Chapter 5 - The Empty Chair
The embolization failed.
The bleeding vessel was too unstable.
Jocelyn was transferred immediately to surgery.
Arjun stood outside the operating room as another surgical team prepared to save the woman who usually stood on the opposite side of the table.
Naomi arrived before Gordon.
She found Jocelyn’s colleague, Dr. Elena Marquez, sitting in the waiting area with blood on her sleeve.
“Is that hers?” Naomi asked.
Elena nodded.
“She crashed during transfer. We stabilized her.”
Naomi sat beside her.
“Her husband is not here?”
“No.”
“His mother?”
“No.”
Elena stared at the empty chair across from them.
“I’ve worked with Jocelyn for eight years. I’ve seen her leave anniversaries, holidays, and vacations to save strangers. She once operated for eleven hours after Gordon complained that she had missed his birthday dinner.”
Naomi remembered that night.
Gordon had posted photographs online surrounded by friends and expensive wine. The caption read: Some people know what matters. Others only know work.
Jocelyn had saved a sixteen-year-old boy’s life.
She had apologized to Gordon afterward.
Naomi clenched her jaw.
“Did she ever tell you what things were like at home?”
“Not directly. She made excuses.”
“They always do,” Naomi said quietly.
The operating room doors opened.
A nurse rushed out for additional blood products.
Elena stood.
“Is she getting worse?”
The nurse did not stop.
Naomi called the bank.
She requested a complete audit.
Then she contacted a private forensic accountant.
By the time Gordon finally entered the hospital, two hours had passed.
He wore the same expensive jacket from the store.
Rita followed him, furious and embarrassed.
“Where is she?” Gordon asked.
Elena pointed to the operating room.
“You missed the emergency consultation, the consent process, the hemorrhagic crash, and the beginning of surgery.”
“I was detained.”
“At a handbag store.”
Rita stepped forward.
“You don’t know the whole story.”
Elena looked at her.
“I know Jocelyn was bleeding while you were shopping with her money.”
Gordon lowered his voice.
“Is she going to live?”
Elena’s anger softened only slightly.
“We don’t know.”
Rita crossed her arms.
“This is ridiculous. She was walking and talking an hour ago.”
Naomi stood.
“So are many patients before they die.”
Rita’s face tightened.
“Who are you?”
“Jocelyn’s attorney.”
Gordon looked alarmed.
“Why is her attorney here?”
Naomi handed him an envelope.
“Because your wife understood the seriousness of her condition before you did.”
He opened it.
Temporary financial separation.
Revocation of power of attorney.
Notice to preserve documents.
Demand for access to financial records.
Rita snatched the pages.
“This is a threat.”
“No,” Naomi said. “It is protection.”
Rita tore the first page in half.
Naomi watched the pieces fall.
“That document has already been filed electronically.”
The operating room doors opened again.
Arjun stepped into the hallway.
Everyone stood.
He removed his surgical cap.
“The bleeding is controlled.”
Gordon exhaled.
Rita whispered, “See? She’s fine.”
Arjun’s eyes turned cold.
“She lost nearly half her blood volume. She is alive. That is not the same as fine.”
“Can I see her?” Gordon asked.
“When she wakes, she will decide who enters.”
Rita laughed once.
May you like
“I’m her mother-in-law.”
Arjun replied, “That is not a medical privilege.”
