Paul saw the look on my face at the distraction but smiled as he pulled the phone from his pocket. "It's only Karen or Mrs. Doberchek. They're the only people who can call this number." When the first words were spoken and I saw the look on his face I knew the news spelled disaster to our evening plans.
We stepped off the elevator with the phone still at Paul's ear as he spoke of a hospital and an ambulance. He held the instrument aside long enough to tell me it was Timmy. He opened the door to our room and continued his conversation in an anxious voice. When the call ended, he began to pace.
"Timmy fell down the stairs and struck his head on a corner stem. Mrs. D was crying so much it was difficult to get details but he was unconscious. It was Karen who called 911and by the time the ambulance arrived Timmy was awake but didn't know where he was. There was a lot of blood. They're on the way to the hospital." He sat down and put his hands to his head. "I could hear the siren in the background."
"You have to go," I said.
He looked up. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. You have to go. They'll be another time."
"I'll call Herb; he's my pilot. I can be in Boston in a couple of hours or less." He rummaged in a suitcase for a second cell phone. "My business phone." He smiled. "It was turned off." He added, "I want to leave the other one open for the hospital." He began dialing as he paced the room which I was noticing for the first time. It was not a suite but sumptuous in decor, and I felt a wave of regret in leaving it so soon. Paul's first cell phone began ringing. He remained on his other phone making travel arrangements with a hand to his ear to block out honking sounds from the street. Instinctively I picked up the ringing phone.
"Is this Sarah?" A frightened voice answered my greeting.
I spoke without hesitation. "Your father is making arrangements to fly home. I'm so sorry, Honey. I know Timmy will be fine."
"Mrs. Doberchek collapsed. They carried her inside on a stretcher, like Timmy."
"Oh, God!" I said. "Are you at the hospital now?"
"I'm outside. They're both in the emergency room."
"Are you alone out there?"
"Sort of. There are lots of people around. There's a nurse too."
"Shouldn't you go inside?" Before Karen could answer, Paul noticed I was on the phone and I handed it to him. I stepped away to give him privacy, somewhat ashamed at injecting myself into a private a family matter. I sat by the window as he spoke to his daughter but the conversation was brief.