“Ladies, I’ll probably see you again when you visit Dora. Please take care, and call my office if there’s anything I can do for you.” A nurse drew the curtain back and informed Dr. Rossi another patient needed his attention “STAT .”
When he’d left, the emergency room nurse deftly wrapped my knee while Dee Dee drove the Jeep to the patient loading area. I dreaded not being able to drive for a few days.
An attendant wheeled me out through the emergency entrance. Dee Dee helped me in the car. Still dressed in a hospital gown, I detected a cool breeze blow from behind. I grabbed for the back and pulled the pieces together. I had no desire to show my rear end to the world. Nana had to sit in the back this time. Dee Dee had her hands full helping her in. Even through the pain, I couldn’t help but smile at Nana as she sat in the back seat with her dress spread around her.
Silence shrouded the car. For a few minutes anyway. “Trixie, what’s going on? Are you positive someone pushed you down? Are you sure you didn’t fall.”
“I’m sure I didn’t fall. I felt hands push hard on my back. Someone purposely wanted to hurt me.” I mentally pictured the suspects who were at the ball. It couldn’t have been, Sammy, he was in front of me. I flashed back to being in his arms one minute and on the floor the next.
Nana leaned forward. “Who would want to hurt you, Trixie?”
“I’m not sure who, but I think I know why. Someone doesn’t appreciate me asking questions. I must be getting too close to the killer.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Right now, I want to get home and lay my weary body down.” I prayed the pain pills would kick in soon and result in a good night’s sleep.
“Yeah, me too,” Nana said. “But didn’t we have an exciting night? I’m so glad I didn’t miss out on this one.” I rolled my eyes and hoped Nana wouldn’t notice in the dark.
Rhett and Scarlett were sitting in the library, when I heard the phone ring. That’s strange; they didn’t have phones back then. Oh, it’s my phone. I glanced at the clock. Morning had arrived way too soon, and I’d been dreaming of Tara.
“Hello.” I managed to squeak out.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Jill? How are you doing, sweetie.” No matter how old she became she would still be my sweetie. Yes, we’ve had our disagreements as parent and child have during the teenage years, but she had grown into a mature young woman.
“The question is, how are you doing? Dee Dee called me last night and said you took a pretty awful spill and wound up in the emergency room. Did you hurt your bad knee?”
“Yes I did. But don’t worry. They wrapped it and instructed me to keep my leg propped up as much as possible.” I patted the bulky bandage. “I brought my cane.”
“Do you feel well enough to meet me for lunch? You can bring Dee Dee and Nana, too.”
“Of course, I do. I’ll ask them, I’m sure they’ll jump at the chance to eat lunch out.”
“There’s a pizza place on the square. Would that be okay with you?” Not my favorite food, but I knew she loved pizza, so I acquiesced.
“That’s fine. How about one o’clock? Maybe the lunch rush will be returning to their jobs?” I wasn’t in the mood for a crowded pizza joint.
“It’s Papa’s Pizza. And Mama, I have a surprise for you.” She sounded so excited. I couldn’t imagine what she had for me. Maybe it was a late birthday present.
“Can’t wait to see what you have for me.” We said our good-byes and I decided to go ahead and get up. I could smell bacon frying; I knew Nana was up cooking breakfast. I attempted to sit up, but searing pain shot through my knee. I’d need to take it a lot slower than I’d thought.
A multi-colored knee greeted me as I unwound the bandage. My joint showed decreased swelling since it had been propped up all night, but not enough to drive. Dee Dee didn’t yet have an inkling she’d just volunteered to be my chauffeur. I hobbled into the kitchen.
Nana, decked out in a jogging suit, stood at the stove holding a spatula. Dee Dee already up, was dressed in Capri’s and tee shirt. “Hey, ladies.” Thank goodness they weren’t in their Scarlett dresses.
“Good morning, Trixie.” Dee Dee and Nana spoke in unison. Dee Dee stuck a pancake laden fork in her mouth. She wiped excess syrup off her chin.
“How’s that knee? You look a little green around the gills.”
“The last time I felt this bad was when I gave birth.” Speaking about birth jogged a memory. “Hey, did y’all hear what Wynonna Judd said about giving birth?” They shook their heads. “She said having a baby was like trying to pass a ham through your nose.” The snorting sounds emitted from three women were not pretty. The laughter relieved some of the built up tension we’d experienced over the past few days.
“Come on, Trixie. Sit down and grab a plateful of these pancakes,” Nana said. “You need all the strength you can get.” She stacked five pancakes on my plate. Granted, they weren’t huge, but they weren’t little either. Oh, what the heck.
“We’ve already offered the blessing, so dig in.” I couldn’t get the fork to my mouth quick enough.
“Okay, Missy.” Nana grabbed my plate almost before I was finished. “You go right back to bed. Dr. Rossi said you should rest your knee.” Nana balked at being bossed, but she didn’t mind being bossy.
“That’s right.” Dee Dee agreed.
“Sorry. Bedrest ain’t gonna happen today. There’s work to do. My article isn’t finished, and I’m still helping Doc. We’re getting close. First, Dora’s house was broken into and then someone pushed me down?” Today I’d planned to visit the Marietta National Cemetery. Over 10,000 union soldiers laid to rest in this historic landmark. This would be great material for my article. “And I’m meeting Jill for lunch.”
“I can’t make you stay in bed, but why don’t I drive you around today?” Dee Dee must have read my mind.
“I’ll take you up on that offer.” I rubbed my aching knee. “Jill said she has a surprise for me. Want to come see your grand-niece, Nana?”
“No, dear. If you don’t mind I think I’ll go sit with Dora. Would you give Jill my love?” I exhaled when she declined the invitation. I don’t know how Mama did it, keeping up with Nana everyday. She harbored more energy than a two year old.
I hobbled back to my room and dressed the best I could with my swollen joint. Khaki Capri’s with a blue short sleeve tee would have to suffice. Nana, as usual, had dressed sharp as a tack. She sported a watermelon colored running suit with a white short sleeve shirt underneath. Jogging co-ordinates were her favorite outfits: spring, summer, winter or fall. And they always had to match. I admit she looked spiffy.
Dee Dee had chosen denim Capri’s. She had on a multi-colored, and I do mean multi-colored, pull-over blouse. On her wrists she wore a myriad of colorful bracelets. Bright pink Keds adorned her feet. I loved Dee Dee’s fashion flare. Her colorful outfits never failed to bring a smile to my face. I needed to have a serious meeting with the clothes in my closet and brighten up my wardrobe.
We released Nana at the main entrance of the hospital. I couldn’t visit Dora, but I was sure she’d understand when Nana explained.
“Where to, James?” Dee Dee guffawed. “I’ve always wanted to say that.”
“I think that’s home James,” I said.
“Whatever, it’s still fun to say either way.”
“We’ve talked with everyone on the list but Jeffrey. Let’s find him and see if we can question him before we meet up with Jill?” A warm glow filled me with the thought of seeing my daughter. It’d been too long.
“Sounds good.” Dee Dee latched onto the wheel with both hands and took a corner like she sat in the driver’s seat of a race car.