Donna took a deep breath, then started talking.
“Joy, this is Donna. Something terrible has happened. Call me.”
Chapter 13
An hour later, Lon Pittman was still at the station, waiting for the coroner. But his thoughts were on the promise he’d made to Donna Hollis. It was going to take the cooperation of everyone in Blessings to raise enough money to get Arnold Hollis buried and Donna back home, and he knew exactly who to contact to get the ball rolling—Ruby Butterman.
Peanut Butterman’s wife was the hub of charity events in town, and she would be the one who could help him with this tragedy.
He glanced at the time, took a chance that the Curl Up and Dye might still be open, and called there first. The phone rang a few times, and then he got a breathless answer.
“Curl Up and Dye, this is Ruby.”
“Ruby, this is Lon Pittman. Can you talk, or do you want to call me back?”
“I’m closed, so I can talk. It took me a minute to get to the phone because I was mopping. What’s up?”
Lon began to explain, and by the time he was through, Ruby was in tears.
“Bless her heart,” she said. “I can’t imagine how broken she must feel. I’d heard the boys were in jail, but didn’t know why. And I knew there’d been a fire, but we’ve been slammed today and no one ever mentioned there was a casualty. So, what are we aiming for? Raising enough money to get Arnold buried and her back home? Or adding some to that so she’ll have something to live on until Social Security gets her widow’s benefits started?”
“Yes, the latter. I’m thinking Dub Truesdale should have insurance to cover his employees, so she might even get an insurance settlement from that. We’ll have to find out.”
“Just leave it to me,” Ruby said. “First thing I’ll be doing is going to see her and find out what her wants and wishes are. We’ll go from there, okay?”
Lon sighed. “Yes, very okay, and thanks.”
“Always,” Ruby said.
Lon hung up, and then Avery buzzed his office.
“What’s up?” Lon asked.
“The coroner is on the scene,” Avery said.
“Thanks,” Lon said. “I’ll be at the feed store and then going home from there. Call if you need me.”
“Yes, sir,” Avery said.
Lon grabbed his hat and once again left through the back of the station to get to his car.
While the chief was still tending to death, Ava was at the nurses’ station monitoring patient calls and tending to life.
She had just come out of a patient’s room when she heard a commotion out in the lobby, and then a man came into the ER pushing a very pregnant woman in a wheelchair. He was obviously pale and shaken, and the woman was crying and moaning and appeared to be in serious distress. When she realized the man was her ex, Vince Lewis, she was shocked.
When Vince saw her, he started pushing the wheelchair toward her, talking frantically, trying to explain.
“We were on our way home from Florida when she went into labor. I took a detour off the main highway because this was the closest hospital I knew of. She’s eight months pregnant and bleeding.”
“Roll her into room four,” Ava said, and then called out to one of the other nurses. “Page Dr. Quick, ASAP.”
Within seconds, Vince had his wife in the exam room with Ava right behind them.
“It’s okay, honey, it’s going to be okay. This is my friend, Ava. Ava, this is my wife, Carly.”
Ava reached for the young woman’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Hello, Carly. It’s nice to meet you. Let’s get you up on the bed and see what’s going on, okay?”
Vince helped Carly out of the wheelchair and up onto the bed. “We’re going to need you to put on this gown,” Ava said.
Carly was crying. “I’m scared. Am I losing the baby?”
“Just take deep breaths and stay as calm as you can,” Ava said. “Your husband brought you exactly where you need to be.”
At that point, two more nurses came in and began helping Carly out of her clothing. Dr. Quick arrived and began an immediate examination, talking calmly and quietly to both the husband and wife as he did, until he had all of the information he needed.
“Ava, notify surgery we’re bringing a patient up for a C-section.”
“Yes, Doctor,” Ava said, and hurried out of the room.
A few minutes later, orderlies wheeled Carly Lewis out of the exam room and up the hall, with Vince walking along beside her, holding her hand.
Vince came back later, pale and shaking and apologizing.
“I’m sorry. This was the closest place I could think of. She means the world to me. This is our first child. Thank you for being so kind to her.”
Ava frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be kind to her? She’s a patient in need. Go back to the surgery waiting room and just be the husband and the man you’re supposed to be. I don’t need thanks. I was just doing my job.”
Vince nodded, and then hurried away.
Ava sighed. What were the odds?
Then she said a quick prayer for both mother and baby and went back to work.
* * *
When Hunt returned to the house, Ray stopped what he was doing and ran to the edge of the roof to question him.
“Is Birdie okay? She wasn’t hurt?”
“She’s okay. Got some smoke inhalation. She was on oxygen for a bit, and then Emma took her home.”
“Thanks, Hunt. Thanks for checking on her,” Ray said.
Hunt frowned. “I don’t need thanks for that. She’s my sister, too.”
Then he picked up his hammer, staring at the front porch and trying to remember what it was he’d been doing, and then got back to work. But he couldn’t stop thinking about the man who’d died. One morning you wake up, kiss your wife goodbye, and go to work. And then never make it home.
He didn’t know the Hollis family. They must have moved here after he was gone, but he’d heard what Birdie told her boss. Both of his boys in jail. And now Arnold was dead. His poor wife. Her whole world had blown up in her face.
Bless her heart. Bless her heart.
* * *
Lon was at the feed store with the coroner. It appeared Arnold had been trapped by the fire, but they wouldn’t know how he’d died until the autopsy.
When the coroner finally finished his initial examination and all the photos were taken, they removed the body and drove away. The damaged side of the store was roped off, and the inventory inside declared a total loss.