“Miss Eloise, please!” I rolled her onto her side and felt for a pulse. My hand shook and I was afraid of pressing down too hard, but I felt it there. My fingers left a smear of flour on her neck. She was still alive. “Thank God.”
I fumbled to pull out my phone from the hidden inner pouch of my sweater and hit the 9-1-1 button. My breaths came fast with little sobs. Hot tears coursed down my cheeks.
“Nine, one, one. What is your emergency?”
A strangled noise escaped me like a cry and a laugh. “I need an ambulance.” I gripped the phone with enough force that the creases in the case pinched my fingers. “Oh God… She fell and she isn’t waking up.”
“Calm down, miss. What is your address?” The operator was calm but not pushy, and for some reason, that upset me more.
I let out a small cry and wiped my cheeks. “Uh… Sterling Drive.” Why couldn’t I think of the number! Miss Eloise neededme to get help here and I couldn’t think of the damn number. “Primrose House on Sterling Drive.”
“I know the place. I’m sending an ambulance now. They should be there in ten minutes.” I could hear the tapping of nails on a keyboard. “Tell me what happened. What state is she in?
“She fell…” I swallowed and tried to be more clear, more helpful. Miss Eloise had come into the kitchen showing me the same gift and she’d stumbled, walking unsteadily. Her speech slurred and her face drooped and oh fuck! “A stroke! She had a stroke.”
I couldn’t lose her. Taking her hand, I gripped it but not too tightly.
There was no one else in the house to help me. Emberlee had gone home for the holidays and Mariska was at some charity event with her new Alphas. I needed someone here with me. I was shaking too much. My world was coming crashing down in my head.
“Okay. Take a deep breath and be calm. What’s your name?”
“Lyla.” Yes, that was right. “Lyla Berg.”
“Lyla, is she still breathing?”
With my hand holding Miss Eloise’s resting near her heart, the rise and fall of her chest was slow, but she was breathing. “Yes. It’s shallow, but she’s breathing. I felt a pulse too. Her heart is beating.”
“Good. You’re doing wonderfully, Lyla.” I didn’t know this woman, but I suddenly wanted to hug her. “Now I want you to roll her onto her side. This will prevent her from choking on anything.”
Choking? She wasn’t eating or anything. Oh! She meant the tongue. I shuddered as fresh tears burned my eyes. “She’s already on her side.”
“If you can, raise her head a bit. Like she is lying on a flat pillow.”
I rose up on my knees and glanced around before snagging the oven mitts from the counter. As carefully as I could, I lifted Miss Eloise’s head and slid them under. “I did it. What now?”
“Good, Lyla. Is your front door unlocked?” The operator asked.
“Yes.” We hadn’t locked it after Mariska was picked up earlier in the afternoon. God, I wished she was here with me. She was always so calm and cool. She’d know exactly what to do.
“Then just stay with her. What’s her name and age, sweetie?”
“Eloise. Eloise Koch.” I squeezed my eyes shut, praying to Santa and all the Christmas spirits. The only thing I wanted this year and for the rest of my life was for Miss Eloise to be okay. I’d come to college and Primrose House four years ago, messy and wild. Miss Eloise took me under her wing, and the fact that I had my shit together was because of her. “Sixty-two.”
“You’re being so brave. I can see the ambulance is five minutes away.” The operator was going to get a truckload of cookies and fruitcake as thanks for helping me stay sane. “I’ve known Eloise my whole life. This is Sandy Olson. We’ve met a few times at Big Sisters.”
Sandy. An image of a middle aged woman with curly blonde hair came to my mind. Miss Eloise knew everyone in town. I nodded and babbled, unable to look down at her and yet unable to look away. “She was wrapping gifts for the girls. We have so many cookies for them.”
“She’s so sweet. She’s also healthy and strong.” Sandy’s voice had far more conviction than I felt. I’ve never seen Miss Eloise look so… helpless. ”Any second now, you’ll start to hear the ambulance.”
Sirens wailed in the distance and grew louder.
“I can hear them.” I brushed Miss Eloise’s hair back from her face. “They’re almost here. Can you tell them we’re in the kitchen?”
“Yes, I most certainly can.” There was tapping again from Sandy’s end. “I’ve alerted the hospital and given them the basic information for Eloise. I sent her doctor a message, and she will take care of sending her medical files over, so you don’t have to worry about filling out any paperwork. Eloise would be so proud of how well you’re doing, Lyla.”
I wanted Miss Eloise to tell me herself. The world needed her. I needed her. “I’m so scared.”
“I know, honey. I know.” Sandy soothed. “Are you the only one home?”
