A Story Worth Telling

May, 2001

She just knew he was kidding her and was about to get angry for scaring her so when she noticed his flushed face going pale and slack.  His blue/gray eyes were closed and his mouth was open.  Dumping the paperwork in her lap to the floor after struggling to get the recliner down with her short legs, she jumped up and began shaking him, wildly.

“Baby!  Baby! Ed!”  She repeated.  “Come on now.  Don’t do this to me!  I need you.  I love you.  Eddie!”

It seemed like forever but in actuality, it was probably only about 60 seconds that he had lost consciousness.  She leaned over him as she continued shaking him and shouting at him as she pulled the couch phone down and dialed 911.  She knew it was a heart attack.  He was only forty-nine but it had to be.  It was all she could think of.  She had a friend whose husband just couldn’t catch his breath and that was exactly what was happening.  A quick flash came to her of Clay and Jani and his heart attack that caused his demise.

It can’t be, she thought.  He is only forty-nine years old.  He is my everything…  Her beautiful, sexy man. 

The phone was ringing.  Finally, Ed came to with a long intake of breath.  He was clearly disoriented.  He pushed the foot prop back down on the recliner of the tan sectional sofa with his long sexy legs and seemed surprised that Becky was standing over him.

“Oh darling, my baby,” whispered Becky as she sat beside him.  Her legs felt like she had run twenty miles, not that it would actually be possible for her.