Page 50 of Severed Rivalry
“Née?”
“Mom, RoRo is on the floor. She’s shaking. What do I do?”
“Add a call. Dial 911 and merge me in.”
“But—”
“Now, Renée. Do it.”
Dead air greets me before I hear my panicked daughter steadying her voice. “My name is Renée, and my grandmother is on the floor shaking. It looks like she’s having a seizure. I need an ambulance.”
“What’s your address, Renée?”
She gives it and the operator continues. “Don’t hang up with me. Can you put me on speakerphone?”
“I’m on headphones.”
“Okay, good. Can you get behind your grandma and roll her to one side?”
“I’ll try.”
“Good. What’s her name?”
“Rosie. But I call her RoRo.” My daughter sounds strong and more firmly in control with each sentence.
“Right, so let’s get RoRo on her side.”
“Okay.”
I’m skidding on two wheels around a corner when the cop pulls up behind with his reds and blues flashing. He can ticket me in my driveway.
“She’s moaning. And there’s spit coming out of her mouth.”
“That’s normal. It’s nothing you’re causing. Is she on her side?”
“Yes. But she’s shaking so hard.” Her voice goes small and shaky when she says, “Please help.”
The sound of ambulance sirens is a chorus with those of the police behind me.
“Almost home, Née. I’m on Alkire.”
“Okay, Mom. Hurry.”
“Who’s on the line?”
“This is Renée’s mom. We were on the phone when she dialed you. I’m two blocks away. I’m in a silver SUV trying to get to my daughter who’s alone with my mom. You mind telling the policeman behind me there’s a medical emergency so there’s no incident? He can ticket me after we know RoRo’s okay.”
“Renée, tell me what you see,” she continues, ignoring my request.
“She’s not shaking as much, but she doesn’t seem to be breathing right either. I don’t know.” Her voice breaks on the last word, right along with my heart.
“You can do this,” the operator says to my daughter. “The ambulance is only a mile away.”
I run the stop sign and tear to a stop, throwing the car in park in my driveway as the cop does the same, drawing his gun.
“Freeze.”
“Follow me,” I yell, leaving the kitchen door open, allowing the cool night air to rush around my flushed skin.
