Post by cam83 on Feb 26, 2004 22:18:01 GMT -5
Chapter 28
Karen awoke with a start. The phone beside her was ringing, and instantly she knew that something was wrong. It was only 6:22 a.m. No one called her at that time in the morning, unless it was an emergency.
"Karen! It's Richard! You got to come to the hospital quickly! Dad collapsed and he's in emergency. Mom's with him right now! We're at Downey Community Hospital. Hurry! We don't know if he will last or not!" Richard quickly told her, before she hung up.
Jonathon was by the crib in the other room, and Karen woke him up and told him the news. He instantly jumped up, and wrapped his arms around Karen and said as comfortingly as he could, "I'm sorry Karen. I hope he gets better." She kissed him and like a mad hen, rushed around getting herself dressed and trying to think straight.
Karen tore out of the driveway and down to the freeway. She drove recklessly and way past the speed limit, but she didn't care. She had to get to her father. Thoughts of him kept filling her mind, and she loved him so much. It wasn't his time to go…not yet! He was only 80 years old! He still had many good years left.
Karen finally arrived at the Hospital and raced inside. She knew that she didn't look her best, but she didn't care. All that mattered was getting to her father in time. She asked for directions and found her family in one of the waiting rooms by the ER.
Richard had his arms around his frail-looking mother as she cried. Karen went over to hug them and found out that their Dad was still in Emergency. Apparently he had gotten up to use the washroom, and he fell over, and Agnes called 911. She had tried to revive him until the paramedics came and got there.
The minutes seemed to drag on, and they seated themselves on the chairs and waited. Jonathon had arrived by this time, with the baby. Agnes held onto her grandson, and this seemed to temporary ease her fears for a bit. Daniel just gurgled and laughed at his grandma.
The doctor on duty came out and told them that there was nothing that they could do. His body was shutting down, but they could come and say their goodbyes. Richard supported his mother, who's legs almost buckled underneath her. Karen held her son, as Jonathon embraced her. They walked into the room and saw the man they loved. He looked so small in the hospital bed, and his face was pale, almost to the color of death. He was gasping for breath with major difficulty.
Agnes went straight to him, and leaned over and held onto him and kissed him. She hugged him and whispered words to him, and at this, the rest of the family turned away with tears streaming down their faces. Karen went over, and looked into her Dad's eyes, and she could see the love that he had for her. He whispered with great effort, "Love you, my girl. Take care of your mother. You're my angel." And at this Karen broke down, as she kissed and hugged him.
Jonathon brought Daniel over and Harold kissed his grandson. Richard came over, with his kids, and did the same. Finally the breathing stopped, and their Dad was no longer with them.
Everyone could feel a great emptiness in the room, and they all leaned over their Dad's body and hugged him. Richard stopped to talk to the doctors to make the necessary arrangements, and Agnes and Karen were supporting each other. It all seemed like a dream, and one that they would never wake up from. But she knew that she would have to be strong for her mother's sake. How was she going to move on? Would she be able to pick up her life and carry on?
They left for Newville Avenue, and the drive home was silence. Karen left her car in the hospital parking lot, and drove with her husband and Daniel. Richard and their mother took the other car.
Other family members were immediately notified, and came over as soon as they could. It was good to have Bernice there, as she knew what to do, and could assist with her sister.
The day of the funeral 3 days later was grim and slightly raining. Appropriate for such a day like this. One couldn't expect a day of cheerful sunshine and white clouds. The funeral was held at the Downey Methodist Church, and a lot of relatives and family friends had flown in for beloved Harold Bertram Carpenter's funeral. Karen tried to keep herself from crying, but was unable to do so. Her Dad had always loved the song A SONG FOR YOU, and when Karen sang it, she broke down, and bravely tried to continue on for the memory of her father.
She had a secret inside her heart, which she shared to everyone at the luncheon afterwards, that she was expecting ,and brought some happy news to those gathered there. Jonathon hugged her as everyone clapped. Agnes came over and said to Karen, while holding her hands and looking in her face, "Karen. Your Dad and I were always very proud of you and Richard. You accomplished a lot and maybe we didn't say it too often, but we love you! I am so happy that we will be welcoming another baby into our family. Harold will still live on in our hearts and memories. He would want us to not weep for him, as he is in a better place, all strong and waiting for us."
Karen's eyes brimmed over again in tears, as she and her mother hugged. Now she would try her best to make sure that all her mother's needs would be met, in whatever way possible. She would become lonelier and be more dependant. Maybe her mother would move in with them. She would talk it over with Jonathon later on.
Bernice stayed with her sister Agnes for the next couple of weeks, as Agnes tried to get her life back on track and at least to some sense of normalcy. Agnes tried her best to be strong, but it wasn't easy. She had her good moments and her bad moments. The sisters planned to go on a cruise in a few weeks to spend some time away from everything. To get Agnes away from any memories associated with Harold in that huge house of theirs. Agnes needed time to heal.
