PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7 | PART 8 | PART 9 | PART 10

Get it together Lisa.  You have got to pull yourself together before you get to this hospital.  EVERYONE IS COUNTING ON YOU.  .  .  especially Dad.

“I can’t believe you really died daddy.  I just can’t believe it. I mean. .  I know that you tried to prep me for this day but . . . OH GOD DADDY!!  What am I going to do?  How am I going to raise my son?  His sorry dad  won’t be any help to me.  WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LIVE??? OH DADDY!!!”

I wipe tears as I drive into the ER parking lot.     HEY. WAIT A MINUTE!

“You had this planned all along.  Even now you are still taking care of me.  I get divorced and wonder where I’m gonna live.  Oh Dad. You knew all along.  We’re suppose to move in with Mom. You knew this and that’s why you kept reassuring me that all would be fine.  I just miss you so badly.  I don’t know how I will get through this without you.  You were my rock.  Who am I going to confide in now?  GOD HELP ME PLEASE?  Hold on.  He may not be dead!”

Alright.  Let’s do this.  Where is everyone?  I don’t see . . . oh there they are.

I see John parking Dad’s car in the handicap spot closest to the entrance.  Mom looks limp and weak.  I want to lay down and cry but  that’s not an option right now.  I check my bag for dad’s address book. Lord I have so many calls to make.

“Hey Momma.  Hey John.  Momma hold on while I get a wheelchair.”

“I’ll get it Lisa.  You hold onto Mom.”

While he walks through the door I can see John take out his handkerchief, wipe a few tears, blow his nose, and grab the wheelchair.  Without missing a beat he quickly gets Mom seated.  He and Dad were close. Mom wants so much for him to be like Dad.  I can see some of Dad’s characteristics in John but truthfully, he is more a Mommas boy.  A strong Mommas boy.  Rolling mom, John clears his throat.

“I will talk to the folks at the desk.  You stay over here with Mom.  I will handle this.”

“No  John.  I will handle this. You wait here with Mom while I talk with Stephanie at the desk.”

Maybe he won’t give me any flack if he thinks that I know her. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN IS but I need for him to think I do.  I CAN’T HANDLE MALE DRAMA RIGHT NOW.

“Alright Lisa.  But normally the oldest son takes care of this kind of stuff.”

DO WE REALLY HAVE TIME FOR THIS FOOLISHNESS????  I MEAN REALLY!!  Hey right now I wish YOU could handle it ALL but you can’t.  I made a promise and I must keep it no matter how many years it takes.

“Lisa.”

I hear a quiet voice and realize Mom is speaking.  Leaning closer to hear her better, she continues.

“Let your brother handle this.  You don’t need to step over him.  Your father would want him to handle this.”

If you only knew Momma.  If you only knew.

Speaking sternly, I turn to the desk.

“I got this Momma.”

“We are the Reynolds family.  They just brought my father in.  He was a cardiac arrest.  How is he and where should we wait?”

Why doesn’t she speak to me?  She picks up the phone, mumbles something, and hangs up.

“Please follow me Mam?”

OH SHOOT.  I KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!  LORD I NEED SOME SERIOUS DUCT TAPE AND GLUE ABOUT NOW BECAUSE I AM ABOUT TO FALL APART!!!!  MY DADDY IS DEAD.  THEY ONLY SAY THAT IF PEOPLE ARE DEAD.  JESUS!!!!

I signal for Mom and John to follow. I am going to fall on this floor.

“The doctor will be with you momentarily.”

Yep.  He’s gone.  Alright.  Time for crisis mode.

To be continue