Blind Faith - Sharon Sala Page 0,63
private twenty-four-hour nursing already in place when the need arises, and I am signed up for hospice care when the time comes, too. So if this is the time, then I need to let them know.”
“Let me talk to Dr. Willis about this. Are you okay to be alone right now? If you think you’re not, then call an ambulance and get yourself to ER.”
“I think I’ll call the ambulance,” Merlin said. “One way or another, I need to know if this is me on the downhill slide.”
“I’m sorry this is happening,” she said. “I’ll let Dr. Willis know. He’ll be in contact with ER to get your test results.”
“Thank you,” Merlin said. Then as soon as he hung up, he called 911 and asked for an ambulance to be dispatched to his address, then called Wyrick, knowing she’d be freaking out when the ambulance arrived if he didn’t let her know.
* * *
Wyrick was in cleaning mode. She’d already dusted and vacuumed, and had just finished mopping the kitchen and bathroom when her cell phone rang. She hung the mop up to dry and then wiped her hands on her jeans before answering.
“Good morning, Merlin.”
“Good morning, Wyrick. I wanted to give you a heads-up that I’ve called an ambulance, so don’t freak out when you see it coming.”
Her heart sank. “What’s wrong?”
“Today is a bad day, and I have a doctor’s appointment. So I’m going in to ER instead of his office. I’ll be back. I’m just not up to driving myself.”
Wyrick was sad. She’d known it would happen, but she hadn’t expected it to happen like this.
“I can take you,” she said.
“I know, dear. But I’m pretty weak today, and I don’t think I’d be able to walk anywhere, and neither one of us has a wheelchair.”
Wyrick took a slow, shaky breath. “Well, dammit.”
He laughed. “That’s pretty much what I thought. Don’t worry. Please. I need you not to fight the inevitable, because I’m not.”
She was blinking back tears now. “Yes, yes, I get it. I promise. Is it time to call your nursing service?”
“Yes, I think so. I can call them from ER if I deem it necessary.”
“Okay, but I’m coming up anyway. Where are you?”
“I’m in the den,” Merlin said.
“I’ll be right there,” she said.
“And I thank you for the help.”
She dropped the phone in her pocket, put on some shoes and headed up the stairs on the run. Finding him in the den was easy. But looking at him without registering the shock she felt? Not so much.
“It’s cold out and that jacket isn’t enough. Where would I find a heavier coat?”
“Is it really? I have a coat in the front hall closet. It’s camel-colored.”
She turned and left the den, found the coat and came back just as fast.
Merlin had taken his jacket off, and once again, Wyrick was left having to hide her reaction to how thin he’d become. She helped him on with the coat and then sat down beside him.
“I have the number to the private nursing people, don’t I?”
He chuckled. “It’s probably somewhere in all that crap Rodney gave you.”
“I’ll find it. As soon as you leave, I’m calling them. I’ll have someone here before the end of the day,” she said.
“It may take them a little longer than that to set up a schedule, so don’t expect—”
“If they can’t make it happen, I’ll find interim help until they can. I don’t want to go to bed tonight worrying if you’re going to face-plant while I’m asleep.”
He chuckled. “Face-plant. Jade, my dear, your bedside manner is missing a little delicacy.”
“There isn’t a delicate bone in my body and you know it,” Wyrick muttered. “And don’t expect me to apologize for it, either.”
Merlin laughed out loud. “God, you are good for what ails me,” he said. “While you’re organizing my world today, don’t forget to feed yourself.”
She frowned. “Are you insinuating that I’m skinny?”
“I don’t insinuate. I state facts.”
She shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
“You’ve been worrying...about me...and about your boss. And there’s that bit about someone trying to kill you, too. I hope you’re dealing with that.”
“Yes, Merlin, I’m dealing with that.”
“Just watch your back. You are your own miracle. You deserve to be happy.”
“I refuse to cry, so don’t try being nice to me,” Wyrick said.
Merlin laughed again.
“I hear the ambulance,” Wyrick said. “Stay where you are. I’ll bring them back to you.”
“Thank you,” he said, then leaned back and closed his eyes against the wave of nausea sweeping through him.
Wyrick hurried