by Gun Brooke
*
The meeting dragged out a bit, and Eleanor turned to make sure Stacey wasn’t bored to tears where she sat farther back in the room. Instead, the girl nodded subtly to her as if wanting to indicate that she was fine and handling herself professionally.
Granted, Eleanor had harbored some doubt after offering Stacey a day of internship, especially after she realized what a naughty and quick sense of humor she had. So far, those worries were uncalled for. As soon as they’d entered the conference room, Stacey had grabbed a pen and writing pad from her messenger bag, getting ready to take notes “at warp speed,” whatever that meant.
Eleanor hoped the girl hadn’t joked about her ability to take notes. Her next assignment would be to type them out into digital format. Normally Eleanor recorded the audio from business meetings, but this particular CEO was rather paranoid regarding such matters. In order for her to acquire the rights to his company’s mascara “hardware,” as in the tube and brush applicator, she needed to accommodate him. What she really wanted was to maneuver his staff over to Face Exquisite, as a long-term investment. So no audio recording, only notes.
“Mr. Tanner, I’m very pleased with our initial agreements, and I think we can now hand the fine-tuning of our contracts over to our respective associates.” Eleanor stood and shook Patrick Tanner’s hand. “I look forward to doing business with you.”
“Likewise, Ms. Ashton.” The stocky man bowed and left the room, his team remaining behind to finish the details.
Eleanor rose to do the same, signaling to Stacey to follow her. “I need some coffee. What about you? Coffee? Tea?” Eleanor walked toward the executive lounge.
“I’m more of a tea person, unlike Addison. She can drink coffee any time of day. I like herbal tea the most.” Stacey hurried to hold the door open for Eleanor.
“Well, I think we have quite the variety of tea here. I’m a coffee person as well.”
“Oh, wow. You’ve got chai tea in those little pods. I’ve been dying for us to get one of those machines. Maybe Addison can get one now that she’s getting paid better.” Stacey stopped talking abruptly. “Oops. Sorry. Not polite to talk about money. Especially other people’s.”
“I promise I won’t tell.” Eleanor made herself a double espresso, using one of the Keurigs. She walked over the far end of the lounge and took a seat by the window as she watched Stacey make some chai tea. “So was this morning what you expected?” Eleanor asked as Stacey approached. Sipping her espresso, she thought of how using Addison as a consultant must be changing Stacey’s life in some ways. She made a mental note to surprise Stacey with a coffee machine and a variety of flavors.
“Yes. And no.” Stacey blew at her tea and then sipped it carefully. “It was about as demanding to take notes as it is in school, but then I started to sort of listen at the same time. You know, to try and figure out if I could understand what was being discussed. I was totally floored when I realized I got it. I mean, most of it. I’d expected it to be all this legal and business babble, but it was actually kind of neat.”
“How so?” Intrigued by Stacey’s reasoning, Eleanor leaned back and listened.
“Addie says she’s learning about business from the bottom up. By listening. I figured if she can do it, I can too. I mean, math and social science are my strongest subjects, if you don’t count music, and that’s got to be a good base for business, right?” Stacey looked expectantly at Eleanor.
“Yes, I’d say so. Is that something you’ve thought about? Going into the world of business?”
“Yes. I thought about it. I’d like to work with Addie. She’s great at what she does, but I think my head for business might be better than hers. She’s too sweet.” Stacey looked serious. “I did a whole lot of research about you when she decided to give you a chance. And we’re just talking the business side for now.”
For now? Eleanor blinked. The girl looked very serious, and Eleanor acknowledged a slight onset of nerves. “And what did you find out?” she asked noncommittally.
“Your business reputation’s pretty interesting,” Stacy said, and nodded thoughtfully. “I liked what I found. You’re called the Boardroom Barracuda, but I think that’s because you make everyone else look stupid. And when it comes to guys, they usually think they rule…just because they’re born with…you know.” Stacey blushed and shifted her tea mug back and forth between her hands.
“Oh, I know. Trust me.” Smiling broadly, Eleanor found herself utterly charmed by the perceptive but refreshingly non-precocious girl. “Have you thought about your senior year yet, what subjects you’re interested in?”
