The Road to Mercy (32 page)

Shortly before they arrived in Paducah, the doctor called.

“Mrs. Harrison, this is Mark Franklin. I’m the neurologist on duty at Four Rivers.”

“Please give me some good news,” Beth said.

“We have the bleeding stopped, but he’s still unconscious. We’re about to take him down for scans. We should know more by the time you get here. Come on up to the third floor.”

A strange peace descended over Josh when he realized he was back in the water. This time, he was swimming in a river, sweet and amniotic. He could see the likes of heaven surrounding him, yet he knew it wasn’t heaven. It was more like home. Home in Alabama.

The smells of childhood overtook him. A comforting mix of fragrant Wisteria, spicy pinewood, and the dusky perfume of his father’s Bible.

He reached out to touch the soft, fleshy walls, which surrounded him as he floated in a sea of warm light. Somehow he knew he was back inside his mother’s womb. There was no pain, only great anticipation.

A light in the distance called to him without words. It was a brilliant light, which both enticed and frightened him. Had death come? Or was it life that beckoned?

He heard a rumbling sound.

Josh knew instantly it was the voice of God. The tone and intensity brought both comfort and great dread at once.

You entered this world because of my mercy, and you leave it by way of my mercy. Just as I have saved you from death, I have given you life. I have loved you, because you are my child
.

Josh heard himself questioning the voice. “What does all this mean?”

Peace, be still
, the voice answered.

And then . . . silence.

Beth walked into Josh’s hospital room, not sure what to expect. But she wasn’t prepared to see an empty space where his bed should have been. Her heart jumped into her throat.
Was everything okay?

A nurse stepped into the room, just behind her. “Mr. Harrison is in scanning,” she said. “Are you his wife?”

“Yes, how is he?” Beth’s lip quivered.

“He’s doing okay, honey.” The nurse reassured her, and then noticed her baby bump. “When are you due?”

“Not quite two months.”

“Well, you need to get off your feet. Make yourself comfortable.” She nodded toward the chair in the corner. “Can I bring you something? Water? Orange juice?”

“Water would be great.”

She turned to Alex. “How about you?”

“Yes, water, thank you.”

Thirty minutes passed before they heard the faint whir of wheels. The noise grew louder, and then a knock. The door opened and a technician appeared.

“He’s back.” The young man flashed a smile as he guided Josh’s bed through the doorway. Another technician followed, pushing with one hand, using the other to steady the bags that hung above Josh’s head.

Beth focused on the pale, handsome man lying in the bed. He looked so vulnerable, yet at peace. He appeared to be sleeping.

It took several minutes for the technicians to rearrange the tubes and hook up the medicine dispensers. After they left the room, she hurried to her husband’s bedside. He had a number of bruises and abrasions on his forehead and left cheek. And his head was bandaged. She stroked his arm and bent to kiss him on the forehead. When she did, he mumbled something she couldn’t understand.

“Josh, it’s Beth,” she half-shouted in his ear.

His eyelashes fluttered, sending a chill down her spine.
Could he be waking?

A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

“Hi.” She leaned over the bed and peered into his eyes.

“Hi, yourself,” he whispered. The corners of his mouth turned upward.

“How do you feel?”

“I hurt all over. Where am I?”

“In the hospital. You were in a bus wreck.”

“I know. Where?”

“You’re in Paducah at—”

A tall man in a white coat entered the room and walked to Josh’s bedside. “Mr. Harrison, it’s Dr. Franklin. Are you nauseated?”

“A bit.” Josh tried to nod. “Oh—”

“Try not to move your head more than you have to. You’ll likely have a headache for a few hours—or even a few days. But you’re a lucky man.” He turned to Beth. “Are you his wife?”

“Yes,” Beth said.

“He’s fortunate. It appears he came through with only a concussion and several contusions.”

Beth smiled, but her relief didn’t last for long. The doctor nodded toward the hallway. “Would you mind stepping outside with me?”

“Of course.” She looked to Josh.

“Mr. Harrison, I need to borrow your wife for a few minutes. We need to fill out some of your paperwork.”

“I’ll stay with you, Josh.” Alex reached to touch Josh’s arm and asked if he needed anything.

After Beth had stepped into the hallway, Dr. Franklin directed her to a chair. “Please, have a seat. We need your assistance. We’ve been unable to reach the next of kin of the driver of the bus.”

Beth gasped.

“He’s in critical condition. We need to talk to his family for surgical permissions. Can you help me?”

Beth’s mind raced. “Yes . . . his name is Danny Stevens. He’s single, so his father would be his next-of-kin.” She fumbled for her phone. “I have his phone number, but I don’t think I have his father’s.” She searched through every contact in her list. “Wait, here it is. It’s Jim Stevens.” She gave the doctor the number.

He scribbled it onto Josh’s chart. “Thank you,” he smiled. “I need to take care of this, but I will stop by to see your husband again before I leave. He’s going to be fine.” He offered a reassuring look. “Is this your first child?”

