A Spicy Secret (13 page)

13

Annie hummed to herself as she climbed to the attic to retrieve more yarn. When she’d gotten home after the meeting, there’d been a message from Cecil asking her to stop by Ocean View.

“Annie, sorry to bother you, but the inmates insisted I call you. Apparently, a few of them have finished their blankets and a couple of them need more yarn.” His voice had droned out the list, and she had scribbled it all down on a scrap piece of paper. “I believe those are the demands for today. Oh, and we have lunch at eleven thirty, and nap time is at twelve thirty, so maybe you could stop by around two o’clock.” Annie heard whispers in the background, him shushing someone, and then he added, “Anyway, hope to see you later. Let me know either way.”

Boots followed her upstairs into the attic. Annie went to the dresser where she had stored some of her yarn stash and opened the bottom drawer. Boots jumped in the drawer as soon as Annie opened it. The cat then rolled around in the yarn, batting at the stray ends.

“Boots! That is no way to behave!” Annie chided as she removed the offending cat. Then she consulted her list and pulled out the requested colors, which she placed in an empty cardboard box. The phone started ringing. Annie ignored it, figuring whoever was calling would just leave a message. Boots stalked over to the attic entryway, sitting at attention and switching her tail back and forth.

Annie heard the answering machine pick up, but no message. Almost immediately, the phone started ringing again. She continued selecting yarn and dropping it in the box until she’d gotten everything that had been requested.

“What in the world?” she said aloud, as the phone rang several more times. She picked up the full box and walked past Boots and back downstairs. She checked her watch; it was twelve forty-five. That was plenty of time for her to make some lunch and still get to the assisted-living facility by two o’clock.

The phone rang again, but the caller had hung up by the time she got to the phone. She set the box by the back door, and waited for it to ring again. This time she grabbed it as soon as it began to trill.

“Hello?”

“Annie!” Alice sounded breathless and panicked. “You’re there. Where have you been? Are you OK? Did you eat much of that bread?”

“Um, I’ve been in the attic getting yarn for the crafters at Ocean View.”

“But did you eat much of that bread I made?” Annie realized that Alice also sounded like she’d been crying.

“I had one piece. Why? What’s wrong?”

Alice had definitely been crying; she began to sob in earnest. “Gwen got taken to the hospital. She’s really sick. She started vomiting as soon as she got home and couldn’t stop. She said that her back started killing her, and her pulse was racing. She managed to call John, and he took her to the hospital.” She paused to blow her nose. “John called Mary Beth, who called me. I’m here now. When you didn’t answer the phone, I started thinking maybe you’re sick too. One more minute, and I would have sent an ambulance to your house.”

“Oh my goodness!” Annie steadied herself on the wall. “Do they know what’s wrong? And why would you think I’d be sick?”

“Because of the vomiting. My bread might have given her food poisoning. I imagined you sick and not able to get to the phone.” Annie heard her take a deep breath as if she attempted to slow the tears.

“Well, is anyone else sick?”

“So far, no.” Alice started crying again. “At least not that we’ve heard. Jason and Stella aren’t home yet, but we’ve talked to everyone else.”

“Hang tight. I’ll be there in a jif.” They hung up, Alice still snuffling and blowing her nose. Annie picked up the phone, called Ocean View, and left a message for Cecil, telling him she’d have to stop by another day. She then put on her coat, grabbed her project bag and some granola bars, and sped toward the hospital as fast at the Malibu would go.

Five minutes later, Annie pulled up at the hospital. She recognized almost every car in the lot, including Stella’s white Lincoln Continental, Ian’s car, and of course, Alice’s red Mustang.

She grabbed her bag and rushed inside toward the reception desk.

“May I help you?” a pretty redhead in a long-sleeve blue polo shirt and khaki pants asked with a smile. Her nametag said “Tracey.”

“Yes, hi Tracey. I’m Annie Dawson with the Hook and Needle Club, and I understand that Gwen Palmer has been admitted. Can you point me in the right direction?” She put a hand on the counter to steady herself. Her heart beat so hard, she felt like she’d run a marathon.

“Mrs. Dawson, yes, hello! We met for about a second when your group made the layettes for the babies a few years ago. There’s a bunch of them already here. Mrs. Palmer’s in the ICU.”

“The ICU?!”

