by David Harder
Before answering any calls—especially ones prefaced with the word urgency—Nate preferred thinking about the situation first. He mentally examined all possible scenarios in his mind and felt prepared to receive Tony’s call. Pressing line six on the telephone console, Nate took a deep breath and picked up the receiver.
“Tony! To what pleasure do I owe this call at such an early hour?”
“I’m afraid I have some sad news, Nate. Last night, about an hour after we split up from our meeting, Minister Michael Richards suffered cardiac arrest. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital.”
Of all of the scenarios Nate had run through his mind, this was one possibility he had not considered. Nate lowered himself into his large leather chair.
“A heart attack? How old is the man, Tony?”
“I believe his wife told me he was fifty-nine.”
“Good gracious! Have you a prognosis yet?”
“So far, it does not look good for the minister, but I’m waiting for an update from his wife any moment. I’m contacting each of the team members and will keep you apprised as the situation progresses. In the meantime, we’re postponing any further meetings.”
Nate was speechless. He stared at the wall of monitors, watching the moving pictures flash over the screens.
“Nate? Are you still there?”
“Yes, Tony, excuse me, my thoughts gained the upper hand. Did you say Mercy Hospital?”
“That’s correct.”
“Have you contacted Joe?”
“Not yet—he’s my next call.”
“Good gracious, Tony, go easy on the man. He is going to feel responsible.”
“I will, Nate. Trust me. I’ve already considered his possible reaction to the news.”
“All right then. Good luck. Thank you for the call. Goodbye.”
Nate momentarily cradled the telephone receiver and lifted it again. He then pressed one of the side buttons.
“Yes, Mr. Martin?”
“Katherine, would you step into my office, please?”
“Yes sir, I’ll be there immediately.”
When Katherine walked into Nate’s office, she was holding a notepad and pencil.
“Yes, Mr. Martin?”
“Katherine, please order a set of flowers for Reverend Michael Richards and have them delivered downtown to Mercy Hospital. The man will probably be in ICU, but please ensure they reach Mr. Richards and not get lost on someone’s desk.”
“I will take care of this personally. Did you wish to add a note or card?”
“Oh, yes, thanks. Please place the Reverend’s name on the card, and you’ll need to call Mr. Toncetti to get the name of his wife. Now, the message.
“‘Dear Reverend and wife’s name.’” Katherine started quickly writing. “‘Please accept our heartfelt sympathy for you and your family during this difficult time. Our thoughts are with you, and we look forward to Mike’s speedy recovery.’
“Katherine, please sign my name and add our company name as well.”
“Anything further, Mr. Martin?”
“I can’t think of anything else. Do you have any suggestions?”
“With your permission, I’d like to take your notes and draft a slightly longer version?”
“Oh, by all means. Please.”
An hour later, Katherine returned with a beautiful card, including a handwritten note inside. Nate leaned back in his chair and read the card. When he finished, he signed it and handed the card back to Katherine. Standing, Nate resumed his earlier thoughtful stance and stared out his window. After a long pause, he turned toward Katherine.
“Excellent work, Katherine. You did a superb job. It has depth and meaning. You’re a peach, and I cannot thank you enough.”
Katherine smiled, gave her boss a small nod, and disappeared from the room. Nate returned to watching the city below and shook his head as he thought about how young fifty-nine was to have a heart attack.
* * *
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Joe. This is Tony Toncetti.”
“Hey, Tony, what’s happening?”
“I’m afraid I have some sad news, Joe. Last night, the minister, Michael Richards, suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Mercy Hospital.”
Joe’s expression became serious. “Really, a heart attack? He isn’t dead, is he?”
“Oh no, but he’s in ICU at the moment. I’m waiting for a call from his wife for an update. In the meantime, we’re postponing any further meetings.”
“That’s just great. Wasn’t it Mike’s turn to speak this morning?”
“That is correct.”
“You know, some people will do anything to avoid their responsibilities.”
