Evening Fall

By Kimberly

Karen Miller—a sister, a wife, and a mother of two. Traveling alone at night with her two small children, trying to get to her dying mother that lived in North Carolina, they became stranded on an open highway. Their cell phones and tablets needed to be charged. The car charger was thrown out by mistake at a rest area forty-five miles behind them, and the mother did the unthinkable to save her own son’s life while trying to get to her dying mother. Will a stranger help them, or is there someone hiding in the woods as the dim part of twilight came before the dark of night?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781649522993

Book preview

Chapter 1

After a few clicks on the computer, the living room immediately became darkened inside the Miller’s quiet three-bedroom suburban home on Felton road, the side of town where people cared about the upkeep of their neighborhood. The neighbors are close-knit, and they keep a watchful eye on everything and everyone.

Within seconds of faint light came in from the outside street light. A male figure appeared, walking quietly up the tan carpeted staircase where family portraits hang along the wall that led into the master bedroom, with wall-to-wall carpet filled with modern furniture. Closing the door behind him, he took off his white T-shirt and navy blue shorts and tossed them on the chair near the nightstand. He pulled the top sheet back as he quietly crawled into the center of the bed, placing his hand on her backside. Lucky tonight, he thought, kissing her softly. I’m back working again. It’s Friday, 11:00 p.m. on a warm summer night in June. The night breeze cooled the room as it blew through the open window. I’m back working again.

Chapter 2

On Thursday May 11, 2006, the morning began when Karen Miller and her two children, Chase and Kaitlin, arrived to the Children’s Good Health Medical Center in their hometown of Aurora, Illinois. Karen felt anxious, nervous, worried about her son’s health. She glanced at the clock on the wall that hung behind the receptionist 10:14 a.m. She tuned out the background noise of the cartoons showing on the flat panel TV. The other parents and children in the waiting room, both Chase and Kaitlin, have been engrossed in their surrounding from the start as they stood by their mother’s side waiting to be checked in. She was greeted by a young receptionist that looked to be still in school, college.

Hello, my name is Kimberly. Welcome to Children’s Good Health Medical Center.

Hi, my name is Karen Miller. My son, Chase Michael Miller, has a ten-thirty appointment to see Dr. Jamie Larson the pulmonologist.

Yes, the CNA will take you to her office.

Kaitlin asked, Mommy, what is a CNA?

Kaitlin, honey, a CNA is a certified nursing assistant.

Karen and her two children had a seat in the kid-friendly waiting area. There were large stuffed animals in each corner, small children-size tables, and chairs that sat in front of the animals, with large numbers and alphabet blocks that sat on the tables that read 1, 2, 3, and A, B, C and animal prints on the walls throughout—printed frogs, ladybugs, butterflies, rabbits. Chase and Kaitlin were watching cartoons on the TV screen that hung in the corner mounted on the wall. Karen watched with them for a brief moment as her mind was a million miles away.

The CNA stood in the entryway to the waiting room and called Chase Miller.

Karen answered, Yes.

The CNA responded, Right this way.

Mommy, look.

As Karen, Chase, and Kaitlin followed the CNA to Dr. Jamie Larson’s office, the five-year-old Kaitlin pointed out the ladybugs, elephants, and giraffes that were painted on the wall.

Yes, honey, Mommy sees.

Mrs. Miller, you may have a seat. The doctor will be in to speak with you. Chase can have a seat on the table, after taking his weight and temperature.

Chase asked, Mom, can we get some ice cream?

Yes, honey, after your appointment. Kaitlin, baby, come sit next to Mommy.

Karen reached in her purse for another TUMS, a chewable antacid, as she silently diagnosed herself of heartburn or stress.

About five minutes went by. There were two gentle knocks on the door. Karen offered a warm greeting by saying, Yes, come in.

An attractive, bright young midthirties Dr. Larson, wearing a indigo-colored dress above the knees with a white lab coat over it, walked in and extended her hand out to Karen.

Mrs. Miller?

Yes.

Hello, Chase, and who is this?

Five-year-old Kaitlin hid behind her mother.

That’s my sister, Kaitlin, Chase answered.

