley rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever.”

“We hear you loud and clear,” Sean said.

“Okay then. They’ll be bringing your release papers soon, and you can take her home. There will be a prescription for pain meds with the papers. I’d suggest getting that filled before you leave Jubilee. She’ll be needing them for a few days.” Kline touched her shoulder and smiled. “Take care, Shirley, and you’ll be dancing again before you know it.”

As soon as he was gone, Shirley leaned back in the bed.

“I’m so sorry. I still can’t believe this happened,” she said.

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