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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction that combine worlds created by the original content owner with names, places, characters, events, and incidents that are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, companies, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
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Stories in this Fandom are works of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. <br>
Authors are responsible for properly crediting Original Content creator for their creative works.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Stories in this Fandom are works of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. <br>
Ray of Hope - 5. Chapter 5
Chp5
The thing about family is that you can't ever quite know what the word means. I've never had an actual definition of it, I can recognize them, but it's not often that I even try to. Growing up in multiple homes, with different families, made my understanding of it almost clinical: a group of people, usually bound by blood or marriage, sharing common goals and activities such as holidays and milestones. I'd never felt the need to revise this definition because nothing so far in my life had prompted me to do so. I was an orphan, with a deadbeat father I'd never met, and the only house I'd been in long enough to get into an actual routine had been the Collins'.
As I sat across from Andrew and Camilla, trying to explain my actions I realized that at some point in my stay, I'd begun to consider them family.
"I didn't know what I was feeling, I couldn't understand what was going on, and when you announced you were pregnant, something inside me just wanted to run. So I did. I ran and I partied, and I wore myself thin, and now here I am, genuinely sorry for having worried you, for causing you anguish, for making these past weeks about me rather than having tried to speak with you both."
"What would make you think we wanted you out? Don't you remember us talking about you staying on the drive home from the market?"
I swallowed hard and shut my eyes tightly, I had been hoping against all hope that this question wouldn't be asked.
"Honestly? I was so busy fighting myself, trying to keep myself from wanting to stay that I was completely zoned out during that conversation. I only remember you asking me something about what "they" would say, but I don't remember the actual conversation."
Andrew looked at me, his eyes narrowed, his mouth set.
"Are you telling me while we were trying to include you into our family you were too busy trying to not get your hopes up to actually hear the conversation where they would've been proved true?"
"Ummm"
Camilla began giggling and Andrew sat back in the sofa, a big wide smile spread across his features, making his hazel eyes shine.
"Well then."
I smiled at them both and took a sip of my tea. I knew I had to be utterly honest with them, and given that my sexuality had never come up in casual conversation, I had to out myself.
"In the interest of full disclosure I think I should tell you both that I'm-"
"If you're about to come out of the closet you're far too late. We know you and Ryan are an item."
I guffawed loudly, trying very hard not to spill the tea on the love seat. I could see the confused look on their faces.
"No, no, no, no. Me and Ryan are JUST friends, true he's my best friend and likely my only one for a long while, but I see him like a brother."
We spoke of Ryan and his parents and how we'd met, and what our relationship meant to me, and night fell. I was so comfortable sitting here, talking to them, laughing with them. I felt relief wash over me as I realized I'd found what I had been searching for my entire life. I'd finally gotten to be part of something greater than myself.
Andrew drove me to the Star Inn and helped me pack the few things I called mine. I checked every drawer and cabinet, making sure I'd be leaving nothing behind. I grabbed my keys and Andrew grabbed my forearm before I could get to the door.
"Ray, I need to talk to you. You mentioned you'd been partying pretty hard...I don't want to be that guy but you know there's no room for drugs or hard alcohol at home right?"
"I drank a lot these past couple of weeks, but I assure you the strongest drug I have ever done, and will likely ever do is caffeine. I've seen what drugs can do, and I know where alcohol can lead, you don't have to worry about that with me. I promise."
He smiled at me and grabbed one of the bags by the door. I was on my way home, where Camilla was making dinner, where I had a room to call my own, where I was wanted, cared for, welcomed. I had found my own little niche in the world.
Morning came with thunder and lightning. The sky was heavy with clouds and I dreaded the walk to the bus stop, but I had to show up at Frank's and make up the time I'd blown off yesterday. I padded barefoot to the bathroom, not wanting to wake up Andrew and Camilla on their only shared day off.
"Ray!" Came Camilla's hoarse whisper from her bedroom door "take my car!! It's pouring out, Andy and I are just gonna be lazy today."
She threw her keys at me and I mouthed a thank you since I didn't trust my voice this early. I showered and dressed as quietly as I could, thankful to Camilla for having woken up just to hand me her keys, not that she'd never done it before, it was just a really nice gesture.
I made a big pot of coffee and set the maker to warming so they'd have some coffee once they were ready to wake up. The clouds outside were still laden with moisture and the thunder and lightning had not slowed any. I took a deep breath and ran for Camilla's Hyundai.
The radio stations were all giving flash flood warnings that would remain in effect until later tonight, I thought of the basement and the garage. Camilla kept her home office in the basement and Andrew had thousands of dollars worth of equipment and tools in the garage, and if the garage flooded the breakfast nook and it's newly laid bamboo floors would probably flood as well. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Andrew. I wanted to turn back but I was already cutting it close to the beginning of my shift. My phone rang and Andrew's number came up on the caller ID.
