Vicky felt faint, “Oh my god…my baby was hitby an SUV?”
The officer responded “I’m afraid soma’am.”
Shortly after the officer responded theemergency room doors flew open and a doctor in putrid green scrubscame from behind it. He was followed by what appeared to be anurse. Everyone fell silent as they watched his every move. Theydidn’t know if he was the doctor who was attending to Jocelyn andAngel. No one took a breath or made a sound. They looked exhaustedand the doctor had blood all over his scrubs. Vicky’s stomach wasstarting to roil. She thought she might vomit. Her head waspounding.
The doctor followed by the nurse first wentover to the registration desks before being pointed in theirdirection.
He was walking over to them. The walk seemedto take forever although it was just a couple of feet from wherethey all stood. Was it possible to hold your breath while yourheart was beating a hundred times a minute? Vicky couldn’t read thedoctor’s face. The closer he got…nothing. The nurse however, didn’tmake eye contact with anyone. She kept looking down onto thatclipboard. THAT wasn’t a good sign.
“Mr. and Mrs. Baker?” He lifted oneeyebrow and looked at the elderly couple seemingly toverify.
Mr. Baker squeezed his wife’s hand forsupport “We are Mr. and Mrs. Baker. How is our daughter?”
The doctor reached out his hand to shake Mr.Baker’s hand “I’m doctor Rayford.” He then took off his head scarf“Sir, her injuries were very severe. I’m so sorry to have to informyou that we did all we could do for Jocelyn. She succumbed to herinjuries.”
Mrs. Baker screamed the scream as only amother who has lost a child could scream before falling to herknees. “No, no, no...Not my beautiful baby! Not Jocelyn.” Mrs.Baker screamed and cried. Mr. Baker stood stoically as if he hadn’theard that Dr. Rayford had just informed them that Jocelyn wasdead.
Mr. Baker was in shock. His face was drainedof all color and his eyes looked empty as he bent down to help lifthis wife to her feet. “Come on Mildred please get to your feetdarling.”
Once Mrs. Baker was on her feet again butstill sobbing uncontrollably Dr. Rayford signaled to the hospitalchaplain to come over. It was obvious Dr. Rayford had been shakenas well. “Again, we are so sorry for your loss Mr. and Mrs. Baker.If you’d like to spend a few minutes with Jocelyn before thehospital starts to prepare her body please follow nurse Jones.”
“What about Angel! How is she? Where is she?I need to see her now!” Vicky started shouting and crying. Then shestarted running for the doors that she’d just seen Dr. Rayford comethrough moments earlier before Jason caught her.
The nurse frantically called after Vicky “Ms.Martin please you cannot go back there right now. Angel is still insurgery.”
She struggled against him. It took everythingwithin Jason to hold her to him. “No, Jason. I have to be with her!I know she’s wondering where I am? She has to be wondering why Ileft her. She needs to know that mommy is right here! I would neverever leave her!”
Vicky couldn’t breathe. Her heart waspounding so fast. Her head felt like it was going to explode untilfinally everything started to fade to black.
Chapter 8
When Vicky opened her eyes, she was laying ina bed. Not just any bed but a hospital bed. She was in a hospitalroom, an incredibly beautiful room, but it was still a hospitalroom. For a moment, she forgot why she was in the hospital and thenit all came rushing back to her.
“You gave us all a scare.” Mrs. Rutherfordsoftly said as she wiped her forehead with a cool cloth.
Vicky tried to sit up too fast and felt dizzyall over again. “How’s Angel?”
“Here sip this baby...” Jason was on theother side of the bed. He tried to give her some water.
Vicky slapped his hand and the cup away “NO!How is Angel?”
“Vicky please, you’ve got to try to remainsomewhat calm. Your blood pressure is too high. On top of that youare dehydrated. It’s not good for you or….our baby.”
Vicky stilled at those words. As a matter offact both John and Miriam froze too.
He could see the questions in Vicky’s eyes.“I’m pregnant? For sure?”
“While you were out the doctors asked a lotof questions. You know the ‘are you allergic to this or that’, thenthey asked if you were pregnant. I told them we thought you werebut we weren’t sure. They needed to test you before they couldadminister any form of medication. They took the test and it cameback positive. We’re going to be parents…again.” Jason’s eyes wereglassy as he kissed Vicky softly on her forehead then looked at hisown parents. “I didn’t want you guys to find out this way.”
John Rutherford went over to his son with somuch love and pride in his eyes. He knew that right now Jason andVicky needed his strength. No one should ever have to go throughthe possible loss of a child. He took Jason by the shoulders andlooked him in the eyes “You two will be great parents to this childand to Angel. Do you understand me? At some point, we are all goingto walk out of this hospital healthy and together.” He released oneof Jason’s shoulder’s to take Vicky’s hand into his and squeezedthem hoping to transfer some of his strength to her.
Mrs. Rutherford joined her husband. Her eyeswere glassy but no less determined. She broke the chain and heldher son’s hand while holding on to John’s waist. It was a beautifulsight to behold. This was Vicky’s family.
The doctor stood at the doorway not wantingto interrupt the sensitive moment. He had to bring them the news.He cleared his throat “Excuse me. I’m doctor Franks, the surgeonwho has been with Angel Martin
