Misgivings

It was an unfamiliar voice and it seemed a million miles away. At first, Madeline felt the misgivings of something gone horribly wrong. But the voice on the other end of phone sounded unemotional, detached. It asked to speak with her.

"This is she," she said, automatic in the politeness.

The voice identified itself as someone from the local hospital. She felt any color drain out of her face.

"Yes," was her response, not knowing what else to say.

"I am sorry but there has been an accident. You son's car was hit by a tractor trailer." There was no verbal reply from Madeline, only a sinking feeling that accompanied her legs as they began to give out.

The voice continued, "We are currently waiting on xrays and CT scans, but we thought you should know. We also believe your daughter may have been the other occupant in the car. There is no positive identification on her."

Penny? How could that be? Penny was at Joan's. Or had she found Rog and was driving with him? Maybe it was Joan? Oh, God. She knew she could not wish that, but found it hard to totally let it leave her.

"You may want to come down here. She is currently not conscious. There are a few other things we would like to talk with you about, as well."

"Yes, of course," Madeline said, "I'll be right there."

Rebecca, who had been listening intently on the conversation, understood, even with the lack of conversation from Madeline's end, that the news was not good.

Madeline clicked the phone off and ran her hand through her hair. It was a youthful gesture, but grounding none-the-less. Even before she spoke, her mind was telling her not to panic, to be calm, but ever ounce of energy still left within her longed to fly out of the house and down to the hospital as quickly as she could.

"What's wrong?" Rebecca asked.

"Apparently my children were involved in a car crash. They are at the hospital. They are waiting for xrays and something else for Rog, but they said Penny is unconscious."

Rebecca wiped her hands on a kitchen towel, "Well, what are we waiting for, let's go. I'll drive you. Go get your purse and a sweater." Madeline did as she was told, while Rebecca turned off the stove and covered the pots.