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“Muriel, you and Connie help me get Mopsy to that sofa.” Luckily, a narrow sofa had been moved to the back wall to make room for the dining tables. As soon as we got Mopsy situated, she slumped, exactly as I’d feared, alertness decreasing markedly.
Phone in hand, Zeb rushed back over. “The Kringle’s Crossing clinic is closed for the weekend. The nearest hospital is going to be West Chester, and that’s at least forty-five minutes away. And 9-1-1 says the EMT crew from our fire station is working a car accident. They’ve got another crew on the way from Woodville though.”
“Not fast enough.” Like Zeb, I kept my voice low. “She’s losing consciousness.”
Zeb relayed that information into his phone. “The dispatcher is checking on availability for a life flight helicopter. Problem is these downtown streets are so narrow and hilly.”
“Let me talk to them.” I held out a hand for the phone. If there was one thing I knew how to do, it was getting a chopper inbound into a tight spot. And sure enough, after a brief conversation with the dispatcher that included my qualifications, we had a plan.
“Okay, Zeb, I need you to keep Mopsy calm. Keep talking to her, nice and soft, even if she’s not speaking back.” I waited for Zeb to nod before moving to the center of the room. By this point, some people had started to notice the happenings in the back of the room. “Everyone, listen up. I need you to stay calm, but there’s a medical emergency, and we’re going to need everyone’s help. We’ve got a chopper on the way. ETA: ten minutes. The flattest, widest spot is this parking lot. If you have a car in the lot, we need you to move it now. We need this lot empty.”
“In ten minutes?” Gabe emerged from the kitchen, quickly followed by Nix and the kitchen crew.
“And we’re gonna do it with time to spare,” I said after filling him in. “Gabe, you make sure no one comes into the lot other than the EMT crew if they beat the chopper. Waitstaff, I need you available to move cars for people who are unable to drive and to direct folks out of the lot, keeping everything orderly. No fender benders, but also no dilly-dallying.”
I didn’t want a medical emergency, but I couldn’t deny I was in my element and had missed the adrenaline rush of bringing an operation together in record time. I walked back over to the couch where Mopsy was reclining, flanked by the other two women. I did a quick check of her vitals to relay to the ER dispatcher.
“Now, who here knows Mopsy’s next of kin?” I asked the women. “Have they been called?”
“She lives alone. Never married. There’s a sister, though, somewhere over by Villanova.”
“Good info.” I kept my voice neutral even though my mind flashed to the last time I had to fill out paperwork for the navy. As always, I’d struggled with the in case of emergency sections. Who to call? Who would want to know? Would I want Aunt Lucy to have the burden of settling my affairs? Morbid thoughts like those had played chase in my brain until I’d finally filled in Gabe’s name and number, hating adding that to his responsibilities. But like Mopsy, I ticked those lives alone and never married boxes. My chest pinched, but I forced myself to ignore it. “Connie, you search her phone. See if you can locate the sister.”
“What can I do?” Muriel asked as she fiddled with her necklaces. “This is my fault. I made her so angry.”
“You didn’t cause a potential stroke.” I took a moment to pat her shoulder. She needed something to do. “Can you make a list of what Mopsy’s going to need at the hospital in Chester or Philly if they send her there?”
“I can do that.” Muriel nodded as sharply as any new recruit. “And I’ll call her supervisor at the post office.”
I headed back to check the parking lot. A few minutes later, the Woodville Fire Department crew and a police cruiser pulled in to prepare for the life flight helicopter. The EMTs quickly took over assessing Mopsy’s condition, and the lead EMT took a moment to check in with me.
“ETA on the chopper is two minutes,” she reported as she unzipped her thick winter parka. She had pale blonde hair and sharp eyes. “How on earth did you clear that lot so quickly?”
“He’s a freaking superhero.” Zeb, who had been standing nearby, answered for me. The amazement in his eyes was good for my ego, but I knew better.
“Nah. Just good at organizing.”
“I’ll say.” The EMT gave a short laugh before her radio crackled. She returned her attention to her crew. “Okay, chopper is incoming. Let’s get her loaded up.”
