Waiting For August

Part 60 ~ Throwdown

Later that night, my phone went off. It rang loudly through the empty house jarring me from a restless sleep. I slipped quickly from my bed, heading to the kitchen. A glance at the clock told me it was after one a.m. Immediately, my thoughts drifted to August. The last time I had received a late-night call—

I snatched up my phone, not recognizing the number. I answered quickly, bringing it up to my ear.

"Hello."

I was met with silence. I was about to hang up when I thought I heard breathing. I tried again. "Hello?"

"Ca-Caleb?" Came the choked and breathy response. The voice was small and weak.

"Yes. To whom am I speaking?"

There was a pause. More hitched breathing. It felt like the person was having trouble finding their voice. Had they been crying? "Caleb, It's Dorothy Lang."

A chill ran over me. I moved to sit at the table. Needed to sit. I pulled out a chair. "Dorothy, what's wrong, dear?" I asked, fearing that I already knew the answer. Dorothy was a tough ol'bird. It would take a lot to put this fiery, independent woman into a state like this. In fact, I could think of only one thing that could get her this upset.

"It's Ruth." She exhaled noisily.

I sighed. Yep. That was the one thing. Ruth Hemshaw. Had something happened to her elderly companion? I steeled myself. Ready to face the worst. "What's happened, Dorothy? Is Ruth, okay?

"She's had a spell, Caleb. Collapsed." She exhaled shakily. "I called the ambulance. We're at New Haven Memorial Hospital. It's back—" She choked on her words. When she tried again to speak, her voice was no more than a whisper. "The cancer. It's come back."

Dorothy broke down. She sobbed quietly into the phone, while I wrapped my mind around things. While I tried to pull myself together.

Ruth had fought cancer years ago, not long after the death of her mate. Dorothy had moved in at that time to help take care of her. She had refused to let her give up. They had beat it together, but now, after years of being cancer free it had returned, and Ruth was much older now.

"I'll be right over." I wiped my face with my hand. "Is there—is there anything I can bring you? Anything you need?"

I heard her sniffle. Could imagine her wiping her tears. Trying to compose herself. I don't think I'd ever seen that woman cry.

"Just yourself. I need your support. Your strength. I'll explain more when you get here."

I found myself nodding. "Okay. Of course. I'm on my way."

New Haven Memorial Hospital was the largest hospital in the city. Not only did it serve the city and surrounding communities but was a teaching hospital as well. The neighboring college offered degrees in health sciences and nursing. Many doctors, nurses and health-care workers cut their teeth here as residents and interns.

At this time of night, I had to enter through the emergency department. After hours, the main doors of the building were locked down. I stepped through the sliding glass doors as I made my way past the waiting room outside of triage. It felt eerily familiar. Only two days ago I had made a similar journey while coming to see my mate.

A security desk was set up in front of the hall that ran past emerge. As I approached, the security guard got to his feet. He came out to meet me. Yeah, I understood that. I was a big, burly looking guy. My hair was undoubtably ruffled, and I had dressed rather quickly. I had thrown on a pair of black jeans and was wearing my leather jacket. I imagine I looked like trouble.