"DAD, DAD, LeAnn's been hit by a car," came his son's voice blubbering from the speaker.
"WHAT! Is she hurt bad?"
"I...I don't know, dad. The ambulance took her away a couple minutes before I got here. There're cops all around asking people questions. Right now they're talking to LeAnn's bus driver."
"Bus..." Tyler's mind was going through a thousand scenarios a second. "Bus driver, is he the one that hit her?"
"No—no, I don't so. I think he just saw what happened. I think Mrs. Cermak was hit too."
"Mrs. Cer..." Tyler knew he was wasting time and getting nowhere. "Chris, is your mom there?"
"No, dad, she's not back from classes yet."
"Okay, I want..."
"Oh wait—I see her. The cops have the street blocked off so she can't get through. I can see her car though. It's about third in line. I'm pretty sure she has no idea about what's going on, dad."
"Okay, listen, Chris. Go to her and tell her what happened, but try to stay calm and try to keep your mother calm. We don't need her getting into an accident on the way to the hospital. I'll meet you guys there."
"Okay, dad; I'm almost to mom's car now. She's seen me already. I think she knows something. She looks worried."
Tyler was slipping one arm into his coat while holding the phone with his other hand. "Remember what I said, Chris, try to keep your mother calm enough to drive. I'm leaving right now. I'll see you guys at the hospital."
He clicked off the phone. "Charlene, LeAnn's been hit by a car. I'm on my way to the hospital to see how bad she's hurt. I'll call you later," he roared as he rushed passed his secretary's desk.
During the twelve minute drive he never stopped praying. "God, just let her be okay," he said over and over. "God just let her be okay."
Once inside he rushed to the emergency desk. He didn't wait for anyone to look in his direction. "My name is Tyler Anderson. My daughter was just brought in after being hit by a car," he anxiously barked.
The pretty, young nurse took a quick look at the roster of incoming victims. "Oh yes, Mr. Anderson. They've already taken her to X-ray. Why don't you have a seat and we'll let you know..."
"No, she'll be scared. I want to be with her," he declared.
"Ah, okay; just take this corridor—"
"Tyler!"
He turned to see his ex-wife and son rushing in through the doors.
"How is she? Is she hurt bad?"
"I don't know yet. I just got here. She's in X-ray. I'm going there now. You and Chris have a seat and I'll let you know." He turned back to the nurse who finished telling him how to get to X-ray.
"Daddy," cried LeAnn as a nurse led her dad into the room.
Tyler felt sick to his stomach just seeing his little girl's condition. The right side of her face was scraped up and it was swelling and turning an angry purple color. The same went for both of her knees. He couldn't see her right hand. They had it wrapped in a bubble cast. "It's alright, honey; everything's going to be okay," he said as he carefully hugged her.
"Is Mrs..." LeAnn was trying to be brave but couldn't help a few more sniffles. "Is Mrs. Cermak okay?"
"What does she have to do with you getting hit by a car, honey?"
"She...she pushed me out of the way. The car hit her instead. She's hurt real bad, daddy. I know she is..." she was able to say before starting to cry again.
Tyler remembered Chris saying something about Sue at the scene. He couldn't worry about Susan Cermak he decided; at least not at that moment. It was his little girl that needed him. He turned toward the doctor on the other side of the room who was now looking at some X-rays.
"Doctor, are those of LeAnn?"
"Yes, they are," he replied. "I'm doctor Czymanski. I'm assuming you're the girl's father."
Tyler indicated he was.
"She's a very lucky girl. She has two fractured bones in her wrists but it's nothing that won't heal good as new," he said with a smile. "The cuts and bruises on her face and knees are all superficial. I doubt there'll be any scarring."
Tyler almost felt like crying with relief. He closed his eyes and silently thanked the man upstairs. "Thank you, doctor," he said while giving LeAnn a big smile. "Honey, is it okay if I go tell mommy that you're going to be okay? She and Chris are waiting to hear from me."
"Su...sure, dad. I'll be okay," she replied with just a hint of her former sniffles.
"You've got a brave young lady there," commented the doctor with a big smile. "We're going to cast her wrist. That'll take half an hour or so. We'll wheel her out to you as soon as we're done...okay?"
Tyler was bursting with pride as he and his little girl agreed. With a gentle kiss to LeAnn's forehead and his assurance that he and her mother will be waiting for her, Tyler headed out to inform the rest of his worried family of the good news. He also started to wonder about Sue Cermak.
Nancy and Chris literally leaped out of their seats the moment they saw Tyler coming their way. "How is she?" they both cried in unison.
