Cynthia nodded and looked sympathetic. “They just brought him in . . .”
“I know. I was with him in the ambulance. We’re really anxious to learn what’s going on . . .” Then she turned to Meghan. “This is Meghan. Kevin’s wife. Do you think that the doctors—or someone—can talk to her? So far, all we know is that they’re ‘doing tests.’”
Cynthia’s eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up. Annie wondered if she was a friend of Taylor’s, not that it mattered, as Taylor now lived on another island in a distant ocean. Sooner or later, everyone at least in the 02539 zip code would know that Kevin’s wife had returned from practically being dead; announcing it now wouldn’t make a difference. It might, however, help them learn more about his condition. And faster.
Cynthia restored her professional posture. “Well, hello. I didn’t know Kevin was married.”
“Twelve years next month,” Meghan replied with a smile.
Annie hadn’t known they’d been together that long, but she supposed the count included the last four.
Meghan handed over her driver’s license, which looked brand new. Her old one must have expired while she was in rehab. “It doesn’t say I’m married, but you can at least see my last name. And the address was our home in Boston before . . . before Kevin moved down here.”
Wishing she could have applauded Meghan’s determined spirit, Annie interrupted. “So she’s entitled to talk to a doctor, isn’t she? And maybe to see Kevin?”
“I have to check,” Cynthia said. “But I’ll do my best. It’s nice to meet you, Meghan. We’ve all grown fond of your husband.”
The comment surprised Annie, until she remembered that Kevin had woven his way seamlessly into Vineyard life. Of course, people had “grown fond” of him; he was a great guy.Isa great guy, she corrected herself.
Cynthia finished something she’d been doing on the computer, then stood up, left the registration area, and disappeared through a door marked PERSONNEL ONLY.
“Come on,” Annie said. “Let’s sit.”
But Meghan did not move. “Thanks, Annie. For forcing me to go public.”
“I did it for both of you. And for the rest of us, too. We all love him, Meghan.”
Then it was Meghan’s turn to cry. So Annie led her back to the corner in the waiting area and they sat across from Francine and Lucy, Earl and Claire. Together, they all waited. Hopefully, not for long.
In less than five minutes, a man in a white lab coat with a stethoscope dangling around his neck pushed through the “personnel only” doors. He was followed by a young man with a clipboard. And Cynthia, who directed them to the group.
“Mrs. MacNeish?” the doctor asked.
Meghan stood up; the others did, too.
He introduced himself, then quickly continued. “The bullet has fractured your husband’s clavicle. No organs seem to have been damaged. But he needs surgery.” He spoke rapidly, as if the procedure was urgent. “The bullet didn’t exit, so we need to try and get it out of there pronto. We also have to remove a number of bone fragments before we’ll know the full extent of his prognosis, such as if there’s been any impairment to the neurovascular bundle or the subclavian artery. I’m sure you could tell he lost a lot of blood.”
They stood, silent. Annie would have bet that none of them—including her—had a clue as to what either the neurovascular bundle or subclavian artery were, but she didn’t think it was the right time to ask for details.
“Any questions?” he asked Meghan.
Annie wanted to ask for his name again, as he’d spoken so fast she had missed it. He did not look familiar.
Meghan shook her head. She was clearly overwhelmed.
“How long will surgery take?” Annie asked.
“Hard to know. Maybe several hours.”
The onlookers hung on his every word.
“Is he going to be okay?” Lucy asked, her voice small and scared.
The doctor turned to her. “We’re going to do our very best. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific. Not until after the surgery.”
Then the young man with the doctor thrust his clipboard at Meghan. “We need you to sign this as his next of kin. It’s consent for the operation.”
Meghan took his pen and the clipboard. She hesitated, and then asked, “Have you performed this type of operation before?”
