60 Days Later...

Two months ago today, I had been in Beckley, at a meeting for the Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary. I was planning to start a chapter in Nicholas County. Steven was not a fan of my constant volunteer work, because it meant I was home less in the evenings, but he fully supported my desire to get involved with the Friends of Coal and advocate on their behalf. After all, we were a coal family! I left the meeting and called him on my way home. Of course, he was hungry, so I offered to stop and grab a couple sandwiches at Subway. His usual; BMT. I got home just in time to help him pack his lunch bucket and tell him about my day. 20 minutes later he was out the door and as always, I met him there with his bucket and a kiss goodnight. He was in such a good mood that evening and as he galloped through the garage toward his truck, he hollered, "Love you, Cock-Monkey! See ya in the morning." I responded in routine, "Love you. Be careful. Watch for deer."
Little did I know those would be our last words. The last time he'd ever pick on me. The last time I'd ever tell him I loved him... and I was worried about the stupid deer.
He usually left around 9:00. So about this time I would have been picking up the house, doing the dishes, and heading to bed. I fell asleep quickly, but at 3:00a.m. my phone rang. I looked at it and thought, 'that must be a butt-dial' and rolled back over. It rang again. I answered and a dear friend said, "Caitlin, I'm in the garage. I need you to let me in." I ran to the door, swung it open, and immediately asked what happened?. My friend responded simply and calmly, "There's been an accident at the mines. You need to get dressed." Without another word, I went toward the bedroom and dropped to my knees. With my elbows on the bed, I prayed.
"Dear God, Please protect my family. If it is your will, Lord, please send my husband home safe."
It wasn't his will.
My husband was already dead.
On the way to the hospital, my friend explained that her husband had called her and asked her to come pick me up. Steven had been in an accident and likely had a few broken bones. We were to meet them in the Emergency Room. In addition to working together, her husband and Steven were also good friends. They grew up together and being 8 months pregnant, he didn't want me driving alone in the middle of the night.
He was protecting me from what was about to become a harsh and painful reality.
I called the hospital on the way and the ER doctor insisted that he couldn't speak to me over the phone due to current HIPPA laws. At this point I knew that it was far worse than I had been told.
We arrived at the hospital and the doctor took me into a small, quiet room. He motioned toward a chair. I sat. I knew. I wanted to vomit.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. O'Dell. Your husband didn't make it."
My worst nightmare. Every Coal Miner's wife's worst nightmare. He was lieing. He had to be lieing. It wasn't Steven. They got it mixed up. How did a couple broken bones turn into 'he didn't make it'?

I am beyond thankful that my last moments with Steven were happy ones. If I can give one piece of advice to my followers, it would be to never leave the house without saying 'I love you'... even if you follow up with a dirty word. :) Be the bigger person. You never know when your loved ones will leave and never return.