"Hey Ray, what time are the warnings in effect until?"
"They're estimating 7 o'clock but truth be told it's raining really heavy, the wipers are barely keeping up, and some of the drainage sewers don't look like they can keep the pace much longer"
"I'll go sandbag the house. Thanks for texting Ray."
"Sure Andrew."
I clicked off the call and slowed down, there was parking right outside Frank's but the store was closed. I dialed Frank's home number.
"Hey Lil Ray!"
"Good morning Brenda, how are you?"
"I was peachy till I heard all them flash flood warnings, did Frank not get around to calling you?"
"No ma'am, is something wrong?"
"Well the Better Business Bureau is advising Main Street to stay closed for today, the river is too close to here and they want to make sure we don't incur damages if it overflows"
"Oh okay, guess I'll head home then."
"Are you outside?"
"Yes ma'am"
"Oh I'm sorry Ray!!! That big lug must've forgotten to call you."
It all rushed back in a heartbeat. I had never spoken to Frank yesterday, he didn't know I'd actually become part of the Collins' family. He didn't know any of it, and he was probably pissed at me still. I thanked Brenda for the information and dialed Frank's cell. I sat in the car waiting for him to answer but it rang and rang, then went to voicemail. I tried him one more time and had no luck. I left him a voicemail explaining the situation and headed home. As I drove I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. I decided to call Brenda one more time.
"Hello?"
"Hey Brenda it's Ray again. Is Frank home?"
"No he's at the shop, sandbagging and securing electronics and all that. Have you tried his cell?"
"Voicemail both times, and the store was dark when I got there."
"Oh my...I'm going to have to go now Ray"
As I threw my phone into the passenger seat I slammed on the brakes and pulled a u-turn from hell. Something was definitely wrong and I wanted to make sure Frank was okay. I sped down Main Street, honking my horn at yellow lights and ignoring the posted speed limit, my heart was thumping in my ears and I could barely breathe from the anxiety that was building up inside me. I threw the car into the first parking spot and launched myself into the rain, ignoring all safety. I wanted to know that Frank was okay, I needed to see him be alright.
I ran around back and there he was, on the floor, his breathing shallow, labored, but breathing. I grabbed for my phone and remembered I had thrown it on the seat. I kneeled by Frank, the rain dripping from my hair and face; I put my head on his back trying to hear a heartbeat, it was faint but it was there, I dug through Frank's pockets and found his cell phone. I dialed 911 and waited as it rang.
"911 what's your emergency?"
"My boss collapsed, I just found him. I'm not aware how long it's been or what's wrong, please send an ambulance."
"What's your location?"
"3206 Main Street, around back, it's Frank's Mini Mart"
"Stay with me on the line okay? I'm dispatching an ambulance now. Is he breathing?"
"Yes ma'am, shallow, but he is."
"Does he have a pulse?"
"I can hear his heart but I don't know how to take a pulse"
"Is he responsive?"
"Ummm...Frank? Frank? Can you hear me? Frank? No ma'am, he's out cold"
"Can you hear the ambulance?"
I listened for a siren but the rain and wind had picked up and I could barely hear the phone anymore.
"I don't know...should I move him out of the rain?"
"No don't do that sir, we don't know what happened and you can make the situation worse, just stay with him and monitor his breathing and heart ok?"
"Okay"
I heard steps and went to the front, there was the ambulance, the EMTs were getting their gear and one was running towards me.
"THIS WAY!!!" I ran ahead of him, guiding him to Frank, wanting him to be alright.
"Sir? Has the ambulance arrived?"
"Yes ma'am!! Thank you so much!"
I ended the call and stepped away from Frank, giving the EMTs the space to work. The rain was pouring in solid sheets, hard, cold and fast. I saw Frank's keys in the door and opened it. I deactivated the alarm and went to the back room, the bags were already set up, and they were set up in the front, whatever had happened was after Frank had sandbagged the store, only the back door remained and those bags we kept in the storage unit beneath the steps to the second floor. I ran to my locker and picked up a change of clothes and an umbrella then dialed Brenda's number.
"FRANK!! For God's sake!! I almost had an aneurysm--"
"Brenda it's Ray Frank's on his way to Memorial of the Lady, I'm on my way there too, do you need a ride?"
"No, no, no you go with Frank and you take care of him!! I'll get a cab."
The phone ended and I ran outside, the EMTs had Frank all strapped up and were beginning to roll him, I dashed ahead and grabbed my phone out of the car and rushed back to the ambulance.
