VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6] ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 21:17:42 01/15/03 Wed
Author: Sue
Subject: Re: Studs, Texas -book two- An unexpected visitor and a quiet chat
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Re: Studs, Texas -book two- Back at the hospital" on 08:23:03 01/14/03 Tue

Heat radiated from the white styrofoam cups that he held in each hand as he headed toward the
table at the far end of the cafeteria. Passing many similar empty ones, his mind considered why
Lena felt it necessary to pick one so far away from the rest. Except for a few tables near the front
of the room now occupied by members of the hospital’s night time staff, the remainder of the
cafeteria was otherwise deserted. Normally under strained circumstances such as these, he
wouldn’t bother to question such a decision, but his own legs were still a little shaky, and he was
beginning once again to feel the onset of fatigue. The fact being when he and Lena entered the
hospital just mere hours earlier through the emergency entrance, the only accessible entrance at
this hour of the night, he was mistaken for a patient himself and felt it necessary to wave off a
few offers of assistance.

He had allowed Lena to make all of the inquiries, and stood aside while she spoke with the
clerk at the front desk. They were able to ascertain the few particulars available concerning
both Teddy and Miranda. A steady stream of media, law enforcement, emergency technicians,
hospital staff, and other faces milled in and around the waiting area. He caught a quick
glimpse of Shane outside a treatment room on the other side of the swinging doors that
separated the two sectors. He was surrounded by a sea of faces that Josh recognized even if he
could not place a name to each one of them. What he saw of Shane worried him. “So Shane
was not at home like he stated just a few hours ago.” Josh mused. Even from a distance his
younger cousin could see the concern etched upon Shane’s face especially around his eyes and
the lines of worry that marked his brow, but it was the dark circles beneath them and how he
carefully favored the area surrounding his ribs whenever he shifted his stance that most
concerned Josh. “What was going on?” He wondered.

Lena’s persistence with the staff at the reception desk looked as if it was beginning to pay off.
The amplified pitch of her voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned his attentions back
toward her. He noted the color along her cheek bones was beginning to rival that of her hair,
her annoyance only increasing with what little assistance the clerk at the front desk was
providing her with.

“But ma’am . . . ” The young clerk stammered.

“Don’t but ma’am me!” Lena countered, her stature increasing with her displeasure as she
loomed above the clerk like a hawk circling its prey. “You’ve got people in there that are very
dear to me! And I don’t give a damn about hospital policy ‘specially with the likes of this...”
She argued while gesturing toward the crowd circulating nearby around them. “...going in and
out of those door. Bring on your security...” She challenged, while her eyes glared back ready
to smite anyone who stepped in her way. “... but they won’t keep me on this side of those doors.”
And with that Josh watched as she bolted on through to the other side.

The young harried clerk could only look on in astonishment. His mouth hanging wide open at
a loss of what to do next until he reached for the phone beside him on the desk. With a few
more swings of the door, Josh realized that Lena had achieved her goal and was at Shane’s side
joining the number of people surrounding him. Josh gave a grim smile as he witnessed how the
lines of trouble were etched even deeper now upon Shane’s brow. It was then that he turned to
issue a quick suggestion to the man beside him. “I wouldn’t bother with that if I were you.”

“But...but hospital policy calls for...” The young clerk persisted.

Josh couldn’t contain a chuckle as he turned away to find a comfortable place to spend what
might prove to be the next few hours. He had only gone a few steps, when a familiar voice cut
into his thoughts. “Well at least someone can find something to laugh about here tonight.” Its
slight derisive tone startled him, and he quickly turned toward it to issue an apology.

“I didn’t mean...” He began.

“No, it’s me.” Valerie interrupted. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so harsh, but with
everything going on...”

“No apology is necessary.” Josh answered. “I can just imagine what it’s been like
considering.” He finished motioning to the hectic pace surrounding them.

“Yeah, I came out here to catch a breather.” Valerie responded, the hint of a smile beginning
to tug at the corners of her lips until another thought quickly replaced the first and what started
out as a smile quickly turned to a frown. “I just wish I could get him...” She began, her words
suddenly trailing off.

“Shane?” Josh remarked with a quick nod of assent.

“Yes.” Valerie acknowledged unable to keep her concern from her eyes or voice.

“Looks like he’s been through the wringer.”

“You can say that.” She answered, though not continuing on further to supply any additional
information regarding his plight.

“Guess it’s been a hectic night, huh?”

“Yes.” She breathed, hitching her shoulders slightly upward as if to shake off some of the
burden before glancing back up toward him and noting. “The same could be said for you too.
What the hell happened?” She inquired hastily. Her question quickly followed by a slight blush
in reaction to her rash response.

