Walter was surprised, but later realized that he should not have been, to find that Osprey arrived at the hospital before he did. He had been unable to ride along with Abigail in the ambulance, the EMT citing some new rule involving liability to passengers if something happened en route. So, Walter had been forced to drive himself, which meant that they had already admitted her by the time he got there and found a parking space.
The nurse at the admissions desk was no use. She begrudgingly admitted that, yes, Abigail had been admitted, but only after Walter showed his insurance identification. Other than that, she repeatedly informed him that he should take a seat and the doctor would come talk to him as soon as he was available.
Vivian gave him sympathetic looks throughout, but did not interfere. Walter wanted to be annoyed for her for not at least trying to help him out, but knew that she was likely to have had even less success as she was not even a member of Abigail's immediate family. Eventually, he sat down, his eyes continually moving toward the doors that led inside the hospital. Vivian sat beside him, saying nothing, hoping to offer him strength and support through her presence.
Isabel arrived less than a half-hour later. Walter gave her a brief summary of what had happened. She asked a few questions, all of which just made Walter realize how little he had to offer in terms of useful information. Her frown grew a bit more with each barely informative answer. Finally, she moved away and exchanged some words with the admissions nurse. Walter guessed that she had experienced as much success as he had when she returned a few minutes later.
"I'll see what I can find out." She squeezed Walter's hand and, to his surprise, passed through the sliding doors and entered the hospital interior.
Walter stared after her, too astonished to speak. He turned to look at Vivian, who shrugged back at him with a slight smile.
"She is a registered nurse," she reminded him.
Walter's head turned back toward the twin sliding doors that remained impassable to him.
Yeah, I guess she is.
He sighed. Now he had to wait for two people to bring him the answers he sought.
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