It was the worst attack of asthma that her mother could ever remember, Shelley gasping desperately for breath as Jacqueline and her husband sped frantically through the night to Surrey Memorial Hospital.
Earlier that August 7 evening, when Rick had come home, both he and Jacqueline had cherished the thought of permanent reconciliation. Shelley however--although she was found of her stepfather--had been upset. Once again, she would lose her role as surrogate mother.
At the hospital, Shelley was nearly comatose. Richard and Jacqueline were assured by the doctor on call that she would be all right but she would have to stay overnight in intensive care.
Since the family hadn't yet found a new doctor, Jacqueline spoke by phone the next morning with Dr. Charalambous. The doctor said he had been notified that Shelley as in the hospital and he would be seeing her during his morning rounds.
As expected, Shelley's condition improved over the next three days, but Jacqueline was surprised, visiting after work, to find her daughter's bedside table covered with gifts of magazines and chocolates. That's from Dr. Charalambous, Shelley smiled innocently.
Jacqueline frowned. That's not right, she said, concerned by the continuing familiarity. Doctors don't do things like that. If he brings you anything else, just tell him there's no need for this.
At home that night, Jacqueline found it difficult to put the gifts out of her mind. She was relieved, however, that Shelley had seemed much better, and she picked her daughter up the next day after Charalambous said she could be discharged. . . |
