THE BLUE STALKER (10 page)

SEVEN

             
Ella woke early as the sun streaked across the bedroom.  “Dang! If I could remember to close the gapping drape before crawling in bed the sun wouldn’t wake me every morning.  She sat up I bed stretching both arms straight out to the side and over her head as she grasped her hands and twisted back and forth.  Shaking her hands out her threw her legs over the side of the bed.  Slipped her feet into her size ten slippers; shuffled her feet across the room.  She pulled the drape opened wide and gazed out the long drive.  She was wondering if she was going to see the blue sedan today. 

             
“No blue sedan, thank goodness.”  She said as she breathed a sigh of relief.

             
Maria was in the kitchen fixing breakfast and Juan was already out front pulling weeds.  “Juan, Ella called, “You don’t need to be out there pulling weeds.  You will have many days to pull weeds.  We need to get to the hospital to talk with Doctor Burnett.”

             
“I know Ms. Ella I was just antsy this morning.  I’ll be right in.”  Juan said. 

             
This morning it was toast and eggs.  Maria scrambled the eggs and dropped the Roman Meal wheat bread in the toaster.  She was looking at the toaster setting, light, medium or dark.  She chose medium and by the time the wheat bread was toasted Maria had placed the bowl of eggs on the table and filled three glasses with orange juice. Lastly the toast was buttered and placed on the table with blackberry jam, Ella’s favorite.

             
Maria swung the kitchen door open and yelled, “Breakfast is ready.”

             
Juan came in through the back laundry room where he washed his hands.

             
“Maria, everything smells so good.  It reminds me of home when my mother cooked breakfast on the old wood stove.”  Juan reminisced.

             
“This is our home now, Juan.”  Maria reminded him.

             
Ella strolled in and sat down at the table.  “I feel so good this morning.  I feel like this is going to be a good day.”  Ella said.

             
Just as Ella finished her sentence the phone rang.

             
“Excuse me, I’ll get that.”  Ella didn’t see the phone almost tripping over the cord she followed the line to the phone.

             
“Hello.” she said in a gasping voice.  “Yes, yes this is Ms. Smith.”  She listened intently.  “Yes, we can manage that.”  I don’t know when we will be able to bring the baby in.  He’s in the hospital.”  She told the person on the other end of the line.  “We will be there tomorrow at 1:00 pm. “Yes, I remember the address.  It’s been a while but I have been there many times when I was a child.  Thank you, than you so much.” Her voice trailed off with a faint, “Good-bye.”

             
Ella put the phone in its cradle and looked at her new friends, her new family.

             
“Tomorrow we must fly to San Francisco to get the paperwork finalized for your green cards.  Then you will be legal to live and work in the states.  It’s almost as good as being a citizen.”  Ella announced with excitement in her voice.

             
“Ella, we don’t know how to thank you.  It would have taken us years to get green cards.”  Juan said as he took the last bite of his toast.

             
They finished their interrupted breakfast and headed out the door to meet Doctor Burnett.  Rushing up to the nursery to get a glimpse of Jose before meeting the doctor Maria almost fell over her own feet. Jose was sleeping so peacefully.  They talked quietly trying not to wake him.

             
Doctor Burnett walked in from behind and startled the young parents. 

“Good morning.” The doctor said in a husky voice.  Immediately Jose’s eyes opened at the sound of his doctor.

             
“You’ve got quite a boy there.” The doctor said as he listened to his heart beat.

             
“We love him very much.”  They said in unison.

             
“Let’s go over here to the side room and talk about Jose’s prognosis.”  Doctor Burnett said as he led them into the small side room.

             
Ella followed them into the room wanting to be a fly on the wall listening.

             
“This is Ms. Ella we asked her to be here with us today because she will be able to understand what you are about to tell us.”  Juan told the doctor.

             
“Let’s set down.” the doctor instructed.

The three sat on the sofa and Doctor Burnett pulled the chair up to the sofa.  Setting forward he began to talk about Jose. 

             
“Jose is very strong. He is mending quite rapidly from the surgery.  He has been with us for about two weeks and has made remarkable progress.  He will need to be under a doctor’s care for many months and possibly years.  I already mentioned to you about being his cardiologist. “Doctor Burnette told them.

             
“Do you plan on living in Coopersville?”  The doctor questioned.

             
“Yes, we have a good home here.” Juan told him as he smiled over at Ella.

             
“Then I won’t worry about his environment?”  He said with a question in his voice.

             
Ella spoke up.  “They are living at my place.  We have made permanent arrangements.” 

             
“And who are you? “  the doctor asked.

             
Juan spoke up.  “She’s and angel.  She rescued us from evil people.”

             
Doctor Burnett looked a little puzzled but stopped with the questions.  Personal matters were not his concern.  The health of Jose was his priority.

