Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“No.” He wipes his nose with his hand. “I’m not bleeding. Did I do the right thing?”
“You did great.” I try to move my left arm, but it is completely out of commission. “You’re so damn smart, kiddo. I’m proud of you. You did exactly right. I’m sorry I can’t get out and help you, but my arm is kind of hurt right now.”
“You have blood on your face.”
“Yeah.” I swallow hard, trying not to think about what that might mean. So far, I’m not dizzy, and my head only hurts where it’s cut, so I’m going to hang on to that. “I’m gonna be okay. I don’t think we should get out of the car until help gets here.”
“I think they’re here,” he says, pointing out the window. When I look, I see a firetruck and two ambulances arriving. Now that I’m looking around, I see that two other cars are dented up, but the drivers are out and talking to the first responders.
One of them points to me, and a fireman hurries over as fast as he can on the ice and tries to open the door. It’s so crunched up that it takes him four tries.
“My arm,” I say immediately. “Head laceration. I don’t know about concussion. But I want you to see to my son first. He’s in the back seat. Caleb, they’re going to help you now, okay?”
“I’m not hurt,” Caleb insists as the men hurry around to his side and open the door. “It’s Drew. It’s my daddy.”
He’s crying in earnest now, pointing to me, and it tears at my heart. I want to wrap him up and assure him that everything’s going to be okay.
“We’ll take you both in the same ambulance,” the EMT assures me as he helps me out of the car. “Let’s get you in there and out of this ice.”
The men work fast to get both Caleb and me into the ambulance, and as they do their best to get us to the hospital, they see to the cut on my head.
“Your shoulder is dislocated,” I’m informed. “They’ll set it at the hospital. Caleb seems to be fine.”
“I told you,” Caleb insists and lays his head on my chest.
“Buddy, do you still have my phone?”
“Yeah.”
“Give it to me.”
He does as I ask, and I dial London’s number, but she doesn’t answer. I try again and curse when it goes to voice mail again.
“She doesn’t have the ringer on,” I say, and am swamped with a wave of pain. “Shit, I’m going to pass out.”
“We’re almost to the hospital,” I hear someone say. “Take a deep breath.”
“I’ll do it,” Caleb says. “Mom!”
I open my eyes and take the phone. “Baby, there’s been an accident.”
“Drew? Are you hurt? Is Caleb hurt?”
“We’re headed to a hospital. Shit, I don’t know which hospital.”
“Seattle General,” I’m told.
“I heard him,” London says in my ear. “I’m on my way. Calling your parents.”
“Okay.” I let the phone fall and give in to the wooziness. “Shit. Sorry, buddy. Gonna pass out for real this time.”
“Drew,” I hear Caleb say. “Mom, he’s hurt. I’m okay. It was really scary. Yeah, we’re in an ambulance. Okay. Okay, Mom. Love you, too.”
He lays his head on my chest again.
“She’s coming. Mom’s coming.”
Chapter 22
London
“I knew they shouldn’t have gone.” My heart is hammering a million beats a minute. I just need to get to the hospital.
But, in one piece.
“Where are you?” Caleb demands. Drew’s dad insisted that he stay on the phone with me while I drove to the hospital, and I’m so glad that he did. I don’t feel so alone.
I give him the exit number that I’m passing and white-knuckle the steering wheel.
“Take the next exit,” he tells me. “Park at Sound Fitness. I know the owner, and your car will be safe there. I’ll be there in five minutes, and I’ll pick you up.”
“I won’t say no,” I reply and do as he says. The roads are terrible. So, so scary. “I’ve never driven on anything this scary before.”
“It’s going to be okay,” Brynna says, her voice soothing. “You got to hear both of their voices. I need you to breathe, honey.”
I deliberately take a long, deep breath as I pull into a parking space at Sound Fitness and then let it out.
“I’m here. I’ve parked.”
“ETA: three minutes,” Caleb replies. He sounds so calm and collected. So in control. It bolsters my own courage, and when I see them turn into the icy parking lot, it’s all I can do not to burst into tears.
“I will not cry,” I mutter to myself. “My boys do not need to see me cry.”
I get out of the car and ease my way over to get into the back seat of Caleb and Brynna’s SUV.
“Thank you.”
“We’re not too far from the hospital,” Brynna reassures me and reaches back to take my hand. I cling to her like my life depends on it. “Hold on, sweet girl. We’re going to get you to them.”