Chapter 6
1549 Words
Chapter 6Emery
Emery pulled into a parking spot on the side of the hospital near the big red Emergency sign and made sure to lock her dad’s car. Hers was still in the shop, and she didn’t relish the idea of public transportation if someone made off with her dad’s ancient Jeep. As if anyone would want the thing.
The paired-glass doors at the entrance slid open soundlessly as she approached. Immediately Emery’s senses were assailed by unnatural, brash lighting, and even more unpleasant smells and sounds as she approached the information desk. She took her place in line in front of the harried receptionist. Finally, Emery was face-to-face with the Plexiglass partition, the older woman on the other side separated from humanity not only by the smudged artificial glass, but a wall of her own making as she kept her eyes on the computer screen, oblivious to the world around her, or avoiding it for as long as possible.
“Ahem.” The woman still didn’t look up. Emery squared her shoulders.
“I’m looking for a woman, um, the woman who came in last night.” There were probably dozens of women who came in last night. “I mean, I wonder if you have any information on a patient by the name of…Lina…Carolina…uh, Gaugenrieder?”
“And you are—?” The woman grudgingly acknowledged Emery’s existence.
Love your job, do you?
“Emery Cas—”
“Family member?” They were probably not allowed to give out patient information to just anyone.
“Her sister.” What’s one more lie? “She came in with a head injury last night. I just want to make sure she’s doing all right. She was confused and, uh, didn’t recognize me.” Now there was an understatement! She’d barely regained consciousness before Emery finally decided she should probably go home. “I was hoping I could see her this morning if she’s feeling better.”
“Carol Gardner did you say?” She scrolled the computer screen with a well-worn mouse. “I don’t see any—”
“No, not Gardner. Gaugenrieder. G-A-U-G-E-N…”
“I’m sorry, there’s no one here by that name.”
“But she was brought in by ambulance around seven last night.”
The woman picked up the phone. “Hi, Tony, it’s Barb. Do you know what happened to a woman who was brought in last night by the name of Carrie Garner?”
“Gaugenrieder! Carolina Gaugenrieder!”
The woman scowled and held up her index finger, gesturing for silence as though Emery was a disobedient child. “Yes, that’s her! I know, never heard a name like…” She cleared her throat. “She was admitted? Neuro? That sounds right. Thanks.” She jotted down a number on a scrap of paper.
Emery resisted grabbing the paper from the woman’s hand as it emerged through the opening in the window and waited till it was released. The three rapidly scrawled numbers swam before Emery’s eyes as she felt the room spinning. She took a deep breath and grasped the countertop. Just another weird coincidence.
The receptionist’s expression softened. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s in good hands. Take the elevator to the left of the lobby to the second floor. Room two nineteen.”
Emery dropped the paper in the trash as she left the waiting room for the elevator. Easy enough to remember one’s own birthdate.
She was alone on the elevator, which was just as well. Surely the fact that she had no business there was written all over her face. The receptionist had probably already called security. The elevator stopped with a jolt and the doors slid open to a blessedly empty hallway. Emery followed the voices she heard around a corner to a brightly lit nurses’ station. Several women and one guy all wearing matching blue scrubs busily ignored her in much the same manner the receptionist had. To be fair, they were supposed to be doing what they were doing. She was the one who didn’t belong, but she tentatively approached the desk nonetheless.
“Excuse me.” No pause in the action. A little louder this time: “Pardon me!”
The person nearest her was on the phone and held up one finger in a perfect imitation of the woman downstairs.
They must all learn that when they’re hired. Don’t stop what you’re doing for uninvited outsiders. Maybe they’ll go away.
Another woman, no, girl who looked like she was still in middle school, approached the desk on Emery’s side from somewhere down the hall. Her expression was friendly. She must not have worked there long enough to learn the gesture.
“May I help you with something?” Her tone matched the bubbly expression on her face.
“Yes, thank you. I’m looking for my frie…sister. She was brought into the emergency room last night with a head injury. Carolina Gaugenrieder.”
“You’re her sister? You don’t look anything alike.”
“Yes, well, uh, I was adopted. “s**t. If she kept spewing lies, her mother was going to be inclined to agree. She certainly wasn’t raised like that! What was it about this total stranger that was making her act like someone she didn’t even recognize?
“I didn’t know she had any family in town. I’m surprised she didn’t call you to pick her up then.”
“She left?”
“About fifteen minutes ago. I wasn’t sure the doctor was going to discharge her, though.”
“Why? Had she gotten worse?”
“Not physically. All her tests were normal and she ate a good breakfast and cooperated with the social worker. But she wasn’t acting quite right, if you ask me.” She lowered her voice. “I don’t want to worry you, but has your sister…that is, does she always act like…I don’t know how to say this, but she looks around like she’s on another planet. Like nothing makes sense to her.”
That alone could make them related. Nothing about this made sense to Emery, either.
“And the way she talks…You’d think she was eighty instead of forty. I mean, her labs didn’t show any drugs in her system, and the doctor didn’t see any reason to keep her. You can’t force people to stay against their will if they don’t appear to be a danger to themselves or others. But frankly, I wasn’t really comfortable watching her walk out the door if she is not quite all there, you know? And with no money, ID, or clothes besides the costume she came in wearing. I mean, someone out there might feel they can take advantage of her…confused state.”
“Did she say where she was going? Did she leave with anyone?” It was absolutely none of Emery’s concern, but concerned she was.
“I took her down to the lobby in a wheelchair. It’s our policy. Everyone has to be wheeled out. When we got to the door, there was no car waiting for her and she looked even more confused than she had been. And what she said was really weird.”
“What was that?”
“She looked at me in all seriousness and said—Let me think. How did she put it? ‘Would it be possible to procure a buggy or perhaps a taxicab? I should like to return to my uncle’s farm posthaste. He must be at his wit’s end.’ I offered to call her uncle and she said, ‘What good would that do? He’ll never hear you from here.’”
“She must have been joking.” Though it didn’t seem likely under the circumstances.
The nurse shook her head. “I’m telling you, she was dead serious. I may be young but I’m pretty good at reading people. That’s why I went into nursing. My mom says I’m a natural empath.”
“I…we…my family…” Emery cleared her throat. “We appreciate your taking such good care of…Lina. It’s obvious you’re very good at your job.” Becoming quite the actress, here. “What happened next?”
“I ended up calling her an Uber but I think she may have had a bad experience in one before. Her face was pale and she was shaking as I helped her into the backseat. I thought she was going to be sick. But when the driver asked her where she wanted to go, she seemed to pull herself together again.”
This is none of your business, Emery. Just let it go. “What did she tell him?”
“She asked to be taken to her boarding house on the corner of Garden and Comal Streets. Is that some kind of group home? I’ll feel a lot better if she has a safe place where she’s taken care of.”
Of course Emery didn’t have a clue. But that would explain the woman’s being a little out of the ordinary. Good. She had a safe place to go. The nurse was happy, so she should be, too.
End of story, Emery. She’s back where she belongs. And you should be, too.
- Writer
