Читать книгу Safety Harbor - Chuck Cooper - Страница 26

Hope called her husband on her cell phone. His voicemail answered.

“This is Mayor Lou and I’m not available right now. I’m out and about, no doubt, doing something good for the people of Safety Harbor. I do want to talk to you though, so leave a message for me.”

“Lou, I don’t know what you are doing,” she said, “but we need you to get up here right now! Things are getting organized and it won’t be long before the parade starts.”

In fifteen minutes, Lou still hadn’t shown. Hope called again. No answer. She started to be anxious.

“He’s not answering his phone,” she said to Katye. “It’s a busy day in town. I hope he’s okay.”

“He’s probably down at the waterfront glad-handing again and has forgotten the time,” said Katye.

The truth was more concerning. Lou had collapsed. A crowd had gathered around him now. Hope heard the sound of an ambulance in the distance and hoped it wasn’t about Lou.

“Somebody call Hope! Somebody call Doc Bailey! Call 911!” Voices could be heard through the crowd.

“Doc will meet the ambulance at the hospital,” said Carmelita, who arrived within five minutes. “Stand back out of the way! We need your cooperation here.”

The two ambulance attendants rushed to his side and took off quickly for Harbor View Hospital where they were met by nurses and Doc Bailey.

“Hello!” answered Hope, a bit loud and sounding frightened.

“Hope, this is Carmelita.”

“Is this about Lou? Is he okay?”

“Hope, Lou’s at the hospital and he’s in good hands.”

“Oh, no!” Hope answered. “I was afraid this would happen. There’s so much excitement and he likes to think he’s still sixteen! He hasn’t slept well all weekend.”

“I am sure they will want you at the hospital,” said Carmelita. “Marshall will come and take you there.”

Cold fear and anxiety shot through Hope. It could be a lot of things at Lou’s age. Marshall escorted her inside.

“We’re here to see the mayor,” he said in an officious tone.

“Oh, hello, Hope,” said the receptionist looking right past Marshall. “I’ll see if Doc Bailey’s available.”

Eternity seemed to come and pass away. Hope had time to rehearse every possibility in her mind. Finally, Doc Bailey appeared.

“Hope, I believe he is going to be all right.”

She sighed and shivered and then fell back in a chair.

“What’s the matter with him, Doc?”

“It may be just exhaustion,” he said. “I’m going to have to keep him and run a few tests. I’ve got to rule out a few things.”

Lou was awake when Hope went into the hospital room and was fit to be tied.

“You’re not going to any parade, Lou Schofield, and that’s final!”

He slumped down in the bed in despair.

“Lou, quit treating this as if it were a cold,” she said. “This could have been serious. Okay, if you won’t listen, I’ll tell you in no uncertain words. You could have dropped dead out there. Then, your people wouldn’t have a mayor at all. How would you like that?”

Lou smiled faintly. “I wouldn’t like that, but a few people might.”

Hope’s cell phone rang. It was Susanna.

“How is Lou?”

“Well, he’s fine but he’s not coming home any time soon.

“I’m sorry, Hope,” said Susanna. “I know what it’s like.”

“I know you do,” she replied. “I know you do.”

Susanna offered no “He’s going to be okay,” comments. She knew that, sometimes, it was better not to say anything to those in crisis. She knew that, too often, those who couldn’t think of anything to say and made something up, ended up speaking words that were most regrettable.

“I’ll come up and be with you, Hope.”

A tear rimmed her left eye. “That is kind of you, Susanna, but you have the parade.”

“Don’t worry. My staff will take care of the float. I’ll come. You’re going to need a ride home anyway.

“Thanks, Susanna,” she said. “Thank you.”