Chapter Twenty-one. Being Greer Davis meant never having to wait

Being Greer Davis meant never having to wait. Until now. The emergency room was the great equalizer. Rich, poor, famous, or unknown, it didn't matter. Who she was didn't factor into the process.

Greer's fame might not have moved Clayton up in the line, but his arrival by ambulance was one of the variables that worked in his favor. Greer's first instinct had been to drive him to St. Vincent's herself. The drive wasn't long, but most of it was along undeveloped stretches of land, and she worried about a possible breakdown in Joey's old jalopy. Ultimately, Ellen made the decision to call 911 and they waited together for what seemed like hours for the ambulance to arrive. Their patience at the front end of the trip had the benefit of getting Clayton through those double doors faster than the poor folks who had been sitting for who knew how long in the busy waiting room. Ellen was with Clayton and a team of professionals in his curtained-off "room." Nobody had any idea what was going on, so Greer left to give them room to figure it out. She entered the waiting room and slid into a hard plastic chair and pretended to read a magazine while she waited for Drew to arrive.

She didn't have to wait long. They had trouble getting through to Drew at the hotel, but she must have run every light and stop sign to get to the hospital in record time. From her chair in the waiting room, Greer could see her dash through the double doors and head directly to the frazzled nurse working the intake desk. Greer moved quickly to intercept her before she encountered the same frustrating lack of information she had faced when asking for an update.

"Drew, over here." Greer waved at a chair beside her. Drew looked from Greer to the receptionist and back again before walking over and settling in the chair next to her.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. We were walking around the ranch. He got a cramp in his leg and he looked like he was about to pass out. I called nine-one-one."

Drew puffed up. Her voice was a low growl. "What in the world were you thinking? He's in no condition to be walking all over creation."

Greer's first inclination was to growl back a protest. Her uncle was the kind of person who did what he wanted to do. If he wanted to traipse up the side of a mountain, he wasn't likely to heed warnings to the contrary. As she started to form the words, she realized Drew already knew these simple truths about Clayton. Her accusations were rooted in fear, not blame. Greer wanted to tell her she understood, that she knew it was easier to lash out than feel the pain of loss and fear, but tender words weren't part of her repertoire. She acted instead and swept Drew up in a tight hug.

"Hey, get off me." Drew didn't back her words up with action, so Greer held tight. She imagined Drew might even be hugging her back. After a few minutes, Drew relaxed in her embrace.

"Where's Mom?"

"She's back there." Greer pointed to the "Only Authorized Personnel Allowed" doors next to the intake desk. "The nurse said only one person could be back there with him at a time."

"And the mighty Greer Davis acquiesced?"

"Knock it off. I was waiting for you. I figured the two of us could take her if we work together." Greer nodded in the direction of the scowling nurse manning the admission desk. She stood and held out a hand. "Come on."

Instead of taking her hand, Drew looked anxiously at the double doors. Greer followed the direction of her gaze. "Expecting someone?"

Drew looked as if trying to decide whether to answer. "I got a ride here." She paused. "From Ainsley."

"Faraday?" The inane question was all Greer could manage.

"You know some other Ainsley?"

"Don't be a smart-ass."

"Don't let a crush make you stupid."

Greer started to protest, but she didn't know which part of Drew's admonishment to challenge. She was stupid. Stupid for letting Ainsley get away, but she was at least smart enough to realize her mistake. On the other hand, what she felt could in no way be characterized as a crush. A crush was a sharp, quick press of feeling. What she felt for Ainsley was deep and abiding passion. Suddenly, she knew what to say.

"I'm in love with her."

Drew frowned and placed her palm on Greer's forehead. Greer knocked her hand away. "Cut it out."

"You cut it out."

Greer smiled. "You realize we sound like a couple of kids."

"I guess we never outgrew sibling rivalry. I always thought of you like a sister, you know."

"Yeah, I know. Me too, you. Go on ahead, I'll wait for her."

"Okay." Drew started toward the entrance to the emergency room. She was a couple of steps away when she glanced back. "You should tell her." Then she dashed through the double doors on the heels of a medicine cart before Greer could respond.

