Page 62 of Chosen Road

She was dressed, but I didn’t know if the clothes she had on were from this morning or last night. How long had she been lying there? My, God.

“Yiayia? Yiayia, can you hear me?”

I was afraid to move her, and the 911 operator advised me not to. She stayed on the line with me while I sat beside Yiayia, waiting for the ambulance.

“Okay. They are about to pull into your driveway.”

“Okay.” I heard the sirens and realized my breathing was short and panicked. I needed to calm down.

“Sir, please go open the front door for them.”

I ran to the front door in time to see them pull in. I waved at them to come in and headed back to Yiayia. “Thank you, they’re here. I need to make some calls. Thank you for staying with me while I waited.”

Without waiting for a reply, I hung up.

Amber or Vander? Amber or Vander? I dialed.

“Amber, it’s Gus.”

“Gus? Why are you calling so early? Are you okay?” She sounded panicked already.

“Listen, honey. I came by this morning to check on Yiayia. It looks like she may have fallen-”

“What?” she screeched into the phone.

“Amber!” I used my tone that demanded her immediate attention. “Honey, get Alex up and prepare a bag for the hospital waiting room. The paramedics are here. I need to go talk to them. I’ll pick you and Alex up as soon as Yiayia is in the ambulance.”

“Oh, no. No, Gus…” she whimpered.

“Get ready, beautiful. I’ll be there shortly. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”

“Sir? We need to ask you a couple of questions.”

I hung up on Amber and turned to the paramedic. “Yes, I’ll tell you what I know.”

The paramedics dealt with her gently and efficiently while they asked me their questions. As they transferred her onto the stretcher, she came to with a whimper.

“Ma’am? I’m a paramedic and I’m here to help you. Can you tell me your name?”

I breathed a sigh of relief when she spoke to them. She caught sight of me. “No breakfast this morning, agori mou,” she murmured softly.

“You’re going to owe me, Yiayia,” I joked shakily.

“Don’t worry, agori mou. Yiayia is very strong,” she assured me.

“Sir, are you riding in the ambulance?”

“No, I’m going to pick up my wife and I’ll meet my grandmother at the hospital.” I tucked her purse with her health card inside beside her and stepped back as they loaded her into the back of the ambulance.

I dialed Vander as I got into my car.

Chapter 20: Yiayia

Amber

Gus held my hand on the seat between us all the way to the hospital. Alex sat, still and silent, in the backseat. Thank God, Gus picked us up. My entire body had not stopped trembling since his phone call.

He squeezed my hand and murmured, “Easy, beautiful. She was talking when she left. We’re almost there.”

---