Tony wasn’t sure if Joe was serious or being humorous. “I don’t think the man planned this out, Joe. You sound upset.”
“You’re right; I’m upset. He could have at least given his little speech first. Now we may never find out what he was going to say about Jim. This may turn out to be two funerals in the end. I suppose everyone thinks this is my fault?”
“Joe, absolutely not! No one in their right mind would think that.”
“Well, nonetheless, I shouldn’t have pushed the man like I did. Plus, my little outburst probably didn’t help either.”
“These events aren’t planned out in advance. It’s just unfortunate timing, that’s all.”
“Okay, what’s next?”
“We wait. As soon as I know anything further, I’ll contact you immediately.”
“Thanks, Tony.”
Joe looked at the cordless telephone receiver in his hand and deliberately punched the off button with his other hand. Taking a pitcher’s swing, Joe threw the phone at the adjacent wall, smashing the plastic device to pieces. The bright display dangled from the shattered case by an electrical umbilical wire and flashed several times before fading to nothing. The electrons released into the air as a slight wheezing sound emitted from the speaker.
Joe walked over to his kitchen cabinet and pulled a large tumbler out. Grasping his favorite bottle of Scotch Whiskey, Joe hastily filled the glass until it nearly overflowed. He stared at the forty-year-old scotch and shrugged.
Taking a big sip, Joe retreated to his recliner and plopped his full weight into the easy chair. Switching on the TV with the remote, Joe searched the various channels until he found an active sports game being played. He hoped that this would take his mind off the current situation.
The distraction had the desired effect, but then the telephone started ringing again. Joe fought his way out of the recliner and walked to the cordless phone base, then glanced at the receiver in pieces by the wall. The phone continued to ring, so Joe dashed for the kitchen wall phone. On the seventh ring, Joe grabbed the receiver and was out of breath.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Joe, this is Tom—Dr. Nolan.”
“Hey, Doc, what’s happening?”
“Are you okay, Joe?”
“Sure, why?”
“Well, I just finished my call with Tony and wanted to check on you.”
“Doc, I told you, I’m fine.”
“You’re not to feel responsible for what happened to Pastor Mike.”
Joe didn’t have a response. His tumbler was empty, so he snatched the whiskey and refilled his glass again as Tom continued to talk.
“Joe, I’m not seeing patients today and thought I would stop by the hospital and check on Pastor Mike. Why don’t you meet me there in about thirty minutes? We could go somewhere and grab some lunch.”
Joe looked at the tumbler, which was now half empty. “You know, Doc. I don’t think I should be driving right now. Could you call me later and give me an update?”
“If you want, I’ll come by your house when I’m finished at the hospital.”
Joe sat the empty tumbler on the counter. “No, Doc, that won’t be necessary. I’m not in the mood for company. Perhaps another time.”
“Okay, Joe, then I’ll call you late
r. Goodbye.”
Joe grabbed the whiskey bottle and started to refill his glass. He stopped when the tumbler was three-quarters full. Shuffling back to the recliner, Joe finished his whiskey and then leaned the recliner back. In no time, Joe was snoring loudly.
* * *
When Dr. Nolan walked into Pastor Mike’s hospital room, he noted several older couples standing and conversing with Mike. He was glad to see the man was awake; that was a good sign.
The pastor’s room was private, with no other patients. Several potted plants and flower arrangements were spread around various surfaces, along with multiple cards. Conversations were in hushed tones, so Tom waited by the door. An attractive and heavyset woman noticed Tom and walked over.
“I’m Cyndi Richards. Mike is my husband. Are you one of the attending doctors?”
Earlier, Tom had slipped on his white smock when he entered the hospital. He always kept one handy in his car for an occasion such as this. In addition, it gave him the freedom to move about the hospital and ask pertinent questions. He gave the woman one of his grimacing smiles.
“No, Mrs. Richards, I have a private practice and was just checking in on Pastor Mike. My name is Dr. Tomas Nolan.” He extended his hand.