“Yes, the ICU,” Tracey said, putting her hand on Annie’s for a moment. “It just means she’s getting the very best of constant care. They’re on the second floor. Take a left when you get out of the elevators and follow the orange line. It’ll take you right there.”

“Thank you,” Annie said, practically running to the bank of elevators to Tracey’s left. When she stepped off, she could clearly hear Alice crying.
No need to follow an orange line,
she thought.
I can just follow the sound.

“Alice, please stop crying. It won’t help Gwendolyn get better any faster,” Stella said in a commanding voice.

Annie turned left as directed and almost immediately ran into a knot of her friends. Alice flung her arms around her, still sobbing.

“Annie, thank God you’re OK.”

Annie patted her on the back and then eased her into a nearby seat. “Yes, I’m fine. So, does anyone know what’s going on? Is anyone else sick? Where are Kate and Peggy?”

“Someone has to keep the wheels of commerce turning,” Stella sniffed. “Kate is at the store, and Peggy had to work. Apparently Lisa or somebody has the day off, and Jeff couldn’t let her leave The Cup & Saucer. But they’re both well.”

“And what about Ian? Where is he? I saw his car in the lot.”

Mary Beth answered this time. “You just missed him. He had to get back to Town Hall for a meeting. He’s fine. But you can certainly call him if you want. I’ll even let you use my cellphone.” Mary Beth winked, and Annie felt the tips of her ears go red.

Blast it!
she thought.
Why do I always blush when that man is mentioned?

“So, what’s wrong with Gwen? Is it food poisoning?” Annie asked. As expected, everyone started talking at once. A nurse pointedly clearing her throat interrupted them, so they turned to look her way.

“Hi everyone, I’m Nurse Arabelle,” she said. “I’m sorry I can’t let you all in to see Mrs. Palmer. She’s only allowed one visitor, and of course, her husband is with her at this time. We’re still running some tests, and we’re not sure exactly what is wrong. As soon as we know something, either myself, one of the other nurses, or her doctor will let Mr. Palmer know. He will have to tell you whatever he feels comfortable with. Privacy laws, you know.”

Once again, everyone started talking at once. The nurse raised her hand to stop them. “I know you are worried about your friend, but we are taking very good care of her. And if you don’t mind, please try to keep the noise down. We have other patients, and we don’t want to disturb them or their families. There’s a lounge at the other end of the hall, and we’d appreciate it if you’d all wait there. I’m sure you’ll be much more comfortable.”

“Thank you, nurse,” Stella said. Turning to the others she added firmly, “We should follow her orders and head to the lounge. She’s right—the last thing we should be doing is causing distress for anyone else.” Stella, Jason and Alice led toward the lounge, with Mary Beth and Annie following.

“Wow,” Annie whispered to Mary Beth. “Alice sometimes can be a drama queen, but that was over the top, even for her.”

“I know,” Mary Beth replied quietly. “I think she feels really guilty because she’s certain the bread from that latest mystery recipe is responsible for making Gwen sick.”

“Not the best bread I’ve ever had in my life, but it wasn’t awful either. Plus, wouldn’t all of us be having issues if it caused the illness?” Annie asked.

“That’s what I told her,” Mary Beth said. “Food poisoning usually comes on pretty quickly, so at least a couple of us would be feeling ill too. It could be an allergy to one of the ingredients, but I think the doctors have ruled that out already.”

“How long can you stay?” Annie asked.

“Kate said she’d watch the store and manage the teen club this afternoon, so I’m here until we get kicked out, I guess.”

They heard the elevator ding, and shortly saw a group of women heading toward them down the hall.

“Mary Beth, Annie, how is Gwen?” June Wallace, the minister’s wife, asked when she reached the pair. “Some of us ladies from the church wanted to come check on Gwen.”

Mary Beth stood to give June and a few of the other women a hug. “The doctors are currently running tests.”

A door down the hall opened, and John came out of the ICU and walked toward them. He was dressed in a suit and tie—he’d obviously come to the hospital straight from the bank—but he’d removed his suit coat, and his tie was askew.

“How are you doing?” June asked, giving him a hug. “And how’s Gwen?”

“Thankfully, her vitals are steady, but they have no idea what has caused this,” he replied. “As for me, I need to get a sandwich or something to eat. I never did get lunch. Would one of you ladies mind grabbing me something? I don’t want to leave Gwen for too long.”

