Forty-Nine

Whitney

Pure chaos. That’s the only way I can describe what’s happening right now.

A nurse comes to the waiting room and tells us that all family and visitors have to leave immediately, and that they will be able to meet their loved ones at the hospital in Rock Hollow, which is where they’re temporarily being moved.

“But what about my daughter? She’s in surgery. I’m not going anywhere until I know she’s okay,” Jackie protests.

The nurse is completely no-nonsense with her. “Ma’am, I know you’re concerned, but right now, the best thing you can do for your daughter is make sure that you’re waiting for her when she gets to Rock Hollow. You won’t be allowed to travel with her. We’ve got too many patients to move, and every county within a hundred miles has ambulances on the way here to assist.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Asa asks. “Help move patients? Transport them?”

I don’t know if it’s the tone of his voice or his posture that clues her in to the fact that he has military experience, but the nurse surveys my brother differently.

“You can come with me, sir. We could use an extra pair of hands, if you’re willing and able.”

“I’d be happy to help any way I can.”

Asa and the nurse leave the room, and Cricket, Hunter, and I watch Jackie as she paces and shoves her hands through her hair.

“I’m not leaving this hospital without my baby. I’m not doing it.”

“Mom—” Cricket says, and Aunt Jackie whips around to face her and Hunter.

“Call Ms. Riscoff and get Addy and Maddy. Take them to the hospital at Rock Hollow, and God forbid, if the winds change, you get them out of harm’s way. That’s your only job right now.”

“Yes, ma’am. That’s exactly what I was going to suggest,” Hunter says.

Cricket nods. “Okay. We’re going.” She gives me a quick hug, and then she and Hunter disappear through the doorway.

As soon as they’re gone, I try to talk Aunt Jackie down from her panicked state.

“You heard the nurse. The best thing we can do is get out of the way. They don’t need to be worrying about anyone who isn’t a patient. So let’s go, and help anyone we can on the way out.”

She spins around and looks at me. “I know you and Karma don’t get along. She doesn’t get along much with anyone, but she’s still my child. I won’t abandon her.”

The steel in her tone and the implacable determination in her eyes tell me that I won’t be able to convince my aunt Jackie of anything right now, especially leaving this hospital without knowing Karma has already been evacuated. But that doesn’t stop me from trying.

“What about waiting in the parking lot? You can watch for her to be moved, and then we follow the ambulance convoy all the way to Rock Hollow. There’s no reason to stay inside and wait now.”