Beth glanced at her protruding tummy. “Yes.”

“Boy or girl?” the doctor asked.

“We’re not sure.”

“Everything will be okay.” He placed his hand on hers. “Try to relax as much as you can. I know this is traumatic for you. But we’ll get your husband out of here and home soon.” He turned to leave.

“Doctor, how is everyone else?” Beth had almost forgotten to ask.

He turned to address her question. “Surprisingly, nothing too serious. We’re keeping everyone overnight to make sure there are no major underlying problems.”

Beth took deep breaths as she walked back into Josh’s room. The anxiety of the past few hours, and the loss of sleep, had caught up with her. Now that she was convinced that Josh would be all right, she remembered her appointment with Dr. Myers.

“Alex, would you do me a favor?”

“Sure.” Alex turned to her.

“Would you mind calling Dr. Myers’s office to let them know I can’t make my appointment today?”

“I already did,” Alex smiled. “And they reminded me that you need to watch your blood pressure. And,” she pulled up a chair, “to stay off your feet.”

“Thank you,” Beth flung herself into the chair. Her throat was parched and her skin burned. Remnants of the morphine cravings.

Josh would be proud of her when she could finally tell him. But she wouldn’t even consider it until she had him home and the reassurance that everything was going to be okay.

Alex interrupted her thoughts. “I’m going to the cafeteria to get us a cup of hot chocolate. Would you like something to eat?”

“Yes. That would be great.” Beth cradled her stomach with both hands. “I think I’m finally relaxed enough to keep something down.”

“I’ll see what I can find. You and Josh enjoy each other’s company for a few minutes.”

Beth nodded toward the bed. “Looks like he’ll be sleeping.” She grinned.

“That’s what you both need.” Alex pulled another chair in front of Beth. “Prop your feet up and try to nap while I’m gone.”

Beth felt the heat rising to her cheeks. “Just what you needed,” she said. “Two of us to take care of. I’m so sorry.”

Beth and Alex made the decision to stay in Paducah overnight. The next morning, they released Josh, leaving behind only Danny, who waited for a transfer by air ambulance to Davidson County Medical Center in Nashville.

While Alex waited in the car, Beth accompanied Josh to Danny’s room for a quick visit before they left for Nashville. She hadn’t seen her husband cry since his father’s funeral. But, as she studied his drawn and battered face, she could tell that he was fighting back tears for his friend.

Josh cleared his throat and placed his hand on Danny’s hospital bedrail. “Hey, man, you hang in there. They’re taking you to Nashville to get you fixed up. We’ll see you there. You can trust those people. They will take good care of you.”

Josh squeezed Danny’s hand. Although he didn’t open his eyes, the big man squeezed back. Or, at least, that’s what Josh appeared to believe, because he smiled. However, Beth saw a tear drop from her husband’s cheek and fall onto the crisp, white sheet which stretched across Danny’s hospital bed.

“Let’s pray before we leave for Nashville.” Josh reached with his free hand to clasp Beth’s hand. She took Danny’s other
hand, forming a circle of prayer, and Josh prayed. “Heavenly Father, we come to you with humbleness and great faith. We beseech you to forgive all our fears, our doubts, and our struggles. We give great thanks for your love and your healing. Please keep Danny safe on his flight to Nashville.”

“Amen,” Beth whispered.

Josh addressed his friend again. “Okay, man, we need to leave so they can prep you for the trip. Beth and I will see you in Nashville. We’ll be praying for you. Don’t doubt or worry a single minute. We’re all praying.”

This time there was no acknowledgment from Danny. Josh’s face stiffened, and Beth prayed that Josh wouldn’t have to lose his best friend.

Several days later Josh grabbed an empty bag and a flashlight from the back of his Jeep Cherokee and slammed the hatch door closed.

“Wait for me here,” he told Beth.

“Be careful, honey.”

He smiled and gave her a quick hug. She had fussed at him all day. “I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

He walked over to the big, black bus, which had been towed to a holding yard at the bus leasing company in Hermitage. The door had been shunted open by emergency workers, so Josh could easily step inside.

Although the coach had rolled several times, the majority of the damage had been done to the driver’s compartment. According to the police report, it had struck a tree on the final rotation.

Silence hung in the air when Josh stood on the lower step in front of the jump seat, looking around. He had ridden in this
seat many times, perhaps for thousands of miles, never dreaming something like this would actually happen.

The framework and exterior walls had held, just like they had been designed to do, but the interior was in shambles. Shards of glass littered the floor and covered the leather upholstery of the jump seat.

Never again would he look upon his travels the same. He was blessed to have come through the ordeal with his life. One of his employees was still fighting for his. He said a prayer for Danny and stepped up onto the landing beside the driver’s seat.

It was covered with bloodstains and more broken glass. Josh averted his gaze and turned toward the rear of the bus. He shined his flashlight around the front lounge and galley, pushing Danny from his mind, as he started to make his way across the cluttered path, which had once been clear. And much easier to navigate.