Very pretty, Dr. Larson responded.

Dr. Larson had a seat at her desk to speak with Mrs. Miller.

Mrs. Miller, you have a concern?

Yes, yesterday while I was in the kitchen making dinner, I was watching Chase and his friend Trevor play ball in the backyard. There were moments it seemed like Chase was having hard time breathing. Chase had the football in his hand. Trevor was running towards him. Chase raised his hand to Trevor for a time out to stop him, followed by a deep coughs. Of course, I was frantic, ran outside asked if he was okay. He said his chest hurt. That was four o’ clock in the afternoon. It was warm and sunny, pleasant out, not hot and muggy. I told him to come in and lie down on the couch. He didn’t have a temperature. The coughing passed. I told him to stay in the house. He went into his room and was playing video games.

Oh Mom, do I have to?

The other day while I was making breakfast, Chase and my five-year-old were playing around in the living room, tag—you’re it. You know, hoarsening around, and then Chase was Kaitlin’s phony. Chase started coughing, leaned against the couch to rest and was breathing hard. My husband, Mike, hope it’s nothing, and so do I. Mike said, ‘Boys will be boys.’ He thinks Chase and Trevor was playing too rough, and Trevor hit Chase too hard in the chest. And at home in the living room, that boys tend to play more aggressive than girls. Dr. Larson, his breathing worries me.

So, Chase what’s been going on with you? Have you been coughing?

Yes, sometimes I feel like I’m suffocating.

How do you feel when you’re in school, in your classroom, or when you’re at home doing your homework or resting?

Okay, sometimes I cough. I cough more when I’m playing ball or other sports with my friends.

"Mom, is there any known allergies?

No, none not at this time.

Dr. Larson continued to examine.

Chase, breathes in, breathe out. And turn your head to the right, now to the left. Mom, any infections?

No.

Is there wheezing, a high-pitched sound?

Yes, sometimes, Karen answered.

Mrs. Miller, Chase has asthma.

Asthma.

Yes, asthma. Mrs. Miller, asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway associated with wheezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing, spasm, and narrowing of bronchi leading to bronchial obstruction. Symptoms are often worse with exertion or during the night. The physical exam of asthma is often normal, occasional coughing. If the coughing is intense, the respiratory rate increases, the heart rate increases. Note when this happens, this may require accessory muscles to breath. Asthma can be treated with medicine and inhalers.

Interesting, I don’t have asthma, nor does my husband, Mike, or our parents. I don’t know if any of his relatives such as his aunts or uncles have it.

Asthma is the most common illness in children. It is yet to be fully determined if it is hereditary. Mrs. Miller, I am here to help, and together we can manage Chase’s health care needs. I will write out a prescription for Chase to use an inhaler and schedule a follow-up appointment in three to four months. Mrs. Miller, do you have any other questions or concerns for me?

No, not at this time. Thank you, Dr. Larson.

Karen left the doctor’s office with the news heavily on her mind that Chase has asthma while holding pamphlets and brochures on children with asthma. Karen, Chase, and Kaitlin arrived home.

After arriving home, Karen went online and researched more information on children with asthma along with upper respiratory breathing. The readings were basically the same as Dr. Jamie Larson. Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound produced by turbulent airflow through narrowed airways, difficulty breathing, and chest tightness.

Kaitlin was tired and headed to the family room to take a nap on the couch. Chase grabbed a miniature bag of fruit snacks from the kitchen counter, then headed to his room to play video games. After logging off the computer, she left the living room, putting away her car keys and purse to start dinner (spaghetti) as she tries to understand what has been said and Chase’s well-being. As dinner simmered, Karen sat at the dining room table, reading the medical information in detail. What is asthma in children? The house was quiet as she pondered how to care for a child, her child, with asthma. A few minutes went by; she called her husband, Mike.

He answered, Hey, babe, what did the doctor say?

Chase has asthma.

Asthma!

Yes, asthma.

How did he get it? Did she say anything about the environment?

Briefly, the night air can have an effect and that asthma is common in children.

How is he?

He’s okay playing his video games, and he knows he has to take medicine.

"Okay, babe, sounds good. My