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Authors: Karen Kingsbury
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doctors on staff.
“She might make it. We knocked her out.” The doctor kept his pace fast as they headed down a short hallway to the triage area. “She was hysterical, shouting something about auditions for Annie.”
“Auditions for…” John looked at his friend, his heart rate suddenly twice as fast. “That’s the next Christian Kids Theater show. Were the kids coming from auditions?”
“I don’t know. The woman’s quiet now so we can work on her.”
They reached the room. John had to know if there was a connection. “What about next of kin?”
The doctor read the notes on his clipboard. “I’ve got the woman’s husband on his way in from Indianapolis. When we reached him, we were able to get identities on the other kids. Just contacted the parents, and they’re on their way.”
John looked in at the still woman on the gurney. From down the hall, lab tech rushed off the elevator with two bags of blood. John patted his friend’s shoulder. The man was a regular at church. “Looks like it’s time to pray.”
“I’ve been talking to Him nonstop.” He brought his lips together and shook his head. “Nights like this there’s no other option.”
John didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His friend had been there when he’d gone through the tough times with Landon, who had nearly died after being hurt in a fire, and with
54
FORGIVEN
little Hayley, after her drowning accident. They exchanged a last look, and John entered the hospital room.
The tech was preparing the blood transfusion. John approached the woman, going through the initial procedures, checking her stats and her chart. Only then did he take a closer look at her. Something about her was familiar, and he considered what his friend had just said—the woman had mentioned something about Annie auditions. He checked her chart and felt his heart do a stutter step. The woman’s daughter had played a lead part in Tom Sawyer, the recent summer production.
If her daughter died, the tragedy unfolding in the ER would have a wide-reaching impact. In fact, it would very likely bring the community of Bloomington to its knees.
Katy and Rhonda hurried through the doors of the emergency room. Katy couldn’t believe it was happening. A car accident with injured CKT kids? Something like this had never happened before, and Katy could barely breathe by the time they tore into the lobby, desperate for answers.
The call had come from Bethany Allen, the new CKT area coordinator, and the news was bad, horrible. From what Bethany had said, after auditions Alice Stryker had gone out for pizza and ice cream with her two kids and two other children from another CKT family. They were on their way home when they were hit head-on by a drunk driver.
Alice Stryker’s husband was on his way to the hospital from a conference he’d been at in Indianapolis. He’d called Bethany asking for prayers and support.
Now Katy rushed to the front desk. “Hi.” She spread her hands on the counter.
“Friends of ours were brought in a little while ago. They were in a car accident. The woman’s name is Alice Stry—”
55
KAREN KINGSBU RY
“Katy!” a voice screamed from somewhere behind her, near the entrance.
She turned and saw the Hanovers running across the lobby. Their kids, Ben and Brandy, had been with Alice Stryker in the van.
Katy caught Mrs. Hanover in her arms and hugged her. “We just got here.”
The woman behind the desk stood. “You’re the Hanovers?”
“Yes.” Mr. Hanover took a step closer. “Our kids.., are they okay? They said to get right down here.”
“Why don’t you follow me.” She looked at Katy and Rhonda. “We can only take immediate family back. Maybe you could wait in the lobby.”
Katy felt stiff and unnatural. Her heart was racing, as if it were too afraid to slow down and listen to the news, whatever the news was. She gave a final look to Mrs. Hanover, then led Rhonda to a vinyl sofa in the waiting area. Katy
“She might make it. We knocked her out.” The doctor kept his pace fast as they headed down a short hallway to the triage area. “She was hysterical, shouting something about auditions for Annie.”
“Auditions for…” John looked at his friend, his heart rate suddenly twice as fast. “That’s the next Christian Kids Theater show. Were the kids coming from auditions?”
“I don’t know. The woman’s quiet now so we can work on her.”
They reached the room. John had to know if there was a connection. “What about next of kin?”
The doctor read the notes on his clipboard. “I’ve got the woman’s husband on his way in from Indianapolis. When we reached him, we were able to get identities on the other kids. Just contacted the parents, and they’re on their way.”
John looked in at the still woman on the gurney. From down the hall, lab tech rushed off the elevator with two bags of blood. John patted his friend’s shoulder. The man was a regular at church. “Looks like it’s time to pray.”
“I’ve been talking to Him nonstop.” He brought his lips together and shook his head. “Nights like this there’s no other option.”
John didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to. His friend had been there when he’d gone through the tough times with Landon, who had nearly died after being hurt in a fire, and with
54
FORGIVEN
little Hayley, after her drowning accident. They exchanged a last look, and John entered the hospital room.
The tech was preparing the blood transfusion. John approached the woman, going through the initial procedures, checking her stats and her chart. Only then did he take a closer look at her. Something about her was familiar, and he considered what his friend had just said—the woman had mentioned something about Annie auditions. He checked her chart and felt his heart do a stutter step. The woman’s daughter had played a lead part in Tom Sawyer, the recent summer production.
If her daughter died, the tragedy unfolding in the ER would have a wide-reaching impact. In fact, it would very likely bring the community of Bloomington to its knees.
Katy and Rhonda hurried through the doors of the emergency room. Katy couldn’t believe it was happening. A car accident with injured CKT kids? Something like this had never happened before, and Katy could barely breathe by the time they tore into the lobby, desperate for answers.
The call had come from Bethany Allen, the new CKT area coordinator, and the news was bad, horrible. From what Bethany had said, after auditions Alice Stryker had gone out for pizza and ice cream with her two kids and two other children from another CKT family. They were on their way home when they were hit head-on by a drunk driver.
Alice Stryker’s husband was on his way to the hospital from a conference he’d been at in Indianapolis. He’d called Bethany asking for prayers and support.
Now Katy rushed to the front desk. “Hi.” She spread her hands on the counter.
“Friends of ours were brought in a little while ago. They were in a car accident. The woman’s name is Alice Stry—”
55
KAREN KINGSBU RY
“Katy!” a voice screamed from somewhere behind her, near the entrance.
She turned and saw the Hanovers running across the lobby. Their kids, Ben and Brandy, had been with Alice Stryker in the van.
Katy caught Mrs. Hanover in her arms and hugged her. “We just got here.”
The woman behind the desk stood. “You’re the Hanovers?”
“Yes.” Mr. Hanover took a step closer. “Our kids.., are they okay? They said to get right down here.”
“Why don’t you follow me.” She looked at Katy and Rhonda. “We can only take immediate family back. Maybe you could wait in the lobby.”
Katy felt stiff and unnatural. Her heart was racing, as if it were too afraid to slow down and listen to the news, whatever the news was. She gave a final look to Mrs. Hanover, then led Rhonda to a vinyl sofa in the waiting area. Katy
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