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Well Read, Then Dead(105)

By: Terrie Farley Moran


            I gave him as stern a look as I could muster given that I had more aches and pains than I had body parts. “I called you before I went to Delia’s and again when I was sitting outside in my car. You didn’t pick up.”

            Cady’s face reddened and Ryan murmured, “Trouble in paradise.”

            I turned on Ryan and, without thinking, uttered the one sentence guaranteed to infuriate all the men in the room.

            “He made me promise not to do any investigating on my own, but Bridgy and Ophie went to the mainland before I read the note.”

            Cady asked, “What note?” just as Frank Anthony dumped his armful of cuddly toys on my bed all over my feet and thundered, “Investigating? What were you investigating?”

            Bridgy and Ophie were each shouting some version of “you should have waited for us.”

            Amidst all this pandemonium, the doctor walked into the room, which quieted everyone instantly.

            He stepped in front of the deputies as if separating them from the others.

            “Okay, I know who two you are, but who are the rest of these people?”

            Ophie, never one to be ignored, pushed her way in between Frank and the doctor.

            “I’m Sassy’s mama. I came as soon as I heard, and brought her darlin’ siblings.”

            Ryan actually smacked his forehead, which I would have done if I thought my head could stand the blow. Instead I rolled my eyes.

            The doctor looked directly at Ophie and asked, “Did you have a nice flight?”

            “Flight?” Ophie looked around, wondering who he was talking to.

            He didn’t waver. “Flight. According to Ms. Cabot’s chart, you live in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, New York.”

            Shameless, Ophie amped up a thousand-watt smile. “So happens I’m here for a visit. Lucky as all get-out for my little girl.”

            I couldn’t stand it anymore.

            “Ophie, for heaven’s sake! Doctor, let me apologize for my friends.”

            He gestured dismissal with the folder in his hand. “It doesn’t matter who they are. They all have to leave. I need to speak with you privately.”

            Bridgy ran over and squeezed my hand. “We’ll be right outside.”

            The doctor told me he wanted to keep me overnight for observation and had scheduled a CAT scan in the morning. He left an order for Tylenol and said he was sorry but he couldn’t give me stronger painkillers until he saw the results of the scan. He suggested that I eat light—applesauce, yogurt, maybe some tea.

            “Your body has had a trauma and needs rest. I am going outside to send your friends home. I’ll leave a notation that you can have visitors tomorrow after the scan. Sleep well.”

            Ugh. I looked at the clock. It was hours until bedtime. I clicked on the television, but of course I hadn’t arranged for the service to be turned on, so all I could watch was the loop that told me over and over again how lucky I was to be in such a modern medical institution. I looked at the pamphlet titled “Your In-Room TV” and saw that it was too late in the day to contract service. I’d have to wait until the morning.

            I started to sort through the plush bears and monkeys that were haphazardly strewn all over my bed. I had gotten as far as naming a pink and white striped sock monkey “Candicane” and was mulling over an appropriate name for a beige teddy with multicolored spots—Polka and Dot both seemed too easy—when a tall African American nurse wearing pink scrubs and an air of efficiency brought me Cady’s flowers arranged in a pretty glass vase.