A Soldier's Reunion. Cheryl Wyatt

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ to the seat beside her.

      The smells of antiseptic and sickness hung in the air. Call lights rang down the halls, and a hacking cough emerged from the room beside her that made Mandy want to whip out a prescription pad.

      Reece peeped at the temporary splint Nolan had applied.

      “Is it broken?” Reece blinked up at her.

      Hesitation hovered inside Mandy’s thoughts. She wanted to be honest yet tread lightly. “I think so, but no one’s looked at it yet. They’re taking care of the worst injured first.”

      “How will they tell?” Reece asked.

      “They’ll take special pictures called X-rays.”

      “Will they hurt?”

      “If they have to straighten out my hand it might. Otherwise, X-rays usually don’t hurt at all.” She smiled at Reece.

      “Mommy could go with you and hold your hand. She’s good at that. She holds my hand when I get shots. And you could hug Bearby during it. He makes people brave.”

      “He sure does.” Mandy kneaded Bearby’s fuzzy misshapen head.

      “Then him and Mommy will go with you.” Reece’s expression declared the matter settled.

      Amelia fingered Reece’s curly brown hair. “I’m sure Dr. Manchester has someone who can sit with her.”

      Mandy shifted uncomfortably. In the confusion, she had left her purse which contained her cell phone, in her car on the bridge. An officer had left a message with the nurses’ desk saying he’d recovered it and would bring it by when he had a moment. Not that she had anyone here she could call once she had it. Miss Ivy didn’t drive.

      Perceptive awareness entered Amelia’s eyes. “Need to borrow my phone to call someone?” She pulled her purse onto her lap and extracted a cell phone.

      Heat of a blush crept over Mandy. “No, I’ll be all right. Besides, I’m fairly new in town and really don’t know anyone. My mother lives in a different state.”

      Called Oblivion.

      “Would you like us to sit with you while you wait?” Amelia tucked her phone back in her purse.

      “No, it’s fine.” But a thought struck her. Who would take her home? She’d be unable to drive herself if she took pain medication or if she had a sling on her arm. “Does Refuge have a cab service?”

      “No. Small town. We could give you a ride if they let you go.”

      “I’d hate to make you wait. I imagine it will be past Reece’s bedtime before staff get to me.”

      “It won’t hurt her to get to bed late one night.” She gave Reece’s ponytail an affectionate tug. “Will it?”

      Mischief alive in her eyes, Reece grinned like she’d just gotten away with something big. “I like staying up late!”

      Mandy and Amelia laughed.

      “We live at the Refuge Bed and Breakfast on the edge of town. It only takes thirty minutes to get here,” Amelia said.

      Mandy shifted. “I don’t know…” Thirty minutes there, then here then to Mandy’s and back would take at least two hours out of Reece’s sleep time.

      Despite Mandy’s hesitation, Amelia handed her a card. “Here are my numbers. I doubt they’ll have school tomorrow with what’s happened.” With what’s happened.

      Knowing she meant the bridge collapse, Mandy studied the chic business card to block horrific images that threatened in her mind’s eyes. “You do caricature art?”

      “In my spare time. I also manage Refuge’s B and B. Promise you’ll call if you need a ride?”

      Suddenly, she didn’t feel embarrassed about being needy. “I will.”

      “Maybe we can meet for coffee next week, too?” Amelia asked.

      “I’d love that.”

      Her face lit up. “Say goodbye, Reece.”

      “Bye, Miss Mandy. I don’t like how we had to meet but I’m glad we did. So is Bearby.” Reece hugged Mandy.

      Mandy reciprocated the hug. “I’m glad we met, too. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

      “Or lost in the scary water.” Reece took hold of her mom’s hand. “Mommy would have been so sad.”

      Mandy’s heart pounded with memories of watching cars in front of her plunge into the depths of Refuge River. Her hands trembled and so did her lips. Sounds from the wreck clanged in her ears and drowned out rational thought. She drew deep breaths and focused on Reece’s antics with Bearby until the impending flashback receded. She rubbed sudden moisture off her quaking palm by running it across her thigh. “I don’t blame her. I would have been sad, too. But you are safe—and you are here.”

      But others weren’t.

      Mandy fought debilitating dread at the grief and hardship that families of those who didn’t get out of their cars in time were going through this instant. Several survivors were permanently injured, which was why it was taking so long for her to be seen. “If there was a room or even equipment free, I’d go back there and treat myself.”

      Amelia laughed. “You’re gutsier than me.”

      “I seriously would, just to ease the staff’s burden and relieve someone of duty. The hospital is on trauma alert. Every available space is taken. And my injuries are minor.”

      “Couldn’t waiting be bad for you if it’s broken?” Amelia eyed her wrist with concern.

      Mandy shrugged, not wanting to think about things like nerve damage from swelling and how that would affect her work.

      “What does a broken bone feel like, Miss Mandy?” Reece asked.

      “Like it got hit.” With a sledgehammer. Hard. Twenty times.

      “Owie.” Reece nuzzled Mandy’s sling with Bearby.

      “Ah-ah-ah.” Amelia guided the bear away. “We don’t touch.”

      “Bearby’s just trying to make Miss Mandy feel better. Hospitals are scary.” Reece darted wide eyes around, then scooted closer to Amelia.

      She’s afraid. Mandy felt bad for them staying here on her account. “I work in hospitals all the time. I’ll be fine if you’d like to go home.”

      “Can we, Mommy? I love Miss Mandy but I’m scared.”

      “Sure.” Amelia held Reece and cast Mandy apologetic glances.

      “It’s fine. Honestly. I will call you if I need something.”

      “Okay. Would it be an imposition to get your phone number so I can check on you? And verify СКАЧАТЬ