Penelope let the paramedics inside, explaining the situation as she led them to Aubrey.
The man and woman immediately took over, calm and confident. Penelope leaned against the hallway wall, hovering out of their way and chewing on her thumbnail.
They concluded that Aubrey had simply suffered a fainting spell. According to the paramedics, the blood-thinning medication she was on for her blood clot could cause dizziness. Unfortunately, the medication could also cause internal bleeding if the person taking it fell, as Aubrey had. It sounded like she’d been sitting down when she’d fainted, so hopefully, she hadn’t fallen far. Internal bleeding was a serious thing, and so back to the hospital Aubrey was going in the ambulance.
“You’ll call Theo for me?” Aubrey asked Penelope. As always in times of crisis, Aubrey became almost preternaturally calm.
“Of course.”
“And take care of Madeline?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.”
The paramedics swept her from the house.
Penelope stood at the living room’s front window, watching as they secured Aubrey in the ambulance, then pulled away from the curb. Next, she made her way to Madeline’s side. Her niece, wrapped in swaddling and peaceful music, had slept straight through the commotion.
She pulled out her phone. Trying not to cry, she dialed her brother.
Chapter Eight
Penelope had stood him up.
When she hadn’t answered his knock a few minutes before three, he’d figured she must be on her way.
Then 3:00 had arrived. 3:05.
His optimism had drained as his watch had counted the minutes to 3:15. He’d texted her and received no response.
It was now 3:30 and he needed to face the fact that she wasn’t coming. Her message was clear. She didn’t want him.
Loneliness crept up from the floorboards and invaded his body. He felt it inside him, heavy and empty. He heard it in the hallway air, because here, the only sounds came from distant people separated from him by walls. He saw it in the blank beige paint staring back at him. He tasted it and it was flavored like disappointment.
Had he been a fool to hope he could win her back? His plan was likely a waste of her time and his. Why would telling her the truth about his upcoming assignment and writing her poetry make a difference? He was an airman, exactly what she’d always made clear to him she didn’t want. He’d just come back from six months in Syria and in six more months would be restationed to Germany.
She could date any number of guys who lived here and who’d never leave her.
Running his hands through his hair, he told himself to return to his car. But his body refused to obey.
•••
Have you called Eli?one of Aubrey’s friends texted Penelope.If not, I’ll reach out to him. I’m sure he’d be willing to ask Theo’s friends to pray.
Eli!Realization bolted through Penelope, the same type of realization she’d experienced in college once when she’d checked her bedside clock and comprehended that she’d slept through her history exam.
She looked at her watch. 3:46.
Her pacing halted. She’d been treading a route from where Madeline was still sleeping in the master bedroom, to the living area, and back again while she made calls and sent text messages. At first, she’d been focused on trying to reach Theo, who, as it turned out, had been on a business call on his phone. Once she’d finally gotten ahold of him, she’d contacted her parents, Aubrey’s mom, and Aubrey’s friends. She’d been relaying the story of what had happened and asking everyone to pray.
She’d been so consumed with all of that, she’d totally forgotten about her appointment with Eli.
I’ll reach out to Eli now, she replied to Aubrey’s friend. Then she dialed Eli’s number.
“Hi.” He didn’t sound annoyed.
“Hi. Listen, I’m terribly sorry.” She explained yet again what had happened with Aubrey.