Annie started to reach for the granola bars she had brought, but before she could even get them out, the church ladies held out covered plates. The sight made her stomach rumble, and she realized she hadn’t eaten lunch either.

John laughed, grabbed the plate closest to him, and peeled back the plastic wrap. “Thanks everyone! Anyone happen to have a Coke handy?” He took a bite out of the sandwich. One of the women dug around in her bag and handed one over. “Here you go, John! I talked to your assistant, Allison, and she told me that’s what you prefer to drink.”

“Remind me to thank her when I get back to the bank,” he replied. “Thanks again, ladies. I’m heading back in.”

“Before you go, can you tell us what’s wrong with Gwen?” June asked, her hand on his arm.

“The doctors aren’t sure yet, so they’re running a bunch of tests. She’s nauseous and uncomfortable, has a fever, and is dehydrated. They’re pumping her full of fluids right now. Hopefully we’ll know something soon.”

He turned and walked back to the ICU, closing the door gently behind him.

****

Four hours later, most of the Hook and Needle Club members still kept vigil in the lounge. Most kept their hands busy with needlework. Annie stayed as busy as she could with Alice still needing some reassurance.

“Are you sure it’s not my fault?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m sure.” Annie heaved a sigh. “If
all
of us were sick, then you probably would have been responsible. But we’re not. You’ve baked bread that tasted better—that’s probably the fault of that mystery recipe—but nothing about today’s entry was toxic.”

Annie loved Alice dearly, but the girl was presently plucking at her very last nerve.

A little after five o’clock, John came into the lounge, looking tired, followed by a woman in a doctor’s coat.

“Hello everyone, I’m Dr. Shay Barnett,” she said, tucking a strand of long brown hair behind one ear and looking at a clipboard. “Mr. Palmer has given me permission to speak directly to you all. I’m pleased to let you know that Mrs. Palmer has acute pancreatitis caused by gallstones.”

At first there were murmurs of relief heard through the group, but then the diagnosis sunk in. Gwen’s friends all began to press forward with questions for the doctor about the condition and what would happen next.

“We’ll keep her hooked up to lots of fluids and antibiotics, and in a day or two, when she’s stable, we’ll do surgery to remove her gallbladder and the stones,” the doctor reassured them. “After that, we’ll keep her for another day or two. Now, please excuse me; I need to attend to other patients.”

John turned to the group and said in a hoarse voice, “I cannot thank you all enough for sitting here and waiting with me. Gwen’s sleeping now, but I’m going to go back to her room so I’m there when she wakes up. I’ve called our kids and their families. Why doesn’t everyone go home now and get some rest? Gwen’s going to be fine, and I will make sure you know her progress and when the operation is going to occur.” He turned and followed Dr. Barnett out of the room.

By the time the group had begun to disperse, Kate and Vanessa arrived, bearing a bouquet of lilies in a vase.

“I think I remember Gwen saying once that these are her favorite,” Kate said. She sighed and plopped on a chair next to Annie. “How is she?”

After Annie filled in Kate and Vanessa on Gwen’s condition, she asked, “And how was the Teen Hook and Needle Club meeting?”

“Well,” Vanessa answered with a sigh. “We didn’t get much work done, but we made a card for Mrs. Palmer and everyone signed it.” She pulled a sheaf of multicolored papers from her bag.

“That’s one card?” Annie laughed.

“Yes, it’s one
big
card,” Vanessa answered, “but I’m not sure what to do with it now, or how to make sure Mrs. Palmer sees it.”

A nurse overheard Vanessa and walked over to where they sat.

“I’d be happy to pass that along to her husband,” he said. “As soon as Mrs. Palmer is transferred to a regular room, we can put it up on her board.” He took the sheets from the teenager. “Also,” he added, “you might want to let everyone know that we offer a free service where friends and family can go on our website to send a card; we print them out and hang them in the patient’s room. Let me know if you need anything else.”

Before Kate or Annie could say anything, he had left, and Vanessa had whipped out her cellphone.

After a few minutes of pushing buttons, she said, “OK, I’ve sent a text to all my friends and told them they have to send a card. I told them they need to let all their friends know.”

Annie stood up and stretched.