Ainsley envied the casual physical play between the two cousins. They looked like teenagers sparring, but the warmth behind their teasing looks belied any true conflict. Obviously the affection in their relationship ran deeper than the hostility she had witnessed between them at the hotel. She pressed her face against the glass and wished. Wished she had a relationship with her sister like the one she witnessed between Drew and Greer. Wished she knew the loving, affectionate Greer others knew. She could see her now in the concern of her furrowed brow, the love in her easy smile, but she didn't know if she was ready to trust what she saw as real.

Ainsley looked through the glass smeared with handprints from dozens of visitors who had entered seeking healing. Suddenly, she realized Greer Davis was a regular person, sitting in a waiting room like all the other regular people suspended in time while waiting for news about their loved ones. Greer could probably use a friend, and Ainsley could think of no good reason not to fill the slot. She shrugged off her apprehension and pushed open the door.

As Ainsley made her way to the chairs, she heard a commotion from her left and she looked up in time to see Drew barreling toward Greer, ignoring the nurse who shouted for her to stop running. She grabbed Greer's hand and hauled her back the way she had come. Ainsley couldn't be certain, but she was fairly sure neither Drew nor Greer had noticed she was even in the room. She closed the distance to the nurse.

"What's going on?"

"I'm sorry. I'm not at liberty to say."

Ainsley knew she wasn't going to get information from hospital staff. She wasn't family. She wasn't anything. As she sank into one of the nearby chairs, she resolved to become someone special in the life of Greer Davis.

"I thought he was having complications." Greer huffed the words between pants as she followed Drew through the maze of curtained off cubicles.

"He is, but the complications are more severe than they thought." She pulled to a stop outside a curtain and her next words were short and clipped. "He has a blood clot. It's large. They don't think treating it with blood thinners will be effective. They want to do surgery. They want to do it right now."

"So, what are they waiting for?"

"It's risky."

Greer braced herself. "And?"

"Clayton wants this to be a family decision."

Greer swallowed back tears as she realized the meaning behind Drew's words. She was being included in the decision. Whatever they decided, this might be her last chance to talk to her uncle. Whatever she was feeling now, Drew must be feeling full force. "What do you think?"

"I think we should get in there and do some talking."

Greer moved through the curtain and joined Drew and her aunt at Clayton's bedside. He was conscious, but the rest of the news was bleak. Any sign of a climb back to good health had been struck down, and his pale and weakened body didn't appear to have the strength to hold him up for what could be the most important conversation of his life. As if their lifelines were connected to his, Drew and Ellen seemed deflated, unable to speak. Greer decided she had to step in, or they would all merely sit and watch any sign of his life slip out of the room.

"I understand we need to sort this out." She looked at her uncle. "Clayton, would you like to say anything?"

"I've lived a good life. I wonder if I'm being greedy, asking for more." His comment elicited sobs from Ellen. Drew watched with watery eyes and quivering lips. Greer considered his question. She thought about all the years of her life she had burned away, living fast and loose, with no depth or feeling. In contrast, her uncle had built a business, a home, a loving family. He had character in spades. Everyone who came in contact with him walked away a better person for having known him. No, it was she who was the greedy one, who had squandered all she had. Taking life's gifts for granted. Her uncle deserved a long future.

She pulled the wolf fetish from her pocket. Healing. Greer squeezed the tiny talisman in her fist and leaned over his bed. "Do you want more?" He nodded, and she kissed him on the forehead. "Even if it means risking everything?" Another nod. "Then let's do this." She looked at Ellen and Drew. "You okay with this?" They both nodded, relief that Greer had taken control apparent in their expressions. She felt good knowing she had somehow won back their trust, but more important was the message she read from her uncle's decision. Even when things seemed bleakest, giving up only meant certain failure. If Clayton didn't have the surgery, he would die. The risk of surgery meant he had a chance.

Greer realized she could pine away for Ainsley, letting the "what if of uncertainty be her only reward, or she could take the chance of declaring her feelings. Gifts and notes weren't doing the trick. Greer braced herself for baring her soul without accessories she could hide behind. If Ainsley turned her down, Greer knew her heart would heal. If she never took the risk, she might never recover from the pain of playing it safe.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30