“Is that it?! Is that why you refused to let me see my husband?!” Lisa blurted out. “What do you mean ma’am? It was clearly an order?” Benny responded. He was clearly confused. He did not realize that he had spilled the beans.
Lisa laughed bitterly. “An order? Whose order?! Who gave such an order? An unconscious man?” She yelled and walked progressively closer to Benny. She took the last step and suddenly grappled his collar roughly. “Did you not hear yourself? You were waiting for my husband to regain consciousness! Where the hell is my husband?!” Lisa yelled.
Realization dawned on Benny. He became frantic and did not know what to do. “Take me to my husband now!” Lisa yelled and walked out of the company.
She was in shock. She settled into her car and picked up her phone. She searched out Jane’s number but stopped before dialing it. She brought the car to ignition and zoomed off angrily.
“Fuck!” Benny beat up himself and took his car keys. He got into his car and dialed Jane’s number. Jane pulled over by the roadside as she received the call.
“Hello, it’s Benny Bells. Mrs Peterson got to know her husband is in coma. I mentioned it during discussion. She is presently on her way to the hospital. I am presently in pursuit.”
“What?! How could you? Ok, listen, I am presently out of the city but I will turn around right away. Try to hold her down till l arrive. Don’t let her in until I am back. You won’t be able to handle her,” Jane said and hung up. “Shit!” She yelled and called her dad’s number.
“Hello Dad, I’m sorry… I can’t make it down today. An emergency came up, I will get..” “Why? Your mother wants….” Her father cut in but the voice from the other end suddenly changed.
“Hello? How dare you fool us?! You will be the death of me..” Jane’s mother yelled from the other end.
Jane did not respond. She hung up abruptly and wheeled her car around.
“l am sorry Lisa… I just couldn’t tell you,” she muttered all through the way.
******
Lisa pulled over right in front of the hospital, she ran in like a rabid dog and made her way down to the reception.
“Please l am here to see Mr Alex Peterson,” she told the receptionist. “Your name please?” The receptionist asked.
“Lisa Peterson, I am his wife.”
“Alright ma’am. Just a minute,” the receptionist said and clicked some keys on the keyboard. She looked up with a frown on her face, “ma’am, I am sorry, he is in a private ward. You are not cleared to visit him… Moreover, it’s not visiting time.”
“Miss, don’t give me bullshit!” Lisa yelled and banged hard at the counter. The receptionist was startled.
“l am his wife, his family! Why are you hiding him from me?!” Lisa yelled.
The receptionist dialed the hospital’s security unit and soon the security men arrived and bundled Lisa out.
Lisa fumed. She was still trying to struggle her way in when Benny rushed in.
“What the heck! She is with me,” he yelled at the security officers and they bowed in apology.
“I am really sorry ma’am, sorry for hiding it from you.. he actually made the order before he lost consciousness,” Benny said while Lisa kept mute.
“It’s just a few more hours until the visiting time… Let’s wait patiently,” Benny said and prayed Jane would arrive before the visiting hours.
*****
Marie drove in and eased her car into the parking lot at the hospital. She had been stalking Lisa since Alex was admitted and today she finally brought her to him.
“This is what that bastard couldn’t fix,” She muttered and remained in her car.
******
Jane drove down to the hospital. She wheeled her car into the parking lot and noticed a shadowy figure within the shadows. “Hello, is anybody there?” She called out. “Yes, it’s I,” Marie replied and walked out of hiding.
“Marie Tanner and you?” She said and extended her hand for a handshake. Jane withdrew her hand at the mention of the name. She gazed at Marie disdainfully before walking away.”Do I even know her? What a weirdo!” Marie muttered and went back into the shadows.
Lisa had dozed off when Jane got into the reception. She sighted Benny and walked up to him. Both discussed in low tones. She did not fail to let him know she was disappointed in him for spilling the beans.
She finally took her seat by her friend and watched her sleep. She wondered what Marie was doing at the hospital. Gently, she nudged Lisa to consciousness.
Lisa opened her eyes slowly and realized Jane was sitting beside her. “How dare you come here?!” She barked out.
“Calm down Lisa. You’ve got every right to be angry with me… I have no excuses for my actions,” Jane responded.
“Sure! Sure you don’t. So, why are you here?” Lisa questioned and moved away from Jane.
“You don’t expect me to tell you your husband is in a coma. How could I? Things are already tough for you as it is!” Jane yelled tearfully.
“You should have. At least, I needed to know. He is my husband after all.”
“I am sorry… am I forgiven?” Jane asked and drew closer to her friend. Lisa had no choice; they hugged each other and checked into Alex’s room together with Benny.