Part Fifty-One

(Note: This is the first of a multi-part episode.)

Peggy got the call from Raoul at 3 p.m. last Wednesday afternoon. Sunlight was pouring in her office window. It was a spectacular day in Seattle and she was thinking of what she wanted to do over the coming weekend. Mostly she was wondering if she should propose doing something with Raoul, something simple, like a walk in the woods.

"I have to go to New Orleans," he said.

"When?"

"Tonight, if possible. Fran's best friend is in the hospital and not doing well. I've agreed to take her down there."

Fran was Raoul's sister. Peggy got to know her when they spent a traumatic weekend of rain and flooding at her beach house in Westport, WA. Peggy reflected on how that single weekend had led to so many things: a new closeness between her and Raoul; the coastal task force that she and Raoul had been appointed to; the trip to Washington, D.C., to testify before a House subcommittee on the outcome of the task force's findings; the subsequent road trip to Philadelphia, New York and Maine; the apparent budding romance between Peggy's son, Taylor, and Raoul's daughter, Deidre; the cooling off of Peggy's romance with Raoul following an unfortunate incident in Maine. She thought of all this in the tiny fraction of time that passed after Raoul spoke Fran's name. Peggy had visited with Fran a couple of times since the beach weekend and had found her to be enjoyable company. Like Peggy, she was a widow who missed her late husband dearly.

"I see," said Peggy. "Well, that's good of you to do that. Please give my regards to Fran. Should I call her?"

"I'd like you to do more than call her," he said. "I would like you to come with us, if you can get away."

Peggy hesitated. She knew it wouldn't be a problem as far as her job was concerned. The real question was whether she wanted to go. It was one thing to propose a walk in the woods with Raoul, but a weekend in New Orleans was quite another matter. On the other hand she felt bad for Fran.

"Is this Agnes, the friend she's mentioned often?" asked Peggy, stalling for time.

"Yes. They were college roommates at Tulane University and they've been best friends ever since."

"I didn't realize Fran went to Tulane," said Peggy.

"Agnes's family is a riot. I met several of them when Fran took me down there for Agnes's wedding. Seems like a lifetime ago."

Peggy sighed. She couldn't think of a way to back out gracefully. "I suppose I can get away," she said.

"Thanks. Fran will be very happy to hear that."

"What about you? Are you happy to hear it?"

"Yes. Very much so," he said.

Peggy felt a wave of warmth wash through her.

She broke the news to her boss and then returned to Bainbridge Island on the next ferry. By the time she was packed, Raoul called and said the next flight they could get was at 6 a.m. Thursday morning.

"I've made reservations for all three of us. We should stay at Fran's tonight and take a taxi to the airport in the morning."

"Okay," said Peggy.

When they greeted Fran a few hours later Peggy instantly knew that agreeing to come was the right thing. She was very distraught.

"I don't think I'll get to talk to her again," said Fran, sobbing. "When they got Agnes to the hospital she lost consciousness and now her brain's not working at all."

Peggy hugged Fran.

Raoul said, "We'll get there as soon as we can."

They boarded their flight the next morning, still half asleep following a 3:30 a.m. wake up. After changing planes in Dallas they arrived in New Orleans at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. Peggy walked out of the terminal and was almost knocked over by the intensity of the air: the heat and humidity overwhelmed her like a sauna. She felt her clothes instantly cling to every part of her body.

"Wow," said Raoul.

"Reminds me of Agnes," said Fran. "She flourished in this weather. She used to say it 'envelopes you like your mother.'"

Peggy could appreciate the metaphor, but suspected one could only experience that after a lifetime of living in the climate.

The sky was blue and the sun was bright and overpowering as Raoul drove their rental car straight to the hospital. Peggy saw drive-thru daiquiri shops and snow ball stands and signs for strip clubs on Bourbon Street. As soon as they stepped out of the air conditioned car Peggy again felt the heavy, moist air and intense heat. She could not imagine living in it. The concrete sidewalk radiated heat like a furnace, and there was no relief in the shade of a large crepe myrtle tree as they walked under it. Peggy mentally inventoried her luggage to determine whether or not she brought enough of the right clothing.

As they rode an elevator up to the intensive care unit Fran was twisting a handkerchief around her fingers. She trembled visibly. Peggy dreaded the scene that was to come. Fran was pale and quiet. Raoul stood close to his sister, looking as though he were ready to catch her if she fainted. Fran and Agnes were obviously closer than Peggy had realized.

Peggy felt a sense of something all to familiar come over her as she walked down the brightly lit corridors with walls made of shiny ceramic tiles. Her husband was taken to an intensive care unit in Seattle after his stroke and Peggy and her children spent a long anxious night at his side watching him pass away.

They entered a large crowded waiting room. Peggy sensed that an ordeal was beginning.

What she could not possibly imagine at that time was the way in which it would unfold over the next few days.


TO BE CONTINUED

I am presently writing from Atlanta, GA. Postings could be sporadic this week. This story is still happening.