"She's going to just fine," he answered with a comforting smile.
"Oh thank God," replied Nancy grabbing the back of one of the seats before collapsing in tears.
Both Chris and Tyler grabbed her and held her steady while she sat down.
Chris sat next to her and put his arms around her. "It's alright, mom; she's going to be okay."
Tyler knew they had each other for comfort so took the opportunity to check on Susan. "Excuse me again," he said, catching the attention of the same cute nurse as before. "I understand that Susan Cermak was also hit by a car at the same time as my daughter. Can you tell me if she's badly hurt?"
"Are you a relative or family member?" she asked.
"No, no she's our neighbor. She pushed our little girl out of the way of the car and was hit, herself. It sounds like she saved my daughter's life. I just want to make sure she's going to be okay."
"I'm sorry, sir, I can't give you any information."
Tyler was just about to get angry when a policeman in uniform came to the desk and asked if the family of a hit and run victim was around. He wasn't sure if the cop was talking about LeAnn or not. He never even thought about the driver of the car.
"Excuse me, officer. Are you talking about the little girl who was hit on Landmeire Drive?"
"Yes."
"I'm Tyler Anderson. That was my little girl who was hit. Did you say hit and run? You mean some asshole hit LeAnn and didn't even stop?"
"I'm afraid so," confirmed the man in blue. "I'm Sergeant Norris. Would you be able to answer some questions, Mr. Anderson?"
"Ah, yeah I guess; although I don't know how much good I'll be. I was at work when my son called and told me what happened."
"I see. Is your son here, sir?"
"Yes, that's him with his mother over there. Come on, I'll introduce you."
Tyler introduced the sergeant and they all sat while he asked questions. Chris explained how he got there after it happened. He hadn't seen anything. All he knew was what the neighbors told him and what he overheard the bus driver telling the cops at the scene.
The officer was just about to leave when his radio started to squawk. "Copy," he said into the speaker after listening for a minute or so. He looked over at the Andersons. "That was the station. They found the driver of the car. He's nineteen years old. His girlfriend had just texted and said she was breaking up with him. He was angry and admits to driving way too fast. By the time he saw the school bus stopped in front of him it was too late to stop so he tried to swerve around it. They found him two blocks from the scene. He had pulled over and was sitting in his car, crying.
"I'm sorry but I have no sympathy for the son-of-a-bitch," expressed an angry Tyler.
"I can understand that," confirmed the officer. "If it was my kid I'd feel the same way."
Just as the cop was about to leave, Tyler thought of something; "Ah, Sergeant Norris, could you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what it is..."
"Susan Cermak lives across the street. From what I understand she actually pushed LeAnn out of the way of the car and was hit herself. I have no idea how badly she's hurt and the nurse won't tell me because I'm not a family member. Could you find out if she's okay for me?"
"Sure," he replied with a smile. The good sergeant walked over to the desk and quietly conversed with a couple of the nurses.
Tyler watched one pick up a phone and talk to someone for about a minute. Then she put the phone down and resumed her conversation with the man in uniform who was now nodding his head in a confirming manner. When he turned around to walk back to Tyler he didn't have a very encouraging look on his face.
"I'm sorry," he said, "Mrs. Cermak was injured pretty badly. They have her in surgery but she's not expected to make it."
Tyler could feel his knees buckle. The thought of someone giving up their own life to save that of his daughter's was devastating.
The officer noticed the blank stare on his face as his eyes filled with moisture. "I'm sorry," he told Tyler before leaving.
Chris and his ex had enough to worry about. He wasn't going to mention Susan for the time being. A few minutes later a nurse wheeled LeAnn out to the waiting area. After tearful smiles and lots of hugging and kissing, they all went back to the house. Nancy fussed over their little girl while Tyler drove to the drug store for her prescriptions. At Nancy's invitation and his kids begging, Tyler stayed for dinner but went home soon after. As grateful as he was that his daughter was okay, Susan never left his mind.
As soon as he got home he called the hospital. Surely they would say if she had passed away. After a brief conversation with a night nurse, he learned his brave neighbor was still alive...barely, but still fighting for life. A miracle is how the nurse described it...nothing short of a miracle. She was in ICU and not allowed any visitors but that didn't stop him from calling every day and checking on her progress. More than a week had passed by the time he was informed she was considered stable and was assigned a regular room.
Susan couldn't turn her head but out of the corner of her eye she saw something red enter her room. It was a big bouquet of roses and behind them was her thankful neighbor.
