Dinner with my family is one of the bright points in my day. I get to see my children for the most part and while Bethany loves her mother she does seek my approval from time to time. My name sake is passing his college classes but I'm beginning to think a male tutor might be needed since he keeps posting pictures of girls he's with and I'm beginning to worry that it'll be a major setback in a couple years. My Abigail is a bright and promising student with grades and a work ethic that will make any business proud, and her sister helping her out socially which is a bonus. I miss how they used to be inseparable before their mother died. And speaking of Mothers my wife Loretta is an amazing woman. Linda was a great mom but it takes strength to come into a family and establish yourself as a good parent. Thankfully I have some great kids. Not to forget the dark horse in the family, Loretta's boy Guy. I had hoped he would come out of his shell over the years but he seems more and more distant as time winds on. I've been looking at college options for him when he graduates this year, he and Abigail are my academic powerhouses so wherever they want to go to college they get to go. Mark Jr. and Bethany are Texas College bound through and through but they like it here and it keeps them on a short leash. Put one on the other side of the country and who knows what messes they would make. Back to Guy I've been concerned for a couple months now that he's trying to cut himself off from family and might be getting into trouble. After he came home early in the morning one day I decided to keep a loose eye on his comings and goings from the house, needless to say there isn't much. I hated to be the one to tell him his biological father is missing but better coming from me than his mother. I watch her look at him in passing moments and know that my wife feels a bit sad at the state of things but if it were horrible he would say something. I've always prided myself on open communication between the family.
Back to the current events of the day we're all having dinner in the dining room, Loretta made roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. A classic and I feel like things are turning up well for the family. Guy hasn't come down from his room to get his plate but when he does I'm going to encourage him to sit with us and drag him into the conversation with the rest of the family. Bethany is talking about this Halloween at the end of this month and some party she wants to host at the house. She loves showing off my hard work and I do too at times. Mark is thinking about moving to the dorms on campus, it's a good thought but I want his grades to go up and if paying for gasoline in the tank gets me that I will take the bargain. Abigail is a little quiet but attentive to everything including the empty seat next to her where Guy would be. We're halfway through dinner and no sign of the boy. I have a mind to bring him a plate and have a talk in his room, to get a feel for where he's at.
I'm about halfway through my plate when Loretta's phone goes off in the kitchen. I don't like electronic devices at the table as it takes away from family time. Regardless she ignores it and allows it to go to voicemail. We continue to eat when the phone goes off again and Loretta removes herself from the table to answer the call. I can hear Mark talking about a winter trip to Europe for skiing when there is a commotion in my kitchen where my wife is. I hurry from the table and find my wife on the floor shaken and unable to stand. The kids are there with me as I try to rouse my wife.
"Honey are you alright," I ask my distressed wife.
"Hospital… he's at the hospital… I need to go to the hospital…," I hear it come from my wife's mouth but don't understand.
"Lori who is in the hospital," I ask and she looks at me.
"My baby is in the hospital, we need to leave now," her final words confuse me a little.
I watch as Loretta finds her feet and begins to scramble through the house looking for whatever she can to get out the door. I don't know who called but if my wife is distressed I'm going to help solve this. I get my keys and jacket, and then grab her phone before ushering my wife into my car while my children attempt to ask questions.
"I don't know what is happening but until I get home Mark keeps the girls here," I tell my son who gives me a determined look.
In the car and five minutes of driving when Loretta informs me that we're going to the wrong hospital. We end up driving almost across town but not quite as we pull into visitor parking and I have to jog to keep up with my wife who is running in her bare feet. I return to the car to grab her shoes and back into the hospital.
"Where did the hysterical woman run off to," I ask the nurse at the counter.
She puts me in the right direction and I find Lori standing and talking with a different nurse in the surgery wing. I arrive at my wife's side only to have her bury her head in my shoulder crying.
"Nurse, could you please explain to me what is going on," I asked, attempting to get a lay of the land.
"I was just telling your wife that your son is in surgery for a knife wound to the abdomen, he's been in there for a couple of hours now and the sitting area is back the way you came," She is a professional but needs a little lighter touch.
"That will be fine Ma'am, where do I set up billing," I get it out of the way early and I won't have to deal with the forms when we should be with Guy.
I leave Loretta sitting in a chair and get her some water while I fill out the insurance information. I actually have to message my policy handler and request the updated information. I keep all my children on my coverage since it's hard out in the world without it. I complete the form and wait for another hour when my second hurdle has walked in the door and is looking for my wife. She's an intense Detective from the police force, Latina female and a no nonsense attitude. I know this because I've cross examined her.
"Mr. Delauter, I'm surprised to see you down here. Visiting a client," Detective Escalante asks, being barely polite.
"I'm here with my wife, our son is in surgery," I counter and she smiles.
"Wonderful, I get to speak with both of you," sitting next to my wife who is unsure of what is going on.