“I have.” Stacey rested her elbows on the small table, her eyes sparkling. “Math, of course, being the big deal. I’m okay there. I’m also thinking about the m-macroeconomics pre-coll—collage, no, college c-course—oh! Damn, Addie’s going t-to shoot me…it’s her shirt.” Stuttering, Stacey began to slur and tea flowed over the table as she tried to grab the mug she’d just dropped. Her hand seemed limp, as if it wasn’t working.
“Stacey?” Alarmed, Eleanor pushed back, away from the river of chai tea. “Did you burn yourself?” she asked sharply.
“N-no? The mug. I can’t get—the mug.” Stacey was fumbling over the table still but couldn’t seem to grab the mug. “Ow. Oh, fuck it hurts. My eye…Elea—Ellie?”
Eleanor stared for a few moments that seemed endless, unable at first to understand what was going on. One moment Stacey was reaching for the mug, practically chasing it over the table with her trembling hand, and the next, she was pressing the same hand over her eye, reaching for Eleanor with the other.
“Ellie.” Stacey slurred her name.
“Oh, God. Stacey.” Eleanor rounded the table and hugged the girl as she sank to the floor with her. “Call 911!” She gazed around her and saw one of the receptionists pull out her cell phone. “Emma? Make sure they realize this is a young woman with a known aneurysm that’s collapsed. Alert security to show the paramedics where we are.”
“Yes, Ms. Ashcroft.” Emma hurried out the door.
Eleanor zoomed in on the closest individual, a woman she vaguely recognized. “You, get my cell phone out of my briefcase. Then go get a blanket and some pillows from the couch in my office.” Eleanor thought she remembered some decorative pillows and a throw on the leather couch in the corner office.
The woman turned out to be quick and efficient as she handed Eleanor the cell phone. Sitting on the floor with a whimpering Stacy curled up in her arms, Eleanor quickly moved her thumb over her contact list. A. Addison.
“Paramedics on their way, ma’am,” Emma’s voice said just as Addison picked up.
“Hello there.” Addison sounded as if she was walking. “I was just—”
“Addison, listen. Stacey collapsed in the executive lounge. Paramedics are on—”
“Stacey?” Addison’s voice rose an octave. “Oh, God. What happened?”
Eleanor heard Addison begin to run. “I have her. We’re taking care of her until the paramedics get here. I’m not hanging up on you. I just have to check on her, all right? Stay connected until you get here.”
“Yes. Yes. Oh, my God. Stacey. Tell her I’m on my way.”
Eleanor put the phone on the floor and placed Stacey, who was eerily quiet, on her side on the floor. Someone passed pillows and blankets to her, which she tucked around the still form. Eleanor tried to think logically. If the aneurysm was bursting or leaking, should any part of Stacey be elevated? She kept her fingers on Stacey’s wrist, where the pulsations fluttered a bit too fast. Stacey’s skin was clammy and cold, and Eleanor could tell she was going into shock. Tugging the blankets closer around the girl, Eleanor bent over her, speaking into her ear.
“Addison is on her way. She’ll be here any minute. Just relax, Stacey. I’ve got you until Addison comes.” She picked up the phone. “Addie?”
“Yes?” Addison’s voice echoed in a strange way.
“She’s breathing. Her pulse is fast
, but even. Are you in the staircase?”
“I’m almost at the executive…floor…” Gasping, Addison sobbed. “Tell her again that I’m almost there.”
“I will.”
Eleanor bent over, placing her lips against Stacey’s ear. “That was Addie. She’s running as fast as she can up the stairs to get to you. She’ll be here any moment and we’ll take you to the hospital, all right?”
“Mom.” Stacey whimpered and opened one eye. The other remained shut, which Eleanor realized was a very bad sign. Looking closely, she could see that the corner of Stacey’s mouth on the same side wasn’t moving.
Almost like an answer to Stacey’s moans, the sound of running feet announced Addison’s presence.
“Baby-girl.” She sobbed and threw herself down next to Eleanor, who had to stop Addison from falling over Stacey. “I’m here. I’m here.” Addison was trembling all over, her teeth clattering. “The doctors said the risk of a rupture was minimal. What’s happening to her, Ellie?”
“I don’t know, but the paramedics are on their way. She’ll be taken to the ER and they’ll help her.”
