I HAVE AN ETERNITY AHEAD OF ME

(Intermittent Waves Recorded From The Transformed Heart Of A Woman)

EPISODE 56

AUNTIE YONNY: MAN-UP

Martin took Hal to the emergency room registration desk, but, Hal wanted to immediately go up to surgery.

"Hal, we have to get her registered first to help them know what to do."

"We don't have time for this Martin."

"Can I help you, sir.?"

Martin answered, then, looked to Hal to follow through.

"We're here with the patient who just came in the ambulance."

"Patient's name and date of birth, please"

When he tried to give the clerk the information, Hal was trying his best to think, but, too many thoughts were getting in the way.

"Uh...Zenobia Agumanu, April ninth, two-thousand and...and"

Hal became frustrated and turned away from the clerk. Martin moved in very close to him and bent his head down, speaking in his ear.

"Listen, Hal. I know you're dealing with a lot right now, but, if you're going to lead this empire of yours and this family, you're going to have to learn how to keep a cool head and think to stay ahead of the game! We need someone to lead us who can make the right decisions, no matter what kind of stress they're under, or more lives are going to be lost.

If you're going to be of any good use to Rachel or Zenobia right now, you need to man-up! You'll have your time to grieve and be angry, but--not--NOW!

Anger clouds your thinking and makes you make crucial mistakes. That's what we don't have time for."

Hal looked up at Martin, angry at first that he would speak to him that way, then he began to think more clearly.

"You're right, Martin."

Hal, took out his cellphone and called Darla, putting her on speaker phone.

"Hi Darla...yes, he's gone...I'm alright...thank you...I appreciate your sympathy...yes, he was a good man. I'm at the hospital now and they brought in Zenobia...yes...they thought she was dead, but, they're taking her into surgery. I really need your help right now. I need you to look up Zenobia's records and give the clerk all the information she needs to register Zenobia. Here she is...and...thank you, Darla.

Ma'am, my secretary is on the phone and she can provide you with all the information that's needed."

"Thank you, sir."

Martin patted Hal on the back and Hal gave him an irritated look.

"You sounded like my old man."

"Well, that comes from hanging around him, too much, but I had no choice. But, he wasn't a bad example to follow."

"Yeah...you're right, Martin, he wasn't a bad example to follow."

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After the clerk had finished getting information from Darla, she handed the phone back to Hal. Darla was still on the line.

"Hold on for a second, Darla..."

"Sir, I got everything that I needed. Thank you."

"Ma'am, wait ma'am, will you please let me know as soon as possible when I can go up to surgery and speak to a nurse or case manager?"

The clerk nodded her head. "We'll be calling you, shortly sir. Please have a seat. There's free coffee and tea in the vending machine area."

"Thank you, ma'am.

...uh, Darla...Darla? She said that she got everything that she needed. Thank you for helping.

I'm sorry to interrupt your evening, but, I need you to get in touch with Zenobia's brother, Nigel, in Trinidad and forward the call to me, so that I can tell him what happened to his sister. Yes, I'll stay on the line, now."

Martin smiled at Hal, showing his approval of his thinking and courtesy. Hal managed to smile back and waved his hand at him, portraying a nonchalant attitude. However, in his heart, he was grateful for Martin and the effect that his father had had upon him.

Martin called Rahid, asked about Rachel and the baby, and let him know that he was with Hal. He thanked him for the good work he had done that day, because, without him, they may never have found Zenobia. He told him not to get Rachel's hopes up and just to tell her that the doctor's were trying to keep Zenobia and the baby alive.

Remembering that he had arranged for a friend to get them out of the hospital that night in his delivery truck, Martin hurriedly texted him to tell him that the plans had been postponed until further notice and thanked him for always being there for him.

Reporting back to Steve was Martin's next contact to make. He knew that Steve could take care of everything else that needed to be taken care of and he was more than happy to take orders from him, knowing his capability.

Steve needed to know that Zenobia was still alive and if she was alive, it was also possible that Jake could be alive, too, since the police hadn't known that he was in the limousine with the others.

Steve also needed to send more men to the hospital, he thought. He didn't want to be relieved from his shift and he knew that Rahid probably didn't want to be either. It was important to him that they all see this thing through, not, just as brothers-in-arms, but, as a family, as well. He knew that that's what David Siegfried and Sam would have wanted.

Darla had gotten Zenobia's brother Nigel on the phone and transferred the call to Hal. Hal took a deep breath trying not to get emotional, although, he wanted to break down into tears.

"Hello, Nigel, this is Hal Siegfried. I wish we could have had our first conversation under better circumstances, but..."

Before, Hal could say anything more, Nigel took charge of the conversation.

"Something has happened to my sister?!"

"Yes, she-she was in an automobile accident."

Hal didn't know why he said automobile instead of car. He guessed it was because of the very proper way that Nigel spoke. It was just like the way Zenobia spoke with precise English and usually grammatically correct.

"Is she still alive?"

"Yes, but, she's in surgery, now."

Hal, didn't need to say any more. Nigel told him exactly what he was going to do and what he expected him to do.

"I will be there, tomorrow. I will call you to have someone meet me at the airport.

Please call me in one hour and give me the status of my sister's condition. You may leave a message if you cannot get through to me. I will be preparing to leave.

If they need permission from a family member to perform a procedure, I will make the decision. You must call me right away. I will be expecting your call, if there are any changes to her condition. Please contact me directly at this number. Goodbye."

"Good-goodbye."

Hal hung up the phone, not relishing the thought of meeting Zenobia's brother, who seemed to want nothing to do with him. However, it was clear that Nigel knew how to take care of business and he took note of it with precaution.

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