"You guys are taking him to Memorial of the Lady yes?"
"Yes son, are you related?"
"I'm his employee."
"Are you aware of his medical history?"
"His wife always nags him about his cholesterol, and I think he's had a cholecystectomy when he was younger"
"Get in the bus, it's pouring God's own tears out here"
They loaded Frank then I got in and they sped forward, the guy in the back kept monitoring Frank and I answered whatever questions I could.
When we reached the hospital I jumped out first and stood aside, not wanting to get in their way. I could hear the doctors and EMTs exchanging rapid fire information about Frank. I watched as they rolled him into a room, a bunch of equipment followed, and as the doors closed all I could think of was what a great man he was, and how much his passing would hurt his wife, the community and myself.
After about 20 minutes I could feel the cold air seeping through my drenched clothes, I went into the bathroom and pulled on my spare pair of pants and t-shirt. I stood under the dryer and got my hair to go from dripping wet to damp. I grabbed a sweater from my bag, one of the many habits I'd picked up in my childhood, and went back to the waiting room.
I texted Andrew and Camilla simultaneously.
{@ hospital, Frank is not well. Car is parked outside store.}
I sat back in the chair. I felt the pressure building in my chest, the pin-pricks stabbing at my eyes, the hot tears rising. Frank had to be okay. He was a good man, a decent man, a loving man. He had hired me when no one else would, he'd become a friend, an advisor, and in his own way, an idol of mine. He had shown me that no matter how dark things could get, there was always a light shining at the end of the tunnel. My phone rang and I answered. Swallowing hard to remove the lump in my throat.
"Hello?"
"Ray!! What's going on? How is he?"
"They've been in with him, but I haven't heard anything, Brenda's on her way."
"You want us to come down?"
"If one of you could? I'm sorry to be a bother"
"None of that Ray, Frank's been amazing to us all. Andrew's getting the car and once he's back I'll come sit with you okay?"
"Thanks Camilla."
"Cam, okay? No more Camilla or Mrs. Collins, just Cam."
"Thanks Cam."
She hung up and I focused on the door of the room where they'd sent Frank. I wanted to go in there and demand news, but I wasn't next of kin and that meant that legally I couldn't do a thing. I heard a familiar voice asking the nurse a question, I twisted in my chair and almost ran to her, Brenda. Her hair was dripping wet, her shirt was almost see-through, and she looked like she'd ran to the hospital.
"Ray!!! How is he?"
"They haven't told me anything, but they're still in the room with him. I'm going to get a hot cup of tea, see if I can snag you something dry."
"Scrubs, they can sell you scrubs. I'm a large."
I nodded, kissed her cheek and started following the signs to the cafeteria. She needed something to calm her nerves and keep the chill away. I asked one of the nurses about the scrubs and she guided me to the machine. I got Brenda a change of clothes and a sweater from the gift shop.
"Here, drink this."
I handed her the tea, and her trembling hands spoke more than her tightened lips ever would. She was worried sick. I held her hands in mine. Not able to say a whole lot, not sure how to verbalize what I felt. She gave me the ghost of a smile, patted my cheek and grabbed the scrubs.
I sat still as a stone, my eyes focused solely on the door. I wanted someone to come out of there, someone to look for Frank's family and deliver some sort of news. Brenda came back, her eyes were red, and her cheeks smeared. She wanted to seem so strong, even as she held the walls of her world up by sheer will. I patted her knee, and we stared at the door, focused, yet utterly distracted.
"Ray, Brenda."
I heard Cam's voice. I turned and tried to smile but was sure my expression hadn't actually changed. It had been 45 minutes and we still didn't know a thing. Brenda snapped out of whatever reverie she was on, stood up and marched towards the room. Part of me wanted to stop her, to not let her make a scene, but the other part of me was ready to make an even bigger one if anyone got in her way. I felt Cam's hand on my forearm and realized I'd stood up as well, though I hadn't moved yet.
"Let her. She's worried."
I nodded but I didn't sit down, I'd be damned if I let Frank and Brenda down in the same day. I should've been there earlier. I should've checked the back door; there were so many things I should've done...
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Stories posted in this category are works of fiction that combine worlds created by the original content owner with names, places, characters, events, and incidents that are created by the authors' imaginations or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, companies, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
Authors are responsible for properly crediting Original Content creator for their creative works.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Stories in this Fandom are works of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. <br>
Authors are responsible for properly crediting Original Content creator for their creative works.
Note: While authors are asked to place warnings on their stories for some moderated content, everyone has different thresholds, and it is your responsibility as a reader to avoid stories or stop reading if something bothers you.
Stories in this Fandom are works of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. <br>
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