             
“Jose will out grow his heart condition.  Although, he will need periodic check-ups.  I will be happy to add him to my patient list.  I am at the clinic in Coopersville once a month. 

             
For a while I will need to see him every month and later that will change as his heart becomes stronger.  Jose should be able to go home in another week.” 

             
“Next week that is wonderful.”  Juan said.

             
“I also want you to understand if Jose had not received medical attention he would not be with us today.  Jose was very ill.  His heart barely pumping blood when you brought him into the emergency.”  Doctor Burnette said.

             
“We have our angel to thank.  She realized he was barely breathing and rushed him to the hospital.”  Juan said as he looked over to Ella smiling.

             
Doctor Burnett smiled, stood up and shook hands with them.

             
“Thank you, thank you so much.”  They said in unison.

             
“Do you want me to add Jose to my patient list?” Doctor Burnette asked.

             
“Yes, of course you saved our little boys life.”  Maria said with a big smile.

             
“I will make out the orders for his release next week if he continues to improve at the rate he has in the past few days, I’ll set up his first appointment at the clinic before I leave today.  I will see you next week.”  Doctor said as he walked down the hall to tend to his next patient.

             
“What day will Jose’s furniture be delivered?”  Juan asked.

             
“Day after tomorrow.”  Ella said.

             
“We have so much work to get his room ready. I will start on it this evening after work.”  Juan said.

             
“Juan that is part of your work. Let’s stop at the hardware store and pick up paint and supplies for Jose’s room. We can start working on it today. We have much to do.” Ella told them.

They picked up the supplies and headed home for a big work day.

Ella and Maria took the new truck to town to the local carpet and rug store.  They found the perfect area rug in multiple blues.  The trio scrubbed and painted into the night.  The nice hardwood floors only needed a good scrubbing.  Juan made the last sweep with his paint brush and closed the door.  It was now ready for Jose’s new furniture.

             
Ella, Maria and Juan headed for Baker airport the next morning. The reservations were for 9:00 am. Everything was on schedule and they lifted off on time. The flight was uneventful except for the fact that Juan and Maria had never flown before. They were both a little anxious but were also excited.  They arrived at San Francisco International Airport at 10:45 am giving them plenty time to enjoy lunch before their meeting. Ella took them to a restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf. She remembered she and her parents had lunch there frequently when she was young. Many times she and her mother shopped most of the day and ended up at Fisherman’s Wharf for a nice dinner. On occasion Mr. Ferguson joined them.  Memories filled Ella’s head. She wondered what her parents would think about her new friends.  She knew they would approve. They were very generous in their lifetime.

             
Ella and her friends took the trolley up the hill to one of many high rise buildings in the city. Juan and Maria smiled all the way to the top of the hill pointing out interesting sites.

             
“This is so exciting.”  Juan told Ella.

They got off the trolley. Their heads tilted back and their eyes looked straight up to the top of the building.

             
“I’ve never seen such a tall building.”  Maria proclaimed.

They entered the high rise stepped into the elevator.  Maria’s eyes were big and getting bigger as they passed each floor. 

             
“The numbers above the door is that each floor we pass?”  Maria asked.

             
“Yes, Maria we will get off at the thirty fifty floor.”

The elevator made a slight jolt and stopped.

             
“What’s that?”  Maria asked holding on for dear life.

             
“Just someone wanting to ride to another floor.”  Ella answered.

             
Soon the elevator door opened Maria, Ella and Juan spilled out.  The door closed behind them.  They were surrounded by windows over looking the city.

             
“We can see forever up here.”  Juan said. ”What’s the name of the island over there?”  Juan said pointing.

             
“That’s Alcatraz; many years ago it was a prison.  Today it’s a tourist attraction.”  Ella said.

             
“There’s so much to see.  If I’m dreaming please don’t pinch me.  Maria said.

             
Ella walked over to the front desk where an older lady with large dark framed glasses with her hair in a sleek bun was setting.

             
“I’m Ella Ferguson Smith and we have an appointment at 1:00 this afternoon.”  Ella said.

             
“Ella Ferguson, it’s good to see you. I’m Maggie, remember me?”

             
“Yes, I do but it’s been a long time.  I haven’t seen you since my father’s memorial service.”  she said.

             
“We’ve both changed I got older and you got more beautiful.”  Maggie said.

             
“Your being kind but I appreciate the compliment.  Excuse my manners, this is Juan and Maria, I will be sponsoring them.  Ella said.

             
“You are just like your parents a generous woman.  I heard all about it.  I will announce you to John Robbins our attorney assigned to your file.”

             
Ms. Maggie took them back to Mr. Robbins office and introduced them.

             
“Have a seat.”  He said as he gestured to three deep burgundy high back leather chairs.  “I have all the paper work ready.  We will need Juan and Maria’s fingerprints.”