“Michael?” Joe asked.
“Yeah, stay, Uncle Joe. Jessie might go easy if you’re here.”
Anna knew it was not Joe who would keep Jessie from throwing her weight around, but Bess. Jessie always pampered Bess. Jessie arrived close on the tail of Bess and was armed with a small vial of Xanax, with which she dosed her sister. In her childhood home and in the presence of her family, Bess calmed down visibly and immediately.
The story came out. Bess was preparing a presentation for one of her law classes in which she would have to play the part of a litigator in front of a great many law students. Bess did fine as part of the class, always seated in the rear of the room in case she needed to make a fast getaway, but arguing in front of fifty people was just more than she could bear. It was not uncommon for people on the spectrum to have great anxiety in large groups, even high-functioning autistic people like Bess. She’d spent years in manageable groups learning modified behavioral techniques to help with such a reaction and she also had antianxiety drugs to take when needed. She’d been doing so well she hadn’t taken her medication in a long time. She was completely unprepared for her meltdown.
Jessie responded very favorably to finding Joe was present. They’re dating, or whatever you call it, Michael whispered in Jessie’s ear. And Jessie said she couldn’t have planned that better herself.
Martin gave Bess a little kiss on the cheek, asked her to phone him later when she was feeling better, and he left her with her family.
“Martin seems like a very nice young man, Bess,” Anna said.
“Of course he’s nice,” Bess said.
“Good, she’s back,” Jessie said. “Bess, would you like a nice cup of tea?”
“As opposed to a mean cup of tea?” Bess asked. Then she smiled, though the smile was tremulous. “Thank you, Dr. McNichol.”
“Well, now,” Anna said. “This is the last thing I thought would happen, but I was wondering when I would get the three of you together. I have some things to tell you.” She took a deep breath and said, with her usual confidence, “Bamber swinpool faletter as pumpdill clamperdose runkerplum balleroon piddle horse peling quader pell...”
And Jessie said, “Oh, shit!”
THIRTEEN
“Mom! Don’t panic. Just stay calm. Joe, get my medical bag from my car—it’s in the back. Michael, call an ambulance and tell them to hurry. She’s having a stroke.”
Garbled words spilled from Anna’s lips and she began to argue in a language no one but Anna could understand.
“I want you to listen to me,” Jessie said. “You’re having a stroke but I’m here. We’re going to get you help, and everything is going to be all right.”
“Would it be faster to just take her?” Joe asked when he returned with the bag.
“Bad idea. The paramedics have life-saving drugs and equipment in the ambulance. Get me a glass of water. Quickly.” Jessie pulled an aspirin bottle out of her bag and shook one out. “Mom, open up.” But instead of opening her mouth she began to babble again. Jessie pushed in the aspirin and put the glass of water to her lips. “Come on, swallow it.”
“Isn’t that for a heart attack?” Joe asked.
“For clots. If she has had an ischemic stroke, which is the case eighty-five percent of the time, the aspirin can prevent a second stroke caused by blood clots. If it’s a hemorrhage, not a good idea. We’re going with the numbers. Her symptoms indicate a stroke, hopefully a transient attack that we’re catching in time.” She dug around in her purse for her cell phone, calling up a number. She held her mother’s hand while she waited impatiently.
“Patrick, thank you for taking my call. I’m with my mother, she’s had a stroke. I gave her an aspirin and will ride in the ambulance with her. Are you available? I want her with the best.”
“Take her to Mercy. I’m on my way.”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
Jessie smiled at her mother and gently smoothed back her hair. “You’re in the best hands in the city.” Anna responded with her blather. Jessie just said, “It’s okay, this will pass, I promise.” And then Jessie did something she rarely did. She prayed.
She looked at Bess, who was crying, rocking and biting her fingers. Not her fingernails, her fingers. Jessie reached over to her and pulled her hands from her mouth. “It’s okay, she’s going to be okay. Michael will stay with you and I’m taking Mama to the hospital. I will come back to you when I can but first I want to take care of Mama. Bess, stop biting, we’ll be okay.”