The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room. Doctors and nurses, who were moving about frantically just moments before, had frozen where they stood. The head ER doctor, Dr. Winter, was holding the arm of the lifeless body on the table, checking desperately for a pulse. Feeling nothing, he sighed, and stepped back, letting go of the arm. "Note the time, Dr. Nelson," he said flatly to one of his colleagues. "2:51 pm." Dr. Winter sighed. This was the part he hated. He began to walk out of the room as the other doctors and nurses began to remove the tubes and such from the body. He spoke softly as he headed for the door. "I'll--I'll go speak to the family," he said numbly as he walked down to the lounge.
Dr. Winter approached the lounge, looking at the family members of this poor woman. This woman who had died on his table. True, she was 82 years old, she had lived a long, prosperous life. But in any event, it was never easy to tell the surviving family members and friends the news of their loved one's passing. Taking a deep breath, he forced a half-smile and approached the group gathered in the lounge. He spoke solemnly. "Mr. Carter? Mrs. Greene?"
The two middle-aged siblings looked up, meeting Dr. Winter's eyes. He didn't even have to say it, they knew what he was about to tell them. They looked at each other and embraced, letting their tears flow freely. Others in the room also consoled each other's grief. Dr. Winter sat on the chair next to where the woman's children were sitting. "Would you like to see her before we--"
The gentleman interrupted. "Yes, please. Karen, let's go," he said, urging his sister to follow him.
Karen got up from her seat. "Just a second, Nicky." Standing up, she hugged Dr. Winter. "Thank you, for all that you've done," she said, smiling at the doctor through her tears. "She's in a better place now. Dad's with her," Karen added with a smile. Squeezing Dr. Winter's hand, she walked off to catch up with her brother down the hallway to where their mother lay. Dr. Winter sighed a sigh of relief, as he walked back into the ER.
Everyone sat in silence in Laura Carter's home. No one could believe that she was gone. Everyone sat stunned as they looked at their surroundings. Karen's daughter Kristy spoke up first. "So now what happens, Mom?" she asked, holding her own son, David, only 3 months old. "It's only been six months since Grandpa died." Kristy sighed. "This is just too much at once."
Karen sighed. "I know, sweetie, I know," she said, hugging her daughter. She sighed heavily. "Mom always said that nothing was going to separate her and Dad, and I'm telling you, when she put her mind to something..." she paused and chucked. Karen's big brother Nick laughed too. They tried to avoid each other's gaze, but couldn't, and started laughing harder. "Nicky, stop it! This is supposed to be a serious moment."
Nick smiled and attempted to stifle his laughing. "I'm sorry, Karen, but you started it! And besides, Mom wouldn't want us to be sad today. She'd want us to find something to laugh about. No matter what, she always had to crack a joke. Her and Dad would never stop, remember?"
"This is true, but that's not always how things were between them." Howie Dorough spoke up from the corner of the room, sitting up.
"Oh, no kidding," Brian Littrell added, smiling. "It sure was a love-hate relationship--They loved to hate each other!" he said laughing, and everyone followed suit.
Nick and Karen looked at each other. "What are you two talking about? I think you guys are getting more and more senile by the minute! I can't imagine Mom and Dad ever hating each other!" Karen said in disbelief.
Kevin Richardson, Cherie Dorough, and AJ and Misty McLean laughed hysterically. Kevin shook his head. "Obviously you young'ins were never told how your parents met, and we're NOT senile! We have never been more 'with it,'" he added with a smirk.
Leighanne Littrell agreed. "I can't believe your Mom didn't at least tell you. I'm sure your Dad probably blocked it out. It was not the best of times for him, your Mother made your Father's life a living hell!"
"Antie Leighanne! I can't believe you're speaking of our dear, sweet, departed mother that way!" Karen shouted, half-laughing.
Brian jumped to his wife's defense. "Well, believe it or not, kiddo... we know what really went down. And we'll tell you too... that is, if you're interested in knowing..."
Karen, Nick, Kristy, Nick's son Michael, and everyone else there, nodded in agreement. Michael spoke up. "Yes, Uncle Brian. We want to know. Please tell us how Grandpa and Grandma met!"
"OK," Brian said, sitting down once again next to Leighanne, grabbing her hand as he began. "Y'all better get comfortable... you're in for a lonnng story..."
