The Chauffeur

Episode 5

After standing and waving at my daughter as she headed into the school building, I walked back over to the car.

Harvey didn't rush out to open my door like he normally does. Instead, he stayed grounded to his seat, clutching on his chest.

I walked around to the driver's side of the door, my gut telling me something was wrong. I tapped on the tinted window, hoping he'd roll the window down. He didn't.

Becoming more and more worried, I opened the door just as a strained gasp tore out of him.

"Harvey, what's wrong?"

He didn't say anything. Just kept clutching on his chest, his face becoming red like a tomato. That's when I realized he may be having a heart attack.

Panicked, I opened up the door to the backseat and threw myself into the seat. I snatched my cluttered purse, dumping all the content out on the seat. Picking up my phone, I immediately dialed 9-1-1 and closed the door.

The line rang for a second before the sound of a dispatch operator's voice -a woman- filled my ears. I tried my best to keep calm as I provided as much information as I could.

"Please hurry," I added shakily before ending the call and rushing back over to Harvey's side.

I heard the wailing of the siren moments before it reached us. Relieved when I saw the white and red vehicle pull up, I stepped out of the way so they could do their job.

Parents dropping off their kids stared in our direction, wondering what was going on. Some even pulled out their phones to record. I simply ignored them, solely focused on Harvey and his wellbeing.

Two paramedics hopped out of the vehicle and rushed to Harvey's aid. They moved quickly, confirming that what he was experiencing was indeed a heart attack.

Tears fell from my eyes, the fear of possibly losing Harvey tearing me up inside. I can't lose Harvey. I can't lose any more people I care about.

Harvey was lifted onto a bright orange stretcher and carried over to the back entrance of the ambulance. I tried to join him, but one of the paramedics held their hand out, blocking me from entering.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we can't have you ride with us," the guy said. "You can follow us to the hospital, though."

The double doors were slammed shut before I could demand a reason. Deciding that arguing with them would only delay the help Harvey needs, I ran back over to the car, relieved to find that the keys were still in the ignition.

If Harvey didn't let me and Everly mess around in the front seat from time to time, I would have forgotten how to drive a long time ago.

Buckling myself in, I felt the car purr beneath me when I twisted the key. I didn't care to adjust the seat or put on any music as I pulled out the parking lot and onto the road.

Cars split down the middle like the Red Sea, the ambulance speeding down the road with me behind it.

I wondered if I should call someone. Harvey lost his wife to cancer three years ago. Sam and I had given him as much time off as he needed during that difficult time.

I know he has children. I can't remember how many, but I know he has a daughter. I gripped the steering wheel, trying to search my brain for her name.

Tanya? No, that doesn't sound right .

Thea? Maybe.

It's right on the tip of my tongue. Tha- Tha... Thalia! That's it!

Harvey said he had a daughter named Thalia. I have no way of reaching her, so I'm really hoping she's Harvey's emergency contact. Or at least one of his children.

****

I'm forced to wait in the waiting room while nurses and a doctor swoop in to carry Harvey away. The annoying smell of sanitizer and latex gloves permeate my nose.

I can't stand the smell of hospitals. They always make me itch.

I sat down in an open chair, bouncing my knee and fiddling with my hair. Harvey has to be okay. He just has to be. I don't know what I would do if I lost him too.

After only five minutes of waiting, I turned my head in the direction of the hospital's entrance.

A beautiful, slim-figured woman with black hair, that was cut into a cute pixie cut, and blue eyes burst through the doors. She had a worried expression on her face as she made her way over to the front desk, a man with thinning brown hair and brown eyes tailing behind her.

She was breathing heavily, clearly struggling to fight off the tears threatening to spill. "Is there a Harvey Samaras here?"

That has to be Thalia.

The woman behind the desk typed away at her keyboard, most likely inserting the name to see if the name Thalia mentioned pops up.

"Yes, he's in room 110. But you're going to have to wait like everyone else, unfortunately."

"But I'm his daughter," she said, confirming my suspicions.