“Mom.” Stacey moaned.
“I’ve got you. I’m here.” Addison kissed her sister’s forehead. “Easy now.”
“H-hurts.” Wailing, a low, heartbreaking sound that chilled Eleanor, Stacey raised her arm and pressed it against her eye. “So bad. So bad.”
“We have you. Don’t we, Ellie?” Addison looked up at Eleanor with swollen, mascara-smudged eyes.
“Absolutely. We do.” Eleanor hugged Addison close and wrapped one arm protectively around Stacey. She refused to let it show but admitted to herself she hadn’t been this afraid since she was nineteen years old.
“She’s so cold.” Addison held onto Stacey’s listless hand, massaging it as if she could wake it up by her mere touch.
“Let us through, please,” a calm female voice said from behind.
Eleanor glanced up. The paramedics had arrived.
Chapter Sixteen
“Let us help her now. What’s her name?”
“Stacey. Stacey Garr. She’s my—my sister.” Addison had to let go of Stacey, but it hurt her worse than anything ever had. Tears flooded her eyes but defied gravity and refused to fall, making the flurry of activity around Stacey into a dreamy blur. Fumbling around her for something, or someone, she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind.
“They’re going to take care of her, Addison,” Eleanor murmured in her ear. “Stacey’s going to be all right.”
“You don’t know that,” Addison whispered. “Look at her. Something’s very, very wrong.”
“Yes. I see that, but they’re going to do everything they can. I know it’s difficult…just allow them do their job.” Eleanor cupped the back of Addison’s head and held her close.
Burying her face into the warmth of Eleanor’s neck, Addison inhaled deeply. After a few breaths she felt calmer. “Thank you.” She looked over at Stacey, where the paramedics had placed her on a stretcher. The female paramedic had inserted an IV cannula, and the male had wrapped Stacey in blankets and was strapping her in.
The man turned to Addison, his expression kind and sympathetic. “We need to get her to the hospital. Presbyterian is the closest and we can’t afford to lose any time.”
“We’re coming too.” Eleanor helped Addison to her feet. Her voice left no room for argument.
“All right. One of you has to ride up front, then.”
Addison barely remembered the elevator ride afterward. She clung to Stacey’s hand, wanting to make sure her sister knew she was there. Suddenly they were in the ambulance. Eleanor took the front passenger seat while Addison still held on to Stacey.
“I’m calling it in, Mike,” the female paramedic told her colleague. “You need to push it.”
“Gotcha.” Mike drove the ambulance into traffic and soon they were tearing through Manhattan, sirens blaring, each of their high-pitched wails coming together like a pained choir in Addison’s head.
“Can you look up at me, Stacey?” the paramedic said after she talked to the staff at the Presbyterian, and Addison watched as Stacey’s right eyelid fluttered, but not the left. “That’s it. Good job. Your sister is here. We’re taking care of you and of her too.” She gazed with professional sympathy up at Addison. “How are you holding up?” She inflated a blood-pressure cuff as she spoke.
“I’m okay.” Swallowing with difficulty, Addison stroked Stacey’s hand. “Everything’s going to be okay, Stace. I promise.”
“I have to cut your shirt off, Stacey.” The paramedic pushed some strange-looking scissors against the fabric. “We’re going to place some electrodes on your chest and check your heart.”
“No. No, it’s Addie’s. She’ll be upschet.” Stacey tried to push them away with her listless hand, which obviously wasn’t successful. “It’s a Cal—Callie. No, fuck. A Calvin Klein shirt.”
“Keep still, please, Stacey.” The paramedic smiled gently as she cut through the front. “I can promise you, your sister won’t be upset.”
“’Kay.”
The paramedic pushed the shirt off and attached the electrodes.
“I’ll buy you all the shirts you want, baby-girl. Just let her do her job.” Addison forced her voice not to tremble. Stacey was slurring badly and seemed to have very little control of her left arm.
The paramedic nodded at her with approval. “We’ll be there soon.” She glanced out the narrow window above them. “Traffic’s not so bad. I’d say another minute.”
“Hurts, Addie.” Stacy moaned. “My eye. Will I…loosche my eye?”
