Chapter 7
7
Honey
Despite the buzzing and pinging of medical machines, glaringly bright lights, and a stiff bed and hard pillow, not to mention the rather noisy conversations carrying on outside her room, Honey hadn’t felt this relaxed in ages. She was wired up with all kinds of devices and had an IV stuck into her arm, but she didn’t even care. Well, maybe a little. Her fall was bad timing. Not that she’d planned it. It wasn’t until she was in here in the ER, being interviewed by a kind female doctor named Jamie that Honey even pieced together what had actually happened. Or what she thought happened. She was still a bit fuzzy on some details.
Best she could recall, the roast was in the oven, the potato salad was assembled, and she’d just added a few more veggies to the green salad. With about an hour to spare before Jewel and Cooper arrived, she was thinking about taking a little break and reading the newspaper. Humming to herself, she’d spun around to put the salad in the fridge and lost her balance. Then she tumbled forward and whacked her head on something. The oak table or the hardwood floor? She wasn’t even sure.
And she honestly wasn’t even sure how long she’d lain there amid lettuce and tomato and cucumbers. But when she’d tried to stand, she’d felt dizzy ... and sick, like she was about to take another tumble. She called out to CT, although in retrospect she wasn’t sure what he would’ve done besides wring his hands and get upset. Then she’d remembered her cell phone in her back pocket and called the closest neighbors—the Oroscos. Miguel had answered and, sitting among chopped vegetables, she groggily explained her need for help then hung up and, still a bit dazed, tried to get her bearings before just lying down.
The next thing she knew, Miguel was there, helping her into a kitchen chair and insisting on driving her to ER. He got her into the back seat of his pickup and somehow rounded up CT, who was yelling at Miguel like he’d come to steal the family jewels. Miguel managed to get CT into the back of his pickup by showing him the knot on his wife’s forehead. Surprisingly that had shut the man right up. He just stared at her with that confused expression and rubbed her hand mechanically.
But as they rode toward town, CT grew more agitated. Honey exerted more energy soothing her husband than concerning herself with her own condition. In fact, by the time she was in the ER waiting room, she wondered if all this fuss was necessary since she felt better. But then she’d gotten sick in front of the reception desk, and it wasn’t long before someone wheeled her into the ER for treatment.
After some examining, she was taken to a darkened room where they used a machine to scan her brain. She was surprised at how relaxed she’d been through the whole thing. It actually felt good to lay still, the only noise the rhythmic clicking of the machine. And now the young Dr. Jamie was back in the little room where Honey had been resting peacefully. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine,” Honey said brightly. “I think I can go home now.” She started to swing her legs around, then realized she was still connected to wires and things.
“Not so fast.” Jamie put a hand on her shoulder. “I have a few more things to ask you.”
“I thought I answered all the questions.” Honey leaned back, closing her eyes against the now-throbbing pain in her head.
“Tell me about your fall,” the doctor said, not for the first time.
With eyes still shut, Honey replayed what she’d said earlier.
“And do you recall if you were unconscious or not after you fell?”
“Like I said earlier, I honestly don’t remember. But I think maybe I was unconscious. It seemed like I was on the kitchen floor for a while.”
“And do you remember exactly what made you fall? Did you faint? Or did you trip on something?”
Honey opened her eyes. “Good question.”
“Try to remember.”
“Okay. I was carrying a bowl of green salad from the counter by the sink over to the fridge and, yes, come to think of it, I did trip.”
“What caused you to trip? Do you recall?”
A light bulb went off inside her shaken brain. “Yes. I think I remember now. CT had been in the kitchen earlier. He’d been working in his pumpkin patch but had come in for a drink of water. I filled a water bottle for him, then scolded him for getting mud all over my clean kitchen floor. I’d just mopped it.”
“Yes. And then what happened?”
“He must’ve left his hoe in the kitchen. I bet he leaned it against the counter or maybe the table. I’m not sure. But now I do recall seeing the hoe on the floor when I was down there in that salad mess. CT must’ve forgotten it. He’s very forgetful.”
“Uh-huh.” Jamie nodded. “Well, that makes sense. So you didn’t faint, then?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
Jamie was looking at something on a computer screen. “We got results from your scans, and everything looks okay.”
“So my brain’s not too scrambled up?” Honey tried to sound light.
“Well, you definitely have a concussion. And you really need to take it easy for a while.”
“How long is a while?”
“Hard to say. But I recommend at least a week of doing nothing. And I mean absolutely nothing. But do schedule an appointment with your GP ASAP.”
Honey winced. “My GP?”
“Don’t you have one?”
“Not exactly.” She explained about her old GP retiring.
“Well, get one. If necessary, I’ll refer you to one. Because we made another little discovery regarding your health.”
Honey felt a wave of concern. She’d been so tired lately ... with an occasional fluttering in her chest. But she was only in her mid-sixties and in generally good health. “My heart?”
“No. Not yet, anyway. Your blood pressure is extremely high. That could affect your heart as well as put you in danger of stroke.”
“But I’ve always had low blood pressure.”
“Well, you don’t today. It could be related to your head injury, but I don’t think so. You’ve been here a couple hours, and it’s still very elevated.”
“Oh.”
“I ordered blood pressure meds from the hospital pharmacy. The nurse will bring them to you soon. Then we’ll keep you here until your blood pressure goes down enough that I feel it’s safe for you to go home.”
“Okay.” Honey sighed. This was more than just a bump on the head.
“Thanks for answering my questions, Mrs. McKerry. I just wanted to make sure you didn’t faint and fall.”
“Right.”
“By the way, Mr. McKerry is demanding to see you.”
“Oh, please, don’t let him in here. It will only upset him more.” Honey reminded the doctor of CT’s FTD.
Jamie nodded. “We’ll keep him out there.”
“I just hope he’s not alone.”
“Your daughter’s with him. If you give me permission, I’ll explain your condition to her.”
Honey wanted to say, “No, don’t tell anyone,” but that sounded childish. “I guess that’s fine, but I’m not sure I want my granddaughter to hear everything. I mean, she’s got a lot to deal with. She’s only thirteen.”
“I didn’t see anyone besides your daughter with your husband.”
“Okay, then tell my daughter, but don’t worry my husband about it.” Honey reminded herself that if Jewel had come to help, she probably needed to know what she was up against. Although it might make her hightail it back to San Jose. But maybe that would be for the best. Honey wasn’t sure. Not about anything.
“You just rest. And don’t worry.” Jamie’s tone felt as soothing as a cool glass of water. “You’re going to be just fine.”
“Thanks.” She considered asking if Jewel could come in here to visit but realized that would probably leave CT alone ... and that would not be good. And so she just leaned back and closed her eyes and tried to relax. High blood pressure? A concussion? What next?