"Just like we told Mrs. Hendersen, no one is allowed back until the doctor gives you the okay."

Thalia glances back, her bright eyes settling on me. The way she picks me out of the few people also seated in the waiting area makes me wonder if Harvey told his kids about me. Though it's been five years, so I'm sure he did.

I gave her a small wave, regretting it immediately when she looked away.

Ok...

"Now I know you're worried, but Mr. Samaras is in good hands," the receptionist told Thalia before flashing a small smile in an attempt to reassure her.

Thalia nodded slowly. I noticed the ring on her husband's finger as I watched him rub at the small of her back in a comforting manner.

I didn't know Thalia was married. But then again, I was terrible at remembering anything Harvey told me about his family. And it's not like he talks about them often. I don't know if that means he isn't close to his family or that he's just a private person.

I shot up out of my seat when I saw Thalia and her husband making their way towards me.

I was expecting Thalia to curse me out or something for what happened to her father under my employment. But then I'm suddenly being pulled into a hug. "Thank you," she breathes.

"I didn't do anything. Really."

Thalia pulls back but doesn't let go. She shakes her head. "If it wasn't for you, my dad could have died."

She finally lets go. Her gaze shifts to her husband. "We told him that he should've retired a long time ago. His heart isn't as strong as it used to be."

"His... heart?" I questioned.

Thalia's blue eyes flicker back onto me. She sighed. "Yeah. He's been dealing with it for years. Long before he started working for you, actually."

Why didn't he tell me that? Was it because he was scared I wouldn't hire him? Or that I would let him go? I mean, I would have, for the sake of his health, but still.

"I'm not surprised he didn't tell you." Thalia chuckled. "The old man loves you and your family. Especially your little girl. Everly, right?"

Wow. So he does talk about us. Now, I feel bad for not knowing more about his family.

I nodded.

"I've seen a few pictures. My dad keeps them in his wallet. She's a cute kid."

"Thank you," I replied with a smile.

I didn't realize her husband had stepped away until he returned with his phone in his hand and a frown on his face. "He's still not picking up."

Thalia released a sigh of frustration. "I'm going to kick his ass if he doesn't call back in the next five minutes."

Despite my curiosity, I didn't ask who's ass she wanted to kick. It wasn't my business.

But then she ended up telling me. "My brother," she clarified.

"Oh."

So Harvey has two children then. The fact that I've known him for half a decade and I didn't even know he had a son makes me feel like such an ass. I should know more about his family. Gosh, I probably look like such a shitty employer.

"Mr. And Mrs. Daniels? Mrs. Hendersen?"

We all turned, coming face to face with the doctor. He was an old man, though probably a couple of years younger than Harvey. He had salt and pepper hair that he tried to come over to hide his bald spot, circular glasses, and kind brown eyes.

"I have some good news. And I have some bad news."

I eyed the name tag attached to his long white coat, reading the name that was printed on it. Dr. Johnson.

"Give us the bad news first," Thalia said, bringing my attention back up to the doctor's aging face.

Dr. Johnson nodded. "Mr. Samaras has been placed under an induced coma."

Thalia squeezed her husband's hand. "The good news?"

"He's going to be fine. We're just waiting for him to wake up."

Thalia sighed in relief.

As did I.

"Do you know how long he'll be in a coma, doctor?" I asked.

Dr. Johnson shook his head. "The only thing we know is that based on his vitals, there's an eighty-five percent chance that he will wake up. Though I think it's time Mr. Samaras retires."

I nodded in agreement. I didn't want to jeopardize Harvey's health any more than I already have. And as much as it pains me to lose my friend, his well-being is way more important to me than having a chauffeur.

"Are we able to see him now?" Thalia's husband, whose name I still didn't know asked.

"Yes, but we are only allowing family to visit right now." Dr. Johnson says, his eyes on me.

My shoulders slump until I hear Thalia's voice again.

"She's family." Thalia smiles, looping her arm around mine as the doctor nods and escorts us down the hall leading to Harvey's room