Page 26 of Conail
She rose and indicated for the nurse to take Yasmine's vital signs.
"I'm going to leave Nurse Williams here to monitor your condition. If there are any changes, I'll be here in a jiffy."
"Thanks, Doc. I guess it's safe to say that my holiday is shot to hell."
"Something like that." Dr. Manning squeezed her hand, indicating that Eleanor should follow her from the room.
"How bad is it?" Eleanor asked as soon as they had descended the stairs and stepped into the white and gold salon.
"As I said, her blood pressure is troubling, but it's steadily going down. She has the worst case of nausea I have ever encountered and is losing fluid." Charlene accepted the cup of coffee gratefully. "Nurse Williams is not just a nurse, but a midwife as well and is the best. She'll see to it that Yasmine gets some rest."
Eleanor put away her coffee and stared out the window, a frown touching her forehead.
"I never expected it to be so bad. I was sick as a dog when I was carrying Conail, but it only lasted three months, and by the second trimester it disappeared as if by magic. That poor girl." She stared sightlessly out the window.
"Hopefully things will improve by the end of the first trimester." Finishing the coffee, she put the cup away and reached for her coat.
"Thanks for coming out, Charlene." Eleanor forced a smile as she followed her to the door.
"Call me if there are any concerns."
"I will." Shutting the doors behind the woman, Eleanor went to the foot of the stairs and stood there looking up uncertainly. She had assured Maeve that they had everything under control. She had even mentioned to her son the gravity of the situation and he had just shrugged fatalistically and responded that it's best if Yasmine miscarried at this early stage.
She had looked at him in despair and anger and stormed out of his office. But she was not giving up. And it was time for him to get personally involved.
*****
"Dr. Manning said I should stay." Nurse Williams stared at the woman in confusion. "Ms. Smith's condition has improved a little, but she still needs monitoring."
"And I appreciate your dedication to the job. I really do." Eleanor was busy hustling the woman out of the suite. "But I amhere, and I can do my part. If there's anything amiss, I'll be sure to call."
"Ms. McLaughlin, I know you're paying my salary--"
"And a very generous amount it is." She bundled the woman into her jacket and headed towards the doors. "Which means, I get to call the shots. I've already gotten the approval from Dr. Manning and the assurance that if anything goes wrong, I'll pick up the phone. I want Yasmine to have a nice holiday without feeling as if she's hovering at death's door. Enjoy your holiday."
She practically pushed the woman out and locked the doors behind her. Clapping her hands, she smiled as she contemplated the next phase of her plan. She and Maeve had discussed this at length. Yasmine was still feeling poorly, but the tubes that had tied her to the bed had been removed. She was now able to take in solid food or rather, plain soup and tea.
She had a function to attend and had every intention of being present. It was the annual charity ball for autistic and Down syndrome children -- one that was near and dear to her heart. She was not going to miss it. It was time for her son to becomepersonally involved and she was going to see to it that he could not say no to her request.
Eleanor dialed her son's number with a resolved determination. As the ringing continued, she rehearsed her words in her mind. She needed to convey the urgency and importance of the situation without evoking his usual fatalistic attitude.
When he finally answered, she didn't waste time with pleasantries.
"We need to talk," she started, her voice unwavering. "I'm on my way out and need you to come and check in on Yasmine."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Eleanor could almost hear him weighing his options.
"Isn't there supposed to be a nurse to see to her?" he demanded impatiently.
"She had a family emergency." Eleanor sunk down on the sofa and pressed her lips together as she spun the lies. "And Charlene had to go out of town. I have given the staff the usual time off. There's no one here in case she needs anything."
The pause again.
"What about her family?" he asked tersely.
"An event at the farm. Her mother is hosting the annual small town farmers' gala and is completely swamped. So is the rest of the family." She waited with bated breath, praying that he would feel guilty enough to want to appear. "She's being brave, darling, but I don't want to leave her in case something happens. I promise to return as soon as I possibly can."
There was a pause again and this time it was lengthier.
