regatta. Except she was alone on the lake, and she felt it.
Once on the mainland, she tied the canoe to the jetty, grabbed Adam’s backpack and her bag, and ran for her car. Forget the regatta, this was a triathlon. She’d canoed, she’d run. What was next?
After dumping the bags inside the car trunk, she slid into the driver’s seat, shoved the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine cranked a few times, and then died.
“No, this can’t be happening.” She slumped over the steering wheel, her energy and emotions spent. “Jesus, I’m begging You to help me. If You love me—”
She turned the key once more, not expecting anything to happen. The engine fired, purred like a kitten for a few brief moments, then roared as Eveliina swung the car around and tore up the road.
12
Eveliina looked a mess. Part of her wanted to find a shower fast, get all the paint off her skin and out of her hair. But part of her didn’t want to ever bathe again. If anything happened to Adam…she wanted to remember the last afternoon spent with him—the fun they’d had. Eveliina looked at her arm and traced the red handprint smeared across her skin as she negotiated the rush hour traffic. She wanted to leave his mark on her forever.
During the thirty minute drive to the city center, Eveliina kept the car’s heater on. By the time she reached the hospital, her clothing was somewhat drier.
She parked close to the Meilahti Tower Hospital ER entrance and dashed inside. Leaning over the reception counter, she addressed the clerk seated on the other side. “I’m looking for Adam. Adam Carter.”
His head snapped up at the sound of her voice. A mixture of emotions filled his wiry face.
Eveliina resisted the urge to explain her disheveled appearance and continued. “He was brought in not long ago by medevac with a serious head wound.”
Jaska Tähtinen, his name tag read, typed on the keyboard with his bony fingers as he checked the screen. “He arrived about a half-hour ago. He’s been taken to Radiology for a CT scan.”
“Will they bring him back here?”
Jaska shook his head. Wispy blond hair fell across his eyes. He pushed the fringe back. “You’d need to check with Admissions, but probably Intensive Care.”
“Intensive Care?”
He nodded. The fringe fell over his eyes again. “In most cases, standard procedure for someone with his injuries.”
Fresh tears stung. Eveliina remembered the ERC operator’s soothing advice to take a deep breath. She did so.
“You can take a shortcut to Admissions through that door.” Jaska pointed to a large automated door on his right.
Without another word, she headed for the door. She touched the red button on the wall and an opening whooshed into view. Eveliina stepped through before the portal closed.
Barefoot, she hurried across the tiled floor. Silence and stares followed her path. She didn’t care—she had to be by Adam, no matter what the cost.
Admissions was larger and busier than the ER. It was only a few minutes before Eveliina stepped up to a cubicle, but to her it felt like an eternity. Another stranger, another name tag, stared at her. This time, Mary Smith.
“Can I help you?” Mary Smith’s American accent seemed out of place. As out of place as a South African missionary.
“Adam Carter. Can you tell me where I can find him?”
Like her Emergency Room counterpart, Mary Smith tickled the keyboard for a few seconds. “He’s still in Radiology.”
“I don’t suppose you’ll know how long he’ll be there?”
Mary shook her head. “Sorry, no.”
“Where will they take him…once they’re done with the scan?”
“Intensive Care, for sure.”
“Which way is that?”
“Take the elevator or stairs up to the second floor and follow the signs—you can’t go wrong.”
Eveliina turned around, ready to find her way to Adam.
Mary’s voice followed. “Only family is allowed into Intensive Care. Are you
Once on the mainland, she tied the canoe to the jetty, grabbed Adam’s backpack and her bag, and ran for her car. Forget the regatta, this was a triathlon. She’d canoed, she’d run. What was next?
After dumping the bags inside the car trunk, she slid into the driver’s seat, shoved the key into the ignition and turned it. The engine cranked a few times, and then died.
“No, this can’t be happening.” She slumped over the steering wheel, her energy and emotions spent. “Jesus, I’m begging You to help me. If You love me—”
She turned the key once more, not expecting anything to happen. The engine fired, purred like a kitten for a few brief moments, then roared as Eveliina swung the car around and tore up the road.
12
Eveliina looked a mess. Part of her wanted to find a shower fast, get all the paint off her skin and out of her hair. But part of her didn’t want to ever bathe again. If anything happened to Adam…she wanted to remember the last afternoon spent with him—the fun they’d had. Eveliina looked at her arm and traced the red handprint smeared across her skin as she negotiated the rush hour traffic. She wanted to leave his mark on her forever.
During the thirty minute drive to the city center, Eveliina kept the car’s heater on. By the time she reached the hospital, her clothing was somewhat drier.
She parked close to the Meilahti Tower Hospital ER entrance and dashed inside. Leaning over the reception counter, she addressed the clerk seated on the other side. “I’m looking for Adam. Adam Carter.”
His head snapped up at the sound of her voice. A mixture of emotions filled his wiry face.
Eveliina resisted the urge to explain her disheveled appearance and continued. “He was brought in not long ago by medevac with a serious head wound.”
Jaska Tähtinen, his name tag read, typed on the keyboard with his bony fingers as he checked the screen. “He arrived about a half-hour ago. He’s been taken to Radiology for a CT scan.”
“Will they bring him back here?”
Jaska shook his head. Wispy blond hair fell across his eyes. He pushed the fringe back. “You’d need to check with Admissions, but probably Intensive Care.”
“Intensive Care?”
He nodded. The fringe fell over his eyes again. “In most cases, standard procedure for someone with his injuries.”
Fresh tears stung. Eveliina remembered the ERC operator’s soothing advice to take a deep breath. She did so.
“You can take a shortcut to Admissions through that door.” Jaska pointed to a large automated door on his right.
Without another word, she headed for the door. She touched the red button on the wall and an opening whooshed into view. Eveliina stepped through before the portal closed.
Barefoot, she hurried across the tiled floor. Silence and stares followed her path. She didn’t care—she had to be by Adam, no matter what the cost.
Admissions was larger and busier than the ER. It was only a few minutes before Eveliina stepped up to a cubicle, but to her it felt like an eternity. Another stranger, another name tag, stared at her. This time, Mary Smith.
“Can I help you?” Mary Smith’s American accent seemed out of place. As out of place as a South African missionary.
“Adam Carter. Can you tell me where I can find him?”
Like her Emergency Room counterpart, Mary Smith tickled the keyboard for a few seconds. “He’s still in Radiology.”
“I don’t suppose you’ll know how long he’ll be there?”
Mary shook her head. “Sorry, no.”
“Where will they take him…once they’re done with the scan?”
“Intensive Care, for sure.”
“Which way is that?”
“Take the elevator or stairs up to the second floor and follow the signs—you can’t go wrong.”
Eveliina turned around, ready to find her way to Adam.
Mary’s voice followed. “Only family is allowed into Intensive Care. Are you
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