“Joseph is out of surgery; he was stable but somehow he was abducted from the hospital.”
“You’re shitting me! How did someone pull that off? I would be in there cussing everyone out!”
“Trust me, I wouldn’t want to be anyone working in this hospital right now. The way his brothers are cutting up in here, I might have to quit if I was an employee. Is everything ok up there? I called you earlier and I could not get in contact with you for a few hours.”
“Yeah, I was taking care of something.”
“What?”
“This.”
I look up and T’Aundrea is standing there. I rush over to her, and we hug. I break down for the first time since I heard about Joseph.
“T, what are you doing here? I told you not to come.”
“Like I’d listen to you. I would never leave you alone to deal with something of this magnitude. We are friends before we are partners. Are those the brothers?”
“Yeah.”
“Damn! I’m gay, I’m gay, I’m gay and married.”
“What are you doing?”
“Reminding myself, cause hot damn! I have never wanted to be with a man before in my life, but these men got me about to change my mind on that,” she says while fanning herself.
“T, don’t make me call Angie.”
“Call her! Hell, as big as they are, I am more than sure they can handle and please both of us without it being a problem.”
“You need help.”
“You think they could help me?”
“You know what! Just get back on the plane,” I say laughing.
“I got you to laugh. Also I went by the hotel and got you a change of clothes.” She lifts the bag I didn’t notice.
“Thank you, but until I can take a shower I might as well stay in the clothes I have on.”
“So, tell me what’s going on.” And I tell her everything from the time I got the call from Peter to right now
“Damn J, this is crazy!”
“Tell me about it. But I will not leave Mississippi until we find him so I will be looking for a satellite office to work out of until that happens. Can you handle things in N.C. in the meantime?”
“I got you.”
“Great, and you can fly in as often as you like, and we’ll have virtual meetings daily if needed.”
“OK.”
As we are talking and squaring things away, Peter approaches us.
“Hello, T’Aundrea.”
“Hello, Peter.”
“Joyce, the brothers are leaving the hospital. There is nothing else they can do from here. Take my personal number. I guess I’ll be the liaison between you and the family. Any questions or concerns, call me, and I will keep you abreast of the situation. Will you be going back to North Carolina?” he asks.
“No, I am going to be staying here until we find out about Joseph so I will be looking for an office space so I can work from here until then.”
“Call me on Monday. I think I can help you with that.”
“Thank you, Peter.”
“No need to thank me. T’Aundrea, take her back to the hotel and make sure she eats, showers and gets some rest in that order. And call me if you need anything.”
“Yes sir.”
With that, he makes his way back over to the brothers, and they begin leaving the hospital. T and I do the same. We get in the car she rented and head back to the hotel. On the way there I call one of the restaurants in the hotel and place a pick-up order for us. She grabs the food as I go to the desk to switch rooms, since T is here and I’m extending my stay, only to find out Peter has already called and had it done. We reach the room, eat the meal that was probably delicious but had no taste for me, and take our showers. I am asleep before my head hits the pillow. But my last thought was if Joseph is alive, is he alright?