The woman displayed a perplexing frown but returned the handshake.
“Your husband and I are members of a funer—I mean, we’re meeting regarding the services for James Kreider. Perhaps Mike has discussed this with you?”
“Oh, yes. I see. Mike mentioned the theological discussions you and he had, but you must know,” Cyndi leaned in close and almost whispered, “Mike can be rather stubborn at times.” Cyndi gave Tom a motherly, all-knowing smile.
“To me, Mike has been true to his calling so far.”
Cyndi raised her eyebrows and smiled even more.
“I see Mike is alert and talking. Did his doctor mention anything concerning Mike’s prognosis?”
“I haven’t met his doctor yet; that’s who I thought you were.”
“There are lovely flowers throughout Mike’s room.”
“Yes, the peach-colored bunch is from the church members. The yellow and white grouping is from Mike’s brother. Various visitors have dropped off the plants. And that rather large bouquet is from a Mr. Nathanial Martin of Tynedex Corporation, but I’m afraid I don’t recognize the name.”
“That would be another team member concerning Jim Kreider’s services.”
“Oh, I see. The arrangement does seem a bit over the top, but it’s beautiful.”
“If you’ll excuse me, I’ll slip out and see if I can contact Mike’s attending physician. I’ll be back in a moment.”
“Sure thing, Doctor. And thank you for visiting.”
* * *
When Tom reappeared thirty minutes later, he was following another man in a white doctor’s coat and advancing quickly.
“Nurse! Nurse! Why wasn’t I informed my patient is alert? And why didn’t someone notify me that he had been moved from ICU? I’ve been down there wasting my time.”
A woman in scrubs sprung from her chair at the nurses’ station and quickly followed the two doctors, trying to explain.
“We’re shorthanded, Doctor, and I was told by ICU they needed his bed for more critical patients.”
The doctor stopped and stared at the woman. “Well, thanks for your timely information.” He narrowed his eyes and examined her hospital badge. “Nurse Jenkins. Now go back to watching your soap opera on TV. I can handle it from here.” The doctor started flapping his downturned hand in dismissal.
The woman retreated in a huff but snarled, “Yes sir, Dr. Williams.”
When the two doctors entered the room, Tom noticed that two more visitors had joined the group. The room was getting congested.
Dr. William let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, folks, I’m going to have everyone leave this room while I examine the patient.” The doctor held the door open and motioned with his arm for the people to leave immediately. “You may return when I’m finished. Thank you. Dr. Nolan, would you care to join me?”
Tom watched Mrs. Richards attempt to speak to Dr. Williams, but the man ignored the woman. Tom took Cyndi’s hand and patted it gently.
“We’ll be only a few minutes, Mrs. Richards. Thank you for your patience.”
Dr. Williams pushed the door closed.
Approximately ten minutes later, Dr. Williams opened the door. “Mrs. Richards, could you step inside, please?”
When she stepped into the room, Dr. Williams offered her a chair to sit in; but with the shake of her head, Cyndi refused.
“Your husband has suffered a myocardial infarction. Although this was a minor event, we are going to keep him here in the hospital for about a week. We need to monitor his progress. He is going to experience some discomfort, but the medication I prescribed should be helping.” He turned and faced Pastor Mike. “Is the medicine helping you regarding the pain, Mr. Richards?”
Pastor Mike nodded. The whisper noise from the oxygen tube under Mike’s nose made him fidget with the device.
“Please leave the oxygen tube alone. If you’re still doing well tomorrow, I’ll ask the nurse to remove it. In the meantime, you need your rest and to keep your stress levels low.” Dr. Williams looked up. “We’ll run a stress test, echocardiogram, and blood work before releasing your husband, Mrs. Richards. If he has any complications, this could extend his stay further, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, please limit the number of visitors to no more than three at a time. You’re welcome to stay with your husband and ignore the visiting hours, but this doesn’t apply to anyone else. Understand?”