“No, you won’t. You’ll be okay.” Addison wiped at the occasional errant tear as she tried to not break apart. Flashbacks from another hospital, another accident made her nauseous. “We’re nearly at the hospital, baby-girl.” She saw tears run from Stacey’s closed eye and brushed them gently from her pale cheek. “I’m not leaving your side. I promise.”
“Just as a tip—keep out of the neuro-team’s way and they might let you stay in the room. If it gets crowded, just wait right outside.” The paramedic nodded toward the front of the ambulance. “Let your friend help you with the paperwork. You’ll have enough on your hands.”
“Yeah. Thanks.” Addison kissed the back of Stacey’s hand.
“Here we are,” the paramedic said, and tucked her report into a folder. “Stacey, we’re at the hospital. We’re going to be in the ER in no time, all right? When you get inside, tons of people are going to flock around you. Don’t be alarmed. They’re all there to help you.”
“Mmm, ’kay.” Stacey’s left eye opened a fraction. “Addie…”
“Here, Stace. Right here. Got to let go of your hand while they pull the stretcher out, but then you’ll feel me again.”
“Pwomisch.”
“I promise.” Oh, God. Addison jumped out of the ambulance and found Eleanor already there, carrying both their briefcases and Stacey’s bag. Not even thinking about it, Addison grabbed Eleanor’s hand and more or less clung to her arm as they unloaded Stacey.
“How is she?” Eleanor’s voice was thick and she sounded almost angry, which was oddly comforting.
“Same. I think. Left side is affected. She slurs, but at least she’s conscious.”
“I had my assistant call ahead, and she found some of the information the hospital needs to start a chart for Stacey. Am I right to assume she’s never been to this hospital?”
“Yes. Her neurologist did mention the aneurysm center here and that it might be one way to go if we had complications.” Shuddering, Addison sobbed once. “Guess this qualifies. Oh, God, where’s my purse?”
“Right here. I took care of it.” Eleanor held it up. “Do you need it?”
“No. I mean, yes. Stacey’s documents are in there. I always carry them. Can you—?”
Looking confident and like a woman on a mission, Eleanor nodded. “I’ll take care of everything. Just focus on Stacey and I’ll com
e find you when I’m done. All right?”
“Thank you.” Addison squeezed Eleanor’s arm and then let go and took Stacey’s hand in a gentle grip. “I’m back.”
“Ellie?” Stacey’s voice was thick and raspy.
“Eleanor is helping us. She’s right over there taking care of paperwork, and she’ll join us later. Thank God you were with her.”
“Mmm.”
Addison lengthened her stride as the paramedics hurried through the corridor toward a team that stood waiting for them. A tall, confident man stood in the doorway to a large examination room.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Stromberg. So this is Stacey Garr. Let’s see what we can help you with, young lady.” He turned to Addison. “Are you feeling strong enough to stay by her side? I like to involve the closest next of kin if possible. It soothes the patient.”
Pleasantly surprised, Addison kept a firm but gentle grip of Stacey’s hand. “I’m doing fine. Thank you.”
“Good.” He turned to a young woman to his left. “A stool for Ms. Garr.” He cocked his head. “You her sister?”
“Yes. Her sister and legal guardian.” Narrowing her eyes, Addison dared him to question this fact. It had happened before, especially when they were younger.
“Very well. Let’s see what’s going on.”
After that, the flurry of activity became too much for Addison to keep up with. They drew blood, asked questions, and then Dr. Stromberg placed a gentle hand on Addison’s shoulder.
“We’re going to take Stacey up for an MRI. Depending on what we find there, we’ll choose the best method for dealing with it. We’ll then ask you to sign a consent form that allows us to do whatever surgery necessary to provide your sister with her best chances to recover.”
“So I can’t come?”
“You can’t go with her, no. You can accompany us over to the radiology unit, or you can wait here.”
“I’m coming for as long as you’ll let me.” Pushing back her onset of fatigue and nausea, Addison held on to Stacey’s hand as they moved through the corridor toward the elevators. As they were waiting for the elevator to arrive, Addison thought of something. “A friend of ours, Eleanor Ashcroft, is helping with the forms. When she asks for Stacey, please treat her as next of kin. She’s a very close friend.”
