Chapter 9: Waiting at the hospital

They arrived at the small Willow Creek Hospital, an old building dating back to the early 19th century, which had been renovated several times. In the late 1990s, when Willow Creek's population had dwindled, the hospital had even been abandoned. Eventually, the town council launched a plan to revitalize the town, attracting new people, and it worked. By 2005, the hospital had been renovated again, and hadn't changed since.

After parking the car, LJ and the others headed for the reception desk. LJ noticed his sister's face, all her make-up ruined by tears. After asking where they could wait, he pointed this out to Eli. She looked at herself in the reflection of her phone and, seeing his face, headed for the bathroom to freshen up. Meanwhile, the others went into the waiting room. LJ took the opportunity to call their father.

Leon is a man in his fifties whose age has only accentuated his charismatic allure. His imposing, muscular stature testifies to his years of work as a carpenter, a trade he pursues with passion. At around 1.85 m tall, his broad shoulders and upright posture give him an impressive presence. His hair, once brown, is now streaked with gray, adding a touch of dignity to his square face.

His deep blue eyes, often crinkled with a warm smile or expression of concentration, give him a benevolent air. Leon has a strong jaw and a straight nose, with a few wrinkles marking his forehead and the corners of his eyes, signs of years of laughter and hard work. His deep, comforting voice is well known throughout town.He was fast asleep after a hard day's work when his phone rang.

He sighed and looked to see who was disturbing him at this hour. Seeing that it was his son, Leon frowned, wondering why LJ was calling at almost 2am. He picked up the phone with some trepidation. LJ explained that they were at the hospital with Eli.

Leon's blood ran cold at this. LJ told him what had happened to Page. Without missing a beat, Leon hurriedly dressed and headed for his pickup truck. He sped toward the hospital, parked crookedly in two spaces, and rushed to the front desk. After asking where his children were, he headed for the waiting room.He found Eli pacing back and forth in the waiting room.

Alicia and Julia were chatting in hushed tones, while Taylor was biting her nails in worry. LJ, meanwhile, sat serenely, reading a magazine.

Eli noticed her father and went to greet him. Leon took her in his arms, and she breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little more serene now that he was there.

"How are you?" asked her father.

"I'm fine, but Page isn't so sure. They're pumping his stomach right now. The doctors aren't sure what she took or what they made her take."

Leon noticed that Eli looked exhausted.He asked aloud, "Has anyone notified Page's parents?"

Alicia replied that Page's parents weren't home this weekend and that they'd tried to reach them without success.

"Where are they?" asked Leon.

"I think they're in New York, but I'm not sure," Julia replied.

"Thanks, Julia. I'll call the sheriff and see if he can contact the NYPD and send officers to notify Page's parents."

Leon stepped out of the waiting room and called the sheriff. Eli, exhausted, sat down and rested her head on Alicia's shoulder. Alicia gently stroked Eli's head.

What an exhausting day... Eli fell asleep.