Josh noted her immediate discomfort and quickly put her at rest by replying. “I didn’t duck
when I was suppose to.” Valerie stared back at him for a moment, bewildered by his unusual
response until she noted a small smile forming on his face while he finally answered with. “It’s
a long story.”

“Aren’t they always...” She began unable this time to keep away a genuine smile of her own.
It felt good she acknowledge amongst all this turmoil to find something to smile about, though
her thoughts quickly returned to Shane once again.

“Look I need to go...” She began her attentions drawn toward the door that separated the two
spheres of activity going on tonight.

“Don’t let me hold you up.” He answered and waved her on. “It looks as if he could use a
friendly shoulder to lean on. ” His words acted to draw Val’s immediate attentions once again,
and he urged her quietly onward. “Go to him.”

She gave him a brief nod of appreciation before turning to head back toward the other side of the
doors, remarking to herself as she left the strong facade the Garnett men built around themselves
during these times of crisis, though she was aware of one thing that might go unnoticed by the
casual observer; the fleeting hint of vulnerability that marked their eyes when they thought no
one was looking. She had witnessed it in both men tonight, one while regarding his cousin and for
the other while regarding his close friends. Brushing this thought quickly aside now, she steeled
herself for what awaited her on the other side.

********************************************************************************
Reaching the table, Josh placed the two steaming cups upon it. “I made yours black....” He
answered. “...I wasn’t sure how you liked it, and being that it’s the middle of the night, the best
I could do was the machine over there. I hope it’s okay...”

Lena stared back at him puzzled for a moment until his words sunk in. “No that’s fine...fine...”
She began, reaching out to take what Josh offered. “I don’t care how it is as long as it’s filled
with caffeine.” Then taking a small sip, her face scrunched up into a quick grimace.
“Perhaps I spoke too soon...” She retorted. “ .... I don’t care how it tastes as long as it taste
like coffee.”

“I could get you some juice instead.” He offered apologetically.

“No darlin, that won’t be necessary.” She answered reaching out to still his progress by taking
one of his hands within her own. “What I really could use is some good company.”

“You have that.” He smiled, reaching with his other hand to pat the one he held..

“Darlin....you’re so good to me...” She smiled back at him taking in his weary appearance as if
for the first time. “You poor boy! You look as if you were hit by a freight train...”

“And survived.” He added quickly to complete her observation, interrupting her deep thoughts
with a hint of amusement.

Lena couldn’t contain the sudden chuckle that his pert response invited, but just as quickly her
gaiety turned to anguish in a rush of tears. “Oh Josh...” She wailed. “...I don’t know what I’d
do if something were to happen to Teddy...”

“But you said Dr. Jones reported that his condition was stable, and that Nick was with him.”

“ Ohhhhh Nicky!...” Lena sobbed even further. “Pooooor Nicky and Miranda...”

Josh didn’t hesitate, and doing the first thing that came to mind he reached forward to take
both of Lena’s hands once again within his own. Lena stared back at him while tears continued
to spill unheeded down upon her cheeks. “Miranda’s in a coma....It would kill Teddy if
anything were to happen to her.... It would destroy us all....” Josh didn’t bother to ask of whom
she spoke. There was no need to after witnessing the anguish that lined so many of the faces
that stood behind the swinging doors tonight.

“It’s not fair...” Lena sobbed. “Not fair...She’s so young....Why does God allow things like this
to happen? First Martha, then Helen....and now this... Why Josh? Why?” She countered as she
stared back at him.

Her question cut at him. It was a question he had heard uttered so many times in his profession
at times like these, a question he asked himself, a question that continually haunted him.
Brushing these thoughts aside, he looked back at the woman before him. He no longer saw her
as the incorrigible, flamboyant café owner, just a fellow human being in need of comfort.
Bringing her hands toward him, he looked back into her eyes; empathy shining from within his
own and he answered. “I don’t know, Lena. No one knows the reasons for God’s decisions...
We just try to accept them and live with them...” Noting the storm of controversy brewing
within Lena’s own blue eyes, he finished with. “...but we can pray...pray for guidance, pray for
comfort and understanding, pray for recovery, and pray for hope.”

Lena swallowed hard, the agitation within her eyes softening at his words and she answered.
“Thank you.”

He could only smile back softly at her, and she muttered. “You look like hell.” She reached a
hand forward to lightly brush the hair away from his eyes before caressing his cheek with her
open palm then reached down to take his hands back within her own once again, and she
implored. “Pray with me, Josh. Pray with me that God will make things right tonight.”

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]
Post a message:
This forum requires an account to post.
[ Create Account ]
[ Login ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.