The second I finished speaking, Aunt Patricia's voice exploded through the phone. "Jennifer, what are you saying?!"
"I'm your aunt!"
"I'm lying here on the ground, and you won't come back?!"
"Do you have any conscience at all?!"
Her fury crackled through the speaker. I kept my voice even, almost bored.
"I'm out of town. How exactly am I supposed to get there?"
"You could've called any of our other relatives, but instead you called me—knowing full well I'm traveling."
I didn't wait for her to respond. "There's nothing I can do right now. Aunt Patricia, just call the hospital. Please."
I could hear her breathing turn ragged on the other end of the line.
"Jennifer—how can you be like this?" Her voice cracked with disbelief. "I fell. Aren't you supposed to drop everything and come take care of me?"
I smiled faintly. "Aunt Patricia, I don't have that obligation."
"You'd be better off calling Uncle Harold. Let him help."
And with that, I hung up.
I set the phone down and let out a quiet laugh. I knew she wouldn't be comfortable right now—not one bit.