The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson Page B

watching as the paramedics disappeared with Joy through a set of double doors with a sign that said E MERGENCY P ERSONNEL O NLY . Using another entrance, Miranda found her way to the reception area, impatiently waiting for the intake person to finish with the elderly couple ahead of her. Why were they so slow?
    Finally, the receptionist motioned Miranda forward. After Miranda explained the situation, the woman asked for Joy’s ID and insurance cards. As Miranda sat down, she began digging in Joy’s purse and, locating the items, she handed them over. She explained that she wasn’t a relative, attempting to answer the woman’s questions as best she could while waiting impatiently as the woman punched the information into her computer. Why was she so slow?
    â€œCan I see her?” Miranda asked eagerly.
    â€œNot yet.” The woman typed something else on her computer. “They’ll be getting her stabilized and probably run some tests. Someone will come out to talk to you . . . after a while.”
    â€œHow long will that take?”
    â€œHard to say. But you should plan on at least an hour or more here. Then she’ll probably be moved to ICU.” The woman frowned. “Is there any next of kin you need to notify? Someone you need to call?”
    Miranda sighed. “Her sons.”
    The woman nodded. Then, looking over Miranda’s shoulder, she waved to the young mother and son waiting for their turn. “Next.”
    Miranda didn’t know what to do as she went over to the waiting area. She should probably call Joy’s sons. But what would she say? “Your mother and I just happened to be driving a motor home a couple thousand miles in the middle of winter and she had a heart attack”? She couldn’t even imagine how they would react. She’d met Joy’s sons only a couple of times, and while they were nice enough, she wasn’t sure how they’d respond in a situation like this. From hearing Joy talk about them, she knew both Rob and Rick were somewhat intense guys. Joy described them as type A personalities who defined themselves according to their bank accounts. Although they were both approaching their sixties, neither of the men had any intention of retiring. The idea of calling them with this news was more than a little intimidating. Still, they probably deserved to know.
    Miranda thought about what she’d want someone else to do if they were in her shoes. If her mom was hospitalized with something as serious as chest pain, she would want to be notified. At once.
    Miranda started digging through Joy’s bag now. She wasn’t even sure what she was looking for since she knew Joy didn’t own a cell phone. But when she discovered a little old-fashioned address book, she felt hopeful. And sure enough, in the J section Miranda discovered both Rick and Rob Jorgenson’s phone numbers and addresses. Since Rick was the oldest, Mirandadecided to call what appeared to be his cell phone number. When he answered she quickly identified herself, explaining that she was with his mother in Albuquerque, but then she didn’t know what to say. Joy hadn’t wanted her sons to know about the trip, and now she had to tell them like this. “We are, uh, we’re at the hospital and—”
    â€œIn a hospital in Albuquerque?” he repeated. “What? Who is this?”
    She explained again. “They took her back to the ER, but she’ll probably be moved into ICU soon.”
    â€œ What? My mother is in an emergency room in Albuquerque? Is this some kind of scam? You trying to get money?”
    Again, she explained, but this time she told him about the motor home, how they’d been traveling on Route 66, and his mother’s Christmas Joy contest. This time Rick said nothing. Clearly, the poor man was speechless.
    â€œI’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” Miranda said contritely. “And I’m not