Cyndi nodded and produced a weak smile.
“I’ll be back later to check on your husband. Good day.”
Tom and Cyndi stood in silence after Dr. Williams left.
“Mrs. Richards, if you’d like, I’ll speak to the folks waiting outside, so you may remain with your husband.”
Cyndi smiled. “I’d appreciate that, Dr. Nolan. Thank you. Unlike the other doctor—” Cyndi stopped herself from disclosing her thoughts aloud. “Well, what I’m saying is thank you again for your kindness.”
After shaking hands again, Tom met with the visitors and explained the situation. He then left the hospital and went home.
* * *
Grasping the phone receiver, Nate pressed a button and waited.
“Hello, this is Michelle.
“Michelle, this is Nate.”
“Oh, Mr. Martin, how may I help you?
“I’ve been thinking about Jim Kreider’s accounts and how we should redistribute his customers.”
“Yes, Mr. Martin, I thought you might be thinking about Mr. Kreider’s clients, so I started gathering his files together.”
“Michelle, you’re an excellent secretary. I see why Jim loved you so much.”
Michelle stuttered, “Why thank you, Mr. Martin. I, well I, ah, I was wondering—”
Nate sat up straight and could sense something was wrong. “What is it, Michelle? Is there something on your mind?”
Michelle was immediately embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Mr. Martin. It’s nothing, really. Now, what were you saying about the files?”
Nate paused. He had been a successful leader too long to let subtle nuances slip by so easily. Besides, if he were to make good on his proclamation about caring as much about the people who worked for him as he did about profits, well, this was a good time to start.
“Michelle, I know you’re afraid to say something, and my experience with you indicates you’re bold enough to speak your peace when you want to. I’ve witnessed this firsthand when you defended Jim to the higher-ups. Now, why don’t you just speak the truth and tell me what’s bothering you at the moment?”
This time, Michelle paused to gather her thoughts. “Mr. Martin, I wanted you to know that I’ve enjoyed my time working for Tynedex Corporation, and—”
“Hold on a sec, Michelle.” Nate heard Michelle’s use of
the past tense in her words. “You’re not thinking of quitting, are you?”
Michelle was caught off guard. “Why, why no, Mr. Martin.”
“Well bravo, Michelle. I don’t want to hear of our company losing someone of your qualifications to our competition. You’re an excellent employee. Tynedex Corporation needs folks like you.”
“Well, thank you, Mr. Martin. Thank you very much. The truth of the matter is this—after Mr. Kreider’s untimely death, I was concerned the company may not need me further. I thought your call was to prepare me for a decision to let me go.”
“Absolutely not, Michelle. I’m sorry you perceived this call that way. No, we need to distribute Jim’s workload, and I was hoping you would assist me, since you’re familiar with his clients. Are you okay doing this, or do you need more time?”
Michelle was relieved and let out a sigh to indicate so. “Thank you, Mr. Martin. You’ve lightened my burden, and I feel much better. I’d be delighted to assist you with Mr. Kreider’s customers.”
“Terrific, Michelle. Can we schedule a time for this Thursday, say around 4 p.m.?”
“I’ll be ready, Mr. Martin. Shall I come to you, or would you like to meet in the conference room?”
“Let’s meet in my office. It will be a long evening; so, if you don’t mind, I’ll have Katherine order some food, so we can work late.”
“Excellent, Mr. Martin. I look forward to Thursday evening.”
“Thank you, Michelle. Goodbye.”
Nate hung up the phone but then picked it up again and pressed another button.
“Hi, Katherine. On Thursday afternoon at four, I’ll be meeting with Michelle, Jim Kreider’s assistant, to go over his client list. I’ll need you to order dinner for us as we will be working late. I’ll also need you to join us and keep notes. Could you ensure you’re available? Call Michelle and see what she’d like for dinner, too.”
“No problem, Mr. Martin. And what shall I order for you, sir?”