Karen awoke with a start. The phone beside her was ringing, and instantly she knew that something was wrong. It was only 6:22 a.m. No one called her at that time in the morning, unless it was an emergency.
"Karen! It's Richard! You got to come to the hospital quickly! Dad collapsed and he's in emergency. Mom's with him right now! We're at Downey Community Hospital. Hurry! We don't know if he will last or not!" Richard quickly told her, before she hung up.
Jonathon was by the crib in the other room, and Karen woke him up and told him the news. He instantly jumped up, and wrapped his arms around Karen and said as comfortingly as he could, "I'm sorry Karen. I hope he gets better." She kissed him and like a mad hen, rushed around getting herself dressed and trying to think straight.
Karen tore out of the driveway and down to the freeway. She drove recklessly and way past the speed limit, but she didn't care. She had to get to her father. Thoughts of him kept filling her mind, and she loved him so much. It wasn't his time to go…not yet! He was only 80 years old! He still had many good years left.
Karen finally arrived at the Hospital and raced inside. She knew that she didn't look her best, but she didn't care. All that mattered was getting to her father in time. She asked for directions and found her family in one of the waiting rooms by the ER.
Richard had his arms around his frail-looking mother as she cried. Karen went over to hug them and found out that their Dad was still in Emergency. Apparently he had gotten up to use the washroom, and he fell over, and Agnes called 911. She had tried to revive him until the paramedics came and got there.
The minutes seemed to drag on, and they seated themselves on the chairs and waited. Jonathon had arrived by this time, with the baby. Agnes held onto her grandson, and this seemed to temporary ease her fears for a bit. Daniel just gurgled and laughed at his grandma.
The doctor on duty came out and told them that there was nothing that they could do. His body was shutting down, but they could come and say their goodbyes. Richard supported his mother, who's legs almost buckled underneath her. Karen held her son, as Jonathon embraced her. They walked into the room and saw the man they loved. He looked so small in the hospital bed, and his face was pale, almost to the color of death. He was gasping for breath with major difficulty.
Agnes went straight to him, and leaned over and held onto him and kissed him. She hugged him and whispered words to him, and at this, the rest of the family turned away with tears streaming down their faces. Karen went over, and looked into her Dad's eyes, and she could see the love that he had for her. He whispered with great effort, "Love you, my girl. Take care of your mother. You're my angel." And at this Karen broke down, as she kissed and hugged him.
Jonathon brought Daniel over and Harold kissed his grandson. Richard came over, with his kids, and did the same. Finally the breathing stopped, and their Dad was no longer with them.
Everyone could feel a great emptiness in the room, and they all leaned over their Dad's body and hugged him. Richard stopped to talk to the doctors to make the necessary arrangements, and Agnes and Karen were supporting each other. It all seemed like a dream, and one that they would never wake up from. But she knew that she would have to be strong for her mother's sake. How was she going to move on? Would she be able to pick up her life and carry on?
They left for Newville Avenue, and the drive home was silence. Karen left her car in the hospital parking lot, and drove with her husband and Daniel. Richard and their mother took the other car.
Other family members were immediately notified, and came over as soon as they could. It was good to have Bernice there, as she knew what to do, and could assist with her sister.
The day of the funeral 3 days later was grim and slightly raining. Appropriate for such a day like this. One couldn't expect a day of cheerful sunshine and white clouds. The funeral was held at the Downey Methodist Church, and a lot of relatives and family friends had flown in for beloved Harold Bertram Carpenter's funeral. Karen tried to keep herself from crying, but was unable to do so. Her Dad had always loved the song A SONG FOR YOU, and when Karen sang it, she broke down, and bravely tried to continue on for the memory of her father.
She had a secret inside her heart, which she shared to everyone at the luncheon afterwards, that she was expecting ,and brought some happy news to those gathered there. Jonathon hugged her as everyone clapped. Agnes came over and said to Karen, while holding her hands and looking in her face, "Karen. Your Dad and I were always very proud of you and Richard. You accomplished a lot and maybe we didn't say it too often, but we love you! I am so happy that we will be welcoming another baby into our family. Harold will still live on in our hearts and memories. He would want us to not weep for him, as he is in a better place, all strong and waiting for us."
Karen's eyes brimmed over again in tears, as she and her mother hugged. Now she would try her best to make sure that all her mother's needs would be met, in whatever way possible. She would become lonelier and be more dependant. Maybe her mother would move in with them. She would talk it over with Jonathon later on.
Bernice stayed with her sister Agnes for the next couple of weeks, as Agnes tried to get her life back on track and at least to some sense of normalcy. Agnes tried her best to be strong, but it wasn't easy. She had her good moments and her bad moments. The sisters planned to go on a cruise in a few weeks to spend some time away from everything. To get Agnes away from any memories associated with Harold in that huge house of theirs. Agnes needed time to heal.
