Ripple Effect (Effect 1)

After fifteen more minutes, we were pulling into the garage as Ainsley’s phone began ringing.

She sleepily pulled it from her purse and yawned as she said, “Hello?”

Silence filled the car as Ainsley sat erect. “Where’s she at? Is she stable?” Her voice cracked on the last word. “Okay, I’m on my way.”

She hung up the phone and started sobbing. “Adam, we have to go Northside Hospital. That was the police. They found my mom almost beaten to death on her living room floor. Adam, hurry. They say she’s in critical condition.”

I reversed the car out of the driveway, put it into drive, and took off, the tires squealing. “Ainsley, it’s going to be okay. We’ll get there.”

Please let her mom be okay.

I felt as if my entire world was caving in on itself as the police had told me the news of my mom. Adam was driving fast as I held on to the door while the same thoughts kept circulating through my mind.

Please let my mom be okay. Please. Please. Please.

I knew my dad had something to do with this. Down deep in my core, I knew he had caused this. We’d deal with that once my mom got better.

Adam’s concerned voice filled the interior of the car. “What can I do? What do you need?”

Tears were beginning to leak from my eyes as I tried to remain strong for my mom. She needed strength.

“Just get me there. I can’t lose her, Adam. I can’t. I just got her back.”

I bit my lip painfully to stop my words and to have something to focus on besides the heavy brick crushing my chest. Guilt began to wash over my body when I realized my mom had never called me like she’d said she would earlier. I should have known something was wrong. Sobs erupted from me before I had a chance to push them down into a lockbox.

“Ainsley, baby, we’ll be there in five minutes.”

“She was supposed to call me, and I forgot. Adam, she should have called me a couple of hours ago, and I didn’t remember. If she dies, it could be my fault that I didn’t go looking for her.” My head slumped forward, and my body racked itself with uncontrollable sobs.

A hand came down on top of mine. “Let’s get to the hospital and see what’s going on. We’ll talk to the doctor, see what he says, and then do whatever we can to make her better.”

“O-o-okay.” My mind was numb as I thought about my mom in pain.

As soon as we pulled up to the hospital, I jumped out of the car before it had come to a complete stop, and I ran toward the door. Adam would find me. I ran up to the nurses’ station. I was running so fast that I had to put my hands out to the counter to stop me. An older woman with blue scrubs sat behind the counter.

“I got a call that my mom, Christine Pearson, was admitted and is in critical condition. Where do I find her?” My face was wet as more tears made fresh tracks down my face.

“I’m checking. What is your name, sweetie?”

“Ainsley. Ainsley Pearson.”

I heard the automatic doors open and close behind me. I felt Adam’s presence. He came up and placed his hand on my lower back.

The nurse looked up and gave me a gentle smile. “She’s in surgery. Go to the second floor, and the nurses there will show you where to wait. I’ll let them know.”

I took off toward the elevator as I called out, “Thank you.”

Pushing the button repeatedly, I tried to make the doors open faster. The long-awaited ding finally sounded. As soon as the doors opened, I made my way in and started pressing the number two. Adam was right there with me as his hand made long strokes up my back.

“Come on, come on, come on.”

The elevator wouldn’t close fast enough.

Adam calmly pressed the doors closed button, and then the elevator climbed at a turtle’s pace up to the second floor. My mind felt like a bobbled mess as I tried to sort out all the thoughts racing around in a circle. I refused to think about anything negative. My mom needed positive thoughts. The doors opened, and I ran up to the nurses’ station on the second floor. A young woman around my age with blonde hair and blue eyes sat behind the desk.

“I’m Ainsley Pearson. My mom, Christine Pearson, is in surgery. The nurse on the first floor was supposed to phone and say that I was coming.”

I was talking so fast and jumbled that I was surprised the nurse was able to hear me.

“Yes, she did. Your mom is still in surgery, and updates have not been posted in the system. I will keep checking back and let you know. As soon as the doctor is out, he’ll come talk to you, too. The waiting room is right across the hall. The vending machine and coffee pots are in the room next to it. If there’s anything else you need, let me know.”

My voice was hoarse. “How much longer until they’re out?”

The nurse clicked a few things on her computer and then smiled at me. “It depends on what they find. There’s nothing specific in the system yet.”

My face tried to return the smile, but the weight of worry was heavy. Adam guided me to the room, and we sat on a pink love seat.

He put his arm around the back of my head, and I laid my head on his chest as he rubbed soothingly on my back.

“Can I get you anything, baby?”

I shook my head. Antiseptic smells filled the air as I focused on counting the number of squares on the carpet. I didn’t know how much time passed when I heard a familiar voice. It was Doctor Jacobs from the center.

“Hey, Ainsley. Is there any word yet?”

I peered up to see my mom’s therapist looking tired and worried.

“No. As soon as the doctor is out of surgery, he’s supposed to come talk to me.”

Doctor Jacobs came to sit beside me. “I was in a session when the bookstore called and asked if Christine had changed her mind. I knew how excited she was to get this job. I called a friend at the police station and asked him to swing by your mom’s house. He found the front door open, and your mom was in the living room. He called me to get your contact information after the ambulance had arrived.”

My lip started trembling. “T-Thank you, Doctor Jacobs.”

Her hand came on top of mine. “Are you okay?”

“I should have…I should have known something was wrong when she didn’t call me a couple of hours after checking in. If I had remembered, she wouldn’t have suffered for so long.” The truth hurt, and the guilt was eating me alive.

“Ainsley, you have a life, too. There is no way you could have known this would happen. Your mom wouldn’t want you to blame yourself just like she doesn’t blame you for what happened to her before, remember? The only person to blame is the one who committed the crime.” Her voice was warm and soothing like it had been in our sessions.

My father. I knew it was him, but I kept quiet until we had some sort of proof. Adam was still stroking my arm.

“I know. I’m trying. Once I have some answers, it will help.”

I knew she was right. Whatever had happened to my mom was out of my control. Once I heard she was okay, the guilt would lessen.

Doctor Jacobs pulled out a piece of paper and wrote something down. Extending her hand, she said, “This is my number. I have to get back home to my baby as he’ll be hungry here in about thirty minutes. I can come back in between feedings. Please call me the minute you hear something if I’m not back yet. Are you able to stay with Ainsley the entire time, Adam?” Every time she mentioned her child, an involuntary smile graced her lips.

Adam took the piece of paper. “I’ll be here. I’m not leaving. Thanks for stopping by. I’ll keep you posted.”

I hadn’t known she had a baby. I turned to her. “Thank you for everything. Please wait until we call you at your home. There’s no reason for you to be away from your little one if nothing is going on here.”

Doctor Jacobs stood. “Adam, could you text me your number, so I can check to make sure you guys don’t need anything?”

He was already pulling out his phone. “No problem. I’ll do it now.”

“

Thank you. If you need anything, Ainsley, I’m a phone call or text away.”

I nodded. “Thanks, Doctor Jacobs. I promise, I will contact you if I need anything.”

Doctor Jacobs yawned and then walked out of the room. I laid my head back down on Adam’s chest.

“I’m here, baby. I’m here. What can I do?”

“Just hold me.”

He pulled me closer to him. I was glad he hadn’t filled my head with, It’s going to be okay. No one knew how this was going to turn out. I forced my mind to focus on the sound of the second hand on the clock.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

“Ainsley, baby, the doctor is here.”

Adam’s voice awoke me. I shot up and shook my head to try to clear the sleepy fog.

I walked toward the doctor a little stiff while extending my hand. “I’m Ainsley. Do you have an update on my mother, Christine Pearson?”

Adam was right behind me.